Therefore They Hushed Their Fears} Part Three

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish. 

This post focuses on April 2015 General Conference talk and it is called "Therefore They Hushed Their Fears" by Elder David A. Bednar. This post is part three, I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new. 

The Fear of the Lord
Different from but related to the fears we often experience is what the scriptures describe as “godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28) or “the fear of the Lord” (Job 28:28; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 11:2–3). Unlike worldly fear that creates alarm and anxiety, godly fear is a source of peace, assurance, and confidence.

But how can anything associated with fear be edifying or spiritually helpful?

.... Please note that godly fear is linked inextricably to an understanding of the Final Judgment and our individual accountability for our desires, thoughts, words, and acts. ... I do not believe we will be afraid of Him at all. Rather, it is the prospect in His presence of facing things as they really are about ourselves and having “a perfect knowledge” .. of all our rationalizations, pretenses, and self-deceptions. Ultimately, we will be left without excuse.

"Are these perilous times? They are. But there is no need
to fear. We can have peace in our hearts and peace in our
homes. We can be an influence for good in this world every
one of us." - Gordon B. Hinckley.

Every person who has lived or will yet live upon the earth “shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to his or her works whether they be good or whether they be evil” (Mosiah 16:10). If our desires have been for righteousness and our works good, then the judgment bar will be pleasing. And at the last day we will “be rewarded unto righteousness."

Conversely, if our desires have been for evil and our works wicked, then the judgment bar will be a cause of dread. ... And at the last day we will “have [our] reward of evil” (Alma 41:5).

As summarized in Ecclesiastes:
“Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).

My beloved brothers and sisters, godly fear dispels mortal fears. It even subdues the haunting concern that we never can be good enough spiritually and never will measure up to the Lord’s requirements and expectations. In truth, we cannot be good enough or measure up relying solely upon our own capacity and performance. Our works and desires alone do not and cannot save us. “After all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23), we are made whole only through the mercy and grace available through the Savior’s infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice (see Alma 34:10, 14). Certainly, “we believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:3).
Godly fear is loving and trusting in Him. As we fear God more completely, we love Him more perfectly. And “perfect love casteth out all fear” (Moroni 8:16).  ..."

You may or may not like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time. I think it was a great talk. Here is the link below.
www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/04/therefore-they-hushed-their-fears

Stay Tuned until next time.

Therefore They Hushed Their Fears} Part Two

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish. 

This post focuses on April 2015 General Conference talk and it is called "Therefore They Hushed Their Fears" by Elder David A. Bednar. This post is part two, I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new. 

Elder Bednar mentioned the following, "Look to Christ
The counsel Alma gave to his son Helaman applies precisely to each of us today: “Yea, see that ye look to God and live” (Alma 37:47). We should look to and have our focus firmly fixed upon the Savior at all times and in all places.

Recall how the Lord’s Apostles were in a ship, tossed in the midst of the sea. Jesus went to them, walking on the water; but not recognizing Him, they cried out in fear. - Matthew 14:27-31. ...

We can be blessed to conquer our fears and strengthen our faith as we follow the Lord’s instruction: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36).

"Therefore they hushed their fears." - Elder David A. Bednar.

Build upon the Foundation of Christ
Helaman admonished his sons, Nephi and Lehi: “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 his 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” (Helaman 5:12).

Ordinances and covenants are the building blocks we use to construct our lives upon the foundation of Christ and His Atonement. We are connected securely to and with the Savior as we worthily receive ordinances and enter into covenants, faithfully remember and honor those sacred commitments, and do our best to live in accordance with the obligations we have accepted. And that bond is the source of spiritual strength and stability in all of the seasons of our lives.

We can be blessed to hush our fears as we firmly establish our desires and deeds upon the sure foundation of the Savior through our ordinances and covenants.

Press Forward with Faith in Christ
Nephi declared: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).

The disciplined endurance described in this verse is the result of spiritual understanding and vision, persistence, patience, and God’s grace. Exercising faith in and on the holy name of Jesus Christ, meekly submitting to His will and timing in our lives, and humbly acknowledging His hand in all things yield the peaceable things of the kingdom of God that bring joy and eternal life (see D&C 42:61). Even as we encounter difficulties and face the uncertainties of the future, we can cheerfully persevere and live a “peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2).

We can be blessed to hush our fears as we receive the fortitude that comes from learning and living gospel principles and resolutely pressing forward on the covenant pathway.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Therefore They Hushed Their Fears} Part One

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish. 

This post focuses on April 2015 General Conference talk and it is called "Therefore They Hushed Their Fears" by Elder David A. Bednar. This post is part one, I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new. 

Elder Bednar mentioned the following, "... You undoubtedly have experienced much greater feelings of dread after learning about a personal health challenge, discovering a family member in difficulty or danger, or observing disturbing world events. In such instances, the distressing emotion of fear arises because of impending danger, uncertainty, or pain and through experiences that are unexpected, sometimes sudden, and likely to produce a negative outcome.

