Family... Isnt it about... Time.

So, for my institute class this semester I am taking Repentance and Forgiveness By Brother Jacobs. I absolutely LOVE it! But every time I am in the class and leaving the class I am always thinking "this is GREAT! I need to share this with everyone else!" My institute teacher is so funny and spiritual all at the same time, Love it... But lets review the name... repentance and forgiveness... hmm... this class isnt full of daisies and unicorns (which many of my other classes have been...) Bro. Jacobs told us at the beginning of the semester that if we were wanting to take a "feel good" class- We had signed up for the wrong one, which has come to be fact. But It has been such an interesting class and SO- I decided that I am going to share a few of the GEMS that I get every week while being in his class- because it is just THAT good! (Get excited...)

Today- 2/10/2011

So unlike usual- he didnt tell us our topic right when we got there- But instead started us out in Matthew with the chapter about the 10 virgins explaining that they were ALL "members" per say. But 5 were prepared and 5 were not ready. Then after that he talked about the parable with the Talents explaining that they all got SOMETHING but the one who only got one decided not to USE his talent and hide it away. Then last he talked about the parable with the famous saying "done it unto the least of these my brethren, done it unto me..."

After he explained those three stories he asked what all of them had in common. The Answer: All three of these had to ACT on what they could do. So- The sin we were going to talk about today: The sin of Omission.

He then had us think about all the things we do in our daily lives that really we are just "wasting the days of our probation" Facebook, videogames, T.V., Etc. Which got me thinking- I waste alot of minutes in MY days. ESPECIALLY with facebook.

He also gave us 3 scriptures to look at to explain his point:

2 Nephi 2:14- And now my sons I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.

- I LOVED using this scripture on my mission. because this is one of my only vices with people- ALL people. We wait until we are acted upon and we dont take charge of our own life and our own destiny/salvation. It drove me crazy. I saw so many people who COULD BE amazing. But they instead chose to idle away their lives and their talents. Which we all do at times.

James 4:17- Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is a sin.

Brother Jacobs than quoted President Kimball where he said "And who 'knoweth to do good' better than a Latter Day Saint?" Which is true.

2 Nephi 9:27- But wo unto him that has the law given, yea that has all the commandments of God like unto us, and that trangresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state.

I really loved all those scriptures. I can totally see this today- cant you? But the real stinger was that he wasnt talking about non-members or that bum on the corner. He was talking about LDS people who we know the truth, we know what we are suppose to do. Yet we waste our days in things that dont matter- Which happens EVERYDAY people who say they are mormon- they look like active mormons yet they are not actively engaged in BEING mormon.

This lesson really struck me- because this is like I said my biggest pet peeve. One of my biggest I guess- Soap Box moments is when I see someone who is sitting back and letting life happen to them. It makes me so mad. If only we would accept the amazing responsibility and charge given to each of us individually. But yet again- I seem to always get sucked into doing the "good things" and not striving to do the "best things"

Last Brother Jacobs said- That this didnt mean that we were suppose to sit at our houses studying the scriptures ALL DAY LONG. But more to have a BALANCE of things that are important and to get rid of things that dull our minds, lives, and most importantly testimonies.

So- I thought you should all enjoy my institute class with me. and think more how we each are spending our TIME every day. We each have 24 hours in a day- its what we DO with those 24 hours that makes the difference. :) hope you enjoyed my abridged version of institute! Love you- LONG TIME! love me.