What follows here are my notes from the fireside by Elder Hales tonight at BYU.
"Friends of a feather flock together." What kind of a friend am I? A good example, a light? I desire to stay on high ground! I desire to always be faithful to gospel teachings and covenants. I want to be obedient! I will cultivate an atmosphere in which the spirit can always be with me! I will build a strong marriage and family! I desire to be in the kingdom of God. Faith is the principal element of this. As I keep the commandments, (and I might add, as I record those experiences) then my faith will be strengthened. Be like Joseph Smith: Doubt not, fear not! His prayer was answered with the first vision, I too can faithfully grow in gospel service. I love to give and testify of my Savior Jesus Christ! I need to have His spirit with me! I need to stay on high ground. Elder H. opened this fireside with the example of Laconius who let down his guard only once, and was overtaken. I too feel that I have let down my guard, and allowed the temptations of the adversary to pull me down! I want to do well on this test, and I need the help of the Savior. Companionship of the Spirit will help me to follow the straight and narrow path. I cannot go far from the straight and narrow if I have the spirit directing me! I know that I have had his spirit, I can't be far from the path. I have taken upon myself the name of Christ. I have put Him first in my life by seeking His will, and faithfully serving others. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? I was given agency I will be obedient. I want to be free from the bondage of satan. He can not dominate me! I have light from my Savior, and satan cannot stand light. I can tell him to depart! The adversary is so clever in his temptations. I will not loose the light from Christ! "Of all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest of these are... It might have been." There is nothing sadder than living your life in the present regretting an act of the past. I need to put sadness behind me, and move forward with the light of Christ. Study and prayer will help me stay on the high ground. I have had much study and prayers this week. I am grateful for the comfort of the Holy Spirit in leading and directing my life. I can demand the adversary to leave, he must obey. Don't come down from the safety of the mountain top! These examples of faithfulness and courage, can help direct me. I can follow the promptings of the spirit! Learn from the mistakes and actions of others.
The most important decision we will make is who we will marry. I did so good there! I love you B!
Important principals to help me stay on high ground - spiritual and temporal! Build a spiritual reservoir of faith! Gather fresh new manna each day. Follow wise principals of provident living. Do not covet. Do not be wasteful. Be content with that which is sufficient for our needs. Avoid excessive debt. Prepare for a profession that will sustain us. Give a full days work for a full day's pay. Be a laborer worthy of my higher! Marriage needs to hear the three words of "I love you" but also the words of kindness "We can't afford it." Stay on high ground and reach out to help others. Teach how to have provident living and self reliance. I am grateful to have a square foot garden that has been productive for many years! I have been fortunate to feed my family, and have much left over to share for many years! This year many are excited about these gardens. We have practiced this good practice for many many years. We learned these principals when we lived in Cedar Hills some eight years ago. We have been prepared with a garden every year. I love to sing "The Prophet said to plant a garden" every year for as long as I can remember - even as a child!
The temple is the highest ground we can achieve in this world. It is the Lord's house for his teachings for communications with Him. It is as though we are in his presence. It is the place where we learn the foundation of the Lord. I am grateful to have a wonderful spouse who takes me there. I am also grateful that he realizes the importance of being there not to SHOW the world that we are, but to covenant with our Father! I don't go there to be seen of men! I go there to talk to my Heavenly Father! Ponder and pray for strength to deal with the problems and tests of this life. I receive spiritual guidance there. I love living close to a temple! I love to have my little ones come around the bend to see the temple, and begin singing "I love to see the temple!" In fact, we love to go on a bike ride to a point where we can see the temple. Brinley knows it is where we pray. We should name it "Temple Point" - I have another point on my run route where we pray when we run with the dogs. "Temple point" will distinguish it from "prayer point." What great vocabulary to have in my family!
Successful couples do these little things that strengthen and lift them to high ground.
They know who they are, and they set eternal goals to once again live with their Heavenly Father. They strive to leave the natural man behind. They seek the blessings of the temple.
They chose to obtain the eternal blessings, seeking high ground, and stay there.
They realize they have chosen an eternal companion, their courting days are over.
They think of one another and not themselves. As they serve one another, love one another, they converse often, and don't let little things become big things. They avoid big explosions by allowing little corrections. They avoid selfishness which suffociates spiritual sensitivity. They change their hearts to repent and apologize. They work to improve their relationship day by day. Lift each other to high ground and strengthen each other to stay there together!
Seek and maintain high ground! Understand who you are! Conduct your life in such a way as to have the spirit with you!
