Thoughts for a Sabbath Day

THE END

2020-09-12T04:43:00.002-07:00

Because the new format does not work for me, I will no longer be using my blog page. If you wish to receive my Thoughts and Life's Lessons Learned as I write them send me your email address either by direct message on Face Book or by email!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-10T04:45:00.000-07:00

It is becoming abundantly apparent – that a generation not too far in the future – will have no idea that HOLY – was once part of holidays!! ❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-09T04:57:00.001-07:00

Some teachers can base a whole course of study on a few verses of scripture – then there are those who find it difficult to find anything meaningful to teach about using all of the Standard Works!!

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-08T04:49:00.001-07:00

We are such strange creatures – many times we cease to pray because our lives are full of blessings – then at other times – we cease to pray because the struggles of life overwhelm us!!

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-07T05:02:00.001-07:00

The failure of the fulfilling of a revelation from the Lord – is more a measure of the lack of faith – and – diligence of those to whom the revelation was given – than of the truthfulness of that which was revealed!!

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

REMAINING RIGHTEOUS DURING PERILOUS TIMES

2020-09-06T04:48:00.001-07:00

Some years ago Elder Boyd K. Packer taught that as the Second Coming of the Savior nears, the gulf between the righteous and the unrighteous mortal children of our Heavenly Parents would become greater and greater. As we read chapters 2 through 4 of Third Nephi it is not difficult to believe that since he was an ardent student of the scriptures, he was probably influenced in his teaching by the example of what took place with the descendants of Lehi and Sarah as the First Coming of the Savior became eminent.

I do not find it needful to rehearse the description of the evils which were prevalent among Lehi’s descendants during the last few years before the birth of the Christ Child since we are constantly bombarded with then in our 21st century daily walk.

I have no idea if the righteous of the last days before the Second Coming of the Lord will live their days filled with the treat of extermination, but I feel it is beneficial to read the description of those who were preserved by the Lord in righteousness found in verses 29 – 33 of chapter 4 of Third Nephi.

May the Lord preserve his people in righteousness and in holiness of heart, that they may cause to be felled to the earth all who shall seek to slay them because of power and secret combinations, even as this man hath been felled to the earth.

And they did rejoice and cry again with one voice, saying: May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, protect this people in righteousness, so long as they shall call on the name of their God for protection.

And it came to pass that they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies.

Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God.

And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.

As I was reading these words penned so many centuries ago I was reminded of the many things about which the Living Prophets of our day have asked us to pray.

That religious freedom will be protected and upheld.

That our hearts will remain pure and protected from the evils of the world.

That we will be led and guided about to whom and how we can be ministers.

That our lives will be defined by spirituality.

That the work of the Lord will go forth and fill the whole earth.

That we might become living witnesses of Jesus the Christ.

That we will have the strength to stand in holy places.

That our daily walk will be led by inspiration.

That we will live worthy of personal revelation.

That we will become sensitive to and hear His voice.

That we will walk with a perfect brightness of hope.

That our homes will become a refuge from the world.

As I was compiling this list from the teachings we received from the last General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a prayer went through my mind that our prayers should also include a plea to the Lord that we might be saved from the atrocities which befell the righteous descendants of Lehi just before the birth of the Christ Child in Bethlehem.

The scriptures bear testimony that the only way any of our Heavenly Parents children will have a happy ending to our time on earth is if we incorporate all the characteristics and attributes taught to us and demonstrated in the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

May the Lord bless us and sustain us in our righteous attempts to be worthy of His Eternal Grace, Mercy and Love.

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-05T04:45:00.000-07:00

Having a stewardship – which involves the lives of others – brings greater accountability as the size of the group increases!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-04T05:25:00.001-07:00

There is a danger – as the membership of a group increases – the absence of one of the members will be noticed less!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-03T04:51:00.001-07:00

We will always fall short of present day personal applications of the scriptures – if we do not keep them current – with updates made by living prophets!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-02T04:53:00.001-07:00

Controlled class contributions – contribute too positive conclusions!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-09-01T04:37:00.001-07:00

When the teacher allows the students to dictate the direction a lessons goes – it might end up positively – but – it also has a greater probability of becoming a disaster!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-31T04:36:00.000-07:00

Only when we are repeating actions which lead to character growth – will we be blessed with greater character!!

