Questions Asked IN The Ward By the YSA's for a discussion 2016
Atonement:
How can I break my addictions?
Realize who you are. Example Study Moses 1
Realize that you have a work to do Study Moses 1:6; Alma 13
Commit to live better -
1) you have your agency
2) Look to Christ as the example: He made up his mind to do the will of the Father - We have to really and truly make up our minds. No wiggle room. If you leave the door half open you have a way out.
Believe God -
that he has the power to do as he says he does
believe that he is who he says he is
get to know him
learn to trust God
believe that the atonement applies to you - it absolutely has to if it does not God would cease to be God
How can I heal from the pain caused by others through the atonement?
You have to be willing to extend to them the same priviledges that you request - mainly forgiveness. That does not mean that you completely forget maybe; but it does mean that you have to learn to let go. In the end the only one whom your are really punishing is yourself - do you think their life is any different on a daily basis because you hold a grudge against them?
How can I put my trust in the atonement of Jesus Christ and truly know that I have been forgiven and cleanse from my sins mistakes and weaknesses?
You can take the word of others that have been through the process; and know for themselves. Trust in the Lord - if it works for others than it will work for you; it absolutely has to otherwise God would not be God - consistent. The second part of the question I think is maybe your are asking how can I know when I am forgiven? Part of that is when you truly feel the spirit again, when you have peace of heart,
How do we experience a mighty change of heart?
Process much like conversion - well I suppose it a secondary conversion.
MOsiah 5:2 2 And they all cried with one voice, [notice again the choice of words "all cried with one voice" this time it appears as if it is a way of implying consistence which makes the use of the words in Mosiah 4 seem to imply that everyone was touched by the same spirit - they all acted consistently to the message of the spirit.] 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 change in us, [ How did this happen? Because they had applied what they had been taught in 3:19. THey had allowed their hearts to become subject to the enticings of the spirit which taught them and was the cause for the change. Has this happened in your life? If not why? It requires a mighty change not just a little one to overcome the powers of carnal or natural man; hence a mighty change is required to loose the disposition to do evil, and stay changed. Once you have lost the inhibitions to do evil you will most likely stay on the changed path as you have replace the bad desires with only good ones. ] or in our hearts, [the heart is associated with our feelings, not and intelectual change but a change to our soul] that we have no more disposition to do evil, [This borders on the line of having one's calling and election made sure. As having such yields that one will have no more desire to sin again.] but to do good continually. [What is the natural disposition of man? the opposite of this, to see what we can get away with. "We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him." Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith pg 51 ]
Mosiah 3:19 19 For the natural man [ The terms natural or by nature, as commonly used, indicate an inherent part of our identity, something with which we are born. In the scriptures, however, natural means fallen or sinful. Though born innocent (see D&C 93:38), all men, through the Fall of Adam, come into a fallen world and into a state of spiritual death (see Alma 42:9), separated from the presence of God. Knowing good and evil (see Moses 4:11; 5:11) and living in this imperfect state, all men sin (see Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10) and experience a resultant “fall” of their own (see Moses 6:49, 55). In other words, it is through transgression of God’s law that one becomes a “natural man” (see Alma 42:10, 12; D&C 20:20). Hence, a natural man is an enemy to God (see Mosiah 3:19 ) until he qualifies for the cleansing influence of the Atonement through living the commandments of God (see Mosiah 3:11–12, 19 ). ] is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, [in the council in heaven we agreed using our agency to be bound by the consequences of any action of Adam who was to be our first parent – just as we are bound by any actions of any other of our parents – some are born into the church others are not…] and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields [we are bound to the actions of Adam because we choose to be so bound (agency in the premortal life), and we must allow ourselves to become subject (agency in our mortal life) to the promptings of the spirit ] to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, [Elder Jerrey R Holland "education, or public service, or social responsibility, or pro- fessional accomplishment of any kind is in vain if we cannot, in those crucial moments of piv- otal personal history, submit ourselves to God even when all our hopes and fears may tempt us otherwise. We must be willing to place all that we have—not just our possessions (they may be the easiest things of all to give up), but also our ambition and pride and stubbornness and vanity—we must place it all on the altar’ of God, kneel there in silent submission, and willingly walk away. I believe what I am describing here is the scriptural definition of a saint, one who will “yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit,” and “through the atonement of Christ . . . becometh as a child, submissive, 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”" Brigham Young University 1988–89 Speeches] and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint [ “The word saint in Greek denotes ‘set apart, separate, [and] holy’ [in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 5 vols. (1992), 3:1249]. If we are to be Saints in our day, we need to separate ourselves from evil conduct and destructive pursuits that are prevalent in the world. Why is it only through the Atonement of Christ that you can become a Saint?] through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, 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. [ A little child trusts his parent completely - he trusts that whatever happens they are going to make that best choices for the child. We too have to trust our Father in Heaven that completely. We must not be mistaken by trials - those trials are allowed to take place that we might grow, that we might grasp those spiritual concepts required for our eternal exhaltation, and as children of our Father in Heaven we trust in his plan - we have faith in his plan - the reason that we are here. We obey his commandments just as the elements do because of unwavering faith. When we are the lowest we must always remember who is in charge - Our Father in Heaven WebDynamics and the story of the $50,000 drive, and the trials that ensued]
study Enos 1 every day for a week or more
brought about only through faith in Jesus Christ and through the operation of the Spirit upon us, it is as though we have become a new person
How do you use the atonement to repent?
