Teens & Seminary

Changing bad behaviors isn’t going to happen overnight, no matter how eager we may be to make it happen. The further into sin we are, the more difficult it will be to turn around. It’s important to help youth understand that making significant changes to better our lives needs to be a step-by-step process.

ACTIVITY

Scripture:

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10).

Learning is a step-by-step process, whether we’re learning about how to change a tire, or how to turn away from sin. To help youth understand the process a little better, try putting together some ‘Stepwords.’

“Stepwords are pairs of words of equal length which can be changed from one to the other by switching one letter at a time and forming a new word with each letter switch. For example, change black to white by forming these words: black, slack, stack, stalk, stale, shale, whale, while, white. Make certain the words you choose can be changed (some can’t be). Some sample stepwords include dry-wet, heat-cold, east-west, poor-rich, sick-well” (Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 152.)

Ideas:

1. If there are just a few youth, use a chalkboard or dry-erase board and see how many sets of words you can figure out. See if there are different ways to get from dry to wet, or sick to well. Let your youth come up with their own step words and see if you can make them work.

2. If there are lots of youth, split up into teams and see who can finish eat set of words first.

3. You could make a big game of it. Trace a lot (and I do mean a lot!) of footprints. On each of these footprints you’ll start with one word, such as black, and will write the changes on the other footprints until you reach white. Write a few footprints that will take you down a wrong path. It might look like it’ll get you to your end goal, but will become a dead end.

Tape the footprints on the floor in a sort of maze and have the youth try the maze one step at a time (space the youth at least 30 seconds apart, or let them go in teams).

If you have a lot of room (like a gym or cultural hall), use several of the word sets. Once your youth get to the end of one (going from black to white) make the next footprint the beginning of another set.

Lesson Application:

As we make turn away from sin we need to replace bits of the bad habit with bits of good habits (like changing the word one letter at a time). For example, say you have a huge problem with swearing. You could start off by changing the words you use. Make up nonsense words like ‘smag’ to replace the bad word. Begin singing a hymn whenever you feel the urge to swear. As you do this you’ll recognize what situations create that urge, and you can begin to avoid them.

Sometimes we think we have our goal in sight and we’re on the right path, but wind up hitting a dead end. Instead of becoming frustrated, angry, and resentful, we need to learn to turn around, backtrack to where we went wrong, and then start on the right path. We might need to do this several times before we finally make it to our goal.

Other times we might have different choices of how to get to our goal, and each of them will help us make it. Just as we are all different, the path we take may be different than the one our friends will take. We have to do what’s best for our own personalities and ways of living.

End with one more scripture. This one is taken from the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. I believe it brings Isaiah’s message into better light.

“For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have” (2 Nephi 28:30).

Have you noticed gas prices have gone up lately? How about food? Odds are unless you pay for these necessities yourself you may only have heard general grumbling from the adult population.

The truth is more and more people are struggling to make ends meet, even with two full-time jobs and cutting back here and there. You may be asking, “What can I do about it?” I’m here to tell you it’s time to start a food storage.

We have a fantastic section here on the blog all about home storage and preparedness, and I highly recommend you take some time to go through it. I wanted to stop and talk today about why it’s important for you, as teens, to take an active role in starting a food storage.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) we have been encouraged for years by leaders to begin storing food, water, and other necessities.

“We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings” (“All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage,” All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 2007).

This call to prepare for hard times goes out to more than just the members of the Latter-day Saint Church. This call can and should be heard by all. If you read this, and do not have any sort of food storage built up in your home, now is the time to start.

Begin by talking with your parent(s) about making little changes. Think about your family’s favorite foods. The first three things that come to mind in my own family are spaghetti, mandarin oranges, and macaroni salad. So once a month I might buy an extra can of oranges, an extra bag of noodles, or add one more jar of mayo to my shopping list. When I get home, the extra food item will be put away for storage.

The same can be said for other necessities: toilet paper, over-the-counter medicine, toothpaste, shampoo, dish soap, etc. If you don’t have a lot of room to store these extras, get creative. I have a bin of things on the floor of my closet. One of the shelves in my pantry is dedicated to food. I’ve crammed little things here and there. Those items I may not need for a long time or are non-perishable, like soap, can be stuck in high-up cupboards or any nook or cranny.

Another thing to discuss is a savings plan. I’m not talking a lot. Even just five or ten dollars a paycheck or a month can add up over time. Having that savings can prove to be a lifesaver in times of financial stress or in an emergency.

The biggest thing to remember is not to put yourself in debt putting a food storage together.

“We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes. . . . With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve” (“All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage,” All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 2007).

Start small. Work on building up a week’s worth of food storage. If you’re not sure just how much your family goes through in a week, keep a written record of everything you go through. You can work well off of that one list, adjusting for other foods you enjoy. When you’ve managed to build up a week’s worth of storage, begin on week two.

