Spiritual Sunday- achieving spiritual growth

Increasing spirituality

It has been roughly a year since my return from my mission. A lot has happened in that year- I attended two semesters of college, I changed jobs 3 times, I started a blog, but something that has been on my mind was spirituality.

a picture of my first new snow fall on my mission in Hastings Michigan. it seems so long ago...

Lets face it. Even though you may be a returned missionary, chances are the amount of spiritual growth has slowed compared to when you are on your mission. So for us RM’s as well as everyone else, what can we do to grow spiritually? Where does this growth come from? Spirituality starts by looking at the end result rather than the beginning. We go directly to God for help.

Start by asking yourself “what are the attributes of God?” (preach my gospel chapter 6 is a good place to start) and then select one that you would like to improve in.

The scriptures say to cleave unto all good things (Moroni 7:28), and that all good things come from God (Moroni 7:22). The way we communicate our desires to God is through prayer. When we do so, we gain the spiritual things we desire (Alma 62:51).

Granted though, not all things come in the moment we desire them. God doesn’t just say “poof, you are charitable”. What he does is give you the opportunity to practice being charitable. That’s how God works. When we put forward the effort along with faith in God, we can then gain the spiritual growth that we desire.

Remember: pray to God that you will grow spiritually. Resolve to grow and make a plan to do so. Pray and communicate to God your plans for growth in a particular attribute. Fast and study the attribute to grow in. Practice that attribute in every way you possibly can (usually in the form of helping someone else). And finally, no matter how fast your growth is, thank your father in heaven for the blessing he does give you.

Thank you and have a wonderful Sunday.