"Gratitude is a state of appreciation, an act of thanksgiving, which causes us to be humble because we recognize an act of kindness, service, or caring from someone else which lifts us and strengthens us...Gratitude expressed to our Heavenly Father in prayer for what we have brings a calming peace--a peace which allows us to not canker our souls for what we don't have. Gratitude brings a peace that helps us overcome the pain of adversity and failure. Gratitude on a daily basis means we express appreciation for what we have now without qualification for what we had in the past or desire in gifts and talents which have been given also allows us to acknowledge the need for help and assistance from the gifts and talents possessed by others."
~Robert D. Hales, the Ensign, May 1992
Friday, December 30, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
The greatest book you will ever read. . .
Just recently I fulfilled my goal to read through the whole Book of Mormon. It took me a little while, but mostly because I wanted to take my time to do so.This book isn't to take lightly, but very seriously. It is truly the corner stone and foundation to the Gospel; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This very miraculous and wonderful book is another testament of Jesus Christ and holds so many powerful and spiritual stories. I do believe that everything written inside of it is true and is of God. My testimony of it and of the Gospel has been strengthened so much since the very beginning, I can say that I, as a person, have grown so much in heart, mind and spirit.
Let me just share with you some of my favorite scriptures/chapters from the book...
(The following are favorite chapters with highlighted verses)
Moroni 7 (Sorry about the many MANY scriptures I have listed...although, I'm not THAT sorry.. ;))
"...every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve Him, is inspired of God." (v13)
"...the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." (v.16)
"Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ." (v.19)
"...God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting..." (v.22)
"...Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believeing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you." (v.26)
"...have miracles ceased?...Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." (v.29)
"And Christ hath said: 'If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." (v.33)
"...if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope." (v.42)
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things...if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever, and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him...pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which He hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as He is pure. Amen." (v.45-48)
Ether 12
"...whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
"...faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world." (v.6-7)
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (v.27)
"...seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen." (v.41)
Alma 37
"...never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls. O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God...cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." (v.34-37)
"...give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss..." (v.44)
Alma 34 (I know, so many scriptures!! But I couldn't just leave any of them out!)
Moroni 10
-I loved this whole chapter...I couldn't just pick a few scriptures (literally though, I have verse 4 to the end highlighted...it's that good!!). So I challenge you to click HERE and read the chapter, and I promise you that it will be very beneficial to you. It truly is such an amazing chapter, I absolutely love it and I hope you will too!!
Alma 7
Kind of the same thing with Moroni 10...it's all pretty good, especially starting at verse 8. Click HERE for the chapter.
2 Nephi 9
"O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit." (v.10)
(The following are favorite scriptures I have throughout the book)
Heleman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
Let me just share with you some of my favorite scriptures/chapters from the book...
(The following are favorite chapters with highlighted verses)
Moroni 7 (Sorry about the many MANY scriptures I have listed...although, I'm not THAT sorry.. ;))
"...every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve Him, is inspired of God." (v13)
"...the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." (v.16)
"Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ." (v.19)
"...God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting..." (v.22)
"...Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believeing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you." (v.26)
"...have miracles ceased?...Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." (v.29)
"And Christ hath said: 'If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." (v.33)
"...if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope." (v.42)
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things...if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever, and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him...pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which He hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as He is pure. Amen." (v.45-48)
Ether 12
"...whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
"...faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world." (v.6-7)
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (v.27)
"...seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen." (v.41)
Alma 37
"...never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls. O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God...cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." (v.34-37)
"...give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss..." (v.44)
Alma 34 (I know, so many scriptures!! But I couldn't just leave any of them out!)
"And now, behold, I will testify
unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you,
that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take
upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it. For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan
of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind
must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made." (v.8-9)
"And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation
to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of
this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which
overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may
have faith unto repentance." (v.14-15)
"...exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him." (v.17-19)
"Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness." (v.21-23)
"...ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you." (v.26-27)
"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance
until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare
for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life,
then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess
your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit
will have power to possess your body in that eternal world." (v.32-34)
"That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you. Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing. And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them; But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." (v.38-41)
-I loved this whole chapter...I couldn't just pick a few scriptures (literally though, I have verse 4 to the end highlighted...it's that good!!). So I challenge you to click HERE and read the chapter, and I promise you that it will be very beneficial to you. It truly is such an amazing chapter, I absolutely love it and I hope you will too!!
Alma 7
Kind of the same thing with Moroni 10...it's all pretty good, especially starting at verse 8. Click HERE for the chapter.
2 Nephi 9
"O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit." (v.10)
"And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And
he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that
all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God." (v.21-23)
"...turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation. Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear..." (v.45-46)
"...remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice." (v.52)
(The following are favorite scriptures I have throughout the book)
Heleman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
Mosiah 1:6-7 "O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true.
And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the
sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and
they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them
before our eyes. And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers."
2 Nephi 33:10 "...hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good."
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Power of Scripture
by Elder Richard G. Scott
The following are my favorite quotes from his talk this October for General Conference
"They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world."
"Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change."
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
“For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
“He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation”~Psalm 24:1-5
"The scriptures can form a foundation of support."
"Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing."
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. …
“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
“For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding”~Proverbs 3:5-7, 11-13
“Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men”
~Doctrine and Covenants 11:21
“And
now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle;
easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being
temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of
God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both
spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever
things ye do receive.
“And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works”~Alma 7:23-24
“And
charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed
up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and
rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all
things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
“Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for
charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the
greatest of all, for all things must fail—
“But
charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso
is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
“Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart,
that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all
who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the
sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we
shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be
purified even as he is pure”~Moroni 7:45-48 (One of my favorite scriptures, fyi)
"I love this book. I testify with my soul that it is true, that it was prepared for the blessing of the House of Israel, and all of its component parts spread throughout the world. All who will study its message in humility, in faith believing in Jesus Christ, will know of its truthfulness and will find a treasure to lead them to greater happiness, peace, and attainment in this life. I testify by all that is sacred, this book is true."
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Helaman 14: 30-31
"And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.
"And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.
"He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored
unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you;
or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you."
I read this tonight (having read it before just recently) and it struck a different cord to me this time. I seemed to have heard it differently tonight than I usually do when I read it on other occasions. I find these scriptures powerful. VERY powerful. It made me realize how much power I do have over myself and over Satan. For Satan does not have a body. We, though, have a body, therefore that automatically makes us so much stronger than he is. We have the power to shut him down and follow the right path. God has given us a gift to know the good from the evil. It is Satan that is creating that temptation or confusion, but all we need to do is be strong and remember that God can help us push Satan away completely. We have the power to make right choices and we will be blessed for those good choices. Unfortunately, we have the power to choose evil, and once again it is unfortunate that we will have to pay the price for those wrong doings and unrighteous decisions. But fear not, the Lord has made a way for us to return to Him again. That is why there is the Atonement. And let me remind you that wickedness NEVER was happiness. That is truth.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Waiting Upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done
by Elder Robert D. Hales
These are my favorite quotes from his talk from General Conference. Following the quotes from the talk I have left my own thoughts and testimony of the topic.
"The purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences. How do we do this? The scriptures give us an answer in one simple phrase: we 'wait upon the Lord.' Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, 'all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.'”
"What, then, does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end."
"To wait upon the Lord means planting the seed of faith and nourishing it 'with great diligence, and … patience.'”
"As we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we discover that 'tribulation worketh patience' and we learn to 'continue in patience until [we] are perfected.'”
"Waiting upon the Lord means to 'stand fast' and 'press forward' in faith, 'having a perfect brightness of hope.'”
"It means 'relying alone upon the merits of Christ' and 'with [His] grace assisting [us, saying]: Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.'”
"As we wait upon the Lord, we are 'immovable in keeping the commandments,' knowing that we will 'one day rest from all [our] afflictions.'"
"And we 'cast not away … [our] confidence' that 'all things wherewith [we] have been afflicted shall work together for [our] good.'”
"We may not know when or how the Lord’s answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come...Let us not give up on the Lord. His blessings are eternal, not temporary."
“'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.' He knows your sacrifices and your sorrows. He hears your prayers. His peace and rest will be yours as you continue to wait upon Him in faith."
"Every one of us is more beloved to the Lord than we can possibly understand or imagine. Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves. Let us remember that as we wait upon the Lord, we are becoming 'saint[s] through [His] atonement, … submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.'"
"'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.' May we wait upon Him by pressing forward in faith, that we may say in our prayers, 'Thy will be done,' and return to Him with honor."
This talk has meant a great deal to me, it was exactly what I needed to hear. As most of you know, I have been through much hardship in the last 10/11 months. You know what I learned the most from it? To never forget that your Heavenly Father is there for you, every step of the way. NEVER underestimate the power He has. He has healed the greatest pains in my heart that I have ever had to bear. He has blessed me with wonderful family and friends to help me through my toughest times. Each day I continue to count my many, MANY, blessings that He so willingly gives to me. He has poured out His perfect love to me each time I needed it and He has blessed me with the Spirit for comfort, strength and peace in my life. Even though my life seemed to have fallen a part in an instant, He has been the one to put it back together and give me much hope in my life. I testify to you this day that these words that have been said by an Apostle of the Lord is true. I do testify that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us with such a perfect love, none of us can even imagine. I also testify to you that no matter what you may be going through, He will be there for you every step of the way as long as you yield to Him and His Spirit.
Listen to the things these leaders of The Church have to say, for their is power and truth in their words.
Remember to always strive to keep the Spirit with you and to always look to the Lord whenever faced with hardship in your life. If you do this, He will bless you.
Be patient. Good things are to come. :)
You can find the full talk HERE.
These are my favorite quotes from his talk from General Conference. Following the quotes from the talk I have left my own thoughts and testimony of the topic.
"The purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences. How do we do this? The scriptures give us an answer in one simple phrase: we 'wait upon the Lord.' Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, 'all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.'”
"What, then, does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end."
"To wait upon the Lord means planting the seed of faith and nourishing it 'with great diligence, and … patience.'”
"As we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we discover that 'tribulation worketh patience' and we learn to 'continue in patience until [we] are perfected.'”
