#ldsstake

[hannahlady]

Just to give some context, I take a religion class at college and every semester it’s kind of a similar structure where you’re allowed to pick a Christ-like attribute to work on over the course of the semester. This semester I decided my attribute was going to be Self-Love. It... I’m really excited about it, so here are some of the other scriptures I pulled out regarding just... LOVING yourself, dude (They’re all from the Bible since I’m taking New Testament this semester)

Ephesians 5:29

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

I know in context this scripture is talking about marriage, but I think it’s important that just as we would nourish and cherish our spouse, that we need to remember to nourish and cherish our own bodies, both physically and spiritually. 

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Sometimes we, and by we I mean I myself, tend to think of humility as putting ourselves down. But it’s important to remember where our strengths lie. We should affirm ourselves and the blessings that God has given us. I am faithful, I am charitable, I have fought the good fight and I’m gonna keep fighting!!!

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

We’re often told not to judge others, and not to let others judge us, but I know that I often forget that we shouldn’t judge ourselves as well (at least, not so critically). Work hard, do your best, and let yourself be forgiven. When we repent, the Lord forgives and forgets all of our transgressions, so we should allow ourselves the same peace of mind. Stop beating yourself up, It’s okay, let it go

[hannahlady]

I haven’t made a spiritual post in a while but I just started reading the new testament again and check this out fellas: 

1 Corinthians 14:8;10:

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

I know I’ve been feeling kind of insignificant lately, like a drop in the sea of people. Even if I have confidence in my abilities, i feel like nothing really makes me stand out. 

Then this scripture came out and reminded me that No one is without significance. 

Not to be cheesy, but it takes every instrument to make an orchestra sound beautiful. 

And, well, yeah. 

It’s good to remember that sometimes.

[hannahlady]

It’s Sunday again!

“And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough…” (Mark 14:40-41)

Christ, in his very hour of need, when he was to take upon him all the sin, suffering, sadness, and sickness of the world only desired to have his friends with him to give him support and comfort. However, the day had been long and they were very tired, they could not stay awake during this hour of need. Even though the Lord woke them three times, they still could not stay awake. However, at the third time, the Lord was not upset at his friends, but he understood how exhausted they are- after all, he has just felt the sufferings of all mankind, past, present, and future- surely he has felt the weariness of the apostles. He encouraged them to get some rest, and did not expound upon the things that had just taken place. His mercy and kindness towards his friends, his followers, is incredible. 

I imagine if I were in His place, I would feel incredibly lonely, not to mention hurt and betrayed that my friends could not stay awake with me one hour. Christ, however, is not like any other man, and his example of forgiveness and compassion is one that I know I need to emulate in my own life. 

[hannahlady]

Patience

In Luke 19, the Lord illustrates how we as saints will be persecuted and basically there’s going to be lots of evil against us. However, he gives us this word of instruction, a word of hope:

 “In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19)

It’s a given that this life was never meant to be an easy ride. We are constantly bombarded with inconveniences, with ideas and opinions that we disagree with or that may be harmful, situations occur in our life that are outside of our control, and at some point we may feel like we’re reaching our breaking point- but we don’t break. In this very short, profound verse, the Lord tells us that even though we may be facing the hardest trials of our lives, if we can only be patient and wait a little longer, push through the mess, we will be blessed and have possession of our souls. What does this mean? Does this mean we will learn self mastery? Does this mean that we will gain our immortal souls unto salvation? In a way, I think both are true. Blessings that the lord gives us benefit us both in this life and in eternity.

However, I would like to look into what Dieter F Uchtdorf has to say regarding the topic:

"The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your souls. Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your patience you win mastery of your souls. Patience means to abide in faith, knowing that sometimes it is in the waiting rather than in the receiving that we grow the most. This was true in the time of the Savior. It is true in our time as well, for we are commanded in these latter days to 'continue in patience until ye are perfected.'" (Continue in Patience, Dieter F Uchtdorf, April 2010 General Conference) 

I personally feel like I have been blessed with the gift of patience. I know that each of us are given spiritual gifts that we are meant to magnify, and I feel like patience is one of mine. Growing up the youngest of 10 children, I was given lots of practice in waiting. However, to go along with Dieter F Uchtdorf's talk: 

"From that experience, I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort."

Just being good at waiting doesn't make me an expert in patience. As I've been married, I've learned there's still many things I need to learn to patient with. To endure, and press forward even when things may seem hard, or out of your skill range, requires patience as well.

[mormonshitposting]

I'm glad Starbucks is using JESUS RED CUPS for CHRISTmas but I wish they would stop trying to sell COFFEE in our LOVELY DESERET (which is UTAH)

[mormonshitposting]

In Utah you can't have Mountain Dew at the airport Good luck heathens maybe learn to wake up and love the GIFT of DAYLIGHT from GOD instead of screaming about your PRECIOUS CAFFEINE Go to the REAL MOUNTAINS and drink THAT DEW which is made by GOD unlike your CHEMICAL COCKTAIL OF UNNATURALITY HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[hannahlady]

My husband at church

[hannahlady]

Honesty

This week in Church we talked about Honesty. It was an incredible lesson (mostly because there was so much participation), and I just loved every bit of it. We shared stories about being honest even when it’s not in your favor (ie. When a cashier hands you more change than you deserve, and you return the extra money).

We also talked about stealing and how it relates to lying. I remember hearing about kids in my high school who regularly shop-lifted like it was no big deal, and it baffled me. I only thought that sort of thing only happened on teenage television dramas, I thought for sure that sort of terrible behavior didn’t happen in our society anymore.

Because of the lies and deceit that so often plague mankind, we must stand up as a beacon of truth and honesty. To stand up for injustice and make amends where they are necessary. We must balance out and surpass the evils of the world with righteousness. We cannot tolerate deceit.

“He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.” (Psalms 101:7)

But we also need to be aware of what it truly means to be honest. Too often in my life I have heard blatant rudeness being masqueraded as honesty. This often lies within the intention of our honesty. Are we honest to serve ourselves, and bring down others? Or are we honest to lift up others, even if it means bringing ourselves lower? A woman in my Sunday School gave an example of this: She worked at a clothing outlet, and a woman came in one day to purchase a dress. While she was trying one on, she asked the lady working if the dress suited her. Now, this woman working did not think the dress suited her at all, but instead of saying that harshly, she instead guided the woman to a different dress she believed would suit the lady better. Though it was more effort to speak with gentleness and kindness, the woman was able to be honest, and the lady ended up adoring the second dress. We can be honest without causing unnecessary harm to the hearer. Do not mistake cruelty for honesty.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)