LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

When problems of life – seem to overwhelm us – comfort and calm may be no further away – than our comforting spirit which resides within each of us!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It would be sad – if by giving pleasure to our physical bodies – we rob our spirits of eternal joy!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

We can either be – a person of inclusion – or – a person of exclusion – there is no alternative which allows us to be a little bit of both!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It would be respectful and nice – if those friends who post on Face Book – would just accept that I am old – and quit trying to post something that I don't remember!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

You know you are getting old – when no one ever puts – ‘do you remember’ silliness on their Face Book status – that I don't remember!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

No matter how often – nor how many say it – a furry pet – will never be a real child!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

HELPING ME BECOME MY ETERNAL SELF 3

Although I have chosen to separate our eternal mentors into three categories, it must be understood that the influence and impact they have on one another should never be forgotten or underestimated.

It should also be noted, before we commence, that since I will be using many scriptural references when discussing Telestial,
Terrestrial and Celestial Mentors and since I won’t use the precious space in my Thoughts to write all these out, it might be wise to have your Standard Works as a companion while you are reading the next few episodes of my Thoughts. (For those of you who are not familiar with the term ‘Standard Works’ – a brief discussion with any badge toting Mormon Missionary – will make you equal with those for whom this is a very common term.)

Telestial Mentors:

We all have in common, to one degree or another, experience in the processes which fit into what I am referring to as those which we receive from Telestial Mentors; those which come from our informal and formal educational experiences during mortality.

Depending both on the diligence of the instructors and the learners there will be a wide discrepancy in that which we retain and use during our mortality.

Not all parents have the same degree of dedication. Not all children have the same degree of retentive obedience.

Not all teachers have the same level of resources or ability to motivate learning. Not all students have the same ability to learn and retain or understand the relevance of certain subjects.

Not all towns have the same availability of providing cradle to grave educational opportunities.

Not all inhabitants have the same desire, opportunity or aptitude necessary to take advantage of the educational opportunities provided.

Thus, we see that even in those areas of learning which we as individuals are privileged to have available to us, there will be a vast variety of experiences enjoyed by each one of us. Even in those areas which mainly apply to our mortal existence we will progress and be judged by very individualistic scales.

A further note of explanation might be important before we venture into the areas of Terrestrial and Celestial Mentors.

I will be naming each of the various mentors which fall into these categories and then give some suggestions concerning the preparation and the process necessary for advancement and learning and, in addition, some cautions to which we individually need to adhere in order to maximize the influence these mentors will have on our eternal learning and understanding.

This formula should be familiar to each of us, since from our birth we have intuitively known that that which we get out of any learning process in which we might find ourselves, will be in direct proportion to the preparations we have made, how much we understand the process which is being used and some of the dangers or limitations involved with the learning experience with which we are about to be involved.

Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.

And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you. Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall. And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am. Watch, therefore, that ye may be ready. Even so. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 50: 40 - 46)

Hopefully, from this scripture we can begin to understand that our Savior and our Heavenly Father never intended, nor was it ever part of Their plan, to leave us abandoned and stranded children cast out onto this little blue marble.

Terrestrial Mentors:

SPIRIT OF CHRIST

This mentor is also scripturally referred to as The Spirit of Man (note man is capitalized) and The Mind of Man.

Frequently in our everyday conversations we hear the word ‘conscience’ used when this mentor is being referenced or talked about.

Preparation:

Our Heavenly Father so loves us, that even though when we left His presence we were told we going to a fallen or spiritually dead condition as a result of being out of His presence, he has provided us all with the Spirit of Christ to mentor us and help us navigate through the trials of mortality.

Therefore, the only preparations needed to have the Spirit of Christ as a mentor in our lives are our agreeing to leave His presence and being born into mortality.

One of the misconceptions which I think should be dispelled is that we come into this world and are immediately thrust into a lose/lose situation, when in reality our Loving Father immediately provides us with a mentorial advantage with the gift of the Spirit of Christ which we all have been given.

