Jacob 6-7

Hey ladies,

We decided in book club today that we would just finish up Jacob for next week (Jacob chapters 6 and 7.) Also, I was thinking about hosting it at my house but wasn't sure if I should wait until school starts again or if you think we would all fit alright. Let me know what you think and then we'll make the plans :)

Naomi

Jacob 5

Just a reminder that we are meeting tomorrow and reading Jacob 5, the first 30 verses.  We will discuss all of them since last week didn't really happen.  I won't be there until around 9:30 or so.  We are still having swim lessons.  I do have a key if you need me to open the door I will, but I have to be at swim lessons at 9. 

In my studying of Jacob 5, I was using my student manual from institute.  There is some pretty cool stuff in there that helps in learning about Jacob 5 and this allegory.  I found it online and will give you the link.  It is to the whole book but I am pretty sure you ladies are smart enough to get to the right page.  I may print a copy of it to have at the church for reference.  It has an explanation of the what each of the symbols means and also a description of the different visits to the vineyard.  I hope it helps in your study.  Sorry I didn't get it to you sooner.

http://www.institute.lds.org/content/languages/english/Institute%20of%20Religion%20Materials/Student%20Manuals/Religion%20121-122,%20Book%20of%20Mormon%20Student%20Manual~eng.pdf

Jacob 4 in review

Todays discussion was pretty good for me.  Stephanie brought the latest Newsweek and on the cover was the story "Is the internet Making us Crazy?"  Here is the link to the online version.  It is pretty amazing and so true.  http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/07/08/is-the-internet-making-us-crazy-what-the-new-research-says.html 
But what we took from our discussion is that we need to find the ROCK (Christ) and follow him.  He is ultimately how we can be the best we can be.  He has suffered for us and the atonement is for not if we forget to open our hearts and let him heal us.  Our spirit will truly tell us of "Things as they really are."  If we just listen to it's still small voice.

With that said, I am getting off the computer.  I just came on to check my email and put up this blog post.  I am struggling with how much time I spend on here and hope that I can find a way through Christ to overcome my "addiction".  Thanks ladies for a great discussion.

We decided to split Jacob 5 into 4 sections.  We will be reading the first 15 verses for next week.  It talks about the first visit to the vineyard.  I am afraid that next week I won't be there until after 9:30 since we have swim lessons starting on Monday.  Hopefully we can quickly come over and get the last part of the discussion.  Anyway, talk to you later.
Amy

Jacob 4

As I was reading in preparation for Thursday in Jacob 4 I came across verse 13.  "Things as they really are" and I was reminded of the article with the same title by Elder Bednar.  Just thought I might share it since it was on my mind today.  Plus it might be nice to discuss the implication of what is said in his talk in reference to our use of the internet and other devices.  It is something I have been struggling with as of late, a never ending battle of me against this machine.  Anyway here is the article if you want to read it. 
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/06/things-as-they-really-are?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

If you don't have time to read it then here is the link to the Mormon Message that highlights the talk.  http://youtu.be/CstRqAlAZf0





See you all on Thursday and hope you are doing well.  I have missed our class the last couple of weeks and really need the spiritual uplift.

Love ya - Amy

#49 on the list

So I took the sticker off of Debbie's cards she gave us. (Ask Debbie for a card if you didn't get one.  It is  "50 Ways to find the joy of scripture study.")   And #49 said "Adopt a new attitude about the scriptures."  I thought - "that is interesting".  But the more I thought about it, the more it stuck in my brain.  I started thinking about the many times we need to just "adopt a new attitude" and decided I needed to do a short post about it.  One idea might be that if you are unsure that they are true then you start thinking they are true as you read and then you will find that the Holy Ghost will manifest the truth to you.  I can hear Stephanie's words that this is all a part of the secret - and I think she is right. 

I have always held a belief that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and so I wondered what my "new attitude" might be.  I know as I read the scriptures after I thought about that, there were things that came to my mind that brought greater clarity to things in my life.  I don't know if I can express it in words.  I think it just goes to the idea that if you are thinking about something specific then those things are brought to light. 

I really think that the quote that Stephanie brought up is even more important as we think about our "new attitude".  In this case it is those unanswered prayers that seem to elude us.  Here is the quote from the Ensign. 

Acting When No Sure Answer Comes

There will be some instances when no sure answer comes. We have a series of revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants in which the Lord tells the early missionaries of this dispensation that some matters were to be left to their discretion. The phrase that is often repeated is “it mattereth not unto me” (D&C 60:5; 61:22; 62:5).

President Brigham Young explained this doctrine: “If I do not know the will of my Father, and what he requires of me in a certain transaction, if I ask him to give me wisdom concerning any requirement in life or in regard to my own course, or that of my friends, my family, my children, or those that I preside over, and get no answer from him, and then do the very best that my judgment will teach me, he is bound to own and honor that transaction, and he will do so to all intents and purposes.”²

^{For the whole reference here is the link:}

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/02/finding-answers?lang=eng

So maybe we need to approach the scriptures, life and the gospel with a new attitude and see where it takes us.  I hope you find this interesting and don't think I have gone off the deep end.

We will be reading Jacob 1 coming up this Thursday.  See you then.

Quote from Elder Holland

Our discussion last week was amazing and I hope that Stephanie posts the video or link she was talking about.  I mentioned that I had asked Meagan for the part of her talk from Elder Holland.  I was enthralled by our discussion about ideals and how sometimes we get mixed up with what the prophets are telling us and what we "believe" is the ideal.  I think as you read this information you can determine tesfor yourself what is truly important. 

Here is the link : http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,8027-1-4404-2,00.html

Here is one of my favorite quotes. 

"We who are General Authorities and general officers are called to teach His general rules. You and we then lead specific lives and must seek the Lord’s guidance regarding specific circumstances. But there would be mass confusion and loss of gospel promises if no general ideal and no doctrinal standard were established and, in our case today, repeated. We take great strength in knowing the Lord has spoken on these matters, and we accept His counsel even when it might not be popular."

I REALLY think we should do a 5K together, so...

I thought we could start out easy with a training program to WALK a 5K, and then work our way into an 8 week training program to RUN a 5K. Here is what the walking program looks like (You can adjust what days you exercise and rest as long as you put in the suggested mileage each week.)

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50936/5K-Walk-Training-Program

And after you complete that program, you can begin the running program found here:

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50933/5K-Novice-Training-Program

This is totally doable ladies and I would love nothing more than to do it WITH you guys. Think about it and if you want a walking/running partner, give me a call!