Even if all you have room and money for is one month of home storage, you will be remarkably prepared when hard times hit. . .like now. Take a chance. Talk to your parent(s) about creating a home storage.

For more tips go to Provident Living

When reading through the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, two particular things seem to happen again and again. As the righteous people in the land, known as the Nephites, follow the Lord’s commandments they are blessed. Their lands produce bountiful harvests, they become rich in gold and silver and many precious things, all as a blessing for doing what is right. At times they are living so righteously there are no poor among them.

Usually when things are going this well two things invariably happen. First, there are those who begin to value the gold and silver, the fine silks and linens, far above helping those who may be in need. They would willingly rebuff those who might come to them for help. Second, there are those who begin to think too much of themselves, not due to their riches, but because of their wisdom. They are learned men who think they know better than everyone, even God.

It is this second group our next scripture mastery verses focus on in the Book of Mormon.

“O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God” (2 Nephi 9:28-29).

To have a love of learning is a wonderful thing. Whether you find yourself focusing on one particular subject, like art or physics, or would rather learn about a variety of things, learning is a good thing. We must never forget, however, that this love to learn, and the ability to do so are granted to us by our Heavenly Father. The danger lies in when we begin to trust more in ourselves more than in God.

In these cycles I mentioned before individuals inevitably became certain that their own ideas trumped the silly ramblings of supposed prophets of God. Some claimed they knew better than the prophets and led many people away from the Lord’s Church. Others claimed there was no God at all, and eventually left the Nephites altogether to join those who opposed (the Lamanites).

When this pride, both of learning and of riches, turned good people toward wickedness, the Lord would begin a path of humbling the Nephites. It would happen through wars with the Lamanites, or famine, or in being brought into captivity. Regardless of the method it was meant to remind the people to whom they owed their vast knowledge and riches. Only after great suffering, repentance, and a sincere change of heart would the people find themselves being blessed once again.

You and I find ourselves in a time when the rich are getting richer while the poor become poorer. People value gold and silver more than their fellow men. Learned men and women expound about how there is no God, or are more concerned with expounding their own words and ideas rather than God’s. We can see the cycle happening even in our world today.

So what can we learn from those who have gone through this before? Keep the Lord’s commandments. Follow the words of His prophets, both those from the Bible and Book of Mormon, and those who reside with us in these latter-days. If you are fortunate enough to come from a family with money, don’t value it over those who are in need. If you have access to books and teachers, be watchful. Consult your Heavenly Father in what He would have you do with this knowledge.

Those who have learned to submit to the Father in all things are perhaps the wisest of us all.

I’ve been fairly weepy the last few weeks (though I heartily exclaim there is no coincidence with my kids being off-track at the same time). It feels something like being two seconds away from bursting into tears at any moment. The littlest thing, whether it’s a tender or a frustrating moment, will set me off.

This happens to me several times throughout the year, in particular when I’m feeling a little lost as to my purpose in this life and what it is God truly wants for me. More often than not several new forks have been placed in my road and I simply don’t know which one to choose. Or, rather, which one God would have me choose.

Does this sound at all familiar? Perhaps, as teens, you thought the choices would get easier once you ‘grew up,’ got a job, had a family, all those things you’re taught to do. It isn’t. If anything the choices get a bit harder, in particular because time begins to fly by so much faster, and you realize just how important making the right choice becomes.

Even still, sometimes you can be making all the right choices and still feel a bit lost. There is a particular hymn I always turn to whenever life becomes a little too hard to bear, called "Count Your Blessings."

When upon life’s billows you re tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Count your blessings; Name them one by one.
Count your blessings; See what God hath done.
Count your blessings; Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings; See what God hath done.
~Text: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856-1922

I have come to learn one of the best things we can do when we are feeling most lost is to take stock of our blessings. Perhaps at times these blessings may seem small, and far too insignificant compared to our trials and tribulations. I can testify to one good thing that comes of counting your blessings: recalling the good things in your life can bring about a wonderful change of attitude.

I have some remarkably kind children who have a sincere desire to choose the right. My husband is a good and kind man, who always thinks of others before himself. I have parents who raised me in the ways of the Lord. I have been given many dear friends over the years who have become vital parts of my heart. I have been raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of which I have a firm testimony of it being Christ’s restored church. I have been blessed with many wonderful gifts, which have brought me much happiness and have enabled me to serve others. Being able to serve others brings me such joy.

The funny thing is, this is just a starting point. Once you start listing the good things in your life, you might be surprised to find there are many more blessings you had never realized before. If you, like me, are feeling a little lost, take a moment to count your blessings.

“Nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious” (Doctrine and Covenants 78:18-19).

