Friday 22 June 2018....Elder Bednar

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/04/meek-and-lowly-of-heart?lang=eng

This is a very complicated talk. 

Meekness is active. Not passive. We must choose to be meek. Meekness is not timidness. Timid is very passive. Timidness allows anything to happen to it. Meekness knows it can stop something but allows it to pass, not because a person enjoys it, but because there is a greeter thing that will come after.

Meekness is a very conscientious activity. It takes thought. It is not talking when you could. It is not just being quite. It is being being quite when you could do something.

Some passages from the talk that I thought were very helpful. 

‘The Christlike quality of meekness often is misunderstood in our contemporary world. Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; and gracious, not brash. A meek person is not easily provoked, pretentious, or overbearing and readily acknowledges the accomplishments of others.’

‘The Great Redeemer, who “descended below all things” and suffered, bled, and died “to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” tenderly washed the dusty feet of His disciples. Such meekness is a hallmark characteristic of the Lord as a servant and leader.’

‘The consistency of the Lord’s willing submission and strong self-restraint is both awe-inspiring and instructive for us all. As an armed company of temple guardsmen and Roman soldiers arrived at Gethsemane to seize and arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. The Savior then touched the servant’s ear and healed him. Please note that He reached out and blessed His potential captor using the same heavenly power that could have prevented Him from being captured and crucified.’

This is my favorite example. I think it explains the concept of meekness best. 

‘Mormon identifies meekness as the foundation from which all spiritual capacities and gifts arise.

“Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

“And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

“If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.”‘

I very much like this passage. It helps me to see meekness is so very important. We can do something, but we choose to restrain ourselves. 

19 June 2018....

I have been doing some reading about Socrates.

 He was a major influence on stoic ideas some people say. 

I like the idea of Socratic method and Socratic irony. 

Once I was trying to use some Socratic method, but  some one say to me that they thought I was being overly negative. In a way it can seem that way because you’re constantly looking for a more specific question. Looking for a more specific why. We always need to look deeper at why or how we do things. There are things I may not want to do. So what. Some things have to be done. 

I understand lawyers are taught with it. I wish some would use it more. 

I’m my personal experience, I have had to learn to be ruthlessly honest with myself. I have tried to do a few things by myself since my stroke. I need help if I want to do them. Somethings I have learned better after thinking and misunderstanding them for twenty years. 

How brutally honest are we being with ourselves? 

Better we do it now than be forced into it later. 

23 May 2018.......so I get up early

It has not been the best for me recently. My body seems to be going through lots of things and that makes me not want to do anything. 

Mornings, early mornings, seem to be the best time for me to do anything. The bothersome previous day is gone.  The body and mind have rested and disconnected from almost everything that was troubling them. We in many ways can truly start new. 

I alway like to start early. I go by the saying,”Early to bed. Early to rise. Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” There are other things that say the same thing.

For me it is partly out of necessity. Hurting is not fun. When I go to bed I’m fine. After 7 or 8 hours it can hurt. Not as much now as it used to, but still not fun. 

One hour into the day and I’m getting tired already. Next time. 

February, 26 2018

February  25, 2018

Sabbath day 

Big topic. Best place to start with what it says in the 10 commandments 

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exodus 20

And then the Savior gave us some information about the sabbath. 

9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

LUKE 6

26  [David] went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Mark 2

Sabbath, Sunday, is a special day. The Lord gave it to us to do his work. To focus on him. It is for us to remember our Heavenly Father and His Son. 

There are lots people who must work on Sunday; doctors, nurses, police, military, bus drivers, the list is longer. Point being they help, do good. 

There are things we can do during the other six days. Some businesses started being open on Sunday. They say it is for convince.  For who? You or them.

Is what we need to do only able to be done on Sunday. Can it be done any other day?

For example, the super bowl. Many people love it. Personally, I would call it entertainment. True the super bowl only happens on Sunday. Anything that happens on Sunday for entertainment by itself...... I knew somebody whose family would record the game and them watched it at midnight, so it was technically Monday. Personally I don’t watch sports of any kind, not because I don’t care, but the more time passes, I care less and less about sports, part of it may be that I can’t play. That’s a different story. Point. We can find entertainment any day. Sunday is just an excuse. Granted it has become a cultural event, if you can call football culture. Still Sunday is the Lords day. 

