FIRE WORKS

I think back to my youth and remember the days when my family and I would go on adventurous camping trips, which would usually include fishing, shooting, and doing the outdoor stuff.  I remember anticipating the beautiful sharp pine trees, and hearing the rushing river alongside our campground.   I love breathing the whispering winds as we are overwhelmed and humbled by nature and the creation of our God.

Some moments will never be forgotten.  Being young and learning to enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors I always came to love the campfire. Hear the crackling goodness of warmth and peace, staring into the blazing hot coals, as if your face was going to melt.  It's comforting to ponder and retain life's most precious moments as bouldering stress flow away. I find myself huddling close to a campfire while I have deep thought. 

So you're maybe asking yourself; why would he be talking about campfires?  Fire is an amazing reaction in which can sustain life, cook really good food, and keep us nice and warm.  But I want to relate how a fire can save us from harm, keep us happy with light to see and food to cook --- and how the gospels simple truths are likened unto a fire.  How Jesus Christ and His teachings can keep our own fires(spiritual fires) burning with light, happiness, warmth, and maybe full of tasty cooked food. 

       How does fire work?

PS--Don't Smoke

Fire is a combustive oxidation reaction--a chemical

reaction between oxygen molecules and any

molecules that have the potential to take on an

oxygen molecule. Energy, in the form of heat or

light, is released from the molecules as the reaction

takes place.

When enough oxygen and heat combine with the fuel source, ignition occurs. Once the initial heat source has ignited the fire, the flame generates its own heat for combustion, and oxidation continues in a chain reaction. The fire will burn until one or more of the necessary components is exhausted or removed. (1.)

When the elements of heat, fuel and oxygen are put into one bowl served together the reaction will produce FIRE!!  Like a fire, we are to put three elements into our spirituality such as:

 first, prayer; Second, scripture study; Third, sabbath day worship.

Prayer

In prayer we speak openly and honestly with our loving Father in Heaven. We express

gratitude and thanksgiving for our blessings. We may acknowledge our love for Him. We

also ask for help, protection, and direction according to our needs.
In turn He will give unto us our direction according to our need and His will. -- I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father--  2 Nephi 32:9

Scripture Study

“feast upon the words of Christ … ,(and) the words of Christ will tell [us] all things what [we] should do” (2 Ne. 32:3)

Search out diligently for your life and others questions of your soul, your current needs and concerns and challenges WILL be made light.  For the "words of Christ" will direct you to make correct decisions.

Sabbath Day Worship

"Our Sabbath-day behavior is a reflection of our commitment to honor and worship God.

By keeping the Sabbath day holy, we show God our willingness to keep our covenants." (2)

We show our God we love Him by remembering him and His Sacrifice.  As we partake of his sacrament, and abstain from shopping, attending sporting events, and partaking of unrestful things, we will see and feel him more in our lives.

These three simple ingredients turn into what is called a testimony (fire of the spirit).  When you feel clean, you feel happy, independent, worthy, and last but not least, loved.  You know the Savior is pleased and happy for what you are doing.  These basic applications turn into a life sustaining reaction, in turn will increase your happiness, love, peace, and joy in not only this life, but in the life to come. 

We mush continue to apply these principles:

 1) prayer(communication with our Heavenly Father), 2) scripture study(Book of Mormon, Bible, current teachings of latter-day prophets), and attending to fellowship in the unity and body of His church(church attendance and sabbath day observance).  As we do so, we will become acquainted with love, which is in Christ our Lord and Savior.

Look at Tom, he's so excited because he has fire now!!  Remember fire can make us warm, but if we cease to feed this fire, it will burn out.  Keep feeding your spiritual fire with the required needs, and you will find the peace which comes for safety of the soul.