Reflections on a Consecrated Life

 We were favored with a beautiful lesson today by Julie F.  She taught us from Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk entitled “Reflections on a Consecrated Life.”  Here are a few thoughts and quotes that were shared.

·         We all want to dedicate, or consecrate, ourselves to the Lord, but we have to find balance.

·         “Our life on earth is a stewardship of time and choices granted by our Creator.”

·         The way we live a consecrated life may be different for everyone, but Elder Christofferson gives us five elements of a consecrated life to “consider” as we “reflect” on how to do this.

1.      Purity – “Consecration therefore means repentance.  Stubbornness, rebellion, and rationalization must be abandoned, and in their place submission, a desire for correction, and acceptance of all that the Lord may require.”

2.      Work – “Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God.  A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers, aspires.”

a.       Leisure – “Just as honest toil gives rest its sweetness, wholesome recreation is the friend and steadying companion of work.”

3.      Respect for one’s body – “A central purpose of the mortal experience is that each spirit should receive such a body and learn to exercise moral agency in a tabernacle of flesh.”

4.      Service – If we want to be like Christ, we need to do what He did.  “Those who quietly and thoughtfully go about doing good offer a model of consecration.”

5.      Integrity – “Hypocrisy is terribly destructive… It is faith destroying, whereas honor is the rich soil in which the seed of faith thrives.”

·         “Of particular significance is the influence of a consecrated man or woman upon others, especially those closest and dearest.  The consecration of many who have gone before us and others who live among us has helped lay the foundation for our happiness.  In like manner future generations will take courage from your consecrated life, acknowledging their debt to you for the possession of all that truly matters.  May we consecrate ourselves as sons and daughters of God, ‘that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope’ I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”