"Waiting upon the Lord means to 'stand fast' and 'press forward' in faith, 'having a perfect brightness of hope.'”
"It means 'relying alone upon the merits of Christ' and 'with [His] grace assisting [us, saying]: Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.'”
"As we wait upon the Lord, we are 'immovable in keeping the commandments,' knowing that we will 'one day rest from all [our] afflictions.'"
"And we 'cast not away … [our] confidence' that 'all things wherewith [we] have been afflicted shall work together for [our] good.'”
"We may not know when or how the Lord’s answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come...Let us not give up on the Lord. His blessings are eternal, not temporary."
“'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.' He knows your sacrifices and your sorrows. He hears your prayers. His peace and rest will be yours as you continue to wait upon Him in faith."
"Every one of us is more beloved to the Lord than we can possibly understand or imagine. Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves. Let us remember that as we wait upon the Lord, we are becoming 'saint[s] through [His] atonement, … submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.'"
"'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.' May we wait upon Him by pressing forward in faith, that we may say in our prayers, 'Thy will be done,' and return to Him with honor."
This talk has meant a great deal to me, it was exactly what I needed to hear. As most of you know, I have been through much hardship in the last 10/11 months. You know what I learned the most from it? To never forget that your Heavenly Father is there for you, every step of the way. NEVER underestimate the power He has. He has healed the greatest pains in my heart that I have ever had to bear. He has blessed me with wonderful family and friends to help me through my toughest times. Each day I continue to count my many, MANY, blessings that He so willingly gives to me. He has poured out His perfect love to me each time I needed it and He has blessed me with the Spirit for comfort, strength and peace in my life. Even though my life seemed to have fallen a part in an instant, He has been the one to put it back together and give me much hope in my life. I testify to you this day that these words that have been said by an Apostle of the Lord is true. I do testify that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us with such a perfect love, none of us can even imagine. I also testify to you that no matter what you may be going through, He will be there for you every step of the way as long as you yield to Him and His Spirit.
Listen to the things these leaders of The Church have to say, for their is power and truth in their words.
Remember to always strive to keep the Spirit with you and to always look to the Lord whenever faced with hardship in your life. If you do this, He will bless you.
Be patient. Good things are to come. :)
You can find the full talk HERE.
Monday, September 26, 2011
"Forget Not"
A message from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of the 1st Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
(The following are highlights from his talk, quoted)
1. Forget not to be patient with
yourself
-God is aware that you are not
perfect. He is also aware that those you think are perfect are not.
-It is part of your mortal experience
that you have weaknesses. God wants to eventually bring all our
weaknesses to strengths.
-Stop punishing yourself.
-Remember to be compassionate and
patient with yourself.
-Our journey toward perfection is
long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in
the journey.
2 – Forget not the difference
between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice
-Acceptable sacrifice: giving up
something good for something of far greater worth
-Am I committing my time and energies
to the things that matter most?
3 – Forget not to be happy now.
-Charlie and the Choc. Factory: People
all over the world desperately endure to find the “golden ticket”.
Some feel that their entire future happiness depends on whether or
not a “golden ticket” will fall in their hands.
-So many people today are waiting for
their “golden ticket”. i.e., freedom from stress or worry, a
perfect, happy, marriage.
-When we put our happiness on hold, we
could forget to notice the beautiful “forget-me-not” flowers that
are all around us; the blessings that are all around us.
4 – Forget not the “Why” of
the Gospel
-We focus on what the Lord
wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget
why.
-The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not an
obligation, but a pathway.
- The Gospel is a light that
penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us., while
understanding the what and the how of the Gospel is
necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the Gospel springs from
the why.
-Let us not walk the path of
discipleship with our eyes on the ground thinking only of the tasks
and obligations before us. Let us not walk unaware with the
beauties..that surround us.-Seek out the majesty, the beauty, and the exhilarating joy of the why of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
-The what and how of obedience marks the way, and keeps us on the right path. The why of obedience sanctifies our actions.
5 – Forget not that the Lord loves
you
-You are not forgotten
-No matter how dark your days may
seem, how insignificant you feel, your Heavenly Father has not
forgotten. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.-God loves you because you are His child.
-You are closer to Heaven than you suppose. You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness, accept the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ as your way of life. Cherish the gift of activity in this great and true church. Treasure the gift of service in the blessed organization of Relief Society. Continue to strengthen homes and families.
For original talk:
Click HERE for video, Click HERE for text.
To learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, click HERE
You Are Never Forgotten
Click HERE for President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's Message to the sisters of the Relief Society, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (Note: This is not only for the sisters, though. It is open for everyone to watch/listen/read. Such an amazing talk!)
Sunday, September 18, 2011
A Little Heaven on Earth
Just saw this on lds.org and I wanted to share it with all of you!
“Temple marriage describes the place you go to have a marriage performed. Celestial marriage is what you create by being true to the sacred covenants you make during the temple marriage ceremony.” -Elder Robert D. Hales ("A Little Heaven on Earth")
It's true. You may get a temple marriage, but you can only have a Celestial marriage by living a worthy life with your spouse. How do you do that? Endure to the end. Live righteously and honestly through all your doings. When you get married you become a team, as one. Not just you and your spouse, but you, your spouse and the Lord. The more you work together the closer you make your marriage/family closer to Heavenly Father.
