A Framework for Change

Hi Friends I am back again sharing what I've been learning this week.

 Again I am so excited to share especially since it combines my New Testament class, my Come Follow Me study and my parenting class. 

First in my New Testament class we studied Matthew 5-7 which is the sermon on the mount and Jesus Christ felt that the things he taught there were so important that he taught them again after his resurrection to the people in the Americas. 

We learn about Christ's time in the Americas in the Book of Mormon in the 3rd book of Nephi comprising chapters 12-14. 

So many good scriptures and principles to talk about, I was really having a hard time pinning down what I wanted to focus on for this post but then my parenting class helped me to see what I personally needed to focus on so hopefully it can help you too.  

In my parenting class we learned that focusing on applications such as lists of things to do only help us become something more if we first focus on the doctrine, then we learn the priciples and then can start using applications that support the doctrine and principles.

I chose to focus on the doctrine of the atonement of Christ to help me have a better relationship with my husband which would therefore help us to be better parents. I used the Sermon on the Mount scriptures from the Bible and Book of Mormon.

If we understand the doctrine of the atonement of Christ we would know that without it

repentance and forgiveness wouldn’t be possible. So if we want to be one as a couple we

need to be at-one with Christ. The principles: faith, humility, repentance, charity, and

forgiveness is a way of connecting to the Savior’s atonement.

I made a diagram to illustrate how to work from a doctrine through to applications.

3 Nephi 12:24, “Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you.” and 25, “Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time he shall get thee, and thou shalt be cast into prison.”(Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1982, p.432) These verses fit very well into the framework of Christ’s atonement as we go to our ‘brother’ or in this context our spouse with full purpose of heart or in other words humbly/willing to reconcile and having faith in Christ’s atonement for forgiveness.

Verse 25 can seem like you are meant to be a pushover but if you check the footnote for ‘Agree’ you’ll see that it sends you to the same verse in Matthew 5:25(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979, p.1193) where the footnote says, “Quickly have kind thoughts for, or be well disposed toward. TG Communication; Disputations.” Verse 25 with the footnote is a great starting point of applications for the principles we are focusing on. Remember why you loved this person in the first place and do it right away so that the bad feelings don’t turn into contempt. Verse 25 also reminds me of the anecdote that anger poisons the offended more than it poisons the offender which I have personally found to be true and that poisonous feeling can really feel like a prison. 

By focusing on the doctrines and principles of the the Atonement of Christ I will look for evidence of Christ atonement in my regular scripture study. This will help me kept it at the forefront of my mind because what we give our time to becomes our thoughts. This is different than my previous approach because before I am usually just reading or “studying” the scriptures with the intent to check it off the list as something good I have done, but this way I will actually become someone who can bless my family eternally. My changes will be internal because having a good relationship with my husband isn’t a thing I can do it’s a person I need to be; a humble and loving wife.  My hope is that my changes will inspire more growth and then that will affect the life of my family as well.

This I say in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.