One thing I thought about was how a better analogy at the river would have been to consider the bank of the river the boundary we discussed and the river could represent the filthy river in Lehi's dream... that seems more accurate because crossing the river took us to a beautiful view and that is not the case with crossing boundaries :-) But the bridge could have represented Christ's help in overcoming a temptation to get in the river... anyway I'm sure there are all sorts of other ways to see that analogy.
I also though about how when I really love someone, I don't try to see how far and how long I be away from them without offending them - instead I try to do all I can to stay connected to them and be around them. I want this attitude towards my Savior.
One more thought I had was a connection between the scripture Caden shared last week and the comment Elisabeth made when I asked about the state of our heart when we are trying to see how far we can get to the edge without breaking any rules (if you don't remember, she insightfully said our heart was already on the other side when we had that attitude). Caden's comment last week was "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." So putting those things together helped me realize the importance of keeping my heart on serving my Savior.
It's funny, but when I went to that Nirvana concert I mentioned in class - I really didn't think I was breaking any rules in the Strength of Youth pamphlet - and since I wasn't breaking rules (I thought Nirvana was "good" music) - it was okay for me to be there. I felt the same way about having a boyfriend in high school (even though we were together very often - we weren't going on official "dates" so it was okay). That was the attitude of a heart that was in the wrong place at the time of those decisions. (But just so you know - I had a different upbringing than most of you and I did not understand the gospel well in my teen years - thankfully I had a change of heart before it was too late).
I am excited to discover principles of decision making with you this semester. Last semester we learned all about the importance of rest and play along with meaningful work. This semester, we want to discover what principles can help us make decisions that will allow us to incorporate those things in our lives to live joyfully and wholeheartedly.
Correct principles of decision making should be practiced every day. Not only because we will need that practice when making big "life-altering" decisions, but also because it is the small, daily decisions that really determine where we go in life.
This is a very busy time of year for many of you so I will try to keep the reading light this semester, just be sure you are writing questions and quotes as well as applying the principles you discover each week to make this an inspiring end to your year.
Here are the inspirements for this week:
1. Make: A 5ish minute presentation about your take home message last semester to present to families on Monday.
2. Watch: Inside the Mind of a Master Prcrastinator
3. Find a principle (or more if you'd like) in the scriptures about how to become better at not procrastinating. Post your principle(s) with the reference and a discussion question below.
4. Reply to 4 (or more) people's comments.
I found the perfect scripture for not procrastinating!!! Some of you may already know it.
ReplyDeleteAlma 34:33 "And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."
The principle that sticks out to me is that when we are not clean, we lower our chances Exaltation. And when we don't prepare for things properly, (such as getting you homework and assignments done) then we aren't prepared to learn and grow.
Now for my question... (This is kinda coming from my presentation)
*What is a good way to balance the things in our lives to make sure we get all the things done that are important and expected of us?
I like the connection you made about not being clean leading to not being prepared. I think that is a huge deal. When it comes to keeping the commandments, letting little things slide here and there may wvenitally lead to not being spiritually ready. :(
DeleteLol, I meant to put a smiley face, but I guess a frowny face works in that situation too haha! :D
DeleteYes! Because "no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God" - so when we are unclean, we really can't be with Heavenly Father. But that's why the Atonement is there, right? Isn't it wonderful? :)
DeleteI think balancing things is really really hard to do, but we just have to do like that one object lesson that's been done a million times - to put the most important things (the rocks) first, then to follow with the pebbles and the sand. When we put the Lord first, he helps us accomplish everything we need to do.
"behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed." In my case its usually the night of darkness when all the labor is performed. ;)
DeleteI agree with Gracious. When we prioritize our goals, and put the spiritual ones first, then it becomes easier to keep secular goals.
DeleteIn the Teaching of Presidents (Joseph Feilding Smith) it said:
ReplyDeleteProcrastination, as it may be applied to gospel principles, is the thief of eternal life, which is life in the presence of the Father and the Son. There are many among us, even members of the Church, who feel that there is no need for haste in the observance of gospel principles and the keeping of the commandments. …
Do not let us forget the words of [Amulek]: “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
The principle I got out of this was that right now, we are supposed to do all we can to build God's kingdom. This is no time for lazy-ing around!
