Welcome 2014

I am not really sure where 2013 has gone, but it's come and gone so quickly. So, naturally I have been thinking about what I've learned this year, how I've grown, and the many things I still need to work on. In one of my favorite talks given by Elder Uchtdorf  he suggests three ways that we can live without regrets, these suggestions are applicable to us as we start this new year.  The first is to spend time with those we love. There is nothing more meaningful than relationships with those we love. "Isn’t it true that we often get so busy? And, sad to say, we even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life. Is it? I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished. I can’t see it. Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time. Let us resolve to cherish those we love by spending meaningful time with them, doing things together, and cultivating treasured memories."

The second, live up to our potential.  "Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient?" We will be happier when we live as He would. "Declaring our testimony of the gospel is good, but being a living example of the restored gospel is better. Wishing to be more faithful to our covenants is good; actually being faithful to sacred covenants—including living a virtuous life, paying our tithes and offerings, keeping the Word of Wisdom, and serving those in need—is much better. Announcing that we will dedicate more time for family prayer, scripture study, and wholesome family activities is good; but actually doing all these things steadily will bring heavenly blessings to our lives."

And the last, be happy.  "So often we get caught up in the illusion that there is something just beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging trial. The older we get, the more we look back and realize that external circumstances don’t really matter or determine our happiness. Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to find joy in the journey. Doesn’t it seem foolish to spoil sweet and joyful experiences because we are constantly anticipating the moment when they will end?"  There is something to be grateful for in every day, even the hard ones. There is good in every day, but it takes effort for us sometimes to find it.

Let us resolve that in 2014 we will spend more time with those who matter, try every day to reach our potential, and to enjoy the journey! I know that the Savior will help us we try to better ourselves and strive to live as He did. "It is my testimony that many of the deepest regrets of tomorrow can be prevented by following the Savior today. If we have sinned or made mistakes—if we have made choices that we now regret—there is the precious gift of Christ’s Atonement, through which we can be forgiven. We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and remove the burden of our sins. His Atonement allows us to leave the past behind and move forward with clean hands, a pure heart, and a determination to do better and especially to become better. We must begin to walk that eternal path today; we cannot take for granted one single day. I pray that we will not wait until we are ready to die before we truly learn to live."

A gift to the Savior

My mind, like many of yours, has probably been on this Christmas season. This week I was thinking about some of my favorite family Christmas traditions, one of which is each Christmas Eve my parents give me and my siblings the gift of new pajamas. After my mom attempts to take a million photos, and is left with maybe 3 where all of our eyes are open (see picture for proof), we read in the Scriptures about Christ's birth. This gift from my parents has helped me understand another gift my Heavenly Parents have given me, the Gift of a Savior. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace."

President Eyring said this of Him, "This little child, born in a stable and cradled in a manger, was a gift from our loving Heavenly Father. He was the promised Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Son of the living God. He was with His Father before He came to earth in mortality, the Creator of the earth upon which we stand." Each and everyone of us has been given the gift of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, our personal Savior. "O remember, remember, [..] that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world. (Helaman 5:9)

This morning I was reading in The Book of Mormon, and a particular verse really stood out to me. It says, "I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. (Mosiah 2:21)"

There is literally no way that we will ever be able to pay Jesus Christ back for paying the price for our sins. Brad Wilcox, a former member of the Sunday School General Board, describes it likes this, "He paid our debt in full. He didn’t pay it all except for a few coins. He paid it all. It is finished.We will all be resurrected. We will all go back to God’s presence. What is left to be determined by our obedience is what kind of body we plan on being resurrected with and how comfortable we plan to be in God’s presence and how long we plan to stay there. Christ asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice—not even the smallest part. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. Justice requires immediate perfection or a punishment when we fall short. Because Jesus took that punishment, He can offer us the chance for ultimate perfection (see Matthew 5:48, 3 Nephi 12:48) and help us reach that goal. He can forgive what justice never could, and He can turn to us now with His own set of requirements (see 3 Nephi 28:35).

I love this.  We can not pay back the debt to our Savior Jesus Christ, but we can show him appreciation. There is no better time to give this gift of appreciation than this holiday season. We know that the Christmas season is full of gift giving, and who better to give a gift to than our older brother Jesus Christ. For there truly "is no gift greater than the gift of salvation." My invitation to each of you who reads this is to think of "a present" that you can give the Savior this year. President Eyring has suggested the following gifts, "We can, out of faith in Him, give a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We can repent and make sacred covenants with Him. You can give Him the gift of doing for others what He would do for them."



There is a beautiful song sung by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir about giving to the Savior, the song suggests this:

"What shall we give to the babe in the manger,

What shall we offer the child in the stall?
Incense and spices and gold we've a-plenty-
Are these the gifts for the king of us all?
What shall we give to the boy in the temple,
What shall we offer the man by the sea?
Palms at his feet and hosannas uprising;
Are these for him who will carry the tree?
What shall we give to the lamb who was offered,
Rising the third day and shedding his love?
Tears for his mercy we'll weep at the manger,
Bathing the infant come down from above."

