by Saint Mark (bio)
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints call them "talks," but most (non)Christians call them sermons. This is a series of sermons that many Latter-day Saints love and believe. I hope these sermons promote and perfect your faith as they do mine.Do you ever have the feeling that you finally have a handle on a gospel principle, e.g. repentance, tithing, the sacrament, and then Elder David A. Bednar comes along and, as my son says, "blows your eyes out"? Elder Bednar in October 2008 General Conference showed me how my prayers needed deepening.
Here is just one example:
There may be things in our character, in our behavior, or concerning our spiritual growth about which we need to counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. After expressing appropriate thanks for blessings received, we plead for understanding, direction, and help to do the things we cannot do in our own strength alone. For example, as we pray, we might:
• Reflect on those occasions when we have spoken harshly or inappropriately to those we love the most.
• Recognize that we know better than this, but we do not always act in accordance with what we know.
• Express remorse for our weaknesses and for not putting off the natural man more earnestly.
• Determine to pattern our life after the Savior more completely.
• Plead for greater strength to do and to become better.
Such a prayer is a key part of the spiritual preparation for our day.
Moreover, through the example of Lehi, Elder Bednar's insight about praying for others was something I had never considered before. As I am always looking for the most effective and most efficient route (which are sometimes mutually exclusive), I appreciate Elder Bednar explicating how my prayers could become more efficacious.
Did you have any experiences with using Elder Bednar's suggestions?
Check out the entire sermon or watch it here.
• Reflect on those occasions when we have spoken harshly or inappropriately to those we love the most.
• Recognize that we know better than this, but we do not always act in accordance with what we know.
• Express remorse for our weaknesses and for not putting off the natural man more earnestly.
• Determine to pattern our life after the Savior more completely.
• Plead for greater strength to do and to become better.
Such a prayer is a key part of the spiritual preparation for our day.
Moreover, through the example of Lehi, Elder Bednar's insight about praying for others was something I had never considered before. As I am always looking for the most effective and most efficient route (which are sometimes mutually exclusive), I appreciate Elder Bednar explicating how my prayers could become more efficacious.
Did you have any experiences with using Elder Bednar's suggestions?
Check out the entire sermon or watch it here.
