To speak or not to speak. That is the question?

Have you ever had one of those experiences when you say something and the second you say it you wish you could take back.  Many embarrassing and hurtful experiences start just that way.  The power of what we say seems to penetrate to the very core of one’s soul.  You might say it does not affect them?  Think again!  Russell Wilcox in an article called Is Anyone Laughing said, "People might put up with put-downs and manage a chuckle for the sake of saving face, but deep down, negative humor hurts. No matter how perfect the timing or how smoothly executed the joke, usually the only ones laughing are those who are afraid they may be your next targets."

Let us follow the savior's words by being "holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1:15) and having our "words tend to edifying one another" (Doctrine and Covenants 136:24).

Why is it important to always uplift those around us through our words?  Christ said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40)

This scr. tells us that when we put down and say something negative to one of Christ's children we are saying it to him.  Let us uplift our language and in the process come closer to our Savior, Heavenly Father, Spirit, and be a greater instrument in the hands of the Master.

 

Let your light so shine

In Christ's Sermon on the Mount He says, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16 ).

Light is wonderful.  It gets brighter the closer to the source one gets.  Light when not prohibited will light up the area it is into different degrees.  When a "bushel" for example covers it the light is blocked from lighting up its surroundings. 

What bushels do we put over our light?  It could be the fear of rejection, popularity, acceptance, or something being too hard.  Might I suggest we remove those things which keep the light of Christ from spreading to every heart, people, family, city, and country.

Marianne Williamson in her poem Our Greatest Fear I think says it best.  

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of

God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  As we do we give others permission to do the same.  Christ lives and wants us to shine forth the light of Christ that is in each of us.

Faith without works

One Sunday afternoon my companion and I were tracting.  We knocked on a door and a man in his 40's answered the door.  He invited us in and sat us down at his kitchen table.  He proceeded to explain he was reformed Lutheran, and then jumped right into asking us questions and explaining to us what he found wrong in the "Mormon" church.  Over the discussion we talked a lot about the plan of salvation.  He explained to us that he does not believe in a pre-earth life and that works do not matter.  We are automatically saved. 

I have thought a lot about this.  I testify there is a loving Heavenly Father, and because he loves us he provided a way that we can be like him.  Before we came to earth we were spirit children of our Heavenly Father.  One of the major differences between us and Him was that He had a body of flesh and bones.  The Lord wanted us to have bodies like him so he provided a way that such could happen.  The Plan of Salvation was presented and Christ was chosen as our Savior (Abraham 3:27).  The plan included us coming to earth and being tried and tested.  A test is given to see if you will choose the right answer.  This test we are a part of is all on the job.  We are here to see if we will choose Christ and liberty or Satan and destruction (2 Nephi 2:27).  Christ said this on faith unto works in his Sermon on the Mount, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 7:21). 

Let us do the will of the father.  Let us do what he has commanded us, and we shall find our Savior and eternal happiness. 

 How grateful I am for the opportunity we have to come to earth and experience the good and the bad.  The Lord truly does love us and that is why we are here.  We are saved by grace after we try our hardest through faith and works (2 Nephi 25:23).  This is done through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Christ lives and loves us.  We are here to gain our salvation.  Let us follow our Savior and King.