#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!

No BoM Club Tomorrow!

Hey Ladies,

Just a reminder that there will be no BoM club tomorrow because of Spring Break. We will reconvene on April 5th, at my house (3918 N Washington St. Westmont, IL 60559) and have a little brunch while we are at it! The chapters for that week will be 2 Nephi 21 and 22. See you all then!

Naomi

Congratulations!

Congratulations are in order for Rachel and her new son, Adam Michael Ferguson, 5lb 15oz, 19.5" long! Rachel left church worried on Sunday when she couldn't feel her baby kicking and ended up having an emergency C-section. Her mom is in town until Saturday, but I'm sure any help we can muster after that would be much appreciated. Let's all keep them in our thoughts and prayers!

Assignment for 2/23/2012

Hey Everyone,

We had an amazing discussion yesterday about Isaiah and are hoping to continue on our streak of understanding next week! We will be meeting at Stephanie Hereth's home (2662 Sumac St. Woodridge, Illinois 60517) at 9am for brunch and a stellar discussion on 2 Nephi Chapters 15 & 16. I will be bringing my mom since she will be in town that day. Hope to see you all there!

Naomi

Reading Assignment for 2/16/2012

Hey Ladies,

We had a great discussion about 2 Nephi 12 (Isaiah 2) yesterday with the help of many great minds and a few extra study guides. (Thank you Amy for posting the link to Understanding Isaiah!)

A quick answer to a question that was brought up in the discussion: In this particular chapter, Isaiah is speaking directly to this dispensation even though he uses many comparisons to the wicked in his days, "and hearken unto the soothsayers LIKE the Philistines..." the council is directed to ALL who live in our times and is meant as a warning not to follow in the footsteps of those in his time. (According to the book Understanding Isaiah by Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, and Tina M. Peterson)

Also, when Isaiah mentions worshiping idols, we were wondering what he meant since people don't really walk around worshiping Zeus or the gold calf anymore. The book I'm reading says that the false idols are the things of man "Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made."

Anyway, the chapter was a great reminder that we all need to be attending the temple regularly and that we should constantly be humbling ourselves before the Lord!

Next week we decided to read both chapter 13 and 14 since they are each so short. Good luck in your studies and see you next Thursday.

P.S. does anyone want to volunteer a snack?