Read: Mosiah 1-2
Mark: Mosiah 2:17
"Our focus should be on righteousness, not recognition, on service, not status. The faithful visiting teacher, who quietly goes about her work month after month, is just as important to the work of the Lord as those who occupy what some see as more prominent positions in the Church. Visibility does not equate to value...When we understand why we serve we will not worry about where we serve." -- President Howard W. Hunter
To ponder:
How often do you serve?
Once again, in these scriptures, we find that the people are invited to go to the temple--King Benjamin wants to speak to them. I've learned throughout our reading that when a prophet says come to the temple or the mountain tops, important words are going to be spoken. So many people come to the temple that they cannot all fit, so a tower is erected (thus, the famous picture we all know and love), and even then all of the people can't hear his words, so they are written. Is this the first General Conference?
ReplyDeleteI love that all of the families that came to this first general conference pitched their tents with the doors open toward the temple--isn't this what we should do too?
Two most important things stand out to me in today's reading: 1) Mosiah 1:7: Where we are counseled to search the scriptures diligently and reminded to keep the commandments (we sure are reminded to keep the commandments a lot!!! :) ) and 2) Throughout Mosiah 2, we are reminded of the importance of service.
And, I think that today's quote by President Hunter was written just for me! For about the past year or so, I have felt so 'invisible' in my ward family. Boy do I have a problem!!! I'm so very thankful for the words of wisdom from President Hunter--that I need to get over myself and serve! :)
Oh my gosh, Patti! I totally had the same thought about this being a General Conference!!!! And then it was hard not to hear King Benjamin's words coming out sounding like President Monson, LOL!
DeleteYou are not invisible. And you are very much appreciated! :)
There are so many things that I absolutely love about King Benjamin and his address to his people. We see the watchman principle at play again (to wash the blood of the people from his garments by preaching to them one last time before his death), which is just really cool. It magnifies, to me, the importance of General Conference, not only for us as members but for the prophet as our leader, seer, and revelator.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite things about King Benjamin's words are how much he emphasizes service. And it isn't just lip service because he served his people all his days and was so humble! He didn't want recognition for himself, but for God! It really does make you sit back and contemplate the real reasons for service rendered. Like in one of my favorite musicals, "Wicked", Elphaba asks in her song (No Good Deed Goes Unpunished) "Was I really seeking good, or just seeking attention?" I, for one, would not be opposed to just be a visiting teacher and not have three other callings on top of it!!!! But it doesn't matter, because it's not about me--it's about God and about sharing my abilities with the church.
I also was thinking about what King Benjamin's reign as king was like. His people weren't burdened with taxes. And their king was happy to labor with his hands to serve them. What a great example of what government should really be like! Simple, straightforward, and service-oriented.
Anyways, he definitely taught be example and encouraged his people to take care of each other. We've really fallen away from that in the world today. Mentalities used to be that "it takes a village to raise a child" and now it's "every family for themselves!" I'd like to see more of that unity and service make a comeback.
Mosiah 1 - I think Jenny might have said something similar in a previous post, but it ran through my mind the last time I read this chapter and I'll say it again - There is no standing still in this life. We are either moving forward (sometimes slowly, sometimes in leaps and bounds) or we are driven back by our own unfaithfulness or disinterestedness (sometimes slowly and sometimes in leaps and bounds)! We must take care to make sure that we are moving forward - no matter how fast or slow, just that we keep moving in the right direction. Do not give ground to the adversary.
ReplyDeleteMosiah 2 - Praying for things to happen is great, but our actions are the vehicle by which He answers our prayers. Pray for missionary experiences - but then go out and CREATE missionary experiences. Pray for temple trips and time to go - then go and make time and take advantage of the time made! Is keeping His commandments so difficult or is the difficult all in our heads? He has not commanded us to be perfect - we need to have an eternal perspective.
Serving is a sure way to lighten your own load - and not because service sometimes reminds us of what we have, but because we focus LESS on ourselves. I think we overcomplicate or increase the stress of certain trials because we dwell on them too much. We allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by our own worlds. If we could but refocus our energy on others we would all feel a little lighter, and handle our own issues a little better I think. I was typing I do not serve a lot - but then I thought, what would I say to someone else who works full time and takes care of a husband and two daughters also full time? I'd say that's service! So gosh darn it, I serve all the time! :)
Okay - I don't serve ALL the time, and even then not always with the right spirit. I wish I could serve more and work less :)
DeleteI love to serve. I feel at my very best when I serve. I have been volunteering with a group called Indy Pit Crew. We go to community centers throughout the city and provide low cost vaccinations, micro chipping, nail trims, and a vet on site for rabies shots for dogs and cats. Our focus being on pit bulls and pittie mixes. We also offer applications for spay/neuter. It is an amazing feeling when you are able to help people and animals in your community. It's one of the best feelings to feel completely exhausted after one of our community pet days.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way when I've had opportunities to help clean the church or help with the landscaping. I look forward to more of those opportunities. Heavenly Father truly brings more than just the opportunity. He also teaches you some kind of lesson each time. Mine always seems to be a reminder of humility.