Talk - Developing Christlike Characteristics

Here is a talk that my son gave at church today.  He was the companion speaker for a high council speaker.

Today I will talk about how to develop Christlike characteristics.

In Preach My Gospel, there is a section titled “How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes.”  Much of my talk will come from this book. Writing this talk has been good preparation for my mission, since Preach My Gospel is an essential tool used by missionaries every day. I know it’s not a coincidence that I was asked to speak about this topic, and I’m very thankful for this opportunity to study about Christ and share my testimony with all of you.

At the beginning of His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and called out to two fishermen named Peter and Andrew.  He said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. The Lord invites each of us to follow His example and to become like Him. The restored gospel allows each of us to become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior has set the perfect example, and He commands us to become as He is. We can try hard to learn of Him and seek to incorporate His attributes into our lives. Through the power of His Atonement, each of us can achieve this goal and help others to achieve it also.

In Preach My Gospel focus there is a lot of focus on HOW to do things —how to study, how to teach, how to manage time wisely. Just as vital as what you do, however, is who you are.  Preach My Gospel says “You need to BE a Christlike missionary, not just DO missionary things.” This applies not only to missionaries but to everyone.  Each of us needs to learn to BE Christlike members of the church and not just DO Mormon things.

Thought of the Day - Stirring up Anger

Satan damages and often destroys families within the walls of their own homes. His strategy is to stir up anger between family members. Satan is the “father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another” (3 Ne. 11:29; emphasis added.

A cunning part of his strategy is to dissociate anger from agency, making us believe that we are victims of an emotion that we cannot control. We hear, “I lost my temper.” Losing one’s temper is an interesting choice of words that has become a widely used idiom. To “lose something” implies “not meaning to,” “accidental,” “involuntary,” “not responsible”—careless perhaps but “not responsible.”

“He made me mad.” This is another phrase we hear, also implying lack of control or agency. This is a myth that must be debunked. No one makes us mad. Others don’t make us angry. There is no force involved. Becoming angry is a conscious choice, a decision; therefore, we can make the choice not to become angry. We choose!

To those who say, “But I can’t help myself,” author William Wilbanks responds: “Nonsense.”   “Aggression, … suppressing the anger, talking about it, screaming and yelling,” are all learned strategies in dealing with anger. “We choose the one that has proved effective for us in the past. Ever notice how seldom we lose control when frustrated by our boss, but how often we do when annoyed by friends or family?” (“The New Obscenity,” Reader’s Digest, Dec. 1988, 24; emphasis added).

 

Lynn G. Robbins, “Agency and Anger,” Ensign, May 1998, 80

Thought of the Day - Refinement

Behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.  1 Nephi 20:10

 

Followers of Christ in all dispensations are no strangers to sorrow.  They know pain and are well acquainted with affliction.  The crucible of life gives us opportunities to become better or bitter, refined or rebellious, submissive or stiff-necked.  The tempered steel of faith is forged in the flames of suffering.  Ease does not call forth greatness or strength of commitment.  When the fires of sickness, failure, disappointment, and even tragedy engulf us, if we are spiritually prepared, God’s peace can carry us through safely.  That doesn’t mean we try to ignore the heartache or deny the reality of the pain.  Rather, we take an authentic look at it, enlarging our perspective by believing that some good can come from crucible experiences.  When they come—as they surely will—we can rise above them by setting our hearts on everlasting things.  Isaiah promised, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles: (Isaiah 40:31)

Thought of the Day - Yield our Will to God

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve described his decision to yield his will to God and the freedom that decision gave him: “Perhaps the greatest discovery of my life, without question the greatest commitment, came when finally I had the Confidence in God that I would loan or yield my agency to him—without compulsion or pressure, without any duress, as a single individual alone, by myself, not counterfeiting, nothing expected other than the privilege.  In a sense, speaking figuratively, to take one’s agency, that precious gift which the scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and say, ‘I will do as you direct,’ is afterward to learn that in so doing you possess it all the more”. (Obedience, Brigham Young University Speeches)

 

You may not be able to change some things in your life, but you can change your willingness to trust in God and obey Him.  As you learn to trust Him, you will see that His plan is for you to follow what Alma called the “great plan of happiness, (Alma 42:8). You will learn that even in affliction and difficulty ALL things work together for good to them that love God and keep His commandments. You can accept with serenity the current reality of your condition when you TRUST in God’s ability to help you. If you trust God, you must also trust his TIMING.

 

Teaching Tip - Setting time limits with a "Banana Split" chant

Here's a playful way to set short time limits for younger children.  We use it at kindergarten at school when kids are getting a drink of water or taking turns in some way.  (I'm a substitute teacher so I visit lots of classrooms)

Have the child say:
One banana
Two banana
Three banana
SPLIT

They need to have their turn end when they hear the word "split."  You can give them more "bananas" if they need more time.  Such as "You can have 8 bananas to get a drink."

Works like a charm!  Could be used at school, home, church, playgroups, Cub Scouts, etc.