Becoming Men and Women of Integrity ~ Part Two

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

This post focuses on a BYU Devotional in December 2011 and it is called, "Becoming Men and Women of Integrity" by Tad R. Callister. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. I hope that you would be able to learn something new while you are reading this post.

Elder Callister has mentioned the following; "... Our natures have changed when our inner motives and thoughts are consistent with our outward behavior. With the Lord’s help we can transform our natures. King Benjamin told us how we might change our natures from a natural man to a spiritual man: For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Changing our natures, not just our behaviors, is facilitated by an eternal perspective that we are the children of God, that we do have His spark of divinity within us, and that through the Atonement we can become like Him - the perfect model of integrity. ... Men and women of integrity make their decisions based on eternal implications and consequences—not on what is expedient but on what is right in the eternities.

Fourth: Integrity is disclosing the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I believe the Lord can live with our weaknesses and mistakes, provided there is a desire and effort to repent. That is what the Atonement is all about. ...

The question is often asked: When should we confess our sins? When the sin is of such a serious nature that it might warrant a disciplinary action or it continues to linger in our mind so we cannot find peace. If we then fail to confess, our spiritual horizons become limited. It is like being surrounded by a circular, impenetrable wall. In such a circumstance we have some limited room in which to move, but we are trapped. ... Years of service do not obviate confession; years of abstinence do not erase its need; one-on-one pleading with the Lord is not a substitute. Somewhere, sometime, somehow we must face the wall, square up, and climb it. That is confession. That is total integrity disclosing the whole truth and nothing but the truth. When we do this, our spiritual horizons become unlimited.

"May we be EXAMPLES of honesty and integrity wherever we go
and in whatever we do." - Pres. Thomas S. Monson.

Fifth: Integrity knows no alibis or excuses. There is something ennobling about the man or woman who admits his or her weaknesses or takes the blame “square-on” without excuse or alibi. On multiple occasions Joseph Smith recorded his weaknesses in the Doctrine and Covenants for all to read. What does this tell us? It tells us he was not perfect, but it also tells us he had nothing to hide - he was a man of integrity. ...

Sixth: Integrity is keeping our covenants and our commitments, even in times of inconvenience. Integrity is the courage to do right regardless of the consequences and regardless of the inconvenience. ... One of the acid tests of our integrity is whether or not we keep the commitments and promises we have made or whether there are loopholes in our word.

We might appropriately ask: Do we live the honor code with exactness, or are there loopholes in our word—cracks in our foundation of integrity? Do we honor our commitments as home teachers and visiting teachers, or are there loopholes in our performance? In other words—is our word our bond?

Seventh: Integrity is not governed by the presence of others. It is internally, not externally, driven. ... We have a choice. We can either seize the moment and take control of our lives or become mere puppets to our environment and our peers. Would you watch pornography in front of your mother, your date, your spouse, or your bishop? If it is wrong in the presence of others, it is just as wrong in their absence. The man of integrity who is true to self and to God will choose the right whether or not anyone is looking because he is self-driven, not externally controlled.

A lack of integrity is a major problem in the world. That deficiency undermines every business transaction and every spousal, family, and social relationship it touches. It is a concern of every profession. There are attorneys who bill for hours of service that they never rendered; physicians who recommend surgeries and procedures that were never needed; teachers who fail to prepare lessons but deposit their paychecks just the same; and, unfortunately, politicians whose integrity is governed by popular polls rather than by eternal principles. It is a day and age in which men and women of integrity are in desperate demand but in short supply.

... We love you for the integrity of your hearts and the purity of your lives. May we all become men and women of integrity not because we have to but because we want to. The Lord announced the reward for those who do so: “Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest . . . and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice . . . they are accepted of me.” May we all be accepted of God because we are striving to become men and women of integrity. ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk now or in your own time, here's the link below.
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/tad-r-callister/becoming-men-and-women-of-integrity/

Stay Tuned until next time.