Other highlights of the talk:
"Do you realize that there is no one between the Lord and the sealer when he performs the sealing ordinance? It is a beautiful and a touching ceremony."
“As pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant [of marriage], it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned” -D&C 132:6
“Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world" -D&C 132:15
"...unless we enter into celestial marriage, we cannot reach the highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom." -D&C 131:1-4
"The aim of the gospel and the purpose of celestial marriage are not only to keep us together but also to make us eligible for our Heavenly Father’s highest reward: exaltation in the celestial kingdom, increase in that kingdom, and eternal life with our families."
“Temple marriage describes the place you go to have a marriage performed. Celestial marriage is what you create by being true to the sacred covenants you make during the temple marriage ceremony.” -Elder Robert D. Hales ("A Little Heaven on Earth")
It's true. You may get a temple marriage, but you can only have a Celestial marriage by living a worthy life with your spouse. How do you do that? Endure to the end. Live righteously and honestly through all your doings. When you get married you become a team, as one. Not just you and your spouse, but you, your spouse and the Lord. The more you work together the closer you make your marriage/family closer to Heavenly Father.
Other highlights of the talk:
"Do you realize that there is no one between the Lord and the sealer when he performs the sealing ordinance? It is a beautiful and a touching ceremony."
“As pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant [of marriage], it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned” -D&C 132:6
“Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world" -D&C 132:15
"...unless we enter into celestial marriage, we cannot reach the highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom." -D&C 131:1-4
"The aim of the gospel and the purpose of celestial marriage are not only to keep us together but also to make us eligible for our Heavenly Father’s highest reward: exaltation in the celestial kingdom, increase in that kingdom, and eternal life with our families."
LOVE THIS[perfect example]>>>"Celestial
marriage is like climbing a mountain. You tie yourself to an eternal
companion, and you start up the mountain. As children come along, you
tie into them as well and continue your journey. The ropes will hold all
of the mountain climbers together, but the wind, rain, snow, and
ice—challenges of the world—will tear at you to pull you off that
mountain.
"How
do you reach the summit? If Mom or Dad gives up and cuts the rope that
binds them to each other and their children, chances are that one or the
other may fall off the mountain and perhaps pull down other family
members with them. The whole family could fall off that mountain and not
reach the eternal summit. We can’t take that chance. Let us always be
mindful that as members of a family, we are tied to a mountain team that
is attempting to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father."
Love this too!>>>"A marriage partnership is not a crutch. You do not marry somebody you
think is a little higher than the angels and then lean on that person.
Rather, you develop yourself and your own gifts and talents. As you
develop, you grow together, supporting and strengthening one another."
“Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all
your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings” -D&C 108:7
"Make sure you sacrifice, share, and grow together."
"I ask you not to lean on your spouse as a crutch but to stand strong,
strengthen each other, and ask for help as you pray together each night.
I bear testimony that those moments in my life when I have been
unhappy, depressed, or sad are when I have deviated, even to a minor
degree, from the teachings of the Lord. That you might have true
happiness and find the joy of a celestial marriage with a little heaven
on earth is my prayer."
__________________________________________________
To find out more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, visit our site at Mormon.org
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Gratitude
Gratitude is a state of appreciation, an act of thanksgiving, which causes us to be humble because we recognize an act of kindness, service, or caring from someone else which lifts us and strengthens us.
Gratitude expressed to our Heavenly Father in prayer for what we have brings a calming peace- a peace which allows us to not canker our souls for what we don't have.
Gratitude brings a peace that helps us overcome the pain and adversity and failure.
D&C 46: 32 "And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with."
Gratitude on a daily basis means we express appreciation for what we have now without qualifications for what we had in the past or desire in the future.
A recognition of and appreciation for our gifts and talents which have been given also allows us to acknowledge the need for help and assistance from the gifts and talents possessed by others.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The strength of scriptures
For the last 9 or 10 months I have been faced with the greatest trial of my life thus far. I have been tried and tested. I have been through so much pain and anguish, it is hard to even comprehend how I did it and found strength through it.
When you are facing your own trials, look to the Lord and He will make you strong. He may not make the harships go away, but He will carry you through them. I have learned that with the Lord, you can make it through anything. I do testify this to be true. He is there. I know it because I feel it.
I have put together a group of scriptures and quotes that have given me strength to keep moving forward. They have brought so much comfort to me in my life, and I promise they will do so for you. Always have an open heart and mind, and allow the Spirit to fill your soul to help you through your struggles in your life.
And remember, through your life, always turn to the Lord and the scriptures. Never underestimate the power that they hold.
"Behold, thou art [insert your name], and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love."
~Doctrine & Covenants 6:20
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands."
~Doctrine & Covenants 121:7-9
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
~Helaman 5:12
"Sometimes we live our lives normally but then, suddenly, we have several trials piled on us all at once. During these times a lot of stretching is required. When this happens, it is evidence that the Lord is confident that you are ready to learn and grow, and if we do our best to overcome these challenges, we are given strength and knowledge and wisdom."
