Sunday, February 10, 2013

How to Become Spiritually Rich

To start off this week, I wanted to share a really cool thought that my Book of Mormon professor shared with us.  I don't know about you, but sometimes when I'm saying my prayers or reading my scriptures, my mind won't exactly be very focused and it will start to wander off to other places.  Before I know it, I won't have any idea what the page of scripture I just read was talking about.  My teacher suggested that next time that happens, pay attention to what your mind wanders to.  It can often be a problem or situation that should be brought to Heavenly Father.  Bring it up to Him in your prayers.  He is your Father and He wants to help you.  Because He is the Almighty, He already knows what's going on in your life, but He loves you so much that He wants to hear it from you.  Try it!  Please!  It's a really spiritually uplifting experience, trust me :)
Now, to the good stuff!  I want to share an analogy with you that my teacher shared with us.  Imagine a picture of a gold mine.  When you go digging for gold, there are three steps you should go through:

  1. Dig: You first have to gather some dirt that could potentially have pieces of gold in it.
  2. Sift/Sort: Once you have your dirt, you must search through it to find any little nuggets and separate them from the dirt.
  3. Fashion/Shape: All those little flecks of gold can together be melted down and formed into something more useful, like a piece of jewelry.
Now, to bring it back to us in our day.  
When we read and study our scriptures, we should follow that same process:
  1. Dig: Read your scriptures every day.  Make it a part of your daily routine.  
  2. Sift/Sort: Find doctrines and principles that are buried in the scriptures.  
  3. Fashion/Shape: Find ways that it can apply to your life right now.  
Using this process, we can become spiritually very rich!  Sometimes is will be easier said than done, but nothing worthwhile is easy.  Progression, not perfection!
One scripture in the Book of Mormon that's one of my personal nuggets is this: "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth is mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  
Now, I've added the bold to some of those words for a reason.  This verse teaches us a when/if principle.  The devil will come after you.  No matter what, it's happening, there's nothing you can do about that.  However, it's your choice whether or not to build on a firm foundation to protect yourself from the storm that's headed your way.  Now, when we talk about this verse we need to remember the difference between scaring and preparing.  The reason we talk about the devil and his attacks is so you know you have a reason to prepare.  There's no need to be afraid!  With Christ on our side, we will protected.  This doesn't mean that we won't get hurt, but because of your solid foundation on Christ, you can be healed.  
Finally, remember this:
Scritptures
See that??  You are in the scriptures!!  How cool is that??
Now get ready, here's another one:
Script-ures
Make the script yours!  Make it personal to you!!  I can testify that when you do, it can be such a testimony builder and it will make you spiritually so much stronger!  But don't just take my word for it. Try it for yourself and don't be afraid :)

2 comments:

  1. Lauren! This is perfect! Just what I needed today! You are an amazing girl!
    -Jordyn

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! That makes me so happy! That's the whole reason I do this. Glad it helped! :)

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