Becoming Men and Women of Integrity ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

What is your definition and understanding of "Integrity"? What does "Integrity" means to a religious friend? What does "Integrity" means to a immediate family member?

This post focuses on a BYU Devotional in December 2011 and it is called, "Becoming Men and Women of Integrity" by Tad R. Callister. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. I hope that you would be able to learn something new while you are reading this post.

Elder Callister has mentioned the following;
"... Today I would like to speak about becoming men and women of integrity. It is this attribute that often defines the greatness of a man or a woman. ... Integrity is a purity of mind and heart that knows no deception, no excuses, no rationalization, nor any coloring of the facts. It is an absolute honesty with one's self, with God, and with our fellowman. Even if God blinked or looked the other way for a moment, it would be choosing the right - not
merely because God desires it but because our character demands it.

Integrity is the very core of our being. It is who we really are. When all the scaffolding is removed, it is our integrity that both defines us and identifies us. ... Each of us might appropriately ask: Does our integrity, our honor, have a purchase price - a dime, a thousand dollars, the approval of our peers, some physical pleasure, or temporary recognition? Is there some point at which our integrity can be purchased? Or is it priceless - not for sale at
any price?

For a few moments I would like to address seven principles of integrity that I hope will inspire us to make this Christlike attribute a fundamental character trait in our personal lives.

First: Integrity is the foundation of our character and all other virtues. ... Integrity is the foundation upon which character and a Christlike life are built. ... How can we be humble if we lack the integrity to acknowledge our
own weaknesses? How can we develop charity for others if we are not totally honest in our dealings with them? How can we repent and be clean if we only partially disclose the truth to our bishop?  ...

"Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions
based on values rather than personal gain."

Second: Integrity is not doing just that which is legal but that which is moral or Christlike. It may be legal to have premarital relationships, it may be legal to commit adultery, it may be legal to gossip, but none of those actions is moral or Christlike. Integrity is not just adherence to the legal code; it is adherence to the higher moral code. ...

Every young man on this campus has the moral duty to protect and preserve the virtue of his date, and every young woman has the reciprocal moral duty for her date. It is a test of his or her integrity. The man or woman who is striving for integrity will develop a resolve and a discipline that transcend even the powerful passions of physical emotions. 

It is that integrity to God and to self and to others that sustains them and empowers them even when Satan unleashes his arsenal of moral temptations upon them. ... God is counting on you to be that generation. 

... Third: Integrity makes decisions based on eternal implications. ... In loving-kindness the Lord gave us this warning: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The man of the world has his heart focused upon his temporal net worth. The man of integrity has his heart focused upon his spiritual net worth. No doubt there will be a lot of millionaires, even billionaires, who in the life to come will find themselves spiritually bankrupt and a lot of goodly Saints who with meager net worths will become spiritual billionaires discovering that integrity has been the wisest investment of all. Those with integrity have that eternal foresight.

A disappointed father once told me that his teenage daughter wanted to “live it up” and then three months before her intended marriage clean up her act so she could receive a temple recommend. I do not know of any stake president who would give a recommend under such circumstances. But even if it were given, it would be a curse, not a blessing. Integrity is not shortsighted - It is not just a temporary change of behavior; it is a permanent change of nature."

Stay Tuned until next time.

Spiritual Healing ~ Part Two

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

This is part two.

This post focuses on a General Conference talk, and it is called "Spiritual Healing" by James E. Faust. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. I do hope that you would be able to learn something new while you are reading through this post.

Elder Faust has mentioned the following; "... However, for many of us, the spiritual healing takes place not in great arenas of the world, but in our own sacrament meetings. It is comforting to worship, partake of the sacrament with, and be taught in a spirit of humility by neighbors and close friends who love the Lord and try to keep his commandments.

Our good bishop assigns the participants to treat a gospel subject or principle. Invariably they speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, opening their hearts so that the audience can behold the jewels therein. The messages are given in humble witness and sweet counsel. We of the audience understand that which is taught by the spirit of truth and verify the accompanying testimonies.