~Unknown
"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying-but without absolute assurance-that we are acting in accordance with God's will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, 'Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God' (D&C 121:45)."
-Elder David A. Bednar
"For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
~2 Timothy 1:7
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." He will be a great comfort to you in your life during great trials and tribulation. Go to Him, and He shall lift those burdens and bring peace to your soul."
~Matthew 11:28-29
"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." With Heavenly Father's great and glorious plan, we should rejoice and prepare as best we can for that day when we shall see Him again. Live your life with faith and hope, having a sure foundation that God lives and that we may live with Him again."
~Doctrine & Covenants 123:17
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
~Ether 12:27
"..I have had great joy in thee already, because of the faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering (v.3)...thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee (v.4)..ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (v.5)"
~Alma 38: 3-5
"My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the nighttime. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains..."
~2 Nephi 4: 20-21, 23, 25
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."
~John 12:46
"The minute you think of giving up, think of the reason why you held on so long"
~Unknown
When you are facing your own trials, look to the Lord and He will make you strong. He may not make the harships go away, but He will carry you through them. I have learned that with the Lord, you can make it through anything. I do testify this to be true. He is there. I know it because I feel it.
I have put together a group of scriptures and quotes that have given me strength to keep moving forward. They have brought so much comfort to me in my life, and I promise they will do so for you. Always have an open heart and mind, and allow the Spirit to fill your soul to help you through your struggles in your life.
And remember, through your life, always turn to the Lord and the scriptures. Never underestimate the power that they hold.
"Behold, thou art [insert your name], and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love."
~Doctrine & Covenants 6:20
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands."
~Doctrine & Covenants 121:7-9
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
~Helaman 5:12
"Sometimes we live our lives normally but then, suddenly, we have several trials piled on us all at once. During these times a lot of stretching is required. When this happens, it is evidence that the Lord is confident that you are ready to learn and grow, and if we do our best to overcome these challenges, we are given strength and knowledge and wisdom."
~Unknown
"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying-but without absolute assurance-that we are acting in accordance with God's will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, 'Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God' (D&C 121:45)."
-Elder David A. Bednar
"For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
~2 Timothy 1:7
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." He will be a great comfort to you in your life during great trials and tribulation. Go to Him, and He shall lift those burdens and bring peace to your soul."
~Matthew 11:28-29
"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." With Heavenly Father's great and glorious plan, we should rejoice and prepare as best we can for that day when we shall see Him again. Live your life with faith and hope, having a sure foundation that God lives and that we may live with Him again."
~Doctrine & Covenants 123:17
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
~Ether 12:27
"..I have had great joy in thee already, because of the faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering (v.3)...thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee (v.4)..ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (v.5)"
~Alma 38: 3-5
"My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the nighttime. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains..."
~2 Nephi 4: 20-21, 23, 25
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."
~John 12:46
"The minute you think of giving up, think of the reason why you held on so long"
~Unknown
Friday, September 2, 2011
Look to the Light
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."
~John 12:46
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Blessings of Scripture-400th Anniversary of the KJV Bible
“May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do.”
Can I just say that William Tyndale is an amazing, faithful, man. Thank you, William, for sacrificing yourself to have the Holy Bible translated correctly so that we may feast upon our Heavenly Father's words on a daily basis.
Can I just say that William Tyndale is an amazing, faithful, man. Thank you, William, for sacrificing yourself to have the Holy Bible translated correctly so that we may feast upon our Heavenly Father's words on a daily basis.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
We Lived With God
^Watch this video, it's about our universe and the creation. It was a great video, and it's pretty short. So worth your time!
^Watch this video, it's about our universe and the creation. It was a great video, and it's pretty short. So worth your time!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Lord is my strength
"My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
"He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
"Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the nighttime.
"And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains..."
Through trials and tribulation, He will be there to bring you strength, comfort and hope. I know this to be true, for I am a witness of this truth. He has been there for me through my great trial in my life and has lifted me up and made me strong. He has given me a better perspective on life and has blessed me with a forgiving heart. He was the one that carried me through the worst of it all and led me through everything else. He is my guide. He is my strength. He is my comfort and my best friend. I know He will always be there for me, and it gives me even more strength and hope in my life knowing this.
Never underestimate the power of prayer. He truly is there, always. He is there to listen and He will bring comfort to your heart if you need it and ask for it. Through those around you and the scriptures, he will guide you through your life and bless you.
I challenge you to seek for Him in your life. He will be a guide for you. He knows you more than you can even imagine, and He does have a plan for you. Go to Him, seek for his will and you will be blessed.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
What We Believe
I thought this to be an important piece of information to those that don't know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints very well. The following are statements of what we believe, which were written by the beloved Prophet Joseph Smith (First prophet, seer, and revelator to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). These are what we call the Thirteen Articles of Faith.
1.We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2.We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3.We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4.We 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.
5.We 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.
6.We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7.We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8.We 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.
9.We 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.
10.We 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.
11.We 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.
12.We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13.We 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.
I do know these things to be true, for I feel the Spirit testify to me that they are.
If you want to know more of what we believe and what we are about, here is a link that will direct you to one of our websites. You can even chat with the missionaries of the church online if you like.
