Seek Ye the Kingdom of God

Luke 12:13-34

Seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink...
... But rather seek ye the kingdom of God;
and all these things shall be added unto you. 

The book of Luke details an event where the Savior of the world teaches apostles and those gathered a parable about inheritance and worldly posession. He teaches of how we are not to seek for the worldly inheritance and riches, but to seek for the kingdom of God.

The important teaching here is to evaluate, really check and search within ourselfs and see as to whether what we are focused on is the right thing to do. It's hard sometimes to put God first in our lifes above family and friends, above work and leisure commitments, or even above church commitments. I know from experience that the joy that comes from thinking first of God before the others is unparallelled to any.

'Considering the lillies', as the Savior teaches, which are in the fields unable to care for themselves can teach us a valuable lesson. Nobody looks afterthem, yet they remain. God looks after them and has put procesess in nature by which they can be sustained. He has a great plan for them, and a great plan for us. When we seek His will and His plan in our lives, we will truely flourish.Read the account and see the video depicting this teaching by clicking here.

The Savior of the world teaches us,

if we follow in God and His path

for us

we will not need to worry.

It requires pure faith and trust,

and the rest will be made up. 

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Member Missionary Work

Member Missionary Work

I've talked about it before, but I found something funny today about member missionary work.

Me and my companion were investigating into community service and I found a post card that made me laugh. I related it to member missionary work. Don't think mental health, think about talking to friends about the gospel.

 

As missionaries, we understand that it can be hard to talk to friends about the gospel. I would say - don't think about it as what we do on the streets. You aren't there to tell them about Joseph Smith receiving the priesthood on the Susquehanna river (unless they ask I suppose!). You want to aim at sharing with them when they're having a hard time with wayward kids about the youth programs in the church. Perhaps to speak about the spirit world when they grieve the loss of their loved ones. 

In whatever you do, remember that the best way to help someone understand the gospel is by making it part of everyday life and likening truth you know to questions they have. You don't have to be a doctrinal wizard, you merely need to testify of what the principle means to you and how it has changed your life.

Best of luck, try look for these opportunities this week :)

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The Grain of Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:20

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto this mountain, 
Remove hence to yonder place
and it shall remove;
and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

I think in our lives we have changing levels of faith displayed. For every moment we have an amount of faith in a person or a thing or a principle based on our experiences with it. The above scripture declares that all we need to move mountains is faith as a grain of mustard seed. The picture above shows just how small that is; the seeds are usually 1mm or 2mm in diameter.

For me, the size isn't really what makes it, it is the fact that it is physical, and an object. Most likely used because in Christ's time that would likely have been the smallest conceivable object to the people, and yet they don't even have that much faith.

It says a lot to me that our faith isn't quite a tangible object, and we might think that we have a lot of faith, but in actual fact, we don't have as much as we had hoped. Joseph B Wirthlin (one of the Lords apostles in our day) says something similar, he likens it to a fire. Some people may feel like their testimony is strong, their fire is powerful, when actually it is only a candle flame compared to another person's roaring bonfire. This is applicable to faith too, we may feel like we have enough faith to overcome challenges, or to receive inspiration and revelation, but in actual fact it is not much at all.

When trials come, we need our faith to be as strong as possible.

The girl in this video learns the truthfulness of
the Book of Mormon, by asking and praying 
to God in faith. Her faith helped her find a crucial
answer; what can your faith do for you?

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Fear Not What Man Can Do

Moroni 8:16-17

I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.

And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love

I was shown this scripture yesterday and I thought it was such a great scripture! It really helped me to reflect about just what our potentials in life can be. We can often get dragged down by the negative things, dwell on them too long and then fear. Many times in the scriptures and in modern revelation we are told that God is almighty and can overcome all things (because he created them!!) If we have faith then we can see this be fulfilled in our lives.

A little bit of faith can change any situation for the better, and allow healing and happiness for our souls.

Watch a video which teaches how faith can overcome
all fears and doubts we may have in this life.
God's love can surround us and make us better
and stronger individuals, who rely on Him.

Click to watch, and please share with friends!

