LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Desires left unfulfilled – were probably not completely thought out – were poorly formulated – and – were undoubtedly weakly pursued!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

During one’s advanced years – many duties get left undone – because of waning desires!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

There comes a time while listening to people talk about their aging parents – you can’t help but wonder – what your own children – and – grandchildren are saying about you – as you are aging!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I guess the reason so much of our life’s accumulations – end up in the garbage dump – is that treasures were meant to be buried!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

There are moments – when it seems like – the accumulation of life’s treasures was a much easier task – than getting rid of them at the end of one’s life!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The only problem with the minimalist movement – is that future grandparents – will be robbed of a great opportunity – to ‘pay back’ their children – and – grandchildren – because their offspring won’t have a messy mountain of stuff to sort through – when the oldies pass away!!

THEN AND NOW 2

Although the first part of this thought ended by stressing the synergistic growth which can come as a result of congregational worship, ultimately one’s true conversion and coming to Christ results from seeking to have the love of the Savior sink deep into their soul while being submerged in individual solitary searching.

As we turn the page in The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ and study Alma’s teachings in chapter 34 of his book we find him emphasizing the importance of and outlining the necessary individual solitary searching steps which are essential during our conversion process which will lead us to being a committed disciple of Jesus the Christ.

In verses 17 – 41 Alma provides us with a wonderful, but probably not exhaustive list of activities which should be included in our sincere solitary searching.

Gain faith in the merciful comprehensiveness of the great and last sacrificial Atonement of Jesus the Christ.

Exercise that faith as a means to bring you unto repentance by calling upon His name pleading for His mercy to come upon you.

Pray that you will continue to grow in and exercise humility.

Pray unto Him for His sustaining help in all of your stewardships.

Pray unto Him at all times in all places.

Pray unto Him for protection against the power of your enemies.

Pray unto Him for protection against the Devil who is the enemy of righteousness.

Pray that you will not be led away by the temptations of the Devil and become subject unto Him.

When not involved in formal prayer, pray unto Him continually in your heart.

Pray for the strength and patience to bear the afflictions which may come upon you.

Pray that you will hold fast to the hope you have in the Savior being the source to bring you rest from your afflictions.

Extend your charitableness to the sick, needy and naked so that your prayers will not be hypocritical or in vain.

Study the witnesses found in the Holy Scriptures of the truthfulness of the Lord’s word.

Contend not against the Holy Spirit.

Always retain thankfulness for the mercies and blessings of God.

Always retain a spirit of worshiping God.

As I was compiling this list from the teachings of Alma, I was struck with the thought, that if both sincere solitary searching as well as congregational synergistic worship have the power to bring us closer to our Heavenly Parents and Jesus the Christ and are the means of insuring the Holy Spirit fruitful ground to plant the seeds of gospel truths in our hearts, why would we only use half of the resources available rather than including all that the Lord has provided for our eternal progression?


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO + HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE + INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I you want to witness – a parent being really frustrated – you just have to watch them trying to keep their children quiet – while they – also try to maintain interest in the speakers during a Church meeting!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

There are some church meetings – when so many people are searching on their cell phones – during the time when talks are being given – that if the lights were to go out in the chapel – the room would still be bright!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

In times past people used to fall asleep during church meetings – while listening to dull speakers – that involuntary behavior has been replaced – by the voluntary behavior of searching on cell phones – and – tablets!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It becomes more difficult to identify the theme of a talk – when the illustrative stories being told are much more extensive – than the points which were meant to be made!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

As my days multiply – I seem to be losing my ability – to enjoy sitting in long meetings – listening to oft repeated themes!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If we are arrogant enough – to insist – that the Savior’s Atonement – only affects the salvation of a very exclusive group – we drastically minimize the Lord’s ability to give the Gift – of His Love – Mercy – and – Grace to all!!

THEN AND NOW 1

Since we are encouraged to read The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ, over and over again throughout our lives, we need to come to the realization that there are many ways we can change our emphasis while we are our reading in order to continue to make our study exciting and revelatory. One of the more exciting revealing searches in the book will come when we concentrate on, ask for and receive the understandings of the historical parallels between the days written about in the book and what is transpiring in our own lives today.