A certain movie that came out a few years ago led many teens and pre-teens to wonder this very thing. One young man was labeled the basketball guy; one young woman didn’t want to be sucked back into the world of math and science without trying to explore other options; another girl was determined to keep her own identity wrapped up tight in the world of drama and music.

I immediately appreciated the message this movie portrays, that we are so much more than our obvious talents make us out to be. If this weren’t truth I would never have tried out for Pep Club my junior year of high school, as my obvious talents lay in the fields of music and writing. Yet I made it and had a wonderful time.

You need to take a moment, however, and focus on who you really are. This one important trait can do more for the foundation of your identity than any other, even if you are the star of the football team.

You are a child of God.

Why is knowing this so important? James E. Faust, former member of the 1st Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as the Mormon Church), gives us a great example:

“Dr. Fred Rile, a prominent social worker, has treated many athletes who identify themselves as athletes rather than as children of God. He relates: ‘What happens when they can’t play basketball? Their identity is shot.’ Their self-worth is related to their physical skills rather than their character. Many who achieve world-class recognition may not like themselves. Some of the rich and famous, even though they have great talent and ability, are insecure and succumb to drugs, alcohol, or immorality, and their lives become shattered. Instead of being happy with who they are, they become dissatisfied and discontent. They measure their self-worth solely in terms of their talent and accomplishments instead of who they really are inside. It is not always true that the more you achieve, the happier you will be or that you will like yourself more” (James E. Faust, “Who Do You Think You Are? – A Message to Youth,” Liahona, Jun 2001).

Some of the wealthiest and most ‘successful’ individuals in the world are not truly content. They are continually looking for something more, that elusive entity that will make them feel whole and happy.

As a child of God you have been given some extraordinary talents. With those talents comes a responsibility to develop and utilize them to further the Lord’s work. When you take those talents and begin using them for your own selfish gain, you lose sight of who you really are. Yes riches and fame may come, but you will also find misery and a sense of loss.

Now is the time to find out who you really are. If you don’t already know yourself to be a child of God, begin with a prayer. If prayer feels uncomfortable, pick up a Holy Bible or a Book of Mormon (another testament of Jesus Christ).

For those who feel you do know yourself as a child of God, now is the time to study and begin to discover what that really means.

We should be spending every day of our lives in various efforts to make it happen. It can be through loving our neighbor, showing kindness to those who have wronged us, or serving those we come in contact with. Our words, thoughts and deeds are supposed to reflect one particular thing.

We are all trying to be more like Jesus.

It sounds simple enough, yet countless numbers have spent their entire lives in an effort to do just that, and they all fall short. Of course this doesn’t mean we should stop trying. Becoming more like Jesus is a lifelong process.

Perhaps those who give up too soon do so because they don’t really understand Christ. Though many of us have read the accounts of His life in the New Testament as well as the Book of Mormon (another testament of Christ), how many have studied His life thoroughly? How many understand the motivation behind His acts? How many comprehend the enormous pressure being the Savior of the world constantly placed upon Him?

Many argue His abilities to resist temptation far surpassed ours because He was part God. I’d like to add how tremendously difficult His temptations were as compared to ours. I’d also like to mention that He was perfect because, as Howard W. Hunter, a former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church), stated:

“He wanted to be. It is important to remember that Jesus was capable of sinning, that He could have succumbed, that the plan of life and salvation could have been foiled, but that He remained true. . .He was perfect and sinless, not because he had to be, but rather because he clearly and determinedly wanted to be. As the Doctrine and Covenants records, ‘He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.’ (D&C 20:22)”

Shortly after His baptism Christ felt compelled to take himself into seclusion in order to commune with the Father. In order to become more in tune with His spiritual self, Christ fasted. It wasn’t for two meals, or even twenty-four hours. He fasted for a full forty days. During this time He was being fed spiritually, so much so He barely regarded His own physical needs.

The time of such close communion with the Father eventually came to an end. As Christ pulled away it would be obvious His physical needs would become apparent. Elder James E. Talmage, a former apostle of the Latter-day Saint Church, relates:

“Throughout the period of retirement, he ate not, but chose to fast, that His mortal body might the more completely be subjected to His divine spirit. Then, when He was hungry and physically weak, the tempter came with the. . .suggestion that He use His extraordinary powers to provide food. Satan had chosen the most [advantageous] time for his evil purpose. What will mortals not do to what lengths have men not gone, to [dull] the pangs of hunger?” (Talmage, James E., “Jesus the Christ,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, p.128).

At this time Christ was tempted, not once but three different times. We know the first time was at this point, when Satan tried to get Christ to use the power of the priesthood to create food for himself. “If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread” (Luke 4:3). Christ could have done it, but refused.

