Dear Family,
Here I am as promised. I am open to any and all suggestions as to how we handle "England Family Preachin'" I think we will start with Craig and Maggie for the week of Aug. 23 thru Aug. 29 then Paul and Kaylene will take the next week and so on for now.For this round we will begin with addressing whatever you would like and we'll see how that goes and maybe try some assigned topics in the future. The general message for this week is to be in this world but not of this world. That is much easier said than done. Without a daily plan in place I would suggest that it might be next to impossible. Let's each make some suggestions as to how this can be done. That's my topic for the week ending Aug. 22.
My suggestion is to make a list of the things that bring the world into our homes and then monitor them to see that the ways of the world are not being welcomed into our homes. This calls for constant vigilance. I love you all and am looking forward to hearing from each one of you.
Love Dad
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Hello our family that we love so much!:
ReplyDeleteWe are now pledging to be weekly readers and contributors to this wonderful forum of the England family. How exciting it is to us to have a regular interaction with everyone and to be spiritually uplifted by y'all.
Our suggestion of how to be in this world but not of this world is to be a true friend to all. We should take time and effort in all our relationships (particularly our family) to encourage, uplift, teach and love others. The world would have us think that we are too busy, it's not our place, or its not worth our time to reach out to those who need a true friend. We can try to emulate Christ in how he would take the time to uplift everyone He came in contact with.
Also, Landon wants everyone to know how excited he is for FOOTBALL!!! Sept. 6th, Boise St. vs VA Tech, where will you be??? Anyone who shares his enthusiasm is welcome to give a "hooo-rah!"
Love,
Brenda and Landon
HOOO-RAH Brenda and Landon
ReplyDeleteLove DAD
Brenda's comment reminded me of the lesson we had in Elders Quorum yesterday. The topic was President Uchtdorf's General Conference talk from April 2010 titled "You Are My Hands".
ReplyDeleteI think this forum will work best if we begin a new topic each Sunday, then let people discuss that topic for the following week. Maggie and I will post a new topic for discussion next Sunday, August 29th.
In regards to this week's topic . . .
I searched for the origin of the phrase "be in the world, not of the world". This is not a direct quote from scripture, but is a common Christian phrase based on the words of Christ found in John 17, especially verses 9 - 16. Jesus notes that both he and his apostles were not "of the world", but that they both had been "in the world" and that his apostles would remain "in the world" while he would return to his Father. Christ himself then asks his Father to "sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth".
Obviously we are not to be "of the world" and adopt the views and attitudes of the world. But the part of this phrase that captured my attention was the fact that we should be "in the world". Christ taught that his chosen people were to be the light of the world, a city set on a hill not to be hidden, the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13-16), the leaven that would ultimately leaven the whole lump (Matt 13:33). So, in our attempts to remain "not of the world", we need to be careful not to withdraw from the world into our own hermit shacks of solitude. How, then, are we to be an influence for good and righteousness? We also need to be cautious not to hide exclusively within the confines of our LDS ward or circle of friends. While opportunities for service and growth would certainly be available, what about those others around us that could also benefit from our friendship? Isn't that how those not of our faith often grow to feel isolated? As I pondered this line of thought, I came across a wonderful article by Elder Perry from the May 1988 Ensign titled "In the World". I strongly recommend this article to you for your thoughtful study.
We, as Latter-Day Saints, can and ought to be actively involved in our neighborhoods, communities and public organizations. Then our efforts to remain "not of the world" will be recongized and appreciated by those seeking for something better.
Great thoughts Craig.
ReplyDeleteKeep it coming people!
Oh, and Landon, Hooo-rah! I am excited for the Boise State vs. Virginia Tech game on Sept. 6th. I've always rooted for Boise State, but I'll be even more enthusiastic now that they are soon to be members of the Mountain West Conference! I will still be a fan of the MWC even if BYU opts to go independent. I'll even continue to root for Utah in the Pac-howevermanyitisnow. By the way, BYU starts the season out at home against Washington on Sept 4th (breaking in a new quarterback) and Utah hosts Pittsburgh on Sept. 2nd. That's some good football for Week 1!
