April week 4 Linds

4/25 Monday

Mark 16:6-7 It is interesting that all of the people (or most of them) including Mary Magdalene, the disciples, were first told that Christ was risen. They still had to choose whether to believe it or not. 

John 20:3-9 Peter runs to see if Christ is alive. I love his fervor 

Mark 16:11 many "believed not"

John 20:14-16 Apparently Christ had cast Devils out of Mary Magdalene- she loved him more than others because He had healed her! We should not be afraid to seek Christ for healing when we need it- it is what brings us closer to Him. 

Wed 4/27

Mark 16:14 even many of the disciples did not believe that Christ was come.

Luke 24:29 Christ gives them the Priesthood here? Interesting that He didn't give it to them before He left- the Priesthood is literally the power to act in His name. 

John 20:29 Christ gives them a blessing of peace. 

John 20:25 Thomas does not believe until He sees Christ jOhn 20:26-29 I love this description of Thomas seeing Christ and feeling His wounds- it is beautiful. What would it feel like to see Christ? It still takes faith to believe even when Christ is in our midst (that's why Christ says he is blessed for believing) but it takes even more faith to believe when we do not see. Comforting that even the apostles sometimes struggled with faith. 

April Week 3 - Samuel

Ponderize Scripture:

Thursday 4/21
John 19:41 "Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid."  This was just a reminder that Jesus was the first to ever resurrect.  It had never been done before.  It was an act of love on his part for everyone.
Matt 28:6 "He is not here: for he is risen."  This is the news that should be shared with all.  He is risen!  ...and so shall all rise again.  There is purpose to life, there is a reason to live, there is hope.
Mark 16:6 "...Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen"  I love this; Christ is not associated with fear but with faith and with hope and with love.  Looking to Christ cultivates those things.  If I want to let go of fear more in my life, I can learn more about Christ and seek to follow after him.  It will replace the fear with faith and hope.  Also, it is interesting how the disciples of Christ did not believe the women that Christ had risen or the fact that Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus risen.  I think that women have great faith.  Faith precedes miracles and signs.  How important it to treat women with the respect that they deserve and to draw on the faith that they have to increase one's own faith.

April Week 2 - Samuel

Ponderize Scripture: Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Thursday 4/14
Luke 23:28, JST31 "Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children...This he spake, signifying the scattering of Israel, and the desolation of the heathen, or in other words, the Gentiles."  Jesus said for the women not to worry for there was nothing they could do for him.  The Atonement needed to happen.  What they needed to focus on was making sure that they had their lives in order.  That is good advice.  I can't worry about others, as much as I can work on myself and making better decisions and living in a right way.  That is what I have control over.  The example of that will encourage and help others to do the same.  The Atonement of the Savior allows for me to do something about my station in life.  
Matt 27:42-43 "He saved others; himself he cannot save.  If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.  He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."  This is so ironic.  They thought that it was all about saving oneself.  The true way to save oneself is to lose oneself in the service of others so really the Savior was saving himself because he was performing the Atonement to save others.  Service, love, kindness, charity are all required in this.
Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  The Savior didn't get angry from their words; it didn't matter what they thought of him.  Do I care what others think, say about, or do to me or do I have a forgiving heart and realize that their actions don't have to have an effect on me?  This is important I think to realize that the best reaction is to forgive.  It doesn't mean condone or put up with abuse or injustice but forgiveness is always required.

April week 3- Linds

Mon 4/18

Matt 27:12 Jesus was accused falsely many times and never acted defensively

Matt 27:4-5 Judas realizing his fault and hangs himself. Sad ending, it's always interesting that Satan really deserts people in the end. In the long run, making good decisions and following Christ will always leave us happier. And choosing Satan will always leave us empty and miserable. 

Tues 4/19

Mark 15:32 how often do we have this mindset of "show me and I will believe." These people obviously had no intention of believing Christ. If they saw a sign, they still would not believe. Jesus could have showed them a sign (just like He can show us when we plead for one), but He knows it would be detrimental to our progress because we are here to "walk by faith."

Luke 23:39 you would think the thief being crucified alongside Jesus would be humbled but he is not. Contrast him to the other thief in 40-41 that has been humbled and understands his own sin and consequence for them.

John 19:19 Pilate knows the Christ is the King of the Jews 

3 Nephi 8:21-22 "22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land." Why are these symbols significant? Christ is the source of all light in the world (literal and figurative). Whether we follow him or recognize Him or not, He still is the source of all that is good. Sinning and following Satan or giving in to him will always bring darkness. When have I seen this in my life? Satan tries to make us confused and feel darkness. When I sin I feel that. This is also evident in the temple- when I attend the temple regularly, I feel enlightened, calm, peaceful, and the world seems brighter. 