In our daily lives, endless reports of criminal violence, famine, wars, corruption, terrorism, declining values, disease, and the destructive forces of nature can engender fear and apprehension. Surely we live in the season foretold by the Lord: “And in that day … the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them” (D&C 45:26). ....

"Faith and hope invite into our lives the sweet peace of conscience
for we all yearn." - David A. Bednar.

Mortal Fear
... Notably, one of the first effects of the Fall was for Adam and Eve to experience fear. ... This potent emotion is an important element of our mortal existence. An example from the Book of Mormon highlights the power of the knowledge of the Lord (see 2 Peter 1:2–8; Alma 23:5–6) to dispel fear and provide peace even as we confront great adversity.

In the land of Helam, Alma’s people were frightened by an advancing Lamanite army.
“But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but … should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. “Therefore they hushed their fears” (Mosiah 23:27–28).

Notice Alma did not hush the people’s fears. Rather, Alma counseled the believers to remember the Lord and the deliverance only He could bestow (see 2 Nephi 2:8). And knowledge of the Savior’s protecting watchcare enabled the people to hush their own fears.

Correct knowledge of and faith in the Lord empower us to hush our fears because Jesus Christ is the only source of enduring peace. He declared, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (D&C 19:23).

... Trust and confidence in Christ and a ready reliance on His merits, mercy, and grace lead to hope, through His Atonement, in the Resurrection and eternal life (see Moroni 7:41). Such faith and hope invite into our lives the sweet peace of conscience for which we all yearn. The power of the Atonement makes repentance possible and quells the despair caused by sin; it also strengthens us to see, do, and become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity.

... The peace Christ gives allows us to view mortality through the precious perspective of eternity and supplies a spiritual settledness (see Colossians 1:23) that helps us maintain a consistent focus on our heavenly destination. Thus, we can be blessed to hush our fears because His doctrine provides purpose and direction in all aspects of our lives. His ordinances and covenants fortify and comfort in times both good and bad. And His priesthood authority gives assurance that the things that matter most can endure both in time and in eternity.

But can we hush the fears that so easily and frequently beset us in our contemporary world? The answer to this question is an unequivocal yes. Three basic principles are central to receiving this blessing in our lives:
(1) look to Christ, (2) build upon the foundation of Christ, and (3) press forward with faith in Christ."

Stay Tuned until next time.

How do you overcome your fears?

Good morning, or Good afternoon, or Good afternoon;

this post would take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

I would like to ask you the following questions and you may or may not ask yourself and answer the following questions either now or in your own time. What's your definition and understanding of the word "fear"?

What is your worst fear or fears that you have ever experienced in your life so far? Are you having fears
about the future?

Do you have a fear of someone's choices may have limited your choices about employment?
Do you have a fear of someone's choices may have limited your choices about education?

What are your current fears? What are you doing to overcome present fears?
Do you have a fear of losing someone such as a loved one or a friend?

What was some of your past fears and were you able to overcome any of those past fears?
How did you overcome those fears?

"Fear not, little flock." - President Uchtdorf. 

When I was childhood years, and even now at times; I had and I still have fear about noises from thunderstorms. 
If thunderstorms are happening overnight; I wouldn't be able to go to sleep straight away, I would get so scared that I would try to wake up my husband and cuddle up with me. I have been doing a strategy of praying to have comfort whenever there is thunderstorms and sometimes, I would even pray to ask for the thunderstorms to go away.

During my teens years, and even now at times; I had and I still have fear about death. I don't ever imagine myself to ever die at a young age. I have been able to share the topic of The Plan of Salvation to non-members and I have been able to remind myself about The Plan of Salvation.

During my teens years, and even now at times; I had and I still have fear about losing loved ones and friends who passed away before I do. I have learned it is okay to mourn with those who have passed away before I do, it certainly does take some time for me to overcome and move forward after they have passed away before I do, it certainly does take some time for me to build confidence to share the topic of The Plan of Salvation to other non-member friends and remind myself about The Plan of Salvation. It brings joy to me to know that I would be able to have multiple opportunities to see them again in Heaven when I return one day.

During my childhood years, my teens and even now at times; I had and I still have fear about losing friendships. There is always a season for everything and everything has its own purpose. I know that I often make a lot of friends and it's always great to talk to true friends. When the spark of friendships starts to disappear and goes away, it comes to reality for me to not be friends with them anymore.

At times, it does hurt especially after being a friend for a several years or so and did my very best to continue being friends with them. When it's time to let go, it's a good way to have refresh start and find other friends to talk to and spend some time with.

Sometimes former friends blocks me on social media accounts and could possibly block my phone number. I know that it is either something that I did or they have done to get me overthinking that I was friends or more than friends with them in the first place. When they don't block me on social media accounts, I used to check their social media accounts and found out that they have moved on with their lives especially with getting married and later on, having children. It is obvious that they just aren't interested of being friends anymore and doesn't want to repair a friendship.

