I have actually read through the message already and just forgot to list it for your reference. This Quote from the message from Elder Wirthlin, painted such a beautiful picture, I think my handout will come from this. Look for it as I have it only created in my mind. I will hurry and try to get it on the "Visiting Teaching Surprise" site right away.http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/ Keep checking back. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, I am adding Elder Wirthlin's message here:
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "Faithful members of the Church should be like oak trees and should extend deep roots into the fertile soil of the fundamental principles of the gospel. We should understand and live by the simple, basic truths and not complicate them. Our foundations should be solid and deep-rooted so we can withstand the winds of temptation, false doctrine, adversity, and the onslaught of the adversary without being swayed or uprooted. . . ."Spiritual nourishment is just as important as a balanced diet to keep us strong and healthy. We nourish ourselves spiritually by partaking of the sacrament weekly, reading the scriptures daily, praying daily in personal and family prayer, and performing temple work regularly. Our spiritual strengths are like batteries; they need to be charged and frequently recharged" ("Deep Roots," Ensign, Nov. 1994, 75).
I think that like Elder Wirthlin says, if faithful members of the church extended our roots deeply in the fertil soil of the gospel principles, then we ourselves can withstand temptations that are thrown at us by the adversary, or "Old Scratch" as my dad use to call him.
There needs to be such a balance in our lives. Obviously we need food to nourish our body, but we need to feed our Spirits constantly as well. Just as our body becomes weak from lack of food or water, our Spirits can suffer deeply if we don't provide the proper nourishment. That nourishment is what is said in Elder Wirthlins quote... partaking of the Sacrament weekly, reading the scriptures daily, praying daily in personal and family prayer and going to the temple and doing temple work. Of course there are other things to strengthen our Spirits such as Attend all our meetings, have Family Home Evening, and others as well.I have been serving as a missionary in the LDS Addiction Recovery Program along with my partner, my husband. We have served now for about 24 months. We have loved this experience working with individuals who are suffering from their own addiction or the addiction of someone they love and care about. Something that we notice when individuals come for the first time and that they generally express in their sharing, is that they feel that they are in a cloud of darkness and can't see the light. Satan is the maker of that cloud of darkness and his tools are addictions of all kinds, drugs, alcohol, illegal acts and behaviors, cheating, stealing, lying and all maner of deception. Most individuals are at their lowest point, which has given them the humility it takes to reach out for help.
It is always a testimony to me of the Lord's love for his children because one of the first tendermercies He gives is the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. This Holy Spirit enters the meetings and fills the hearts of those in attendance and especially those who are there for the first time, with light, and warmth. One gentleman who was not a member of the church came to his first meeting. He began sobbing from the moment he entered and sat down as the meeting began. When it became time for sharing, he was still crying and began to appologize to the others in the room that he didn't know why he was crying. He then said something that is the key.... He said, "I feel something that I have never felt before, and I don't know what it is, but it feels good." Of course I now what he was feeling, and that was the Spirit and it was a tender mercy sent from the Lord to one and all of his children whom he loves, who are suffering from addiction.
Alot of Addicts are members of the church who have strayed from their roots, enough to lead them on a path that doesn't lead to happiness. But those roots are still there, maybe alittle more shallow that they were at first, but they know who they need to call upon and give their will up to Him. Only by doing so, can they begin on their road to recovery.
I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for providing me and you the tools to keep ourselves nourished in the Gospel. This nourishment keeps our roots holding firm strong when the strong winds and tumolts blow into our lives. I pray that all of us will do our parts to keep steadfast like the Oak tree, and hold fast to what we have been taught keeping firmly rooted in the gospel, so that we will not stray. If we have strayed, I pray that we can remember the warmth of the Spirit, and come back. I also pray for strength in the generations that follow us, because they are going to need to have their roots so firmly planted in the gospsel soil to withstand the nasty, ugly perversions that there are in the world today. Satan has unleashed his most vile and noxious temptations. May our children and grandchildren hold fast to their roots and remember what they have been taught.
You are all loved! Sincerely, Katie G.
P.S. If you are interesed in the new blog that I have created, feel free to go to http://thanksgivingvillageward.blogspot.com/ and take a look around. Make sure to comment and let me know what you think, so that I know you have dropped by.
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