Lent Challenge Day 11

Kelley Barrow Miles

March 15

Day 11: I love pictures of Christ. While preparing for a Young Women activity around Christmas. I was particularly drawn to studying Christ's hands in some of my favorite paintings. I loved looking at all the different things he did with his hands. He taught, he healed, he raised the dead, he served, he forgave, he sacrificed. Seeing those hands in action filled me with love for Him and all that he did and all that he does. I hope our hands can be like his. #40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014

Ann Barrow Bradley shared a link.

March 15

Day 11: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7:20

I'm posting one more video about Joseph Smith. I have hesitated every time before I've posted about him. I don't want you to think that we worship him. I don't want you to think that he thought up and started this great and wonderful church that I keep talking about. I don't want you to think that he's a great brainwasher.

I've heard all those claims before.

I want you to understand that he was just a mortal boy. I want you to understand that he was yearning for something more than what was offered to him. I want you to understand that he pondered for a great length of time. I want you to understand that he searched and learned all that he could. Still, he was not satisfied. His soul hungered.

I don't know why he was the one chosen by God to restore the original church that Christ established when He was on the earth. I'm not sure Joseph knew. But He did. And Joseph tried to do everything he was asked of by God. He was a faithful servant. And because of him and all that he endured. We can benefit from learning and receiving the blessings of a restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The fruits are sweet and long lasting.

This is my testimony, that the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is here on this earth. The truth has been restored.  Ann

If you don't have time to watch the video in whole (its about 20 min long) start at 11:48, because that is where one of my favorite hymns is featured sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. #40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=i98Bs2nSCNM

The Restoration of Truth

Because of God's love for His children, He has reached out to us, just as He has done in the past.

Jenny Barrow shared a link.

March 15 · Edited

The first ten days of this Lent project I have shared truths I have discovered about character traits and virtues. If you have read my thoughts, you have seen hints that the foundation for all of these truths rest on a belief in God. The next ten days I am going to talk about Him.

Day 11: Jesus Christ is the creator of this world.

Margaret Wheatly shared this thought: " We know God by looking at his creations. He went to considerable effort to make things incredibly beautiful and varied, detailed and diversified. I assume that he didn't have to do that. I think God could have mass-produced nature, or he could have thought four types of flowers sufficient. Instead, the world confronts us with breathtaking variety, beauty upon beauty, joy upon joy. And the same principle of variety is true of each of us. We are each unique and different- not to make life difficult, but to make it joyful!" (Honoring our God Given Gifts)

I am often in awe of the beauty, diversity and abundance of the creations of this earth. The earth is a beautiful place. I remember one winter day while sitting on the red rock of southern Utah, just lying in the warm sun, thinking of the beauty of all God's creations. I said a little prayer just commenting on how glorious God's work was, I then had this simple thought come to my mind.

I first noticed some rock climbers climbing, then some teenagers playing in the sand listening to a radio, I saw a photographer taking pictures. And I thought, mankind has created some amazing things. Radios, cameras, climbing gear. Then the simple thought.

"Jenny, my creations are glorious but my most glorious creation is you, because you carry within yourself the ability to create. My children are creators, because I am a creator. Only you can create."

Jesus Christ is the creator of this world. Under the direction of our Heavenly Father he created all of the creatures and inhabitants of this planet. He is also our savior and redeemer. He is the creator of the path way of our salvation, he is the creator of the laws and covenants that will return us back to the presence of God.

Someone once shared this thought with me. "As people take time to sit and really spend time in nature and be still, it will stir within them a desire to change, eventually leading to repentance." Why is this true? Because God's desire for us is for us to become as He is, to live with Him. So all that he creates testifies of Him, and directs our thoughts to Him.

I love God's creations. I am so grateful God is a creator.

This an Apostle of Jesus Christ's testimony of Jesus Christ as the creatorhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBIOQu-3EXc

#40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014

Mormons belief in Jesus Christ - Mormon Neal Maxwell

Mormons belief in Jesus Christ - Mormon Elder Neal A. Maxwell 2/17 The Twelve Apostles are Special Witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world. This is ...

Lent Challenge Day 10

Kelley Barrow Miles shared a link.

March 14 near Durham, NC · Edited

Day 10: My faith emphasizes the importance of families. Through good and caring families we gain our first friends and teachers. We are able to learn love, patience, humility, and charity. Families bring us closer to our goal of becoming like Christ and ultimately like our Father in Heaven. As we become brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers we can come to understand a little more about Christ as our brother and God as our Father.

