Episode 7 Notes
John 2-4
Ye Must Be Born Again
In the beginning, I go over some comments about people heading back to the temple and stopping doing the little things that may keep up from doing bigger, better things. I tell the story of my husband almost dying on a plane years ago. After many digressions, this lesson actually talks about the miracle of turning water into wine, faith preceding the miracle, being born again, how Christ makes our lives magnificent, the woman at the well, and then finally some FHE helps. (Ha Ha – wait for it).
Quotes from the lesson
President Monson:
Faith precedes the miracle. It has ever been so and shall ever be. It was not raining when Noah was commanded to build an ark. There was no visible ram in the thicket when Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. Two heavenly personages were not yet seen when Joseph knelt and prayed.
First came the test of faith, and then the miracle. Remember, remember, that faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other. Cast out doubt. Cultivate faith.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught,
”My brothers and sisters, the first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength—that’s the first great commandment. But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. That love is the foundation stone of eternity, and it should be the foundation stone of our daily life …..
If we give our heart to God, if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, if we do the best we can to live the gospel, then tomorrow—and every other day—is ultimately going to be magnificent, even if we don’t always recognize it as such. Why? Because our Heavenly Father wants it to be! He wants to bless us. A rewarding, abundant, and eternal life is the very object of His merciful plan for His children!
“Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You,” Ensign May 2016, 127).
Joseph B. Wirthlin taught,
These latter days are a time of great spiritual thirst. Many in the world are searching, often intensely, for a source of refreshment that will quench their yearning for meaning and direction in their lives. They crave a cool, satisfying drink of insight and knowledge that will soothe their parched souls. Their spirits cry out for life-sustaining experiences of peace and calm to nourish and enliven their withering hearts.
Let us work with all our heart, might, mind, and strength to show our thirsty brothers and sisters where they may find the living water of the gospel, that they may come to drink of the water that springs “up unto everlasting life.”
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/living-water-to-quench-spiritual-thirst?lang=eng
Sorry this one was late. I will do better. Love you
And the podcast I mentioned was Better Than Happy by Jody Moore
You have inspired me to be a better person and to follow Christ even more. You are a beautiful inspiring woman. I decided last week after listening to your podcast that I need to fast from something that I could eliminate the negativity in my life. So I am taking a Facebook fast. Thanks for inspiring me to come follow me.
Thanks for sharing the plane story, gave me a smile this morning!
I love all your podcasts, but I think this one was my favorite one yet! Maybe because I listened this morning after last night which was the worst night of the year so far for me. I should be crying right now, but I’m smiling because your podcast helped me feel joy as I thought of the Savior and how He can bring miracles. Anyway – I don’t mind at all if your podcasts go over 38 minutes, and I’m usually just like your mother where I lose focus, and I even get ANGRY :0 if things go over time at all. But with these, the longer the better!
Our ward loves your podcast ….every sunday in either RS or SS someone always mentions your podcast in the discussion of that weeks lesson. You are amazing in your ability to help us see Jesus Christ’s hand in our lives.
Melanie, I love how down to earth you are. It is great fun listening to you and being inspired by you each week.
Another amazing podcast! I ran out and told the construction workers about my sister in law’s scan (and showed the pic) and then bore my testimony of the power of faith and prayer and fasting. Then as I came in I realized that, like the woman at the well, when you see the Lord and how he knows all about your life and how He’s working to make it better, you want to run and tell people. I guess that’s why we have to suffer sometimes so that we can see the Lord and see miracles so we can run tell the world of His goodness. Like sienna getting that white shirt. Experiences like that make her a more determined and grateful missionary.
Your words have touched me more than you could ever know! I truly feel the spirit every time I listen to your podcast. I was truly touched this week as you spoke of the woman at well running to tell about her experience with Jesus. I wondered, how in my life have i been like the woman at the well? Then it hit me! When i found your podcast, I fell in love with the spirit i felt from it! So I called my mom and told her to start listening and feel the spirit! I posted it on groups I’m part of because i wanted people to hear the message and feel what i feel! In a way this sounds like I’m comparing you to Jesus, but your podcast is about Jesus. The message is “Come, Follow Me.”! So I, like the woman at the well, am following and running to grab others to join the journey.
Tears. For real. I love that you went and DID right away. That is what we learned from her and I fully believe it isn’t until we actually act, the principles don’t affect us the way they have the potential to. Good work lady.
You are a breath of clean, fresh air! Thank you for listening to the Spirit and doing the podcast. I am energized to look more closely at the lessons, listen more intently. I don’t know how to attach a picture of me and my Temple recommend. But I will try to figure it out. I love you Melanie.
Melanie, I love your podcast and this one was no different. It lightens my day and gives me strength in everything I do. I study my scriptures and my come follow me right along with it and it’s the start of my week of come follow me and I love it. I love it because you make it’s so real. Thank you for all you do each week. And it’s fun when my kids sometimes join in listening. I continue to try and be better. This week’s podcast reminded me of His image in your countenance song and I listened to it afterwards.
Melanie, I just want to thank you for the time you take, the buffetings of the adversary you endure, and the other sacrifices you make to put out these podcasts. Two different comments today in Sunday School were made referencing your podcast. Our ward loves you and is being edified by your testimony. 😊
Thanks for adding your quotes and notes for us to review.
Thanks for your podcast. Last week I did not get around to posting this comment, but I thought better late than never. My kids all laughed when you talked about a “firkin” and how that definition was not helpful. Here is an exert from the New Testament institute manual that defines a firkin. It comes out of Chapter 22.
“At the wedding in Cana, there were “six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece” (John 2:6). According to Jewish tradition, vessels made of stone retained their ritual purity, while ceramic vessels could become ritually impure. A “firkin” was about nine gallons (34 liters), so the six pots could have held between 100 and 160 gallons (about 380 to 600 liters).”
My best friend told me about your podcast when I was on week three. Got caught up and thoroughly have enjoyed it. I love that quote about Job above. I was divorced after 24 years of a temple marriage (now 16 years ago). I will never forget the hurt I felt when I could count on one hand the people in my ward which I had been in for over ten years, came to me. I hated Sundays, for years. It was just a reminder of everything I’d lost.
But that’s not why I came here to write . Your story about the incident on the plane with your husband and the announcement over the speaker asking for LDS priesthood holders just really touched me. I would have never thought of that. I LOVED it. Gives me chills just writing to you about it now.
So, I know where you are at now. It hurts so bad. And I learned that sometimes you just have to sit in your pain. Now, 16 years later, it’s still sad, but the sting is not so strong. Unfortunately, I know many other good LDS women who have experienced the same thing and the cases I know of, with no exception, their exes have had a miserable life. It is so sad to see. Mine in particular told my son when he wrote a letter to him for the solo during Trek that it was the biggest mistake of his life. I’m sorry he’s hurting, but you can’t choose bad without lasting effects.
Hang in there. You are awesome, inspiring, funny, entertaining and everything else!!