Our sacrament meetings should be worshipful and healing, restoring those who attend to spiritual soundness. Part of this healing process occurs as we worship through music and song. Singing our beautiful, worshipful hymns is food for our souls. We become of one heart and one mind when we sing praises to the Lord. ... Spiritual healing also comes from bearing and hearing of humble testimonies.

"The gift of healing is a sign that will follow all that believe, whether
male or female." - Joseph Smith.

A witness given in a spirit of contrition, thankfulness for divine providence, and submission to divine guidance is a powerful remedy to relieve the anguish and concerns of our hearts.

... Recent information seems to confirm that the ultimate spiritual healing comes in the forgetting of self. ... The Savior of the world said it very simply: “And whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” (Luke 17:33.)

Of all that we might do to find solace, prayer is perhaps the most comforting. We are instructed to pray to the Father in the name of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. The very act of praying to God is satisfying to the soul, even though God, in his wisdom, may not give what we ask for. 

President Harold B. Lee taught us that all of our prayers are answered, but sometimes the Lord says no. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the “best way to obtain truth and wisdom” is “to go to God in prayer.” 

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith). Prayer is most helpful in the healing process. 

Wounds inflicted by others are healed by the “art of healing.” ... There is hope for all to be healed through repentance and obedience. ... The Prophet Joseph Smith stated, “There is never a time when the spirit is too old to approach God. All are [in] reach of pardoning mercy.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 191.)

After full repentance, the formula is wonderfully simple. Indeed, the Lord has given it to us in these words: “Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi. 9:13.) In so doing, we have his promise that “he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Ps. 147:3.) We find solace in Christ through the agency of the Comforter, and he extends this invitation to us: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28.)

... As we do this, healing takes place, just as the Lord promised through the prophet Jeremiah when he said, “I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. ... I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” (Jer. 31:13, 25.) In the celestial glory, we are told, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” (Rev. 21:4.) Then faith and hope will replace heartache, disappointment, torment, anguish, and despair, and the Lord will give us strength, as Alma says, that we “should suðer no manner of aðictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.” (Alma 31:38.) ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here's the link below.

www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1992/04/spiritual-healing

Stay Tuned until next time.

Spiritual Healing ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

This is part one.

What is your definition and understanding of "Spiritual Healing"? Do you know think it is necessary for you to know what is "Spiritual Healing" in your life? What does "Spiritual Healing" means to a immediate family member? What does "Spiritual Healing" means to a religious friend?

This post focuses on a General Conference talk, and it is called "Spiritual Healing" by James E. Faust. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. I do hope that you would be able to learn something new while you are reading through this post. Elder Faust has mentioned the following; "I humbly come to this pulpit today to speak about a sure cure for heartache, disappointment, torment, anguish, and despair. ... The healing is a divine miracle; the wounds are a common lot of all mankind. ... It seems that no one escapes the troubles, challenges, and disappointments of this world.

In today’s overloaded society, some of the healing agents that our parents enjoyed seem not to be at work in our lives. ... The increasing demands, the diversity of voices, the entreating sales pitches, ..., the entanglement of many personal relationships can rob our souls of the peace they need to function and survive. ... The increasing forces that destroy the individual and family bring great sadness and heartbreak. One reason for the spiritual sickness
of our society is that so many do not know or care about what is morally right and wrong. So many things are justified on the basis of expediency and the acquiring of money and goods. 

... Many things are just plain and simply wrong, whether they are illegal or not. ... Someway, somehow, we must find the healing influence that brings solace to the soul. ... The onsetting comfort in large measure can come through increased communion with the Spirit of God. This can bring spiritual healing. ... The sixth article of faith states that, among other spiritual gifts, we believe in the gift of healing. To me, this gift extends to the healing of both the body and the spirit. The Spirit speaks peace to the soul. This spiritual solace comes by invoking spiritual gifts, which are claimed and manifested in many ways. They are rich, and full, and abundant in the Church today.

