Strengthening Exercises

Four ways to strengthen those around us.

  Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.

Doctrine & Covenants 108:7

Have you ever been strengthened by another person.  Some people just know how to empower others.  We can be those people.  In that verse, we are commanded to strengthen others and are given four ways to do it.

 

Conversations: When you are talking to someone, can they tell you care about them? Do they know you are listening? How often do you give a specific compliments and reinforce the good you see?

Prayers: Sometimes we think that if God is going to bless someone, He is going to do it, so what difference do our prayers make? But that is just not how the economy of Heaven works. All over in scripture we are shown how prayers make a huge difference in the outcome of things and people. Prayer changes things! Our prayers should not be a last resort; they should be a first resort.

Exhortations: Do you encourage and kindly challenge those around you for good?

Doings: There are so many ways that we can bless and strengthen those around us by doing things for them, verbal and nonverbal.

Today’s Takeaway: Think of those you will interact with today at home and away. Look at the four ways we can strengthen others and decide some small thing you can do to build someone up on their way through life. 

Time, Talents, and Treasure

Look for what the “Lord’s storehouse” is.

18 And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church—

Doctrine & Covenants 82:18

There is a difference between a “Bishop’s Storehouse” and the “Lord’s Storehouse”. The Bishop’s Storehouse  is usually a physical building where goods and commodities are distributed to those in need, under the Bishop’s direction.  On the other hand, the Lord’s storehouse “receives, holds in trust, and dispenses consecrated offerings of the Saints. The storehouse may be as simple or sophisticated as circumstances require. It may be a list of available services, money in an account, food in a pantry, or commodities in a building. A storehouse is established when faithful members consecrate to the bishop their time, talents, skills, compassion, materials, and financial means in caring for the poor and in building up the kingdom of God on the earth” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 256).

There are three things we are to offer the Lord: our Time, Talents, and Treasure.

Today’s Takeaway: Have you consecrated to the Lord your time, talents and treasure?  When asked, or when you see a need, do you give the valuable commodity of your time? Have you been developing and generous with the talents God has blessed you with? Do you give back your treasure to the Lord as asked? Ask the Lord how he would have you change, if needed, and He will let you know. 

It's The Little Things

What does this verse have to do with a watermelon?

33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

Doctrine & Covenants 64:33

What are some seemingly “small things” people have done that made a big different for you?  I asked my class that question and they listed things like:

• Someone saying hello
• A random text or phone call letting you know you are in someone’s thoughts
• A hug
• A sincere compliment
• A "How are you doing?"
• A smile
• Loving concern

Sometimes the smallest action can turn someone’s day around. It is like how one watermelon seed, planted at the right time and conditions, can produce a wonderful amount of good fruit.  So keep doing those small things. 

Today’s Takeaway: Think about this list, How can you do one of these small things that could bless someone’s life.  How ccan you let someone know they matter?  Here is a challenge: in the next 24 hours do one of these small things to some unsuspecting person.  You might be surprised what a big difference a small thing can make.

His Hands - Your Hands

And I will lay my hand upon you by the hand of my servant Sidney Rigdon, and you shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom;
Doctrine & Covenants 36:2

This verse holds one of the most amazing principles about Priesthood service, and how we all are to serve our fellow beings. Notice that the Lord tells Edward Partridge that He (the Lord) would lay His hands upon him (Edward), by the hands of his servant Sidney Rigdon. So what is this teaching about what happens when we are performing Priesthood ordinances?  That when we are worthily performing the ordinance, our hands become the Lord’s hands.  When following the direction of His Spirit, our words, become His words.  This can become a scary proposition. Every Priesthood holder has to ask himself if he is living his life in such a way that at any moment he can represent the Lord and be His hands, and His voice, and a conduit for His power, in another person’s life.

Likewise, whether male or female, we all take upon ourselves the name of Christ.  That means we recommit ourselves each Sunday to represent Him in every situation. All of us are to be His hands and His voice to everyone around us.

Today’s Takeaway: Try to live today so that you can be God’s voice today to someone.  Try to follow His Spirit so you can be His hands in someone else’s life. Who’s life does God want you to touch for Him today?