Mormon.org
1.We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2.We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3.We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4.We 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.
5.We 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.
6.We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7.We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8.We 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.
9.We 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.
10.We 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.
11.We 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.
12.We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13.We 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.
I do know these things to be true, for I feel the Spirit testify to me that they are.
If you want to know more of what we believe and what we are about, here is a link that will direct you to one of our websites. You can even chat with the missionaries of the church online if you like.
Mormon.org
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
How Firm a Foundation
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon
if men build they cannot fall."
~Helaman 5:12~
What is building a foundation in Christ?
-It is simply having faith in Him.
Even a firm foundation will not prevent temptations or hardships, but it will help us overcome and get through them in our lives.
Ways to help build that strong foundation:
1)Pray always and with a fervent heart
2)Search and ponder the scriptures
3)Service
"When you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God."
Without Christ as the center of your life, your foundation will become weak, and will then crumble and fall when faced with trials in your life.
"How Firm a Foundation" (Hymn #85)
"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous,
...omnipotent hand."
Every single person in this world will face trials and tribulations in their life. This is when our Savior comes in to play. No matter the hardship, great or small, He will be there for us every step of the way. I testify this to be true; for I have witnessed His hand in my life first hand. He is such a strength to me and has brought so much comfort to me in my life.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ wants us to be happy and live a life with as little pain and hard ache as possible. But first, we need to build that firm foundation so we won't lose that faith and hope in our lives. With that faith, through any struggle we may face, we will come out of it stronger than we were before.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Alma 38, a new favorite chapter.
I read Alma 38 just recently and I absolutely loved it. It has become a new favorite chapter of mine (at least one of the many..). I especially love this part:
"..I have had great joy in thee already, because of the faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering (v.3)...thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee (v.4)..ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (v.5)"
My favorite part is verse five. It hit me when I read it. It is so true. I love it. And I really hope to remember that throughout my life, to keep it as a guide through each day, through the things that I do and the trials that I face.
The last 6 months have changed me in a way where I have gained a surety of the truthfulness of this gospel, more than ever before. A sure testimony that my Savior lives and loves me and that my Heavenly Father lives and loves me and is watching over me through each thing that I do. I can feel Him there, guiding me along. Yes, I make mistakes...ALL the time, and I am not as patient as I should be in some situations, but I try every day to be my best. And I think that is all Heavenly Father asks of us.
I am so grateful for my Savior and for what He has done for me; for us. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father, also, for the many blessings He has poured out to me in my life. For never giving up on me when I fell behind or got distracted. He has always been there for me and I know He always will be there for me. I love Him and my Savior with all my heart and I cannot wait for the day when I return home to them again.
"..I have had great joy in thee already, because of the faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering (v.3)...thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee (v.4)..ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (v.5)"
My favorite part is verse five. It hit me when I read it. It is so true. I love it. And I really hope to remember that throughout my life, to keep it as a guide through each day, through the things that I do and the trials that I face.
The last 6 months have changed me in a way where I have gained a surety of the truthfulness of this gospel, more than ever before. A sure testimony that my Savior lives and loves me and that my Heavenly Father lives and loves me and is watching over me through each thing that I do. I can feel Him there, guiding me along. Yes, I make mistakes...ALL the time, and I am not as patient as I should be in some situations, but I try every day to be my best. And I think that is all Heavenly Father asks of us.
I am so grateful for my Savior and for what He has done for me; for us. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father, also, for the many blessings He has poured out to me in my life. For never giving up on me when I fell behind or got distracted. He has always been there for me and I know He always will be there for me. I love Him and my Savior with all my heart and I cannot wait for the day when I return home to them again.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Matthew 11:28-29 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." He will be a great comfort to you in your life during great trials and tribulation. Go to Him, and he shall lift those burdens and bring peace to your soul.
Doctrine & Covenants 121:7-9 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." This life is really but a small moment..so live it well, endure to the end, have faith in Christ and great blessings will come to you.
Doctrine & Covenants 123:17 "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." With Heavenly Father's great and glorious plan, we should rejoice and prepare as best we can for that day when we shall see Him again. Live your life with faith and hope, having a sure foundation that God lives and that we may live with Him again.
Doctrine & Covenants 128:20-22 "Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free." (v.22) I absolutely love this..."Go forward and not backward", "Let your hearts rejoice", "Let the earth break forth into singing"...I mean, shouldn't we be overjoyed with excitement for the coming of our Savior? For the GREAT plan of Salvation? For the love that our Savior has for us, enough to die for our own sins? For the great love our Heavenly Father has for each and every one of us, and having Him be there for us always? Shouldn't we be jumping for joy for the blessings our Father has given us and for the wonderful life we have? These scriptures speak such power and just brings such excitement to my soul, for I am excited for the coming of the Savior. I am excited for the day that I may be reunited with my Father in Heaven, my Savior and all those in my family and friends that have passed on to the other side. I hope to have endured well in this life and to be blessed with eternal blessings so that I may be able to live with them forever.
Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I absolutely love this. This right here testifies to me the power that God has. How He can change us for the better, as long as we humble ourselves and "surrender" to Him.
