Anger and Ignorance

When I read the news and various comments from viewers I am saddened by so much anger. I don't care who is wrong or right in the conversation...... it makes me so sick to my stomach to see people lashing out at one another, accusing, scorning, mocking, name calling, swearing etc. Can't we all just get along!!! I see it among the Liberals, the Conservatives, religious, non-religious and among every race and color. There is no excuse to treat anyone (no matter who it is) there is no excuse to be so uncivilized whether online or in person!! And before we look around and point the finger we must first examine ourselves. There are times when I've reacted in anger or in sharp hurtful words and I'm not proud of it. I believe in forgiveness. I believe we can let go of perceived offences. I believe in redemption.

I just heard about the shooting in Fort Hood. This incident makes me very sad because the shooter was a so called "Muslim". Of course immediately following this news there are those who blame the religion of Islam for the shootings. But, Islam is not to blame for these violent acts. Ignorance and anger are to blame. These extremists are taught from a Koran that has been distorted, twisted and changed from it's original text thus in many cases excusing their violence in the name of God. They become fed a steady diet of lies that lead them far from the original teachings of Islam.

Terrorism isn't related to Muslims any more than it is to Christians. There are incidents where Christians have become ignorant to the doctrine of Christ and twisted His teachings to justify violence. Anyone is susceptible to causing terror.

On a smaller scale how often do we get in arguments with neighbors, family or friends when we don't have all the facts, when we jump to conclusions, when we gossip or twist words?

What does it do to us when we dwell on these injustices?

What does it do to us when we see only bad and close our eyes to any of the good around us?

This is where it starts.........If unchecked it leads to violence, misery and sorrow... destroying everything in it's path.

Last general conference our modern day Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson warned against anger.

He quoted the words of the hymn written by Elder Charles W. Penrose, who served in the Quorum of the Twelve and in the First Presidency during the early years of the 20th century:

School thy feelings, O my brother;

Train thy warm, impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom’s voice control.

School thy feelings; there is power

In the cool, collected mind.

Passion shatters reason’s tower,

Makes the clearest vision blind.

On another occasion he quoted this poem by, Bolton Hall:

'I looked at my brother through the microscope of criticism,

and I said, 'How coarse my brother is.'

Then I looked at my brother through the telescope of scorn,

and I said, 'How small my brother is.'

Then I looked into the mirror of truth and I said,

'How like me my brother is.

I pray for all of us, myself included, that we will

seek to understand more,

to get the facts,

to refrain from anger and cease idle words & gossip,

to find the good in our brothers and sisters

no matter what our political view, religious view, cultural background or however different we might me.

No one accomplishes anything by tearing down another human soul.

Let us build each other.

We are all brothers and sisters.

We are all children of the same God.

Let's be civil.

Let's be kind.

I pray for peace.

Oh how I pray for peace.

Let me "be a friend to man"

I heard this poem today. And I really love it. This is my wish.

“The House by the Side of the Road”

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by—
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban;—
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

-Sam Walter Foss,

Eyes of Truth

I listened to a talk by President Monson the other night and he quoted the second poem I have posted here. I loved it!! Wow it is so amazingly true! This first poem is just another one I found that I think goes perfectly well with the second. It is so humbling for me to read such truths. I plead and pray for the Lord to help me see my brother through the eyes of truth, to focus on the good and to have the beam removed out of my eyes so I can see clearly.

God Bless You!

Alicia

R.L. Stevenson who once said:
"There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it ill-behoves any one of us,
To find any fault with the rest of us,"

Bolton Hall once remarked:

"I looked at my Brother
with the Microscope of Criticism,
And I said: "How coarse my Brother is!"
I looked at him through the
Telescope of Scorn
And I said: "How small my Brother is!"
Then I looked in the Mirror of Truth
And I said: "How like me my Brother is"

I love you Grandpa!

