Joy through Repentance and Meekness
I’m listening to the Book of Mormon at 1.5x speed in an attempt to follow the direction that President Nelson gave the sisters during his talk at the woman’s session of General Conference.
Side Note: I’m also doing the 10 day social media fast, which is going pretty well. The irony of starting a blog while on a social media fast is not lost on me. I’m most grateful President Nelson didn’t ask me to do a 10 day fast from sugar. That would be much more difficult but perhaps just as beneficial. No sugar? Then what would I take to my ministering sisters ... a plate of carrots?
Back to my Book of Mormon. I’m following along in a new blue Book of Mormon, listening for and marking any talk about God, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, Eternal Father, etc. 1.5x is as fast as I can listen. I find I really have to focus, there isn’t any time for my mind to wander off.
I read Moroni 8:26 yesterday.
And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter, filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all saints shall swell with God.
I like scriptures that I can outline like a chemistry equation: if you add this compound plus this compound, the result will be this. Let’s give it a go:
The remission of my sins brings to me meekness and a lowliness of heart. When I am meek, the Holy Ghost can visit me and fill me with hope and perfect love. This perfect love endures with my diligence in prayer.
What a lovely equation.
It starts with me. Being filled with hope and perfect love starts with my actions. I hold the key. It’s repentance. Repentance brings joy.
I can repent of withholding forgiveness, even though I really want him to know he hurt me.
I can repent of quickly judging another for her comments, without pausing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I can repent of competitiveness, the false idea that I have to be better than you. Completely false. Life lived as a zero sum game is miserable.
I can repent of the needless self-pity and negative talk that I spin in my own head. Words that I know are are not true, but somehow I think I need to hear them. Seriously? I tell myself that I am inconsequential. How does that bring joy? It doesn’t.
In the April 2018 General Conference, Elder Bednar gave a talk, Meek and Lowly of Heart, in which he reminds us that the Lord described Himself as meek and lowly of heart (see Matthew 11:29) “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Of all the attributes that accurately describe our Savior, he chose to emphasize his meekness.
What about the scripture in D&C 19:23: “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.”
These scriptures teach that meekness brings peace and rest to me. Peace and rest sound like they could fall into the category headed up by joy! I’ll take it. I need some meekness in my life.
Elder Bednar defined meekness as a righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint. “As we come unto and follow the Savior, we increasingly and incrementally are enabled to become more like Him. We are empowered by the Spirit with disciplined self-restraint and a settled and calm demeanor. Thus, meek is what we become as disciples of the Master and not just something we do.”
Side Note: I’m also doing the 10 day social media fast, which is going pretty well. The irony of starting a blog while on a social media fast is not lost on me. I’m most grateful President Nelson didn’t ask me to do a 10 day fast from sugar. That would be much more difficult but perhaps just as beneficial. No sugar? Then what would I take to my ministering sisters ... a plate of carrots?
Back to my Book of Mormon. I’m following along in a new blue Book of Mormon, listening for and marking any talk about God, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, Eternal Father, etc. 1.5x is as fast as I can listen. I find I really have to focus, there isn’t any time for my mind to wander off.
I read Moroni 8:26 yesterday.
And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter, filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all saints shall swell with God.
I like scriptures that I can outline like a chemistry equation: if you add this compound plus this compound, the result will be this. Let’s give it a go:
The remission of my sins brings to me meekness and a lowliness of heart. When I am meek, the Holy Ghost can visit me and fill me with hope and perfect love. This perfect love endures with my diligence in prayer.
What a lovely equation.
It starts with me. Being filled with hope and perfect love starts with my actions. I hold the key. It’s repentance. Repentance brings joy.
I can repent of withholding forgiveness, even though I really want him to know he hurt me.
I can repent of quickly judging another for her comments, without pausing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I can repent of competitiveness, the false idea that I have to be better than you. Completely false. Life lived as a zero sum game is miserable.
I can repent of the needless self-pity and negative talk that I spin in my own head. Words that I know are are not true, but somehow I think I need to hear them. Seriously? I tell myself that I am inconsequential. How does that bring joy? It doesn’t.
In the April 2018 General Conference, Elder Bednar gave a talk, Meek and Lowly of Heart, in which he reminds us that the Lord described Himself as meek and lowly of heart (see Matthew 11:29) “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Of all the attributes that accurately describe our Savior, he chose to emphasize his meekness.
What about the scripture in D&C 19:23: “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.”
These scriptures teach that meekness brings peace and rest to me. Peace and rest sound like they could fall into the category headed up by joy! I’ll take it. I need some meekness in my life.
Elder Bednar defined meekness as a righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint. “As we come unto and follow the Savior, we increasingly and incrementally are enabled to become more like Him. We are empowered by the Spirit with disciplined self-restraint and a settled and calm demeanor. Thus, meek is what we become as disciples of the Master and not just something we do.”
I want to quickly and willingly repent.
I want to be meek.
I want to have peace.
I want to have rest.
I want to have joy.
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