How to Resist Temptation: Learning from Christ's Example

In the account of Jesus Christ, telling his disciples how his forty day fast concluded, we learn of his example to resist temptations. Satan tempted him with hunger, pride, and kingdoms. 

I gathered the following ways to resist temptation:

Keep an eternal perspective. 

Ponder the doctrine of Christ

Remember the commandments & word of God.

An eternal perspective is an ever developing point of view, considering the long term affects of one's actions.

The doctrine of Christ is the plan of Salvation, Godhead, and atonement of Jesus Christ. Eternal perspectives are more fruitful, when it is based on the doctrine of Christ and truth.

It is hard to even recognize temptation, if an individual does not remember the commandments. "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 11:26) The Spirit will help you remember the commandments in time of temptation; however, verbalizing it like Christ can be a strength. 

Man's Temptations & Weaknesses are not Sin

Man's temptations and weaknesses are not sin; however, when men chose to follow the temptation, that is sin. People tend to unnecessarily feel guilty and define themselves by their weaknesses and temptation. Jesus Christ experienced every temptation, yet he lived a perfect life. He can be a great source of strength as described in the following scripture verses:

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12)

Counting up to 9,999,999

One thing that I have been writing about is my practice of counting in Thai. I reached up to 999 in my last update. I can count up to 9999999 now. Thai is interesting because there is a word for ten thousand & one hundred thousand. I developed a way for me to remember the order and name of each number. 

The learning aid is inspired or chosen because PMS exists. I don't know want it is. All I know is that it is a girl thing, and it messes with their emotions. I also add an R to the left, and a L on the right of PMS; RPMSL. Some things are backwards in the Thai language, so R, standing for 'right' hand, and L for 'left' hand is backward. L is not on the left, and R is not on the right of the acronym PMS. 

R stands for 100, which is pronounced Roy. The 'R' is rolled, but it is a very quick one. P stands for the word phan, which is 1000. The H is less emphasized. The ph does not make a F sound, or you will bring your significant other into your high digit numbers. 10,000 is pronounced 'muen'. The U is wierd in this word. I don't know an English word to illustrate the sound. 'San' is the word for 100,000 dollars. That word is simple, and 1,000,000 is simple too as it is pronounced 'Lan'. 

I like to practice the number 1,234,567 or ๑,๒๓๔,๕๖๗. It is pronounced Neng Lan Song San Sam Muen Si Phan Ha Roy Hok Sip Jet. 

๑ = 1 (Neng)

๑,๐๐๐,๐๐๐ = one million (Lan)

๒ = 2 (Song)

๑๐๐,๐๐๐ = one hundred thousand (San)

๓ = 3 (Sam)

๑๐,๐๐๐ = ten thousand (Muen)

๔ = 4 (Si)

๑,๐๐๐ = one thousand (Phan)

๕ = 5 (Ha)

๑๐๐ = one hundred (Roy)

๖ = 6 (Hok)

๑๐ = ten (Sib)

๗ = 7 (jet)

R(100)

P(1,000)

M(10,000)

S(100,000)

L(1,000,000)

I actually think counting in Thai is more simple than English. Many things are more simple in Thai.

Questioning Cycling Gear

Cycling home in the rain, I bike mostly up hill. Shoe covers & waterproof bicycle pants work great at keeping what they protect dry; however, I question waterproof cycling jackets. What is the use? I get home soaked anyways; instead of water, my shirt is drenched in sweat. It only makes sense if your bike ride is chill.

A Reflection on a Most Uplifting Missionary Work Institute Lesson

Jessica & I went to institute in the evening. The lesson was a most inspiring one about missionary work. I learned that people are more receptive when you are 100% a missionary. My casual attempts have felt overbearing or not authentic. People tend get defensive when I approach people about the church, having "two" sides or an awkward attempt. A missionary perhaps "fake" side, which rarely comes out, and my personal example. I tend to be a listening type of person with an accepting & comforting humor. I try to be interested in people being a true uplifting friend.

The teacher shared an example from his mission. Brother Diaz was known as the missionary machine. The following is his backstory to how he became 100% a missionary: Brother Diaz was deathly ill, &  he covenanted that he will consecrate himself to missionary work. When he recovered, he got sick again.  He definitely thought that he would die. He covenanted again; health for missionary service. Since he did not keep his promise, his promised health was withdrawn. His second covenant & health was paralyzing, but he had to dedicate himself or he will die. He became known as a missionary machine, sharing the gospel with everyone tactfully. The fruits of his efforts are hundreds converted. Every relationship for Brother Diaz was Christ oriented, seeking to bring each other to him, and people recognized that.

I was 100% a missionary at one time. My foremost experience was when I flew home alone from my mission in Jamaica. I taught every person around me about Christ, and they recognized my devotion. I had at least ten people. I even missed a flight because I was eating Iunch with a returning missionary like me, but for the Jehovah Witness religion. One person asked for my contact information, but I was a fool, declining his request. 