I went to my Grandpa's funeral yesterday. He was 92. Joseph B. Wirthlin was 91, his funeral was the day before my Grandpa's. There is no relation between the two men. But I've been thinking alot about the things Elder Wirthlin taught in relationship to my family.

My Grandpa was a good man. He was funny, smart, very hard-working and he had a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My grandpa had his flaws just like we all do... and I regret that most of my life I didn't focus more on his strengths.

So where does this tie into Elder Wirthlin. Well, he gave a talk back in 2005 called, "The Virtue of Kindness" and all day at my grandpa's funeral I kept thinking about this talk.

Elder Wirthlin said:

"Nothing exposes our true selves more than how we treat one another in the home. I often wonder why some feel they must be critical of others. It gets in their blood, I suppose, and it becomes so natural they often don't even think about it. They seem to criticize everyone—...Even when we think we are doing no harm by our critical remarks, consequences often follow."

I regret being critical of my grandpa and not taking the time to focus on the good in him much sooner in life.... I really think I misunderstood him. Sadly, it wasn't until a few months ago that I began to see my grandpa in a different light.

I began to look for the good, and when I did, I started to see it manifested all over the place. He has always, always been kind to me. He always had a joke to tell that would make me smile. Greeting us as we came up the steps to his front door was always some kind of electronic toy that was motion censored, sure to entertain us. His door bell always played a different tune to match the season of the year and even someones birthday. I loved to hear him play the piano (he could play almost any song just by hearing it first.) He loved taking pictures, I think he's passed that on to me... I too want so much to hang on to the memory of my children. He worked so hard to provide for his family (I believe this is one of the ways he showed he loved them.) I know he loved his family deeply, I have no doubt. He just had his own unique way of showing it.

I remember every Christmas looking forward to seeing the star he had lit high above his house on his old radio antenna. It was there every single year and could be seen a mile away. Just over 7 years ago, after his stroke, the star stopped shining and no one has been able to get it working since. I would like to see it shine again just for him.

This last little while I think I've come to understand my grandpa so much more...

I got the feeling that he had a low self esteem. I also believe there are some patterns of behavior passed down from him to my father and then to my son. My son has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, a little OCD and ADHD... it would be interesting to see if this was the case with my grandpa too. I know my dad says he sees himself in my little boy. My son is often greatly misunderstood because of his intense personality, he struggles socially... but I see him as an amazing, huge hearted boy with the best of intentions and wonderful gifts.

One night, a couple of weeks before he died, I called my grandpa just to tell him how much I loved him, I told him that he was a good man and that I was proud of his accomplishments.... he broke down and cried, "I don't know what to say.... I don't know what to say.... (he cried some more) thank you so much... I will sleep better tonight than I have slept in a long, long time... thank you... I love you too, I love you too!"

It's amazing what a few kind words can do!

I have seen and experienced the contagious disease of criticizing, judging, back biting, ill words and gossip. I have seen families tragically torn apart and lives crumble under this horrible illness. This disease starts with the thoughts in ones mind, spreads to the tongue and eventually overtakes the heart weakening and deadening the life of the spirit.

I suppose that the only death that is truly tragic is the death of our ability to love and forgive.

But just as Christ overcame physical death and raised his body from the tomb. He also overcame spiritual death and can bring back to life our ability to love and to forgive. Through Him we can see things so much more clearly, because He is the Light and He sees us as we really are. He is the way to happiness in this life and the life to come.

I'll close this post with these words from Joseph Wirthlin:

"Each one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother may not challenge you at all. Strengths that you possess may seem impossible to another. Never look down on those who are less perfect than you.