Doctrine & Covenants 121:7-9 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." This life is really but a small moment..so live it well, endure to the end, have faith in Christ and great blessings will come to you.
Doctrine & Covenants 123:17 "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." With Heavenly Father's great and glorious plan, we should rejoice and prepare as best we can for that day when we shall see Him again. Live your life with faith and hope, having a sure foundation that God lives and that we may live with Him again.
Doctrine & Covenants 128:20-22 "Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free." (v.22) I absolutely love this..."Go forward and not backward", "Let your hearts rejoice", "Let the earth break forth into singing"...I mean, shouldn't we be overjoyed with excitement for the coming of our Savior? For the GREAT plan of Salvation? For the love that our Savior has for us, enough to die for our own sins? For the great love our Heavenly Father has for each and every one of us, and having Him be there for us always? Shouldn't we be jumping for joy for the blessings our Father has given us and for the wonderful life we have? These scriptures speak such power and just brings such excitement to my soul, for I am excited for the coming of the Savior. I am excited for the day that I may be reunited with my Father in Heaven, my Savior and all those in my family and friends that have passed on to the other side. I hope to have endured well in this life and to be blessed with eternal blessings so that I may be able to live with them forever.
Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I absolutely love this. This right here testifies to me the power that God has. How He can change us for the better, as long as we humble ourselves and "surrender" to Him.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ~Matthew 5:15-16
Live your life trying to be the best you can be. Let Heavenly Father's Spirit dwell in you and your goodness shall be shown before those around you.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
~Matthew 7:7-8
Our Heavenly Father will always be there, but we must go to Him to seek for His helping hand first. "..ye must pour out your souls in your closets and your secret places, and in your wilderness..let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually.." (Alma 34:26-27).
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it."
~Mark 8:35
Go out there and do the Lord's work..lose yourself in the service of God. Be charitable and love those around you, despite your differences. I have never been an official missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but I am still a missionary for the Lord and I can still do my best to be an example and spread the Gospel with others in my life. Remember, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power.." (2 Tim. 1:7). Don't fear, but stand with strength and with faith in the Lord, that He may direct you in your life. The Spirit of the Lord is what brings us strength, so seek for that gift now and ye shall be blessed from here on after.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ~Matthew 5:15-16
Live your life trying to be the best you can be. Let Heavenly Father's Spirit dwell in you and your goodness shall be shown before those around you.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
~Matthew 7:7-8
Our Heavenly Father will always be there, but we must go to Him to seek for His helping hand first. "..ye must pour out your souls in your closets and your secret places, and in your wilderness..let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually.." (Alma 34:26-27).
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it."
~Mark 8:35
Go out there and do the Lord's work..lose yourself in the service of God. Be charitable and love those around you, despite your differences. I have never been an official missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but I am still a missionary for the Lord and I can still do my best to be an example and spread the Gospel with others in my life. Remember, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power.." (2 Tim. 1:7). Don't fear, but stand with strength and with faith in the Lord, that He may direct you in your life. The Spirit of the Lord is what brings us strength, so seek for that gift now and ye shall be blessed from here on after.
My Lord Is My Strength
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
~2 Timothy 1:7
It brings comfort to know that our Father in Heaven is there to help strengthen us. If we go to Him, He shall be there and shall bring us up to help us through our trials in our lives. Remember, in the strength of our Lord,
all things are possible.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
"Many are called, but few are chosen"
"We must not be nearly dependable, but always dependable. Let us be faithful in the little things, as well as the big ones. Can I be depended upon to fill every assignment, whether it be for a two-and-a-half minute talk, home teaching, a visit to the sick, or a call as a stake or full-time missionary?
"Remember...there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
"'Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men...' (D&C 121:34-35), and they are not dependable."
~President Tanner
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
"Remember...there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
"'Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men...' (D&C 121:34-35), and they are not dependable."
~President Tanner
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
"Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—" (D&C 121:34-35, as quoted above).
"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying-but without absolute assurance-that we are acting in accordance with God's will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, 'Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God' (D&C 121:45)."
-Elder David A. Bednar
-Elder David A. Bednar
Monday, May 2, 2011
"Sometimes we live our lives normally but then, suddenly, we have several trials piled on us all at once. During these times a lot of stretching is required. When this happens, it is evidence that the Lord is confident that you are ready to learn and grow, and if we do our best to overcome these challenges, we are given strength and knowledge and wisdom."
Sunday, May 1, 2011
CES Fireside, May 2011
May 2011 CES Fireside: Rosemary M. Wixom
This broadcast is for anyone that wishes to see. It was specifically for young adults (for both married and single), but all are welcome to watch. I really enjoyed the topics she discussed and the message that she gave us. It was wonderful and I definitely felt the Spirit and gained a lot from it. I was trying to find the written talk that she gave tonight, because then I would've been able to look over it again and just give you my favorite parts from it. But, this is all that I found. Maybe I'll be able to get notes from it in the near future for you. It is a little long, but it is definitely worth your time. Enjoy!