Thurs 4/21

John 19:26-27 interesting that Christ tells his disciple to adopt his mother as their mother - why would he do this? To teach us that we are all family and should treat each other as such. 

April Week 1 - Samuel

Ponderize Scripture:

Monday 4/4
John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."  What does it mean to know God?...when I know someone, really know them I have an appreciation and understanding for them.  I know if their strengths and weaknesses and their motivations.  Most above all, I have a love for them.  To know God to me is to love him and really understand him and ulitmately become like him.  God wants me to become like him and it is only through Jesus that that is possible.  That is why it is so important to come to know the Savior as he provides the way to be able to come to know the Father.
Matt 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." What does it mean to watch? To be observant but I think mean more so to ponder and apply and remember the words of Christ and learn from the experience.  Prayer is powerful and it takes consistent, focused, diligent effort to perform.  Also, it is a reminder of how the body tends to be lazy and self-discipline is important to seek.  The things of God don't come easily and need to be worked for.
Matt 26:42 "O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."  I don't think the Savior had realized the weight/burden of the suffering that he would experience.  Nor can I comprehend it but the submissiveness, love, respect of the Son to the Father.  I think he gathered additional strength for knowing that Heavenly Father wanted this, not that the Savior had to suffer but that this act would allow for as many of his children to return to his presence as so desired.  How can I follow the Savior and be more submissive to my Father in Heaven?

Tuesday 4/5
President Henry B. Eyring Prophecy and Personal Revelation
"In general conference twice a year, we are blessed with the opportunity to hear the word of the Lord for us from His servants.  That is a privilege beyond price.  But the value of that opportunity depends on whether we receive the words under the influence of the same Spirit by which they were given to those servants.  Just as they receive guidance from heaven, so must we.  And that requires of us the same spiritual effort...if you want to get revelation, do your homework."  President Monson said the following: "I encourage you to read the talks once again and to ponder the messages contained therein.  I have found in my own life that I gain even more from these inspired sermons when I study them in greater depth."  I need to make a goal of reading and studying (marking up) the may edition of the Ensign to seek to know what the Lord wants for me and to receive the answers to my questions in life.  I almost want to download all of the talks and listen to at least one each day.  What more can I do?  How can I desire to do this more?

Wednesday 4/6
Luke 22:44 "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and he sweat as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."  How can I come to better understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ?  It is the most important event of this world.  Bruce R. McConkie The Purifying Power of Gethsemane "We know that in some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name." I know that Christ suffered for me and I want to utilize the Atonement to show my appreciation and love to him.  It really is not comprehensible; I feel like I don't get how it happened or the magnitude of it all and that I easily forget.  "May I invite you to join with me in gaining a sound and sure knowledge of the Atonement."  I want to better understand the Atonement.  I want to better understand the love of the Savior for me.  I need to study more and pray more and show my faith more so that that the Lord may bless me with that knowledge and understanding.

April week 2 Linds

Tues 4/12

The Holy Ghost- Robert D. Hales, GC April 2016

-in important decisions, Lord expects us to "use our agency, study it out in our mind according to gospel principles, and bring a decision to Him in prayer." How do the principles of agency and prayer/seeking revelation work together in my life? What else can I do to seek out the answers to my questions on my own? How does faith play into all of this? 

"The Holy Ghost is not given to control us." I love this idea and this truth that God wants us to use our agency and act in faith. Sometimes I wish I could have bigger answers but part of our existence is learning to trust what we have and trust in God as we follow Him. 

-Satan will try to counterfeit the Holy Ghost but we are promised we will be able to discern if we obey the commandments and keep our covenants.- a great promise! 

Blessings of Holy Ghost: "personal revelation and constant flow of daily guidance, caution, encouragement, strength, spiritual cleansing, comfort, and peace that have come to our family through the Holy Ghost"-- How do I see these blessings in my life daily? I definitely do. Ability to see His guidance in my life daily! 

Wed 4/13

Refuge from the Storm 

-Their story is my story, Mormons were refugees! And so was Jesus. 

-part of the invitation to not turn away the naked and feed the hungry refers to these millions of refugees! 

 "The possibilities for us to lend a hand and be a friend are endless." Look for these opportunities. 

-increase your world awareness (read the news instead of Facebook)

-Being a refugee does not define them but our response to them will define us. What am I doing to help them? 

Mark 14:61-62 Christ was able to keep His calm in the midst of numerous false accusations. 

