here we are at the end of the book of Mosiah, I feel like that went really fast, and really slow at the same time. Frankly, I just feel like Corona Quarantine is messing with any sense of time I had to begin with.
Okay quick recap of today's block, at the end of Mosiah the sons of Mosiah, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni, desire to spread the gospel beyond just the Nephite people near Zarahemla, they want to help their Lamanite brothers as well. King Mosiah uses theses "two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow" (Mosiah 28:13) to translate what we know as the Book of Ether, Mosiah then also shares his concerns about having kings and expresses his desire to move the Nephite ruling body to a "chief judge" system, which is then voted into place by the people.
Now I could spend all day talking "two stones", seer stones, and the similarities between this moment and what we know about the translation process with the Prophet Joseph Smith, I could also spend time discussing how we have a responsibility to promote righteous and wise leaders, but I personally was lifted by the courage, faith, and desire of the son's of Mosiah to spread the gospel, so this is where my thoughts today will be directed.
A question I often get asked as a seminary teacher, is "what brought you to want to teach seminary?" This is a great question, one that is often followed up with, "oh you must have served a mission and just loved sharing the gospel" kind of like people trying to answer their own question and then are shocked to find I did not serve a mission. My desire to teach doesn't come for my experience sharing the gospel on a mission, it comes from a different place. A place that feels very much like the son's of Mosiah.
President Eyring taught that those who have learned to share the gospel with others "are the grateful disciples of the resurrected Jesus Christ. They know for themselves that the Atonement is real and necessary for all. They have felt cleansed through baptism by those in authority and the receipt of the Holy Ghost of themselves. And because of the peace they have experienced, they are like the sons of Mosiah, 'desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish" (Henry B. Eyring, "A Child and a Disciple," Ensign, May 2003, pg 29-32). Just like President Eyring stated I have experienced the peace in my life that the gospel brings.
My life was turned upside down roughly 5 years ago when I suddenly realized I would be a single mom and had 3 young boys to raise. My initial career goals in college had been directed towards social work and criminal justice, two areas of study I love but with careers involving terrible hours. During this time of uncertainty and worry I found myself on my knees often asking for the Lord's guidance in regards to divorce arrangements, extending forgiveness, looking for living arrangements, financial decisions, and career guidance. I spent so much time on my knees in my walk in closet crying and praying to my Heavenly Father during the summer of 2015 that if He had been a normal person He would have been sick of me, thank goodness He is our perfect Father and eternally loving.
As other things started falling into place, and miracles happened I still did not have a great direction for career options and further education I may need to pursue. That is until one day when I shopping at the grocery store. I still remember having my two youngest loaded in my cart, and my oldest pushing one of those mini-carts and being so focused the entire time that he didn't ram anyone in the ankles with it. I was reaching for a can of black beans on the shelf for a recipe I planned to make that week when I heard the Holy Ghost whisper, you should teach seminary. I remember almost laughing at the thought, hello, I am about to be a divorced single mom, I don't think people like me get to teach seminary. The thoughts kept coming and I am so glad I had the faith to act and follow through with those thoughts. The hiring process was grueling and was the longest year and a half of my life and often times I wanted to quit but every time I thought about it I remembered that moment in the store or would get to see the eyes of my students light up as they learned a new truth or shared their experiences.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed me in so many ways, it has brought peace, direction, hope, and confidence that I know where to go or what to do when faced with difficult things. It has also helped me have an eternal perspective on things and see beyond the pain of right now. I feel so blessed everyday that I get to stand in front of students, or currently Zoom in front of students and try to share just a little bit of that love and light. I feel like I really understand why the son's of Mosiah were willing to give up the thrown, popularity, and power to share something of far greater worth that changed their lives from being these young men leading people away to being a source of light for others.
I hope you take a minute to ask yourself, what can I learn from the messages shared today in the block? What was meant for me and what am I going to do about it?
Okay quick recap of today's block, at the end of Mosiah the sons of Mosiah, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni, desire to spread the gospel beyond just the Nephite people near Zarahemla, they want to help their Lamanite brothers as well. King Mosiah uses theses "two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow" (Mosiah 28:13) to translate what we know as the Book of Ether, Mosiah then also shares his concerns about having kings and expresses his desire to move the Nephite ruling body to a "chief judge" system, which is then voted into place by the people.
Now I could spend all day talking "two stones", seer stones, and the similarities between this moment and what we know about the translation process with the Prophet Joseph Smith, I could also spend time discussing how we have a responsibility to promote righteous and wise leaders, but I personally was lifted by the courage, faith, and desire of the son's of Mosiah to spread the gospel, so this is where my thoughts today will be directed.
A question I often get asked as a seminary teacher, is "what brought you to want to teach seminary?" This is a great question, one that is often followed up with, "oh you must have served a mission and just loved sharing the gospel" kind of like people trying to answer their own question and then are shocked to find I did not serve a mission. My desire to teach doesn't come for my experience sharing the gospel on a mission, it comes from a different place. A place that feels very much like the son's of Mosiah.
President Eyring taught that those who have learned to share the gospel with others "are the grateful disciples of the resurrected Jesus Christ. They know for themselves that the Atonement is real and necessary for all. They have felt cleansed through baptism by those in authority and the receipt of the Holy Ghost of themselves. And because of the peace they have experienced, they are like the sons of Mosiah, 'desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish" (Henry B. Eyring, "A Child and a Disciple," Ensign, May 2003, pg 29-32). Just like President Eyring stated I have experienced the peace in my life that the gospel brings.
My life was turned upside down roughly 5 years ago when I suddenly realized I would be a single mom and had 3 young boys to raise. My initial career goals in college had been directed towards social work and criminal justice, two areas of study I love but with careers involving terrible hours. During this time of uncertainty and worry I found myself on my knees often asking for the Lord's guidance in regards to divorce arrangements, extending forgiveness, looking for living arrangements, financial decisions, and career guidance. I spent so much time on my knees in my walk in closet crying and praying to my Heavenly Father during the summer of 2015 that if He had been a normal person He would have been sick of me, thank goodness He is our perfect Father and eternally loving.
As other things started falling into place, and miracles happened I still did not have a great direction for career options and further education I may need to pursue. That is until one day when I shopping at the grocery store. I still remember having my two youngest loaded in my cart, and my oldest pushing one of those mini-carts and being so focused the entire time that he didn't ram anyone in the ankles with it. I was reaching for a can of black beans on the shelf for a recipe I planned to make that week when I heard the Holy Ghost whisper, you should teach seminary. I remember almost laughing at the thought, hello, I am about to be a divorced single mom, I don't think people like me get to teach seminary. The thoughts kept coming and I am so glad I had the faith to act and follow through with those thoughts. The hiring process was grueling and was the longest year and a half of my life and often times I wanted to quit but every time I thought about it I remembered that moment in the store or would get to see the eyes of my students light up as they learned a new truth or shared their experiences.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed me in so many ways, it has brought peace, direction, hope, and confidence that I know where to go or what to do when faced with difficult things. It has also helped me have an eternal perspective on things and see beyond the pain of right now. I feel so blessed everyday that I get to stand in front of students, or currently Zoom in front of students and try to share just a little bit of that love and light. I feel like I really understand why the son's of Mosiah were willing to give up the thrown, popularity, and power to share something of far greater worth that changed their lives from being these young men leading people away to being a source of light for others.
I hope you take a minute to ask yourself, what can I learn from the messages shared today in the block? What was meant for me and what am I going to do about it?
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