"Autarkeia", Paul on the topic of eliminating needs in order to be able to give more abundantly.

For me to consider, remember, and figure out how to apply better:

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposely in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" 

2nd Corinthians 9:6-8 

 

"Paul insists that God can give a man both the substance to give and the spirit in which to give it....He speaks of the all the "sufficiency" which God gives us. The word he uses is "autarkeia". This was a favorite Stoic word.  It does not describe the sufficiency of the man who possess all kinds of things in abundance.  It means independence.  It describes the state of the man who has directed life not to amassing possessions, but to eliminating needs.  It describes the man who has taught himself to be content with very little. It is obvious that such a man will be able to give far more to others because he wants so little for himself.  It is so often true that we want and keep so much for ourselves that we much less left to give to others....

"...it is God who can give us the spirit in which to give...It is God alone who can put into our hearts the love which is the essence of a the generous spirit."

~ William Barclay, Commentary on 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 9

Aids in my efforts to keep my brain in good shape

 

https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/how-to-redice-dementia-risk/

Reducing dementia risk

(Did you notice the spelling error in the accurate link above?)

Excerpt from that article:

Eating a healthy diet was found to have the strongest effect, and was defined as sticking to the recommended daily intake of at least seven out of 12 food groups, including fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts.

Cognitive activity such as playing cards, doing crosswords or reading at least twice a week was the second most impactful behaviour. Regular exercise was close behind, defined as 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity, every week. Socialising twice a week, by visiting friends and family or attending meetings, also made it onto the list, as did never having smoked or being an ex-smoker, and drinking no alcohol.

Interestingly, the results held true even for participants who were identified as genetically susceptible to memory loss due to having a key Alzheimer’s risk gene (called AP0E4)

They found that people with four to six healthy lifestyle habits were 90 per cent less likely to develop dementia than those who had zero or one. People with two to three were 30 per cent less likely.

Dr Susan Mitchell, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “While our genetics play an important part in the health of our brains as we age, this research found a link between healthy lifestyle and slower cognitive decline even in participants with a key risk gene.

“Too few of us know that there are steps we can all take to reduce our chances of dementia in later life. Factors across our lifespan can influence the health of our brains so it’s never too early or too late to think about adopting healthy habits.”

Listening to sealing ordinances: children

 Unlike marriage sealings, parent-child sealings in temples do actually include the sealing of people to other people, in this case children to parents. But what is often not remembered is the fact that that sealing comes with a HUGE promise: a promise that not only will that sealing be one that brings healing to a child that will undo every harm, wrong, or pain, etc. caused by a parent who acts contrary to Jesus’s teachings about love, care, honesty, gentleness, etc. etc., but that also, it will it undo it to such an extent that it will be, in that child’s life as if  he/she had been born to and raised in the new and everlasting covenant,  the gospel of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and  Covenants  66:2)  ie. it will truly be for that child as if he/she had been raised by by parents who lived the gospel of Jesus Christ, loved Jesus and what he taught, who loved doing good, and who were kind, were faithful to each other, were are gentle and wise, were willing to make personal sacrifices to further goodness at home and in the world, were fully committed to living loving, gentle, courageous, righteous lives after the pattern of Christ, and, as a result, who wholeheartedly loved and nurtured their children in amazingly good ways.

God loves and knows us individually, is ready to assist us, loves us forever, and can “wipe away all tears”.  He is amazing.

Listening to marriage sealing ordinances

 Listening to what is actually said…

 Contrary to common phraseology, a husband and wife are not "sealed to each other", or “sealed together”. Rather, in that marriage ceremony specific blessings are promised and “sealed” equally upon the husband and upon the wife, which blessings each one is to receive as they individually continue in their personal, faithfulness disciples of Jesus Christ, keeping the holy promises (covenants to follow the teachings of Christ) that they have previously made. 

Temple marriage sealings are not about with whom you will, or will not “live together forever”.   In the life after this one, the same sociality (quality of social interaction) that exists among us in this life, will continue to exist (Doc & Cov130:2) among family members, friends, etc. etc... 

So if it's not about who you will be with, what is it? When you listen, you will find that, rather than who gets to be with whom, sealing in a temple marriage is, in reality, about your personal commitments to become the kind of disciples you may become; radiantly full of faith, hope and charity. And they are about your desires to create, with the Lord’s grace and mercy, a marriage full of faith hope and charity, and which encompasses the principles of His gospel that you have previously promised and covenanted to live.  