After the inhabitants of the world woke on January 2, 2000, and it was apparent that with the opening of a new century had begun and the world had not ended, there came with it the opening of a new way of judging religiousness among the younger generation which would bring about a new relationship between the mortal children of Heavenly Father and the established Churches of the World.

With the exception of a short period after September 11, 2001, there has been a steady decline in the attendance of this rising generation at weekly houses of worship. It is interesting to note that although attending organized religious service has declined, there has actually been an increase in the number of this generation over many previous generations of those who believe in the existence of a universal divine directing force, which may or may not be referred to by them as God, Yahwah, Allah or Zeus.

The reasons for their rejection of organized religions are multiple. A few of their reasonings include; the many destructive wars which have and are conducted in the name of religion, the greed and pomposity of many who have and are directing some religions, the hypocritical gulf between the moral teachings of some clergy and their personal adherence to those creeds, the conflict between the building of grand cathedrals, temples and mosques and the starving throngs which lie at their doorsteps, they find themselves feeling closer to God surrounded by the beauties of His creations than in the confines of buildings built by men.

Although as with all comparisons, we know that details will not always be in direct correlation throughout, we do find interesting parallels between the anti-church philosophies of the early 21st century and that which Alma found among the Zoramites in the year 74 B.C.

And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them.

Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?

For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.

Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.

And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer.

And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.

Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them. (Alma 33: 2-8)

Although there seems to be a glowing difference between the poor among the Zoramites being driven from worshipping in their synagogues and the first generation of the 21st century choosing to absent themselves from the buildings designated for worship a more exhaustive pondering might reveal that the distance between religious teachings and many who govern or attend those places of worship have driven this generation away from their pews and they have therefore retreated to God’s beautifully created nature for their worship and devotion.

One of the flaws I find in the path which those who have chosen to rely solely on their personal efforts to overcome the gulf between themselves and the love, mercy and grace of God, is that they deny themselves the synergistic miracle which results from sincere believers worshiping in unison. Even though the reasons for the modern’s having absented themselves from these gatherings may have merit, it does not hold that exceptions do not exist. My personal testimony is that there are those gatherings where groups of imperfect people who are attempting to be a little bit better today than yesterday gather and strengthen one another in coming more completely to that which Alma declares to be the true reason for individual and group religious efforts.

If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen. (Alma 33: 22, 23)

Since I believe in the constancy and continuation of the reality of God being involved in His declared work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children, it causes my soul to burn with the truth that His work has not slackened, neither for all past generations, nor for today’s generation, as well as all future generations. I am convinced of the reality that just as the problems of the impoverished among the Zoramites were resolved and they were shown the way to overcome their difficulties of worship by a prophet anointed and sent by God, likewise, Heavenly Father’s children of this generation as well as all other generations will be blessed in the same manner.

(To be continued)


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO❣️ + ❣️HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE❣️ + ❣️INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Depending on the Second Coming of the Lord – to put an end to your trials – and – sufferings – will probably add to the sadness you are going to experience – in your days to come!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It is daily becoming clearer to me - that the preference for driving on surface roads rather than freeways – even though it may take longer – may constitute one of those signals – that one’s driving days are coming to an end!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Query – should people with early DNA – or – people with late DNA – be in charge of meeting start times??

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I have often wondered – why some people are always early – and – others are always late – it almost seems to be a unique particle in the DNA!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of the most awkward times of life – comes when your offspring either won’t accept the changes aging are making in your life – or – over react trying to compensate for them!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It has always amazed me – how much easier it is to live with our own faults – than with those of our neighbors!!

SCRIPTURAL TREASURES

Whenever the question comes up in a class which is studying The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ about the theme of chapter 32 of the Book of Alma, almost without exception the first response will be the ‘principle of faith’.

Limiting this chapter to the single principle of faith is much like saying that Einstein knew the names of the planets surrounding the sun.

Just a quick rundown of the multiple principles which Alma teaches in this chapter would include the following.

A person should never be judged whether they will accept the invitation to come unto Christ by the size of their bank account or the cut of the cloth which covers their bodies.

Many times there is a relationship between being impoverished and being poor in heart.

Being poor or lowly of heart are words Alma uses to increase our understanding of the principle of humility. These are used in contrast to those who have hearts filled with pride or loftiness.

Whatever our economic circumstances might be, unless we become humble or poor in heart there is little chance we will accept the invitation to come unto Christ.

