2024 January 27, Saturday, Journal Entry

 

Cathy had been wanting more space in the kitchen pantry. I was contemplating how to do this when she suggested looking at some of the local stores to see if they had anything. So we went to Home Depot, Walmart and Lowes and finally spotted this option at Lowes. It fit in the available space and seems secure and reasonably attractive. I did have to put three screws into the wall and spend nearly a half hour of my time too install it. 

Got the car registered and Cathy to the doctors office. She had labs again and this time it will take 24-48 hours for results. Hopefully there's a solution coming.

We have our Bishop's Storehouse assignment this morning. I noticed a news article yesterday about a new Utah Foodbank facility opening in Springville. I'd like to take a look and see if it's something we might refer people to in appropriate situations.

I just listened to the Solemn Assembly sheet President Nelson was presented as the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints during the April 2018 General Conference of the church. President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was the first speaker and he asked that we record in our journals what we felt. Words aren't adequate but I truly felt the Spirit and have many times since then.

Come Follow Me 

1 Nephi 15:7 And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.

8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?

9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.

What they were missing, of course, was the reality and importance of individual, personal revelation.

10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?

11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

If we diligently keep the commandments and ask in faith, answers will come in the Lord’s own way and in His time.

Now, what about you? When was the last time in your prayers you said, "Heavenly Father, teach me something?" We spend a lot of time with the Lord saying, "please bless … ," "thank you for … ," "I'm worried about my children … ," or "help me find a job." All these things are completely fine in prayers. However, Nephi was a great example. He prayed for his people, for his family, and for his own grace. He prayed for all of those same things we do, but he also said, "Heavenly Father, please teach me something. Please help me understand something better." I think the Lord expects us to do that. He is very generous with answers to those kinds of questions. As we develop that attitude—the attitude of "please help me understand something about the gospel better"—we will have more light to live by, more light to help us understand pros and cons. The Lord wants and needs us to have more light. He needs us to shine brighter than ever before.