With Real Intent

It is interesting to me how our Heavenly Father blesses us step by step.  Yesterday I was reminded that knowledge (or testimony, if you will) of the Saviour is a key to walking peaceably through life (an increasingly challenging but infinitely rewarding task).

Today, my e-mail had this sweet message in it first thing this morning,

“To gain a testimony, you must nourish it step by step. ‘[Your testimony] will increase as you make decisions to keep the commandments. As you lift and strengthen others, you will see your testimony continue to develop.’ ”

-- Mary N. Cook, “Never, Never, Never Give Up!” Ensign, May 2010, 118, quoted in LDS Daily Gems, July 16, 2010. (you can subscribe to these daily thoughts by e-mail or RSS feed for free at this link)

I noticed with interest Sister Cook's recommendations for nourishing a testimony step by step:  By making decisions to keep the commandments and by lifting and strengthening others. This was a sweet reinforcement of my recent reading and prayerful pondering. 
 
Later in the morning I continued reading in Moroni 7, this time focusing on verses 5-11, which included the following,

 

"5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.  6  ... for if [a man] offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.  ... 11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil."

 

I then read from pages 388-9 of the LDS Institute Manual about these verses.  I recommend all of it, and will quote a portion here, in which Elder Dallin H. Oaks discussed the meaning and importance of the words "with real intent",

 

“. . . Scriptures make clear that in order to purify our service in the Church and to our fellowmen, it is necessary to consider not only how we serve, but also why we serve.  People serve one another for different reasons, and some reasons are better than others. . . . We should all strive to serve for the reasons that are highest and best. 

“. . . By way of illustration, and without pretending to be exhaustive, I will suggest six reasons. I will discuss these in ascending order from the lesser to the greater reasons for service.

“[1] Some may serve for hope of earthly reward. . . .

“[2] Another reason for service— . . . to obtain good companionship. . . .

“[3] Some may serve out of fear of punishment. . . .

“[4] Other persons may serve out of a sense of duty or out of loyalty to friends or family or traditions. . . .

“[5] One such higher reason for service is the hope of an eternal reward. . . .

“[6] . . . The highest reason of all. . . . Charity. . . .

 

-- Ensign, Nov. 1984, pages 12–15

 

I feel wonderful just letting these inspired thoughts pass through my head, and am deeply appreciative of my Heavenly Father for leading me to them.