Our Father in Heaven loves us. He loves us so much that  He sent His son (John 3:16) Jesus Christ to give us the gift of ever lasting life. "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7)  Surely there is no greater gift. Let us give a gift to the Savior this Christmas Season so that we might come close to Him, for in Him we will find true and everlasting peace.

"O Remember, Remember."

 

So often in the scriptures we are reminded to remember. "O remember, remember, my sons, the words" of the prophets, "remember the Lord, thy God".  We are told this because we so often, and easily forget the hand of the Lord when a new trial comes. This Thanksgiving season I hope that we can all commit to remembering the Lord everyday, and not just during this Holiday season. I would like to share a few things that help me stay grateful all year round.

Reading the Scriptures Daily: In Psalms 77 it says, "I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old." We are told to remember the Lord in the present, and in the past. Heavenly Father has given us many tools so that we might feel his love, and feel remembered by Him. Elder L. Tom Perry said, "I guess one of the greatest mysteries of mortality is why mankind fails to learn from history." Heavenly Father has no doubt put obvious patterns of behavior in the scriptures for our benefit and learning, to help us avoid the same problems in our own lives. Through the scriptures we can find trials similar to ours and learn how others have over come their challenges. The scriptures remind us that Heavenly Father loves us, and we are reminded through them all the blessings he's given us. 

Keep a gratitude journal: President Henry B. Eyring, a member of the 12 apostles, shared the following experience: "I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened."

Give only thanks: Once a month say a prayer and only give thanks to Heavenly Father. You will come to find that you have so much more to be grateful for than you realize. Even in times when you are desperately seeking a blessing, there will always be something to be grateful for.


Keep perspective: President Eyring said, "The challenge to remember has always been the hardest for those who are blessed abundantly. Those who are faithful to God are protected and prospered. That comes as the result of serving God and keeping His commandments. But with those blessings comes the temptation to forget their source. It is easy to begin to feel the blessings were granted not by a loving God on whom we depend but by our own powers." Even when we feel like we are in control of our lives, and aren't needing for something, we must remember ALL comes from our Heavenly Father. 

Our Heavenly Father has given us so much to be grateful for, even the greatest gift of all, eternal life."If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation."

I pray that we will be able to follow the counsel of President Monson by developing an attitude of gratitude all year round. "Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude."

Seek things of real worth

Heavenly Father speaks to us in so many different ways. We know that we can feel the Spirit, and God's love through the scriptures, prayer, church attendance, and through the living prophets words at General Conference.  In addition, our loving Heavenly Father has given us other avenues to feel His presence in our lives.  Have you ever been hiking in the mountains, enjoying a day at the lake, looking at a piece of art and felt moved by the Spirit or felt God's love? This has happened to me multiple times in my life and noticing the Spirit, or recognizing that those feelings come from God, has increased my faith that God lives, he is aware of us, and loves us.
 One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is in Moroni 7 which reads,

"Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God [...] that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell  of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:  

“We … live in a world that is too prone to the tasteless and we need to provide an opportunity to cultivate a taste for the finest music. And likewise, we’re in a world that’s so attuned to the now. We need to permit people to be more attuned to the best music of all the ages.”

I completely agree with the words of Elder Maxwell. Our Heavenly Father has given us so many beautiful, good, things of worth to enjoy like nature, art, music, and different cultures to enjoy and help cultivate and refine us. And from the scripture in Moroni we learn that all good things come from God. So then why do we waste our time with things that have no worth? John H. Vandenberg commented that, 

"The sad part of humanity seems to be the utter lack of desire, in the lives of many, to really do something about enlarging the vistas of their existence. A distinguished doctor made the observation that “for the great majority of people, the good life is identical with trivial entertainment, cheap music, superficial writing, and an unending stream of visual trash."  (Dr. E. A. Gutkind, Quote—the Weekly Digest, vol. 51, no. 4, quote 32.)

The world is filled with too many beautiful pieces of art, wholesome literature, and refined music to waste our time with things of no real worth. About a year and a half ago I was sitting in an Art History class and my professor projected  Michelangelo's Pieta and I was so overcome by the Spirit. Understanding the whole process of creating and sculpting this work of art moved me and noticing the details of this sculpture strengthened my love and appreciation for the Savior. I know he died for our sins, and lives again to help us on our journey back home to Him and our Father in Heaven.

Elder Douglas L. Callister said this, 

"If we could part the veil and observe our heavenly home, we would be impressed with the cultivated minds and hearts of those who so happily live there. I imagine that our heavenly parents are exquisitely refined. In this great gospel of emulation, one of the purposes of our earthly probation is to become like them in every conceivable way so that we may be comfortable in the presence of heavenly parentage and, in the language of Enos, see their faces “with pleasure” (Enos 1:27). President Brigham Young  said, 'We are trying to be the image of those who live in heaven; we are trying to pattern after them, to look like them, to walk and talk like them.'