“‘The height of a man’s success is gauged by his self-mastery; the depth of his failure by his self-abandonment.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969], p. 176).
You have to understand that the atonement was and is part of the plan, and it did not come easy. That gift to you and to I came with a lot of work by the savior; and I believe it was not easy for our Father in Heaven to watch; and us too as the Savior completed his portion. Having said that we need to understand that it took real power to complete, you have to first trust that the same power that was able to overcome can be applied to you. So first believe in the power of the atonement - that you can be forgiven. Second; express your feelings of the atonement to the Heavenly Father. Third; move forward. If you have done what is expected; confessed, made restitution if possible, and forsaken the sin - then move on. It may hurt for a while - that is ok - true forgiveness comes with pain. Do good help others - look for ways to do that, you will find that the sting will subside. Bear your testimony; when the spirit works within you that is a cleansing process.
Share a personal experience of change through repentance?
Patriarchal Blessing:
My blessing says I will be married and have kids and I am worried I won't, what advice would you give me?
Do what you are supposed to do; put yourself out there - yes it is hard; trust - look forward with hope;
My Patriarchal l Blessing is very weak, can I get another one?
Godhead:
How can you tell in the Scriptures with the word Lord refers to Jesus Christ and when it refers to Heavenly Father?
Understand who is talking, what is the reference, what are the verses before and after - the context. Understand what each member of the godheads roles are (Which role is being performed here).
What is the role of each member of Godhead?
Heavenly Father - "Who is Elohim? He is God the Eternal Father. He is a glorified and exalted personage. He 'has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's.' (D&C 130;22.) He has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's. In the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He knows all things and has all power -- not simply as pertaining to us or in some prescribed sphere or realm -- but in the absolute, eternal, and unlimited sense. In the ultimate sense, he is the author of the plan of salvation, he is the Creator, he is our spiritual father. He is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them.' (D&C 20:17.)
Jesus Christ - 5 MIssions of Christ
1) He is the Creator see D&C 38:1-3
2) Teach the plan of salvation and set an example in all things John 1:1
3) Work out the Atonement I Peter 1:19-20, D&C 19:15-19
4) Commense work for the dead Moses 7:38; Luke 16, Isaiah 61:1
5) He is our Judge John 5:22
The Holy Ghost -
The Holy Ghost has many names many roles, protector,
revelator - The Lord reveals His will through the power of the Spirit.
comforter,
teacher,
sanctifier - Elder Orson Pratt (1811–81) as it relates to the role of the Holy Ghost as our sanctifier:
“Water Baptism is only a preparatory cleansing of the believing penitent; it is only a condition of a cleansing from sin; whereas, the Baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost cleanses more thoroughly, by renewing the inner man, and by purifying the affections, desires, and thoughts which have long been habituated in the impure ways of sin. Without the aid of the Holy Ghost, a person … would have but very little power to change his mind … and to walk in newness of life.
Who is it that we pray to?
Heavenly Father - through Jesus Christ as our mediator
Scripture Study:
Gospel - What is a good way to study the Scriptures and get the most out of them?
Understand the symbolism.
Do it at a time when you can do it without being rushed, calm.
Study one verse until you understand it - one chapter until you understand it - this may take months in some cases. Every word has a meaning; study it why was that word used - what does it really mean.
Ask yourself questions: What caused this person to ask this question? What was going on it their life? What do I have in common? Why use this word? Have I heard this same word used elsewhere in the scriptures? What did the word mean to the people in that day? Read the verse and sit and ask yourself all of the questions that you can about it - then go find the answers to your questions? sometimes the question might just be why is this verse even here?
Write down what you learn - story of how I was told to write it down and did not, then needed it and it was not there.
Gospel - What is the best way for you to receive revelation?
Put yourself in a position to receive it, study scriptures, be on guard to listen (always) - you never know when it will come, respond to the promptings every time you do you will gain trust in it- every time you do not you will drift away - why prompt you if you will not listen. Submit you will to the will of Heaven Father.
Peace:
What are some ways to feel peace when you feel so overwhelmed by callings in the church school and work?
Temple:
When will I know that I am ready to take out my endowments?
Love one Another:
How can we as a ward be more inclusive to people in our ward?
Dating:
How can you not allow your doubts with dating and pursuing marriage prevent you from moving forward with or pursuing a relationship?
How do I know if a boy I am dating is involved in pornography?
How long should I date before going out or getting engaged?
I don't want to get married because I don't think it's possible for someone to truly love me. Is that OK? They will never want to be with just me, they will always look at someone else and I will never be good enough - Is it ok to not get married?
I feel like I'm very picky when it comes to dating people how can I be less picky or be open to give people a chance? What can I do to work on this?
If being friends first is so important, why do women run away the second you want to be romantic?
What constitutes going too far with a date? (Intimacy)
What is the difference between well fitted clothing and too tight?