The Impact of Example

How important is an example? In most things we do, we do them because we’re following the example of someone else. Someone else taught us how to do that thing. Sometimes, we follow their example and they don’t even know it. Examples are important and they have an impact in our way of live just as much as our example impacts someone else way of life.

Being a good example to those around us, especially as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, can influence how someone feels about us and ultimately what we say we believe. By our example, we can bring people closer to Christ. Through our example, they will not see us but they will see our Savoir. In 1 Corinthians 4:16, Paul says to the people of Corinth to “be ye followers of me.” We are taught in our study manual that Paul did not say this because he wanted them to be just like himself. He was an apostle, a representative of Christ. He was asking them to follow his example of trying to be like Christ. By following the prophet and apostles, not only through their words but also by the way they live, we will be following Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 4:2, the servants are required to be faithful. As I pondered on what it meant to be faithful, I glanced at the footnote below and it directed me to the Topical Guide to trustworthiness. As I looked over the verses included there with their summaries, this is what I found:

• We must keep the way of the Lord. Christ showed us the way and it’s up to us to learn it and live it.
• Commit all we have and all that we are to the building up of the kingdom of God.
• Be diligent in our responsibilities; home, community, and church.
• Obey and observe what we are taught from the scriptures and for our living prophet and apostles.

We are taught the gospel, we read the gospel, and we listen to gospel direction from a living prophet of God. But it is not enough to know the gospel. In Alma 39:12, is says, “Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction.” Our example, good or bad, can have in impact on the lives of many other people. People will watch what we do and they will do what we do whether we want them to or not. By living righteously, we can show people the way to be happy. If we live in sin, we will be showing them how to be miserable and we will be held responsible for our example.

In conclusion, I know that our actions do speak louder than our words. If we say we follow Christ, then our actions need to be accordingly. As we do good and are good examples to other, we will be seen as trustworthy, faithful people. In 3 Nephi 8, the Nephites are reading their records and watching for the signs of Christ death and resurrection. They know the time is coming for great things to happen. In 3 Nephi 8:1 it says that they know the record in which they are reading are true because of the man who wrote them was a just and true man. It goes on to say that they knew this not by the words in which he spoke to them but by his actions, by the miracles he performed, because they knew that he had the power of God with him. They also knew that no man could have the power of God unless he was a good man. The same goes for us, we are good in all that we say and do, we too can draw on the power of God. We can be the example to those around us of happiness and peace in a world of chaos and trials. We can help others know Christ just by the way we are.

Counsel for Members (1 Thessalonians 3-5; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6, 11)

As Paul ministered to the Church during his missions, he grew to love the people and showed them how they should live the gospel. Later, he wrote letters and reminded them of the attributes to improve upon in the lives. The list below is what I was able to come up with but I am sure there are more:

• Have a love of God and learn to do His will.
• Love one another, edify one another, be patient, and do good to all men.
• Keep the commandments.
• Know and live by the example given by church leaders.
• Pray for our leaders and don’t talk bad about those called to do the work. 
• Abstain from sexual sin and avoid all evil. Separate from those things that are evil. Pray for protection from evil. 
• Be honest to all men and in all things. Even if our untruth is never found out, God knows all.
• Learn and develop talents and skills.
• Learn the value of work and develop the love of work.
• Watch and prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Be patient in the waiting.
• Share the gospel and pray for missionary work.
• Rejoice always.
• Pray always.
• Show gratitude in all things.
• Deny not the Holy Ghost.
• Build testimony of and hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

·         As I look at this list, and even though it was for the members of Paul’s time, I see things that I do well but many others that I still need some work on. These things are just as applicable to our times as they were of Paul’s time. Of the things I need to work on, the three I want develop and continue to work on are to rejoice always, pray always, and to develop talents and skills.

Many of my friends would probably tell you that I already rejoice always. To me, rejoice always is being positive and always finding good in things. For me, this is an everyday choice. Many years ago, I learned that happiness is not something that happens to you, it is something you choose. Only you can allow something to bring you down and make you miserable. Since that lesson learned, I make it a matter of prayer to always see the good and be happy regardless of what stress I feel. Some days, those prayers are much more constant than others.

This brings me to my next attribute that is a constant thing for me, to pray always. I know that speaking to my Heavenly Father is a good thing and I do take many opportunities throughout the day to say quick little ones here and there but I have always found it hard to get on my knees and pour our my heart in prayer every morning and evening. To seek His strength and guidance through the day and then to return and report in the evening, expressing gratitude for all that He has done for during that day. I commit to making this a habit because I know the strength that comes from daily communication with my Heavenly Father. As I make this a goal for my life, it can only give me more strength to endure the weight of the day.

My last attribute is one that I have already started to do and that is to develop talents and skills. Heavenly Father has asked us to increase our knowledge and never stop learning. As I have tried to pursue this in my adult life, I have felt guided and prepared for many things in my life. When I connected with the BYU Idaho Pathways program over a year ago, I knew this was an answer to my prayers about finishing a degree. I don’t know what the future holds for me but I do know that I will do everything I can to never stop learning and to always seek opportunities to share the knowledge Heavenly Father has blessed me with.

I know that I am not perfect nor will I ever be, but I can always strive to improve. In Paul’s teachings to the Thessalonians, are many things in which for me to work on. I know that as I continually work on myself, that it can only bring blessings and bring me closer to my Heavenly Father.