This broadcast is for anyone that wishes to see. It was specifically for young adults (for both married and single), but all are welcome to watch. I really enjoyed the topics she discussed and the message that she gave us. It was wonderful and I definitely felt the Spirit and gained a lot from it. I was trying to find the written talk that she gave tonight, because then I would've been able to look over it again and just give you my favorite parts from it. But, this is all that I found. Maybe I'll be able to get notes from it in the near future for you. It is a little long, but it is definitely worth your time. Enjoy!
Institute
"I ask you to make participation in institute a priority...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."
-President Thomas S. Monson
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Clean Hands and a Pure Heart
Psalms 24: 3-5 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
"He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
1st John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the bloodcleanseth us from all sin of Jesus Christ his Son "
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Institute April 7th, 2011
We had a substitute teacher for institute this day, so we just talked about different things and pulled out different scriptures for things that were talked about. I liked each of these scriptures, so I thought I would share them with you.
- Acts 1:22 "Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."
- D&C 93:1 "Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;"
- Matthew 10
- Mormon 9: 24-25 "And these signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover;"And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth."
- Matthew 28:16-19 "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them."And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted."And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"
- D&C 112: 19-20 "Wherefore, whithersoever they shall send you, go ye, and I will be with you; and in whatsoever place ye shall proclaim my name an effectual door shall be opened unto you, that they may receive my word."Whosoever receiveth my word receiveth me, and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent, whom I have made counselors for my name’s sake unto you."
- 2 Nephi 1:13 "O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe."
- D&C 119: 3-4 "And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people."And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord."
He is Risen
I just posted a video about our Savior, Jesus Christ (made by MormonMessages). These are just the scriptures from it.
He was betrayed Matthew 26: 14-16
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
"And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Denied Luke 22: 54-62
"Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.
"And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
"But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
"And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
"And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
"And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilæan.
"And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
"And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."
Accused Mark 15:3
"And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing."
Rejected Luke 9:22
"Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day."
Bound Mark 15:1
"And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate."
Scourged John 19:1
"Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him."
Mocked Matthew 27:29
"And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!"
Reviled Matthew 27:39
"And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads"
Spit on Mark 15:19
"And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him."
Crucified John 19: 17-19
"And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
"Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
"And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."
Forsaken Matthew 27:46
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
He did His Father's will Mark 14:36
"And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."
He atoned Luke 22: 41-44
"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
"Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
"And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
Healed Luke 22: 50-51
"And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
"And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him."
Held His peace Mark 14:61
"But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"
Forgave Luke 23:34
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
He gave His life John 19:30
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
He is RISEN Matthew 28:6
"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Church Notes on April 17th, 2011
- Going to the temple is the ultimate way to serve the Lord.
- D&C 84: 19-22 "And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God."Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest."And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;"For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live."
- Temples are not just for the living, but for the dead. They are what binds us together for an eternity.
- 1 Cor. 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
- The Lord never asks the impossible. He may ask for the difficult, but never the impossible.
- In D&C 64:9 &11. Revelation given on September 11th, 1931.
"And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds."
Saturday, April 16, 2011
A Few Thoughts
Do you ever have those moments where you feel Heavenly Father's love and you see the plan so much clearer than normal and you just want to shout for joy? Even though things may be rough for you during that time, you still feel this way? I was told once that no matter what you are going through, you can always feel joy as long as you are doing what's right and just trying your hardest to do so. I wish I felt this way all the time, but unfortunately Satan likes to bring us down and discourage us. You may run into this occasionally, or maybe often. Just remember, Heavenly Father is there to help you. Never forget that. Always go to Him for help and comfort. And when in doubt, pray. Prayer is such an important and powerful tool that we can use to connect with our Father in Heaven.
I read one of my friend's blogs earlier this week and she talked about feeling our Heavenly Father's love. Maybe it's not seeking for comfort, strength, joy, or whatever it may be that you need...but what if you ask to feel His love? Like my friend had said in her blog, He cannot and will never withhold His love. He will always be willing to pour that love out to you. Try it. Ask Him.
I hope this made sense. Sometimes, when I think about one thing I go off talking about other things too...I think that is what I did here a little bit. But I hope it enlightened you somehow either way.
But, I pray that each of us will go to Him.
Even just to talk.
Pour out your feelings to Him, and He will hear you.
He is listening.
And He will always be listening.
Just never forget these things. Never. For I do know that He is there, and that is my testimony.
I read one of my friend's blogs earlier this week and she talked about feeling our Heavenly Father's love. Maybe it's not seeking for comfort, strength, joy, or whatever it may be that you need...but what if you ask to feel His love? Like my friend had said in her blog, He cannot and will never withhold His love. He will always be willing to pour that love out to you. Try it. Ask Him.
I hope this made sense. Sometimes, when I think about one thing I go off talking about other things too...I think that is what I did here a little bit. But I hope it enlightened you somehow either way.
But, I pray that each of us will go to Him.
Even just to talk.
Pour out your feelings to Him, and He will hear you.
He is listening.
And He will always be listening.
Just never forget these things. Never. For I do know that He is there, and that is my testimony.
“Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” –Alma 37:36-37 (A couple of my favorite scriptures of all time)
“Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” –D&C 123:17
“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
“And then, if thou endureth it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
“Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.” –D&C 121:7-9
“..give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss.” –Alma 37:44
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