We are all children of our Heavenly Father. And we are here with the same purpose: to learn to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

When we are filled with kindness, we are not judgmental. The Savior taught, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."  He also taught that "with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
"But," you ask, "what if people are rude?"
Love them.
"If they are obnoxious?"
Love them.
"But what if they offend? Surely I must do something then?"
Love them.
"Wayward?"
The answer is the same. Be kind. Love them.
Why? In the scriptures Jude taught, "And of some have compassion, making a difference."
Who can tell what far-reaching impact we can have if we are only kind?
My brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ transcends mortality. Our work here is but a shadow of greater and unimaginable things to come...
...As our Heavenly Father loves us, we also should love His children.
May we be models of kindness. May we ever live up to the words of the Savior: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Of these truths I bear witness in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen." - By Joseph B. Wirthlin, given April 2005

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-520-10,00.html

Christian Courage

"To respond in a Christlike way cannot be scripted or based on a formula. The Savior responded differently in every situation….

"Some people mistakenly think responses such as silence, meekness, forgiveness, and bearing humble testimony are passive or weak. But, to “love [our] enemies, bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us]” (Matthew 5:44) takes faith, strength, and, most of all, Christian courage….
When we do not retaliate—when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger—we too stand with the Savior. We show forth His love, which is the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return. That is not weakness. That is Christian courage.

I assure you that to answer our accusers in [kindness] is never weakness. It is Christian courage in action.

“As we respond to others, each circumstance will be different. Fortunately, the Lord knows the hearts of our accusers and how we can most effectively respond to them. As true disciples seek guidance from the Spirit, they receive inspiration tailored to each encounter. And in every encounter, true disciples respond in ways that invite the Spirit of the Lord. Paul reminded the Corinthians that his preaching was “not with the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). Because that power resides in the Spirit of the Lord, we must never become contentious when we are discussing our faith.”

“…More regrettable than the Church being accused of not being Christian is when Church members react to such accusations in an un-Christlike way! May our conversations with others always be marked by the fruits of the Spirit—”love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance” (Galatians 5:22–23). To be meek, as defined in Webster’s Dictionary, is “manifesting patience and longsuffering: enduring injury without resentment.”2 Meekness is not weakness. It is a badge of Christian courage.”

“This is especially important in our interactions with members of other Christian denominations. Surely our Heavenly Father is saddened—and the devil laughs—when we contentiously debate doctrinal differences with our Christian neighbors.”

“This is not to suggest that we compromise our principles or dilute our beliefs. We cannot change the doctrines of the restored gospel, even if teaching and obeying them makes us unpopular in the eyes of the world. Yet even as we feel to speak the word of God with boldness, we must pray to be filled with the Holy Ghost (see Acts 4:29, 31). We should never confuse boldness with Satan’s counterfeit: overbearance (see Alma 38:12). True disciples speak with quiet confidence, not boastful pride.”

“Sometimes others want us to come down off the high ground and join them in a theological scrum in the mud. These few contentious individuals are set on picking religious fights, online or in person. We are always better staying on the higher ground of mutual respect and love.”

“…all who seek to know how we should respond to our accusers, I reply, we love them. Whatever their race, creed, religion, or political persuasion, if we follow Christ and show forth His courage, we must love them. We do not feel we are better than they are. Rather, we desire with our love to show them a better way—the way of Jesus Christ….To help them, to be an example for them, is not for the weak. It is for the strong. It is for you and me, Latter-day Saints who pay the price of discipleship by answering our accusers with Christian courage.”

- Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

view entire talk given Oct. 2008 http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-22,00.html

or listen to it on MP3 http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-947,00.html

(may be viewed in many different languages.) http://www.lds.org/conference/languages/0,6353,310-1,00.html

"Our Fading Civility"

I have shared quotes from the 3 previous chapters of this book I've been reading called, "Standing for Something." You can click on the label with that title to view the other chapters. Today I am sharing from Chapter 4 - "Our Fading Civility." This chapter is intriguing to me because it doesn't take a genius to see how much we are losing simple common courtesy and gentle behavior in our society and throughout the world.
God Bless You!
Thank you for visiting my blog!
Alicia

These are the quotes I'd like to share today. All of the below are from President Gordon B. Hinckley:

"It is not enough just to be good. We must be good for something. We must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for our presence. And the good that is in us must be spread to others. This is the measure of our civility."