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I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go

 

The bishop here in Maidstone has really felt the spirit from the World Wide Missionary Broadcast. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are taught to share good principles, morals and values that we personally have developed with our friends and family, to bring the same happiness into their lives that we enjoy. The church very recently broadcasted a meeting which presented and discussed multiple ways to share this joy with others, and how to become involved in the missionary program which is recognised world-wide.

Do you want to try and share your beliefs with others, or find more joy in serving? Do you know friends who could really use a better reason to smile, or chat? I feel that there isn't ever a good enough reason to not want others to enjoy the same blessings that you personally enjoy. I wish everybody I knew had the same happiness that I enjoy from my beliefs, and I want to be able to share it with everybody; however I recognise that comes little by little, not from big displays but from small examples and kind acts.

Watch a video from the broadcast on missionary work.
Without words, it teaches and speaks loudly of the ways

we as children of God can share joy with those around us.

Missionary work becomes easy when we see how normal it can be.

Click to watch, and please share with friends!

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The Family is of God

Something I wanted to share about this week is the family. I think it's very important to consider the lesson taught by 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World'.

When we think about the way we are as people, we cannot help but think that it is the way we were raised that has one of the biggest influences in our behavior, our attitude, even our thoughts. It's a good thing to live positively and happily, and that starts by how we think and act. If we want to be happy, we can do a lot to get there. There's a lot to be said for people who go through life looking at the downside of things rather than the upside; glass half-empty people.

I think about the way I was raised as a kid. I know that my parents reflected upon the words taught in the referenced proclamation. It teaches how we are all created in God's image and we are all his children. It teaches how we can inherit eternal life; in fact it is our destiny to do so. It tells of how important every single human life is. It shares the importance of marriage and having a husband and wife lead the family.

I am grateful for my parents example of sticking through it even during hard times, and their teachings supporting this proclamation that I personally had divine worth. They never gave up on me, and always supported me and encouraged me to do good things with my life. I felt love as they told me that I had a Father in heaven that loved me more than anybody else, and more than I could possibly imagine. This has caused me to always reflect back on what they have said, and be able to link that concept and fact to every decision I make.

I know that I am not just someone, but everything, to God.

Watch this video talking about the important 

responsibility of raising children in Faith.

Parents need to work together to bring the best out

of their children, and help them reach their full potential.

Click to watch, and please share with friends!

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God Raises us by Miracles

Here's a great scripture I found in the Bible. 

1 Corinthians 6:14 - "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power." 

I think this is remarkable, and there are two parts to this scripture, the first addressing the raising up of the Lord, the second of us. 

God raised Christ in many different ways. He raised him in righteousness, literally teaching him and instructing him. He grew in strength, maturity and spirituality, all to become our example. He was raised in an environment of spirit, because the role of the Savior is completely key in eternal life for all living people. 

He knew he was a man, and physically surrounded by negative influence which could make him stumble like we all do, but because of this, God sent angels and teachers to Him from birth so that he would be able to withstand any influence of evil, which he did many many times. 

Because of the Father's constant watchful care of the Savior, his Son, he became the Messiah who saved us all. 

He cares about his all of his children. He raises us up through inspiration, scriptures, prophets, angels (including those mortals around us), action of service and so forth. All of these are ways for us to grow and learn and develop, and he nurtures and nourishes us all. 

If you have children, you could understand better the scope of Heavenly Fathers love for us. If you don't have children, try imagine what it would be like to have a child you love unconditionally, and the desires and wishes you would have for that child. It's something that I can only imagine, and for me it seems like a rewarding prospect spiritually for personal development. 

I think that the powers by which God works by, as stated in this scripture, are miracles. He provided a Savior for us all that we can be saved, and he provides that we can all return to live with him in peace and happiness which lasts forever. There were many miracles in the life of
Jesus, and there are many miracles in our life too. We ought to seek these out, and thank God for the many miracles he provides for us daily. 

Watch this video comparing the role of this father 

on earth to that of our Heavenly Father. He believes

his children teach him lessons which he

can relate to his personal relationship with God.

Click to watch, and please share with friends!

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