In 1995 our prophet Gordon B. Hinckley and his apostles gave "A Proclamation to the World" on the family. I want to share it with you. I know that many of the things it states will not agree with many of the things modern society says today. It may even seem "backwards," "old-fashioned," or just "wrong", which makes sharing the Proclamation a little intimidating... but I know it to be true. I believe that the role of mother and father are sacred ones and ones that should not be taken lightly, eliminated, or mocked. I believe bringing children into this world is also a sacred role and responsibility, also not meant to be taken lightly.

I recognize that this proclamation gives an ideal and the ideal is rarely obtained, but we can always strive for it. I also recognize that we are all not perfect, our families aren't perfect, our situations aren't perfect, life isn't perfect, but the point of life is not to strive for sameness but instead to work on our imperfections, to work through the imperfections of life, to learn, to grow, and to change so that we can come, at least a little, closer to our goal of perfection - Our goal of living and loving as Christ lived and loved and as Christ teaches us to live and love.

I often feel like we have become less interested in improving ourselves and more interested in just doing and being what is easy. We keep lowering the bar because, as I know too well, change is hard. Changing ourselves is even harder. Yet, we didn't come here to return the same, we came here to return better than we were before. We came here to change.

Families are important and strong families are the foundation for a strong society. It is not something to lower the bar on. I know parts of modern society will disagree, but I believe that what our prophets and apostles have outlined for us in the proclamation to be from God. #40daysoftruth#LentChallenge2014

https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

www.lds.org

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Ann Barrow Bradley shared a link.

March 14

Day 10: Where do you go to seek the truth?

Kelley Barrow Miles shared this video a few days ago. I like it because it brings the experiences of Joseph Smith to a modern day scenario. We all seek truth and understanding.

There is only one place were we can find full truth. #40daysoftruth#LentChallenge2014

http://youtu.be/YqZ8bTjj-_E

Origin

The best way to find truth is to go to the origin, our Heavenly Father, and ask for inspiration through prayer.

Jenny Barrow shared a link.

March 14

Day 10: Be Grateful.

We have so much to be grateful for, the fact that we woke up this morning is enough to be grateful for; then we each have our own individual tender mercies given to us every day.

I could list mine, but it would get long, and I would leave something out. Instead I just want to share what a difference it has made in my life to actively choose to express thanks, to see the blessings in my life.

It is a humbling experience to see how blessed we are, it makes it harder to complain about circumstances when you take a moment to acknowledge all you have been given. And it makes it easier to share, and to seek to improve the world when you see all that you have so generously been given.

I am doing this Lent activity with my sisters. My sister Ann shared this video yesterday. I grew up hearing Gordon B Hinckley tell this story, the story teaches several principles. But the one I reflect on the most is the attitude of gratefulness demonstrated by the poor farmer. It made a deep impression on me as a young person. And I did not know the story had been made into a youtube video until Ann shared it yesterday.

I am grateful she shared it, I am grateful for my dear family. They are a wonderful example to me. I am grateful for so very much. #40daysoftruth#LentChallenge2014

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqX9iYE0V0

Lessons I Learned as a Boy

President Gordon B. Hinckley recalls a story of an older boy and his young companion as they find an old coat and a badly worn pair of shoes by the roadside....

Lent Challenge Day 9

Kelley Barrow Miles shared a link.

March 13 near Durham, NC

Day 9: For those of you who have seen the Book of Mormon musical this is what the book is really all about: http://youtu.be/QbakQELnFE4

It testifies of Christ, it teaches of faith, charity, hope, testifies of God and His never ending love and concern for us. It teaches of eternal life. It is a life changer.

The Book of Mormon

Our family wanted to share our love for the Book of Mormon

Ann Barrow Bradley shared a link.

March 13

Day 9: Something simple and sweet. I love the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley. #40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqX9iYE0V0

Lessons I Learned as a Boy

President Gordon B. Hinckley recalls a story of an older boy and his young companion as they find an old coat and a badly worn pair of shoes by the roadside....

Jenny Barrow shared a link.

March 13 near Tysons Corner, VA

Day 9: Cleave unto charity, let the principles of charity be the foundation of your life.

We often think of charity as the giving of goods or money to the poor, but if we follow the etymology of the word, it means to esteem highly, to love, to value. (The giving of goods and money is philanthropy...which I strongly support too :))

You can still find charity used instead of love in some translations of the Bible.

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things,hopeth all things, endures all things." (Book of Mormon, Moroni 7:45; New Testament, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

I have found if I let the principles of charity become the foundation of my life choices, my reactions to others, and my goals in life, I am put on a course that lifts others and myself.

Suffer long: Be willing to put in the time for those things that you value and esteem, even if it seems difficult.

Kind: Always choose to be kind.

