Seminary

Alma Chapter 4

Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones?

There are two ways to deal with trials...
Find out how to use them to your benefit.

By Megan Elliott
It was a glorious morning when Janie stepped out of her tent dressed and ready for the day. The sun was shining brightly, and leaves of golden yellow, red, and orange covered the campsite. The air was fresh and cool. She had looked forward to this year's campus campout for months. She stretched and smiled at her surroundings. Her classmates were packing the last of their gear in anticipation of today's journey. They would hike 16 miles to a beautiful campsite in the mountains of Colorado. Finally all the preparations were finished and they began their trek.

In the middle of the day the group stopped to eat lunch and take an hour break. Janie walked away from the rest site to admire the river that they had been following that day. She sat down for a few minutes to contemplate life. Closing her eyes, she realized how tired she was... just before falling asleep.

A little while later she opened her eyes and listened carefully. Something wasn't right. She heard no campfires, no backpack zippers, and no voices of the group. Swiftly she walked back to the rest site to discover she had been left behind. Thinking they couldn't be far, she decided to cut through the next bend in the trail and walk through the river instead of taking the time to go around and across the bridge. Having hiked this path a few times before, Janie knew that this part of the river was shallow. But what she didn't think about was that although the water was shallow, it was also very swift and cold, making it dangerous. She had every confidence that it would be easy for her to get across quickly and safely.

The cold water came up to her knees, insisting that she always keep a very firm footing. She made it about halfway across the river when her foot collided with a rock, causing her to lose that footing. She began to stumble, fumbling into rock after rock until she could no longer keep her balance. She cursed the rocks that had made her stumble as she went down hard.

The cold water was like icy knives to her skin, and the strong current began to carry her downstream.

"Help!" she cried frantically as the gushing river continued to throw her into the harsh blocks that were the cause of her stumble.

Luckily one of the stragglers in her class was close enough to hear her panic, and retrieved her out of the river.

Janie made it out of the river unharmed that day but had someone not been there to help her, you may have been reading a different story today.

Janie's story teaches us a valuable lesson about stumbling blocks, for had she taken the time to step back and look at the rocks that caused her fall, she would have realized that they formed a bridge of stepping-stones that would have taken her safely to the other side.

Let's take a moment to look at our lives and ask ourselves a very consequential question: Are the obstacles in my life stumbling blocks or stepping-stones?Many times we do not see, or simply don't understand the lessons we are to learn from our trials. But all trials have a purpose great or small. This is why it is so important to look at and evaluate the hardships that come our way. There are two ways to deal with trials: with pride, or with humility.

Often in life people receive a trial and they become angry or bitter, and harden their hearts to other people, themselves, and worst of all, to Heavenly Father. And so their trials become Stumbling Blocks causing them to lose their footing in the gospel or just life in general. Once they begin to stumble, they will continue doing so until they reestablish their footing or fall. Pride is the most prominent thing that makes us stumble in life.

"And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block..." (2 Nephi 26:20)

When we are prideful we cannot hear God's counsel and we cannot see what good may come from our trials.

On the other hand, there are also people who when obstacles stand in their way, instead of cowering away from them or ignoring them, they face them and use them to learn. In the heat of the trial things may get ugly for them, but they still try to find the good. And even if during the trial they don't know the purpose for it, they can look back when it's over and tell you what they learned from it.

Elder John B. Dickson of the Seventy enlightens us: "Our challenges may be physical, spiritual, economic, or emotional, but if we will treat them as opportunities and stepping stones in our progress, rather than barriers and stumbling blocks, our lives and growth will be wonderful."

It's not easy to keep pride at bay and come out of trials a better person, because trials do cause harm. They do hurt. But in the end if we look for the good in our lives, and keep in touch with our Heavenly Father, then we will be scarred maybe, but stronger and wiser. And if we keep our feet standing in holy places, then we won't lose our footing, and we won't fall. So when a trial arises in your life remember that you can decide if the obstacle is a stumbling block or a stepping-stone.

Scripture Mastery

2 Nephi 2:27

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

FYI

JUST SO YOU KNOW I INCLUDED A VIDEO SO THAT YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE CHAPTER.  IT'LL NARRATE THE WHOLE CHAPTER FOR YOU SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.....