Matthew 26:75 Peter denies Christ thrice presumably because he cares too much about what other people think. How often am I in this situation & maybe don't stand up for my belief of Christ when the opportunity arises? How often do I keep my mouth shut or try to get along with others instead of testify of Christ? Peter's response that he "wept bitterly" shows how even the best of people have faults and fail to live up to their own intentions (reminds me of Elder Holland's talk). It is very hopeful for us that Peter was still a good man and was able to be a disciple even with his weakness. 

Elder Holland: Satan wants us to be miserable and discouraged because he can't improve and he is miserable. He hates it when we progress and make good decisions. The beautiful thing about the Atonement and plan is that we get credit for trying and we have "help from heaven on high" 

"The Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them."

-the foundation stone of our daily life should be that God loves me with all His heart, might, mind, and strength. 

-through the Atonement, we can escape the consequences of sin and stupidity 

"If we give our heart to God, if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, if we do the best we can to live the gospel, then tomorrow--and every other day--is ultimately going to be magnificent, even if we don’t always recognize it as such. Why? Because our Heavenly Father wants it to be! He wants to bless us." Love this. It is a beautiful promise and the source of our optimism! I love it. Treat every day as if it is magnificent because it is, with the eternal perspective of the truths of the gospel and the Atonement. Be optimistic! Helaman 5:12- we will experience Satan's storms but they will not bring us down. 

April Week 1 Linds

Ponderize: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.""

Mon 4/4
Jeffry R. Holland GC talk (April 2016 Sunday afternoon session)
-We get credit just for trying. Satan wants us to give up, to feel overcome by our weakness and inability to be perfect in all the things that we know/feel. Knowing the Gospel and applying the Gospel are two different things; we can not become overwhelmed when our own expectations for ourselves prove to be too high, or when we can't apply all the things we know/feel.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf GC talk (April 2016 Priesthood session)
Abraham Lincoln- "Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be."
-Happiness is a decision not a circumstance or feeling (just like love)!

Tues 4/5

John 13:6-8 Peter doesn't want Christ to wash his feet but Christ exclaims, "If I wash there not, thou hast no part in me." --How does repentance and healing make us more unified with Christ? Are there times when I am like Peter and don't want to inconvenience the Savior by my problems? He wants to heal me, help me, and it's essential that I turn to Him because that makes me "part of Him." 

John 13:14-17 none of us are too high and mighty to exclude ourselves from serving others (washing others' feet)-> He gives us a recipe for happiness. He says, "Happy are Ye if ye do them." The key to happiness is service. How can I serve better those around me- coworkers, roommates, and most importantly, Samuel? The Savior promises that as we serve others in profound ways (washing someone else's feet is not just ordinary service- it is service that could only be done with humility and debasing oneself) we will be happy. 

John 13:34-35 "this shall all men know that Ye are my disciples, if he have love one to another"--> the crowning characteristic of whether we are a disciple or not is if we have love for each other. How can I show this love to those around me? Pray for this. It is more important than anything else. How do I feel love from the Savior? From the apostles and prophets on the earth? They are willing to sacrifice for me and I can feel their genuine love for me when they speak and share their messages.

Wed 4/6

John 14:26 Comforter will come and teach me and bring all things to my remembrance that God has said.

John 14:27 "27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Learn to recognize peace and when it comes from God--> it will not replicate the type of peace the world gives. What type of peace does the world give? Freedom, yoga-type peace (which is good) but how does it compare to the peace that comes when I partake of the Sacrament? Attend the temple? Serve someone else? Make the right decision? 

John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfort less, I will come to you."--> if I feel comfortless, then I need to wait it out; He promised to not leave us comfortless so it is just a matter of waiting and recognizing the Holy Ghost in my life. Luke 22:31 Christ's relationship with Peter. Even Peter had good intentions and eventually had to face his own inadequacy and failure to always live up to his righteous intentions. 

John 15:10 keeping the commandments helps us to "abide in His love" (I feel like this has connection to the Holy Ghost)

Thurs 4/7

John 16:21-22 the price for joy- we may feel sorrow, but the joy will overcome the sorrow if we live righteously and wait log enough :) 

Matt 26:41 "spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak"--> even the apostles experienced the consequences of strong intentions and weak follow through. It's ok! Just like Jeffery R Holland said, you get credit for trying. 

Matt 26:39 Christ expresses His own desire (cup pass) but then submits His will to God's "but thy will be done." He is the perfect example of how we should pray.