Question: How can we not lazy around? :P
:) I think that it's okay to take a break every once in a while - but not to "lazy around" or idle. Like they say in the Book of Mormon - that the Lamanites were an "idle" people, and how we don't want to be like that. But I'm sure the Nephites took breaks, too! It's not like they just didn't ever sleep or anything! ;p I think it's just a matter of determining if it really is "lazy-ing around" - if there's a purpose for your resting, then that's not idle, because it has a purpose! If you're scrolling through FB, you should have a purpose like... trying to get to know your friends better, or, trying to share a message through that source - but, when you're "lazy-ing around" you just have no purpose. So maybe the way to not be lazy is to just make sure to have a purpose for all you do! :)
DeleteI think its kinda like what I said to the question Gracious asked... You just have to know whats right and get your priories strait. If you have a testimony of scripture reading then you will read your scriptures!
DeleteI agree with Gracious! It is important to take a break sometimes. Like, when I'm working, sometimes it can be so tiring and I just want to fall asleep on the floor. I need to take a break so that I have the strength to continue on. And just like when we forget to eat and get hungry, sometimes we forget to spiritually feed ourselves. It reminds me of this scripture....
Delete"...and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."
I agree its good to take breaks. But not to the point where it helps you procrastinate. Like he said in the vid where you watch one youtube vid and you end up watching tons of other totally different vids. So use your breaks wisely!
DeleteMake sure when you relax, you're doing it right. Do an activity that helps you unwind, not check-out.
DeleteI before E except after C
DeleteNo jk lol
DeleteYeah breaks are definitely necessary. But I think a lot of the time, we trick ourselves into thinking we need more downtime than we actually do. It's important to take breaks, but more important to work :)
I guess this isn't like a quote - but I was trying to find one from a scripture story - which is how I learn best! ;) I was thinking about the story of Nephi. How he says "I will go and do." But the thing is - when he said that, he wasn't saying "I will go and do but... let me wait a little while, I have to do this and that and this and that before I go back to Jerusalem" - no - he was saying "I will go and do NOW" - and I think the reason he was able to do so was because he had prepared himself to be ready when the Lord's call came. Of course, that makes sense - he was living in the middle of the desert - he didn't have much else to do but to listen to the Lord's commands! And I'm not saying that we should just have nothing going on in life, I'm just thinking that we need to prepare and clear away a couple of things so that when the Lord calls, we'll be ready to answer that call - immediately. (1 Nep. 3-5)
ReplyDelete"Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh;" (D&C 1:12)
If we were called to leave our homes like Nephi was right now - would we be prepared to obey immediately? How do we prepare so that we don't procrastinate?
I love the point you made about being ready when the Lord calls. I think if you are living your life in accordance with the gospel, you will have no problem doing what the Lord asks, because your life is built around doing what he asks, and you have been practicing obedience :)
DeleteOops! That was Cassia btw (I guess I forgot to sign in :P )
DeleteSO true! Preparation is a big part of not procrastinating. I think to prepare you have to know what is important and make that a priority in your life. Nephi knew what was right so he obeyed right away. If we know what God asks is right then we can drop what we're doing and obey too!
DeleteWow!!! I love this! And you're so right. I've actually thought about that. Would I be ready at the Lord's call. It really does make you think and want to prepare.
DeleteWe should all be like Nephi. Ready to go and do NOW! It would make us all less stressed.
DeleteNephi was a good man. Nephi was a prophet...
DeleteWell he actually didn't say "I will go and do now" he said "I WILL go and do" instead of saying "I AM GOING" and leaving the tent pronto
Delete"And they straightway left their nets, and followed him" (Matt 4:20)
ReplyDeleteThis is the story of the disciples that left their nets to follow Christ. I think this story relates to not procrastinating because when we are able to leave what we know and to follow him 'straightway' we are no longer procrastinating. We also see that it wasn't easy to continue following him but when they did they were blessed.
