Personal Progress - Individual Worth value experience #2

October 29, 2015

Personal Progress Individual Worth value experience #2

Patriarchal blessings are given to worthy members of the Church by ordained patriarchs.  Some reasons why I got my patriarchal blessings is so I could know what lineage in the house of Israel I was in and so I could receive personal counsel from the Lord to me.  As I study my patriarchal blessing and follow the counsel it contains, it provides guidance, comfort, and protection.  When I was in college, my original major was dental hygiene.  During my first semester of biology I realized that I didn’t like, nor had I ever liked biology or science and so I knew I needed to pick a new major.  I prayed and read my patriarchal blessing as I chose a new major.  My blessing guided me to choose an education degree since it said I had the qualities of a great teacher.  My blessing has helped me feel important to Heavenly Father.  It helps me know that I am His daughter and that I have worth because He wants to guide me back to Him. 

To receive a patriarchal blessing you should be prepared.  Here are ways that will help you be prepared.

1. Be a worthy, baptized member of the Church.
2. Have a desire to receive a blessing.
3. Understand the promises in the blessing given to Abraham.
4. Be mature enough to appreciate the blessing you will receive.
5. Go to the bishop for an interview and receive a recommend from him.
6. Soon after your interview with the bishop, make an appointment with the patriarch assigned to your stake.
7. Prepare yourself by studying the scriptures, fasting, and praying.
8. Pray for the patriarch to be inspired.

Personal Progress - Faith Value Project

October 21, 2015

For my Faith Value Project I was asked to read Alma 32:28-43.  Then to think of faith as a seed as I help plant, care for, and harvest a vegetable garden.  Then to record in my journal how I can nourish, care for, and strengthen my faith. 

My garden experience: I planted a pumpkin patch earlier this year.  I prepared the ground, nourished the seed and weeded the garden.  I was excited about the garden and looked forward to letting my children pick their own pumpkin around Halloween time.  The plants grew, they flowered, but they didn’t produce fruit.  I think all of the plants were male plants.  Next time I will need to select better seeds.

How to Nourish, Care for, and Strengthen Faith:

v  Give place that a seed may be planted in your heart

v  Seek a good seed

v  Prepare the ground

v  Do not cast the seed out by unbelief

v  Do not resist the Spirit of the Lord

v  Feel

v  Say within yourself it is a good seed

v  Let it enlarge your soul

v  Let it enlighten your understanding

v  Let it be delicious to you

v  Let it swell, sprout, and grow

v  If a seed growth it is good

v  If it growth not, behold it is not good, therefore cast it away

v  Discern the light, whatsoever is light is good

v  Nourish the growing seedling with great care that it may get root

v  Think about the seedling

v  Do not neglect the seedling

v  Protect the seedling from danger

v  Look forward to the fruit thereof

v  Be diligent

v  Have patience

v  Have faith

v  Pluck the fruit

v  Feast upon the fruit

v  Be filled

v  Wait for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you