Again Satan tried to tempt Christ, this time citing scripture. At the time Christ stood at the top of the temple. Satan knew it was prophesied that God would protect His son, and encouraged Christ to jump off the temple to prove Himself the Son of God. With this display of power truly many of the Jews would believe Him to be something more than mere mortal. Talmage states: “It would have been a sign and a wonder indeed, the fame of which would have spread as a fire in the dry grass; and all Jewry would have been aflame with excitement and interest in the Christ” (Ibid, p.131). Yet, as before, Jesus refused.

In another temptation Satan tried a new tactic. He showed Christ the riches of the world and said, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). To this Jesus replied, “Get thee hence, Satan” (Matthew 4:10). Satan did leave, for a season.

This was not the end, nor the beginning, of the temptations of Christ. In fact He was tempted in all points just as all of us are, though with one significant difference. While we must always submit to the power of God, Christ had the power within himself to make happen whatever He desired. Therein lies the truest danger in all His temptations. Yet time and again He chose not to sin.

It is important to remember that without temptations, there is no real test. Christ understands what it’s like to be tempted. Through His resolute example we are given hope that we, too, can say to Satan and his followers, “Get thee hence.”

My children hear it from me almost every day. The teen girls I teach at church hear it from me several times in one lesson. For those who have stuck with me these last several months in reading my posts you’ve seen the words more than once.

If there were a sign or phrase to be attached to my life it would be this:

We always have a choice.

In every situation, even those that seem to take away our physical freedoms, there is a choice to be made. This choice may not be the same for every person even in a similar experience. However the end result, that goal we are all working towards, is the same for each and every one of us and depends greatly on our choices. I am talking, of course, of eternal life.

In the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, one of the scripture mastery verses revolved around this very idea.

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27).

Think for a moment about holding a can of alcohol in your hand. Attached to the can is little string. This little string could be easily cut or even broken if you wanted, but you’re not worried.

Now imagine this string is being wound around and around you. You don’t really notice because you’re having too much fun drinking. Pretty soon the alcohol is gone and obviously nothing horrible has happened. There’s just a little string around you, and you can cut it off at any time. So you ask for another drink.

This one has a thicker rope attached, but you don’t worry. After all nothing bad happened with the string, and a rope can also be cut. So you drink, and the rope is wrapped around and around. Sure the rope’s a little heavy, but you don’t mind. You can still move your arms. So you ask for another drink.

This one comes with a really thick rope. You’re a little concerned, but other than being a little tied up, you can’t see that the thick rope might hurt you. So you continue to drink and watch as the thick rope is wrapped tightly around. The weight is becoming harder to bear, but another drink should solve that, right?

Unfortunately this one comes with a chain attached. At this point you don’t really notice, though. You're just having a good time drinking, and the more alcohol consumed the less you notice how heavy you feel. It doesn’t really matter anymore. Drinking a little beer hasn’t hurt you one bit, right?

Satan wants us tied down to things that will make us miserable. One of his greatest tricks is in making all our wrong choices seem harmless. In reality we are placing giant ropes and chains around us, placing us in bondage. Sin weighs us down, suffocates us, until all hope of being free is crushed. It is not, however, the loss of all hope.

We can still choose the way of eternal life, through our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of His sacrifices we can repent and become free. With Christ's help we can take off the chains, ropes and strings that bind us. We can rid ourselves of sin to stand clean once again.

We can choose to be free.

It is, for me, one of the most remarkable examples of what can happen when we are faced with the choice of following the Lord, or turning away from His ways. Though the story of Lehi’s family, which can be found in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, lasts far longer than one post can hold, the pattern is set in just the first few chapters of 1 Nephi.

600 years before Christ was born, a humble man in Jerusalem took to heart the teachings of the Lord’s prophets concerning the wickedness of the people in his city. This man believed their words so much he began to preach them as well. He even received a vision that served to strengthen his commitment. This conversion didn’t exactly make him a favorite among his friends. Even his two eldest sons began to mock him, calling him a visionary man, and other titles meant to poke fun.

As hostility against his teachings grew, the man began to fear for his family. Knowing what would happen to the city due to the unrepentant hearts of its’ inhabitants, the man took his family away from what was probably the only home they had ever know. They left behind a comfortable life, many gold, jewels and other riches, as well as good friends.

At the time they left the city of Jerusalem, Lehi had four sons and two daughters that we know of. The two oldest, Laman and Lemuel, were selfish creatures, slow to remember their God, and often described as stiffnecked and continually murmuring and inciting others to stir up their up their hearts to anger (1 Nephi 16:38) against those in authority. Laman in particular resented his father, who took him from his comfortable life because he claimed to have heard a voice, and Nephi, a younger brother who, in his eyes, was constantly trying to usurp Laman’s birthright as the eldest. Lemuel, who was just as selfish as Laman, gladly followed Laman’s every move.

