Seek The Lord Often

 We live in a world where if we aren't careful, we can just be driven wherever the wind will take us. I can just open my phone and I'll be submitted to whatever opinion happens to be there. And if I keep my phone on me all day, there is seemingly an endless stream of notifications that vie for my attention. Just one tap and I'm taken wherever my phone thinks I should go that day. This breaks my focus. It takes my mind away from the deep work that I want to do to be successful at work and in life. The beauty is that all I have to do is put my phone out of reach and put on my focus music and set a timer and zone in and I can do it. It is just a matter of being consistent at that and not giving in to instant gratification. Also, growth in the gospel does not come instantaneously. It comes with consistency, patience, and hard work. Growth in my skillset and career also come that way. I need to work harder. I need to be disciplined, and I need to be intentional. I want to be. 

 As I listened to Come Follow Me insights from Brother Tyler Griffin on YouTube, I was struck by something in D&C 4.  To be called to the work, all we need is a desire to serve God. To be qualified , we must have faith, hope, charity, and love. How do we get those?  I am reminded of this scripture in 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. I got thinking about Doctrine and Covenants 4 and realized I'd recited it a bunch on my mission. I don't know if I realized just exactly what it meant and all the nuggets it had though. 1  Now behold, a  a marvelous work  is about to come forth among the chi...

 Joseph Smith seems to have a very active conscience and he pleads for forgiveness. I know growing up I felt this way a lot. I felt an immense amount of guilt for even small "foibles" and mistakes. While it may not be healthy to dwell on things or to feel overly bad about small mistakes, it is good to be aware of where I need to improve. I know there are many areas I need to improve in. I feel the comforting reassurance that I can improve and that Heavenly Father knows my struggles each time I pray to him. Seeking forgiveness is important. In Joseph's case, it was what lead to further revelations.  I would like to do a better job of repenting daily and truly striving to improve and lay aside the sins that so easily beset me.

 As I was studying, a few verses and phrases stood out to me.  In verse 6, it talks about a "strife of words and a contest about opinions." We see this everywhere today, particularly on social media. All of this led Joseph to "serious reflection" and "great uneasiness." It's not uncommon to feel uneasy with everything that's happening in the world today.  Another thing that jumped out was the phrase "war of words and tumult of opinions." We see that everywhere today. Joseph often said to himself, "What is to be done?" I think I've asked myself that same question many times when I look at the world and see all the difficulties and fights that are happening. Next, after laboring under extreme difficulties, reading, and pondering, Joseph decided to pray vocally to God. I wonder if there is extra power in vocal prayer. That's something to think about. He offered up the desires of his heart to God. This means he was doing mor...

This section hit me pretty hard. The Lord is very clear and doesn't mince words here.  13 And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth. 14 And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people; 15 For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; 16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall. 35 For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh ...