I got a gym membership with childcare 3 days ago, and have gone twice now (so sore!) and am resting today (a Sunday). I wanted to get in better shape so I would feel better about how I look, and have better energy and endurance to keep up with my kids.
Yesterday I was listening to something someone shared with me about how to receive a Second Comforter experience, and he talked about keeping the commandments and to keep them you have to search the scriptures to learn them. A lot of things on this path I've not wanted to do my own research about, but have preferred to read or listen to the research of others. Some things I have researched for myself (head coverings, early Relief Society) but when it came to a visit with God I didn't want to have to dig through the scriptures (honestly my mission almost ruined the scriptures for me largely due to the lack of freedom about what to study). This morning my heart was softened, and I repented of this anti-scripture mentality and was going to start searching the old testament commandments. So I went to Genesis Chapter 1, and a verse or two in after thinking I should remember to look for the "Joseph Smith Translation" footnotes, the Spirit said, "Then you should really start with Moses 1" And there it is Moses encountering God and being physically exhausted afterwards. And the Spirit said, "and you want to see God, but a couple little work outs at the gym leave you sore? Do you really think you are ready for the physical toll of an encounter with God?" And I remembered another part of the talk/interview I'd listened to he talked about the laws about what to eat having things in common with the word of wisdom, and there being a connection between health and spirituality. And this was a HUGE "Ah ha" moment for me. Surely ALL commandments ARE spiritual. The LDS Church teaches the word of wisdom like a way to live longer, and sometimes that drugs and alcohol can interfere with feeling the influence of the Spirit, but this brings a whole new insight and reason to be healthy. Joseph Smith was a farmer and they are strong! And he was tired after encounters with God. Now, I'll be working out with a completely different motivation than I started with! If my health has been something preventing the ability to encounter the divine I will do what it takes to regain the physical stamina I once had before having kids. Let God and your love for Them and your desire to return to Their presence motivate you to gain the physical stamina to be able to withstand such an encounter.
Yesterday I was listening to something someone shared with me about how to receive a Second Comforter experience, and he talked about keeping the commandments and to keep them you have to search the scriptures to learn them. A lot of things on this path I've not wanted to do my own research about, but have preferred to read or listen to the research of others. Some things I have researched for myself (head coverings, early Relief Society) but when it came to a visit with God I didn't want to have to dig through the scriptures (honestly my mission almost ruined the scriptures for me largely due to the lack of freedom about what to study). This morning my heart was softened, and I repented of this anti-scripture mentality and was going to start searching the old testament commandments. So I went to Genesis Chapter 1, and a verse or two in after thinking I should remember to look for the "Joseph Smith Translation" footnotes, the Spirit said, "Then you should really start with Moses 1" And there it is Moses encountering God and being physically exhausted afterwards. And the Spirit said, "and you want to see God, but a couple little work outs at the gym leave you sore? Do you really think you are ready for the physical toll of an encounter with God?" And I remembered another part of the talk/interview I'd listened to he talked about the laws about what to eat having things in common with the word of wisdom, and there being a connection between health and spirituality. And this was a HUGE "Ah ha" moment for me. Surely ALL commandments ARE spiritual. The LDS Church teaches the word of wisdom like a way to live longer, and sometimes that drugs and alcohol can interfere with feeling the influence of the Spirit, but this brings a whole new insight and reason to be healthy. Joseph Smith was a farmer and they are strong! And he was tired after encounters with God. Now, I'll be working out with a completely different motivation than I started with! If my health has been something preventing the ability to encounter the divine I will do what it takes to regain the physical stamina I once had before having kids. Let God and your love for Them and your desire to return to Their presence motivate you to gain the physical stamina to be able to withstand such an encounter.
