Gospel Insights to Ponder

From the Church News—Visit from Elders Cook, Bednar, Callister and others to the Philippeans

 Elder Callister-- He began by speaking about missionary work and gave counsel to parents. He said that parents have three responsibilities: to prepare their children to serve missions, to enter the temple and to become celestial companions.  He counseled parents to kneel and pray with their children and to teach their children that prayers are answered.He also asked families to study the scriptures, fast together and receive patriarchal blessings.

Elder Bednar also taught that faith is a principle of action and that power comes only when people act on their faith. When one prays one must ask for the power to act in order to gain spiritual power. He taught that agency is the capacity to act and not to be acted upon. He explained that "faith is not merely hoping and wishing but it is acting on something."

Elder Callister encouraged members of the Church to have faith in God and to feast upon the words of Christ for it will tell them all that they should do when they are at the crossroads of their lives. He told the young men to serve a full-time mission and encouraged parents to teach their children the way to righteousness by paying a full tithe and making a commitment to scripture study.

An excerpt from a book I have been reading.                           

Proof, How To Know the Book of Mormon is True  by Tom G. Rose pg. 56-60

Comparison of the Word of God Unto a Seed”

This discourse by the prophet Alma gives us a powerful analogy about the development of faith.  It compares the growth of a seed to how the word of God will swell-within the heart of an honest inquirer.  This analogy is beautifully explained in Alma 32:28-43.  I strongly suggest that you prayerfully read these verses several times.

How do you plant he word in your heart?  What is the word?  Alma was asked this question and his answer is recorded in Alma 33:22.  Planting the word means that you:

·         Believe in the Son of God

·         Believe that He came to redeem all mankind.

·         Believe that He suffered and died to atone for your sins

·         Believe that He was resurrected

·         Believe that you will stand before Him at the judgment day to be judged for your works.

After planting this word (seed) in your heart, you must:

·         Give this word (seed) time to germinate and begin to grow within your mind and heart.

·         Pray and ask God if Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of mankind.

·         Study the scriptures about the life and mission of the Savior.

·         Do your best to live a Christ like life.

·         Keep the Sabbath day holy.

·         Continue to nourish the word (seek) with faith, diligence, and patience.

Will you have faith to plant the word (seed) in your heart?  Only you can answer this vital question.  If you have sufficient faith to try this exciting experiment there are two possible results:

1.   

           It will grow if you do not cast it out by your unbelief.  It will begin as a tiny seedling.

This seedling must be constantly nourished or it will die.  If you sincerely pray and study the word and live the best you can, you will begin to feel swelling emotions within your breast.

These feelings will be real and exciting.  The spout will grow slowly, but steadily,  as long as you nourish it daily.

If you continue faithful, it will become a young tree

With time and constant nourishment and care the young tree will eventually become a mature tree bearing the fruit of everlasting life.

You will receive true joy and eternal happiness (see Alma 32:41-43)

2     

           Or it will die—if you neglect he word (sprout), it will shrivel up and die, because it cannot continue to live and grow unless it receives daily nourishment through your earnest prayer, study, and obedience (see Alma 32:40)