The words of temple marriage sealing express how much the Lord desires to help and bless you in those commitments and desires, both individually and as a couple, both now and in the future. 

The sealing words are about what He is entrusting you with, and they are about who and what the Lord is inviting you to faithfully become, and what he may trust you with in the future as you continue to follow Him, strive to live the promises you have made to Him, receive His amazing grace, and continue to grow in faith in Him, and in hope in Him, and in loving as He does. 

They are about the abilities and blessings he will seal upon you as you, as His disciples, and through that grace, mercy and power to heal and bless, become able to bear that trust He has placed in you. Becoming that kind of son or daughter of God is a lifelong and beyond journey, and brings good blessings as well as sobering responsibilities.

Joseph Fielding Smith called temple marriage "the crowning ordinance", but it's not "crowning" as in "having arrived at the pinnacle". It's more like, "the final, top, ordinance and covenant for which keeping all the other covenants you've made with God helps to prepare you". When you are married in the temple, you haven't arrived.  You've just begun a whole new phase of the journey.

The point is not “what” we believe; it’s “whom”. Thoughts on 2nd Timothy 1

 Paul did not write, in verse 12, “I know what I have believed”, or “I know that the gospel that Jesus taught us is true”.  He wrote, “I know whom I have believed.”

When Jesus called his disciples he did not say “I have teachings that will change your life”, or “I can teach you principles and commandments from God, our Father, that will bless your life”.  Rather, he invited them to spend time with him.  “Follow me” (be with me, spend time with me) is what he said. (Matt 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 16:2, Mark 1:17, John  12:26, etc.)

“Faith, in the New Testament, is very seldom acquiescence in a creed; it is almost always trust in a person….To be a Christian is to know Him…‘other  than at second  hand.’”    ~ William Barclay

Sounds to me like a life-long journey.

Partaking of the Sacrament

 "The acts of eating and drinking the bread and water do not remit sins. But as we prayerfully and sincerely prepare and worthily participate in the ordinance, we examine our actions and the desires of our hearts and embrace the Lord's invitation to repent (Moses 6:57). When we offer the sacrifice He requires --a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:20)-- we are promised that we may always have His spirit to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we [may] obtain and always retain a remission of our sins (Moroni 6:4).

"The Life-changing Power of Remembering Him", David A. Bednar, For the Strength of Youth (magazine), June 2023, p.4

All of them helpful. Number 8, particularly in my life.

 

TEN RULES OF HAPPINESS
By President David O. McKay

1. Develop yourself by self-discipline.
2. Joy comes through creation — sorrow through destruction. Every living thing can grow: Use the world wisely to realize soul growth.
3. Do things which are hard to do.
4. Entertain upbuilding thoughts. What you think about when you do not have to think shows what you really are.
5. Do your best this hour, and you will do better the next.
6. Be true to those who trust you.
7. Pray for wisdom, courage, and a kind heart.
8. Give heed to God’s messages through inspiration. If self-indulgence, jealousy, avarice, or worry have deadened your response, pray to the Lord to wipe out these impediments.
9. True friends enrich life. If you would have friends, be one.
10. Faith is the foundation of all things — including happiness.

Improvement Era, June 1951

Improvement Era, June 1951

Ways To Avoid Misery on Your Mission. Lessons for life..

Respect agency. It  is a  gift from God.   Therefore, Do not ever believe that success, or your worth, can be measured by 

1. Whether or not someone is willing to converse with you.

2. Whether or not someone you are teaching makes progress.

3. Whether or not your companion slows the speed at which you work together.

4. Whether or not someone chooses to continue to learn with you.

5. Whether or not your companion chooses to do what you hope or want him/her to choose to do.

6. Whether or not  your companion teaches, or contacts, or listens, or prays or follows the promptings of  the Holy Spirit, or respects you, the way you would like him or her  to

7. How many of the people you teach decide to receive baptism and serve in the church.

Do act in ways that bring greater inner peace..

1. Actively look for and appreciate any good thing about your companion.

2. Live mission standards of behavior, whether or not your companion does so, without making  it  an  argument, and without getting frustrated or angry when your companion fails to live up to your expectations. 

3. When your companion fails to live mission standards of behavior, do not pray that he/she will change. That is not particularly helpful. It is more helpful if you ask  Heavenly Father how you should act and then follow  the impressions you receive, showing forth love as you do so.

