Dear Sisters,
This week's reflection was written by Molly Cordy, President of the YSA 2 Relief Society. Thank you Molly!
This week’s reading finished up Mosiah and took us into Alma for the first time. There are so many things to be learned from the scriptures. I love how personal, yet universal, they are in their application.
I love the use of the word ALL in the scripture. The word is used over 70 times in these chapters, and over 7,000 times in the Book of Mormon. I can’t help but feel the power of the absolute and almost a promise from the Lord- that all truly does mean ALL. There are no exceptions to this gospel. We are all not just (Mosiah 29:16). We are all created by God, ALL redeemed through Christ, and we ALL have the possibility of obtaining eternal life (Alma 1:4).
This reading also took us through one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon; Alma 5. Similar to how Elder Ballard asked us to have a personal interview with him this past conference, Alma 5 asks us questions to evaluate how we are doing, as if being interviewed by a prophet. This can be a particularly personal experience reading, if we treat it as such. One thing that stood out to me this time through was the combination of questions and remembering. Though Alma asks many questions through this chapter, he exhorts us at the same time to remember. I think this is the pattern that we must adopt when asking questions, to consistently be thinking of and reflecting on the things we do know or have experienced. With just questions we are prone to begin to doubt, with just remembering we are not making the progress that questions evoke. With the combination of both, questions and remembering, we will have the strength and faith to ask and not be shaken. How wonderful is that? I know that our Heavenly Father will answer our questions if we have the faith to ask and receive.
Love,
Molly Cordy
Seattle YSA 2nd Ward.
This week’s reading finished up Mosiah and took us into Alma for the first time. There are so many things to be learned from the scriptures. I love how personal, yet universal, they are in their application.
I love the use of the word ALL in the scripture. The word is used over 70 times in these chapters, and over 7,000 times in the Book of Mormon. I can’t help but feel the power of the absolute and almost a promise from the Lord- that all truly does mean ALL. There are no exceptions to this gospel. We are all not just (Mosiah 29:16). We are all created by God, ALL redeemed through Christ, and we ALL have the possibility of obtaining eternal life (Alma 1:4).
This reading also took us through one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon; Alma 5. Similar to how Elder Ballard asked us to have a personal interview with him this past conference, Alma 5 asks us questions to evaluate how we are doing, as if being interviewed by a prophet. This can be a particularly personal experience reading, if we treat it as such. One thing that stood out to me this time through was the combination of questions and remembering. Though Alma asks many questions through this chapter, he exhorts us at the same time to remember. I think this is the pattern that we must adopt when asking questions, to consistently be thinking of and reflecting on the things we do know or have experienced. With just questions we are prone to begin to doubt, with just remembering we are not making the progress that questions evoke. With the combination of both, questions and remembering, we will have the strength and faith to ask and not be shaken. How wonderful is that? I know that our Heavenly Father will answer our questions if we have the faith to ask and receive.
Love,
Molly Cordy
Seattle YSA 2nd Ward.
Day 44 (11.8.15)
Read: Alma 12-13
Mark: Alma 13:2-4
“God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest and most valiant children…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…The final outcome is certain – the forces of righteousness will finally win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle - and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to…our foreordained mission?” ~ President Ezra Taft Benson
To what callings do you think you’ve been foreordained?
Day 45 (11.9.15)
Read: Alma 14-16
Mark: Alma 14:10-11
“The right question to ask is not why good people have trials, but how shall good people respond when they are tried?” ~ Elder Marion D. Hanks
“Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long suffering and self-mastery. The sufferings of our Savior were part of his education.” ~ President Spencer W. Kimball
How do you respond to adversity?
Day 46 (11.10.15)
Read: Alma 17-18
Mark: Alma 17:2-3
“Fasting can help us overcome personal flaws and sins. It can help us overcome our weaknesses—help them become strengths. Fasting can help us become more humble, less prideful, less selfish, and more concerned about the needs of others. It can help us see more clearly our own mistakes and weaknesses and help us be less prone to criticize others…Throughout the scriptures the term fasting is usually combined with prayer… Fasting without prayer is just going hungry for 24 hours. But fasting combined with prayer brings increased spiritual power.” ~ Elder Carl B. Pratt
What experiences have you had with fasting?
Day 47 (11.11.15)
Read: Alma 19-20
Mark: Alma 20:17
“Anger is not an expression of strength. It is an indication of one’s inability to control his thoughts, words, his emotions… When the weakness of anger takes over, the strength of reason leaves.” ~ President Gordon B. Hinckley
When is it most difficult to control your anger? Why is it important to stay in control of your thoughts, words, and actions?
Day 48 (11.12.15)
Read: Alma 21-23
Mark: Alma 22:15-18
“No part of walking by faith is more difficult than walking the road of repentance. However, with ‘faith unto repentance,’ we can push roadblocks out of the way, moving forward to beg God for mercy… One simply surrenders, caring only about what God thinks, not what ‘they’ think… Giving away all our sins is the only way we can come to know God.” ~ Elder Neal A. Maxwell
What are you willing to give to know Him?
Day 49 (11.13.15)
Read: Alma 24-26
Mark: Alma 26:11-12
“As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up, our arms out, and walk with him. What a great blessing to be created in his image and know of our true potential in and through him! What a great blessing to know that in his strength we can do all things!” ~ Elder Marvin J. Ashton
What do you think some of the “mighty miracles” may be that the Lord will work through you?
Day 50 – Catch Up or Extra Study (11.14.15)
Use your reading chart to find the chapters you still need to read to be caught up through: Alma 26
or
If you’re up to date with your reading, take time to study: Alma 17
What are the things that made the sons of Mosiah successful missionaries? What is your duty in sharing the gospel now and preparing for future full-time missionary service?
Day 51 (11.15.15)
Read: Alma 27-29
Mark: Alma 27:27
True converts are those who “listen to the teachings and testimonies of missionaries and change their lives, leaving the past behind them, and moving forward into a new life.” ~ President Hinckley
What is zeal? What difference does it make to have “zeal towards God”?
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