Many are so uncomfortable in their own skin, that they will not face Priesthood leaders (and often resent men, because of that connection alone). If someone cannot look you in the eye in a deep and sustained manner - do NOT trust them. It is a dead giveaway of what is going on in their hearts and minds. I have encountered this OVER and OVER again. A back-stabber (unless truly pathological), cannot look you in the eye.
The biggest self-diagnostic, is whether you can look yourself deeply in the eyes (in a mirror, of course). If you have any problem doing that at all - then you have a problem. As a teen, someone had installed a mirror in my room (my sister's old room). It was about 2x3 feet. In one corner, I had this printed out and I would read it daily. It helped me immensely. That - and the challenge I received from my Seminary teacher, Sister Catanzaro to look at ourselves in the mirror daily as a check against slipping into sinful thoughts or behaviors:
If you are struggling with something, go through this checklist and see where you are at. I remember going to Sister Catanzaro one day and told her that I was feeling a feeling of overwhelming love and peace in my life (I cannot remember what the circumstances were), but she got all emotional and reminded me of the fruits of the Spirit. She is one of the women in my life that I will always be grateful for.
Great post.... there are a million ways to become distracted or lost to ourselves but only a few ways to find ourselves.....Thanks for the reality check.... great to use in this Sunday's lesson..... Pres. Groberg was the president of the Idaho Falls Temple when I served there in 06 & 08 . I saw him just last week in the Bountiful Temple . A more humble man I have never met.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the checklist. I want to give it to my kids/grandkids. I'll put it beside their goal list as they grow. 1. Get baptized 2. Attend seminary. 3. Go on mission 4. Get married in the temple.
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