Fri 4/8
2 Nephi 9:21-22 Christ's mission and purpose is to "save all men if they will hearken to His voice"; Christ spent His whole life serving others, healing others, and helping others. He did not spend any of His time doing selfish things to make himself look better. Is my attitude in all that I do (job, personal relationships, friendships, life) to serve others and help them? Conversely, do I utilize the Atonement and Christ's power to heal me every day? 

March week 5- Linds

Ponderize: Don't be a "blind guide that strains at a gnat and swallows a camel." Matt 23:24

Mon 3/28

Matthew 22:36-40 what is the greatest commandment in the law? To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Why does the Savior make the distinction of loving him with heart, soul, and mind? What is the significance of those three aspects of love and why does He choose to use that description?
And With All Thy Mind (John W. Welch) BYU Speech

Heart=feelings. If you want to be close someone, you have to share positive and negative things with each other just like you would with the Savior. 

Mind= way of thinking, perception of things

1. It is possible to get near to God with intelligence (should not abandon critical thinking or seeking learning as long as we put God first) 

2. It is commanded to love God with your mind- we should approach it like one 

3. With ALL thy mind- "The gospel is not a cafeteria plan. We can’t just pick and choose the parts we like." Minds must bend as well as knees 

"Forget your best idea.” Clinging to it will often block the flow of even greater creativity and more expansive inspiration."-- you sometimes have to give up aspects of yourself, ideas 

4. Many ways to love- appreciate and recognize his beauty in all things/creations; magnifying our callings by problem solving and using our mental talents to serve others; remember people's names; making a mental practice out of scripture study (asking questions, actually studying); asking good questions and skillful analysis of the gospel and our lives; 
5. with all thy MIND- ask for His help in intellectual/professional pursuits; God inspires us but only after we study it out in our mind first; 
6. It is first commandment
7. It is possible to break this commandment- we break this commandment when we make rationalizations, cyclical negative thinking, when we let negative thoughts govern our lives and take over. "We must feel godly sorrow for our mental sins. Like Zeezrom, we must suffer spiritual migraines over our intellectual mistakes. In many ways, their effects on ourselves an on others are the hardest to undo, but through the Atonement, the human intellect can be transformed into an instrument for loving God."-- really interesting concept. When I have negative thoughts and allow them to take over, I am not using my mind to love God. My love for God is also manifest in my ability to control thoughts, overcome doubts and fears, and to not listen to the ideas of the world or Satan.

Tues 3/29 

Mark 12:33 to love God and your neighbor is "more than whole burnt offerings and sacrifices"- this shows how complete this commandment is (and hard to achieve). To offer myself, will, selfish desires is and will feel painful or difficult at times but that is the way it is supposed to be. Don't give up and ask for His help. 

Matthew 23:24 "blind guides that strain at a gnat and swallow a camel"; Pharisees omit the weightier things of the Gospel like becoming a kind person. How often do I pick apart others or myself for small things while omitting the bigger things of the Gospel, like developing Christlike attributes? Satan wants us to do this. We are all like the Pharisees because we all sin in some way and so are all hypocrites! The difference is in recognizing and focusing on our weakness and turning to the Lord to repent. Am I actively doing this? 

Matthew 23:26 clean the inside before you clean the outside-cleansing comes from the inside-out, not from the outside-in. Do I care about what the appearance of things are? Do I strive to make things good from the inside-out? Am I honest and open with the world about my shortcomings and mistakes? Or do I seek to cover them up? Not that you need to publicize/broadcast mistakes, but you do need to let them humble you. 

Wed 3/30
Mark 12:44 widow's mite- "For all the did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had even all her living" God does not care how much we cast in, He cares how much of ourselves we are sacrificing. Am I sacrificing of my abundance or of myself? How do I sacrifice more of my living?
Matthew 24:25 there will be many false prophets, false Christs that shall "deceive the very elect", "wars and rumors of wards, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet"
v. 8"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and these shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows."
Mark 13:33 "take heed and be prepared" (Luke 21: 36) "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that y e may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." -->another reason to be consistent in daily habits. They keep us worthy and change who we are so that when He comes again, we will be found worthy.
JSM 1:10 "the love of many shall wax cold" Interesting that our own ability to be loving and warm is a sign that we are following Christ. Nurture and feed our own ability and desire to love. Confront temptations to not love and to be "cold" because they are not from Heavenly Father.

Thurs 3/31

Matthew 25:1-13 ten Virgins- all brought their lamps but only some were full. Importance of always being ready (daily spiritual habits) 

D&C 45:57 how do we fill our lamps? What qualities dos the virgins fulfill? 