Seminary

Alma chapter 3

Seminary

Alma chapter 2
Alma chapter 1

OK Guys here are the notes for Alma Chapter 1 and 2.  Make sure you go over them and also if you missed class today make sure you answer the questions in your student handbook!

Scripture Mastery

2 Nephi 2:25

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Scripture Mastery

1 Nephi 19:23

And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

Scripture Mastery

1 Nephi 3:7

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them

Scripture Mastery

Hi Guys, as we know we have fallen behind on the scripture mastery.  I found this site that can help you practice and learn some of the scripture mastery.  I hope it is helpful!
Scripture Mastery

“The Power of a Question,”

Virginia Schildböck, “The Power of a Question,” NewEra, Jan 2010, 13

My friend asked why my brother and I didn’t participate in the religion classes. That question gave me a chance to tell her about the gospel.

I became friends with Kerstin when I was 14 years old. We went to the same school. I had known who she was for a long time, but I had not known her personally before because she was 12.

We got to know each other better when we both tried out for the school play. We soon became good friends, even though there was a two-year age difference. It wasn’t long before we met together in the afternoons to go on walks and talk. One spring afternoon, on one of our walks, she asked something that would change her life forever.

Kerstin wondered why my brother and I didn’t participate in the school’s religion class like most of the students in Austria. I told her about the gospel of Jesus Christ and about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Then I bore my testimony and invited her to come to a youth activity. Later I gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon and the Liahona.

Since then Kerstin has participated in every Church activity and attends Church meetings every Sunday. She has even attended youth conference. Whenever we can, we walk to a little river that is close by to read our scriptures and work on Young Women Personal Progress.

Unfortunately, Kerstin cannot be baptized until she is 18. Her parents don’t want to cause any arguments with her extended family members. Despite this obstacle, Kerstin has already managed to get her mother to attend church.

Kerstin also works with the missionaries. She speaks about the Church with everyone she meets and has helped get her father excited about the family history program, even though he has no interest in religion.

Kerstin is an example to me of how easy it is to speak with others about the gospel and how our Father in Heaven prepares people to hear His word. We need only open our mouths and have faith. The rest will take care of itself

January 2010 Mormon Ad

“Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily break into jagged shards that can injure.

“Likewise, a temperate soul—one who is humble and full of love—is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today’s world.”

Kent D. Watson, “Being Temperate in All Things,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 38

New Website for the Youth!

There is a new website just for the Youth with lots of resources!  Hope you guys check it out!  It is really Nice!  Lots of nice Stuff!  http://youth.lds.org/

Review for Mosiah Chapters 25-29

Ok Guys, here is the Review for Mosiah.  You can look over all the notes in case you missed class.  For those of you who did not come to class please make sure that you answer the corresponding questions on your student handbook.  FOR EACH CHAPTER!  Hope this is helpful!  Let me know if you need anything else.
P.S. I will be posting tomorrow's lesson later on today so you can get a head start!
Mosiah chapter 25-29

Oh, by the way, all of the scriptures are included in the presentation so that you can click on the link and read them right online.  maybe that way you can save some time!

Monday.....

"Lately I have noticed that the more My Faith grows and the Stronger my testimony becomes the more that people try to make me doubt.  I am sometimes upset and discouraged by the comments made to attack my Faith and My values, But I know that I stand strong.  I have never been more sure of anything, I know that I am in the TRUE Church of Jesus Christ.  I Know that the BOM is a TRUE doctrine.  And I KNOW that Joseph Smith was a TRUE Prophet, Ordained by Our Heavenly Father,...  There is no doubt in my mind about the veracity of these things.  I have never been happier and more at peace with myself.  I sometimes feel like I could just show people what i feel.  It seems so simple to just accept and have faith.  How could you NOT believe and KNOW in your heart that these things are true>???  To me it is so simple, and I just wish other could see the simplicity of  being a true member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints.  But I know that there is a reason for everything.  And Heavenly Father has a plan, and all I can do for now is just Be an Example of what a Heavenly Daughter should be.  Or at least try my hardest to come as close to being what he wants me to be.  It isn't easy, but I will make an effort everyday to be better.  To make a small change everyday......"

"Add to your Faith Virtue, and to Your Virtue Knowledge"

..."It is that God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest  children, who will help bear off the kingdom triummphantly...
"... Make no mistake about it- YOU are a marked generation.  There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time than there is of us."


-President Ezra Taft Benson.