ReplyDeleteOne thing that comes to mind when I think of things that can entice us to be "of the world" is music. In my YW lesson on Sunday we talked about music and how powerful an influence it can be for both good and bad. I am, as of late, getting pretty frustrated with the music on the radio. We are getting some pretty catchy songs that get stuck in my head forever. The big problem is that when you listen to the words they are not at all appropriate. Yesterday, as I was driving, the DJ said the song coming on was by Katie Perry. I reached to turned the radio off right after the song started and realized that Ashley was singing along. She asked me why I turned it off and I said it wasn't a very good song. She asked where the bad word was. I told her that the whole song just had a bad message. Our kids are listening to the same music we are. My kids know the words sometimes before I do. Make sure you really listen to your music and that it is something you want the family to hear.
ReplyDeleteI love you all,
Kaylene
I know what you mean, Kaylene. I think I am starting to appreciate silence more and more. It helps me to think more clearly (which I am needing to do more and more these days) and makes it easier to feel the promptings of the spirit (which I am needing more and more these days).
ReplyDeleteLove,
Brenda
I have really enjoyed reading all your comments. You each offer some great insight.
ReplyDeleteDue to the events in our lives the last week or so, I have thought about gratitude being a way we can be in the world but not of the world. There have been many temporal affairs that we have had to deal with this week, many with uncertainties ahead. There were several times during my personal prayers and scripture time that I felt like I could see the Lord's hand in the daily care of my family. Although I did not know some answers, I knew that the Lord always has blessed me and that He will continue. Our faith is strengthened when we see how much the Lord gives us. Being overly-concerned with the temporal things of this world will only distract us from what is most important.
By the way, we are moving into a rental this Saturday. The house is in a new subdivision and does not have cable access yet. I am not sure when exactly we will have internet access in our home, but I will do my best to keep a part of things. For the time being, perhaps Brenda and Landon can plan on taking our turn to start the comments. I will let you know what is going on with us when I know.
I love you all! Thank you so much for your uplifting love and support.
There are many ways to be a light to the world.
ReplyDeleteone thing that came to my mind was our words. James ch 3 talks about the importance of our words.vs.2"If any man offend not on word,the same is a perfect man,and able to bridle tthe whole body." The mouth is the fountain of the heart vs 11 and 12 "doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? can the fig tree bear olive, berries? either a vine,
figs? so can no fountain both yeild salt water and fresh." People are known for the words they speak. let our words be kind,honest,uplifting,
and sincere. The natural man would use them to lie, hurt, gossip, and destroy. Let us remember that we will be judged of the words we use. (mosiah 4:30,Alma 12:14) Our words are more powerful then we relize. I enjoyed reading and participating in this blog. I look forward to the coming weeks. This is good for all of us.
-Scottiee
We all know that the media has a huge influence over us all. The media is telling us what is beautiful and what's not. It is effecting us even in little ways. For example, I tend to want to spend more time getting ready for church or an event that involves a large group of people. I want to feel confident and be my best, but makeup and clothes shouldn't make me feel that way. Last Sunday as I was getting ready for church I stopped and asked myself, "who am I trying to impress?" We all know we want to impress our Heavenly Father. Do you think he cares what brand of jeans we are wearing or if we curled our hair? No. He loves us for who we are. I also kept track of the time that was spent on getting ready. I feel like I could use all that extra time doing something more productive. I could use that time studying my scriptures, helping someone, praying, etc. Ladies, I know that sometimes it feels like a competition and we want to look our best in a crowd, but we shine brighter when we aren't concerned about our appearance and our time is spent on helping others.
ReplyDelete-Amanda
As I contemplated being in the world but not of the world, I thought of many people who really do that well. A characteristic that each of them have in common is an aura of light and joy around them. I talk with them and they seem to genuinely care about me. It brought to mind the scripture in 2 nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men."
ReplyDeleteThere are four distinct phrases in this scripture.
-Steadfastness in Christ
-Perfect brightness of hope
-Love of God
-Love of all men (Brenda already talked about)
I think each of these concepts could lift us out of this world, but the one that comes to my mind most frequently is "having a perfect brightness of hope."
I think it is very important to foster an attitude of optimism and hope in the Savior. We need to recognize that we are in control of our own happiness and it is not dependent on worldly things. This will give us a wonderful buffer from being "of the world"
President Packer taught, "If you understand the great plan of happiness and follow it, what goes on in the world will not determine your happiness."
- Maggie