1. Wise 

2. Received the truth 

3. Have taken the HOly spirit to be their guide

4. Not been deceived 

Matthew 25:14-21 stewardship- God wants to see if we use our talents/gifts/everything He has given us to build up the kingdom and multiple our talents- this is an expectation; He expects us to use our agency and o

Matthew 25:29 we are expected to do more with out abundance 

Matthew 25:24 really interesting that the man with one talent presumably had little motivation to do anything with his talent because he was comparing to other people and that comparison led him to a false judgement of God- that he was "a hard man". This led him to be bitter and to fear. I never realized that these are the results of comparing to others! When we compare, we not only make false judgements about ourselves and others, but also about God and His mercy. This is really detrimental because it keeps us from doing anything with what we already Have been given!! I see this in my own life quite a bit actually. How can I decrease the opportunity for comparison? What are my weaknesses in this area and how can I combat them? (Family- focus on doing something for others instead of expecting them to do something to me)

Matthew 25:31-46 "inasmuch as Ye do it not unto the least of these my brothers, Ye do it not unto me." How treatment of the "least of these" is how we treat the Savior. What else can I do to visit the sick and afflicted? To be more outward-focused? To be kinder to the homeless and to those around me? I should put some granola bars in my car and give them to people?

Fri 4/1

Russel M Nelson "A Plea to my Sisters" 

-Be a woman that can make important things happen by my faith. What can I do to show and strengthen my faith? 

Sat 4/2

GC

Sun 4/4

 GC

March Week 5 - Samuel

Ponderize Scripture:

Monday 3/28
John 14:6 "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  Jesus is the Savior of the world.  No man can reach heaven by his own accord, only through following the Savior.
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."  v.21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."  What a wonderful blessing!  He will manifest himself unto me as I keep his commandments.  Those manifestations come often through the Holy Ghost or even tender mercies (little miracles each day).  It would be worth trying to count the number of blessings I receive in one day to recognize how he has manifested himself unto me.
John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."  I love how he is described as a comforter.  He teaches all things.  When I have a striking idea, something that I haven't thought before...chances are that it came through the Holy Ghost.  He speaks in the mind (clarity and striking thoughts) and in the heart (peace and comfort-something the adversary cannot replicate).
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  God is with me.  I need not be afraid.  He is there to comfort, strengthen, mourn with, lift up, carry my burdens...The peace he brings is eternal...totally enveloping.  I have no need to worry or be afraid.  He is there always.  I love these sweet words.  Oh, how I love my Savior, my Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost.

Tuesday 3/29
Matt 26:30 "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."  I love this!  Music was important to the Savior, especially during the Passover.  Hymns are sung in many important ceremonies and meetings.  Why?  It brings a calm, clearing atmosphere to focus on the meeting and prepare to feel the Holy Ghost.  If I want to create a spiritual atmosphere why not also include hymns?
John 15:4-5 "Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."  It is only through Christ that I can make something of myself.  The Savior invites me to include him in my life to the greatest extent possible.  Abide in him!  Seek him, follow him, do what he does, let him carry him and strengthen me, etc...  The enabling power comes from him.  I am nothing without him.  How can I better seek and remember and abide in Christ?  What things distance me away from him?
John 15:12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  So interesting that this is one of the last things that Christ told his disciples before going into the Garden of Gethsemane.  It is all about love.  How can I love others and myself as Christ loves me?

Friday 4/1
John 15:19 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."  The right way is the unpopular way.  The way to God is the road less traveled.
John 16:13-14 "...he will guide you into all truth...he will shew you things to come.  He shall glorify me..."  I love the attributes of the Holy Ghost.  How can I better invite the Holy Ghost in my life?  Do I pray for it everyday?  Do I strive to be honest and true and treat others with respect?  Do I try to serve?
Dennis C. Gaunt Recognizing Satan's Counterfeits
"The best defense we have against being fooled by Satan's counterfeits is to be as familiar as possible with truths of the gospel."  Another reason why scripture study is so vitally important and a needful activity for everyday.  It will protect against the counterfeits of Satan or my eyes can better perceive and understand the flatteries of Satan.  "When the world presents us with an idea, philosophy, or opinion that seems to appeal solely to our vanity or pride or that simply sounds too good to be true, that ought to be a warning to us immediately." Living in this world was not meant to be easy.  It was meant to be worth it.  Working hard is a key ingredient.  How am I doing with those things that are most important to me?  Do I work hard to accomplish them or care about or serve them/it?  That will help to keep me away from the evils of Satan. "When we have the Spirit with us, we will see and hear 'things as they really are'"  The Spirit will help me to see what is right and what is wrong.  Trust in this!