Worshiping God is not dependent on having a certain place, nor a specified time to worship.

It is a good thing if one is compelled to be humble and it results in their accepting the invitation to come unto Christ.

It is a better thing if one becomes humble without being compelled and accepts the invitation to come unto Christ.

The degree of humility one might have will be demonstrated by their desire to repent.

When the humble person repents they will feel the mercy of God fill their souls.

When the humble person repents they will enjoy the blessings of God.

The humble person who repents will be blessed unto the believing in the word of God.

If the humble person continues on the path of being humble, repenting of their sins, believing in the word of God, partaking of the mercy and blessings of God and endureth unto the end they will be saved.

There is a difference between having knowledge of a thing and having hope or faith in that thing.

When we have knowledge of something and are not obedient to that which we know we will be cursed.

It is an act of mercy of God, that He keeps most of us on the level of going through life not having knowledge, but acting on the basis of hope or faith.

We will be judged by the level of hope and faith we have obtained through our humility and according to our works based on that degree of faith and hope.

Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen , which are true.

Once having become humble and begun the repentance process I must come to believe in His name.

Along with believing in the name of God, I must begin and continue to believe in His word.

The word of God comes to his children in mortality by angels sent from God.

If we receive the word of God from angels we will have the power to confound the wise and the learned.

When we receive the words of God given to us by angels or one who has received them in such a way, we will not know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

When we receive the word of God we should experiment upon it by exercising a particle of faith, desiring to believe, letting that desire work in us until we give place for a portion of His word.

When we have received a portion of His word, it is like a seed which has been planted in our heart, which unless it is cast out by unbelief or through resisting the Spirit of the Lord, it will begin to swell and enlarge unto the enlightening of our understanding and the strengthening of our faith.

Every seed of the word which we nurture unto enlarging bringeth forth other seeds unto its likeness and thus we learn line upon line.

Our mortal minds can begin to be enlightened unto understanding, leading us to have a perfect knowledge of a principle of the gospel.

Once having received a perfect knowledge of a principle of the gospel, my understanding of the responsibility which comes with an increased accountability should give me cause to be faithful.

Having received the light of knowledge on one principle of the gospel should not cause us to imagine that our knowledge is perfect or complete.

No matter how abundantly a seed has enlarged, even though it may have become a mighty tree, failing to continue to nourish or neglecting it at any stage of development will cause it to be scorched and wither.

The nourishing of whatever seed we have received must be done with diligence, patience and always looking forward to the fruit which will come.

God promises that if we have nourished the seed and it has matured through the light of heaven unto a magnificent tree bearing fruit, we will find the fruit to be most precious, sweet above all that is sweet, white above all that is white, pure above all that is pure and we will be filled that we hunger not, neither will we thirst.

What a wonderful treasure awaits us when we lay aside the appropriate yet shallow traditional thoughts or answers to oft repeated queries and enjoy the bounty found when we search the scriptures.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO + HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE + INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY = THE GOOD LIFE❣️

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If we study long – and – diligently enough – we should come to the understanding there is probably a need for only one commandment – when we truly understand what it means to love the Lord thy God with all your heart – mind – and – soul!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

A careful reading of the words of the Lord – and – the prophets – should lead us to the understanding that pride – refers to our relationship with God – and – has nothing to do with our relationships with other humans!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

That which each of us will be accountable for – is undoubtedly as unique – as our finger prints!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The importance of subjects – and – events are seldom at the same level – for different people!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I have wondered – who has the greater amount of pride – the person who always has the answer – or – the person who is prone to reject counsel – but – then again maybe it is one – and – the same thing??

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of the lessons which seems hardest to learn – is that the fear – or – anxiety we feel about what is about to take place – often exceeds the fear we feel – during the actual event!!

RELIGIOUS GARDENS

Having spent my adolescent days in communities where the majority of the population were affiliated with the same religious organization, I may have had a young mind stilted with localisms. There were several categories which described the relationships the citizens had with said religion. There were those who identified themselves as being a member of a family which belonged to the church. There were those who were identified as inactive, a term which was later was changed to less active. There were part member families. There were those who were talked about behind their backs as being fanatical. There was a cute category of those who were C and E members, meaning they attended church on Christmas and Easter. There were those who were known more by the title of the office they currently held or had previously held. There were some who used the word Mormon to identify their church identification, a term which would later be discouraged and supplemented as being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The summer before I was to enter the fourth grade our family moved to Long Beach, California, and my sheltered religious community suddenly became populated by friends and neighbors who belonged to what I had previously always heard as being referred to as ‘other churches’. There were those who called themselves Jews. There were some who called themselves Catholics. There were all sorts of those who called themselves Protestants with an additional identification such as Methodist, Baptist or Lutheran. There were even a few who referred to themselves as agnostics, which as far as I could tell just meant they went to the movies on Saturdays or Sundays rather than church.

