i'm feeling churchy

church today was so amazing. you know those sundays where you are just really feeling it?
so i figure i'm in an appropriate mood to do the seminary post.
here's a few quotes that have been standing out to me...

       "As I have read the scriptures, i have been challenged by the word ponder, so frequently used in the Book of Mormon. The dictionary says that ponder means 'to weigh mentally, think deeply about, deliberate, meditate.'...
      "Pondering is, in my feeling, a form of prayer. It has, at least, been an approach to the Spirit of the Lord on many occasions."                        -Marion G. Romney

       "I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion...
Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord."                                                      -David O. McKay

these quotes really stuck out to me and made me think. they went with a lesson entitled 'prayerfully reading and pondering the scriptures invites revelation.'

okay grab your scriptures, cause i want you to look a couple up.
each of these scriptures describe what happened just before a revelation was received...
-D&C 76:15-19
-D&C 138:1-2,11
-1 Nephi 11:1
-JSH 1:11-13
notice a pattern? underline the words ponder, meditate, reflect, etc.
how often do we forget that meditation is vital to our spiritual growth?
i am the queen of having to be constantly entertained. i never allow myself to be bored. this really reminded me that we need to make time to just be quiet and think on things. we need to give the holy ghost the opportunity to guide/enlighten/instruct/correct/comfort/etc us. you can pick whichever of those is applicable.

so as i've been making an effort do do just that, i have found myself really getting some insights on things i need to learn.
for example: one of our scripture mastery's is D&C 58:26-27
it reads
       "For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things , the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherfore he receiveth no reward.
       "Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness."

and i'm gonna include verse 28, which says
       "For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."

i feel like i need to read that every day. this actually hit me pretty hard today while i was pondering it...
i am not the type of person that just prays for what they want and then expects the Lord to do it. i am more the type that if i do ask for something, i step all over myself to quickly add, 'but thy will be done'. i'm not saying that's a bad thing, but i just really felt nudged by the spirit when i read this scripture again today that i can have an active part in my life. i don't have to wait to be acted upon, i can take initiative. i can make a doctor's appointment even though Heavenly Father has not seen fit to give me a baby. i can sign up for some college courses without a huge spiritual prompting to do so.
we have all been given talents and trials and now we have to show what we're going to do with them. am i going to bury all my crap in the ground, and then still have the same thing to show for it in the end? or am i going to do things of my own free will and multiply my talents, and conquer my trials?

i am totally blabbering, sorry...

one more thing.
i have to share part of this amazing quote by Bruce R. McConkie about what it means to be valiant in the testimony of the Savior... the whole thing is too long to type out, so i'll just pick out some highlights.

       "What does it mean to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus?
       "It is to be courageous and bold; to use all our strength, energy, and ability in the warfare with the world; to fight the good fight of faith.... The great cornerstone of valiance in the cause of righteousness is obedience to the whole law of the whole gospel.
       "It is to live our religion, to practice what we preach, to keep the commandments. It is the manifestation of 'pure religion' in the lives of men; it is visiting 'the fatherless and widows in their affliction' and keeping ourselves 'unspotted from the world'.
       "To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to take the Lord's side on every issue. It is to vote as he would vote. It is to think what he thinks, to believe what he believes, to say what he would say and do what he would do in the same situation."

i love Bruce R. McConkie.
anyway, i feel like i've gone on forever... or maybe this just took me forever to type out. i hope you got as much out of it as i did.

and if you were bored by this, then you are in need of some repentance.
haha. just kidding.