4. Pray not so much that others will change, but rather that  you may become wiser and more charitable in your response to them.

Major lessons to remember.

1. Your companion may feel frustrated by you and then denigrate you in order to feel better about himself or herself.   Asking God to help you understand him or her the way that He does will help  you immensely as you seek to respond with love instead of  pain or anger.

2.  When your companion  decides to do something that you think is foolish  or wrong,  Decide, calmly, that you will not. And then do something different and wise. You do  not have to try to persuade them that they are wrong. But you do need to live your  own  life with integrity

3. Seek to understand with goodwill, rather than  simply seeking to be understood.

4. Treat every person with consideration.

5. Every day, find something beautiful, or  worthy of appreciation, or admirable, or considerate, or  uplifting in your environment, and stop  and appreciate  it..

6. As you study the scriptures, watch how Jesus interacts with people who are struggling. The majority of people you meet  are struggling in ways you cannot see.  Take your clues about how to respond from Christ.

All of the above will be of great benefit  in all  of your other relationships later in life.

Building up the kingdom and establishing Zion

 Kingdom:  

1. A contiguous territory or country under the dominion of a king.  

2. The inhabitants or population who are subject to a certain king or queen. “The whole kingdom rejoiced.”

Zion: 

1. A specific geographical location variousely transliterated Sion, Tzion, Tzion, Tsion, Tsyyon, is a placename in the Hebrew Bible used as a synonym for Jerusalem, as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole. You can find it in 2nd Samuel

2.A group of people who are pure in heart.  "Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice; for this is Zion--the pure in heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn. “  

Spencer Kimball’s thoughts on Zion and how we create it:

"Zion is 'every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.' (D&C 82:19.)

"First, we must eliminate the individual tendency to selfishness that snares the soul, shrinks the heart, and darkens the mind.

"Second, we must cooperate completely and work in harmony one with the other.

"Third, we must lay on the altar and sacrifice whatever is required by the Lord. We begin by offering a “broken heart and a contrite spirit.” We follow this by giving our best effort in our assigned fields of labor and callings. We learn our duty and execute it fully. Finally we consecrate our time, talents, and means as called upon by our file leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit. 

"My brothers and sisters, if we can do this, then we will find ourselves clothed in the mantle of charity “which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” (Moro. 7:46–47.)

"Let us unite and pray with all the energy of heart, that we may be sealed by this bond of charity; that we may build up this latter-day Zion, that the kingdom of God may go forth, so that the kingdom of heaven may come. 

From "Becoming the Pure in Heart" , Spencer W. Kimball, April 1978

It seems that “building up the kingdom of God and establishing Zion” is simply the work of building up (strengthening) the people who recognize God as their king and are pure in heart and, with them, establishing groups of people who seek to love and respond the way Jesus does.

Grateful

 “Have you considered using lipstick?, my well meaning and loving relative asked me., “I think it would add a bit of cheerful color to your face” she said. “Your lips are pale and thin and it would probably look good on you.”

My relative isn’t proud or judgmental.  She loves me. And I happen to know that she was raised with the adage that “it behooves us all to make the environment of others pleasant, and one way to do that is to look well put together”.  I get where she’s coming from and how she’s trying to be helpful.

Perhaps lipstick would make me “look better”.  I did wear it, and blush, and mascara when I was in my twenties. But I am not interested in using them now.

When I look at my face in the mirror and I see my thin, pale lips, I am grateful that I have lips! And that they work!  I am also grateful for my eyes that need glasses, my long straight nose, my unremarkable, undecorated ears, and my skin with its rows of wrinkles around my face and down my neck.  What a blessing lips, eyes, noses, ears and skin are!  The are complex, amazing, physiological structures.  They bless my life every single day.  The blow me away when I think about them and how much they do for me.  

Some might say, that wearing lipstick is a way of making a good thing “better”.  But color and style are not in my definition of “better”.  They are in my definitions of colorful and stylish. I like color, and I think style is an interesting topic to briefly peruse when it shows up in my reading, but they are qualities that are way down my list of valued characteristics.  

And so I find that it feels kind of odd to consider adding a quality that is way down my list of valued qualities to an object that is, in and of itself, already absolutely amazing and for which I am extremely grateful.

I don’t mind at all when others wear lipstick, or make up.  I find it interesting to see what they have created on their faces.  Some of them are real artists with it and I appreciate the art.

But, I am okay with my face just the way it is. And I am over-the-moon grateful for it just the way it is.