One of the best things about our weekly emails is that we get to discuss Sunday School Lessons, scriptures, and other gospel topics. Here are a few we've discussed over the last few weeks.
Mom: June 15, 2015 I'll leave you with a few thoughts from our Sunday School lesson today. President Gifford taught and it was fantastic. It was about the parables of the 10 virgins and the talents. I didn't realize until today that these two parables were given right after each other, and in the days right before the crucifixion. So this message is one that the Savior most wanted to leave with his disciples during his last days on earth. The 10 Virgins is first, and then right after, He goes into the parable of the talents. It's worth pondering, then, what using our "talents" has to do with putting oil in our lamps. President Gifford said that he thinks in this case, talents meant "spiritual gifts". So, put that way -- one way, probably an important way, of putting oil in our lamps is to use the spiritual gifts that we've been given to bless the lives of others. We know that if we don't use these things to bless others, then we lose that which we once had. I know it seems silly, but I have felt strongly that when I teach math, I am using the gifts that Heavenly Father gave me to bless the lives of others. It's the reason I continue to teach, despite the frustrations and the ridiculously low pay, especially considering my level of education and experience. It's something that Dad and I have felt strongly is what the Lord wants me to do right now. And of course, the same is true of you. You are using the spiritual gifts that the Lord has blessed you with -- a quick mind that can understand the German language, your testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, and your compassion for others, to name just a few -- to bless the lives of others. I hope I get to do the same some day!
Elder Lingen - Another way to think of those two parables is in both cases thinking of it as conversion. When we come to the second coming without the oil of conversion, it's just like it says there, and you've probably heard that one before. But think about the other one in that sense. When we don't do anything with the spiritual confirmations and promptings we get, except hide them away, then we are being a slothfull and not a wise servant, but when we push forward in faith, then we gain more confirmation, and we become more converted, which when the master returns, we can show him that we grew our faith and we developed the gifts that he gave us.
Dad: June 15, 2015 This morning I went to a Stake leadership training meeting about focusing on the sabbath and sacrament. It was really cool! I realized that when I make visits on Wednesday nights I need to do three things: 1)express the love of our Father in Heaven and Jesus, 2) talk about the blessings that come from attending church and observing the sabbath, 3)invite people to come to church. I think this gives our visits focus and I hope people will feel the spirit.
Elder Lingen: Remember, the sacrament meeting is the most sacred of all our meetings in the church! It's like what something I learned in the MTC: Imagine a door to door salesman describing how great their vacuum is, but leaving without offering for you to buy it. Not only do you expect them to mention it, but what if you want that cleaner? As missionaries we invite people to be baptised in the first lesson because it both sets expectations, shows them the goal, and offers them a chance to exercise their faith (Alma 32) and accept the invitation. I guess its similar for you, to need that focus, and not just be the nice people that talk every week, but no growth takes place. That's a challenge with us, to not be those people.
Elder Lingen: June 8, 2015 - I've been reading in the old testament lately, specifically in the beginning. Today I read Leviticus 11-13 and I realized how important it was for the Israelites to keep themselves ritually clean. Like it says in Matt 5:13, we are commanded to be the salt of the earth. For ancient Israel they had a very hard time doing that, and were very good at mixing traditions with the world. Elder Holland said in a BYU devotional about them that their problem wasn't just when they worshiped idols, it was when they worshiped both idols and Jehovah. They had forgotten to be In the world but not of the world. This ritual cleanliness was like the rest of the law of moses, a reminder, that they were to keep themselves separate. Their failure to keep themselves holy (Lev 11:44) as the Lord was holy, led to the years of captivity. Of course after the captivity until Christ came, they became a little too aloof, and forgot that integral to the abrahamic covenant was to bless all the nations on the earth.
Elder Lingen: June 1st, 2015 - There's one talk about the dead sea scrolls that is just mind blowing, I'll see if I can find more info about it, but the community that wrote them sounds just like an LDS community. Also the BYU talk on faith "His grace is sufficient" by Brad Wilcox, (click to read it) you might have already heard it, is amazing! So cool.
Elder Lingen - Another way to think of those two parables is in both cases thinking of it as conversion. When we come to the second coming without the oil of conversion, it's just like it says there, and you've probably heard that one before. But think about the other one in that sense. When we don't do anything with the spiritual confirmations and promptings we get, except hide them away, then we are being a slothfull and not a wise servant, but when we push forward in faith, then we gain more confirmation, and we become more converted, which when the master returns, we can show him that we grew our faith and we developed the gifts that he gave us.
Dad: June 15, 2015 This morning I went to a Stake leadership training meeting about focusing on the sabbath and sacrament. It was really cool! I realized that when I make visits on Wednesday nights I need to do three things: 1)express the love of our Father in Heaven and Jesus, 2) talk about the blessings that come from attending church and observing the sabbath, 3)invite people to come to church. I think this gives our visits focus and I hope people will feel the spirit.
Elder Lingen: Remember, the sacrament meeting is the most sacred of all our meetings in the church! It's like what something I learned in the MTC: Imagine a door to door salesman describing how great their vacuum is, but leaving without offering for you to buy it. Not only do you expect them to mention it, but what if you want that cleaner? As missionaries we invite people to be baptised in the first lesson because it both sets expectations, shows them the goal, and offers them a chance to exercise their faith (Alma 32) and accept the invitation. I guess its similar for you, to need that focus, and not just be the nice people that talk every week, but no growth takes place. That's a challenge with us, to not be those people.
Elder Lingen: June 8, 2015 - I've been reading in the old testament lately, specifically in the beginning. Today I read Leviticus 11-13 and I realized how important it was for the Israelites to keep themselves ritually clean. Like it says in Matt 5:13, we are commanded to be the salt of the earth. For ancient Israel they had a very hard time doing that, and were very good at mixing traditions with the world. Elder Holland said in a BYU devotional about them that their problem wasn't just when they worshiped idols, it was when they worshiped both idols and Jehovah. They had forgotten to be In the world but not of the world. This ritual cleanliness was like the rest of the law of moses, a reminder, that they were to keep themselves separate. Their failure to keep themselves holy (Lev 11:44) as the Lord was holy, led to the years of captivity. Of course after the captivity until Christ came, they became a little too aloof, and forgot that integral to the abrahamic covenant was to bless all the nations on the earth.
Elder Lingen: June 1st, 2015 - There's one talk about the dead sea scrolls that is just mind blowing, I'll see if I can find more info about it, but the community that wrote them sounds just like an LDS community. Also the BYU talk on faith "His grace is sufficient" by Brad Wilcox, (click to read it) you might have already heard it, is amazing! So cool.