[Teachldsseminary] TEACH: Deut. 4:9

[Marji]

Hi all,
The following quote is from page 72 of the student manual.  In class
today, we discussed Elder Ballard's instructions in depth, writing
down the details of nearly each and every word.  Recently I read a
quote from Pres. Hinckley stating that we in the church do not take
*enough time to ponder.*  I thought that was very important counsel.
Elder Kikuchi visited our stake and challenged everyone to establish
our own personal sacred grove and to go there each day to read,
ponder, and pray.

This counsel contains some of the major crux of day to day living of
the gospel.  The entire article is here http://tinyurl.com/2lh3qx.

Marji


Deuteronomy 4:9, 15, 23—How Do We Apply the Counsel "Take Heed to Thyself"?

 Deut 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently,
lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they
depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy
sons, and thy sons' sons;

Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles, suggested a way to apply this idea. In a talk to the youth
of the Church, he said: "I encourage you to take time each week to be
by yourself, away from television and the crowd. Have your scriptures
with you, and as you read, ponder, and pray, take an honest look at
your life. Evaluate where you stand with the promises you have made
with Heavenly Father. If you have a problem, talk it over with the
Lord in earnest and humble prayer. Counsel with your parents; they
will help you. Your bishop and your Young Men and Young Women adult
leaders will help. They love you and want you to be at peace with
yourself so you can partake of the sacrament worthily each week. When
all is said and done, however, only you know if you are living true to
your covenants made with God" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 7; or
Ensign, May 1993, 8).

Additional Ballard cites:

When you entered the waters of baptism, you made a promise to the Lord
that you would "humble [yourselves] before God, … and witness before
the church that [you] have truly repented of all [your] sins, and are
willing to take upon [yourselves] the name of Jesus Christ, having a
determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by [your]
works that [you] have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the
remission of [your] sins." (D&C 20:37.) You were therefore bound by
covenant to "a godly walk and conversation, … walking in holiness
before the Lord." (D&C 20:69.)

Many of you were baptized when you were eight years old, and you may
not realize that this is the promise you made to your Heavenly Father
when you were baptized. Always remember that you are under this
covenant. Your Heavenly Father has promised in return that He will
give marvelous blessings to those who honor their covenants, keep His
commandments, and endure faithfully to the end. They will be sealed by
the Holy Spirit of promise and will be "given all things" (D&C 76:55;
emphasis added; see also D&C 76:50–54, 70), including an inheritance
in the celestial kingdom (see 2 Ne. 31:16–20).