... The Lord has provided many avenues by which we may receive this healing influence. I am grateful that the Lord has restored temple work to the earth. It is an important part of the work of salvation for both the living and the dead. Our temples provide a sanctuary where we may go to lay aside many of the anxieties of the world. Our temples are places of peace and tranquillity. In these hallowed sanctuaries God “healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Ps. 147:3.) The reading and the study of the scriptures can bring great comfort. 

"The healing power of the Lord Jesus
Christ whether it removes our burdens
or strengthens us to endure and live with
them - is available for every application in
mortality." - Dallin H. Oaks.

President Marion G. Romney stated:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase, mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. 

... Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to that counsel. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity the pure love of Christ will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1960, pp. 112–13.)

... However, the spiritual benefits have long been validated. The Word of Wisdom promises that those who remember to keep this counsel and walk in obedience to the commandments “shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones.” (D&C 89:18.) Marrow has long been a symbol of vibrant, healthful living. But in a day of life-saving bone marrow transplants, the phrase “marrow to their bones” takes on an additional significance as a spiritual covenant. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Several Past Opportunities of Good Works in my Life

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

This post is roughly short and sweet. Good Works .. How often do you get opportunities to do "Good Works" for a immediate family member? How often do you get opportunities to do "Good Works" for a extended relative? How often do you get opportunities to do "Good Works" for a friend? How often do you get opportunities to do "Good Works" for someone else?

Whenever I thought about "Good Works" in the past, I thought about the following two scripture verses from The Book of Mormon. First scripture verse is from Mosiah 2:17 and it reads; “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” The other scripture verse is from Alma 37:34 and it reads; “Teach [the people] to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall

find rest to their souls.”

While I was living in Australia; I remembered when I had some uplifting and spiritual great experiences with the Full-Time Missionaries. While I was with the Full-Time Missionaries, we were teaching investigators' lessons, we were teaching more lessons to most recent converts, we were doing service projects for the investigators, we went to zone meeting together (at the time and I still don't know if a church member who isn't set apart as a Full-Time Missionary is allowed to go along to zone meetings), we attended Temple sessions together, we spent several preparation days together - especially emailing on library public computers and playing sports, and so forth. 

"We believe in DOING GOOD."

I know for myself that it kinda sucks for me not being able to have the opportunity to serve and set apart as a Full-Time Missionary and serve and set apart as a Part-Time Missionary (Young Church Service Missionary) prior to meeting my husband but that is okay. Heavenly Father obviously had a different plan laid out for me instead. 

While I was living in Australia; I had the opportunity to be set apart as a Temple Ordinance Worker in Brisbane Latter-Day Saint Temple. I missed it so much, I wasn't looking forward to the day when I got honorable released. I remembered duration of my service; I had a several patrons who called me by my first name "Megan" and most of the time, I was called by "Sister Green."

While I was living in Australia; I remembered when I was offering car rides for YSAs to come along with me to YSA events. I also remembered when I was offering car rides for several of my YSA friends to come along with me to Brisbane Latter-Day Temple. I definitely do miss those days mostly because I lived less than forty-five minutes from Brisbane Latter-Day Temple, and I always enjoyed taking friends to go to Brisbane Latter-Day Saint Temple with me and where I live now, I live over two hours drive from Dallas Latter-Day Saint (the nearest one from me) and I rely on someone else to take me to Dallas Latter-Day Temple.

While I was living in Australia; I had the opportunity to do some service projects whilst I was in Young Women's Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints religion. I enjoyed a few of those service projects. I remembered cleaning up from the 2011 and 2013 Floods in Laidley area and Forest Lake area. I didn't like getting mud on my joggers that I had at the time. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Faith and Good Works

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

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

This week's topics focuses on three topics and those topics are Good Works, Healing and Integrity. I would to explain how I have divided up the topics during this week. Today's post and tomorrow's post would be focusing
on Good Works. For Wednesday's post and Thursday's post would be focusing on Healing. Friday and maybe Saturday would be focusing on Integrity.