(Book of Mormon-Moroni 7:16; Doctrine and Covenants 84:46)

Process:

Learning to recognize when the Spirit of Christ is trying to influence decisions we are making.

Understanding that the more we yield to the influence of the Spirit of Christ the more we will be capable of recognizing the promptings.

(Doctrine and Covenants 9: 8, 9; 88: 40; New Testament-Romans 2: 15)

Caution:

We must understand this influence will usually be limited to choices we make during our daily mortal journey, especially those which involve choices between good and evil.

As we choose to ignore the promptings of the Spirit of Christ and make decisions contrary to its counsel, we may lose the influence of this important mentor.

If we never come to the time when our cup of iniquity is full and we have totally yielded to the influence of Satan, we always have the hope and opportunity of having the Spirit of Christ as our mentor during mortality.

(Book of Mormon-Moroni 8: 28; Moroni 9: 4; Doctrine and Covenants 76: 103 – 112; Doctrine and Covenants 1:33; Doctrine and Covenants 6: 35; New Testament-John 8: 11)

(To be continued)

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I am not all that proud – the world we live in accepts Luke Skywalker as Darth Vader’s son – while rejecting Jesus the Christ – as the Son of God the Father!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The amount of knowledge and understanding – our Heavenly Father wishes to bestow upon us – will always be sufficient for our eternal edification and advancement!!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Even though my sacrifice will forever be minuscule – when compared to that of the Son of God – He has promised me – that if it is my all – it is enough!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Our generous offerings and sacrifices – will forever be more like the widows humble mite – when compared to the Ominous Atoning Sacrifice of the Savior – yet it will still be enough – since it will be all that we have!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The final characteristics we possess – may well be the product – of the covenants we have kept!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

In the end – we may discover – we have become – what we have gleaned from our mentors!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Having our souls filled with holiness –may be a result of who we are – as much as where we are!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

HELPING ME BECOME MY ETERNAL SELF 2

Last week, in case I was unable to convey the purpose of my lengthy introduction, I was trying to present the Thought that we are all the product of those inputs we receive as we walk the path of life upon which we have been placed.

What we become as we are impacted by those inputs will be determined by the quantity as well as the quality of those we allow to be our mentors, along with the portions of their messages we choose to inculcate into our lives.

The purpose of today’s Thought will be to identify three categories of mentors who have a possibility and probability of being allowed to be contributors to that which we will eventually be eternally.

Because of my life’s involvement in teaching the gospel of Jesus the Christ, I will use scriptural titles to designate these three types of mentors.

I feel I need to make you aware that when Kathleen was doing her editing of this Thought, we had a lengthy discussion on the appropriateness of the titles I used for the three categories of mentors. Therefore, if you struggle with the titles it will be understandable. However, I feel the descriptions of the categories appropriately identify the three types of mentors I desired to discuss in this series of Thoughts.

Telestial Mentors:

Even those who are born with limited senses and lack the ability to demonstrate the activity of what is happening in their minds will be affected by this category of mentor. These are they who sacrifice so that we will not only know how to function in this world, but to some degree we will be able to find satisfaction. They make it possible for us to learn how to walk, speak, get nourishment, wear proper attire and contend with the weather. They teach us how to improve upon our birth situations and stations, helping us to best utilize our shelters, diets, vocabularies, entertainments and labors.

In short, these are the multitude of mentors who fill our lives with knowledge and talents which are necessary to make life’s journey physically passable and enjoyable, or at least acceptable.

Terrestrial Mentors:

Most of us, sometime during out mortal passage, have moments when we are not thinking of or trying to learn how to better our physical environment. In those moments our thoughts often begin with the simple self-inquiry, ‘is this all there is to life? – is there no greater purpose?’ It is in those moments we may begin to seek for mentors who can help us make movement toward growth in spiritual areas and end the confinement which total concentration on the physical can create.