I have dreams occasionally to be back in the mission field. I love helping people to learn about the true plan for man's salvation & nature of God, but I don't understand how to be a Brother Diaz. 

Missionary Work: The Life Blood of the Church

Life blood of the Church is missionary work.   

Missionary work is like exercising without it the church would decay.   

Muscle atrophy.   

Push your limits.   

Missionary stories   

did not many baptized? The one convert baptized his whole street & his whole family.   

A mission president only baptized one person on his mission years ago. He asked the teacher's mother about her family because she was his only convert. Elder Booth is beloved in their family.  

"Failed" on mission causes people to go less active.   

Work for the one.   

What am I to do to contribute to the Church, Joseph?   

2 ... Iift up your voices as with the sound of a trump, to declare my gospel unto a crooked and perverse generation.   

D&C 33:8 Open your mouths and they shall be filled   

9   Open your mouths and they shall be filled   

10   Open your mouths and they shall be filled  

You never know who is ready, and share will prepare other,   

Gather the elect.   

Kirkland is where Syndey Rigdon & his congregation joined the church, preparing for the gathering of the saints there; a fruit of Oliver Cowdery, Peter Witmer Jr., Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson.

D&C 4:2...he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;   

solemn obligation   

solemn responsibility  

Brother Diaz was dealthly ill, &  he covenanted that he will consecrate himself to missionary work. When he recovered, he got sick again. He definitely thought that he would die. He covenanted again; health for missionary service. His new covenant & health was paralyzing, but he had to dedicate himself or he will die. He became known as a missionary machine, sharing the gospel with everyone tactfully. The fruits of his efforts are hundreds converted.   

Be a missionary 100% or people will not believe you.   

You can have peace in the middle of a storm with Jesus Christ; an amenable comment.   

All commandments will bring safety & peace to your life.   

Law of chastity   

Word of Wisdom

Cycling Story: That's a first.

January 16, 2019

Cycling home from work today, I was socially pleased to enjoy my first experience, where I recognized a fellow cyclist. A guy passed me, and he greeted me as he pressed forward. "Oh. Hey Alex". 

The man's name is Steve, and I know him from church. He sings in the ward choir with me. It took me a long time to remember his name. I would call him by wrong names. He says that his bike ride to work is 7 miles.

The Promises and Covenant of Baptism

Baptism is a covenant. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines covenant as "a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action."

I plan to teach my CTR 5 class the promises of both side of the baptismal covenant. This covenant is between God and his child, living in mortal life. This covenant is the first of many in the Gospel path to obtain mortal and immortal joy.

First I will list the promises God gives as the following:

Eternal life, the greatest gift of God, is an eternal family with your spouse. Your children in time can be sealed to you too, if you obtain all the covenants of the Gospel and remain faithful to the end. The blessed and joyous life of eternal life is the life of Heavenly Father, and it is unimaginable. Faithful members of the Church will live in the presence of Heavenly Father.

Arising during the first resurrection is obtaining your body again; however, it is in a perfect and immortal state. Imagine yourself flawless and perfect multiplied by infinity. This is celestial glory.

God will bless you temporally. The blessing are not only for after this life. He will provide the means for you to be temporally successful. He does not want you to be poor. The life of people who follow the Gospel have lightened burdens.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is another great gift that God gives man in mortality. It includes the right to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, who is the member of the Godhead. The fruits of spirit are the following: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, (&) temperance" (Galatians 5:22).

The remission of your sins is a gift that I think might be overlooked. I dislike having trespassed against God or man, seeking to resolve the issue quickly. Imagine that one never felt forgiven for all their sins and trespasses. This is most of the world's state. I should be a greater missionary sharing what I have, but I have not figured out how to share it well. You can forgive and be forgiven.

The privilege of being spiritually reborn was listed in the 'True to the Faith' book. It is a privilege to be baptized by one, holding the priesthood authority of God; however, you emerge from being buried in the water and arise to a Godly life, following his path.

A greater power to change comes of the atonement of Jesus Christ. I believe that all change to goodness is a manifestation of the Holy Ghost in an individual's life to change their heart. There is great power in the atonement and power of God, for "With God, nothing is impossible."

Access to blessings of the priesthood are abundant for members of the Kingdom of God. The priesthood is a patriarchal order. Patriarchal blessings are basically a personal letter from Heavenly Father to an individual. Fathers can bless their children with comfort and counsel with blessings of God, and bless their children in times of sickness and affliction according to God's will. The homes of people are blessed by the priesthood to be sanctuaries from the world. There are many more blessings.

Guidance from God comes from the Holy Ghost as a constant companion and revelation is more a normal occurrence, since individuals are blessed with deeper relationships with God.

