Inspiration
    When our current heart is shattered, then God gives us a new one
    Trending Posts
    • The Whole Book of Mormon in 15 Verses via gentlyhewstone.com
    • 26 – What is the doctrine of Christ and the fulness of the gospel?
    • Joseph Smith on Truth
    Trending
    • 26 – What is the doctrine of Christ and the fulness of the gospel?
    • #25 – How Nephi leverages scriptures heroes to his advantage
    • “Whoso knocketh, to him he will open”
    • Lehi’s escape from a polygamist Jerusalem
    • #24 – The attributes of a Heavenly Mother?
    • #23 – Comfort is the thief of growth
    • #22 – Coyote, chickens, and an impenetrable fortress designed in wisdom and love
    • New Photo of Joseph Smith Discovered? (for real this time?)
    oneClimbs.comoneClimbs.com
    • Podcast
      • Apple Podcasts
      • Spotify
      • Anchor.fm
    • Topics
      • Atonement
      • Symbolism
      • Temple Prep
      • Temples
      • Notebook
      • Vlog
    • Study Tools
      • Etymology Dictionary
      • Lectures on Faith.com
      • LDSSymbols.com
      • LDS Architecture Blog
      • Number in Scripture
      • Interpreter Foundation
      • Isaiah Explorer
      • ScriptureNotes
      • Septuagint (English)
      • Strong’s Condordance
      • The Book of Isaiah (IIT)
      • Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
    • About
      • About oneClimbs
      • Contact
    oneClimbs.comoneClimbs.com
    Home»Articles»George MacDonald Quotes from Unspoken Sermons
    Articles July 15, 20164 Mins Read

    George MacDonald Quotes from Unspoken Sermons

    The duty of Christians toward their fellow men and women is to let their light shine, not to force on them their interpretations of God’s designs.

    I think this is so profoundly simple and the truth so self-evident that it should instantly add to the improvement of relations of individuals in virtually every situation. I know that I can improve upon this, because I often feel like I have to correct people and while sometimes it is necessary, often a competing interpretation could be equally true for that person.

    If you were faithful and had been living the life, had been a practicing Christian, as the word means – namely, one who does as Christ does – then indeed you would have drawn the world after you. In your church you would be receiving and giving out nourishment, strength to live. Those who stand outside looking at the proceedings inside, who are more repelled by your general worldliness than by your misrepresentation of God, would positively hasten to the company of people loving and true, eager to learn what it was that made them so good, so happy, so unselfish, so free of care, so ready to die, so willing to live, so hopeful, so helpful, so careless to possess, so undeferential to possession.

    When we talk of “missionary work” I’m often repelled by the constant barrage of “programs” that are created by well-meaning missionaries, ward mission leaders, etc. Too often we think that we need to have a “pitch” or something like that when instead, the simple passionate cultivation of the the Spirit in the life of a true disciple can allow God to work through them.

    Why should I care to convince you that my doctrine is right? What does any honest person care what you think of his doctrine? To convince another by intellect alone, while the heart remains unmoved, is but to add to his condemnation.

    We see a lot of this don’t we? We argue over points of doctrine and doctrine is important, but it is far more important to be a reality in one’s life rather than position point.

    To make a man happy as a lark, might be to do him a grievous wrong: to make a man wake, rise, look up, and turn is worth the life and death of the Son of the Eternal.

    There are a lot of really deep thoughts I have on this one. I wrote something in relation to this in a previous post but I think there is a very dangerous movement in the world today that seeks to eliminate suffering and promote pain at the expense of detouring from a path that would lead to tremendous growth and knowledge of God. Read Alma 29 where Alma expresses a deep desire to eliminate all sorrow from the world but realizes he sins in his wish.

    Coincidentally, I just saw this quote from Samuel L. Johnson in the stall of a bathroom at Westminster college in Utah.

    IMG_3047

    What may sound profound, the idea of lowering yourself to base natural urges to avoid pain, is counter-intuitive to the higher way punctuated by King Benjamin:

    “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)

    I’m not all the way through George MacDonald’s work, but I may share more quotes as I come across them.

    Conversion George MacDonald
    Previous ArticleLove, works, and faith
    Next Article Famine
    Steve Reed

      I created oneClimbs as a place to organize my thoughts and share my observations with anyone who might find the information useful. Though I may speak passionately or convincingly in some of this content, PLEASE don't simply take my word alone on anything. Always seek the truth of all things through study and prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.

