Exodus 4
21 And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those awonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine bhand: cbut I will dharden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
Exodus 9
7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
Does the Lord cause people to sin by hardening their hearts?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Law of Witnesses
I have thought for a while that it was weird that when someone quotes a talk by one person, the quote ends up being from someone else. Today as I was listening to the First Presidency Message in the June 2008 Ensign I found a blurb about witnesses.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Being Born Again
We had a lesson in church today that I thought was worthwhile to post here for discussion.
The lesson was based on a talk from April 2008 general conference.
Elder D. Todd Chistofferson - Apostle (Audio, Video)
The instructor cited the story that Elder Christofferson related about having a retired protestant minister come to his home because the minister was concerned about Elder Christofferson's salvation. He and the minister had talked about what it meant to be born again.
John 3:3-5
Unless we put off the natural man we have not come to Christ. Does this mean we are perfect and do not make mistakes, but if we have put off the natural man we constantly reach for Christ and strive to do better.
Being born again is a process and not a one time event.
The lesson was based on a talk from April 2008 general conference.
Elder D. Todd Chistofferson - Apostle (Audio, Video)
The instructor cited the story that Elder Christofferson related about having a retired protestant minister come to his home because the minister was concerned about Elder Christofferson's salvation. He and the minister had talked about what it meant to be born again.
John 3:3-5
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Unless we put off the natural man we have not come to Christ. Does this mean we are perfect and do not make mistakes, but if we have put off the natural man we constantly reach for Christ and strive to do better.
- 19 For the anatural bman is an cenemy to God, and has been from the dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he eyields to the enticings of the Holy fSpirit, and gputteth off the hnatural man and becometh a isaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a jchild, ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
- 14 But the anatural man breceiveth not the things of the cSpirit of God: for they are dfoolishness unto him: neither can he eknow them, because they are fspiritually gdiscerned.
2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty achange in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do bevil, but to do good continually.
Being born again is a process and not a one time event.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Because We Want To
We had a lesson Sunday and part of it had to do with changing our hearts from being obedient out of duty and being obedient because it is who we are in our hearts (Sunday July 20, 2008 - Services Sullivan Hollow Se...).
I was listening some Ensign articles on the way into work and happened across one in the June issue (The Exquisite Joy of Repentance). There is a line in there that states, "Many years ago I paid my tithing because I felt I had to. Now I realize I can pay it with a heart full of gratitude and with the excitement that comes from knowing that the funds will help build churches and temples."
Will we be blessed for doing it out of duty? I believe we will, even if it is a little begrudgingly. But will will not have a fullness of joy that comes from putting your whole heart into it and doing it out of love for Heavenly Father and love for those we serve.
I was listening some Ensign articles on the way into work and happened across one in the June issue (The Exquisite Joy of Repentance). There is a line in there that states, "Many years ago I paid my tithing because I felt I had to. Now I realize I can pay it with a heart full of gratitude and with the excitement that comes from knowing that the funds will help build churches and temples."
Will we be blessed for doing it out of duty? I believe we will, even if it is a little begrudgingly. But will will not have a fullness of joy that comes from putting your whole heart into it and doing it out of love for Heavenly Father and love for those we serve.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
What else is missing?
From p41 of the book From Critic to Convert by Willard Morgan after referring to the doctrine taught by Jesus that Paul references in Acts (20:35):
"What else did Jesus say that is missing from modern Bibles? For forty days he remained with the apostles after his resurrection. What did he teach them then? Certainly, anything he had to say would be important. In addition to these references, the Bible refers to seventeen other books of scripture which have become lost." Footnote 4 on this chapter in the book lists several books that are referenced and not included in the Bible.
"What else did Jesus say that is missing from modern Bibles? For forty days he remained with the apostles after his resurrection. What did he teach them then? Certainly, anything he had to say would be important. In addition to these references, the Bible refers to seventeen other books of scripture which have become lost." Footnote 4 on this chapter in the book lists several books that are referenced and not included in the Bible.
Friday, July 18, 2008
All Roads Do Not Lead to Rome
I recently started reading One Lord...One Faith by Mark E. Peterson. This will probably be the first of many gems that I find in this book.
He starts the book by saying "One of the great fallacies of the world today is found in the expression: 'All roads lead to Rome.' They do not."
He then quoted the Savior from Matthew 7:21. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven"
He starts the book by saying "One of the great fallacies of the world today is found in the expression: 'All roads lead to Rome.' They do not."
