February Ensign

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My current Old Testament progress:
Numbers 1
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I finally got around to reading the February Ensign two nights ago. I had started it when it came back in January, but I was on a big spiritual low then, and didn't really have much of an interest in it. I basically skimmed it, reading an article here and there and that was it. I'm glad that I was able to read it now, when I'm making a conscious effort to study.

I started to make a list of all the articles that really touched me, and it's getting long! I found The Dead Sea Scrolls and Latter-day Truth to be a very interesting article that taught me a lot of really good information.

I, the Lord God, Make You Free really validated a lot of my feelings in regard to local politics and the people whom I tend to support.

"Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law to do your business by the voice of the people" (Mosiah 29:26).

In my last local election it appeared that the majority of the city supported a particular candidate. However, with a low voter turnout the other, less desirable, self-serving, and borderline dishonest candidate was elected. This goes to prove this other statement from the article:

"Citizens of every land, where permitted, should vigorously cherish their right to vote and should act upon that privilege at every opportunity by supporting wise and honorable candidates. Good and wise leaders elected by and working cooperatively with responsible citizens will seek to protect their freedoms. Failure to actively support such candidates with one's vote may result in leaders who are elected, as Mosiah said, by 'the lesser part of the people' who may 'desire that which is not right' (Mosiah 29:26). What a sacred privilege and responsibility is ours to participate with other like-minded people to ensure that basic freedoms are preserved wherever we reside."

The article just really struck home to me and validated a lot of my feelings and disappointments. I wish I could be politically apathetic. I really do. I hate getting emotionally involved in a campaign, knowing that that candidate is by far the best qualified and even honest (a rare find, I know!), only to have the "lesser part of the people" throw mud, lies, and half-truths around and win--every single time!

I'm so glad that "[God] holds men accountable for their acts in relation to [governments], both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society" (D&C 134:1). I just pray that my actions and efforts will be found worthy in God's eyes.

Helping Children Develop Feelings of Self-Worth was an excellent read as a parent and I highly recommend it to everyone. It helped me see how well I'm doing in some areas, and shone a spotlight on other areas where I struggle. Since, as you can read at the footer of my blog, my focus is on an eternal family, I really appreciated this timely advice. I pray I can incorporate it into my life.

Abraham: Father of the Faithful was nice to read, after having read about him in the Old Testament in the past few weeks. It helped solidify what I had read about so recently.

Lessons from the Old Testament: In the World but Not of the World put a different spin on things for me. I especially enjoyed this statement:

"In my years in San Francisco, I knew some members who avoided letting their associates know they were Latter-day Saints. Invariably they were drawn into compromising situations that could have been avoided had they forthrightly declared what they believed. They symbolically pitched their tents toward Sodom" (see Gen. 13:12).

Unfortunately, I understand this situation all too well from my youth. However, I had never thought that just being silent on my beliefs would be symbolically pitching my tent towards Sodom. Wow.

And then, of course, as always, the Latter-day Saint Voices really touched me. I highly recommend reading them!