Elder Henry B. Eyring said in his book "Draw Closer to God pg. 94-95:
"If you want to get revelation, do your homework... The good works that really matter require the help of heaven. And the help of heaven requires working past the point of fatigue so far that only the meek and lowly will keep going long enough. The Lord doesn't put us through this test just to give us a grade; he does it because the process will change us."
Past the point of fatigue. This is the quote I referred to in my last post.
Last night for FHE Michelle O. and her 3 little ones joined us for dinner and a funny lesson. I was running late, and regret that we weren't ready to eat again until 7:00. It was nice to visit with her.
Brad was in SLC yesterday for the day, his plane didn't get him back here until about 9:00 p.m.. We missed him for FHE, but he joined us at the end.
Michelle has three little ones, Quinn, Sallon, and Aubrey. I don't know if I am spelling these right or not. We took them frog hunting at the park, and then we brought them back (we caught 5) and talked about choices. We used very shallow bowls but in one we put pretty hot water. We talked about wrong choices, and that when they are obviously wrong, we know to get out of there quick! We put one frog into the hot water, and he immediately thrashed about and got out of there! Then we put cool water in another dish, and put him in there. He sat there happy as a lark! We talked about raising the temperature slowly, that then the frog might not realize that the water was getting hotter. The frog just sat there, in fact soon we had several frogs in there. We talked about always staying away from wrong choices, and that the Holy Ghost wants to help us make right choices. If we make just little bad choices, then we might not realize that the Holy Ghost has tried to tell us, but can't get through. We need to listen so carefully so we will turn around and find ourselves in hot water!
Sam and Quinn really liked finding the frogs, and watching them. Lately Sam has struggled with obedience and honesty. He saw how bad the frog wanted to get out of there. I think it was good for him!
Elder James E. Faust shared this on this same topic:
Evil Is Often Accepted Gradually
Thomas R. Rowan, commenting on the lowering of television standards, said: “Author and commentator Malcolm Muggeridge once told a story about some frogs who were killed without resistance by being boiled alive in the cauldron of water. Why didn’t they resist? Because when they were put in the cauldron, the water was tepid. Then the temperature was raised ever so slightly, and the water was warm, then a tiny bit warmer, then a bit warmer still, and on and on and on. The change was so gradual, almost imperceptible, that the frogs accommodated themselves to their new environment—until it was too late. The point that Mr. Muggeridge was making was not about frogs but about us and how we tend to accept evil as long as it is not a shock that is thrust on us abruptly. We are inclined to accept something morally wrong if it is only a shade more wrong than something we are already accepting” (National Press Club Forum).
This gradual process was foretold by ancient prophets. Nephi tells us that the hearts of the children of men would be stirred up “to anger against that which is good. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” (2 Ne. 28:20–21).
I have always been fascinated that people are led carefully down to hell.
Alexander Pope expressed a similar thought concerning the acceptance of evil:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
(An Essay on Man, epistle 2, lines 217–20)
A Constant Companion
I testify that as we mature spiritually under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, our sense of personal worth, of belonging, and of identity increases. I further testify that I would rather have every person enjoy the Spirit of the Holy Ghost than any other association, for they will be led by that Spirit to light and truth and pure intelligence, which can carry them back into the presence of God.
I pray that the promise of the Lord will be fulfilled for each of us, that “the Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion, and [our] scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and [our] dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto [us] forever and ever” (D&C 121:46).
James E. Faust, “The Gift of the Holy Ghost—A Sure Compass,” Ensign, Apr 1996, 2
"If you want to get revelation, do your homework... The good works that really matter require the help of heaven. And the help of heaven requires working past the point of fatigue so far that only the meek and lowly will keep going long enough. The Lord doesn't put us through this test just to give us a grade; he does it because the process will change us."
Past the point of fatigue. This is the quote I referred to in my last post.
Last night for FHE Michelle O. and her 3 little ones joined us for dinner and a funny lesson. I was running late, and regret that we weren't ready to eat again until 7:00. It was nice to visit with her.
Brad was in SLC yesterday for the day, his plane didn't get him back here until about 9:00 p.m.. We missed him for FHE, but he joined us at the end.
Michelle has three little ones, Quinn, Sallon, and Aubrey. I don't know if I am spelling these right or not. We took them frog hunting at the park, and then we brought them back (we caught 5) and talked about choices. We used very shallow bowls but in one we put pretty hot water. We talked about wrong choices, and that when they are obviously wrong, we know to get out of there quick! We put one frog into the hot water, and he immediately thrashed about and got out of there! Then we put cool water in another dish, and put him in there. He sat there happy as a lark! We talked about raising the temperature slowly, that then the frog might not realize that the water was getting hotter. The frog just sat there, in fact soon we had several frogs in there. We talked about always staying away from wrong choices, and that the Holy Ghost wants to help us make right choices. If we make just little bad choices, then we might not realize that the Holy Ghost has tried to tell us, but can't get through. We need to listen so carefully so we will turn around and find ourselves in hot water!
Sam and Quinn really liked finding the frogs, and watching them. Lately Sam has struggled with obedience and honesty. He saw how bad the frog wanted to get out of there. I think it was good for him!
Elder James E. Faust shared this on this same topic:
Evil Is Often Accepted Gradually
Thomas R. Rowan, commenting on the lowering of television standards, said: “Author and commentator Malcolm Muggeridge once told a story about some frogs who were killed without resistance by being boiled alive in the cauldron of water. Why didn’t they resist? Because when they were put in the cauldron, the water was tepid. Then the temperature was raised ever so slightly, and the water was warm, then a tiny bit warmer, then a bit warmer still, and on and on and on. The change was so gradual, almost imperceptible, that the frogs accommodated themselves to their new environment—until it was too late. The point that Mr. Muggeridge was making was not about frogs but about us and how we tend to accept evil as long as it is not a shock that is thrust on us abruptly. We are inclined to accept something morally wrong if it is only a shade more wrong than something we are already accepting” (National Press Club Forum).
This gradual process was foretold by ancient prophets. Nephi tells us that the hearts of the children of men would be stirred up “to anger against that which is good. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” (2 Ne. 28:20–21).
I have always been fascinated that people are led carefully down to hell.
Alexander Pope expressed a similar thought concerning the acceptance of evil:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
(An Essay on Man, epistle 2, lines 217–20)
A Constant Companion
I testify that as we mature spiritually under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, our sense of personal worth, of belonging, and of identity increases. I further testify that I would rather have every person enjoy the Spirit of the Holy Ghost than any other association, for they will be led by that Spirit to light and truth and pure intelligence, which can carry them back into the presence of God.
I pray that the promise of the Lord will be fulfilled for each of us, that “the Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion, and [our] scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and [our] dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto [us] forever and ever” (D&C 121:46).
James E. Faust, “The Gift of the Holy Ghost—A Sure Compass,” Ensign, Apr 1996, 2