He then quoted the Savior from Matthew 7:21. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven"
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Indianapolis West Stake Boundaries
I saw a comment that someone put on one of my other blogs through firefly. They asked what the boundaries were for the Indianapolis West Stake. I asked around and am told that this information is not confidential, so I am going to put a link here to a PDF with the boundaries.
Indianapolis West Stake Boundaries
Indianapolis West Stake Boundaries
Monday, June 30, 2008
Fair Test
I was listening to an Ensign article on the way to work and the author noted that life is a fair test because our memories had been taken from us or something like that. I haven't yet gone back to reread it to find out what they entirely said, but it struck me as something that people not of our faith might not understand, so I pondered it a little. I captured the following thoughts and perhaps people could comment here and help me make them more coherent.
- With our memories wiped our true character could come out. We would not be inhibited by something we remembered from before.
- When your boss is in the room you might be more guarded and not show your true character whether it be good or bad.
- Someone offers you money in another currency to perform some set of tasks over the course of a few years. Perhaps it is a job offer, I don't know. You have no idea how much the currency was worth. Would you be limited in what you were willing to do to get that money?
What if someone came up to you and said that they had read something by a person who had been to that country and knew that what they were offering was a large sum of money? What if they gave you material that detailed how to do the tasks and they told you the tasks would take time, but you could do them in the time you had been given? Who is the author of what they read? Who is the person testifying that they know the author to be truthful? What if they told you there would be people who had experience with such tasks to help you?
Perhaps you would have to do some research yourself and learn about that currency and maybe even that culture. Through the process you would learn and grow as a person and maybe earn even more money as you progressed in your research and in the end you would have the large sum of money as well?
Faith vs Science
There always seems to be a discussion of faith vs something. Whether it be faith vs works or faith vs science of whatever. I think I have discussed before in some places my thoughts on how faith and works are connected. Now I have a few thoughts that came to mind about faith and science.
I believe that faith is a branch of science. One that is learned by having experiences with God and recognizing them.
I can not give you my notes and necessarily have you understand them without you having gone through the same experience or something similar.
I believe that faith is a branch of science. One that is learned by having experiences with God and recognizing them.
I can not give you my notes and necessarily have you understand them without you having gone through the same experience or something similar.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Teachers of Religion That Fail to Do Their Duty
I was listening to Insights into Isaiah (http://www.byub.org/isaiah/) yesterday morning on the way to work. They were discussing Isaiah 56:10-11.
10 His awatchmen are bblind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 Yea, they are agreedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are bshepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their cown way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
They proposed they could be talking about teachers of religion that do not do their duty. They fail to call out the sins of the people. They fail to train the people up in the correct ways they should go. Many churches has paid clergy. That can make for a hard conflict since they work for the congregation and the congregation can fire them if they don't like the way they preach or what they preach.
I think Abinidi also taught some of this in Mosiah 12:25-29
They proposed they could be talking about teachers of religion that do not do their duty. They fail to call out the sins of the people. They fail to train the people up in the correct ways they should go. Many churches has paid clergy. That can make for a hard conflict since they work for the congregation and the congregation can fire them if they don't like the way they preach or what they preach.
I think Abinidi also taught some of this in Mosiah 12:25-29
25 And now Abinadi said unto them: Are you apriests, and pretend to teach this people, and to understand the spirit of prophesying, and yet desire to know of me what these things mean?
26 I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! For if ye understand these things ye have not taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the Lord.
27 Ye have not applied your ahearts to bunderstanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?
29 And again he said unto them: If ye teach the alaw of Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon briches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and cspend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great evil against this people?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
These Are They Who Died Without the Law
Here's another one to get some discussion going.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:72-75
Does this mean they never heard the Gospel (the law) OR that they never made covenants to accept the law?
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles in his April 1942 Conference talk - The Necessity of Working on Our Own Lineage stated:
"They who enter into the terrestrial kingdom, the one higher than the telestial, are the honorable men — the honest, the virtuous, those who have been clean, and yet would not receive the gospel. There will be some others also who will go into that kingdom, but in a general sense these people will be the honest and honorable, who could not or would not see or receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, therefore they are assigned to the terrestrial kingdom."
Doctrine and Covenants 76:72-75
Does this mean they never heard the Gospel (the law) OR that they never made covenants to accept the law?
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles in his April 1942 Conference talk - The Necessity of Working on Our Own Lineage stated:
"They who enter into the terrestrial kingdom, the one higher than the telestial, are the honorable men — the honest, the virtuous, those who have been clean, and yet would not receive the gospel. There will be some others also who will go into that kingdom, but in a general sense these people will be the honest and honorable, who could not or would not see or receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, therefore they are assigned to the terrestrial kingdom."
