Devotional

So I wrote a devotional for seminary on Monday and I'm so excited to give it I decided to put it on here. I just got a bunch of quotes and put them together into a 'lesson' so to say. Hopefully it makes sense, it's a very rough draft. I'm very open for suggestions.

Italicized words are from me and my thoughts. Regular words are quotes. Hopefully it makes sense.


We all chose to come to Earth with a divine purpose. We all wanted to increase in knowledge and become like our Heavenly Father. Throughout time we have seen examples of great heroes, through small or great things. We all have potential to be just as great as a Child of God. We all were strong and valiant before coming to Earth and for that, we were chosen to come to Earth at this time. Heavenly Father reserved us for nearly 6,000 years so we can serve his purpose.

“God reserved spirits for this dispensation who would have the courage and the determination to face the world and all the powers of the evil one and who would build up the Zion of our God FEARLESS of all consequences.” Sheri Dew

We were all strong spirits who showed immense dedication to our Lord. We were sent to Earth as some of the strongest spirits willing and able to stand up for truth and right.

“Fear shall come upon all people, but you and I know that the Lord has prepared places of safety to which He is eager to guide us” President Henry B. Eyring

Those places of safety are simple steps we can take to prepare ourselves for temptation and build our testimonies up. Little steps like reading our scriptures, praying, going to church, heeding the teachings of the prophet and our bishop, and being an example. These may seem small and insignificant, but Alma 37:6 states; “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass”

“God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest children who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short time, a short period, as it is of us.”

We have so much given to us, but we can't take it for granted. Heavenly Father gave us a beautiful land for us to live in where we can practice the religion we choose. We were given the location in this beautiful land. We didn't have to cross the difficult plains and plow them. We were given the gospel and words of the Lord. We have a lot to give back. We have to complete our temple work, be a missionary and spread the gospel, and continue to be an example of the believers.

“As the challenges around us increase, we must commit to do more to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Casual prayer won't be enough. Reading a few versus of the scripture won't be enough. Doing the minimum of what the Lord asks of us won't be enough. This preparation must consist of more than just casual membership in the church. You must learn to be guided by personal revelation and the counsel of the living prophet so we won't be deceived.”

Do any of these excuses sound familiar? “I'll read my scriptures tomorrow” “I went to young womens last week” “I'll go to the temple next time.” “I'm too tired to pray” “I don't want to sound pushy by talking to them about the church”, “I'll skip Sunday school just this time” “I have to have that extra 10% to buy that shirt because I need it”. We need to remember that each activity, scripture, teaching, and opportunity to pray and serve our fellow men are there for a reason, and we need to take advantage of each opportunity to grow and become like our Heavenly Father. One of my favorite quotes is

“I want to live a life so that when I rise in the morning Satan says “Oh no, she's awake”.

We all want to live a life knowing who we are and where we are going, and we are doing everything we can to get there. We must step up and be the best we can be and make Satan afraid of the final battle.
If we were told tomorrow was our last day, we'd want to be able to continue living the way we are now, not making those last minute adjustments we should have been making a lifetime ago.

I'd just like to end with a quote by Thomas S. Monson-
“We know not the day nor the hour of His coming, but of this you may feel assured. You stand close to the great day of the Lord. In his words of modern revelation we say to you “seek the face of the Lord always.” You live in the midst of economic, political and spiritual instability. When you see these signs unmistakable evidences that his coming is nigh. Be not troubled but stand in holy places and be not moved until the day of the Lord come.”

And I'll end with my testimony.
Any suggestions?