Revelation

I have been thinking a lot about Revelation for the last few months. I really like this quote, by a general authority (whom I can't remember right now):

"You won't survive spiritually unless you know how to receive revelation."

3 musts when it comes to revelation (learned from a religion class awhile ago) are...

1-We must learn how to recognize revelation (Doctrine and Covenants 85:6)
2-We must learn how to receive it (D&C 8:2-3)
3-We must learn how to respond to revelation (1 Ne 4:6-7)

So recognize, receive, and respond (all talked about in D&C 76:5-10).
It is good to know that we can have 2 witnesses when it comes to receiving answers, we will feel it in out heart and mind!

For more principles about revelation study Doctrine and Covenants 6-11

Father's are so Special!

I know this is a few days late, but I think it is still worth writing about. When I was growing up I remember singing the song, "Fathers" in primary and thinking it was definitely about my Dad. Here is some of the text:

"Fathers are so special with a very special love. They watch us and protect us. They guide us and direct us, back to our home above."

I still feel special that I have the Dad I do. Some things I love about him are:
1-He is the first person to greet new neighbors
2-He has always magnified and fulfilled his callings
3-He sang me to sleep almost every night growing up
4-He would always send a postcard and bring a treat back when he traveled
5-He has always shared his treats from his birthday and other holiday's, plus when he gets clown ice cream cones for the families he home teaches, he also gets us one!

Those are just a few, but that got me thinking about how many things I also think are great about my Heavenly Father.

1-He is always there for us
2-He made the ultimate sacrifice for us
3-He is not judgemental and is the epitome of Love
4-He has been thorough everything, so He knows everything I go through
5-He has every good characteristic

Thanks Dad and Heavenly Father for all you do!

Help!

So a few weeks ago when I was in Washington my friend and I found some baby birds. Not knowing what kind of birds had fallen out of the nest we thought we would try to feed them and keep them alive as long as possible.

We chopped up some worms and fed them every few hours. We found an empty nest so that we could put all 3 of them together so that they could share body heat. We put them in a new tree away from an area were we thought there might be predators.

I share this story with you in relation to the last post I shared. In Alma 7:11-13 the Savior went through it all so that he would know how to succor us. There probably was not a chance of us keeping the little birds alive because we did not know what kind of bird they were, what they had been through, or how to help them. Unlike the birds we know we are in the image of God, he knows what we are going through, and because of what He has gone through he knows how to help us. Isn't it great to have that knowledge?!

Repentance

Why, you ask have I been thinking about this? Simply because of an amazing lesson I had this past week. In the institute class that I am in we talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ the other day. A major part of the atonement is our sins. Our teacher brought up the "parable of the vomit" as he likes to call it. Disgusting as it may sound, but an amazing revelation if you ask me. He asked us "what is harder...to confess or forsake?" Most of us responded forsake because it is a natural human experience to be hard on yourself and not forget things as the Lord does. However, he said when you are feeling sick and your stomach is really upset don't you feel a lot better after you vomit? You won't feel immediately healed thereafter, but you feel so much better! What an amazing thought! Just like feeling physically sick, when you are feeling spiritually sick we need to "vomit" to feel better. This may be confessing to the Lord or your bishop. And after you have done that you don't go out and eat a pizza. You usually eat soup or soda to calm your stomach and get stronger. The Lord or the Bishop will "prescribe" small doses of prayer, scripture study, etc to help you feel better slowly! I REALLY like this parable.

As I was thinking about this I also thought about what I have been doing the past two weekends: Weeding. First I went to Washington to spend time on a friends farm. Her Dad is a Pesticide Applicator to the crops of the surrounding area.

Secondly I have been spraying the weeds in our yard at least 3 or 4 times with Roundup to make it easier for me to weed when they die.

Both of these experiences made me think that a lot of times we try to "spray" the weeds to solve the problem when in reality it takes you actually pulling out the weeds to rid them. Sometimes there are areas were the pesticides don't reach and the roots of sin are still deep, as I found out while I was weeding. While spraying may help and can be done regularly it is the weeding that will uproot the sin. Through this whole process the "light of the Savior" is always shining on us. He loves us regardless of how we act, but we disappoint him when we sin.

My favorite scripture illustrates his love for us, in Alma 7:11-13
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
(On a side note in Isaiah 53 it talks about how he bore our sins, but in Alma 7:12, it is the only place in the scriptures, that it appears, there seems to have been yet another purpose of the Atonement, speaking of the the Savior and his suffering.
-Elder Maxwell)

Premortal Life

Have you ever thought about why so many people followed Heavenly Father in Heaven before we came here to earth and now that is not the case. Why? That is something I have thought about a lot over the years and it was finally answered yesterday. Sure there was "The Fall" and we have our agency, but really what it comes down to is our bodies. We didn't know what it would be like to have a body before we got here and the "flesh is weak." We have appetites, passions, and other desires that we have to control now that our spirit and body are combined. We know that this was hard because of Christ's example when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane. Neal A. Maxwell said that Christ knew intellectually what he was going to experience, but he did not know experientially (I think Elder Maxwell made up that word, but you get the meaning).

I also like this quote..."There were no neutrals in the war in heaven. All took sides either with Christ or with Satan. Every man had his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there, just as they will receive receive rewards hereafter for deeds done in the body" (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:65-66).

Amazing Institute

I have not been to an institute class in many years, but recently singles were encouraged by general authorities and my stake president also wanted us to sign up. One such encouragement is from President Monson in April 2009,

"If you are a single college student, I ask you to make participation in institute a priority. Married students and other young adults are also welcome and encouraged to attend. Think of it. Friends will be made, the Spirit will be felt, and faith will be strengthened. I promise you that as you participate in institute and study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it. That is a promise which I leave with you."

I really like the promises that our prophet has promised us, but I signed up because I wanted more spirituality in my life. The class I am taking is Doctrines of the Restoration and I cannot believe how much I am learning! I don't even know what to share with you because everything and I mean every detail has been so enriching. Preparation helps me glean every detail. Plus I have an amazing teacher who always teaches by the spirit.

Happy Mother's Day!

I am so blessed to have two Mom's! They are both great in many different ways. Without going into a lot of detail...I love them because they have opposite personalities, yet they both are amazing because of the Gospel and the way they were raised. Thanks for being amazing Mother's to me!!!

I like counsel Elder Ballard gave to Mother's and daughters in this last General Conference:

"...My dear young women, with all my heart I urge you not to look to contemporary culture for your role models and mentors. Please look to your faithful mothers for a pattern to follow. Model yourselves after them, not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards and whose values may not reflect an eternal perspective. Look to your mother. Learn from her strengths, her courage, and her faithfulness. Listen to her. She may not be a whiz at texting; she may not even have a Facebook page. But when it comes to matters of the heart and the things of the Lord, she has a wealth of knowledge. As you approach the time for marriage and young motherhood, she will be your greatest source of wisdom. No other person on earth loves you in the same way or is willing to sacrifice as much to encourage you and help you find happiness—in this life and forever.

Love your mother, my young sisters. Respect her. Listen to her. Trust her. She has your best interests at heart. She cares about your eternal safety and happiness. So be kind to her. Be patient with her imperfections, for she has them. We all do."

In my opinion there is no greater person out there who emulates the Savior more then my Mothers. I love you both!!!