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Love is What You Go Through Together
I was listening to the last Worldwide Leadership Training meeting on the way to work a few weeks ago and heard Elder Jeffery R. Holland talking about the reasons that people put off getting married (schooling, finances, and so forth). He then quoted James Thurber, "Love is what you go through together." (See “Thurber,” Life, Mar. 14, 1960, 108.).
As I heard that I thought of another facet of people making decisions to get married. Sometimes the opposite is true. People jump into bad relationship because they don't think logically enough and get God involved in the decision making process. At times people get caught up in feelings about how handsome the other person is or that they enjoy being touched by them or that it is so exciting to see them in some activity they do whether it be driving a fast car or playing a sport and they label that as love.
As I reflected on my own experience and on the quote that Elder Holland gave, I wondered if love doesn't happen until one has been married for some period of time. It also reminded me of the Michael McLean song It Wasn't Love Before.
It appears to me that love comes through going through experiences together. One should perhaps look more at if this is a person who they could successfully go through trials with.
As I heard that I thought of another facet of people making decisions to get married. Sometimes the opposite is true. People jump into bad relationship because they don't think logically enough and get God involved in the decision making process. At times people get caught up in feelings about how handsome the other person is or that they enjoy being touched by them or that it is so exciting to see them in some activity they do whether it be driving a fast car or playing a sport and they label that as love.
As I reflected on my own experience and on the quote that Elder Holland gave, I wondered if love doesn't happen until one has been married for some period of time. It also reminded me of the Michael McLean song It Wasn't Love Before.
It appears to me that love comes through going through experiences together. One should perhaps look more at if this is a person who they could successfully go through trials with.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
An Example of the Believers
In studying in Preach My Gospel this morning I found this:
"Along with your authority comes a responsibility to live worthy of your calling. As the
Lord’s representative, you are to be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12). Strive
to live according to God’s commandments and keep the covenants you made in the temple;
know the scriptures; be courteous, on time, and dependable; follow missionary standards
of conduct, dress, and grooming; love the people with whom you serve and work. Honor
Christ’s name by your actions."
I think that this applies to not just missionaries, but all members of the Church. Too often members of the Church have language, dress, conduct, and personal standards which do not give a good example of being a believer and does not honor Christ.
We all represent the Lord by virtue of being members of the Church.
"Along with your authority comes a responsibility to live worthy of your calling. As the
Lord’s representative, you are to be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12). Strive
to live according to God’s commandments and keep the covenants you made in the temple;
know the scriptures; be courteous, on time, and dependable; follow missionary standards
of conduct, dress, and grooming; love the people with whom you serve and work. Honor
Christ’s name by your actions."
I think that this applies to not just missionaries, but all members of the Church. Too often members of the Church have language, dress, conduct, and personal standards which do not give a good example of being a believer and does not honor Christ.
We all represent the Lord by virtue of being members of the Church.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Obedience Is the Armor That Will Protect Us from Evil
Found this in the last paragraphs of an article in the January 2008 Ensign by William D. Oswald Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency - Obedience: The First Law of Heaven
He quotes President Boyd K. Packer:
“By following the rules,” said President Packer, “you will never make a serious mistake … either while you are on your mission or thereafter without being warned. You will never take the wrong road, you will never go around the wrong bend, or make the wrong decision without your having been warned. That pattern is the pattern of the Latter-day Saint. You were confirmed a member of the Church, and you had conferred upon you the gift of the Holy Ghost to be a guide and a companion to you.”2
He quotes President Boyd K. Packer:
“By following the rules,” said President Packer, “you will never make a serious mistake … either while you are on your mission or thereafter without being warned. You will never take the wrong road, you will never go around the wrong bend, or make the wrong decision without your having been warned. That pattern is the pattern of the Latter-day Saint. You were confirmed a member of the Church, and you had conferred upon you the gift of the Holy Ghost to be a guide and a companion to you.”2
Certainly Latter-day Saints believe this is true for the prophet leading the church. Do we believe this for us leading our families? And if we do, why are we not more obedient?
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Trees in the Scriptures
Is there any significance to God using trees in the scriptures? For example, the tree in Lehi's dream and the two trees in the Garden of Eden.
Also, Adam and Eve were not forbidden to partake of the Tree of Life until after they partook of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Had they partaken of the Tree of Life before that? Is the Tree of Life a symbol and not an actual tree, much as in Lehi's vision?
