Our Heavenly's Goal is to Have His Children Choose to Do What is Right

 

The Divine Signature of the US Constitution

By Laureen Naylor Simper

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him. If He simply wanted us to be obedient, He would use immediate rewards and punishments to influence our behaviors.

“But God is not interested in His children just becoming trained and obedient ‘pets’ who will not chew on His slippers in the celestial living room. No, God wants His children to grow up spiritually and join Him in the family business.”

Setting Aside Designated Time for the Lord is in Your Control

5 Invitations to Help You Feel More Joy in Living the Gospel

By Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai

Of the Seventy

If it feels like the world is dictating your schedule, remember—setting aside moments of designated time for the Lord is completely within your control....

4. Identify and Clear the Debris

There was one more factor at play that helped many miracle homes survive: The owners had cleared the weeds and debris surrounding their homes. Without the dry brush, the flames had little fuel to ignite.

We have also been invited to clear the debris from our lives. What is the debris in your life? What might set your foundation aflame when the adversary attacks?

I would say debris is anything that takes you away from the Savior and could potentially hurt your relationship with Him, like sin. But there is also more to it.

Are you making choices every day that aren’t necessarily taking you away from the Savior but might be distracting you?

What is wasting your time? What choices are you making that are good but could be better?

Are there individuals you need to forgive but haven’t? Are there things you need to repent of?

In the allegory of the olive tree found in Jacob 5, we can learn about clearing debris. Keeping the tree alive and producing good fruit requires the Master’s involvement. He can trim your branches and strengthen your roots, and He can also show you how to prune and remove the habits or behaviors in your life that are not serving you. It’s all about finding balance, and you don’t have to figure this all out at once; it’s a process.

When you clear the debris from your life, you will see how living the gospel protects you from many hardships, blesses your ability to overcome life’s challenges, refines your relationships, and develops your confidence in your divine identity and potential....

You can find God’s love through scriptures, through prayer, and through temple worship. But if you are doing those things and still don’t realize how He feels about you, you will find and feel His perfect love most abundantly when you share it with others.

Remember, all Lehi wanted to do after he tasted the fruit of the tree was share the “exceedingly great joy” he felt with those he loved most (1 Nephi 8:12).

What if you turn outward instead of inward? What if, when you feel like your calling and other responsibilities at church are a burden, you instead see them as a way to help others feel Christ’s love?

What if instead of seeing your ministering assignment as just another item to check off your list, you see it as an opportunity to help God answer someone’s prayer?

Not everyone will remember everything you say or do as a disciple of Christ. But they will always remember how you made them feel—especially if you share the love of God and Jesus Christ. And you will remember that love too.

What is the Primary Object of Your Attention?

 

More Than a Hero

By Bishop W. Christopher Waddell

First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric

For us on our journey back to the presence of God, to our promised land, it’s not the politician, the musician, the athlete, or the vlogger that is the issue but, rather, choosing to allow them to become the primary objects of our attention and focus in place of our Savior and Redeemer.

We choose Him, Jesus Christ, when we choose to honor His day whether we’re at home or traveling on vacation. We choose Him when we choose His words through the scriptures and the teachings of living prophets. We choose Him when we choose to hold a temple recommend and live worthy of its use. We choose Him when we are peacemakers and refuse to be contentious, “especially when we have differences of opinion.”

Determination for Satisfaction

 You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction.

Have Your Children Choose to do What is Right

 "Our Heavenly Father's goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him. If he simply wanted us to be obedient, He would use immediate rewards and punishments to influence our behaviors."

Elder Dale G. Renlund, Choose You This Day, Oct. 2018

Cherokee Wolf Story

 Mitzi from comefollowmekid.com noticed that this is actually a very good story for teaching children.

Come Follow Me- for Individuals and Families references:

Elder Shayne M. Bowen's article "Agency and Accountability"

Here is the story:

There is a story told of an old Cherokee teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil: he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is good: he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Do What Is Right

You will have challenges and hard decisions to make throughout your life. But determine now to always do what is right and let the consequence follow. The consequence will always be for your best good.

Richard G. Scott, "Do What is Right," Ensign, June 1997, 53. 

The Lord is Mindful of Us

My brothers and sisters, He has prepared us. If we heed His words and live the commandments, we will survive this time of permissiveness and wickedness—a time which can be compared with the waves and the winds and the floods that can destroy. He is ever mindful of us. He loves us and will bless us as we do what is right.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “Closing Remarks,” Liahona and Ensign,Nov. 2009, 109.

