Spiritual Checklist

[jewels8]

I love The Book of Mormon.  I know it is the word of God, along with a correct translation of the Bible and the other standard works of The Church.  In Alma 5, we learn of a spiritual checklist that I remember reading in seminary.  How many times do we ponder these things to see if we are pure and ready to meet God?  What have you, if you feel inclined to share, personally worked on on that list, and how has it helped you grow closer to Christ?

    And, with our preparation for the Second Coming, what , again if you feel inclined to share, have you done to prepare yourself and/or your family for His return (you can include spiritually and/or temporally) and to live in His Kingdom?  To be comfortable to live with Him again?  He will place us where we are most comfortable.

[JohnsonJones]

I am not a particularly great person.  I would like to comment, but I don't really think I have focused on a specific thing on that list.  Do I try to exercise faith in the Lord.  I do, and I try to repent of the evils which I do.  I think I far too prideful for my own good, most likely, and try to fight to make myself more understanding and empathetic to others plights. 

Not a specific story, but on faith.  Faith can be far more difficult at times.  It is the first principle of the gospel.  We need to have faith so that we can achieve the second principle, that of repentance.  We need to have faith that the Lord will forgive us and that by his atonement, we can repent and be clean. 

We also need to have faith that he will keep his promises and keep us in mind.  I am reminded of a story by Elder Holland which I think was of his younger years.  He was on a job and was driving some distance in an old car.  That car broke down, and so he left his wife and went to find help.  He found someone to help him and they went back to where they came from.  Once again, they started off on their journey, only to have the car break down in the same spot.  He once again found help, and the gentleman who helped him I believe stated something to the effect...you may make it to your new job, but this car will not...in regards to their voyage.

I believe that is an example of where one may have their faith challenged.  He was trying to provide for his family.  He was doing the right thing, and yet, when it came down to it, we know he still had faith.

I had a similar situation recently, but not as challenging as Elder Hollands probably was.  We had family reunions and other family functions.  Now, because of my rather foolish inattention, I was without a temple recommend recently and needed to get it renewed.  It was relatively easy, I just needed to be around for one week night and get it renewed.  However, it overlapped with a family function.  I chose to be with the family, afterall, are we not trying to build an eternal family.  However, I catastrophically, at least to my car, hit a deer at a very high speed.  This completely demolished the car (and the deer I might say).  At that point, my initial though was...was I not trying to do the righteous thing and be good, to help my family and bring us closer together?  In truth though, I realized several things.  First, no one was injured, we were protected and blessed that we were safe.  Secondly, that perhaps part of this was that I NEEDED the protection of the temple recommend, that an active temple recommend on me is VITAL.  And finally, the Lord lets good and evil rain upon both the wicked and the righteous so that judgment can be just, and our choices made because it is fair, not because it is necessarily easier for one than the other. (though, even then, looking back at my life, it has definitely been easier for me to choose the right than for many).

It is one where I could have had my faith damaged, or reflected upon it and see how I should act instead, and utilize my faith in the Lord in that effect. 

I think a similar situation may affect some in Houston this week.  All our sympathies go out to those in Texas, but one particularly notable thing was the Houston Temple for the LDS members in general.  In 2016 there were floods in Houston, but the temple was saved from our perspective.  Perhaps it's due to wickedness in Houston, or perhaps it's just rain on the righteous and the wicked both, but once again floods came to Houston in 2017.  This time, the temple did get flooded.  It is an opportunity for us to either utilize it to grow our faith, or not.  I am still pondering upon it and the temple there.

I suppose I am weak as well, as I am still stuck continuously on that first step that Alma mentions, to have faith.  I strive to have faith and increase it continuously, but even then, I still haven't moved any mountains (yet).

[anatess2]

@jewels8, I think you and @clbent04 would get along very well in LDS discussions.  For a while there I thought your were clbent04!

 

Edited September 5, 2017 by anatess2

[Traveler]

 

First off I am not a big fan of list, especially for spiritual things.  The reason is that regardless of how good or complete you think you list to be – it will be missing something.  Pluss I find divine revelation rather vague, open ended and more of a process than a conclusion. 

In general I believe becoming closer to G-d and preparing for the second coming is best represented symbolically with the Enos experience.  That is that we begin by focusing on ourselves.  It starts with our repentance and our hopes to be of value and worth.  But as we progress the focus begins to shift towards others.  The beginning of this paradigm shift is concern and compassion for others.  It begins with a desire that others see the light we have experienced.

But this is only a beginning.  We will soon learn that few are very impressed with our concern over their sins and wishes for them to repent.  There is a very important lesson to be learned concerning sacrifice – especially for those that do not want any part of any righteous sacrifice others may make for them.  This attitude of sacrifice is best understood as a parent of children too young to appreciate anything done for them.  It expands as children grow and becomes challenged when children become rebellious adults

So it is that I believe that we grow closer to G-d when we experience our trials has he experiences his – that is in full consideration of those we love.

The Traveler

[clbent04]

8 hours ago, anatess2 said:

@jewels8, I think you and @clbent04 would get along very well in LDS discussions.  For a while there I thought your were clbent04!

I think @jewels8 is more positive and less cynical than me!