Those who begin this pondering process will soon find themselves drawn to mentors who talk about strange things like, the needs of ‘others,’ service, peace, love and forgiving, along with a plethora of other humanitarian concepts.

Those who continue this process will find that they become aware of mentorship coming from sources which do not have physical form. For example, I believe that each of us was taught in our pre mortal life while we had only our spirit body many truths and attributes which will be an important part of our eternal beings. If we can learn to listen to the spirit body which resides within each of us, our physical body would be astounded at the growth which could take place.

Just think for a moment of the potential of being able to receive understanding from our own spirit body. Not that we were as advanced as the Savior in our pre-mortal progress, but when He went to ponder and opened his physical mind to his spirit mind He was thereby communicating with the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament.

Another non-physical mentor is the promised Holy Spirit, who to those who truly seek will become a mentor and comforter as they sincerely ask. Since the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead, hopefully we would be wise enough to pay whatever price possible to gain the privilege of His mentorship.

Celestial Mentors:

Before venturing further into this category of mentors I want to share a quote from Joseph Smith, which is found in the Documentary History of the Church Volume 1 Page 339 and was given on the 13th of April 1833.

And again we never inquire at the hand of God for special revelation only in case of there being no previous revelation to suit the case…

It is a great thing to inquire at the hands of God, or to come into His presence; and we feel fearful to approach Him on subjects that are of little or no consequence, to satisfy the queries of individuals, especially about things the knowledge of which men ought to obtain in all sincerity, before God, for themselves, in humility by the prayer of faith… (Joseph Smith Jr. – Documentary History of the Church, Volume 1 page 339)

Although, mentoring can come from The Mentor, it seems He wants us to make sure we have exhausted and searched out all we can glean from Telestial and Terrestrial mentors before we turn to His personal wisdom. After all, He is the source of all knowledge and understanding. When we learn the necessary physical understandings and add to that the knowledge of how to become good and honorable beings, we are actually being added upon by His Omniscience.

In the weeks to come I will be taking from the wisdom found in the scriptures, concentrating mainly on that which we should reap from the Terrestrial and Celestial mentors.

There now, I have done it again, another Thought for a Sabbath Day spent entirely on an introduction.

(To be continued)

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

As we wander through life – we should seek to be found – in places which fill our souls with holiness!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

We can guarantee our days will be less joyous – if we fail to make gratitude – a major part of them!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Like in so many things – my mother was right when she said – happy days just don't happen – we make them!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

With all our tracing of ancestral generations – it would be well to always remember – we are all children of Heavenly Parents!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The secret of increasing our circle of living loved ones – might be found – while we are wandering through the records of our ancestors!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Making the Sabbath day a delight in our lives – whether it takes up a portion of one day each week – or whether we are striving to have Sabbath delights – during every day of our lives – could determine how much joy exists in our lives.

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY!!

I was recently reading in an AARP publication an article about happiness. (I have now been qualified to receive their materials for almost three decades) One of the findings, according to the researcher they were quoting was that seniors are the happiest of any age group.

They gave several reasons: First, seniors had found those things in life which bring them happiness and were spending the majority of their time involved in those activities and with those people. Second, they had ventured into a new activity which caused them to keep their brains and bodies active. Third, they had come to realize their happiest moments were when they were trying to serve, strengthen or satisfy the needs of others.

As I was examining my own advanced stage of life, (being well qualified to be called ‘senior’, although I prefer ‘experienced’), I realized one of the reasons I live in a perpetual state of contentment or, if you wish, happiness, is that I spend most of my 24/7 with Kathleen who will be my eternal companion. However, the thought which worked as a springboard to get me started on what looks like it will turn out to be one of those multiple episode Thoughts, was the idea that starting a new meaningful activity brought a great deal of happiness to those of advanced age.

