Don't step away!!!

 

The conference talk given by Elder Neil Andersen has been resonating with me this week.    Especially these quotes:

 

How do you remain “steadfast and immovable”during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others

 

When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view.

 

Hope was the ultimate feeling that I felt from his words.  I encourage you to watch or re-read it. 

Cleave

I have been thinking about the word cleave for a few weeks now,

specifically because of this scripture:

 

 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts."

 

I imagined myself hanging from a cliff in dire need of help from falling.  I guess I thought that the cliff represented all of my problems.  If I was hanging off of a cliff I would be cleaving to someones hand to save my life.  The Savior always has his arm of mercy extended towards me, but I have to also choose to cleave to him.  I love this thought!

 

 

Things aren't always as they seem

I happened to click on a link tonight that I thought was a cute cartoon.  After I finished watching it I thought "Wow, this is exactly what Satan does."  How often do we find ourselves thinking the grass is greener on the other side or it doesn't look or seem that bad?  I wish everyone knew about the tactics of Satan and could "water them down" before they were fooled.  He didn't get the name cunning one for no reason!  None the less, enjoy the clip:)  

Smoke Screen!

Christlike Love

I have been wanting to write about this all week long so it's about time!  We had an amazing Relief Society Lesson this past week from our President.  She had taught this lesson awhile ago in at an FHE activity, but I had forgot about it.  It is amazing!!!

Basically she taught us about three different types of love. 
They are:

1) Christlike love
2)"Law of Moses" love
3) Law of the Jungle

If you are living the law of the jungle then you have the philosophy to take at any expense and not worry about others.  This is a very selfish type of love.

If you live the law of Moses, which most of us currently do, then you give love, especially to family and friends, but not enemies, those who annoy you, or people you just plain hate.  You also expect something in return for everything you give.  I think that you mostly want recognition for what you have done.

If you have Christlike love you love regardless of anything.  That means that people who have offended you, are annoying, are not good looking, or have nothing to offer you receive your love.  This is truly how Christ loves and there are very very few people who live this way, in fact I only have met maybe one and they still were not perfect.

Having this lesson was exactly what I needed to hear!  Recently a dear friend offended me and I was feeling pretty hurt.  I am now determined to love all as much as I possibly can.  It is pretty easy for me to love the criminals we arrest at work because they usually have rough backgrounds, but it is harder for me to love a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when they do something they know is wrong.  I keep telling myself to do what Christ would do regardless of someones circumstances?  Love really is about all people and not things or giving to those who you think deserve it.