Dear Friends,
I had a great experience that I wanted to share with you. I read a short book by Sister Wendy Watson Nelson. It took me less than an hour to read while I sat outside in the fresh air. I picked up the book called What Would A Holy Woman Do? this morning at Deseret Book. I think it is based on a talk she gave at a Time Out For Women.
My synopsis:
Sister Nelson was inspired to think more about holiness after traveling with her husband, Elder Russell M. Nelson, to Africa to rededicate a temple. He walked through the temple to make sure everything was done right and found everything looked just as they had asked until they walked outside. The words, "Holiness to the Lord", were not on the outside of the temple. Until they were there, the temple could not be dedicated.
Thinking about it, Sister Nelson asked a few friends to try something with her to see what the outcomes could be. For three days, not adding to what you already have to do, choose one daily activity and try to "be holy" while doing it. Her examples of activities range from difficulties and burdens to reading with a child or exercising.
Six women participated and these were some of the lessons they learned:
Helen:
The desire to be holy brought change. She was more productive and had more energy. She learned the importance of spending time with her children {non-distracted} and being more kind to her husband.
Julie:
She learned that being holy is not too big of goal. This experiment helped her focus and made her feel like a more capable, better person.
Carol:
Carol accomplished more and felt good about her priorities. She felt like there was more purpose to her life and her activities.
Marilyn:
The guilt Marilyn carried was taken away because she felt more acknowledged and supported by the Lord. She kept thinking about perspective, patience, perseverance, and planning. Marilyn learned that being holy doesn't mean being perfect.
Kate:
Kate was able to remember advice from her youth that helped her support her husband better. She was more productive while he was away and said she had a much happier disposition.
Barbara:
Being less critical of others gave her the realization that people are trying to do the best they can. She didn't procrastinate her tasks and thought more about what she put into her body.
There are many other stories from men and women who heard Sister Nelson's challenge. From Canada, Russia, and Brazil, members of the Church tried the experiment of "being holy" for three days and each had great experiences.
Sister Nelson wrote about how gifts are hard to give or send because you never can know for sure what the receiver may really want or enjoy. She went on about the cultural trend of gift cards but how they too can be lost or forgotten. Going further, she compared those gifts to the Gift of the Holy Ghost which brings us the gifts {plural} of the Spirit.
The gifts of the Spirit are just examples in the scriptures because the number of gifts is endless. Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught,
"These gifts are infinite in number and endless in their manifestations because God himself is infinite and endless."
Doctrine and Covenants 60:7 says,
"I am able to make you holy."
The gifts of the Spirit have already been paid for through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We have access to them all. Some are granted to us and the rest can be asked for through faith and prayer to our Heavenly Father.
Elder Russell M. Nelson said,
"We can acquire holiness only by enduring and persistent personal effort."
So, my friends, I want to invite you to read this short, little book {you can even borrow my copy} and/or after just reading this post, participate in just ONE DAY {three if you'd like} of doing one daily activity that you have to do anyway trying to "be holy." And then, share your thoughts about the experiment on a comment here or email it to me for me to put them all together.
I feel so happy that I picked this book up and read it right away. My books usually sit, indefinitely, waiting to be read. It really spoke to me and I felt like this is a goal I want to put into my life. I loved the stories in the book and think you would, too, but to make it more personal, I was hoping we could all put our experiences together. I am sure it will help me in my pursuit of Holiness.
Please join my challenge. And, invite other to join to! :)
Joey
Additional Information:
{I didn't get paid to write this post or advertise the book. I just loved it.}