I am absolutely certain those dedicated English Teachers who
suffered through my creative spelling and grammar contributions during my schooling years, would be shocked to hear the meaningful activity of my experienced years turned out to be writing. Kathleen, who faithfully edits and corrects my weekly Thoughts, shares empathy in every way with those faithful teachers who gave me their best efforts without achieving the best of results.

Anyway, since retiring from full time employment with the Church Education System after teaching seminary for four years in the Early Morning Program and 44 years as a full time employee I have ventured into the following activities, all of which have involved extensive time spent writing.

These activities include among other things:

Five years of teaching an adult religion class, for which, unlike the materials which were provided by CES during my employed years, I had to organize and write all my outlines.

During the last few years I have been writing my life’s history which I accurately call my ‘guessoirs’. Kathleen, as you might have suspected, has been a very important partner is this project. I am pretty much finished with the project, but I don't know how to end it since I am still alive and doing.

Starting in June of 2009 I wrote what would eventually become my weekly Thoughts for a Sabbath Day. With today’s current effort they now number 321 and I have published the first 300 in three volumes entitled Thoughts for 100 Sabbath Days.

In April of 2014, I wrote my first Life's Lessons Learned ‘saying’. I don't claim that they are profound, but just random short thoughts which come to me and I jot down. As a case in point, among the first of my Life's Lessons Learned I wrote was, ‘Always apply sports cream after going to the bathroom not before!!’ This morning I posted the 548th of these short sayings on Face Book and I have an equal number which I have written which are yet to be posted.

Periodically, one of my friends will send me a note, gently reminding me that a saying or Thought for a Sabbath Day I had posted wasn't original and even were so considerate as to provide me with a quote or a source from someone who lived in another decade, century or millennium. I am always appreciative of their reminders and contributions and I usually write them a short note confessing the reality that I may never have had a truly original thought in my entire life.

The Thought which I wish to write about during the next few weeks, is that no one who has ever lived a mortal life has ever taught that which was not first learned or known by another, that which was not based upon another’s teaching, or created that which was not founded by another, or possessed that which was not discovered or produced by another.

Therefore, if it be true that we are all receivers long before we are capable of giving, it would behoove us to be careful what and from whom we open our minds and hearts for proffered gifts.

It would likewise be of great benefit for us seek those who we allow to have input in our growth, who will build and elevate us rather than take away the advancement which we may have previously made.

We would be wise if we made those people our mentors who were ahead of us on the growth ladder. One of the mentors who has a spot high on my personal list, Hugh Nibley, was once approached by a student after a lecture who challenge him by saying he had never heard the things brother Nibley had spoken about. Brother Nibley, quickly quipped, ‘If you had already heard these things, why would you come to listen to me prattle.’

We must never become deceived into thinking that we have obtained sufficient understanding or that we know all there is to be known. When I was doing some circuit instruction to adults in the cow counties of Nevada, I was confronted with the reality that some of those who attended the classes had difficulty with some of the concepts being taught because they had become overly comfortable with the repetitious lessons they had heard over and over again from each other. It was gratifying when those who wanted to break out of their comfortable cycle would open up and be willing to do some painful and enlightening stretching.

There, I have amplified my reputation of having lengthy and sometimes confusing introductions.

(To be continued)

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of the greatest blessings – we may have been given – is the ability to overlook the imperfections of one another – and to learn from each other’s perfections!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of the greatest blessings – we may have been given – is the ability to see clearly – the blessings of our neighbors!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of the greatest blessings – we may have been given – is the inability to see clearly – the imperfections of our neighbors!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I have always felt sorrow for those – who through their seeking – found a God of vengeance – rather than a God of love and mercy!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If those heavenly friends – with whom we briefly associate – turn out to be Father sent angels – we may find our progression taking an unexpected leap forward!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS!!

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If we could part the veil – between our current state and heavenly beings – even if it is but for a brief moment – we would by so doing – associate with the best of companions!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS

FOUNTAIN OF TRUTH

On the three channels of the 12 inch television we had when I was young, my parents felt very comfortable watching the material which was presented by Bob Hope, Red Skelton and those other comedians during prime time. They had little fear that what was presented by these humorists might lead to a lengthy rendition of ‘the talk’.

