{"id":11119,"date":"2020-01-20T12:19:55","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T18:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reliefsocietywomen.com\/blog\/?p=11119"},"modified":"2020-01-20T12:19:55","modified_gmt":"2020-01-20T18:19:55","slug":"how-to-live-our-religion-with-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reliefsocietywomen.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/20\/how-to-live-our-religion-with-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Live Our Religion With Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the Ezra Taft Benson years, there were a lot of talks, given in General Conference, about the Book of Mormon. In the first session of the April 1987 conference<\/a> two important thoughts seemed to stand out: 1) Living our religion fearlessly and faithfully, 2) Reading the Book of Mormon with purpose. These talks basically teach us how to live our religion with purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Living Our Religion Fearlessly and Faithfully<\/span><\/h2>\n

We call ourselves Saints<\/em> because, as Elder W. Grant Bangerter states, we follow \u201cChrist in holiness and devotion with a view fixed on\u00a0eternal<\/em>\u00a0life.\u201d If that is really true, then we must mean that in all facets of our lives, not just on Sunday or when it\u2019s convenient to us. He continues: \u201cSaints take their probation seriously.\u201d He challenges whether we take baptism on as simply a formality, or as a true and living covenant with God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Elder Howard W. Hunter asks us if we are members of the church \u201cinstitutionally,\u201d or members \u201cindividually.\u201d I\u2019ve actually experienced wards that appear strong \u201cinstitutionally,\u201d but are weak as individual members. And I\u2019ve also seen strong members who are good people \u201cindividually,\u201d but as a ward together they seem to be \u201cinstitutionally\u201d weak. It\u2019s an interesting phenomenon. What we want is to be \u201cindividually\u201d strong and actively help our ward be \u201cinstitutionally\u201d strong. And vice versa. A ward should actively be seeking out its members and blessing their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another talk, given by Elder M. Russell Ballard, reminds us that in spite of our busy lives, sometimes it takes a personal crisis to realize that our lives aren\u2019t as balanced as we like. He says, \u201cOur main goal should be to seek \u201cimmortality and eternal life\u201d (Moses 1:39<\/a>). With this as our goal, why not eliminate from our lives the things that clamor for and consume our thoughts, feelings, and energies without contributing to our reaching that goal?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reading the Book of Mormon With Purpose<\/span><\/h2>\n

Both, Pres. Ezra Taft Benson and Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke on Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. In a recent Sunday School class, a teacher asked us what our favorite stories were, in the Book of Mormon. Several hands went up and we all nodded in agreement as they mentioned various prophets with their stories. The teacher then observed that no one had mentioned Christ\u2019s visit to the Americas. Shouldn\u2019t that be the first favorite mentioned? Anyway, that was a sad, shocking realization.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I read these two talks, I began seeing several ways I could read the Book of Mormon with new eyes; with real purpose. As we all know, we have been asked to read the Book of Mormon yearly, constantly, and in addition to any other scripture we are reading. How do we do that without our eyes glazing over? So, here are some thoughts for you to consider.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Underline every time the Lord\u2019s many names are used. As you look back on the two pages in front of you, you will see that the foremost subject of the scriptures is\u2014without a doubt\u2014Jesus Christ, the Lord, and Savior of the World.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. List, in a journal, all the names that refer to, or mean, Jesus Christ. Some names may surprise you, such as the word Righteousness, Eternal, Love, Tree. See if recognizing ALL His names gives you a broader view of the message of the Book of Mormon as a whole.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. As you list His names, list all His characteristics. Even in just the first few chapters of 1 Nephi, you\u2019ll be amazed at how much Lehi and Nephi knew about their Savior.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Using your \u201ctemple glasses,\u201d look for relationships between what the Book of Mormon teaches and what we learn in the temple.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Because we know the Book of Mormon centers on Jesus Christ, look for Him in the lives of the great prophets. How are they types and shadows of Christ? How do they follow Christ? What do they preach of Christ?<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Look for warnings. Who are these warnings for? How do they compare to our day? How will Jesus Christ fulfill all things, and save those who follow Him from all evil and destruction?<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Elder Nelson suggests we list each time Jesus Christ visited personally or sent others to visit His people. He lists all the visits Christ made after His resurrection, throughout all of scripture, in his talk but there are plenty of moments in the Book of Mormon to study carefully to understand better who Jesus Christ really is.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Pres. Benson invites us to read 3 Nephi. \u201c3 Nephi contains some of the most moving and powerful passages in all scripture. It testifies of Jesus Christ, His prophets, and the doctrines of salvation. \u2026 What a blessing it would be if every family would read together 3 Nephi, discuss its sacred contents, and then determine how they can liken it unto themselves and apply its teachings in their lives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    This year, we have the opportunity to live our religion better and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ more. May we take this opportunity seriously, and with purpose, becoming better for having done so.<\/span><\/p>\n