the way of the disciple

The way of the Disciple - Pres. Uchtdorf
I’m going to read a paragraph from this talk and when I mention something that you are currently experiencing then raise your hand and keep it raised.
“We live in a time when many worry about their livelihood. They are concerned about the future and doubt their ability to resolve the challenges that confront them. Many have experienced personal misfortune and sadness. They hunger for meaning and purpose in life.”
Now if you don’t have your hand up than I would say you’re either lying or are asking for it.

Now there are two ways to meet these aspects of mortality; the worlds way and the lords way.
Pres. Uchtdorf states “Because there is such great interest in these issues, the world is not bashful in offering numerous new answers to every problem we face. People run from one new idea to the next, hoping to find something that will answer the burning questions of their souls… They get caught up in looking for something new. But inevitably, the flame of each new theory fades, only to be replaced by another “new and improved” solution that promises to do what the others before could not. It’s not that these worldly options don’t contain elements of truth – many of them do. Nevertheless, they all fall short of the lasting change we seek in our lives. After the excitement wears off, the hollowness remains as we look for the next new idea to unlock the secrets of happiness.”
► What evidence of this search and its effects are there in the world today?
► Now the Lord’s way is What?
“The gospel is the good news of Christ.”
“The gospel is not a secret. It is not complicated or hidden. It can unlock the door to true happiness. It is not someone’s theory or proposition. It does not come from man at all. It springs from the pure and everlasting waters of the Creator of the universe, who knows truths we cannot even begin to comprehend. And with that knowledge, He has given us the gospel – a divine gift, the ultimate formula for happiness and success.”
“The multitudes in Jerusalem may have seen Him as a great king who would give them freedom form political oppression. But in reality He gave us much more that that. He gave us His gospel, a pearl beyond price, the grand key of knowledge that, once understood and applied, unlocks a life of happiness, peace, and fulfillment.”
► The key word here applied. And in reading the rest of his talk I found my thoughts turned to the game of candy land. So we are going to have a little fun with applying the gospel to our lives.

1. When we hear the transcendent truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, hope and faith begin to blossom inside of us.
2. The more we fill our hearts and minds with the message of the risen Christ, the greater our desire is to follow Him and live His teachings.
3. This in turn causes our faith to grow and allows the light of Christ to illuminate of hearts.
4. As it does, we recognize the imperfections in our lives, and we desire to be cleansed of the depressing burdens of sin.
5. We yearn for freedom from guilt, and this inspires us to repent.
6. Faith and repentance lead to the purifying waters of baptism, where we covenant to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and walk in his footsteps.
► Gate picture or baptism pic
7. To uphold us in our desire to lead a purified and holy life, we are endowed with the baptism of fire, the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, a heavenly comforter who accompanies and guides us as we walk in the path of righteousness.
8. The more we are filled with the spirit of god, the more we extend ourselves to others.
9. We become peacemakers in our homes and families,
10. we help our fellowmen everywhere,
11. we reach out in merciful acts of kindness
12. forgiveness
13. grace,
14. and longsuffering patience.

“These are the first steps along the true way of life and fulfillment. This is the peaceable way of the follower of Jesus Christ.”

“Brothers and sisters, we have to stay with it. We don’t acquire eternal life in a spirit – this is a race of endurance. We have to apply and reapply the divine gospel principles. Day after day we need to make them part of our normal life.”

15. Let us be humble.
16. let us pray to our Father in Heaven with all our heart and express our desire to draw close to Him and learn of Him.
17. Have faith, seek and you will find
18. become an active participate in your ward ro branch
19. strengthen your family by committing to live the principles of the gospel
20. be of one heart and of one mind in your marriage and in your family
21. now is the time to adjust your lives to be able to have a temple recommend and use it.
22. now is the time to have meaningful family home evenings
23. to read the word of God,
24. and to speak to our Heavenly Father in earnest prayer.
25. now is the time to fill our hearts with gratitude [for the gospel]
26. When Alma compared the word of god to a seed, he explained that the seed grows into a fruit-bearing tree gradually, as a result of our “faith, and [our] diligence, and patience and long-suffering.” It’s true that some blessings come right away: soon after we plan the seed in our hearts, it begins to swell and sprout and grow, and by this we know that the seed is good. From the very moment we set foot upon the pathway of discipleship, seen and unseen blessings from god begin to attend us.
► The got back 2 spaces card
27. but we cannot receive the fullness of those blessings if we “neglect the tree, and take no though for its nourishment.” Knowing that the seed is good is not enough. We must “nourish it with great care, that it may get root.” Only then can we partake of the fruit that is “sweet above all that is sweet, and… pure above all that is pure” and feast upon this fruit even until [we] are filled, that [we] hunger not, neither shall [we] thrist.”
► The lose a turn card
28. There are some who believe that because they have made mistakes, they can no longer fully partake of the blessings of the gospel. How little they understand the purposes of the Lord. One of the great blessings of living the gospel is that it refines us and helps us learn from our mistakes. We “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” yet the Atonement of Jesus Christ has the power to make us whole when we repent.
► Picture card close to the beginning
29. To those who have left the path of discipleship for whatever reason, I invite you to start where you are and come to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Walk again in the way of the Lord. I testify that the Lord will bless your life, endow you with knowledge and joy beyond comprehension, and distill upon you the supernal gifts of the spirit. It is always the right time to walk in his way. It is never too late.
► The start – no set time or number of players
30. to those who feel inadequate because they have not been members of the church all their lives, to those who feel that they can never make up for the time they have lost, I testify that the Lord needs your specific abilities, talents, and skills. The church needs you; we need you. It is always the right time to walk in his way. It is never too late.
► To those who keep getting sent back or can’t get more than a few spaces at a time
31. Discipleship is a journey. We need the refining lessons of the journey to craft our character and purify our hearts. By patiently walking in the path of discipleship, we demonstrate to ourselves the measure of our faith and our willingness to accept God’s will rather than our own.
► the go forward to this picture card

I hope that the next time you play candyland or any other game that you remember how “sweet” the gospel really is.
“It is the way of hope, faith, and trust in the Lord. The gospel of Jesus Christ is taught in its fullness in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”

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