One thing that I came to realize after class and lesson. “full purpose of hear“ is the key. We can’t be half baked. 

January 28 2018...President Nelson, October conference 2017.

January 27, 2018

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/the-book-of-mormon-what-would-your-life-be-like-without-it?lang=eng

Great talk. 

One thing I noticed is that his questions seem, to me, to be very simple. 

In that way I am looking beyond the mark. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. 

Looking for the deep doctrine is most likely going to make us drowned. 

What are the small and truly important things that we my be missing. 

I’ve got this big, beautiful brain but in many way it gets me in trouble. I need to keep my eye on the target, the mark. 

15 January 2018. Have I done any good in the world today?

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/refuge-from-the-storm?lang=eng

This is one of the best talks from General Conference I have ever heard. 

Normally I would use the talks that I know will be used for priesthood lesson. This week I had stake conference. 

This talk has so much. So many things we all need to hear. 

one of the most important. 

 “.....did her best to allocate limited resources to limitless need. She, as so many like her, has been a literal ministering angel.”

We can’t do it all. We can do something. Are we being an angel to those we can be an angel for?

The talk reminds me of the hymn, “Have I done any good I the world today?”

Are we noticing what needs to be done?

One thing I have always had to ask myself is, “can I do more.” “Do I need to do more?”  Because we are all human. There is only so much we can do. Much thought and much prayer are always needed. 

July-December 2017. Getting warmed up.

StoicChristianLatter-DaySaint

Philosophy of Nathan........

So, this is….

Stoic philosophy, the Ancient Greek/Roman kind.

I'm not really a fan of what I have read about neostoicism. 

I really don't condone the suicide idea. 

The word "stoic" has come to mean "unemotional" or indifferent to pain because Stoic ethics taught freedom from "passion" by following "reason".

“Logic, reflection, and concentration were the methods of self-discipline.”

“unhappiness and evil are the results of human ignorance of the reason in nature”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism

Christian philosophy. At least my take. Not truly traditional. 

Latter-Day saint philosophy. Again, my take. I will most likely include lots of Sunday school general conference thoughts. Pretty much trumps all. 

Me. I'm just human. 

Added January 2018:  General conference talks from the most recent conference. 

This is more or less about my understanding of religion and philosophy. If you don't like it or don't agree, remember, no one is forcing you to read. 

July 30

2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.

10 And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement—

11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose  of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.

Everything must have its opposite. Some opposites are easy to identify. Some are more difficult. 

Love is said to be the opposite of hate. I agree with the idea that love is more the opposite of indifference. 

But another idea that I discovered recently is that love is the opposite of kindness. Or if you try to be to kind, you can end up killing any love that was there. 

Explanation. I have a great love for the gospel. In love and kindness I want to share it with others. If someone does not want to accept my gift, I do need to force them to take it. The more I push anything, the more likely someone is to think, “Do they love me or the idea of me a certain way, more?”  

The Savior referred to us as neighbors. We are all equals in His sight. 

August 2017

So how is it that we are so intolerant of others, and demand such a high price of others,  yet we expect so little of ourselves sometimes?

Justice and mercy 

We all want justice until we feel we need mercy. 

We all want to give endless mercy until we feel we need justice. 

Two things that are so opposite but so important and both so desirable. I do not understand all the opposites that are so important to all of us as humans. 

One thing that I understand is right brain and left brain. Even more since the stroke. My stroke occurred on the left side of my brain mostly. That made it possible for me to act more “normal” than if the stroke and bleeding had happened on the right side. My emotions are nuts most of the time. Still, I can keep them in check fairly wełl. The stroke is part of me. Now more so than initially. 

One thing I am more tolerant to the slowness of many things now. One thing I have learned am am learning more all the time is that the Lords time is not human time. We, as humans want time to move faster so much. We don't seem to be capable of speed most of the time. We should be grateful that the lord allows us to move at a much slower pace. 

September 

What is it that God wants most from us?

I would answer He wants our love and obedience. They are so closely related you can not separate one from the other. 

We may be constantly bombarded by ideas that in many ways make logical sense to us. The one thing that we have to remember, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9. 

Human logic and learning only goes so far. We must rely on the Lord. He will always no more than we do. 

