Come Unto Me

I want to tell you about my experience with this scripture. I have heard it and thought it was a good scripture all my life, but the last few years it has taken on new meaning for me:

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

A few years ago I was feeling discouraged about my life and knowing I needed to improve but not seeming to be able to get myself going. The General Relief Society meeting was coming up and I knew it would be good. I knew it would be good for me to go, but in the back of my mind I was thinking, "I know I need something to help kick myself into gear, but if there is too much, I'll be so discouraged I won't feel like trying and I won't do anything. I was praying for help at the time, too.

So I went to the meeting and I was so shocked that the message was (at least what I took from it) that Jesus loves us and wants us to come to Him and He will help us. The Matthew 11:28-30 scripture was brought up.

I was amazed that of all the things I needed to know and do at the time, the message from my Heavenly Father was to Come Unto Jesus and let Him help you. I was even more astonished when at General Conference the next week this again was the message. This same scripture was quoted 4-5 times. I have further been astonished to see that this same scripture and the theme of "Come Unto Christ" has been quoted in every General conference. I will never look at this scripture in the same way. To me, it is a personal invitation to each one of us to feel and benefit from the great love and help of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.

Discerning between right and wrong in a confusing world

In studying the Sunday School lesson I thought this was an interesting little object lesson and quote. Sometimes discerning between right and wrong can get a bit confusing. When we have those times, we need to look at where we are in comparison to the "iron rod" and the "great and spacious building". If we are on the Lord's side of the line, the truth doesn't look quite as gray. The quote by Elder Scott from the lesson also reminded me of this quote by Elder Bednar, which follows.

I guess the truth is not always as confusing as we like to make it. Sometimes the truth is confusing because we are trying to justify or excuse our actions or someone else's.

Lesson 10: “He Inviteth All to Come unto Him”, Book of Mormon Class Member Study Guide, 7

Suggestion for Family Discussion
Have a family member stand in the center of the room. Explain that in this demonstration, the area to the right of that person represents all the good things that can be done in life. The area to the farthest right represents the very best things that can be done. The area to the left of the person represents all the wrong things that can be done in life. The area to the farthest left represents the very worst things that can be done.

Explain that Elder Richard G. Scott presented a similar object lesson. Then he observed: “In the middle, it is difficult to discern what is right and what is wrong. This middle area is where Satan works with righteous people. … It is easy to become confused here. Live well within the wonderful area of good the Lord has defined, and you won’t have any problems with temptation. If you are not sure whether something is appropriate to look at, to listen to, to think about, or to do, then avoid it. You could be headed for one of Satan’s traps” (“Do What Is Right,” Ensign, June 1997, 53–54).

The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us. Because we estrange the Spirit of the Lord when we engage in activities we know we should shun, then such things definitely are not for us.
That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us, Ensign May 2006
Elder David A. Bednar
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

To Dwindle in Unbelief

The reading assignment for Sunday School this week has me thinking about the term "to dwindle in unbelief". It made me curious about the word dwindle.

Here is the definition of dwindle:
become smaller or lose substance;
To diminish; to become less; to shrink; to waste or consume
away; to become degenerate; to fall away.
To become gradually less until little remains

It is an interesting choice of words when it comes to talking about someone's faith. If you are not building up your faith, then you run the risk of it starting to dwindle. It (usually) doesn't happen all at once, but a choice at a time. Interesting that that is the same way we build up our faith, one drop of oil at a time.

I guess the opposite of dwindle would be build up. Here is a scripture that illlustrates the opposite of dwindle:
For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more;
2 Nephi 28:30