Day 38- Zone Meeting Pt. 2-5/5/06
Zone Conference notes continued:
President B. talked about the 4th Book of Nephi and how the rise and fall of the Nephites is described in 4 pages! Read 4th Nephi when you have the time. It's an amazing book in the Book of Mormon.
Verses 3,5,11,13, and 15 in 4th Nephi are all good scriptures about how the Nephites prospered in the land when they did not contend with each other "because the love of God dwelled in the hearts of the people."
There was no contention amongst the people. How critical is the impact of contention against the success of our work? How critical was contention against the success of the Nephites? After Jesus Christ left the Nephites, how long did they remain free of contention? We read in 4th Nephi 24 that in the 201st year something happened. What emerged in the 201st year that began to unravel the peace of the people? PRIDE
What is the connection between pride and contention?
When we are lifted up in pride, we are focused on what we want and contend with anyone who says different. If, on our missions, we strive to do what is expected of us and not what we want, we'll be better missionaries. I'm trying to keep what I want, what is expected of me. Pride is gratifying our selfish desires. Don't be lifted up in pride.
Luke 15:11-32 The parable of the Prodigal Son. Notice where the pride and contention was? The prodigal son was prideful until he ran out of money. He then humbled himself and wished to return to his father not as a son, but as a humble servant. The father, so glad to see his son return home, held a huge party in his honor. When the older son learned that his brother was getting a party, "he was angry and would not go in... (Luke 15:28). He could not understand why his father would celebrate the return of the disobedient son and not honor him for his obedience.
I've always thought that the real point of the prodigal son was the older brother. It's a great story about how the prodigal son humbles himself and the power of forgiveness, but I want to focus on the father and the older brother. Are we like the father who is happy to see his wayward son return promising to be a better person? Or are we like the older brother who still remembers all the bad things his brother did and won't let him forget?
"The Lord has accepted him back. Why can't you?" This is a quote from L. Tom Perry who encourages us to forget the past actions of those who are willing to change.
On your mission the biggest spot of contention isn't arguing with a contact. It isn't getting doors slammed in your face. The most dangerous place on your mission can be your own apartment. When you get inside, you are tired. It's been a hard day of missionary work. You relax, let your guard down. That is when contention can rear it's ugly head. Don't let it be factor for you and your companion. Don't harp on your companions faults. If you invite the spirit of contention, that is when Satan is there with his fiery (lawn) darts. (Elder Pierce draws a cartoon of Satan smiling as he hurls fiery lawn darts at two missionaries. "Elder, I'm tired of you leavin' your dirty dishes in the sink! Wash 'em and put 'em away!" "Oh, yeah, Well, you can stop leavin' your clothes on the floor! Put 'em in a laundry bag!" Don't be like this the caption says. Elder Pierce assures us that he is nothing like this.)
I'm reminded of "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou..."
Gov'ner Pappy O'Daniel: "It sounded like he was harboring some hateful grudge against the Soggy Bottom Boys on account of their rough and rowdy past. Sounds like Homer Stokes is the kinda fella wants to cast the first stone. (Crowd Boooo's) Well, I'm with you folks. I'ma forgive and forget Christian. And I say if these boys rambunctiousness and misdemeanerin' is behind 'em,...(it is, ain't it boys?) (uh, yes sir.) Well, by the power vested in me by the great state of Mississippi, these boys is hereby pardoned!" (One of several movie lines that members of our family has memorized)
It was a big day for my companion, Elder Buttars. They asked at zone conference who had been in bike areas the longest. Elder Buttars has been on a bike for 13 months. He got an award for his many miles of cycling. He got a box of Cracker Jacks. His companion (me) got one, too, so that was fun.
President B. talked about the 4th Book of Nephi and how the rise and fall of the Nephites is described in 4 pages! Read 4th Nephi when you have the time. It's an amazing book in the Book of Mormon.
Verses 3,5,11,13, and 15 in 4th Nephi are all good scriptures about how the Nephites prospered in the land when they did not contend with each other "because the love of God dwelled in the hearts of the people."
There was no contention amongst the people. How critical is the impact of contention against the success of our work? How critical was contention against the success of the Nephites? After Jesus Christ left the Nephites, how long did they remain free of contention? We read in 4th Nephi 24 that in the 201st year something happened. What emerged in the 201st year that began to unravel the peace of the people? PRIDE
What is the connection between pride and contention?
When we are lifted up in pride, we are focused on what we want and contend with anyone who says different. If, on our missions, we strive to do what is expected of us and not what we want, we'll be better missionaries. I'm trying to keep what I want, what is expected of me. Pride is gratifying our selfish desires. Don't be lifted up in pride.
Luke 15:11-32 The parable of the Prodigal Son. Notice where the pride and contention was? The prodigal son was prideful until he ran out of money. He then humbled himself and wished to return to his father not as a son, but as a humble servant. The father, so glad to see his son return home, held a huge party in his honor. When the older son learned that his brother was getting a party, "he was angry and would not go in... (Luke 15:28). He could not understand why his father would celebrate the return of the disobedient son and not honor him for his obedience.
I've always thought that the real point of the prodigal son was the older brother. It's a great story about how the prodigal son humbles himself and the power of forgiveness, but I want to focus on the father and the older brother. Are we like the father who is happy to see his wayward son return promising to be a better person? Or are we like the older brother who still remembers all the bad things his brother did and won't let him forget?
"The Lord has accepted him back. Why can't you?" This is a quote from L. Tom Perry who encourages us to forget the past actions of those who are willing to change.
On your mission the biggest spot of contention isn't arguing with a contact. It isn't getting doors slammed in your face. The most dangerous place on your mission can be your own apartment. When you get inside, you are tired. It's been a hard day of missionary work. You relax, let your guard down. That is when contention can rear it's ugly head. Don't let it be factor for you and your companion. Don't harp on your companions faults. If you invite the spirit of contention, that is when Satan is there with his fiery (lawn) darts. (Elder Pierce draws a cartoon of Satan smiling as he hurls fiery lawn darts at two missionaries. "Elder, I'm tired of you leavin' your dirty dishes in the sink! Wash 'em and put 'em away!" "Oh, yeah, Well, you can stop leavin' your clothes on the floor! Put 'em in a laundry bag!" Don't be like this the caption says. Elder Pierce assures us that he is nothing like this.)
I'm reminded of "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou..."
Gov'ner Pappy O'Daniel: "It sounded like he was harboring some hateful grudge against the Soggy Bottom Boys on account of their rough and rowdy past. Sounds like Homer Stokes is the kinda fella wants to cast the first stone. (Crowd Boooo's) Well, I'm with you folks. I'ma forgive and forget Christian. And I say if these boys rambunctiousness and misdemeanerin' is behind 'em,...(it is, ain't it boys?) (uh, yes sir.) Well, by the power vested in me by the great state of Mississippi, these boys is hereby pardoned!" (One of several movie lines that members of our family has memorized)
It was a big day for my companion, Elder Buttars. They asked at zone conference who had been in bike areas the longest. Elder Buttars has been on a bike for 13 months. He got an award for his many miles of cycling. He got a box of Cracker Jacks. His companion (me) got one, too, so that was fun.
posted by Garden Anywhere Box | 9:12 AM
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