Envy not: Don't let jealousy, envy, or an inward focus poison your relationship with those people and things that you esteem highly and value the most.

Is not puffed up: Do not place your self-importance over those that you esteem and value.

Seeks not her own: (This one is crazy hard) But to really love something, to really value and esteem something or someone, you have to put your self-interest aside.

Is not easily provoked: This requires self-control and trust in that which you have chosen to love. It is a choice, but it makes the world of a difference.

Thinks no evil: Our thoughts determine our actions. Don't let negative or evil thoughts stay with you. Remove them.

Rejoices not in iniquity but in truth: What do you choose to celebrate, to promote? These choices are building your character, and determines what you will choose to value, esteem, and love. Choose wisely.

Bears all things: This is an act of trust and loyalty. If you have placed your trust and loyalty in principles of truth, you are promised the strength to bear all things.

Believes all things: Believing is a choice, as we open ourselves to belief we open ourselves to discovering truth, discovering love, discovering joy.

Hopes all things: Choose to have hope rather than fear.

Endures all things: I put this in a different category from bearing all things, because I think of enduring as an act of becoming. I think about lifting weights. I bear a certain amount of weight, but once I can endure it, my muscles are ready to take on a heavier load of weight. This is how you build muscle. You bear things until you endure them, then you move forward. Again if your trust and loyalty are placed in principles of truth, you are promised the strength to endure and to become something glorious and great.

As I have learned to let these guiding principles form my values, my goals, and my relationships, I have found happiness and joy. We are promised if we cleave unto charity, all will be well with us, because charity is how Christ loves us, and His love, His principles will never fail you. Charity never fails.

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/7.45-47?lang=eng

#40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014

Moroni 7:45-47

www.lds.org

An invitation is given to enter into the rest of the Lord—Pray with real intent—The Spirit of Christ enables men to know good from evil—Satan persuades men to deny Christ and do evil—The prophets manifest the coming of Christ—By faith, miracles are wrought and angels minister—Men should hope for ete...

Lent Challenge Day 8

Kelley Barrow Miles

March 12 · Edited

Day 8: Today I planted a garden! While I was doing so I had a thought that helped me understand faith a little clearer than in the past. So, this will serve as both a sharing my life post and your lent challenge spiritual thought.

WARNING: This one is long (yes, even longer than the rest). I'm sorry.

My parents always had a garden in our backyard. So anytime this year comes around I just get a really bad gardening itch. It is almost torture for someone who lives in an apartment. Last year I managed to grow some very lovely herbs on my back porch, a nice gateway apartment garden, but like a drug addict this year I just needed something more- something bigger. So, Andrew and I built a little box with a little more depth and a little more space than my little pots had. Today I filled it up with dirt and planted some seeds hoping that they will grow and dreading that nothing will happen in all that dirt I put back there back there.

Among the worrying dialogue I had going on in my head about how these seeds weren't going to grow, but how I really wanted them to grow- I also had some background music. Anytime I so much as think about planting, gardening, or anything even slightly related I inevitably get these lyrics stuck in my head from my primary days: "Faith is like a little seed, if planted it will grooooowww!" Realizing this was going on I kind of chuckled and thought to myself "Planting seeds certainly does take a lot of faith, that's for sure." Then I thought "That's exactly right. It does take a lot of faith to plant a seed and hope that it will grow into something. Faith really is like a little seed." Not that I ever doubted the song- all primary songs speak the truth- it just kind of became real for me today.

Then I started thinking about Alma 32 (I lied I do know more scripture references off the top of my head other than Alma 7:11). Where he talks about faith and hope. In verse 21 he says:

"And now as I said concerning faith- 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."

I really don't know if my little seeds are going to get enough sun to grow back there. I don't have a "perfect knowledge" of what is going to happen in that dirt. I do, however, have hope. I have enough hope that I spent time with my husband planning out the dimensions of the box. We had enough hope that we actually went out and built the box, bought dirt and seeds and today I had enough hope that something would happen that I planted those seeds. I had enough hope to at least try and I'm going to keep watering that dirt until I see something start to grow... or it ends up being the middle of July and nothing is there.
That's faith. Hope enough to try, desire enough to believe. Those are the little seeds that Alma asks us to plant in our hearts.

Now, I really don't know if my garden is going to grow back there- there is no guarantee or promise that came with those seeds like that of God's words, but when we talk about faith in God we are promised that our seeds will grow as long as we continue to nurture the seed of hope and desire that we have planted into our hearts.
Nurturing takes action, it means going out and doing something that will help that faith grow. Read the scriptures, pray, and then live as the scriptures say to live and do as the spirit directs and your faith will grow and you will come to know God.