People promise God the following things:

To take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ

Follow Savior's example

Remember & keep his commandments

Serve him to the end

Separate yourself from the world

Stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all things and in all places"

Keep your thoughts, language, and actions pure

Seek wholesome entertainment

Dress modestly

Stay away from pornography, gambling, drugs, tobacco, and alcohol.

Serve man

Bear one another burdens

"Willing to mourn with those that mourn … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort"

Humble yourself before God

Daily prayer

I don't have time to expound on God's requirements of us, but I thought to add that the requirements of man before baptism is the following:

Faith in Jesus Christ and his restored church on earth through his prophets.

Give up the world

Give up the natural man

Repent

"And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God." (Moroni 8:25-26)

Cycling Story: Finding a Phone in an Intersection

Last night was crazy because I found a random phone in the middle of the road, cycling home. The screen was damaged, but it was not cracked. The phone was oddly recieving many calls from a gym, which was not answered by a person when I returned the call. Another phone number called when I arrived home, and I answered the call. It was the husband of the phone's owner. I sensed fear and precausion in their voices. I arranged for them to meet me at my apartments. When the lady arrived, she was grateful to have her phone returned, but she told her story to a neighbor. The phone was stolen from the gym locker. The thief cut her lock. I suspect that they could not access full functionality of the phone, and they threw it out the window.

The Cleansing Affect by Baptism of Fire and Water

Jessica and I pondered the cleansing affect of water and fire/heat, learning about how ovens clean themselves. The method is to burn the contents to easily wipeable carbon with excessive heat. The recieving of the gift of the Holy Ghost is also known as the baptism of fire, cleansing our soul. 

We spoke of cleaning things with water. If people don't continuely clean their dishes, they could get sick. Uncleanliness can represent sin, but what are the spiritual illnesses? I thought of doubt, pride, and entitlement. These spiritual illnesses are contagious, but man can develop them in isolation, if they are not careful. Man tend to forget their faith without the continue effort of cleansing their soul. The best way is through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism by immersion in the church; having the authority to administer the ordinances of salvation. That is the initial cleansing of the gospel, but man need to continuely sanctify themselves by following the covenant path, leading to the temple ordinances. The sacrament is a weekly ordinance, renewing all of an individual's covenants. Faithfulness to this practice is most important to remaining clean. The nurture of knowledge of God by reading the scriptures is another key to feeling the spirit, the baptism of fire, and maintaining our spiritual immune system to doubt, pride, and entitlement. Daily prayer and remaining faithful to the commandments of God are other keys to retaining our spiritual immune system. I am realizing that maintaining our immune system can be represented by our temple recommend or testimony of Jesus Christ. Let's continue to work on our personal spiritual cleanliness.

My Witness of Jesus Christ

Before Heavenly Father had Jehovah create the Earth, he proposed the implementation of the Plan of Salvation. Heavenly Father had a resurrected body of flesh and bone, and he wanted to share his joy of eternal life with all his children. Jehovah had a crucial role in the Plan of Salvation for he was elected to perform an atonement. 

This atonement of Jesus Christ as he will be known by in mortality was controversial in the Grand Counsel because a man named Lucifer did not believe that sin and choice was necessary. He had a plan to save everyone, but he desired glory above all. One third of God's children were cast out of Heaven as they rejected Heavenly Father's Plan for the Salvation of man. Satan was given enmity to make mortality especially horrifying on top of the veil of forgetfullness, blocking our memory of our premortal life.

The Godhead is God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. They are three different people, but they are completely united. We pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost typically answers on the Father's behalf. 

The Holy Ghost cleanses our souls by the power of Jesus Christ's atonement. It is by the power of God that man learns, discovers, changes, and loves. All things good are inspired by God. 

The path that Jesus calls the gospel is the way to eternal life. He reveals it to his prophets, giving them power and authority. The truth is restored through them to establish his church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church that Jesus Christ leads today through his prophets. Joseph Smith is the first of this dispensation, and God prepared an essential work for him to do in building the church. It is called the keystone of the religion. Book of Mormon is another witness to Christ, an expression of the power of God unto the convincing of man. The book is more scripture for man to learn of Christ. 

I encourage you to explore the opportunities to learn more about Jesus Christ, for all truth has been revealed by him. More truth has been explained in words of modern and ancient prophets by the power of God and the Holy Ghost. The joys of eternity are available to discover in this day.

I bear witness that it is line upon line; precept upon precept that man learns of God. Experiment upon the word. Learn to feel his inspiration. Let go of doubt, and trust in him. Hearken to his word, and he will reveal his nature to you. These are witnesses of the Godhead. God is love. We are all family, and Heavenly Father is preparing a path for all his children to learn of all the joys of eternal life. I have been raised in his church and kingdom, and I have practiced these principles. The assurance that comes of revelation is the foundation of my faith that the fullness of the gospel has been restored in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.