What it is wisdom?

Reasoning leads to wisdom -nicholeen peck

Vanity

The bible dictionary definition of vanity is:
"Falsehood or deceit. Empty, transitory, fleeting."

I have always thought of it more in the newer dictionary definition as opposed to this definition and that of the Webster's 1828 dictionary. It's amazing the change of "buzz words" or definitions of words of time. Our language has truly been corrupted with the new social contexts, which is why we need to study. Someone who is vain is concerned with appearance and clothing. Which now I understand is empty. They are also proud. Which is putting up a front or deceit and falsehood.  How much deeper I understand the meaning!

I find the study of etymology, or words, fascinating.

In the October 2014 General Conference President Uchtdorf gave a talk titled: Lord is it I?  He said: "Brethern, we must put aside our pride, see beyond our vanity, and in humility ask, Lord is it I?"  I was surprised and thought I don't generally look at myself as vain because I don't have really nice clothing. But now I know that vanity is much deeper than that.

As a man thinketh

" A  man’s  mind  may  be  likened  to  a  garden,  which  may  be  intelligently  cultivated  or  allowed  to  run  wild;;  but  whether  cultivated  or  neglected,  it  must,  and  will  bring  forth.  If  no  useful  seeds  are  put  into  it,  then  an  abundance  of  useless  weed-seeds  will  fall  therein,  and  will  continue  to  produce  their  kind." (Chap 2 pg. 6)

"Man  is  buffeted  by  circumstances  so  long  as  he  believes  himself  to  be  the  creature  of  outside  conditions,  but  when  he  realizes  that  he  is  a  creative  power,  and  that  he  may  command  the  hidden  soil  and  seeds  of  his  being  out  of  which  circumstances  grow;;  he  then  becomes  the  rightful  master  of  himself. " (chap. 2 pg. 6)

" Suffering  is  always  the  effect  of  wrong  thought  in  some  direction.  It  is  an  indication  that  the  individual  is  out  of  harmony  with  himself,  with  the  law  of  his  being.  The  sole  and  supreme  use  of  suffering  is  to  purify,  to  burn  out  all  that  is  useless  and  impure.  Suffering  ceases  for  him  who  is  pure.  There  could  be  no  object  in  burning  gold  after  the  dross  had  been  removed,  and  a  perfectly  pure  and  enlightened  being  could  not  suffer."

"On  the  other  hand,  beautiful  thoughts  of  all  kinds  crystallize  into  habits  of  grace  and  kindliness,  which  solidify  into  genial  and  sunny  circumstances.  Pure  thoughts  crystallize  into  habits  of  temperance  and  self-control,  which  solidify  into  circumstances  of  repose  and  peace.  Thoughts  of  courage,  self-reliance,  and  decision  crystallize  into  manly  habits,  which  solidify  into  circumstances  of  success,  plenty,  and  freedom.  Energetic  thoughts  crystallize  into  habits  of  cleanliness  and  industry,  which  solidify  into  circumstances  of  pleasantness.  Gentle  and  forgiving  thoughts  crystallize  into  habits  of  gentleness,  which  solidify  into  protective  and  preservative  circumstances.  Loving  and  unselfish  thoughts  which  solidify  into  circumstances  of  sure  and  abiding  prosperity  and  true  riches."

Mentoring in the Classics - CS Lewis The Inner Ring

CS Lewis's The Inner Ring.

-Oliver DeMille said that Someone said: whatever you focus on grows. If you focus on losing weight you grow. If you focus on negativity it grows. If you focus on bad behavior or mistakes or problems they grow.

Therefore we need to focus in positivity.  Also when we want to rid ourselves of a bad habit, instead of focusing on it, we need to focus on replacing it with something better.  The Good Better Best talk. So if you don't want your family to watch sports on Sunday focus on worshipping aka family history, family study or game time etc.

-Exclusion is caused from insecurity. If you are exuding you need confident. Calm principled parenting is confidence. (The Power of Calm - Nicholeen Peck)

Agency

(Bednar, Increase in learning, page 3) "the gift of agency is the capacity and power of "independent"action." (Quotes added.)

Satan takes away our agency by taking away our freedoms, by making us dependent.  Dependent on the government.  We need self-reliance to combat this. Be agent. Act and not be acted upon.

Likewise Satan wants us too treat people like objects rather than agents/people. To combat this we need to look at people through spiritual eyes. The world looketh upon the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh upon the heart."

How do we look with spiritual eyes upon the heart?  We look at a person's potential.  They are spirit sons and daughters of God first.  "Each person has greatness". (Oliver DeMille)

P.3 Two central features of the Plan of Happiness Learn by Faith and Learn by Experience.

What does it mean to learn by Faith?

How have I Learned by Experience?

Make a timeline of my life's big lessons. Journal.

Faith, then what?

I have been blessed with the Gift of Faith.  Coupled with that is always: hope and charity. So if I want to be complete in my Faith then I need to learn and understand (in my heart) what they are.

Charity is not just works or gift giving, but a condition of the soul, a quality of our character. The gift of charity flows from God as He reveals His love for us, and from our reciprocating—feeling love for God, His work, and His children. That is why Alma could prophesy, “And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works” (Alma 7:24). Pride is the opposite of charity. Selfishness, indifference, and indolence are enemies of charity.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/12/a-vision-of-service?lang=eng

What started this search was the above listed article. I was wondering whether service can sometimes be a doctrine, or only just a principle.  Based on Elder Bednar's book and DVD set Increase in Learning. He teaches and invites us to answer our struggles and questions by asking: What (true) doctrine understood (aka understood in our hearts) would change help with our question.

Do you want there to be more visiting teaching done? Instead of putting a scarey person in fearing people into it for temporary change or by doing some kind of program...we need to help them have a change of heart or understand doctrine and principles.   So what principles and doctrine to our children not understand, what do we need understand?

What do we need to gain a testimony of and how do we gain it?  Search, Ponder, and Pray.  God always talks in 3's.  :)