And then there was Nephi. Nephi was an obedient son, respectful of his parents and the good upbringing they had provided for the family. It is Nephi’s example, and that of his younger brother, Sam, that I would like to look at with you today.

Shortly after Lehi brings his family into the wilderness we begin to see the difference between Laman and Nephi. Laman took to murmuring, not understanding why all of this was happening. He had no reason to believe his precious Jerusalem would be destroyed. If he had only followed the example of his younger brother, perhaps many of his questions would have been answered.

If we look in the 1 Nephi chapter 2, verse 16, we can see what it is Nephi did that convinced him his father had done the right thing:

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.”

With a humble heart and a contrite spirit Nephi took the matter to the Lord in prayer, and he was answered. The spirit witnessed the truth of it to him. He knew that his father had made the right choice. He knew that the Lord was speaking to his father in visions. And he knew that it was important to listen to the requests of his father, for he was speaking on behalf of the Lord.

One of the first things Nephi did after receiving this witness was to bear his testimony to that of his younger brother, Sam. In verse 17 we read:

“And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words.”

How wonderful is it that Sam was able to believe merely by hearing the testimony of his brother. What faith this young man must have had. It puts me in mind of the scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants section 46:13-14.

“To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.”

Nephi knew through the witness of the Holy Ghost. Sam knew because of the words Nephi spoke. Nephi didn’t stop with bearing his testimony to Sam. He took it to the rest of the family as well. Laman and Lemuel wouldn’t listen, choosing instead to murmur against their father because life had suddenly turned very hard and inconvenient. This bothered Nephi, who once again turned to the Lord to voice his frustrations. The Lord told Nephi his brothers had to choose their own way, but if they chose to go against the Lord, he would have to be a leader in their place.

We all have the option to listen to the words of our parents and leaders and choose what to do with their guidance. Will we stop to talk with the Lord, trusting that He will give us the confirmation that their words are from Him? Or will we murmur, choosing to rebel and fall away? The choice is ours, of course. Just remember it is in choosing the Lord’s path that we will find true happiness.

I find it extraordinary when God takes two people, who might not have met otherwise, and places them together.

My husband forgot his wallet one morning. This event alone has never happened before, so already the day seemed quite unusual. The kids and I headed downtown to deliver the wallet. Around the outskirts of Temple Square, a block that holds one of the temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormons), one can see several panhandlers all looking for a monetary handout. It’s been years since I’ve carried any cash with me, and so I usually just try to greet them with a smile.

One particular woman approached me and asked for money. . . change. . . anything I might have to spare. I hated to tell her I honestly didn't have anything. Her face absolutely crumpled. At that moment I stopped. I couldn’t help myself. I reached out and took her in my arms. She was desperately hoping to find enough money to take her kids somewhere to sleep that night. I expressed my wish to help, but that I simply didn't carry money with me. It was hard to walk away, even with her reassurances that everything was fine.

There are ATM's in the building where my husband works, and I took out some money. I simply couldn't get her out of my head. We visited with Daddy for a few minutes and headed back out to the car. I prayed I would see her on the way. Sure enough, she was right where we'd left her. As I handed her the money, what little we could afford, I couldn't resist and once again gave her a hug. She began to cry, and then said something I don't think I'll ever forget.

"Thank you," she said. "Most of all thank you for seeing me. Most people won't even look."

I asked for her name, wondering when the last time someone had used it in love. Samantha. Isn't that beautiful. I told Samantha I'm so glad I got to meet her today, and I am. I think God put the two of us together that day for a reason.

This post is by no means encouraging you to go around finding those who are homeless and giving them money. Instead I'd ask you to take a moment to think about all the youth who have struck out in horrible ways in recent years, most often because of how they have been treated by those around them. How many of those teens had the same hopeless, helpless attitude? How many felt as though it had been so long since someone really looked at them, asked their name, and spoke it in love?

We may not be able to control the actions of those around us, but we can control ourselves. Because I stopped and listened to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that day, I will never be able to hear the name Samantha without thinking of a mother just trying her best in horrible circumstances to take care of her family. It's hard to say what little influence I might have had on her, but she is now imprinted upon my heart. I am the one who came away blessed.

Take a moment and really look at those around you, and ask the Lord to guide you to someone who just needs to be seen today.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about gifts. I hear words echoing through many mouths about how there is nothing within them anyone would consider special. This is a cry that has been heard for hundreds upon hundreds of years.

“One of the great tragedies of life, it seems to me, is when a person classifies himself as someone who has no talents or gifts. When, in disgust or discouragement, we allow ourselves to reach depressive levels of despair because of our demeaning self-appraisal, it is a sad day for us and a sad day in the eyes of God. For us to conclude that we have no gifts when we judge ourselves by stature, intelligence, grade-point average, wealth, power position, or external appearance is not only unfair but unreasonable” (Marvin J. Ashton, “There Are Many Gifts’,” Ensign, Nov. 1987).