My little Utah, Idaho, garden filled only with roses was now being enriched with beautiful daffodils, lilies, pansies and a whole variety of wonderful flowers which made my life full of exciting, new and unexpected experiences which then filled my mind with all kinds of wonderings and questions.

By the time I entered High School our family had moved once again to a small community in Orange County, California, called Garden Grove. I never counted the orange trees during those years, but since Garden Grove only had 3,000 inhabitants at the time I am sure the orange trees outnumbered the people by many times over. Anyway, as I entered High School, I was suddenly cast into a world where my church membership made me an unwelcome minority in the community. The few of us who were Mormons, the name was still being used at that time, would cluster in a tight circle during lunch and walk together between classes and where possible to and from school. I don’t feel like it stunted my emotional growth, but at least during the first two years of High School, I can honestly say I experienced, for the first time, the ugliness of bullying and persecution. Sadly, these conditions didn’t allow for the multiple flower gardens filled with religious variety which I had enjoyed in Long Beach, to flourish, in fact they came very close to completely dying out.

Although, during the succeeding decades of my life there have been times when there have been an abundance of variation in the religious gardens which have surrounded me, there have also been times when all gardens looked quite barren.

During this latter stage of my earthly sojourn it has become clear that there are many who have become disenchanted with the wilting flowers they perceive the religions of the world are planting. There are many who continue to believe in God, or whatever term they use to describe a universal force, but have chosen to refuse to belong to or enter into any garden which bears the name of a religion.

In chapter 31 of Alma of The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma tells us about an interesting religious garden planted by the Priests of the Zoramites.

12 Now, when they had come into the land, behold, to their astonishment they found that the Zoramites had built synagogues, and that they did gather themselves together on one day of the week, which day they did call the day of the Lord; and they did worship after a manner which Alma and his brethren had never beheld;

13 For they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head; and the top thereof would only admit one person.

14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying:

15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.

16 Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.

17 But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God.

18 And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen.

In these seven verses I think Alma teaches us many of the conditions which cause beautiful religious gardens to wither into desolated patches of barren ground, which have little hope of attracting people to come and enjoy them.

God can only be worshiped in certain places and at certain times.

Worship of God is only valid if it is witnessed and appreciated by an audience.

There is only one attitude and condition which makes true worship possible.

Making God a mysterious a being which cannot be understood.

Believing that because you belong to a particular group, you are therefore better than others.

Denying the existence of Jesus the Christ.

Believing those of your faith are the only ones to be saved, while all others are damned.

Belief that anyone in any other religious group is bound by false teachings and traditions.

Believing themselves to be holy while all others are condemned.

In subsequent verses Alma adds these additional conditions which will make any religious garden become bleak.

Having hearts swallowed up in pride.

Being puffed up because they possessed a great deal of the vain things of the world.

Ornamented themselves and set their hearts on the trinkets the world deems to be precious.

Believed they had riches because they felt they were chosen of God.

Latter Day Prophets have added the following to the list of elements which need to be eliminated from religious gardens if they have any hope of continual flourishing.

Believing in exclusion rather than inclusion.

Disagreeing and while doing so being disagreeable.

The bestowal of truth by God is a gift to only the elect.

Mistrust of that which is different or unknown.

Whenever we allow any of these noxious weeds to take hold in our religious gardens and do not set our might, minds and souls on their eradication our own beautiful scape will be doomed to becoming another desolate blight.

Just one last thought, we would all do well to concentrate on our own little corner of whatever garden in which we have chosen to walk, diligently nurturing the good plants while being constant in keeping our plot free of these noxious weeds.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO + HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE + INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY = THE GOOD LIFE❣️

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

There is a definite power which comes to us – when we apply the Lord’s word to life’s challenges – and – circumstances!!