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 Matthew 18 and Luke 10. First we'll discuss the concept of personal liabilities and an invitation from the Savior to remove these from our lives. We'll talk about how sometimes there are things we do, or characteristics we have, that are inconsistent with staying on the covenant path, yet we resist giving them up. We'll discuss how we can make those changes and move forward. We'll also talk about the story of Mary and Martha and how this teaches about priorities. We'll address how we only have a certain amount of emotional energy to get through each day, and therefore need to be intentional about how we use that and what choices we make.
In this episode we'll talk about Matthew 15 through 17 and Mark 7 through 9. We'll start by talking about how difficulties and challenges are not only part of life, but they are a necessary trial in order to help us progress. As we learn to see our challenges differently they can become grown opportunities instead of griefs. We'll review an instance in the Savior's ministry where he healed a man in two stages and talk about how sometimes healing takes time and does not happen all at once. We'll also talk about how learning to think more flexibly can help us see the good in our lives, even when it seems like there is no good to be found due to challenges and mental health issues.
In this episode we'll talk about concepts related to Easter and the Atonement, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Instead of reviewing the scriptures from that period of the Lord's mortal ministry (which we will review at a later date), we'll discuss related concepts. We'll talk about the idea of rejuvenation and rebirth, and how the Savior can help us rise from our difficulties to become new creatures. We'll also discuss the concept of hope and review several scriptures on this topic. We'll learn how hope helps us manage our difficulties, look forward to better times, and helps provide the strength to see challenges as growth opportunities.
In this episode we'll talk about Matthew 14, Mark 6, and John 5 and 6. We'll start by talking about the death of John the Baptist, the events that led up to that, and how this affected the Savior. We'll review how the Savior wanted to take time to grieve the death of his friend but was interrupted by crowds who wanted His attention and service. We'll discuss the concept of boundaries and how these can be set in a healthy manner. We'll review the miracle of the loaves and fishes and how this relates to our making personal changes. We'll also talk about Peter walking on the water, how fear and faith are related, and how we can improve our ability to change by focusing on Jesus Christ.
In this episode we'll talk about Matthew 13 and Luke 8 and 11. We'll discuss how the scribes and pharisees were so eager to try to catch the Savior in an error, that they regularly missed opportunities for spiritual development. We'll review how we need to focus on ourselves and our own change and not focus on the behaviors of others. We'll also discuss the parable of the sower, and the implications it has for personal change in our lives. We'll talk about how people have to be ready and willing for change for it to be effective. We'll also discuss how comparing our degrees of change to others is not helpful, and we need to celebrate our own successes appropriately.
In this episode we'll talk about Matthew 11 and 12 and Luke 11. We'll discuss one of the parables in Luke 11, where one possible interpretation has to do with the process of personal change. We'll talk about how change is most effectively accomplished when previous, less effective habits and beliefs are replaced with new, more effective habits and beliefs. This process is designed to happen slowly and deliberately to have good effect. We'll also talk about the Savior's invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 and how His promise of peace and rest involves action on our part. We'll discuss how changing the way we think about things can change our emotions.
In this episode we'll talk about two stories in Mark chapter 5, one well known and the other not as well. We'll discuss the healing of the daughter of Jairus and the implications this has for building faith and hope. We'll talk about how he was invited to continue to have faith and hope despite what seemed like a bleak potential outcome. We will review how this process can help with mental health improvement. We'll also talk about the woman who was healed by touching Jesus' robe. The fact that she believed she could be healed was what motivated her behavior. We'll discuss how having faith that we can eventually move past mental health issues is the first step in making progress.
In this episode we'll talk about Matthew 8, Luke 7, and Mark chapters 2 through four. We'll discuss two main principles from these chapters. First, we'll talk about the Savior's teaching of putting "new wine into new bottles." We'll talk about the mental health application for this idea, which is that in order to make long-term changes to our mental health, we need to change our overall ways of how we approach life. These changes can be made a little at a time and they are essential for improved mental health. We'll also discuss the example of the Savior calming the tempest, how the differences in thinking affected his emotions and the emotions of his disciples, and how thinking impacts feelings in general.
In this episode we'll talk about Matthew chapters 6 and 7. We'll discuss several principles from the sermon on the mount that can help us in our mental health journeys and personal improvement. Some of the main ideas discussed include the principle of acting first, and not waiting for circumstances to change before we chose to do something. We'll also talk about the importance of being present in our own lives; not letting the past or the future overwhelm our ability to feel joy now. We will also address how we need to be careful about the things we let into our mind and hearts, and particularly careful about the ideas we choose to nurture.
In this episode we'll talk about Matthew chapter 5 and Luke chapter 6. We'll talk about an example in the Savior's live where he was being accused by the scribes and Pharisees of inappropriate behavior. We'll discuss how this is a good example of how in order to progress spiritually and emotionally, we need to keep our focus on our own issues and not those of others. We'll also talk about the beatitudes, delayed gratification, and how faith increases. Last we'll discuss the Savior's invitation to increase our efforts and do more difficult things. We'll talk about how the more effective effort we give towards mental health improvement, the more change we are likely to experience.
