Many in The Yosemite Ward are opting to participate in a 30 day challenge, and I want to also extend an invitation to do so to those in our ward. The 30 day challenge, beginning in our Relief Society organization* and spreading to the Children's Primary organization, is motivating others to follow suit as well. I will say that the Youth organizations will also be encouraged to do so. The 30 DAY CHALLENGE officially starts on March 1, 2022, and is this:
The March 30 Day Challenge
Goal: A closer relationship with Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ
During these difficult times many of us have sometimes overwhelming trials, we encourage all to join us in this challenge and see how God can help us through anything if we go ALL IN
Challenge: Pick 1-3 spiritual basics that you feel you can do a better job at on a daily basis i.e., Praying twice a day (morning and night)
Reading/studying the scriptures every day
Studying Come Follow Me with your Family EVERY week
Partake of the Sacrament EVERY week – renewing covenants
Minister – EVERY week
BE ALL IN
Some of you might already be doing some or all of the above – so you may need to focus on another spiritual goal. This could be anything that relates to being ALL IN when it comes to being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – Yosemite Ward
Document these 30 days – if willing, we would love to hear about your experiences
Our prayer is that we will build unity and strength in our ward, and individually, as we all focus on building our relationship with Heavenly Father by striving to become closer to Him by being ALL IN
I love the following quote from Bishop W. Christopher Waddell from October 2020 General Conference:
“The Lord does not expect us to do more than we can do, but He does expect us to do what we can do, when we can do it. As President Nelson reminded us in our last general conference, “The Lord loves effort.”
ALL IN... WHAT AM I DOING TO BE ALL IN, IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST?
Well today starts our ward's ALL IN quest, thanks to Tammy Loveland who penned an idea to do a little more, to excel a little more. A 30 day challenge. Its just an idea, for your personal ALL IN is going to be just that. Your choices of how to do more, be more.
As for me and our home, we are going to be focusing on a more perfect obedience to Christ's gospel and becoming a more dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. It is going to take effort, time, and focus. It is going to take more denying ourselves of all ungodliness. It means more than just exercising and eating right. It means something mostly spiritual, some sacrifice of doing the fun things that are GOOD, and striving more to do the things that are BETTER, and hopefully the BEST.
GOOD, BETTER, BEST.
Which will it be?
Will I do 5 pushups and call that GOOD?
Or will I do 25 and call it BETTER?
Or will it be 100 pushups and call it BEST for the day?
Will I read 5 verses of scripture and call it GOOD?
Or will I read until I have truly been inspired and strengthened and call that BEST once the Holy Ghost approves ?
Will my prayer be "now I lay me down to sleep" or can it be one where we truly learn HOW to HEAR HIM? To kneel and to listen.
Will I receive revelation?
Being "ALL IN" requires the focus of a star athlete, of which we have literally MILLIONS in the world. But how many star "spiritual athletes" exist in the world today, who apply themselves in the way that say, an Apostle of Jesus Christ applies himself, daily? I know of 15. I also know there are more than that too.
Do we think that we need a high and holy calling to put in the spiritual work and efforts?
I can tell you, that we don't. But Jesus wants us to ALL put in the spiritual time and service, and make it the priority in our lives.
Jesus said it most plainly, and told us to "search the scriptures." He was speaking to ALL of us, even to the whole world.
He said "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, FOR IN THEM YE THINK YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE: AND THEY ARE THEY WHICH TESTIFY OF ME." (John 5:39)
When many in the world struggle in believing that God loves them, these are the same that are NOT reading their scriptures. For if they did, the could not think such a thing, and to doubt. The CURE that Jesus Christ prescribed here is to search the scriptures. If we do, He says, you will THINK you have ETERNAL LIFE and so it is.
Imagine Eternal Life, which is living with God the Father forever in the Celestial Kingdom, in His presence, and having a family of your own there too, sealed for all time and eternity in a temple. Living in the direct presence of God is literally the very definition of what is ETERNAL LIFE. God's life. Thinking whikle on earthy that you are really going to HAVE that, is to search the scriptures, make them your OWN experience by reading them every single day and feasting on the words of Christ, daily, just like you eat your meals for your physical body. Eat the meals of your soul too.
And so it begins. Day 1 of ALL IN now.
Can you also join in this?
OK, I heard "ALL IN" twice in our Stake Conference and our California Conference with the Prophet today. President Boswell mentioned it. So did Sister Nelson mention it. Given that we are all at different stages of our eternal progression, I would like to say that I feel the need to ever expand the efforts I have been making towards Missionary Work and to see the gospel more boldly proclaimed to those who need to have the opportunity to hear it. Even my daughter Emily who is on a mission now just wrote home about how she feels more motivated than ever to make sure that her interactions with friends that visit the Hawaii Laie Temple Visitor Center also include her giving them an opportunity to not only hear about the Book of Mormon, but also receive an invitation to receive one and a commitment to read it to find out more about Jesus Christ.
Are we "all in" enough to be a missionary at a more proactive and bold level?
I will say that if we are prepared, we shall not fear.
Let us prepare by reading the scriptures diligently and feast upon the words of Christ, which are also so abundantly contained in the Book of Mormon which references the Savior over 3,925 verses. Amazing! Why wouldn't this be a major component then in sharing the gospel? We need to be prepared to share.
Our family is committing to be better ministers, better missionaries, more useful in spreading the gospel of Christ and in building the Kingdom of God on the earth.
I want to see at least one baptism happen per month in our ward, and more like five per month if that is possible... and it is! These people are out there. We need to ask the Lord to lead us to them, those that are prepared and ready. We need to be in the right place at the right time, and when we find and befriend these children of God who are prepared, we can invite more quickly to also meet with the missionaries to be taught the gospel and lead towards the covenant path.
Here is the link to the recent broadcast of the Prophet of God, President Nelson, and three other fantastic speakers to the Saints of California:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/watch/california-member-devotional/2022/02?lang=eng&fbclid=IwAR1D70DXxFmmeSUFjQo3Ea0vijYIW324khoOB79QK_L7BPasgcSuFVRKG1k
I am excited to see a challenge! I love a challenge. Both Don and I want to be “All in”
Fantastic, I'm all in , thanks for the challenge 🙂
I'll start the comments. I know when I miss my morning prayers, my day starts in a less-productive way. I'm not focused on what is most important.