Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Cell phones revisited...and Conference prep!!

Crazy observation in class today. So...we were studying Acts 3, where an amazing healing happened. Peter and John were going to the temple and outside sat a "certain man" that was "lame from his mother's womb." He was brought to the temple everyday to "ask alms" of the temple goers. Peter and John saw him and knew what he was doing there and Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
The principle that we learned was "There are things that are more important than money." To introduce it I brought fake checks; written for a million dollars. I showed them to the class and said that they could have this check if they would promise to never use a cell phone again. There were people in all five of my classes that would not give up their cell phones for a million dollars. I couldn't believe it. Many would say, "Well, what if there was an emergency?" Um...what did we do 10 years ago; just lay down and die because we didn't have a cell phone? I don't think so. Crazy how dependent our society has become on cell phones.

After that question I asked if they'd give up their ability to walk or to see for a million dollars. Pretty much all of them said "No" to that. Then, I asked them what the point was...they nailed the principle and I asked the student who said it if they believed it, and then I had them rip up the check.

Part 2--So, here's an amazing story of Peter healing a man that had never walked before. But if we look at it a little deeper and look on the spiritual side we can see a cool principle to get us ready for Conference. Peter was the prophet. Think of him as our prophets and apostles today. What is it that spiritually impairs us and causes us to be "lame"? It's sin. So, any one of us is represented by the certain man. V. 4 tells us that Peter was "fastening his eyes upon" the man. We know that our leaders definitely are focusing on us, especially preparing for this weekend. He then told the man to "Look on us." V. 5-And he gave heed unto them.

So our part, give heed to the prophets.

Then, what happens? V. 7-And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Principle: If I give heed to the prophets then they will lift me up and strengthen me.

I'm excited to be lifted up and strengthened this weekend.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

I love . . .

I love this . . .
















I love that the conscience is referred to as "the still, small voice" that helps us avoid "temptation" to be able to stay on the "straight and narrow path."
















I love that Viana calls it "Pokey-nochio."









I love seminary.










I love hearing the turning of the pages of the scriptures during a "silent lesson."







I love our prophet.


















I love our new temple.





















I love our new family :)