Your body is a temple. As a temple it is ahold place where the Holy Spirit may reside. We learn from our dedication of temples that they are clean and built to perfection. When we apply this lesson to ourselves, we learn that to have the spirit of god in our lives we must be clean, physically and mentally. We must strive for perfect obedience to God's commandments. To achieve perfection in obedience, we must learn and live principles taught in the scriptures. To gain a testimony of any principle you must live it. You most likely will not keep commitments unless it was your idea to do it. Therefore, to obtain perfect obedience, you must look at yourself in the mirror daily and say my body is a temple of God, then learn to apply the lessons in the scriptures to your life and live them.
True repentance is only achieved by turning away from sin (all sin not just the one you are repenting of) and focussing all your heart and energy on loving a Christ like life. An example from the Book of Mormon was given. They was a people who were warriors, the killed and took pleasure in it. When they were taught about God and his plan of happiness they were pricked in their hearts and not only turned away from their sin, they covenanted with God never to use weapons of war again for fear of reawakening that desire for killing and thereby loosing their redemption. Years later their commitment to the covenant was was tested. Their land was being attacked and they wanted desperately to take up arms to defend themselves, their countrymen and their land. Captain Moroni ,from outside the town, told them that they should keep their covenant and suggested that since their sons had not made the covenant, they would be free to defend them. This example shows the commitment level you must have. Part of the story that wasn't mentioned but I feel is important to illustrate the point was this, prior to their sons taking up arms in defense of their families and country, these committed people walked out on the battlefield without weapons, and laid down on the ground. Their enemies came and began to slaughter them. During this, a large portion of the enemy became disgusted with themselves and through down their weapons and then entered into the same covenant. So to sum up repentance is granted when we have a change of heart, when sin disgusts us and we loose the desire to sin. Our commitment will be tested, and through our example many more will see and begin their own personal transformation.
Weaved through out all of this is the importance of fasting. Fasting teaches us to control the natural desires of our bodies. So when we are struggling to keep the life altering principles we learn about in the scriptures or the commandments from God, fasting will put our spirit in charge and make it easier to keep them.
To help my family to learn an appreciation of conference, for family home evening we are watching one talk and then talking about it. Afterword, we play games and just hang out.
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