And now my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people. Thou knowest that they are without principle and past feeling, and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites.
When I can't feel, it means my heart has hardened and I need to ask Him to send the Comforter to soften it.
how can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?
His judgments are always righteous. I should be righteous so that His judgements will be favorable.
And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people, for they do not repent. And Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
The adversary is continually stirring anger. The opposite of stirring is to becalm. I should choose to instill calmness into my body at the first sign of stirring, because that's when it's easiest.
Woe be unto him that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God. And I fear not what man can do, for perfect love casteth out all fear.
I should speak the truth with courage
And again, behold, I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope save he shall be meek and lowly of heart.
When my faith and hope are low, meekness is the answer
Wherefore by the ministering of angels and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ. And thus by faith they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
I should invite angels to minister to me.
But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil and believe not in Christ and deny him and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil. For after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good - no, not one - neither doth his angels, neither doth they which subject themselves unto him.
For Christ, substitute "truth"; for God, substitute "knowledge". Truth is spoken knowledge, just as Christ was God's voice on Earth.
And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit and by the power of the Holy Ghost, for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach or exhort or to pray or to supplicate or to sing, even so it was done.
I might not expect what He prompts me to do.
But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.
I can always try again.
And the church did meet together oft to fast and to pray and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.
I should be concerned with whether my thoughts are happy and positive.
"...eliminate from our lives the things that clamor for and consume our thoughts, feelings, and energies without contributing to our reaching that goal"
I should write my goal and keep it always foremost in my mind.
"Find some quiet time regularly to think deeply about where you are going and what you will need to do to get there."
I should MAKE some regular quiet time.
O God the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them, that they may witness unto thee, O God the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
If I ask Him, He will bless and sanctify my life, too.
"...and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world..."
He will say on my behalf that I have known and lived the truth.
"Being pessimistic and negative about our experiences will not enchnace the quality of our lives."
Murmuring feels comforting, but I buy that comfort at the cost of the cessation of all progress.
"Do we find ourselves wishing our present experiences could soon be over, as we think we might be happier doing something else?"
I cannot have new circumstances until I can learn to be happy in the circumstances I am already in.
We can't all do all things. Circumstances, available time, and talents vary widely among us. Your diversities take you to numerous arenas of activity. There let your presence be felt.
I should not feel bad that I'm not doing everything.
and they did kneel down with the church and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying:
I should open my heart to be able to embrace the changes He suggests to me.
With promise immutable and unchangeable, that inasmuch as those whom I commanded were faithful they should be blessed with a multiplicity of blessings;
I should continue to be faithful and choose to believe that what I want it possible.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I ordain you to be a priest - or if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher - to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.
I should show by my example and words that I believe the change I seek is possible.
