"Seek the Lord Early" Primary Children's Songbook #108

I am not sure of what to write today other than to "seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written..." Ether 12:41

How does one go about seeking Jesus? I think of "seeking" as in the game I used to play as a child called "hide-and-seek". One child was "it" and had to find all the other children that had hidden themselves before they were able to run to a homebase/freebase. It was a thrill to "seek" for everyone and see how many of my friends and siblings I could catch. Seeking wasn't easy. It required work. People were often sneaky and would hide in places I wouldn't think of as a child, especially if they were older than I was. But it was so fun to see if I could beat them to the homebase as they would sprint to beat me there if I spied them first or if they were able to do it before I ever saw them.

The beauty of seeking Jesus is...he doesn't hide. He is in plain sight and wants everyone to see him and find him. He wants all to "come unto him" Moroni 10:32. He's never going to hide from us. All we have to do is "seek". He says, "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" Luke 11:9-10.

He wants us to find Him! What are some ways I seek Him? I try to be grateful. I have been so blessed. I have eyes to see the incredible mountains, the beautiful sunrise, the blooming flowers. I have ears to hear my childrens voices, even when they are calling each other names. I am able to be forgiven and to forgive. I don't have to carry that burden of anger because I can let it go and turn it over to Christ. I have a family who is healthy. I have a car that runs. A husband that works. I have food to eat. I have friends who love me and are good to me. I have a testimony/witness that Christ is alive and loves me and everyone. He wants us to be happy! As I take this knowledge and apply it to my life, that knowledge that Christ lives and loves everyone gets bigger and stronger and I can't deny it. He cares about us no matter our circumstances. He wants us to seek Him and as we do we will be blessed to come to know "things as they really are, and of things as they really will be..." Jacob 4:13.

Throughout my life I have sometimes thought it was difficult to seek for Jesus. But I was only blinded by my own weaknesses and therefore, I couldn't see him. He is in plain sight. He wants us to see Him everyday. If we will but "look to God and live!" Alma 37:47

I know that as I have looked and done my own seeking, I have found this Jesus. Life is much better as I continue to seek Him. Sometimes, as the day passes, I forget to seek Him, and life gets harder. But, I continue to learn, life is so much easier when I seek Him and follow Him. This I testify.

"Organize yourselves, prepare every neeful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;" D&C 88:119

I am not a very organized person, I admit this freely and openly, to a point. In somethings I am very organized, like my spice cabinet. But my house cleaning, not so organized. And I have piles of papers every where in my house. As soon as my children walk in the door after school where there had been no piles of papers there appears another pile. Well, I do my best to keep my house clean. It's not a pig sty or anything, but I definitely don't live in a magazine. We live in our house and it's used and it gets dirty. My "piles" keep me from "seeing" what the real surface is and what lies beneath the pile and the actual space available. I am always very glad when I actually get a pile cleaned up and put in its proper place.

Today after church I had a loved one point out a flaw in me that I definitely need to fix, that I am very aware of and have been for quite a while. I don't necessarily need or want to tell what that flaw is because I have way too many to start on that downward spiral of self destruction. But when this was pointed out I was bothered nonetheless, not because it isn't true, but perhaps because it is true and I know that I need to change and yet I seem to have trouble with it right now. As I have pondered over why I am so bothered by it two thoughts have come to me.

The first thing I thought of was: "the guilty take the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center."  1 Ne. 16:2 and I was definitely guilty of what I was being accused of and I was aware of my weakness. I know I need to repent of this sin, for it has to be called a sin when I am going against what Christ has taught. It isn't a grave sin, but it can and does keep me from feeling the Spirit when I dwell upon this particular "pile" that is keeping from "seeing". At what point am I going to either move the pile, put it all in the recycling bin or totally get rid of it, perhaps even burn this one and never look back? Gen. 19:17

The second thing I thought of was: I hate it when someone walks into my house and tells me how many "piles" I have and how messy it looks. Or in other words "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?" Matt. 7:3-4. How often have I walked into someones house or life and proceeded to tell them how many "piles" they have without first looking at my own "piles" and doing something about my own mess? I am so guilty of this it isn't even funny. So, I have to just let this little "pile" go, and work on my own piles for now. I can't get mad at this loved one for saying something about my "piles" when I have plenty of my own to work on to point out their piles. I have many piles, but the beauty is that I have a House Cleaner...

