Join Dr. David T. Morgan for a weekly discussion about some principles from the weekly Come, Follow Me lesson and learn specific applications to improve mental and emotional health.
In this episode we'll talk about Hebrews chapters seven through thirteen. I love these chapters because they teach powerful lessons about how to endure trials. We'll talk about the basic doctrine that trials are an important part of life. In Hebrews 11, Paul reviews many of the trials faced by faithful persons. He teaches how we can learn from their examples and have hope for a better future. We'll talk about how the doctrine of hope is important in better understanding and enduring our mental and emotional trials. We'll also review how the Savior's understanding and power are sufficient to help us through any difficulty. Here is the link to Elder Holland's talk: An High Priest of Good Things To Come.
In this episode we'll talk about Hebrews chapters one through six. The Book of Hebrews was written to Jews who had converted to Christianity, but had started to fall back into old patterns of unbelief. We'll talk about how these chapters testify powerfully of the Savior and His Atonement, including His ability to truly understand all of our difficulties and challenges. We'll also discuss how following prophetic counsel is a great way to improve personal peace. Secular mental health strategies are very important in managing mental health. When we couple those with spiritual strategies, we can increase our power to improve our lives.
In this episode we'll talk about the Books of 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. These books of scriptures are personal letters written by Paul to former missionary companions and other associates. We'll talk about how understanding truth is critical as we strive to change our lives for the better. We'll review how contemporary times are filled with deception. As we learn to discern truth from deception, and align our beliefs with truth, we'll improve our ability to make positive mental and emotional change. We'll also talk about the role of the Holy Ghost in helping us understand and believe truth.
In this episode we'll talk about the Books of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. The Thessalonian saints were among the first European converts, which means they had to blaze the trail and do things very differently than others. We'll talk about how mental health issues sometimes come from long-standing patterns of behavior, or even having learned or inherited these from parents or grandparents. But we can be the ones to break the pattern and do something different, just like the ancient Thessalonians. We'll also review some counsel from Paul about how to make and sustain positive changes in our lives.
In this episode we'll talk about the Books of Philippians and Colossians. These epistles were written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. I've always found that inspiring, that he was thinking about others even in the midst of his own distress. There were several principles taught in these writings which emphasize the role of self-compassion in our lives. We'll talk about the importance of having positive self-talk, and how self-talk can influence our mood for good and bad. We'll also talk about the need to give ourselves grace, similar to how the Savior treats us.
In this episode we'll talk about the Book of Ephesians. Different than some of Paul's other writings, the Book of Ephesians seems to be a little more general in nature. The concepts within apply to all followers of Jesus Christ. We'll talk about Paul's discussion of the armor of God and how it can protect us against temptation. We'll review how we similarly protect ourselves against mental and emotional struggles by adopting and implementing protections. We'll also discuss some recent teachings by church leaders that can help us improve our mental and emotional health. (See below for links to the referenced teachings).
In this episode we'll talk about the Book of Galatians. Many of the ancient Galatians were Jews who had become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, in time they started to revert to their old ways, believing that Law of Moses traditions and practices were necessary for salvation. Paul helps correct their misunderstandings in this epistle. We'll talk about how the process of change or disruption is critical for our emotional and spiritual development. Generally speaking, we don't like change, but the sooner we learn to accept it as part of growth the more peace we are likely to experience. We'll also review the law of the harvest and its implications for mental health.
In this episode we'll talk about 2 Corinthians 8-13. We'll begin by talking about how there were groups of impoverished saints at that time, and Paul encouraged those who could to help as needed. Paul taught them to not only have good thoughts towards others, but to follow those thoughts with action. Sometimes, in our journey for emotional and spiritual improvement, we have great intentions but don't follow up with actual change. Paul teaches how we can do this. We'll also discuss the "thorn" Paul referred to, and how despite his prayers, the Lord did not remove it. We'll review how challenges can help us grow, and how we need to have faith in the Lord's plans for us.
In this episode we'll talk about 2 Corinthians 1-7. I find it comforting that the ancient saints struggled with many of the same problems that we do today. Sometimes we long for the "good ol' days" but it's clear that every generation has it's problems. Paul talks about the importance of seeing challenges differently. We'll discuss how flexible thinking is generally associated with better mental health outcomes. Paul teaches in these chapters about how to see the blessings in our trials, which enables us to think more flexibly about them. We'll also talk about how when we go through difficulties, we are then better able to help others through similar trials, which makes us more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In this episode we'll talk about 1 Corinthians 14-16. We'll review two main topics, related to changes we can make in our lives. The first topic has to do with finding personal peace. The Savior promises us peace "not as the world gives." We'll discuss what that means, and what we can do in our lives to increase those divine feelings of personal peace. We'll also talk about the idea of growth and change. We'll review the challenges that some people feel prevent them from changing, and how a better understanding of gospel principles can help us grow regardless of our liabilities. Changing to become like our Savior is always possible and is truly the goal of our mortal journey.