We have all been granted a gift, though we may not see it as such. These gifts may not be easily seen such as a beautiful singing voice, excellence in sports, or excelling in school. This does not make these less noticeable gifts any less worthy. It just means we have to search a little harder to find them, and appreciate them.

“Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; and the gift of bearing a mighty testimony” (Marvin J. Ashton, “There Are Many Gifts’,” Ensign, Nov. 1987).

Have you ever thought of these seemingly simple things as being a gift?

I distinctly recall a night when I had dropped off most of my Young Women (teen girls age 12-18 in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed the Mormon Church) after an activity, when two asked if they could come to my home and talk. I agreed, and for about an hour I let the girls chat. Just before it was time for them to get home one of the girls stopped and said, “Sister Walker, you’re a really good listener.”

This wasn’t the first time someone had spoken these words to me, but they deeply touched my heart from this sweet, beautiful young woman. Listening to others has always come naturally to me, but I had not thought of it as a gift until that moment when I saw how much it meant to this sweet spirit.

I think one of Satan’s most powerful tools in making us feel as though we are anything less than a Child of God is in comparing ourselves to others. One of my best friends in the world growing up was named Kristin. Kristin stood at almost six-foot tall, with gorgeous blonde hair and a smile that could blow anyone away. She was a brilliant student, had even skipped a grade early on in her life, played the piano, could sew beautiful clothes, and was an awesome basketball player.

There I stood at a pudgy 5’2 (and a half, thank you very much), unable to make a basket, doing well enough in school, knowing what a piano looked like, and afraid of a sewing machine. There were times I felt dwarfed by her extraordinary talents. . .until one day my friend did something that surprised me.

We were at a school football game. There were two guys behind us who were using language that offended the both of us. At one point Kristin turned around and asked the young men to stop swearing or move. I was stunned. As we talked later she recalled to my mind an event when I had done something similar. She told me I had shown her in my own small way that standing up for what was right wasn’t necessarily a hard thing to do.

“And to every man is given a gift” (D&C 46:11).

What gift has God blessed you with to lift and encourage others? It doesn’t matter how seemingly insignificant it may be. Take some time to write down all the things you do well. Ask family members or friends to come up with a few things as well. You might be surprised to find out what others find remarkable in you.

Most important, find a way to use these gifts. God gave them to you for a reason. There may be someone in this world that only you can help, in your own special way.

In the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, we find a little clearer description of the purpose of the fall of Adam, and it’s done in two short statements.

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).

When Adam and Eve first resided in the Garden of Eden they were given two commandments. The first was not to partake of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Both Adam and Eve came to know it was necessary to partake of the forbidden fruit. Only by introducing sin into the world could the earth be made ready for all of us to come and live, be tested, and prove ourselves worthy to return to a heavenly life.

Had Adam and Eve never taken that first bite we would not be here today. Some might say this is a good thing, but our Heavenly Father’s Plan could not have come to pass otherwise. Adam and Eve knew of the second commandment and came to realize if they did not commit the first sin they could not fulfill the second (to multiply and replenish the earth). Their bodies were immortal, unable to bring mortal beings into the world.

There was another purpose to this first sin, which we can find in the second part of the scripture. We were all to come to earth in the hopes of experiencing joy. The word ‘joy’ may have a different meaning to some today, but remember this word was written almost 600 years before Christ came to the earth. Joy does not mean pleasure, it does not mean having tons of irreverent fun.

Joy comes in the most perfect, tender moments of our lives. It comes from knowing someone loves you no matter what. It comes from serving others. It comes from following the guidelines and commandments our Savior put in place so we might maintain that joy. Even when we are being tried and tested we can find joy.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church), we have a different view of this ‘original sin,’ as most other churches refer to it.

“We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression” (Articles of Faith 1:2).

In other words, we don’t need to worry about being punished for the choice Adam made. We certainly have enough to deal with when it comes to our own mistakes and wrong choices. That first sin was a necessary step in bringing about the salvation of mankind. As Christ took upon Him all of our sins, he paid the debt of this first sin.

Adam and Eve broke a commandment of God when they chose to eat the forbidden fruit, but without that choice the entire plan of salvation would have stalled. We would never have had the chance to come here to earth. We would never have known joy. We would never have had the blessing of living with our Heavenly Father again.

I don’t know about you, but I am grateful for that first, difficult choice Adam and Eve made.

Have you ever woken up in the morning with a song going through your head? I certainly have, probably hundreds of times over the years, and have never really thought anything about it. . . until I attended a workshop several weeks ago.

In this workshop the teacher said to pay attention to the song going through your head, especially when it’s a hymn. Write the words down in your journal. Look up scripture verses that apply to the song. You never know what message God wants you to hold in your heart that day.

