Principle 10- Creating Our Character

  Principle 10

        We must make faith, prayer, love, and humility

a living part of our individual character

The power of gospel teachings to expand and enlarge our capacity is not apparent until we consistently allow the Holy Spirit to make them part of our daily practice.

God forges our personal character

 as we sincerely serve others

It is only by DOING the things the Lord counsels us to do that we are given the capacity and understanding we need. This is the leap of faith. DO FIRST AND THEN RECEIVE.

A testimony is the very essence of character woven from threads born of COUNTLESS CORRECT decisions. These choices are made with trusting faith in things that are believed, and at least initially, are not seen.

     CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY

A testimony gives PEACE, COMFORT, and ASSURANCE as we develop a conviction that OBEDIENCE to the teachings of the Savior will create a beautiful life, secure future, and the capacity to overcome challenges.

                            A testimony grows from:

1. Understanding truth through prayer

2. Pondering scriptural doctrine

3. Living those truths with faith           

Learn how to live the commandments when there is no pressure on you. 

Develop a strong character by practicing standards and consistently making correct choices. Then in an emergency situation, your training will kick in and you will come out unscathed. 

When the principles of the Gospel have become such a part of who you are, 

you will see miracles produced. 

My thoughts: Many times people who are in difficult situations look back and regret the choices they made. I find that is often the product of not having thought through their response to those situations beforehand. I was always taught to set my standards and make my decisions before I was placed in the situation. We can be stronger than we think. Adequate preparation and consistent righteous living WILL forge a character capable of withstanding and then pressure. Like the parable of the 10 virgins, we cannot borrow oil from another's lamp. We must have our own reserve developed. There are times of ease in our lives when we have the opportunity to build up those stores of oil. Often instead we choose to spend our time "in fun and entertaining" but eternally worthless pursuits. Then in times of trial we find our stores lacking.  In a last ditch effort, we run off to try to buy more oil, but we find that our preparation is too late. It's great to read and study about spiritual principles. It's good to go to church once a week and hear them preached from the pulpit, but until we actually internalize them and make them part of us, they will do us no good. Many of us even know this, yet we make no attempts to change. We procrastinate our days away. This time of year is a great time to renew our resolve to be better. If this has been the prior pattern of your life, then make the decision to change it today. I have not been perfect in this principle in my life, yet I am grateful that I had a store of oil when my husband died. It has made all the difference.