"Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them."
Helaman 5:7
In this chapter Nephi gives up the judgment seat because he is tired of the wickedness, and he and his brother Lehi decide to become missionaries for the rest of their days. And the reason they give is what their father taught them, part of which is this verse. He gave them the names of prophets from the scriptures because he wanted them to always remember what was important, and live up to the names that he had given them. And it got me thinking about our lives and the mark we are making, and what we will leave behind us. It's something to think about, and perhaps something that can help us improve our perspective. We often hear stories of people's last messages to their families, saying what they wished they had done more of in their lives, or what was really important. ... But if we wait until the end to realize those things, then we are realizing them too late, aren't we? We have to get out of the trap of letting the emotion of the moment rule us. We have to let go of the ego trips and the pride... assuming that we know better than God. We need to look at our lives and figure out what is going to really make a difference, and what we are really going to care about looking back... and choose *that* rather than the other things that keep getting in the way. We have to let go of *ourselves* in so many ways... not "let ourselves go," but let go of always focusing on what's fair and what will make us look good and how we stack up in comparison to others. We have to think about what is actually good, and the influence we have on the people around us. We can all do so much good, and make such a difference. Even if we aren't named after prophets, it doesn't mean we can't live up to their examples, and light the world just as much. No matter where we are, mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally... there are so many things around us ... so many opportunities to do good, to touch people's lives positively. Today, let's take advantage of those opportunities. Let's do good, and make an impact for good in the world. Even if just one person's day is better because we were there... let's do that good. Let's change lives, a little at a time.
Helaman 5:7
In this chapter Nephi gives up the judgment seat because he is tired of the wickedness, and he and his brother Lehi decide to become missionaries for the rest of their days. And the reason they give is what their father taught them, part of which is this verse. He gave them the names of prophets from the scriptures because he wanted them to always remember what was important, and live up to the names that he had given them. And it got me thinking about our lives and the mark we are making, and what we will leave behind us. It's something to think about, and perhaps something that can help us improve our perspective. We often hear stories of people's last messages to their families, saying what they wished they had done more of in their lives, or what was really important. ... But if we wait until the end to realize those things, then we are realizing them too late, aren't we? We have to get out of the trap of letting the emotion of the moment rule us. We have to let go of the ego trips and the pride... assuming that we know better than God. We need to look at our lives and figure out what is going to really make a difference, and what we are really going to care about looking back... and choose *that* rather than the other things that keep getting in the way. We have to let go of *ourselves* in so many ways... not "let ourselves go," but let go of always focusing on what's fair and what will make us look good and how we stack up in comparison to others. We have to think about what is actually good, and the influence we have on the people around us. We can all do so much good, and make such a difference. Even if we aren't named after prophets, it doesn't mean we can't live up to their examples, and light the world just as much. No matter where we are, mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally... there are so many things around us ... so many opportunities to do good, to touch people's lives positively. Today, let's take advantage of those opportunities. Let's do good, and make an impact for good in the world. Even if just one person's day is better because we were there... let's do that good. Let's change lives, a little at a time.
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