Super fast...
We served at a nursing home this week for the first time and everyone was doing great. Sister Abad was having a grand old time with one lady until the lady randomly looked at her and quietly said "I want to kill you". After that Sister Abad was beyond terrified but the rest of us were too busy laughing to help her. haha. Oops.
Also, this week I studied a lot about church attendance and why God asks us to go to church.
I asked God to help me understand His perspective. I know that He sees the pride and the unfairness and the judgement that takes place within walls that should stand for all the opposite. I know that he understands the perspective of people who feel judged at church or see hypocrisy and double standards. But I also know He wants us to be in church. Why? And how can we have a positive church experience when we feel condemned for the burdens we came to have lifted?
During my study of the Book of Mormon I read Helaman 3:33-35:
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33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church—NOT INTO THE CHURCH OF GOD, BUT INTO THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO PROFESSED TO BELONG TO THE CHURCH OF GOD--
34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer GREAT PERSECUTIONS, and to wade through MUCH AFFLICTIONS.
35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their HUMILITY, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with JOY and CONSOLATION, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which SANCTIFICATION COMETH BECAUSE OF THE YIELDING OF THEIR HEARTS TO GOD.
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So, the first thing to be understood is that pride, in any of it's forms, is never okay with God. He does not condone it and it has never been and never will be a part of the gospel. Second: Today's age is not the first time people at church have fallen into the trap of pride. It is not the first time people have been persecuted at church. Third: God is aware of the sufferings of His people. He knows. Don't ever doubt that. Fourth: We can never let the pride of others lead to pride in ourselves or a barrier to our progression. Why let someone else's barrier become our barrier? If we continue fasting and praying and going to church and showing God that we are truly giving our hearts to him despite the pain caused to us by the actions of others, we will be filled with joy and consolation. We will be sanctified. We just have to continue worshiping for the right reasons.
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It got even better during language study as I was reading in the Doctrine and Covenants. D&C 117:16:
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16 And again, verily I say unto you, let all my servants in the land of Kirtland remember the Lord their God, and mine house also, to keep and preserve it holy, and to OVERTHROW THE MONEYCHANGERS IN MINE OWN DUE TIME, SAITH THE LORD. Even so. Amen.
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When I read this, I thought about how sacred and holy the temple in Jeruselum was to Jesus. I thought about His emotions at seeing the temple desecrated and His reaction. We are commanded in this verse to keep His house holy but we are also told that it is the Lord's job to decide when to throw out the "moneychangers", or those who are in the house of the Lord for the wrong reasons, and we are told that the Lord will do it in His timing.
Quote of the week: "I want to know (God's) thoughts; the rest are details." -Albert Einstien
Also, the chains made my life. Definition of trunky family. I love you all. :)
Love you! Have a good week!
-Sis. Bren Scadden