The "House Cleaner" being Jesus Christ, who, gratefully, shows me where to start and which "pile" I need to begin with first. He helps me to "see" through the unnecessary papers of junk and the things that are of value and real importance. There are, at times, so many things that clamor for my attention, but if I am quiet, and listen, and take the time I need to, then I can work on my own piles, one at a time and my own house becomes organized and clean. One thing I have learned is that house work never ends...I don't need anyone else telling where to start. I am working on my mess every day...it's called repentance. I am SO grateful for it! Without it my "house" would be such a mess (understatement!) But I have the greatest House Cleaner ever!

Yes, I freely admit I am not the worlds greatest organizer and I have messes that need to be cleaned up daily. But I am, oh so glad and thankful I don't have to clean then up alone, I just have to "open the door" Rev. 3:20. This I testify.


 

Pile before...this one comes at me weekly. It probably wouldn't get so big if I worked on it every day (hint hint)



Pile after...It's such a great feeling to have this one cleaned up :)

"And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." Philip. 1:14

Sometimes, doing something is better than doing nothing. And sometimes that means sticking your foot in your mouth to do it.

This I testify.

(I seem to have a knack for that...or is it a gift?)

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Heb. 13:5-6)

"In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children..." Alma 46:12

As I hear the snap and pop and crackle of fire crackers and fire works go off that my boys are lighting outside with their dad I am so grateful for the time they have to spend together. I am also so grateful for the freedom our family has to have been able to go to church today, to worship in whatever manner we wish. What an incredible blessing! We live in the greatest country! We live in a country that has been consecrated by God. "Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever." (2 Nephi 1:7) It was no accident that our fore fathers found it and that we are here. It was planned out and prepared by God. God is in charge of everything. Man just thinks he knows everything.

I love our country and the freedoms we have. Yes, it hurts when people call me names or make fun of me or my religion. But that is called freedom of speech. Once we try to legislate what one can say or not say then we are in big trouble. Of course there are things that are out of line, and that is called defimation of character. But that is a whole other topic. My point is, I am so grateful I can speak my mind and that I can worship God how I see fit. "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." (Article of Faith 11) I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and is aware of me and all of us, for we are His children. I know I have a Savior, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father. I know that they love all mankind and want us to care, love, and serve one another. (Mosiah 2:17) I know that the Book of Mormon is another testiment of Jesus Christ and that if you read it and apply its teachings to your life it will change your life. This I testify is true. We live in the greatest place on earth. What a great blessing to be an American! This I testify!!!

"Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap..." D&C 6:33

Fear is such a funny thing. It is a form of control, really, and manipulation. I think about how I react when I am afraid of something. I stop doing something, or I become angry, or I do something I wouldn't normally do. I don't want people to fear me, least of all my children. I want them to love me. And ultimately do things because they love me, and not because they fear me.

I am finding that many people do things because they are afraid of outcomes that they have no control over...fear of the unknown. And the not knowing is what makes people want to have all the more control. As a parent I am learning that the more control I try to have over our children, the less I actually have. But, if I set clear limits and then let our children govern themselves and they are allowed to make choices and have the freedom to experience the consequences that come with those choices, be they good or bad, then I don't have to worry about the outcome, I can let go of fear because my children have the freedom they want and most often they make good choices. It is amazing what comes with the opportunity to choose. I am thrilled when my children are able to make the choices that come with good consequences and therefore feel the freedom that comes with it. I am also saddened when they make bad choices and they have to suffer the consequences of those choices and the loss of freedom that comes with them. I am grateful that these choices at this time are rather small. They are learning how to make good choices, and that real agency isn't free.

The time is coming when the choices will be of greater consequence and influence. But I am learning that I have nothing to fear, I say learning because I forget so often to not be afraid. And I am teaching our children the same thing. I do believe that as I put God first, things always work out how they are suppose to...not necessarily how I think they will or should, but how He knows, and that is the best way. He says,"Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." D&C 6:36 I know He doesn't mean, look to Him in just some thoughts, but in every thought. 

Fear. Do I make my decisions out of fear or out of love? Christ says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27. When we are choosing right we have nothing to fear. No matter what we are standing up for, whether it is for our children, our religion, modesty, virtue, Christ. We have nothing to fear...This I testify.