Today was the first time it’s happened to me since the workshop. The hymn is called, “Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah.” Sounds like something heavy to wake up to, doesn’t it? Let’s take a moment to go over the words.

Guide us, O thou great Jehovah,
Guide us to the promised land.
We are weak, but thou art able;
Hold us with thy pow’rful hand.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Feed us till the Savior comes.

Open, Jesus, Zion’s fountains;
Let her richest blessings come.
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Guard us to this holy home.
Great Redeemer, Great Redeemer,
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day!

When the earth begins to tremble,
Bid our fearful thoughts be still;
When thy judgments spread destruction,
Keep us safe on Zion’s hill,
Singing praises, Singing praises,
Songs of glory unto thee.
~ William Williams, 1717-1791

One of the things I love best about the LDS Hymnbook, put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church), is that there are scriptural verses included pertaining to the particular song. For this one there are two. We can find the first verse in the Old Testament.

“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people” (Exodus 13:21-22).

Moses led the Israelites to a land promised to the Lord’s people. The Lord gave them guidance and protection by day as pillar of cloud, and by night a pillar of fire. Can you imagine how much easier it would be to follow the Lord if we had a towering cloud to follow during the day and a tower of fire at night? The truth is, we can, though not in the literal sense. This is where the second scripture verse helps us understand.

“For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day" (D&C 45:57).

This song and these scripture verses may mean something completely different to you than they do to me. As this song was in my head this morning, I need to think for a moment on how they must apply to my own life. The meaning that pops out for my personally is that we have to take the Holy Spirit for our guide. It has to be a choice, and a daily one. We can only do this by making correct choices in all aspects of our lives. If I do this, I will not be deceived when wicked choices and temptations are brought before me. It will be interesting to see how this will influence my life today.

The next time you wake up with a song going through your head, especially if it’s a hymn, take a moment to write down the words and see what message the Lord has waiting for you.

Nephi, an ancient prophet whose emigration from Jerusalem to the Americas is recorded in the Book of Mormon, revered two particular Bible men: Moses and Isaiah.

As we read through Nephi’s words we can see that he has taken studying his scriptures quite seriously. It is obvious how much he respects the words of the prophet Isaiah as he quotes entire passages of Isaiah’s prophecies. It is also quite obvious he considers Moses to be one of his greatest heroes, as Nephi refers to him, and the great man he became, time and time again.

His purpose in doing so was to remind himself as well as his family the importance of studying scripture, of learning from the examples and righteous words of the prophets of God, and of likening the scriptures to our own lives.

“And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23).

The written word is sacred, so sacred records have been kept since the beginning with Adam and Eve. Scriptures are a written record of the words of the Lord. How can we truly follow in the footsteps of the Lord if we have not feasted upon His words?

There are steps we can take in our journey of feasting upon the words of the Lord and of likening all scriptures to our own lives. Five steps to help you begin have been addressed by David A. Bednar, an apostle of the Lord and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church).

1. Pray for understanding, and invite the help of the Holy Ghost. How can we learn the things of the Spirit without the help of the Spirit? We are encouraged to pray before we begin studying, as we study, and after.

2. Work. Does that sound a little odd? Take a moment to think about the difference between reading for fun and reading the words of the scriptures. I can often read a 300+ page book in less than a day when it’s purely for entertainment. When it comes to reading my scriptures I find my mind tired after reading a few pages. Why do you think this is? When we read the word of the Lord there is work involved: lessons to be gathered, studying to be done, truth to be unfolded in front of our eyes.

3. Be consistent. Studying the Bible or Book of Mormon every day is a choice. It won’t simply happen. Even if it’s just for ten or fifteen minutes before school or after dinner, we daily need to make the choice to study.

4. Ponder. What do you think of when you read that word?

“The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed” (David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr 2006).

Don’t be so concerned with reading a certain amount every day, like three chapters. Instead make the time you spend studying mean something to you. As you read you might find something catching your eye, like the blessings given to Jacob’s sons. This leads us to the final step.

5. Write down impressions, thoughts, and feelings. I call this a Scripture Journal, and recently took a class where a young lady had put this idea into action. She now has dozens of journals, and has fine-tuned her writings to an art. Revelations about her life have come through this activity. Just as Richard G. Scott, another apostle of the Lord, has taught us:

“You will find that as you write down precious impressions, often more will come. Also, the knowledge you gain will be available throughout your life. Always, day or night, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, seek to recognize and respond to the direction of the Spirit. Express gratitude for the help received and obey it. This practice will reinforce your capacity to learn by the Spirit. It will permit the Lord to guide your life and to enrich the use of every other capacity latent in your being” (Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Knowledge and the Strength to Use It Wisely,” Ensign, June 2002).

