Unit 2 choice 6: 1 Thessalonians 3-5, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6, 11

I have compiled a list from the above scriptures that Paul counseled members to improve on.

• increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men
• walk and please God
• know what commandments are given
• abstain from fornication
• Do not be in the lust of concupiscence 
• "no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter"
• Do not despise, "the therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."
• Love one another
• increase more and more
• "study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands"
• "walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."
• "watch and be sober"
• put on the "breastplate of faith and love"
• put on the "helmet, the hope pf salvation"
• "obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ"
• comfort yourselves together 
• edify one another
• know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord
• Respect and love those that serve and work in the church
• be at peace among yourselves
• "warn them that are unruly"
• "comfort the feebleminded"
• "support the weak"
•  be patient to everyone
• "seek that none render evil for evil unto any man."
• "follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
• Rejoice
• "Pray without ceasing."
• Give thanks in everything
• Do not hinder the Spirit
• "Despise not prophesyings."
• study and prove all things
• "hold fast that which is good"
• "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
• Pray for the Leaders of the church
• Pray that "the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified."
• Pray to be "delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for all men have not faith."
• The Lord will keep you from evil
• do the things that the Lord commands, and the Lord will direct you to those waiting for the love of Christ.
• Withdraw yourselves from those that "walk disorderly," and not after the ways of the Lord. 
• Work
• Don't be a busy body

Wow, after making this list I have realized that there is always something to be improving on.  I have selected 3 attributes from the list that I am going to commit to work towards.  

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." In the Foot note for Prove it says: Examine, put to the test, study, test, try, prove.  I find that sometimes if a subject doesn't interest me, I don't put a lot of effort into finding and learning more about that subject.  So in order to expand my knowledge and understandings I am going to spend my time more wisely.  And like it says in 2 Thessalonians 3:11, I am not going to be a busy body with my time, but devote my free time to studying.  Wither that time is spent studying the teachings of the gospel, scriptures, subjects in school, the news, politics, it only matters that it is worth while.  
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."  It took me a little while to put meaning to this scripture.  But I have concluded that we should not only abstain personally from evils things, and follow that which is good. But that we should help others to do the same.  The fact that the scripture says "all men" makes me think to the laws and bad morals that are being inflicted upon society today.  I think that we all have a duty to protect the sanctity of marriage.  So a goal I have is to help others to see and understand the importance of good morals in this world. 
3. 1 Thessalonians 5: 14 "be patient toward all me."  Automatically my mind goes to the times when I am at the grocery store and I become impatient with the long lines, or I am driving and I am impatient of the "slow" speed limit.  So I know that there is much room for improvement there.  But I think that the most important place to have patience is at home.  I am going to work on always being patient at home, with myself and with my husband.  I say that I am going to be patient with myself, because I know that sometimes I am too hard on myself, and by being patient with myself I think I will be a more pleasant person to be around.  And therefore, have patience to give to those I come in contact with.