I learned to tell myself that I need to constantly reassure myself to know who my real and true friends are. I know that I barely on social media accounts these days, I don't really talk to huge amount of friends anymore like I used to while I was living in Australia. I learned to be careful of what to say to friends and how to choose friends wisely.

Stay Tuned until next time.

God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear} Part Two

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post would take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.




This post is based on an article from Ensign; October 1984 and it is called, “God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear" by President Gordon B. Hinckley. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new.




President Hinckley mentioned, “... We loved the Lord and we loved good and honorable friends. From such love we drew great strength. How great and magnificent is the power of love to overcome fear and doubt, worry and discouragement. God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” What did Paul mean by the words, a sound mind? I think he meant the basic logic of the gospel. ... I do not fret over the mysteries. I do not worry whether the heavenly gates swing or slide. ... I am more concerned with the fact that God has revealed in this dispensation a great and marvelous and beautiful plan that motivates men and women to love their Creator and their Redeemer, to appreciate and serve one another, to walk in faith on the road that leads to immortality and eternal life.



"Perfect love casteth out fear." - Moroni 8:16

I am grateful for the marvelous declaration that “the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.” (D&C 93:36.) ... “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” (D&C 50:23–24) ... What have any of us to fear regarding our challenges and difficulties in life? “Only fear itself,” as U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said in a different context.




Let us refer again to the tremendously important truths taught by Paul: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7.) Then gave Paul his great mandate to Timothy: “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.” (2 Tim. 1:8.)




May this counsel be as a personal charge to each of us. Let us walk with confidence never with arrogance and with quiet dignity in our conviction concerning Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Let us find strength in the strength that comes from him. Let us find peace in the peace that was of the very essence of his being. Let us be willing to sacrifice in the spirit of him who gave himself a sacrifice for all men. Let us walk in virtue after his mandate, “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” (Isa. 52:11.) Let us repent of any wrongdoing, in fulfillment of his commandment that we do so, and then let us seek forgiveness under the mercy he has promised. Let us demonstrate our love for him through service to one another."




You may or may not would like to read the whole article in your own time. Here is the link below.

www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1984/10/god-hath-not-given-us-the-spirit-of-fear




Stay Tuned until next time.

God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear} Part One

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,
this post would take approximately three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on an article from Ensign; October 1984 and it is called, “God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear" by President Gordon B. Hinckley. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new.

President Hinckley mentioned, .. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:6–7.) Who among us can say that he or she has not felt fear? I know of no one who has been entirely spared. Some, of course, experience fear to a greater degree than do others. 

Some are able to rise above it quickly, but others are trapped and pulled down by it and even driven to defeat. We suffer from the fear of ridicule, the fear of failure, the fear of loneliness, the fear of ignorance. Some fear the present, some the future. Some carry the burden of sin and would give almost anything to unshackle themselves from those burdens but fear to change their lives. Let us recognize that fear comes not of God, but rather that this gnawing, destructive element comes from the adversary of truth and righteousness. Fear is the antithesis of faith. It is corrosive in its effects, even deadly.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” .. They give us power. What power? The power of the gospel, the power of truth, the power of faith, the power of the priesthood.

There is a mighty strength that comes of the knowledge that you and I are sons and daughters of God. Within us is something of divinity. .. Let us encourage the divinity within us to come to the surface. For example, we need not fear ridicule because of our faith. We all occasionally have felt a little of such ridicule. But there is a power within us that can rise above ridicule, that can, in fact, even turn it to good.

FEAR

... God has given us the power of the gospel to lift us above our fears. God has given us the power of truth. President Joseph F. Smith once declared: “We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. No sect or religious denomination [or, I may say, no searcher of truth] in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject. We are willing to receive all truth, from whatever source it may come; for truth will stand, truth will endure.” (Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 1.)

We have nothing to fear when we walk by the light of eternal truth. But we had better be discerning. ... We need not fear as long as we have in our lives the power that comes from righteously living by the truth which is from God our Eternal Father.

Nor need we fear as long as we have the power of faith. ... We are pained by the desecration of that which to us is holy. But we need not fear. This cause is greater than any man. It will outlast all its enemies. We need only go forward by the power of faith without fear. ... 

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love. …”

Love of what? Love for the Lord, love for his work, his cause, and his kingdom; love for people, love for one another.

I have seen time and again that love of God can bridge the chasm of fear. Love for the Church can also lift one above doubt. ... It was easy to wonder about many things, to question things in life, in the world, in the Church, in aspects of the gospel. But it was also a season of gladness and a season of love. Behind such thoughts, there was for me an underlying foundation of love that came from great parents and a good family, a wonderful bishop, devoted and faithful teachers, and the scriptures to read and ponder."

You may or may not would like to read the whole article in your own time. Here is the link below.
www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1984/10/god-hath-not-given-us-the-spirit-of-fear

Stay Tuned until next time.