Prayer/Meditation/Karma

[InquisitiveSoul]

I've heard prayer discussed as one of the keys to a strong faith and relationship with the Almighty. What about Meditation? Does Meditation play any role in prayer or faith?

What is the LDS position on Karma? Is there one? Do you believe the things you do will come back to you in this life? For example, the clerk gives you too much change, say $20 extra, you notice it but still put it in your pocket. Will this act play a negative role in your finances later?

[rameumptom]

We believe meditation is important, although we suggest a different form than the transcendental meditation. We suggest meditation as in pondering - a form of prayer and a method to receive inspiration.

We do not use the term "karma", which is a far-eastern term. We do believe, as the Bible teaches that if one sows the wind, he shall reap the whirl-wind. Moses taught in the last chapters of Deuteronomy that if a person obeys and follows God, many blessings will come to the person and the nation. However, disobedience brings catastrophe and destruction.

The Book of Mormon continually makes the same point. If we follow Christ, we will be blessed in the promised land. Else we will heap destruction upon ourselves until we fully repent or are destroyed.

[Finrock]

I've heard prayer discussed as one of the keys to a strong faith and relationship with the Almighty. What about Meditation? Does Meditation play any role in prayer or faith?

What is the LDS position on Karma? Is there one? Do you believe the things you do will come back to you in this life? For example, the clerk gives you too much change, say $20 extra, you notice it but still put it in your pocket. Will this act play a negative role in your finances later?

Meditation plays an important role in our spiritual life. Meditation can be many things to many people. I would suggest that LDS do not practice a form of meditation that centers on repetitive sounds, postures, and phrases. For example, in some Eastern Orthodox traditions there is a form of meditation and prayer called the "Jesus Prayer" where a neophyte begins his journey towards experiencing the "Light of God" by going through different phases by repeating the prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me" either out loud or in one's mind. I think this form of meditation is foreign to an LDS perspective.

Meditation would be one of quite pondering and reflecting on the words of Christ. Meditation also would include "listening" to those feelings and impressions that the Spirit might be communicating to you. It can include solitude and fasting.

We believe in the law of the harvest. We reap what we sow. Our "reward" is not a result of karma but rather it is a result of obedience to eternal laws and the natural consequences of obedience to those laws and also gifts from our Heavenly Father. Joseph Smith taught that, "[t]here is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated" (D&C 130:20-21).

Regards,

Finrock

[Blackmarch]

I've heard prayer discussed as one of the keys to a strong faith and relationship with the Almighty. What about Meditation? Does Meditation play any role in prayer or faith?

meditation is highly encouraged.

What is the LDS position on Karma? Is there one? Do you believe the things you do will come back to you in this life? For example, the clerk gives you too much change, say $20 extra, you notice it but still put it in your pocket. Will this act play a negative role in your finances later?

It may or may not affect your finances later... but it will definitely afffect you in the afterlife.

This world has been made for man, and for the most part God lets man handle things himself.

[FunkyTown]

Moses taught in the last chapters of Deuteronomy that if a person obeys and follows God, many blessings will come to the person and the nation. However, disobedience brings catastrophe and destruction.

Book of Job: A righteous man is beset by difficulties. The rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous alike.

Jonathon, Saul's son, helps David throughout his life and always does what is right.

He dies surrounded by his enemies, defending his homeland and people.

Sometimes, bad things happen to good people.

[rameumptom]

Book of Job: A righteous man is beset by difficulties. The rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous alike.

Jonathon, Saul's son, helps David throughout his life and always does what is right.

He dies surrounded by his enemies, defending his homeland and people.

Sometimes, bad things happen to good people.

Job's trial was a trial of Abraham/faith. Afterward, he increased in wealth, etc. And his eternal reward would be even greater. The unrighteous would not have had the long term blessings that Job will receive, even though they are perhaps blessed temporarily.

Jonathan was slain because he broke the fast his father (Saul) declared, stating that any warrior to broke the fast would be slain. Jonathan also had to fall so that David could rise. Yet while Jonathan's reward was not on earth, he will have an immeasurable one in heaven.

