Day 64: Helaman 3-4

Happy Monday Everyone!

Can you believe that I still am feeling yucky today?  I was hoping for a day filled with lots of energy and motivation!  I did end up doing lots of laundry, which is always a good thing, even when you aren't feeling up to it.  We also had Family Home Evening tonight where the kids were hyper, we were tired, and it was crazy BUT we had fun just being together.  LOL!   I know that my  kids will look back and remember that we had one special night a week that we spent as a family.

Today we are reading Helaman 3 & 4.  I love the following verse in chapter 3 about the kind of man that Helaman was.

Helaman 3:20
"Nevertheless Helaman did fill the judgment-seat with justice and equity; yea, he did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the commandments of God; and he did do that which was right in the sight of God continually; and he did walk after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land."

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Although times were difficult and society was threatened by evil forces, Helaman’s example of steadfastness in doing the Lord’s will is a model for us to follow in the challenging latter days. Like Helaman, we can continually strive to “do what is right; let the consequence follow” (“Do What Is Right,” Hymns, no. 237). The key word iscontinually.

Elder Spencer J. Condie of the Seventy emphasized the importance of keeping our covenants as a way of developing consistency in doing good:

“Perhaps of all the evidence of true conversion and a remission of sins, this is the most significant: the disposition to do evil no more, but to do good continually. …"

Here is a great message on choosing the right.

Here is another favorite set of verses from chapter 3.

Alma 3:27-30
"Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.

"Yes, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.

"Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked --

"And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out."

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President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught that certain blessings come only through diligent scripture study: “Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, healing of the soul—these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word. Does the Lord promise and not fulfill? Surely if He tells us that these things will come to us if we lay hold upon His word, then the blessings can be ours. And if we do not, then the blessings may be lost. However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree of life”.

Helaman 3:35

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

Sanctification of the Heart

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  Sanctification has been defined as “the process of becoming free from sin, pure, clean, and holy through the atonement of Jesus Christ (Moses 6:59–60)” (Guide to the Scriptures).
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  Faithful Church members in Helaman’s day continued their spiritual growth, which resulted in “the sanctification of their hearts” (Helaman 3:35).
  President James E. Faust taught that such growth comes with the aid of the Holy Spirit fostering our inmost desires to conduct our lives as the Savior would have us live. During this process, we are sanctified: “Christlike conduct flows from the deepest wellsprings of the human heart and soul. It is guided by the Holy Spirit of the Lord, which is promised in gospel ordinances. Our greatest hope should be to enjoy the sanctification which comes from this divine guidance; our greatest fear should be to forfeit these blessings” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 23; or Ensign, May 1998, 20).
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  The Saints of Helaman’s day continued in good works and became stronger in spiritual qualities, which in turn resulted in sanctification. Elder D. Todd Christofferson explained that sanctification is a step in the path of striving toward perfection: “Personal persistence in the path of obedience is something different than achieving perfection in mortality. Perfection is not, as some suppose, a prerequisite for justification and sanctification. It is just the opposite: justification (being pardoned) and sanctification (being purified) are the prerequisites for perfection. We only become perfect ‘in Christ’ (seeMoro. 10:32), not independently of Him. Thus, what is required of us in order to obtain mercy in the day of judgment is simple diligence” (“Justification and Sanctification,” Ensign, June 2001, 24–25)

I love the quote above!  I cannot wait to hear from our church leaders on October 5th and 6th!  I hope you will watch along with me.  I will share the link as the time gets closer.  You can also go HERE to watch any of the General Conference messages from the past.  All very good and uplifting!  I come away always wanting to do better and knowing that I can.

Firm in the Faith

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  The strength of the Church lies in the firm convictions of individual members. Helaman 3:35 describes the lives of Church members who were firm in their faith and works.
  Elder Russell M. Nelson pointed out that such firmness in behavior and attitude is obtained individually: “Only as an individual can you develop a firm faith in God and a passion for personal prayer. Only as an individual can you keep the commandments of God. Only as an individual can you repent. Only as an individual can you qualify for the ordinances of salvation and exaltation”

I love the quote above, too, because I know that it is an INDIVIDUAL journey that we are all on.  I know that sometimes I compare myself to others on their journey and feel I fall short but if I remember that it is about my relationship with my Savior, I know that I can do all things.  

Okay, that is it for today.  I cannot wait for tomorrow's post.  One of my favorite scriptures is in Helaman 5 and I  highlighted it in all the Books of Mormon I sent out.  If you didn't get a copy from me and you would like one, please e-mail me at mypinkstamper@gmail.com and I will get one in the mail to you!

Hugs,

Robyn