Choices??

I know we are sent here to make choices. But when an other's choice affects us and our choices. How do we not make there choices for them. But also not let them make or effect ours?

Do any of you have some scriptures or a talk that I can look at? I am coming up with nothing.
Thank you in advance.

The Constitution and Freedom

With elections coming up, our Bishop encouraged us to read D&C 98. Verses 4-10 were of particular interest to me.

Our Founding Fathers wrote a truly inspired document with the help of the Lord. One of my sons and I have been learning recently in our homeschool about the Constitution and how it came about. It really is truly incredible that with so many varied opinions and ideas that they could formulate such a remarkable document. The principles that were transcribed on those pages hold true even still for our day.

Verse 5 states, "And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me." The principle of freedom allows us to keep our rights and privileges, yet like the Nephites in the Book of Mormon, how can we expect to retain those very same things if we don't do what we can to uphold the constitution that upholds that principle? As we know, the Nephites kept their freedoms as they were righteous.

What is our part? The answer is shown in these words: "honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold". Can't say it any better than that.

Suggestions

This next Monday is the last Family Home Evening before Conference. We've decided to have an FHE about the lives of the current leaders of our Church, so our kids will know them better and will be more willing to listen to them next week. Our kids are younger (4 and 2), so I don't expect them to sit on the couch for 8 hours and listen quietly, but I'm hoping that they'll recognize the apostles and know they're special men and feel like they know them a little bit better. If nothing else, they'll know that it's important to US to watch General Conference and that WE think they're special men!

That's what we've decided to do. What does your family do to prepare for Conference?

Astonishment!

You know how sometimes we just keep doing the same things over and over and over? And then, oddly enough, we get frustrated/upset/mad when we keep experiencing the same things.

I was reading in Alma 49 this morning. It was rather enlightening. In verses 5 through 9, it mentions three times the incredible astonishment of the Lamanites over finding their grand plans of destruction being thwarted. The scriptures use words like uttermost and exceeding to describe their astonishment. They were truly completely flabbergasted.

Why was this so? It was because the Nephites had prepared for battle "in a manner which never had been known" before.

So, I asked myself..."Self, what is there in your life that you need to change and do in a manner that you have never known before?" I got some good ideas there.

Then I also questioned, "What enemies could I completely blindside by this course of action?" I pictured what the Lamanite's faces may have looked like when they saw what the Nephites had done. I wonder if the Nephites threw up a fisted arm and exclaimed, "Yes!" when they saw them.

In our lives today, Lucifer and his followers would suppose "that they should be privileged to come upon them as they had hitherto done". What if they get thrown for a loop today, this week, this month? Score a point for the good guys, huh?

There's today's take on a story I've read many, many times before. I love how one can always find something new in the scriptures. :)

Testimony is Fragile

Lately, I've been reading the Testimonies of the Prophets. (From that link, click "Next" to go through each prophet's testimony.) Today, I came across this quote, by Harold B. Lee, that I really liked:

"Testimony isn't something you have today, and you are going to have always. A testimony is fragile. It is as hard to hold as a moonbeam. It is something you have to recapture every day of your life."

(Church News, July 15, 1972, 4.)

This reminds me of something someone said once, that on the pathway of life, you are either going up or you are going down. There's no staying the same. Every choice we make will build our testimony or tear it down.

Ancient "Blogging"

While away from home for a couple of weeks, I did a poor job of scripture study. In the middle of checking through my emails, I decided I had better get off on the right foot this morning, so I cruised over to lds.org and chose a random scripture page.

The page I chose to begin reading reminded me of http://i-have-a-testimony.blogspot.com/. I visited the site and was happy to find some excellent scriptures that I could have a more in depth study on. Laurie's "Be of Good Cheer" post really hit the spot for me.

So, what did I read? Jacob 4:1-4 It is great to know we can write to strengthen one another in the gospel by the things that have strengthened our own lives. I am reading all your testimonies with "thankful hearts" and trying to "learn with joy and not with sorrow."

Thanks all!

Be of Good Cheer

Over the next few months, our family is going to have to make a pretty big decision. A decision that only the Lord knows the answer to. As we've begun to pray and ponder over it, I've been concerned with all the little details that it may involve. However, I've always felt that Heavenly Father will help us, as long as we do what He wants us to do. . . . Still, big changes can be overwhelming.

But today, I was reading in 1 Nephi again. I'm in chapter 7, when they go to Ishmael and ask them to come with them into the wilderness. Verse 5 begins, "And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael..." As I've been pondering our decision, I've begun to realize that the Lord has also softened my heart concerning it.

The footnote in this verse leads to TG Guidance, Divine. (I've really learned to love the Topical Guide lately!) Today I came across several scriptures that were of help. (See Prov. 3:6; Amos 3:7; James 1:5; 1 Ne. 4:6; Hel. 10:3; Moro. 10:4; D&C 6:14; D&C 8:2-3; D&C 112:10.)

These are all excellent scriptures, but the one that struck me the most was D&C 78:18: "...be of good cheer, for I will lead you along." I realized that no matter what life brings, if we are "of good cheer" we don't need to worry about all the decisions we must make. Heavenly Father will lead us! So even though I have a big decision ahead of me, I know that as I willingly follow God, He will lead me. If I follow Him begrudgingly, it won't be the same! I must be happy with how He leads my life, because after all, He knows best!!