Many promises have dual promise: earthly blessings and eternal ones. This is the story we learn from the BoM. When the Nephites were wicked, they were decimated, not having God's help. When they were righteous, they prospered even more than the wicked.

[johnspells]

Yes, meditation plays a strong role in your prayer it make you more close to your god. Always remember in your life that nothing is forever,sometimes it happens that things which are gone will come back but it will be for certain period of time not forever, the things weather live or dead is there in this world has certain pre defined end and end is for sure. Yes, If you know that these is extra money I got and still you take it then it will 100% it will play a negative role just think this situation and place yourself at clerk you will get your answer. I hope this will answer your question.

[davidsonn]

Hello,

Many peoples says that prayers and meditation are really very helpful and keeps health good and your mind clean and healthy. and i don't know about prayer but i do meditation every day.

thanks!!

________________

brainwave mind voyages

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Alma 19 : 80 (41:15 LDS) And ye shall have good rewarded unto you again; for that which ye do send out, shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore the word restoration, more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.

So while I do not believe in reincarnation, there is something to be said for receiving back what you give.

[Uncle_Sam]

I know from personal experience that meditation can be extremely helpful in bringing feelings of peace, joy, and satisfaction with where you're at in the world. When I meditate I try my best to imagine the most beautiful place I can and that I'm moving through the air looking down at it from a 1st person point of view. Also thanking God for everything that he has given us to see and experience here on this planet. It's a great thing to do to feel more in tune with the spirit, for sure.

[maydrianne]

I know this question was posted a long time ago, but I feel like sharing what I think, or what I know about the subject. For my answer, I will use a personal experience, but I'll spare personal details...

Back when President Hinckley gave the challenge to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year, I was just 16. I hadn't completed the book of Mormon before, and the challenge and promises that he made if we would do this simple task of reading the book cover to cover kind of excited me. So I did it. One night in particular, I was reading through 3rd Nephi, and as I was reading the account of Jesus Christ's visit to the Americas, the Holy Ghost really filled my heart with unexplainable joy. I have felt the Spirit before calming me, or letting me know something was true. Gentle, peaceful feelings. But for the first time, I felt unsurpassed joy. So... after reading, I got on my knees and prayed. I just let Heavenly Father know what I was feeling, and that I was so grateful for Jesus Christ. I prayed that I could continue to have this feeling throughout the night. And when I said amen, instead of laying down and going to sleep like I normally would, I just pondered or meditated on that feeling. I meditated on the feeling the Holy Ghost was giving me. I meditated on the story that I had read. I meditated on Jesus Christ. And then, like so many stories say in the scriptures, I was caught up in the power of the Holy Ghost, and I experienced something so sacred that I have never experienced before!

The Holy Ghost is THE MOST powerful witness of God that we can ever have. Why did Laman and Lemuel continue to deny truth and light when they had so many physical witnesses of it? They saw angels, and yet they went on in disbelief. Why? It is because they never felt that sweet, powerful witness of the Holy Ghost, which is the greatest witness. And if they did, they denied it... So I believe that meditation is a wonderful way to receive answers to prayers, and to connect our minds with the things of the Lord! We can meditate by reading our scriptures prayerfully, seeking the Holy Spirit, and pondering on the things of the Savior while the Spirit reveals to our minds what is good and true. Incredible things can happen.

And yet... as amazing as was the vision I had through meditating... it was still nowhere near as wonderful and memorable as was that joyful, wonderful feeling of the Holy Spirit testifying to my soul of the love my Savior has for me!

As for Karma... just look at the Book of Mormon! Whenever the Nephites were carried away in their pride and the vain things of the world, it didn't take long for destruction and sorrow to come upon them. Where much is given, much is required. And where we fail to recognize those great blessings which have been given to us by the mercy of God, we lose the joy and the peace that can be ours by simply loving one another, and being grateful for what we have.

[Backroads]

I believe Karma is a version of a true principal. I believe that ultimately good is rewarded and evil is punished.

I believe very much in meditation. I do it every day as well as prayer.