"Civility is the root of the word civilization. It carries with it the essence of courtesy, politeness, and consideration of others. How very much of it we have lost in our contemporary society! All of the education and accomplishments in the world will not count for much unless they are accompanied by marks of gentility, of respect for others, of serving as a good Samaritan, of being men and women who look beyond our own selfish interests to the good of others."

"This is the essence of civility - to extend, without price, a helping or lifting hand to those in need; to anxiously look for ways to strengthen those who may have less than we do."

"We are sons and daughters of God, each a member of the divine family. As surely as He is our Father, we are all brothers and sisters. We simply must work unitedly to remove from our hearts and to drive from our society all elements of hatred, bigotry, racism, and other divisive actions and words that limit a person's ability to progress, learn , and be fully accepted. Snide remarks or racial slurs, hateful epithets, malicious gossip, and mean and vicious rumormongering have no place among us."

"None of us needs someone who only points out our areas of weakness and the ways in which we have fallen short. We need someone who encourages us to go forward, to try again, to reach a little higher this time. Excellence is difficult to achieve in a vacuum."

"Imagine how our own families, let alone the world, would change if we vowed to keep faith with one another, strengthen one another, look for and accentuate the virtues in one another, and speak graciously concerning one another. Imagine the cumulative effect if we treated each other with respect and acceptance, if we willingly provided support. Such interactions practiced on a small scale would surely have a rippling effect throughout our homes and communities and, eventually, society at large."

"There are few things more delightful than participating in a conversation with bright and happy people who have something to say, whose dialogue is witty, scintillating, and punctuated not only by good humor but by thoughtful dialogue about serious and important topics.... There is plenty of humor in the world without resorting to dirty jokes or uncouth language."

"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves. By and large, if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves. For many years, there was a sign on the wall of a shoe shop I patronized that read: 'I complained because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.' The most effective medicine for the sickness of self-pity is to lose ourselves in the service of others."

"I don't suppose that many of us will be remembered a thousand years from now. But in this world so filled with problems, so constantly threatened by dark and evil challenges, we can and must rise above mediocrity, above indifference. We can become involved and speak with a strong voice for that which is right and good, and we can lend our efforts and our resources to helping those who have been saddled with handicaps and burdens."

"Caring for others, seeing and reaching beyond our own wants and comforts, cultivating kindness and gentility toward others from all of life's situations and circumstances - these are of the essence of civility, a virtue to be admired, a virtue to be acquired."

- All of the above are quoted from the book by President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Standing for Something."

What are you afraid of?

It seems like every time I turn on the news, all I ever hear about is war, murders, robbery, abuse, lewdness, violence, cheating, fraud, lies, and destruction.... to focus on this can weigh quite heavily on my heart and be quite depressing. Especially when I look at my children and think, "If things are this bad now, what kind of world are they going to be living in when they have children of their own?" It's a frightening thought.

This morning I was reading in Luke 21:26. Here it says that in the last days, men's hearts will fail them because of fear. "Fear" I took an interest in this because of the fear I have felt at times in my own heart. So, I began looking up all the different verses on "fear" that stood out to my mind and wrote them down. These are what I found- these comfort me:

"And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee..."- Gen. 26:24

"Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."- 2Kings 6:16

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"- Psalms 27:1

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."- Prov. 29:25

"For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."- Isaiah 50:7

"Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings."- Isaiah 51:7

"And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord."- Jeremiah 23:3

"And he (Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"- Mark 4:40

"Speak the word without fear."- Philip. 1:14

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."- 2Tim 1:7

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:"- 1John 4:18

"you should not have feared man more than God."- Doctrine and Covenants 3:7


"Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock (the gospel of Jesus Christ), they cannot prevail... Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."- Doctrine and Covenants 6:33,34&36

"... if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. "- Doctrine and Covenants 38:30

"strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me [Jesus Christ]."- Doctrine and Covenants 67:10

Now the final scripture... this one I share last because I jotted down some additional thoughts that go along with explaining this one:

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."- Matt 10:28

This is what came to my mind...
What are the things that can destroy the body but not the Spirit?:
Sickness, Illness, Disease
Natural Disasters, Plagues, Famine,
Accidents, Shootings, Terrorists, Death, Etc.