LIVES WHICH HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY LIVING PROPHETS

2020-08-30T04:48:00.000-07:00

As we transition from the Book of Helaman to the Book of Third Nephi in The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ we are greeted with two interesting accounts. First, Nephi who is both the writer of the last chapters of the Book of Helaman and most of the Book of Third Nephi gives a wonderful genealogical synopsis of his line going back to the first chief judge over the lands of the Nephites: Nephi the son of Helaman who was the son of Helaman who was the son of Alma who was the son of Alma. Second, he writes of the extreme differences between those who have rejected Samuel’s prophecies and those who continued to believe in the coming of the Son of God.

Nevertheless, the people began to harden their hearts, all save it were the most believing part of them, both of the Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began to depend upon their own strength and upon their own wisdom, saying: Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold, we know that all these great and marvelous works cannot come to pass, of which has been spoken.

And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem?

Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as well as in the land of Jerusalem?

But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition, which has been handed down unto us by our fathers, to cause us that we should believe in some great and marvelous thing which should come to pass, but not among us, but in a land which is far distant, a land which we know not; therefore they can keep us in ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they are true.

And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the evil one, work some great mystery which we cannot understand, which will keep us down to be servants to their words, and also servants unto them, for we depend upon them to teach us the word; and thus will they keep us in ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives. (Helaman 16: 15-21)

This great manifestation of wickedness happened in spite of the many signs and wonders which took place which were a fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecies. The majority of the people rejected the teachings of their living prophet Nephi and with their hearts hardened they appointed a day on which if the ultimate sign of there being a night and a day with no night was not fulfilled all those who remained faithful to the voice of the living prophet would be put to death.

On the eve of that appointed day of desolation Nephi bowed himself down upon the earth and cried mightily to his God.

And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given. (3 Nephi 1: 12-14)

Although we are currently living in a day when religious freedom is once again being threatened by those who have made of themselves living gods, gratefully we have not as yet come to the point where believers will be cast into fiery pits, burned at the stake or beheaded. We are definitely in a time when revelation is being denied or at best that there is only individual inspiration, which negates the need for prophets.

My life has been so abundantly blessed because of the words of living prophets that I would be amiss if I did not bear witness of their guidance in my life and pray with all my heart that I will continue to be diligent in hearkening unto their words.

David O. McKay:

The prophet of my youth who I had more personal experience with than any other prophet of the latter days, since we lived in Garden Grove, California and belonged to the Santa Ana, California Stake. During that period of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints one of their properties was a small house in Laguna Beach, California, where he vacationed and which was also at that time part of the Santa Ana Stake.

It could have been because of his flowing white hair, but mostly because of his example of how a man of God treated his eternal brothers and sisters. Anyway, I never had a doubt that he was the Lord’s anointed.

One stake conference when He was in attendance I also happened to be the youth speaker assigned to speak in a session of conference. Besides being very nervous I also received the understanding that there is a difference in the power of the words of living prophets and a young teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood.

Joseph Fielding Smith:

Although he was the Prophet of the whole church for a very short time, his impact was profound because of his prophetic writings and the changes he made while serving as the longest anointed living prophet.

He made major changes in the publications of the church. The change which was the most dramatic was how it paved the way for setting the priesthood offices of the church in order. He defrock all of the stake seventies which, although we did not realize it at the time, was the beginning of establishing the Seventy as the arm of the Apostles and Prophets to govern The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints throughout the world no matter how much the membership multiplied and spread.

Although I was one of those defrocked stake seventies, I am grateful to have had my days lengthened to see the prophetic manifestation of his words.

Spencer W. Kimball:

His pronouncement that the day would come when there would be hundreds of thousands serving missionaries still causes bumps on the backs of my arms and fills my heart with joy every time I
am blessed to recall his powerful message.

When Kathleen and I were blessed to be called by President Gordon B. Hinckley to preside as leaders of the Bogota, Colombia Mission, we had little idea what a powerful part of our earthly journey would take place while serving with the wonderful missionaries among those spiritual members of the church and the marvelous Colombian people.

When we returned from that exceptional three year experience all reference to our life’s experiences were either BC (before Colombia) and AC (after Colombia).

One of the blessings of my retirement years has been, through the miracle of cyber transmissions to return to be in regular contact with so many of those who were part of our pre mission, mission and post mission life.

We will forever be grateful that we were blessed by the Lord to be a small part of the fulfillment of President Kimball’s prophetic utterance.

Russell M. Nelson:

Will be remembered for many things no matter how long his period of being the Prophet to the whole church may be, but his putting the church in order in so many ways because of his continuing the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints through revelations of the Lord’s will.