I am grateful to have heard this fireside from BYU tonight. I needed the refill.
"Friends of a feather flock together." What kind of a friend am I? A good example, a light? I desire to stay on high ground! I desire to always be faithful to gospel teachings and covenants. I want to be obedient! I will cultivate an atmosphere in which the spirit can always be with me! I will build a strong marriage and family! I desire to be in the kingdom of God. Faith is the principal element of this. As I keep the commandments, (and I might add, as I record those experiences) then my faith will be strengthened. Be like Joseph Smith: Doubt not, fear not! His prayer was answered with the first vision, I too can faithfully grow in gospel service. I love to give and testify of my Savior Jesus Christ! I need to have His spirit with me! I need to stay on high ground. Elder H. opened this fireside with the example of Laconius who let down his guard only once, and was overtaken. I too feel that I have let down my guard, and allowed the temptations of the adversary to pull me down! I want to do well on this test, and I need the help of the Savior. Companionship of the Spirit will help me to follow the straight and narrow path. I cannot go far from the straight and narrow if I have the spirit directing me! I know that I have had his spirit, I can't be far from the path. I have taken upon myself the name of Christ. I have put Him first in my life by seeking His will, and faithfully serving others. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? I was given agency I will be obedient. I want to be free from the bondage of satan. He can not dominate me! I have light from my Savior, and satan cannot stand light. I can tell him to depart! The adversary is so clever in his temptations. I will not loose the light from Christ! "Of all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest of these are... It might have been." There is nothing sadder than living your life in the present regretting an act of the past. I need to put sadness behind me, and move forward with the light of Christ. Study and prayer will help me stay on the high ground. I have had much study and prayers this week. I am grateful for the comfort of the Holy Spirit in leading and directing my life. I can demand the adversary to leave, he must obey. Don't come down from the safety of the mountain top! These examples of faithfulness and courage, can help direct me. I can follow the promptings of the spirit! Learn from the mistakes and actions of others.
The most important decision we will make is who we will marry. I did so good there! I love you B!
Important principals to help me stay on high ground - spiritual and temporal! Build a spiritual reservoir of faith! Gather fresh new manna each day. Follow wise principals of provident living. Do not covet. Do not be wasteful. Be content with that which is sufficient for our needs. Avoid excessive debt. Prepare for a profession that will sustain us. Give a full days work for a full day's pay. Be a laborer worthy of my higher! Marriage needs to hear the three words of "I love you" but also the words of kindness "We can't afford it." Stay on high ground and reach out to help others. Teach how to have provident living and self reliance. I am grateful to have a square foot garden that has been productive for many years! I have been fortunate to feed my family, and have much left over to share for many years! This year many are excited about these gardens. We have practiced this good practice for many many years. We learned these principals when we lived in Cedar Hills some eight years ago. We have been prepared with a garden every year. I love to sing "The Prophet said to plant a garden" every year for as long as I can remember - even as a child!
The temple is the highest ground we can achieve in this world. It is the Lord's house for his teachings for communications with Him. It is as though we are in his presence. It is the place where we learn the foundation of the Lord. I am grateful to have a wonderful spouse who takes me there. I am also grateful that he realizes the importance of being there not to SHOW the world that we are, but to covenant with our Father! I don't go there to be seen of men! I go there to talk to my Heavenly Father! Ponder and pray for strength to deal with the problems and tests of this life. I receive spiritual guidance there. I love living close to a temple! I love to have my little ones come around the bend to see the temple, and begin singing "I love to see the temple!" In fact, we love to go on a bike ride to a point where we can see the temple. Brinley knows it is where we pray. We should name it "Temple Point" - I have another point on my run route where we pray when we run with the dogs. "Temple point" will distinguish it from "prayer point." What great vocabulary to have in my family!
Successful couples do these little things that strengthen and lift them to high ground.
They know who they are, and they set eternal goals to once again live with their Heavenly Father. They strive to leave the natural man behind. They seek the blessings of the temple.
They chose to obtain the eternal blessings, seeking high ground, and stay there.
They realize they have chosen an eternal companion, their courting days are over.
They think of one another and not themselves. As they serve one another, love one another, they converse often, and don't let little things become big things. They avoid big explosions by allowing little corrections. They avoid selfishness which suffociates spiritual sensitivity. They change their hearts to repent and apologize. They work to improve their relationship day by day. Lift each other to high ground and strengthen each other to stay there together!
Seek and maintain high ground! Understand who you are! Conduct your life in such a way as to have the spirit with you!
I am grateful to have heard this fireside from BYU tonight. I needed the refill.