Plan your box, build it, fill it up with dirt, plant some seeds in it (make sure it gets enough sun), water them, weed them, and watch them grow.#40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014 (4 photos)

Ann Barrow Bradley

March 12

Day 8: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

There was once a boy, age 14, who desired to know which church was true. He visited many different churches and was confused as to why God would allow His children to be taught so many different things. His family were avid Bible readers and one day while pondering which of the churches was the most correct in God's eyes, he read James 1:5. He determined that asking God was the only way to find out the answer. He set out on a spring morning to find a quiet place in the wood by his home. He knelt as a humble boy, full of faith, and prayed to God.

What happen next would change the world.

He was visited by God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Among other instructions the boy learned that there was not a church on the earth that was fully correct. This boy was humbled by his experience but he was determined to follow God's will.

"So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." Joseph Smith History 1:25

I give my testimony that God speaks to us today. He has not left us alone. Ann
#40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014

Jenny Barrow

March 12

Day 8: When things seem to be going poorly, turn your focus outward rather than inward. It is amazing how that simple attitude change will fix things.

Every day we have a choice to turn our focus inward or outward. To center our lives on "what I need", "what I want", "whether or not I am happy" or to think about "what do others need", "what do others want", or "whether or not others are happy".

The more we focus inward the less joy we will have in our life, and we will actually take away happiness away from others by focusing inward. But as we focus outward we will find joy and help others feel joy.

It seems like a paradox: Forgetting yourself leads to joy. But it is true. Every time I have put it to the test the end result has been happiness and joy.

After all didn't our Savior Jesus Christ illustrate this principle His entire life? His atonement in Gethsemane and death on Calvary, did not serve himself well at all, it gave Him suffering, pain,and death. But it glorified our Heavenly Father, and it saved our souls. His selflessness gave us all hope for joy.
#40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014

Lent Challenge Day 7

Kelley Barrow Miles shared a link.

March 11 near Durham, NC

Day 7: Today, enjoy one of my favorite hymns. It's very appropriate for Lent's celebration of Easter. #40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx6Y9nxnwos

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

A video I felt compelled to put together. I've since used it several times in various lessons.

Ann Barrow Bradley

March 11

Day 7: This is the end of my first week. I feel like what I shared so far has been easy to generate and take in. I'm getting a little nervous about what I will be writing from here on out. It will be information that I truly hold dear to my heart. I know it to be true. I can not deny it. However, much of it is hard for many to understand. And that builds skeptics. To be skeptical is healthy, I am skeptical about a great many things. I hope I can somehow try to make sense of it to you. I have an honest prayer in my heart every time I sit down and type. I hope you can feel that through my words.

And so I continue.,.

While Christ was on the earth He established His church. He instructed his followers to live the law of God. He taught repentance and baptism by immersion of water. He showed us how to live through His example.

One of the most important things He did was call and ordain his 12 apostles. These men were asked to go throughout the land and preach the word of God. They were to be a witness of Christ. Among the many good things these men did, the most recognizable to us is the record keeping found in the New Testament. It is a record and testament of Jesus Christ and His words. It is not perfect because of years of translating, but it is a wonderful record still.

I marvel at these men. They were not men of rank or extremely wealthy. None of them were seeking recognition but simply wanted to follow the Son of God, their Messiah. Some failed in their calling. Many of us can relate to that. Others did their best to fulfill their mission. In the end Christ's church did not survive. It was lost from the earth.

I believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is that restored church based on the gospel of Christ. I understand that to some this is a bold statement and many don't accept it. I am not saying that this church is right and all the others are wrong. That is incorrect. What I am saying is that with the loss of Christ's church in biblical times, many fundamental building blocks were lost. Building blocks that help us gain eternal glory. Most churches have bits and pieces of the gospel, but not everything Christ intended them to have. I claim, that the LDS church has the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. #40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014

Jenny Barrow

March 11 · Edited

Day 7: Learn how to listen.

Listening is a skill. A person can learn how to listen, and can improve their current listening ability.

When we listen:
We learn more
We serve others by giving them a chance to be heard
We show we care about others
We express love

Someone pointed out to me how we spend so much time talking to each other but never really listening. They then said. “Have you ever thought about how much time our Heavenly Father spends listening?” Think of all of the prayers that are said every day. I know each one is heard, each one is listened to, each one is cherished.

We often feel prayers go unheard because we have failed to listen. We think communication is give a demand or ask a question and get a response, but listening is part of communication too.

God listens to all of our prayers. And He is answering all of your prayers, often we have just failed to listen to Him.

Take time to learn to listen. You will be surprised what you learn.
#40daysoftruth #LentChallenge2014