Likening the scriptures to our own lives takes work, but it can only lead to blessing our lives in such a way as to guide us on our journey to becoming more like Jesus Christ.

I’d like to start off our study of Scripture Mastery verses by looking at the Book of Mormon. For those of you who haven’t heard of this book, or have heard a little and aren’t certain what it’s about, the Book of Mormon is an ancient record of the people who lived in the Americas back before, during, and about 400 years after the time of Christ. Those of us in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church) believe it to be another testament of Jesus Christ.

In the first few chapters of the Book of Mormon we’re introduced to a young man by the name of Nephi. One of the first things you’ll come to see, respect, and love about Nephi is his unswerving desire to do what is right. Coupled with this is his resolute faith in God.

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7).

During the course of his life Nephi was asked to accomplish many seemingly impossible things. As you can see from this verse his faith was so great he knew anything the Lord asked of him could be done, because with God, nothing is impossible.

For many of us this is not such an easy concept to put into play in our lives. Satan works hard to undermine our faith in God as well as in ourselves. Echoes of “I can’t do it” resound from person to person, but this is not the Lord’s plan for us.

We are all children of God. This one bit of knowledge holds so much power. If we are God’s children doesn’t it stand to reason that what He asks us to do can be done, no matter what the rest of the world, or even your family, may think?

If Jesus Christ had personally not had a firm faith in His Heavenly Father and His own purpose here on earth, do you think He could have accomplished the impossible? If Christ had believed the constant denials of His heritage, the mocking voices, and the cruel actions of His spirit brothers and sisters here on earth, what would have happened to all of us? We would be eternally separated from our Heavenly Father.

We too are spirit sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. There is a bit of Him in us. We have been blessed with a divine nature. Like Nephi, we too can come to have such a firm faith and knowledge in who we are, who our brother Jesus Christ is, and in our Heavenly Father, that there is nothing we cannot do. Sure there may be times when Satan will work hard to put as many stumbling blocks in our way as possible. Even our Heavenly Father may give us a roadblock here and there, but it is only to help us grow into the person He knows we can be.

Today I want you to take this scripture and in place of Nephi’s name put your own. Make it personal for you. Write it down and put it in a place you’ll see every day. Watch how the constant reminder will begin to bless your lives.

For those who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church), the words ‘Scripture Mastery’ have a double meaning.

The first thing we’ll think of is a set of 100 verses of scripture that “have been deemed especially important by church leaders”
(www.mormonwiki.com/Scripture_Mastery). These verses are split up between the four standard works, which are studied in Seminary over the course of four years: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants.

During the year seminary teachers work hard to help teens memorize the 25 verses associated with the particular course of study, coming up with key words, quizzes, and games to make learning them fun.

There’s another aspect to Scripture Mastery that our teens learn, perhaps without even realizing it. Think of what it means to master something: you become an expert, you come know something inside and out, and you are well practiced. Each set of Scripture Mastery verses is a stepping off point in become a master of the scriptures. Why would this be important in the lives of teens?

Teaching anyone to rely first and foremost on the word of the Lord is vital to their eternal happiness. It may not be the first place they’ll turn every time, but as they see it working towards their good they will do it more often. We all can benefit from searching the scriptures in any time of our lives. Whether we’re sad, in pain, confused, in need of answers, or any other conceivable situation we can find something in the Word to help us along. Even if it’s not for our own benefit we can turn to Him for answers. By memorizing scriptures we begin a journey that can help us come to know the scriptures and recall them when needed.

Richard G. Scott, an apostle of the Lord, spoke on why it is necessary to study and memorize the scriptures.

“The Holy Ghost can’t bring to your memory a scripture that will touch someone’s heart if you haven’t studied the scriptures yourself.

“Teaching by the Spirit means there needs to be an investment of time and effort. It isn’t saying, ‘Well, I’m just going to go out there and wait for the Spirit to tell me what to do.’ You have to store the gospel . . . in your mind and heart” (Richard G. Scott and Charles Didier, “Be One of the Greatest,” New Era, Mar 2004).

If we want to be able to recall a needed verse in a moment’s notice we need to put in the work. Start with some of your favorites.

“I suggest that you memorize scriptures that touch your heart and fill your soul with understanding. When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when paraphrased. Sometimes when there is a significant need in my life, I review mentally scriptures that have given me strength. There is great solace, direction, and power that flow from the scriptures, especially the words of the Lord.” (Jacob 4:10). (Richard G. Scott, “He Lives,” New Era, Dec 2000).

This is why we encourage our youth to begin mastering their scriptures through Scripture Mastery. I hope to share many of these verses, and what they’ve come to mean in my own life. Just remember, these verses are only a starting off point. They are be no means considered the most important nor the only ones to be memorized.

Take a few minutes over the next few days and think about the scripture verses that mean the most to you in your own lives.