Although there have been many more anointed prophets, seers and revelators, such as Boyd K. Packer, Neil A. Maxwell, Bruce R, McConkie, Richard G. Scott and Jeffrey R. Holland who have been tremendous molders of my faith, my understanding and conversion to the worship of a God of Mercy, Grace and Love, I will have to allow the testimony of these few to stand as a witness to my gratefulness to have lived when the world was blessed to have living prophets to guide and direct those who were of a contrite spirit and a humbled heart.

My prayer is that each of us will be wise like those who faithfully believed in the words of Samuel and Nephi and thereby had the privilege of being personally ministered to by the resurrected Savior.

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-29T04:52:00.001-07:00

Poking your enemy with a stick – will not make them your friend!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-28T04:50:00.001-07:00

Hitting a hornet’s nest with a stick – will never cause the inhabitants to react in a peaceful – and – calm way!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-27T04:38:00.001-07:00

If we have a propensity to repeat doing something in the wrong way – we will continue to suffer from the experience!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-26T04:34:00.001-07:00

Just because we repeat doing the same thing many times – it will not necessarily mean it will cause a change in our character!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-25T05:17:00.001-07:00

Having one’s teachings verified by living prophets – as well as the whisperings of the Holy Spirit – overwhelms one with comfort!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-24T05:22:00.001-07:00

Whenever two people are together – there will always be at least two opinions – on most subjects!!

THE TEACHINGS OF SAMUEL THE LAMANITE PROPHET 3

2020-08-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

After calling the descendants of Lehi to repentance and having told them of the consequences which awaited their continuance in the pathways of the natural man, Samuel reveals to them the central event of Good News of Jesus the Christ and the signs which would testify to those in the Americas of there happening.

And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

And behold, there shall be a new star arise, such as one as never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

And behold, this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven. (Helaman 14: 2-6)

Although the scriptures contain an abundance of the signs and events which will precede the second coming of the Son of God to reign as the King of Kings upon the earth, there will be many in the last days just like those who heard the specifics contained in Samuel’s sermon who will find reasons to continue to ignore and rationalize away the prophesized events.

The restoration of all things in the fullness of times will be questioned and denied as just the imaginings of a frenzied mind.

The constant news of nations warring with nations will be looked at as just the inhabitants of the world continuing to be as dysfunctional as they have always been.

The building of houses which have no space between them, causing an atmosphere where contention reigns making it impossible to find inner peace, will be looked at as a natural result of overpopulation having nothing to do with ancient prophecies.

The opening of nations so that the restored gospel can be taught to all nations tongues and people will be looked upon as a natural consequence of a sects growth.

Temples being built around the world will likewise be ignored and counted as a natural event which follows the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The list could go on until this Thought is completely about the signs of the Second Coming being ignored, but the following reminder of Samuel’s warning to those who ignore the signs and the call to repentance should be sufficient to cause us to ponder upon the foretold coming events.

And now, my beloved brethren, behold, I declare unto you that except ye shall repent your houses shall be left unto you desolate.

Yea, except ye repent, your women shall have great cause to mourn in the day that they shall give suck; for ye shall attempt to flee and there shall be no place for refuge; yea, and wo unto them which are with child, for they shall be heavy and cannot flee; therefore, they shall be trodden down and shall be left to perish.

Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them. (Helaman 15: 1-3)

It is heart warming that Samuel included his marvelous testimony of the Atonement of Jesus the Christ as part of his powerful call to repentance. But then again is it not faith in the Lord Jesus the Christ which brings us to repent and become obedient to the principles of the Good News.

That ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.

And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits.

And behold, again, another sign I give unto you, yea, a sign of his death.

For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord.

Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual.

But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.

Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness.

Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death. (Helaman 14: 12-19)

May the Lord bless us with wisdom and strength that we may be found among those who desired, sought and found faith in Jesus the Christ, which faith sustained them and brought them to a righteous repentance as the signs of His Second Coming unfold.

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-22T04:53:00.002-07:00

A question I still ponder – is the inequitable distributions of trials – which are born by Heavenly Father’s children during mortality!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED

2020-08-21T05:09:00.000-07:00

It would be wonderful if there were a remote button on some people – which would turn them off – when they become annoying!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

There are those who tend to forget – that other people also have stewardships which occupy their lives!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-19T05:14:00.001-07:00

I suspect any mortal who is convinced they have arrived at the point where they have final – and – absolute answers about the meaning of our eternal journey – will awaken from death’s slumber – wondering if they had been studying the wrong texts!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

2020-08-18T04:45:00.001-07:00

Most missionaries – who are called to serve – to a field where it requires the learning of a new language – after struggling through the Mission Training Center – arrive at their assigned countries – wondering if they had been studying the wrong language!!