The gulf between what we enjoyed during those evenings together, watching our ‘rabbit eared’ flickering reception, and what is presented today by so called comedians is so wide that no bridge would ever be able to span it. It only takes the lowest level of blockage on the computer to wipe out the words from all most all the acts of the current crop masquerading as comedians.

I have come to realize that if you were to extract the mention of body parts and functions and profanity from the routines of most of the acts of 21st century comedians, their time on stage would not exceed what used to be a 2 ½ minute talk in our church meetings. (If you have no idea what a 2 ½ minute talk is – ask your grandfather or one of the gray haired people at church – recent gray haired converts excluded)

It isn't that they cannot tell a joke without being ‘blue’, as evidenced by how they clean things up when appearing on a ‘prime time major network show.’ It just seems that today’s so called humor has sunk to the lowest common denominator of human morality.

One of the better definitions of humor is: ‘an exaggeration of reality.’ Therefore, if I attempt to be humorous outside of the bounds of reality, you will undoubtedly not find it funny. We seldom laugh at those things to which we cannot relate.

Let me give a personal example.

Because of the cultural norms, in our church we find humor in what we call ‘mormonisms’. These would not even slightly tickle the funny bone of someone who is not familiar with the culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

My son came home from church saying he wanted to be bishop so that he can sleep in church.

If you don't stop misbehaving, everyone will think you are the bishop’s child.

Put a badge on a young man and he miraculously changes from being a teenager to being an Elder.

Who knew that there would be a rule in the mission field about what time you go to bed and get up?

High Priest groups are a meeting held for frustrated spit and argue club debaters!!

Finally, we arrive at the point of this Thought.

There have been many times when I have come home after one of those unresolved debate sessions and wondered why we all hadn't followed Nephi’s counsel to his brothers that if they really wanted to know the truth, they needed to inquire of the Lord.

By its very definition humor cannot be truth, since its basis is exaggeration. It seems not to matter whether our humor comes in the form of the sterile clean days of Hope and Skelton or from the polluted humor of today’s ‘blue’ comics or from one of the many culture norms in which we exist, it will always fall short of being truth.

The seeker of truth must find loftier ground to walk upon if they are going to have a chance to discover that which is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Doctrine and Covenants 93:24)

As we examine the lives of Nephi’s un-prayerful brothers, Laman and Lemuel, hopefully it is not like holding a mirror and looking deeply into our own souls. Sadly, forever in time those characteristics resulting in Laman and Lemuel not knowing truth and which have caused Heavenly Father’s children to wander about on all other avenues before calling upon God, seem to bear a remarkable sameness.

Lack of faith

Reluctance born of unrepentant lives

Lack of self-confidence, which keeps us from soliciting aid from a
Being from whom we have estranged ourselves

Failure to cultivate the talent which makes it possible to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit

I feel confident that if we were to spend as many hours seeking truth from its fountain, as we have spent listening to the exaggerations of men attempting to humor us, we would be amazed at how satisfying the living waters of truth are and we would begin the process which leads to never thirsting again.

I suggest if we were to spend the same energy in trying to overcome the barriers which keep us from receiving truth from The Source, as we do debating our various guesses, we would begin to see the barriers disappear as they did for Nephi of old, and our inquiring of the Lord would bear the fruit of added light and understanding.

I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Book of Mormon – Moroni 10: 4, 5)

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Since groups are made up of individuals – it may be wise – to be selective – about those individuals we associate with!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Since not all of the groups – we have the potential of becoming part of – will have a positive effect on our growth – we need to be selective – which groups we join!!

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS

LIFE’S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If I wouldn't seek financial counsel – from a destitute person – why would I try to find God – by consulting an atheist??

LOVE - PEACE - JOY - HUGS