Navigating Through Adversity

Transcription

1 Navigating Through Adversity

2 Mechelle Shelle McDermott ( , forum, books, newsletter, announcements, library, slides, videos, etc.)

3 Navigating Through Adversity What to do with that broken heart. Fixing a broken life. Finding your mission for the future. How blessing the lives of others will aid healing in your own life.

4 What is the Purpose of Adversity? It must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things, 2 Ne. 2:11. If they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet, D&C 29:39. All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good, D&C 122:5 8. They taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good, Moses 6:55. It is the Plan of Salvation!

5 God Cannot Prepare His People Without It All intelligent beings who are crowned with crowns of glory, immortality, and eternal lives must pass through every ordeal appointed for intelligent beings to pass through, to gain their glory and exaltation. Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings will be suffered to come upon the few, to prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord. If we obtain the glory that Abraham obtained, we must do so by the same means that he did. If we are ever prepared to enjoy the society of Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or of their faithful children, and of the faithful Prophets and Apostles, we must pass through the same experience, and gain the knowledge, intelligence, and endowments that will prepare us to enter into the celestial kingdom of our Father and God. Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation.

6 How Should We Respond to Adversity? 1Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. D&C 121 & 122 The Lessons from Liberty Jail D&C 121:36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

7 D&C 121: No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; 42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile 45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. 46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

8 D&C 121: No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; 42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile 45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. 46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

9 What to do with that Broken Heart The only way is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is up to us how long we will carry the pain around. What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ? It is the power to forgive us of our sins, raise us from the dead and to heal all things. he shall atone for the sins of the world, Alma 34:8 the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection, Alma 42:23 take upon him the pains and the sicknesses, Alma 7:11 The Book of Mormon uses the word Atonement or atone 55 times. The New Testament, once. (Romans 5:11)

10 Fixing a Broken Life 1. Develop faith. Faith is the currency of heaven.

11 2. Ask for the Atonement to apply.

12 3. Rebuild a new life with new family members. Remove yourself from the toxic environment.

13 4. Don t wait to be rescued, it s not going to happen. - take action, make a plan, pray over it - get an education skills to be financially independent - insulate your life: good friends, good leaders, good entertainment, good literature, good thoughts, and SERVICE (pull down the powers of heaven).

14 Maslow s Hierarchy of Needs Physiological food, shelter, clothing Safety environment, physical, emotional Love family, spouse, connectiveness Esteem success, achievement, skills, respect Self Actualization Becoming who we want to be, having the ability to transcend to spiritual levels. Giving oneself to something higher outside of oneself.

15 5. Exile your imaginary audience. What will people think? 6. Be Satisfied. You are the captain of your life. - Be satisfied with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. You recognize that this earth life is not your home. It is a temporary passing through experience. - You cannot be distracted or lured by Babylon to seek riches, fame or the plaudits of mankind. - You are sure in your mission. 7. Sell your soul to God.

16 Finding Your Mission for the Future 1. Study the game plan! The 10 th Article of Faith We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. Literal gathering temple work, missionary work, trek back to MO. Building of New Jerusalem What kind of life will you have needed to live to qualify to be called back? Christ s personal reign Are you prepared to meet Christ? Is your relationship with him sufficient? Can you abide the day?

17 Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner s fire, and like fullers soap: Refiner s fire = removes the impurities Fullers soap = bleaches the cloth and prepares it. "A fuller was someone who cleaned and thickened (to make it "full") freshly-woven (usually woolen) cloth. The process involved cleaning, bleaching, wetting and beating the fibers to a consistent and desirable condition. Have you had the impurities removed? Have you been prepared through adversity?

