1. Moroni explains the power of faith through a series of examples. (Read Ether 12:7-22). He introduces these examples with the phrase, "It was by faith that" someone was able to do something. If he had included you in his series of examples, how would he have completed the sentence, "It was by faith that. . . .? "
I had to exercise faith so many times in my life as I stepped into the unknown. Every step along the way of life can be exciting and yet at the same time frightening. When I say I exercise faith I mean that I trusted that the Lord would be with me and help me through each of these challenges.
The first big step for me was when I went to Wayne State University. I was the first person in my family to go to college so I had no one to help and guide me. I had faith that I could do the work, that I could work and go to school at the same time, and that I would be able to pay for this step in my life. I had faith that I wwould be able to create a life for myself through my education.
It took faith to join the church.
It took faith to pack up and go out to BYU.
It took faith to get in my car and head to Winnebago.
It took faith to marry my first husband.
It took faith to divorce that husband.
It took faith to get my job Farmington Public Schools.
It took faith to retire from that job.
And it took faith to marry again and start a whole new life
Every step was a momentous step for me. These are all the things you do that will impact your life greatly. I have always trusted that the Lord would guide me.
Oh, I've been mad when things weren't easy and went wrong. But I learned that growth comes from hardship. Along the way I learned that having faith meant each experience would help me grow toward my potential - and not that faith would make life easy. I learned that lesson painfully.
I feel like my greatest exercise of faith was learning to stop trying to manipulate and control. I gave it all to the Lord and I trust him. I am now free to just love others! What a blessing.
2. Moroni evidences his personal insecurities when he writes about his concern that the readers will mock what he has written because of his weakness in writing. (Ether 12:23) In response to those concerns, the Lord tells Moroni that fools mock (Ether 12:26) and that weaknesses can become strengths (Ether 12:27). And Moroni was comforted. ( Ether 12:29) What does this teach you about acknowledging to the Lord your insecurities?
Oh, man. I love this question! There is something so profound and acknowledging our insecurities to the Lord.
We admit that we have them. Just naming them and owning them is a big step. These insecurities own us until we finally start talking about them.
Addressing them in prayer is such a safe place to have that discussion. Heavenly Father loves us so much. He already knows our struggles. He must be so happy when we finally come to talk about them.
My experience has been that when I "get real" in my prayers and talk about the reality of my life instead of just "saying prayers" - well, those are the times when I have experienced the Lord's love. I love that about prayer and about Heavenly Father.
3. According to Moroni, if we do not overlay our talents with charity, our talents will be taken away (Ether 12:34-35) what talents do you have? How can you demonstrate charity in using your talents?
I'd like to add to that thought and question a challenge that the pope issued this week. He was talking about the world's economic systems and is suggesting that as we use our talents to solve those issues that we also exercise charity.
He said the future will be "time that reminds us that we are not condemned to economic models whose immediate interest is limited to profit and promoting favorable public policies, unconcerned with their human social, and environmental cost." "We are speaking of a conversion and transformation of our priorities and of the place of others in our policies and in the social order." "We need to accept structurally that the poor have sufficient dignity to sit at our meeting, participate in our discussions and bring bread to their own tables."
Isn't that just such a great example of adding a level of charity to our talents?
When I look back over my life it has been really fun to see how I was able to use my talents to serve in any way that I can. When we were on our mission in Santa Rosa California we became the mission photographers, engaged the missionaries in community volunteer service, and did musical programs both inside the church and in the community. Right now I'm having the fun of doing Primary music, and even making videos for Primary. My husband is the one who initiated handmade birthday cards and how much fun that has been! I am enjoying making quilts for the family. Our work at Samaritas' refugee program has evolved into using what we learned from our welfare mission and training to now train volunteers that are working with refugees. All the things that we love to do we are able to find ways to use them to help others!
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