"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience..." (Articles of Faith 1:11)

Day 4, (Dec. 4th) #LIGHTtheWORLD

Just a few thoughts about worshipping my Father in Heaven and my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I start with the question: What does it mean to worship God? "Love, reverence, service, and devotion for God (D&C 20:19). Worship includes prayer, fasting, church service, participating in gospel ordinances, and other practices that show devotion and love for God." (Worship). We can also worship God when we sing. (see Sing)

And from this, I must ask myself, how do I show my love and devotion to God? As I have pondered this question I have realized that over the years my love for God has deepened. I want to do all that He asks of me. I continually try to be obedient even by following the command: "Do all things without murmurings and disputings." (Philippians 2:14) I am perpetually practicing this.

I do love singing and music. The Psalmist says: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing" (Psalms 100:1-2). And in modern revelation we are taught: "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." (D&C 25:12) When we sing praises to God, we are worshiping Him. This makes me truly happy!

One last thought about worshipping God. This is part of our doctrine in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may" (Articles of Faith 1:11). For me, this is vital! Being able to worship God how I would like is a privilege I want and therefore I also allow others to worship as they see fit. I am so grateful I can worship God and I invite you to worship Him by attending a church service. You are always welcome to attend one of our congregations throughout the world by searching here.

The Christus at the North Visitors Center in Salt Lake City
Link to view other images of Christ

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Philippians 2:14

There is something I have been working on lately. Some days I am better at it than others. It is to not murmur, but to give thanks. I know I talk about giving thanks a lot, but I haven't mentioned murmuring. It is so easy to find the negative, and forget to find the positive in life. What I really want is for it to just come automatically, giving thanks, not murmuring. When I want to change a habit or do something better I often find scriptures to memorize that will help me develop those habits. There is a scripture that has helped me with this. It is Philippians 2:14. It reads: "Do all things without murmurings and disputings."

My kids will spend so much time complaining about doing their homework that they could have completed it in the time of all their murmuring. I point this out to them and they don't really like it. I think this is the same with keeping the commandments.. If we just quit complaining about what we "can't do" and focus on all the things we can do and the blessing we will receive, then the keeping will have been completed. It simply comes down to how do I want to spend my time and where is my heart? I am still working on it all.

Elder Maxwell says it like this: "Perhaps when we murmur we are unconsciously complaining over not being able to cut a special deal with the Lord. We want full blessings but without full obedience to the laws upon which those blessings are predicated. For instance, some murmurers seem to hope to reshape the Church to their liking by virtue of their murmuring. But why would one want to belong to a church that he could make in his own image, when it is the Lord's image that we should come to have in our countenances? (See Alma 5:19.)

The doctrines are His, brothers and sisters, not ours. The power is His to delegate, not ours to manipulate!" (October 1989 Addresses/ "Murmur Not")

Rather than murmur..."live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings he doth bestow upon you" (Alma 34:38.) We truly have been given so much! It is all around us, even if it appears we may have little. I have been truly blessed by my Savior Jesus Christ. Because of Him I truly live, have a life filled with the things that matter most. Because of Him, I can change every day, bit by bit and that is an incredible gift to have been given. This I testify is nothing to murmur about, but to "rejoice evermore! (1 Thes. 5:16)