Perfecting the Saints — One Lesson at a Time
Downloaded from: http://brosimonsays.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/1-nephi-1-faithful-and-favored/ One of my favorite bumper stickers says, “Jesus loves you… But I’m His favorite!” I know it is just a bumper sticker, but I wish that everyone felt that way. I really do wish that everyone had the kind of relationship with the Lord that made them feel that they are His favorite. Indeed, He […]
My friend posted a quote on Facebook some time ago, and it struck me as very important. I wrote it down and began to make a printable from it right away. With Labor Day coming up next weekend, I thought it would be a good time to share and discuss my thoughts on the quote.
President David O. McKay said, “Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that love of work is success” (quoted by Franklin D. Richards, “The Gospel of Work,” Improvement Era, Dec. 1969, 101).
For anyone who cannot work, they can testify (maybe more than others) that the privilege to work is a gift. My father-in-law, for example, cannot work because of a disability caused by a terrible car accident, and he wishes every day that he could work. He wishes that he could support his family so that his wife didn’t have to work. He misses being productive and useful and building his talents and knowledge, and he has encouraged and taught his sons about the gift of work. There is so much freedom in this privilege–freedom from debt and stresses caused by lack of work, freedom from living off of the government or others, the freedom to grow and develop.
The power to work very much is a blessing. In the United States, we are given that power, that freedom. We can go get jobs to contribute to society, to earn a living, and to build up our country. We have a great responsibility because of that power–we are responsible to use our power to work to make the world a better place. Just like our baptismal and temple covenants require, we should use our power to do good and to bless the poor and needy. We need to use our power to work to empower others who may not know that they, too, can work hard and have a good life.
President McKay also said that the love of work is success. He didn’t say the love of your “job” or the love of your “tasks” or even the love of your “chores” is success, but he said the love of work is success. If we learn to love to work, to be productive, to use our bodies/minds/spirits for a good cause, then we will be successful. If one hates to work, one will not become successful. I know people who hate work and yet want success–it does not come to them. They wander aimlessly putting in as little effort as possible, wondering why they aren’t getting the results that they want. As a contrast, my husband is a very hard worker and loves to work. He enjoys physical labor as well as mental labor. He is studying to be a mechanical engineer, and he looks forward to working every day. Not only does he work hard at his job, but he works hard in his studies and works hard at home to help me keep the house and children in order. He loves work and because of that, he has found success to be his constant companion, and I have no doubt that he will the rest of his life.
Let us be grateful for every opportunity that we have to work. I hope that those who are searching for work will find chances to excel. I pray that those of you who don’t enjoy work will learn to love it, for hard work (although it may sound counterproductive) will give you the success and peace you long for.
Happy Labor Day!
What are some ideas you have for teaching your children the importance of hard work?
Do you use Instagram? Well, if you do, I have great news for you:
After a lot of consideration, I decided to start an Instagram account for LDS Printables. I have seen the power of using social media to bring others to Christ, and I feel as though you and I could share our testimonies with (potentially) millions through Instagram. As I get my account going, I’ll be posting lots of previously created printables, as well as the new printables that I’ll be adding to the blog. This is a great missionary opportunity for us! So, come follow me @ldsprintables and help me to spread the gospel! Feel free to follow, like, share, and give me feedback. I’m still so new to the Instagram world… (and I’m learning about hashtags– #majorlyconfusing #oramIjustoutoftheloop )
Anyway, on with the good stuff!
Today’s free printable is a quote that I absolutely adore. It comes from a speech by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and it says, “True love blooms when we care about another person more than we care about ourselves.” (Read the speech here.)
Oh, how true this statement is! I have been learning this the hard way. My husband and I recently had a “discussion” in which we came to the realization that we don’t always respect and honor each other. We tried to break down this truth so we could get to the very center, and it came down to the simple fact that we are both prideful and selfish. Even though we are madly in love, we sometimes miss out on true love because we are being selfish. He and I immediately set a goal to improve. We want to honor, respect, and adore each other unconditionally and forever.
As part of our goal, we decided to seek to care about the other person’s needs more than our own. It is proving to be difficult, as my “natural man” comes out more than I care to admit, but we have already reaped great benefits from our efforts. I love my husband more today than I did a few weeks ago, and that love continues to grow each day. I love my children more as I seek to be less selfish and self-centered. In return, my husband has loved me more and we have served each other in a greater capacity. My children seem pleased with the extra attention and care that they are receiving, as well.
It’s a win-win. We serve others unselfishly, and they serve us unselfishly; we develop true love for one another, and that love grows stronger daily. I like it.
I’m so grateful for the teachings of Christ that are taught to us by the Master and His servants. I’m grateful for living prophets and apostles on the earth who enlighten us and encourage us.
How can you this quote help your love to bloom with someone in your life?
Downloaded from: http://brosimonsays.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/1-3-peter-the-gospel-truth-is-gnot-a-secret/ I had the title song for “Mission Impossible” (an appropriate version) playing in the background as student entered class. It would be fun to dress in a way that fits the lesson, but I did not have that much forethought… There were TOP SECRET folders on each desk when the students came in (Except for […]
Downloaded from: http://brosimonsays.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/spring-break-or-spring-keep-is-easter-your-hol-i-day-or-hol-y-day/ Today I helped my friend, Brother Day (Seminary Teacher’s Blog) with a couple classes. We discussed the importance of Easter and how to honor the Savior during the Easter Season. Unfortunately, many people use their vacation time around the Easter season in ways that dishonors the Living Christ. The term we use to describe that […]
Downloaded from: http://brosimonsays.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/2-corinthians-8-9-god-loveth-a-cheerful-giver/ What would happen if one student (or a group of four students) won a bunch of Tootsie Rolls and then tried to apply the principles taught by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8-9? Well, that is what we tried today, and the result was FANTASTIC! First we played a game to determine who would win the Tootsie […]
Downloaded from: http://brosimonsays.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/romans-13-how-to-stay-out-of-trouble-3-ls/ ELDER DALLIN H. OAKS: “The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love…. If anyone thinks that godly or parental love for an individual grants the loved one license to disobey the law, he or she does not understand either love or law.”
This image has a series of “did you know” type questions about visiting teaching. It would be cute given out with a ruler or tape measure. Another file I got from my mother-in-law….
This black and white image, Love Notes, was donated by the artist, Chris Gunn. Click to read more about Chris.
This black and white image, Mom And Older Daughter, was donated by the artist, Chris Gunn. Click to read more about Chris.
This black and white image, Mom And Husband, was donated by the artist, Chris Gunn. Click to read more about Chris.
This black and white image, Snowmand Couple, was donated by the artist, Chris Gunn. Click to read more about Chris.
THIS WEBSITE WILL CEASE OPERATIONS ON DEC 31, 2018.
We are moving to http://NoBoringLessons.com/ where you can find Come Follow Me Lesson ideas for the new 2019 curriculum Dismiss