Serving like the Savior

Brothers and sisters, we each have a covenant responsibility to be sensitive to the needs of others and serve as the Savior did--to reach out, bless, and uplift those around us. ~Elder Uchtdorf

Unshakeable, Nurtured Faith

A friend of mine gave me a really good cd about hope, enduring, discipleship, etc... It has various prophets and apostles speaking and is set to music. I love it! I love so many of these men too, but Elder Eyring's words keep pricking my heart, so I looked up one of his talks quoted. The talk is called "Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady" I love these words:

"What we will need in our day of testing is a spiritual preparation. It is to have developed faith in Jesus Christ so powerful that we can pass the test of life upon which everything for us in eternity depends. That test is part of the purpose God had for us in the Creation.

It will take unshakable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to choose the way to eternal life. It is by using that faith we can know the will of God. It is by acting on that faith we build the strength to do the will of God. And it is by exercising that faith in Jesus Christ that we can resist temptation and gain forgiveness through the Atonement.

We will need to have developed and nurtured faith in Jesus Christ long before Satan hits us, as he will, with doubts and appeals to our carnal desires and with lying voices saying that good is bad and that there is no sin. Those spiritual storms are already raging. We can expect that they will worsen until the Savior returns.

However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly. We can do that by deciding now to be more quick to obey and more determined to endure. Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation. Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies.

Decisions now to exercise faith and be steady in obedience will in time produce great faith and assurance. That is the spiritual preparedness we all will need. And it will qualify us in the moments of crisis to receive the Lord’s promise that “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”

That will be true when we face the storms of life and the prospect of death. A loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son have given us all the help They can to pass the test of life set before us. But we must decide to obey and then do it. We build the faith to pass the tests of obedience over time and through our daily choices. We can decide now to do quickly whatever God asks of us. And we can decide to be steady in the small tests of obedience which build the faith to carry us through the great tests, which will surely come."

WOW! You can say that again! I am so excited to strengthen my faith and endure well now! I luv, luv, luv his counsel!

Trials are for_____

"All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable...It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire."-Orson F. Whitney

Even though I have been reading and listening to the Conference talks over and over again I guess they mean more to us at different phases in our lives. "More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us" was one of those talks I was flabbergasted by most recently. Elder Paul Johnson says.....

A pattern in the scriptures and in life shows that many times the darkest, most dangerous tests immediately precede remarkable events and tremendous growth.

In the midst of problems, it is nearly impossible to see that the coming blessings far outweigh the pain, humiliation, or heartbreak we may be experiencing at the same time.

We must be careful that we don't resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

I love the words of Paul that he quotes, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay in all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Romans 8:35, 37

So trials are for testing our faith, consecrating our lives, and education. Gotta love um;-)

Distance

"I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that...no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns." -President Kimball

Be of Good Cheer:)

In a time when things are at their worse (I am dealing with 3 hard things for me)including my Mom dying soon, I read the most amazing article in the Ensign called "Be of Good Cheer: Choosing Happiness"

REMINDER: Christ has overcome the world!

"Christ's enabling power helps us feel happiness and cheer amid mortal gloom and doom. Misfortune and hardship lose their tragedy when viewed through the lense of the Atonement.

When Christ proclaims, “Be of good cheer,” He is not requesting a naïve, Pollyanna-like response to life’s cruel twists and turns. Nor is He promising a pain-free life of constant bliss. Trial is no respecter of persons. Tragedy and hardship do not discriminate."

"I have learned that in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I can do all things with Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:11, 13)"

"True, we live in a time of war, a day of conflicts and terrors not only among nations but within our own hearts. But He who is the Balm, of Gilead is the Lord of all creation; only in Him are peace and serenity found."


In the last week my views have changed dramatically and some people are wondering whats up! Gospel means good news!!! With my knowledge it is hard to be sad or depressed long term. I can make it through hard things!

A child's knowledge

I recently read a story were a primary age child rode on a bus seated next to a non-member. He asked he what her church was about. She quoted each Article of Faith and spoke about each one of them with the gentleman. He did not join the church immediately, but year's later he wished that he had wrote down her name because she was the primary reason that he did join the church.

Most members at some point in our lives memorize the Articles of Faith. To some it comes easy. Some forget them just as quickly as they learn them. I can repeat them word for word, but only if I sing them. I want to be able to share that part of my beliefs in my testimony if needs be. Here is a refresher!

1We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

3We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing,
interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

11We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

The 13th Article has always been a good reminder when it comes to my media choices. One year I typed it up and put it next to the TV since there is so much smut out there. I love that we have our beliefs summed up, I especially like numbers one and four.

Peace

Things that normally bring me peace haven't been helping lately. Today when I was in the temple specific words came to my mind from the hymn "Where Can I Turn For Peace?"

"Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole?...I draw myself apart, Searching my soul?...Who, who can understand? He only One."

The only thing that brings me peace right now is my communication with my Savior. On my mission in the Independence Missouri visitors center there was a statue of the Christus. The narration was John 14:27.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." I LOVE THIS and am so grateful for this knowledge!!!

Strength to Bear Burdens

13And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
-Mosiah 24

There is a great talk in the July 2011 Ensign I would highly recommend called "Strengthening my back without removing my burden." Very helpful in changing my perspective.

Parable of the Pearl

Today I visited a singles branch were I heard a great parable from the stake President. Well technically it was "The Parable of the Pearl" given by Elder Oaks a few weeks ago to this Stake President. Actually I don't think the parable is from Elder Oaks, but he may have added to its message.

"There’s an ancient oriental legend that tells the story of a jeweler who had a precious pearl he wanted to sell. In order to place this pearl in the proper setting, he conceived the idea of building a special box of the finest woods to contain the pearl. He sought these woods and had them brought to him, and they were polished to a high brilliance. He then reinforced the corners of this box with elegant brass hinges and added a red velvet interior. As a final step, he scented that red velvet with perfume, then placed in that setting this precious pearl.

"The pearl was then placed in the store window of the jeweler, and after a short period of time, a rich man came by. He was attracted by what he saw and sat down with the jeweler to negotiate a purchase. The jeweler soon realized that the man was negotiating for the box rather than the pearl. You see, the man was so overcome by the beauty of the exterior that he failed to see the pearl of great price."

The point of Elder Oaks comments was that the Pearl is the first principles and ordinances of the gospel...faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. The ornate box is all of the "other stuff" in the gospel that doesn't matter as much. Our Covenants and our relationship with our Savior is what it ultimately comes down to. I loved this parable! I need to stop focusing on the box and cherish the pearls.

Be Believing

I read this section of scripture the other day and was humbled. It's in Alma 33.

19Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

20But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.

21O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

22If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

Why is it so hard to believe, be healed or just look to Christ? I need constant reminding of this!!! I need to remember that Christ can heal me in anyway I may need, if I am believing and it is His will, not mine! Have faith, believe and have patience:)