We've had a busy week. The drywall is up and textured and we've been painting. It's going to look so nice and it will be good to have a family gathering space.
I'll tell you something that I learned this week. It's the word contemplate. Contemplate means "to look at with continued attention, to meditate on". But if you dig and find the root words, it means something much more profound. It comes from the root 'contemplari', which means "to mark out a temple"
con = with templum = temple
So if to contemplate means to mark out a temple, I can see how important it is to ponder upon eternal principles. It made me think about what I think about. Probably 90% of what goes on in my brain is just useless chatter. If I could incrementally change that, then over time I would be making progress towards ideals. I think, therefore I am. Right? So what I think about makes me 'me' which makes me want to think better thoughts.
We are creatures of habit, and it is very difficult to find new pathways through our neuronal forest. But we must keep whacking away at the overgrowth and find the truth to our reality. The reality being that there is a God who loves us and wants us to find truth so that we may have joy.
Are you finding truth? Are you experiencing joy?
I pray for you.
With love,
Mom
Dear Mom,
I'm excited to see the pictures! I'm glad that it is getting so close.
Contemplate. That is such a wonderful word. Etymology can teach us valuable things. I love what we learned about the word King at the forum.
I read a verse the other day that reminded me about the temple. D&C 43: 34 uses the phrase "solemnities of eternity". I need to change my thoughts too. It is a bit easier for me since I have been out here.
Focusing on the scriptures and teaching helps me a lot.
My neuronal forest has been trimmed. I'm forgetting a lot of things. That may sound bad, but to me it is good. I've been able to focus on things that matter more.
I am finding truth. I am experiencing joy. I've been feeling a sense of urgency for my fellow man. The time is near for the Lord to come and reign. The time is near for everyone who has ever lived. This life is short.
I felt joy when Javier was baptized this last Wednesday. Yup, he got baptized. Elder Cartwright baptized him, and I was able to confirm him. It was a great opportunity to exercise my priesthood. It was wonderful to see him be baptized because he was the first person I invited to be baptized. In fact, the first night I was in Santa Rosa, I invited him. Seeing his progression over the last few months has added strength to my testimony.
I love you Mom. You are wonderful.
Love,
Elder Williams
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