Also, Adam and Eve were not forbidden to partake of the Tree of Life until after they partook of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Had they partaken of the Tree of Life before that? Is the Tree of Life a symbol and not an actual tree, much as in Lehi's vision?
Friday, November 23, 2007
Needed a Nap
I found this paragraph in a talk given by President Monson at the General Relief Society Meeting in October. (Text, Audio, Video)
"I learned recently of loving service given to a mother when her children were very young. Frequently she would be up in the middle of the night tending to the needs of her little ones, as mothers do. Often her friend and neighbor across the street would come over the next day and say, 'I saw your lights on in the middle of the night and know you were up with the children. I’m going to take them to my house for a couple of hours while you take a nap.' Said this grateful mother: 'I was so thankful for her welcome offer, it wasn’t until this had happened many times that I realized if she had seen my lights on in the middle of the night, she was up with one of her children as well and needed a nap just as much as I did. She taught me a great lesson, and I’ve since tried to be as observant as she was in looking for opportunities to serve others.'”
"I learned recently of loving service given to a mother when her children were very young. Frequently she would be up in the middle of the night tending to the needs of her little ones, as mothers do. Often her friend and neighbor across the street would come over the next day and say, 'I saw your lights on in the middle of the night and know you were up with the children. I’m going to take them to my house for a couple of hours while you take a nap.' Said this grateful mother: 'I was so thankful for her welcome offer, it wasn’t until this had happened many times that I realized if she had seen my lights on in the middle of the night, she was up with one of her children as well and needed a nap just as much as I did. She taught me a great lesson, and I’ve since tried to be as observant as she was in looking for opportunities to serve others.'”
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Media
Ezra Taft Benson May 1986
"Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. Don’t listen to music that is degrading."
For the Strength of Youth
"Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable."
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).
"Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. Don’t listen to music that is degrading."
For the Strength of Youth
"Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable."
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Lies and Half Truths About the Church
If the Church is wrong then people should be able to create a logical argument against it without having to lie.
Below I will list of critics that I have found to be disreputable. Below that I will detail some of the things I have heard about the Church that are not true. Where possible I will note the person that said it, so that as people come across works about the Church they can identify authors to avoid.
Disreputable Critics
Details
Lie
Mormons talk to dead people in their temples. If you are a member in good standing and you want to talk to your dead grandmother you can go to the temple and do a ritual and talk to her.
Source
Eric Grieschaben
Truth
There is not temple ritual to talk to dead people.
Lie
Mormons are not Christian. They believe in a different Jesus.
Source
Eric Grieschaben
Truth
How different is Jesus between the various protestant denominations, yet they all consider each other as Christians. An example of this is whether God is one entity taking on different forms or whether the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are individuals. This is a huge difference about who Jesus is.
To say that Mormons do not believe in the same Jesus as Christians in order to classify them as being part of the occult is ridiculous.
One of the arguments used to bolster this argument our Jesus not being Jesus is to throw out that Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers. Scandalous!
The bible states that Lucifer was with God and he got greedy and tried to take over and was cast out and became Satan (Isaiah 14, Rev 12:7-9). The bible also states that before the Earth was created that Jesus was with God (John 1:1-4). Many families have family members that go on to greatness, while some of those same families also have family members that are trouble.
I realize that based on the biblical record that we have today this could be perceived as speculation, but is it a doctrine that really throws Mormons into the category of the occult?
Lie
Women can not be saved without men. This goes in the category of "the Mormons are oppressive to women."
Source
Shiela Garrigus
Truth
Being "saved" to protestants means going to Heaven or not going to Hell. This would be equivalent to getting to the Celestial Kingdom to Latter-day Saints. You don't have to be married to get to the Celestial Kingdom. To obtain all the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom one must be married. This applies to men and women both.
Lie
"Mormons refuse to take off these garments completely even while taking a bath..."
Source
I didn't catch the source, but it was some guy being interviewed in a cafe and was pontificating rubbish about Latter-day Saints.
Truth
He mentioned something about Latter-day Saints would take a bath and keep their hand outside the tub covered with their garments. This is a flat out lie and totally inflamatory.
Below I will list of critics that I have found to be disreputable. Below that I will detail some of the things I have heard about the Church that are not true. Where possible I will note the person that said it, so that as people come across works about the Church they can identify authors to avoid.
Disreputable Critics
- Shiela Garrigus
- Eric Grieschaben
Details
Lie
Mormons talk to dead people in their temples. If you are a member in good standing and you want to talk to your dead grandmother you can go to the temple and do a ritual and talk to her.