      1 Comment

      1. Richard J. Nobbe III on July 16, 2016 11:56 am

        “When we talk of “missionary work” I’m often repelled by the constant barrage of “programs” that are created by well-meaning missionaries, ward mission leaders, etc. Too often we think that we need to have a “pitch” or something like that when instead, the simple passionate cultivation of the the Spirit in the life of a true disciple can allow God to work through them.”

        Right on with you here. But I believe the reason missionaries and leaders do this is to get the vast majority of us in the church off of our lazy butt. They shouldn’t HAVE to do this. Virtue should be it’s own reward, right? Yeah, tell that to an Elder’s Quorum President who is dealing with less than 20% home teaching in his quorum. As the scriptures might say, “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little lazy, as they suppose, they will begin to immediately exercise unrighteous slothfulness…etc…”

        To the truly converted such programs may be unnecessary and even seem superficial. To the greater portion of the people, it may be their only hope in ever coming to the “joy of bringing at least one soul unto repentance.”

        Wow – that was pessimistic. I really do have more hope in people. Sometimes.

        Reply

      Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

      Inspiration

      One Climbs, one sees. - Rene Daumal

      New Post Email Notifications

      You can subscribe any time, and I will ONLY use your email to send you new post updates.

      Trending Posts
      • Atonement , Podcast
        26 – What is the doctrine of Christ and the fulness of the gospel?

        I don't know that there is anything else more important and timely that I c...

      • Articles
        Joseph Smith on Truth

        Receiving truth "One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to...

      • Atonement
        Repentance: a process of addition not subtraction

        I came across this post the other day that had some interesting perspective...

      • Articles
        Analysis of an Incredible Eve/Mary Artwork by a Roman Catholic Nun

        My friend, Richard N. shared this image with me, and I thought it was fanta...

      • Articles , Symbolism
        White Cloth, Fire and the Glory of God

        It has occurred to me over the years that there is something significant ab...

      Recent Comments
      • Steve Reed on 26 – What is the doctrine of Christ and the fulness of the gospel?: “Hi Joel, thanks for your feedback and great questions. I think remarkable examples can come in many forms and people…”
      • Joel on 26 – What is the doctrine of Christ and the fulness of the gospel?: “Hey man, Thanks for doing this episode. I especially valued your sharing your experience with the baptism of fire. I’m…”
      • Steve Reed on A Proposed Reinterpretation of Jacob 2:30: “Thanks for your thoughts, Jeffery, it seems as though many people are starting to take a closer look at Jacob…”
      • Jeff on A Proposed Reinterpretation of Jacob 2:30: “Thank you for this! I had actually just finished writing out my thoughts on Jacob 2:30, which were almost identical…”
      • Jonathan on A Guide to Keeping Your Own “Small Plates”: “This is AWESOME! I’m going to be using some of these principles and sharing them with my seminary class tomorrow…”
      Blogroll
      • Academy for Temple Studies
      • Bruce Charlton's Notions
      • Conner's Connundrums
      • Gently Hew Stone
      • Hemlock Knots
      • Interpreter Foundation
      • Isaiah Explained
      • Isaiah Explorer
      • Junior Ganymede
      • Latter-day Saint Architecture Blog
      • Latter-day Saint Temples
      • LDSSymbols.com
      • Leading Saints
      • Number in Scripture by E. W. Bullinger
      • Sixty Symbols
      • Spiritual Arson Podcast
      • Strongs Concordance
      • TempleStudy
      • The Ancient Context of Joseph Smith's Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar
      • Webster's 1828 Dictionary
      New Post Email Notifications

      You can subscribe any time, and I will ONLY use your email to send you new post updates.

      Inspiration
      "Have ye been spiritually born of God?" - Alma 5:14
      About this Site

      I created oneClimbs as a place to organize my thoughts and share my observations with anyone who might find the information useful. All content on this site is considered a work in progress that is often updated when new insights are obtained.

      oneClimbs.com

      LecturesOnFaith.com  //  LDSSymbols.com

      © 2023 oneClimbs. All content unique to oneClimbs is fair use. All other content is property of the respective copyright owner. oneClimbs.com is not owned, controlled, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All views and opinions are of the authors here who are solely responsible for their content and should not be interpreted as official statements of Church doctrine, belief, or practice, unless specifically stated and correctly referenced.

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

       

      Loading Comments...