I only have a few minutes, but I wanted to reflect on the 1st two weeks of our family goal to PONDERIZE a scripture every week.
We have been memorizing scriptures for years as a family. We usually select one at Family Home Evening that we repeat before scriptures and prayers daily. Over the years we have memorized the Articles of Faith and several meaningful scriptures and quotes. The difference is that we now intend to ponder those scriptures more each week. Already we have felt the contrast between just memorizing and PONDERIZING the scriptures.
Week 1: Moroni 10:5
Our very first scripture was chosen to help us to consider the gift and power of the Holy Ghost as our family prepared for my youngest son’s baptism. It was amazing to me how often we found reference for our scripture that week. We discussed the mission and purpose of the Holy Ghost. We found so many connections in our daily scripture reading that we discussed as a family. In pondering and not just memorizing this scripture, it became a part of our family DNA that week. At Hyrum’s baptism, his sisters each shared a personal recent experience with the Holy Ghost. The power of Holy Ghost filled our hearts and home.
In Hyrum's own words, "I felt the spirit so much in my heart. I felt so good and warm. I know that I made a right choice in being baptized." I love that he can recognize the way the Holy Ghost is speaking to him. He felt it. He understood it. Ponderizing Moroni 10:5 helped our entire family prepare for a more meaningful spiritual experience at Hyrum's Baptism.
Week 2: Matthew 5:16
This week, I chose one of the scriptures from President Monson’s talk ‘Be an Example and a Light'. It has been the perfect scripture to ponder this week. In our scripture study we read the words of the prophet Jacob. He had hard things to say to those that were not keeping the commandments. They were not showing the light of the gospel and good works. We discussed the power of good examples. My daughter said, "But it is hard to be good all the time." She is absolutely right. Here are a few things we pondered and talked about this week.
- It takes courage to let our lights shine.
- Our light needs to always shine since we don’t know when others are looking.
- We can get help to let our lights shine from prayer, scripture study, and the Holy Ghost.
Tonight my husband is singing for a Stake Priesthood meeting, “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy”. It is a tender hymn pleading with us to keep our lights shining. The imagery in the hymn is so beautiful. I found a painting by Frank Kliewer that conveys the image that I see in my mind’s eye when I think about this song.
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy
From his lighthouse evermore,
But to us he give the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Dark the night of sin has settled;
Loud the angry billows roar.
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
I pray I will keep my lamp burning and my light shining. This hymn fell into place so beautifully with our scripture this week. The talks and lessons in church today also fit in with our scripture and discussions on letting our light shine. I am so grateful for all that the spirit was able to teach our family so much this week. Already I feel the difference that PONDERIZING has made in my own heart.