I will admit I am smart. Very smart. I could probably run mental circles around most people. The simple fact is we are of two minds and always have been. Can we be logical, sure. We can also be emotional. Most people say that when we are using the logic part of or brain we are mean. If we use the emotional side me are unstable. Both opinions are right. We must have both parts. 

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so,….., righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.” 2 Nephi 11, 12

So I had stake conference today. 

I was made to remember an idea. We are many times taught in the LDS church that sealing is like a chain. While this is a good analogy I think chainmail is a better analogy. 

Both husband and wife are sealed to their respective parents, regardless of how old they are. Husbands and wives are sealed to each other, and children are sealed to both parents. 

We can think of it as a type of protection that is doubled because we have to parents. 

I haven't got the best idea about this. It's getting better. 

October 

So I have been thinking about how we, as humans, think. We want to consider ourselves logical, unemotional, rational, and everything that goes along with them. We are emotional, flighty, vacillating. 

We want to think we are logical, rational creatures. We are governed by emotions regardless of how logical we think we are or can be. 

As much as we say we like facts we don't want to be governed by them. 

Facts are hard to argue against. We want to but if we do we loose. 

As much as we like facts we need to be governed with love also. Facts and love don’t mix well, like oil and water. 

Opposition in all things. Love and emotions can only take us so far. Logic of facts can only take us so far. We need both. In some ways they work against each other. If we devote ourselves to one or the other we only get part of the picture.

In many ways we, as humans, are always convinced our answers are right. No matter what we do. Individually, we are flawed beyond measure. Time is what really offers us individual clarity. 

Before my stroke, I was convinced I had the right answer most of the time. One way my stroke has been a blessing is that I see how much I need other people. In a way I hate the fact. It can make me feel dependent. Some people have let me know, by their actions that helping me is a burden. Other have spoken boldface to my parents and then the message was shared with me.  Like I have said before, my life, in many ways has become I topic of conversation. I hate that fact.  I try to do things myself but many things are hard to do. Combing my hair would be impossible for me so I have decided to shave my head. 

I have learned I have to fight for my rights. No one is going to just give me anything. Despiteq the fact that I’m in a wheelchair and look amazing minus the looking amazing. 

I want to be the ultimate authority about many things, everything at times. I don’t know what the best answer is most of the time. I’ve wanted to be that way forever. 

I am not sure about a lot right now. I feel so crumby right now. 

So reading the Sunday school lesson has got me thinking. We must help others all we can. But how are we helping already. 

Are we actively helping, are we passively helping. Are we paying fast offerings.  This must be a very active thing we must do. 

Taxes are generally a very passive thing that everyone must do. Still there are so many programs that exist and we will never have to open our wallets for because the programs get the money they use from our taxes we pay. 

November 

Logic, ruthless logic is essential for life. At the same time, love and compassion, charity is essential to anything we want to do. 

We must use logic if we want to be happy. But we must go beyond logic if we want to understand ourselves and those around us. 

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1 croithans 13

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Moroni 7

 

So most important is charity. Charity is more than just helping in some fashion. “Charity is the pure love of Christ.” Love that never fails. 

Love or Charity, is formost, before anything else. Then logic and reason. Other emotions must be used at times. But we must return to love as quickly as possible. 

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile--

43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

D&C 121

Love above all. Logic, facts, reason next. Other emotions if needed. 

We are emotional creatures. That doesn’t mean we should let emotions rule our lives. 

Love and compassion are more closely related to logic and reason than any of us might think. 

Most of the questions we have could be solved, in part, by a reduction in technology. I am not saying we should reduce technology. We must consider what we can and cannot do with and without technology. 

What we can do with technology is wonderful. Medical technology is wonderful. I would be dead, most likely, without it. That said, what would this world be like with no more access to the many items we currently have. Just medical technology. 

We have to go to the Least Common Denomater. 

A very difficult thing to understand is what we can honestly do by ourselves, and what we need others to do for us. 

There are many things I can do by myself. I hate doing them because they are very hard and time consuming for me to do. 

 

As I think about what is the best way to compare ourselves.  It was done for us. 

“Physician, heal thyself.”

I have been thinking that I will change how I write. I will focus on talks from general conference talks. It will be more simple. I have so much I want to talk about and write.

I am simply not sure what to say or think in someways right.