Courage

Courage

“In order for us to make the correct decisions, courage is needed—the courage to say no when we should, the courage to say yes when that is appropriate, the courage to do the right thing because it is right. …

“… Inner courage also includes doing the right thing even though we may be afraid, defending our beliefs at the risk of being ridiculed, and maintaining those beliefs even when threatened with a loss of friends or of social status. …

“… As we move forward, striving to live as we should, we will surely receive help from the Lord and can find comfort in His words.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “Be Strong and of a Good Courage,” Ensign, May 2014, 66, 67, 69.

Stuck Under the Smoggy Haze

There are times in our lives when we figuratively find ourselves stuck down in the valley, under the gloom of the dark, smoggy haze. Because of poor choices we have made, behaviors that offend the Spirit, or simply the painful and stretching decisions and challenges common to mortal life, we feel mired in thick, smothering fog. We can’t see clearly, we feel confused, and we sense that we have moved ourselves away from the light and warmth of our Heavenly Father’s love. We forget that the pure light of the Lord awaits us, beckons us, and is only a few steps of faith away. We must recognize that we have the power and capacity to take ourselves out of the filthy air of the valley and into the bright sunlight of the peace and hope that is found only by coming to the Savior.

Elder Patrick Kearon

• pg 30 EnsignDECEMBER 2011
• COME, LET US ADORE HIM

Choose the Best Things

Choose the Best Things

“We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Good, Better, Best,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2007, 107.

The Foundation for Every Important Decision

“The foundation for every important decision and choice you will make is your testimony of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith."

Quentin L. Cook, “Strengthen Faith as You Seek Knowledge,” New Era, Sept. 2008, 2, 4.

Personal Benchmarks

We hear much about benchmarks. A benchmark is “a standard of excellence [or] achievement … against which similar things [are] measured or judged.”¹⁰ There are four benchmarks that can help each of us know if our personal faith in Christ is being “made perfect” by our works. These benchmarks are:

1. 1. 
   The choices we make
2. 2. 
   The devotion we exhibit
3. 3. 
   The obedience we practice
4. 4. 
   The service we give

Bishop Keith B. McMullin, "Faith & Works in a Secular Society," Ensign, Apr 2015, 63.

Our Defining Tests

“Having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His commandments are and always will be the defining test of mortality. . . .

“Our doctrine is clear; we are to be positive and of good cheer. We emphasize our faith, not our fears. We rejoice in the Lord’s assurance that He will stand by us and give us guidance and direction. The Holy Ghost testifies to our hearts that we have a loving father in Heaven, whose merciful plan for our redemption will be fulfilled in every aspect because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” 

Elder Quentin L. Cook, “In Tune with the Music of Faith,” Ensign, May 2012, 44. 

Obedience

 “We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see.”

President Boyd K. Packer, “Agency and Control,” Ensign, May 1983, 66. 

Be Doers, Not Just Hearers

 “The scriptures teach that we must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” We live the gospel and become “doers of the word” by exercising faith, being obedient, lovingly serving others, and following our Savior’s example. We act with integrity and do what we know is right “at all times and in all things, and in all places” no matter who may or may not be watching.”

Ann M. Dibb, “I Know It. I Live It. I Love It.” Ensign, Nov 2012, 10-11. 

Tolerance

“The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance. Do not be deceived; behind that façade is heartache, unhappiness, and pain. . . . If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Examples of Righteousness,” Ensign, May 2008, 65. 

What Really Counts

“It’s not so much what happens to us but how we deal with what happens to us.”

President James E. Faust (1920-2007), Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Where Do I Make My Stand?” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 20. 

Gifts and Talents

“For those of us who feel wanting when it comes to talents and gifts, it is encouraging to know that this invitation is not to dazzle others with who we are or what we know. Rather, our light is the Light of the World reflected in us as we simply strive to do as He did. That’s it. The Lord tells us to follow Him and not be ashamed or unwilling to stand out. Do not be ashamed to hold up His light.  Do not be afraid to shine. Do not worry about the outcome….But we must be willing to speak up, stand up, and stand out for the truth….Choose the right regardless of the consequences”

Elder Laurence E. Corbridge, “Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Sept 2011, 35-37