Source
Eric Grieschaben
Truth
There is not temple ritual to talk to dead people.
Lie
Mormons are not Christian. They believe in a different Jesus.
Source
Eric Grieschaben
Truth
How different is Jesus between the various protestant denominations, yet they all consider each other as Christians. An example of this is whether God is one entity taking on different forms or whether the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are individuals. This is a huge difference about who Jesus is.
To say that Mormons do not believe in the same Jesus as Christians in order to classify them as being part of the occult is ridiculous.
One of the arguments used to bolster this argument our Jesus not being Jesus is to throw out that Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers. Scandalous!
The bible states that Lucifer was with God and he got greedy and tried to take over and was cast out and became Satan (Isaiah 14, Rev 12:7-9). The bible also states that before the Earth was created that Jesus was with God (John 1:1-4). Many families have family members that go on to greatness, while some of those same families also have family members that are trouble.
I realize that based on the biblical record that we have today this could be perceived as speculation, but is it a doctrine that really throws Mormons into the category of the occult?
Lie
Women can not be saved without men. This goes in the category of "the Mormons are oppressive to women."
Source
Shiela Garrigus
Truth
Being "saved" to protestants means going to Heaven or not going to Hell. This would be equivalent to getting to the Celestial Kingdom to Latter-day Saints. You don't have to be married to get to the Celestial Kingdom. To obtain all the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom one must be married. This applies to men and women both.
Lie
"Mormons refuse to take off these garments completely even while taking a bath..."
Source
I didn't catch the source, but it was some guy being interviewed in a cafe and was pontificating rubbish about Latter-day Saints.
Truth
He mentioned something about Latter-day Saints would take a bath and keep their hand outside the tub covered with their garments. This is a flat out lie and totally inflamatory.
Monday, January 15, 2007
2 Nephi 4:13-15
2 Nephi 4:13-15
Summary
Laman and Lemuel are upset with Nephi because of their father's words to them about their disobedience. Nephi is constrained from giving them any more instruction, but continues his record. This record can then be used by future generations to find their way back.
It struck me that this can apply to us. When we get stuck in our own traditions and our own wants we harden ourselves and distance ourselves to where the spirit stops instructing us. In order to get further instruction we need to go to the scriptures get get those instructions and to get the spirit to begin instructing us again.
Summary
Laman and Lemuel are upset with Nephi because of their father's words to them about their disobedience. Nephi is constrained from giving them any more instruction, but continues his record. This record can then be used by future generations to find their way back.
It struck me that this can apply to us. When we get stuck in our own traditions and our own wants we harden ourselves and distance ourselves to where the spirit stops instructing us. In order to get further instruction we need to go to the scriptures get get those instructions and to get the spirit to begin instructing us again.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Mighty Prayer
I was listening to the December 2006 Ensign article What I Have Learned about Mighty Prayer by Mary Jane Woodger on the way to work this morning. A quote from President Hinckley in it made me think. “The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries—we place our order and hang up."(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 469)
I think most of us have had the concern at one time or another about repetitious prayers or prayers that seem to barely reach to the ceiling let alone to Heavenly Father. One piece that I think I miss frequently is meditating.
The world has perhaps made the concept of meditation seem hokey, but I think if done properly and with the right spirit it is a critical part of prayer. I have heard several talks over the last couple of years on meditating. I think meditating could be defined as the part of prayer when we listen. I think the word meditate indicates something a bit more focused than listening, but I think listening is something we all understand and it is a good place to start.
In my opinion, meditation is not the chanting that we sometimes see on TV, but a simple, focused listening and pondering or focused observing.
This article was a nice reminder that prayer is a communication channel and is a two way channel. We must listen and not just rattle off our requests and leave.
I think most of us have had the concern at one time or another about repetitious prayers or prayers that seem to barely reach to the ceiling let alone to Heavenly Father. One piece that I think I miss frequently is meditating.
The world has perhaps made the concept of meditation seem hokey, but I think if done properly and with the right spirit it is a critical part of prayer. I have heard several talks over the last couple of years on meditating. I think meditating could be defined as the part of prayer when we listen. I think the word meditate indicates something a bit more focused than listening, but I think listening is something we all understand and it is a good place to start.
In my opinion, meditation is not the chanting that we sometimes see on TV, but a simple, focused listening and pondering or focused observing.
This article was a nice reminder that prayer is a communication channel and is a two way channel. We must listen and not just rattle off our requests and leave.
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