Patient continuance in well doing

I happened to come across this scripture in my reading today:

Romans 2:6-7

6 [God] will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

I don't believe I have read this scripture before. Or if I have, it has been a while, but it really struck me as I read it today. This is a good definition of enduring to the end. Patient continuance in well doing. I like that phrase.

My Martha Moment

We had Parent Teacher conferences a few nights ago for both Courtney and Ashley at two different schools. Kevin and I went and I was quite focused on getting the teachers visited so we could get to the other school in time to do the same thing before it closed. As we were walking to the gym where the conferences were, Kevin saw some acquaintances and stopped to say hi. I was a little annoyed since we had so much to do and I remember thinking, "Why does he need to stop? Why doesn't he just say hi as we walk by?" Then I heard what he said. He was talking to the father of a girl who had been diagnosed with a serious illness a couple weeks before. He was giving the father some encouragement.

There was my Martha moment. I was so intent on getting our task done that I failed to think of the needs of someone else.

Where will your friends take you?

This article from this month's New Era really struck me. Where will your friends take you? Are they taking you closer to or further from Jesus? Definitely something to think about. This is written by John Bytheway, who always has an interesting take on things.
http://lds.org/new-era/2011/02/where-will-your-friends-take-you?lang=eng

More on hypocrites....

I am still reading in 3 Nephi and Jesus is still talking about hypocrites.

3 Nephi 14

1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again, saying: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

This is from Pres. Monson's latest address to the Relief Society:

A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.

“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”

John looked on but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.

A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”

John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”

This is from the November 2010 Ensign, "Charity Never Faileth"

This theme was also in the message the last time Pres. Monson spoke to the Young Women:

May I speak first about the courage to refrain from judging others. Oh, you may ask, “Does this really take courage?” And I would reply that I believe there are many times when refraining from judgment—or gossip or criticism, which are certainly akin to judgment—takes an act of courage.

Unfortunately, there are those who feel it necessary to criticize and to belittle others. You have, no doubt, been with such people, as you will be in the future. My dear young friends, we are not left to wonder what our behavior should be in such situations. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior declared, “Judge not.” 1 At a later time He admonished, “Cease to find fault one with another.” 2 It will take real courage when you are surrounded by your peers and feeling the pressure to participate in such criticisms and judgments to refrain from joining in.

I would venture to say that there are young women around you who, because of your unkind comments and criticism, are often left out. It seems to be the pattern, particularly at this time in your lives, to avoid or to be unkind to those who might be judged different, those who don’t fit the mold of what we or others think they should be.

The Savior said:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another. …

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” 3

Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

A friend told me of an experience she had many years ago when she was a teenager. In her ward was a young woman named Sandra who had suffered an injury at birth, resulting in her being somewhat mentally handicapped. Sandra longed to be included with the other girls, but she looked handicapped. She acted handicapped. Her clothing was always ill fitting. She sometimes made inappropriate comments. Although Sandra attended their Mutual activities, it was always the responsibility of the teacher to keep her company and to try to make her feel welcome and valued, since the girls did not.

Then something happened: a new girl of the same age moved into the ward. Nancy was a cute, redheaded, self-confident, popular girl who fit in easily. All the girls wanted to be her friend, but Nancy didn’t limit her friendships. In fact, she went out of her way to befriend Sandra and to make certain she always felt included in everything. Nancy seemed to genuinely like Sandra.

Of course the other girls took note and began wondering why they hadn’t ever befriended Sandra. It now seemed not only acceptable but desirable. Eventually they began to realize what Nancy, by her example, was teaching them: that Sandra was a valuable daughter of our Heavenly Father, that she had a contribution to make, and that she deserved to be treated with love and kindness and positive attention.

By the time Nancy and her family moved from the neighborhood a year or so later, Sandra was a permanent part of the group of young women. My friend said that from then on she and the other girls made certain no one was ever left out, regardless of what might make her different. A valuable, eternal lesson had been learned.

True love can alter human lives and change human nature.

My precious young sisters, I plead with you to have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued.

This is from the May 2009 Ensign, "May You Have Courage"

Hypocrites

According to Jesus (3 Nephi 12) this is what hypocrites do:
1. They do alms to the poor to be seen of men and to get the glory of men
2. They pray with vain repetitions and to be heard of men
3. When they fast, they are of a sad countenance so that everyone knows that is what they are doing.

It is interesting that all 3 of these things are things that an upstanding Christian would be doing. Even when we are doing the right things, we can't just do them outwardly. It has to be done with all our heart, mind, and strength. It reminds me of this scripture in Moroni:

Moroni 7:48

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Salt

3 Nephi 12:13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.

What is salt? What does it do?

It gives flavor. It preserves. It is a germ killer. There are more than 14,000 uses for salt. It is versatile.
From the dictionary: the salt of the earth: a person or group of people of great kindness, reliability, or honesty.


Here is a talk on "salt of the earth" by Elder Carolos E. Asay:
http://lds.org/ensign/1980/05/salt-of-the-earth-savor-of-men-and-saviors-of-men?lang=eng

Here are a few highlights of this very interesting talk. Lots of think about and consider:

The salt in container A, which I am holding in my right hand, has savor. That is, it is clean, pure, uncontaminated, and useful. In this state or condition, salt will preserve, flavor, heal, and perform other useful functions.

The salt in container B, however, is salt that has lost its savor. It has lost its savor because it has been mixed with things of bad taste. In fact, it has taken on some of the color and appearance of other substances.

I count it significant that the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Salt Lake City. From this center of the Church flows the message of salvation to all the world. To this city of salt, men and women gather from all corners of the earth to receive instruction and edification. Such instruction, if accepted and practiced, will enable men to retain their savor and assist them in becoming saviors of men.

I pray that all of us will appreciate more perfectly the words of the Savior: “Ye are the salt of the earth.” I pray that we will carry this designation faithfully and honorably.

Please remember that men—like salt—lose their savor through contamination; remember also that men who fail to use their priesthood power in behalf of others are like salt without savor.