18 Daily Living We must remove all murmuring. It is not easy. It will take many years of practice. Murmuring is a corrupt language. Not murmuring or complaining is having faith that God will fight our battles for us and protect us from injustice. Murmuring drives the Holy Ghost away. Keep our pride in check. Competition breeds haughtiness. Our culture is laden with competitive principles. There is no place for competition in our marriage or any other relationship. Hugh Nibley noted, Many of us would rather be Number One in hell than a doorkeeper in the House of the Lord. We do not need to contend, battle, debate, or be vocal. We only need to be in tune with the Holy Ghost and communicating with him during our conflicts or struggles so we can be comforted, administered to and given discernment. Stay away from activities that will cause the warrior in you to come out.

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20 The minute you fight, raise your voice, swear, let off steam, you give over your agency to Lucifer and his minions. You mark your own spirit and it will need to be repented of. You do not show faith that God will care for you and make up the losses. You do not allow humility to become an attribute within you. You are keeping score and participating in the things of the world. You cannot call down the powers of heaven. The Holy Ghost has to leave the room with any sign of Babylon, contention, or pride. His has the title Holy for a reason. With rare exception, he cannot abide in places where there is evil or evil influences. He cannot dwell in unclean places. He cannot be present unless you have invited him in and prepared a peaceful place for his still small voice to instruct you.

21 How do you prepare yourself daily to receive the Holy Ghost? Turn on hymns in the home, car, background, etc., (Pandora) Read the scriptures, or have them read to you. (LDS Tools) Research lesson, book, journal, letters to your children, and always have a book that you are trying to get through. Take notes, highlight, catalog, and share what you are learning with others. (sample file folder for each book, document binders, etc.) Ensign talks, and other commentaries. Turn off the TV, radio, limit FB, internet and news to 1 hour/day or nothing at all. Have a Celestial Room/Place. Pray with your eyes open while you are cooking, driving, getting ready for the day. Pray for help in the mornings, pray with gratitude in the evenings. Who can you help? What should you be reading/researching? What does your spouse need from you the most today? Become a prayer warrior. Report back at the end of the day. Make prayer interactive and exciting. Are you that friend that with every phone call you dump all your problems and unhappy feelings on? Are you that spouse that can t wait to dump all your stresses when the love of your life walks into the room? Don t do that with God. Don t make him a Genie in a bottle. Become a partner with him.

22 We won the war in heaven this way and will do it again! Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Immerse yourself in the work and testify!

23 Blessing the Lives of Others will aid in the healing of your own life. Mosiah 4:26 Charity retains the remission of your sins. And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

24 My Patriarchal Blessing You live in a day when there will be trials and tribulations. Moments of discouragement will follow, but remember this simple formula. Do something for someone else. Teach someone the gospel, administer to the needs of those who may be under privileged, speak cheerfully, lift the hands that hang down and strengthened the weakened knees. You shall thus forget your own adversities. Optimism shall flow from you. The Lord will speak comfort to your soul.

25 Alma 41:15 - Do not let money stop you. For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all. Not gossiping or judging someone is the greatest act of kindness, love and charity you can extend to someone. Let people know they can trust you. Let people know you are a true disciple of Christ. You are a fellow sufferer. You are filled with his light and are being used by him to minister to others and bless the lives of many.

26 Ask yourself with every person you meet: What are they in need of? A compliment? A smile? A service? A listening ear? A hand up? A hand out? What can I do to leave them better than I found them? Pray every day that you will know who God has sent to you to be blessed by him through you. Once I pray for the discernment and ability to see who God has sent to me, I don t ask for details, I just act.

27 6 Attributes of a Zion Community Love Not the lower forms, but charity. (Moroni 7:44-48) Service To succor, impart of your substance, feed the hungry, suffering all manner of afflictions for Christ s sake. (Alma 4:13) Work Brings happiness, self-esteem, and prosperity. Don t work for the vain things of the world. (3Nephi 6:15) Self Reliance Our promises to the Lord moves us past self-reliance to being abundantly productive. Consecration Share labor, fast offerings, talents, time, donations. We consecrate when we give of ourselves. (D&C 119:6) Stewardship Over our bodies, minds, families, and properties (D&C 104:11-15; D&C 51:19) People will tremble and fear Zion someday (D&C 64:41). We will be renewed and sanctified (D&C 84:33).

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