Are there things in our life that Christ asks us to do "straightway"?
I like how you made a point about how following Christ is not procrastinating at all. And it's true! That's one thing that actually does have greater importance over other things.
DeleteI love that story so much--and it teaches such a lovely lesson! Well... IDK, that's a good question! He tells us to "Choose ye THIS day whom ye will serve," so I guess just following Him. And I think whenever He gives us any personal revelation, it comes at the time that we need it, so that should be done straightway...
DeleteI think all of his commandments are things we should be doing "straightway" I don't think we should procrastinate on any commandments.
DeleteIn the context of the scripture you shared, they went straightway to be fishers of men. So I think we are to do the same thing, be of service to others and share the gospel.
DeleteYeah we should definitely serve our neighbors straight away
DeleteI love that scripture! A true disciple will leave everything they're doing, and follow God no matter what. A good example of that may be going on a mission. We could be having success in our educational pursuits, and it may not be convenient, but if we get a prompting to serve, we should go.
ReplyDeleteMy scripture:
ReplyDeleteMosiah 3:19 - For the natural man is an enemy to God and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be forever and ever unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child..."
Principle: Maybe the "monkey" in the video is the natural man - so we must put him off through listening to the enticements of the Holy Spirit.
Question 1: How do you make your desire to listen to the Holy Spirit stronger than the monkey before the "panic moster" sets in?
Question 2: What is the difference between not-procrastinating and feeling rushed or overwhelmed?
I really like how you related the 'monkey' to the 'Natural man'. If you think about it, what is the one natural thing that people don't want to do. WORK!!! And that's exactly what the money tries to avoid. I like it Sister Bates!:D
DeleteQ1: I think to make your desire for the Spirit stronger, it's really just Primary answers, ya know? :) Well... the Lord promises us at least that if we "always remember Him, and keep His commandments" that we would "always have His Spirit to be with us." So perhaps that's it, maybe - just keep the commandments? And keep doing those things that invite the Spirit, reading scriptures, praying and such! :) The gospel is really so simple! ;p
DeleteQ2: I'm too tired to think this deeply, I can't even wrap my mind around the concept! :D I think really when you're not-procrastinating that you really shouldn't feel rushed or overwhelmed, because you have it all planned out beforehand...? I hope that's what you're talking about! ;p
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DeleteScripture: Proverbs 12:24 "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute."
ReplyDeletePrinciple: Remember that you put yourself into captivity/slavery by procrastinating.
Question:In Ether 12:27 it says, "...Then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Procrastination is a weakness. How can that weakness be made into a strength?
That's true we should not procrastinate so we can be free.
DeleteI think that a good example of not procrastinating is Joseph Smith searching for the right church. He actively worked to find the truth. He didn't save finding the truth for later.
ReplyDeleteHow can we procrastinate less in our lives?
I've way might be by not thinking we need to be older to do stuff. Joseph Smith was only 14, but he didn't hesitate to act on what he knew. Don't wait cause you're too young--act now!
Delete38 But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.
ReplyDeletePrinciple: To day is the day to do great things and not to wait because the Lord could come any day.
Helaman 13:38
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ReplyDeleteSo the Scripture that I found is Alma 13:27 and it says
ReplyDeleteAnd now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;
I think that's a great scripture on the principal about not procrastinating.
^ Because if we procratinate untill the last second it's very hard to get thing's done.
ReplyDeleteQuestion:
How can we do better at not procrastinating and get what needs to be done... Done.
Well isn't this ironic :/
ReplyDeleteMormon 9:28: Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanliness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but all with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.
I really liked that life calendar the guy showed in the Ted talk. We always think we can wait until tomorrow, but we have to get into the mindset that there is no tomorrow. We only have 86,400 seconds in a day, and we'll be judged on how we use every one of them. I think, only the man who can learn to master using his time is the one who changes the world.
In addition to remembering that we can't wait until tomorrow, we should also remember we don't know when we are leaving this earth and so we should always be prepared
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