What is your definition and understanding of "Good Works"? How can you apply "Good Works" in your everyday life? What does it mean "Good Works" to a immediate family member? What does it mean "Good Works" to a non-member friend?

This post focuses on April 1992 General Conference talk, and it is called "Faith and Good Works" by Stephen D. Nadauld. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. I hope that you would be able
to learn something new while reading this post.

Elder Nadauld has mentioned the following; "... Children can provide wonderful and often humorous insights into life. We have in our family identical ten-year-old twin sons. In some circumstances they are practically impossible to tell apart. ... Life provides for each of us a full-length, wide-screen panorama of opportunities to run into ourselves. ...

"Most often, our good works are known to only a few. They are,
however, recorded in heaven." - Elder Ronald A. Rasband.

In more eloquent terms, Moroni was told by the Lord: “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness … ; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27.)

As we look into the mirror at the accumulation of bumps and bruises that evidence our weaknesses, may we be reminded that there are two great stabilizing forces that can anchor our souls. 

... Indeed we walk by faith - faith in the plan of redemption, faith in the role of Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, faith that as the Son of God, he has the power to save, to forgive, to lift us up. 

Because of our faith, we repent, we keep his commandments, we seek his restored Church and authorized priesthood. ... When we exercise our faith in him, then Christ will help us overcome our weaknesses and the resulting “bumps and bruises.” To illustrate the second great stabilizing force, I would relate another experience. Some years ago, I was serving as a young bishop. We were holding a ward social around a swimming pool near the apartment where most of the ward members lived. I was introduced to a new member of the ward—a young woman in her twenties by the name of Carol. Carol had been afflicted with cerebral palsy since infancy. She walked with great difficulty; her hands were crippled. Her kind and dear face was also affected, as was her speech. But as I would come to understand, to know Carol was to love her. I had only to wait a few minutes to begin learning the great lesson she would teach. 

While we were talking, we watched a tall, handsome, dark-haired, very athletic young man dive off the diving board and seem to injure himself slightly. He got out of the pool, holding his neck, and went and sat under a tree. I watched as Carol struggled to prepare a plate of food and with great difficulty delivered it to him—a guileless act of service, of “good works.” Carol’s good works became a legend. She cared for the sick; she took food to the hungry; she drove people places (an experience that delivered you pale and shaken, but always in one piece); she comforted; she lifted; she blessed.

I walked with her one day on the sidewalk that passed through the apartment complex where she lived. From the windows, from the balconies, from the porches came cries of “Hi, Carol!” “How are you doing, Carol?” “Come up and see us, Carol.” And occasionally someone would say, “Oh, hi, Bishop.” It was clear that Carol was loved and greatly accepted through her wonderful good works. My most vivid recollection of Carol occurred in the spring of that year.

The ward had agreed to participate in the stake five-kilometer fun run—an oxymoronic term, to be sure. Carol wanted to be with the rest of the ward members, but we didn’t see how it would be possible. For her, just walking was a great difficulty. Nevertheless, she was determined. She struggled and trained each day to increase her endurance.

The race finished in the stadium. Two or three hundred of us were in the stands by the finish line, drinking juice and catching our breath. And then we remembered Carol—she was left somewhere back on the course. As we ran out the entrance to the stadium, she came into view, struggling to breathe, barely able to walk, but determined to finish. As she started around the track toward the finish line, a wonderful thing happened. Suddenly the track was lined on both sides with hundreds of cheering friends. Others were running alongside to support and hold her up. Carol “of great good works” had finished the race.

One day each of us will cross the finish line. Will it likewise be to the cheers and encouragement of those we have loved and served? Hopefully it will be to the approbation of our Savior, who because of our faith and our good works, will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” ...

You may or may like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here is the link below.
www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1992/04/faith-and-good-works

Stay Tuned until next time.