G. Andrew Barfuss was the main speaker. He spoke about being steadfast and immovable. He told a story about a water pipe that burst and caused thousands of dollars in damage just because the thrust block shifted 1/16th of an inch. (The thrust block is what keeps the pipe together where the pipe turns a corner.)
He spoke of the great sin of being casual. He said that we should make sure our mistakes are sincere and never casual. Casualness causes Heavenly Father much sorrow.
Faithfulness is consistency. He spoke of the club that most of us find ourselves members of: The Better-Offer Club. We agree to do something, but then change our minds as soon as another offer that is better comes up. Example: "Sure I will eat dinner at your house (unless I get invited to a party that night)." This causes us to break promises.
He talked about how, in the Book of Ether, the brother of Jared became casual and stopped asking the Lord where to go or what to do when they encountered the beautiful land of Nimrod. He got a severe chastisement from the Lord.
Three things we can do to become more steadfast and immovable:
1. We can discern between good things and distracting things by increasing the amount of light in our lives. When we find a bad habit, we should be willing to do anything necessary to stop. Don't be afraid to seek help from the Lord and Church leaders. 90% obedience still isn't pleasing to the Lord. Go for 100%.
2. Be willing to do things that are hard but worthwhile. God doesn't seek to make our lives easy, but enables us to do hard things. We can take pleasure in the accomplishing of hard tasks. D&C 88:32
3. Remember how the Lord blesses us. Don't forget what He does for us to succeed.
I liked when he defined the words Steadfast and immovable. Steady and Strong are one a couple of words i wrote down. I need to be steady and i need to be strong when adversity comes my way.
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly does that mean to you Allison? How would you define being steadfast and immovable?
ReplyDeleteAddictions: "We live in an age with many many addictions of all types. We must overcome these addicitons through FULLY COMMITTING OURSELVES TO THE SPIRIT & THE LORD!"
ReplyDeleteI can testify to the truthfulness of these words! I was horribly addicted to medication after a severe accident I was in years ago. At first it was nothing, I was taking the meds to kill severe pain, but after a few years of this same routine I was hooked beyond belief. It seemed impossible to get off the meds, I had tried everything. The withdrawls were too painful. After many, many attempts get get clean, I turned to my bishop for help. I didn't receive help until I fully submitted myself to the Lord, and the Spirit. It was at that point in time that I didn't feel so alone, that I was able to slowly break myself free of this horrid addiction. Break the chains of Satan. It was through my full submission to Heavenly Father that I was able to break free. I know that our power comes from 100% obedience to Him. It does come in the little choices we make every single day! I KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH, OR HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT MAY SEEM, THAT IF YOU FULLY SUBMIT YOURSELF TO HEAVENLY FATHER, HE WILL HELP YOU, HE WILL FIVE YOU THE POWER TO PULL THROUGH.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
I made the mistake to skip out on this devotional and go eat out with my mom... reading the testimony above my comment, I was truly moved by it. I have a family member who is as the moment addicted to pain meds. I have watched how he has slowly pushed away from family activities and any kind of interaction with his kids. His wife is now divorcing him and he is facing the reality of the eternal marriage that he might possibly lose. I feel for him, but like anonymous said, when things are so bad nothing can help other then turning yourself over to Heavenly Father. He isnt at that point, but I hope he will be soon. My mom once told me "nobody is above falling into Satins hands. Actually the greats spirits are the ones you see fall more often because Satin works more on them"
ReplyDeleteI have to say, anonymous #1, i am right there with you. i had to over come my addictions to many carnal things and things of this world when i converted to the church, but relying on heavenly father and christ for ALL my strength truly is the reason why i'm clean and sober today. I have found strength in calling on his name in my time of weakness. so i just wanted to say thank you and i appreciate your testimony.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the devotional on tuesday, i can not say how much i love them and take strength from them. they are truly amazing, i look forward to tomorrow, i always hear the right things at the right time even when i dont know i need it until later in the week. For example Elder Barfuss spoke about doing hard things, which i havent seen anyone mention here, But. That has stuck with me through out this week. this whole school thing is a new concept to me, but part of why im sticking around is because i want to change my family tree financially. I was thinking to myself "Man! What in the world am i doing here, im not cut out for this," but every time i think about just giving up, i remember his words, "you must be willing to do hard things." And i remember the words of my bishop's wife about being stuck. I find that not only must we be immovable in faith, but with that faith find the strength to do hard things (scary things) and know that heavenly father is there to carry us even at our weakest moments when we think we can not go on, or think we are not adequate for the task he as sent us to do. I do have a testimony of what elder Barfuss spoke about, and i know if we just keep on holding on we will reach our goals not only in this life but in the next.
Im very grateful that Bro. Barfuss mentioned the importance of remembering how the Lord blesses us. Soon after listening to this discourse, I was reading in first Nephi, and noticed that when Nephi was exhorting his Brothers to do that which the Lord had commanded them, he asked in several different ways: How is it that you have forgotten the greatness of the Lord and all that He has done for you?
ReplyDeleteWhen we think of Laman and Lemuel, we tend to think of how wicked they were, and how little faith they had. Yet many times we commit the same sin which led them to such a life. That is, we forget how the Lord has blessed us. It's very easy to lose sight of our blessings while passing through trials and tribulations, but what I've noticed in my life, is that these are the moments when remembering the Lord will benefit us most.
Im grateful for this reminder and hope to remember always all that the Lord has done for me