Acts 13 - 14 Paul's First Mission

This week I learned about Paul's first mission. We can learn a lot from this apostles experiences and we can draw strength from what he taught as he made his way trying to convert others to Christ's teachings. As you see from the map above, he started in Seleucia moving on to Salamis on the island of Cyprus. After Salamis, they went into Paphos where they met with a sorcerer and another man. This other man, Sergius Paulus, desired to be taught the word of God but the sorcerer tried to prevent him form hearing what Paul and his companion, Barnabus, were teaching. Paul, being filled with the Holy Ghost, cause the sorcerer to be blind because he was preventing the gospel from being taught to Sergious Paulus.

Up to this point, they had another apostle traveling with them who was John. After leaving Paphos, the when into Perga when John left them to return to Jerusalem. They moved on into Antioch and set to work teaching in the synagogue. As they taught, they testified of Christ and all that He had done on their behalf. Once they finished teaching in the synagogues, the Gentiles asked to be taught as well on the next week. When the Jew saw that the apostles were teaching the Gentiles as well as the Jews, the Jews become upset but Paul let them know that the gospel is for all who will listen and believe. The Jews were not happy and kicked Paul and Barnabus out of their city. 

In Iconium, things seemed to be getting worse. The Jews begin to stir up trouble wherever Paul and Barnabus went. The good thing here was that they were aware of the plans the Jews had for them and were able to leave, moving on into Lystra and Derbe, where they were able to teach and perform miracles. 

One such miracle was that of a man who was born crippled and unable to walk. Because Paul could feel the faith of this man, commanded the man to arise and walk. Upon hearing Paul, the man not only got up and walked but he leaped.

 

I can only imagine the joy and gratitude this man had but his action of "leaping" when the apostle told him he was healed shows me that I must always show my gratitude for the blessings Heavenly Father has given to me, especially through my faith.

Upon seeing this miracle, the people starting calling Paul and Barnabus gods, praising them, and trying to make sacrifices unto them. Both Paul and Barnabas were not happy with this praise and they stopped the people in their praises, telling them that they were men just like them. All their works, like the healing of this man, were done through the power in which they were given but that all glory and praise were to go to Heavenly Father. Without all that God has given us, we are nothing and is there for us in all things, in all places, and at all times.

By this point, another group of Jews caught up with Paul and Barnabus and began to persecute them once again but their work was not done. They were able to escape and preceed to teach many people as they returned back through the city in which they came and returned to Anitoch. As they made their way back, they went "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)

The tribulation that Paul and Barnabus faced was great (Paul being stoned and thought to be dead but stood up and walked away) but they did continue in faith, doing the work Heavenly Father wanted of them. We can do no less in what we are called to do. Our work may be hard and, at some points, we may feel like rocks are falling down around our heads but it is through our faith in Heavenly Father that we will receive the strength we need to carry on with the work He would have us do. If we feel discouraged or lost, we are taught that through prayer and fasting, we can find our way again. We can also get a blessing from a priesthood leader who will give us direct words from our Heavenly Father for our help in knowing how to reconnect ourselves. This life is not easy and the work we are called to do is not easy but we are not alone. Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to turn to Him in all that we do. Paul and Barnabus are great examples of heeding the call to work in His kingdom and to bring others to the gospel. Through their example, I know that I can do the work. Through my faith, I can receive the strength I need to do what He would have me do and if, for some reason, I forget what I'm suppose to be doing, by praying, fasting, and if needed, a blessing can help me reconnect myself to the Spirit and continue in the work.

New Testament Class (Part 2)

I am back in a New Testament class and am again being asked to do a Student Choice Assignment. As you probably have guess, I'm going to use the blog again. So here's my first post.

The Martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6:6-8, 7:51-60)

Stephen was a man chosen with six other men by the people to help assistant the Twelve Apostles in the work of sharing the gospel after Christ returned back to our Heavenly Father. Stephen was a man of great faith and filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. Because of his faith and the power of the Holy Ghost he was able to do many "great wonders and miracles among the people." (See Acts 6:6-8)

Just as they angry about the popularity Christ received through His miracles and teachings, the Jewish leaders were angry with Stephen and brought him to trial with many false witnesses against him. Even in the face of persecution, Stephen held firm to his faith and bore testimony of the divinity and mission of Christ. As he bore testimony, the heavens were opened and he was allowed to see the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God (see Acts 7:55). He then testified of what he saw. This made the Jewish leaders even madder and they cast him out of the city and stoned him to death. 

Stephen's experience is very much like that of Abinadi whose story is found in The Book of Mormon in Mosiah chapters 10-12. Abanidi was asked to teach the people of King Noah about Christ and to preach repentance because the people had grown very wicked under the role of King Noah who was not a good person himself. Because King Noah and many of his people didn't like being told to repent and change their ways, they brought Abinadi to trail. They told him that if he would take back his testimony of Christ, they would let him live. No matter what he might face, Abinadi refused and continued to teach and testify of Christ, even to his last breath. 

Through both of the stories, I have learned that I must not be afraid to share my testimony with whomever Heavenly Father asks me to share it with. No matter what can be done to me, my testimony is what will allow me to see Heavenly Father again and to be in His presence along with my Savior. He is my strength in all that I face. Also, any amount of persecution we face is worth it if we are able to touch the heart of at least one person and help them to know of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Though I may never be asked to give my life for my testimony, my dedication to it should be the same.