Now what are the things that destroy our body and our Spirit, and create a literal hell of a life?
Ungratefulness, Jealousy, Greed, Hatred
Selfishness, Lust, Arrogance,
Lies, Hypocrisy, Gossip, Bitterness
Laziness, Self-righteousness, Etc.

The difference between these two forms of destruction is that the first are ones we don't necessarily have any control over....
But the second, (those things we should really fear)- we have complete control over. Each day, every moment we choose whether or not we let these things reside in our hearts or cast them out.
And I wittiness to you that you are not alone in overcoming these things.

Through daily prayer and seeking for God's help to keep these things out of your life, I promise you the riches of Eternity... and peace in this life here and now, no matter what is going on in the news. Your family life will be better, your workplace will be better, relationships with neighbors will be better.

The scriptures bring me so much comfort. I am grateful for something solid to stand on in the midst of a raging sea. I feel anchored and safe... yes... safe, even in this world. Isn't that wonderful!

God Bless You!
Alicia

Gossip

I went to the thrift store the other day and found this little book for only 50 cents called, Jewels of Thought. I found some great little quotes on Gossip. They are short but to the point. I really like them:

These are all by unknown authors...

"It is better to say something good about a bad man, than to say something bad about a good man."

"Beware of your tounge, for it is in a wet place, and can slip often."

"Mud thrown is ground lost- and leaves your hands filthy."

"When a bee stings, it dies. It cannot sting and live. When men [or women] sting, their better selves die. Every sting kills a better instinct. Men [and women] must not turn [or be like] bees and kill themselves in stinging others."

"Always know what you are talking about, but don't always talk about what you know."

"Two things are bad for the heart- running upstairs and running down people."

"Remember- if you must give expression of Prejudice, Attitude and Intolerance- do not speak it but write it. Write it in the sands.... by the water's edge."

May we all strive (including myself) to look for the good in others, to be a little kinder and be careful the things we say.
God bless you,
Alicia

Self-Control

" The first and best victory is to conquer self;
to be conquered by self is of all things most shameful and vile." - Plato

James 3: 1-6

"1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall recieve the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the govenor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Poem: Govern the Tounge, Pray for Charity

I was inspired to write this poem after studying the following verses in the Bible:
Luke 5:44. John 13:34, 35. 1 Corinthians 2:9-14. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4. Galatians 5:16-26. Ephesians 4:29. James 3:3-17.

Compared to the ship itself,
The helm is rather small;
But it’s the helm that turns the ship
And guides it though it all:
So this is with our tongue,
This tiny little member-
Can blaze destruction like a fire
From the smallest of an ember.
If one gives a blessing,
And then they turn to curse another:
Sings praises to our God above
But loathes and hates his brother…
Which master do they follow?
What are the seeds then sown?
Discern the works of righteousness,
By their fruits they shall be known.
If something does not edify
And encourage greater love,
How can it truly be of God-
Or claim wisdom from above?
If I preach great words of knowledge
And have the gift of prophecy
My words become as sounding brass
If I am void of charity.
Let us then control our tongues
Of speaking ill of others,
And rid our hearts of prejudice
Or fighting with our brothers.
Let us follow Jesus Christ.
Let us pray for charity-
Pray for strength over the flesh
And walk more peaceably.
Through His grace may we strive
To focus on the good
And never tear another down
Let us do as Jesus would.

By- Alicia Rawlins
Visit my website http://www.aliciarawlins.com/