Waterlilies by Monet

I love this mental image of our Heavenly Parents defined as "exquistitely refined." Christ said,  "We are to become ^"perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." (3 Nephi 12:48)
So lets start appreciating things of real worth now, and strive to become like our Father in Heaven. Not only will this give added meaning to this life, but also the next. Like Elder Douglas Callister says, "There are those who speak of stirring ideas, compelling books, and inspiring doctrine; these are the few who make their mark in this world. The subjects discussed in heaven are not trifling or mundane; they are sublime beyond our most extended imagination. We will feel at home there if we are rehearsed on this earth in conversing about the refined and noble, clothing our expressions in well-measured words.

We can drawer nearer to Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ through all the good things They have provided us on this beautiful Earth. I am grateful Heavenly Father has given us so much to enjoy, and so much to help us prepare for our journey back to Him. Our souls will be touched as we draw nearer to things of real worth.  "Your Father in Heaven has sent you away from His presence to have experiences you would not have had in your heavenly home—all in preparation for the conferral of a kingdom. He doesn’t want you to lose your vision. You are children of an exalted being. You are foreordained to preside as kings and queens. You will live in a home and environment of infinite refinement and beauty, as reflected in the language, literature, music, art, and order of heaven.  I close with the words of President Young: “Let us … show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on beauty and true excellence, so that we can become worthy to enjoy the society of angels.” (Our Refined Heavenly Home)

"Know ye are not your own?"

In 1 Corinthians 9: 19-20 we read:

 "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."

And in 2 Corinthians 6:16 we read again:

 "For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Stop and think about that. Your body is where the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead, dwells."Ye are the temple of the living God."  Is it any wonder that Heavenly Father has given us guidelines on how to care for our bodies?

One of these commandments is called The Law of Chastity. Which means, "Our Father in Heaven has commanded that the sacred power and privilege of sexual relations be exercised only between a man and woman who are legally married. This is the law of chastity. It means that we must not have sexual relations before we are married, and after we are married we should have sexual relations only with our husband or wife." (http://mormon.org/faq/law-of-chastity)

Elder Bednar, an apostle of the Lord, recently said that,

"Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son are creators and have entrusted each of us with a portion of Their creative power. Specific guidelines for the proper use of the ability to create life are vital elements in the Father’s plan. How we feel about and use that supernal power will determine in large measure our happiness in mortality and our destiny in eternity.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a single, undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are proper only between a man and a woman in the marriage relationship prescribed in God’s plan. Such relations are not merely a curiosity to be explored, an appetite to be satisfied, or a type of recreation or entertainment to be pursued selfishly. They are not a conquest to be achieved or simply an act to be performed. Rather, they are in mortality one of the ultimate expressions of our divine nature and potential and a way of strengthening emotional and spiritual bonds between husband and wife. We are agents blessed with moral agency and are defined by our divine heritage as children of God—and not by sexual behaviors, contemporary attitudes, or secular philosophies."

The power of procreation is sacred, and a gift from our Heavenly Father. When we keep this commandment we are blessed with health, stable and secure relationships, and the peace that we are following God's commandment. Think for a moment how many less broken hearts the world would have if people followed this commandment. I know this commandment is from our loving Heavenly Father. I have seen the blessings of peace, security, and self worth as I have kept this commandment.

The second commandment Heavenly Father has given us  that pertains to our bodies is The Word of Wisdom. The Word of Wisdom is a law of health that tells us what should and should not take into our body. Heavenly Father has asked us to refrain from: alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, and all  illegal drugs. He has also asked us to eat a balanced diet full of fruit, vegetables, meat, wheat, rice, and oats.

To those who keep the Word of Wisdom, the Lord promised:

“All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

“And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

“And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

“And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them” (D&C 89:18-21).

ALL of those blessings are promised to us if we take care of our bodies! Surely we can give up these addictive substances to "find hidden treasures", and be protected from "the destroying angel." Not to mention free from diseases, health issues, and slaves to an addiction. Read this article if you don't believe me that these substances are harmful.
President Packer, a member of the 12 Apostles, said this about our bodies:

"Guard [it] and protect it. Take nothing into it that shall harm the organs thereof because it is sacred. It is the instrument of your mind and [the] foundation of your character.” 

My life has been blessed as I have been free from addictive substances, and subject only to God, and no addiction. I know that as we keep the commandment to protect our bodies, we will be happier.

Above all, God is our loving Heavenly Father. "The commandments you observe were not given by a dispassionate God to prevent you from having fun, but by a loving Father in Heaven who wants you to be happy while you are living on this earth as well as in the hereafter." (Glenn L. Pace) The Word of Wisdom, and The Law of Chastity have been given to us not to prevent us from having fun, or to limit us. But rather to enhance our earthly experience, and provide us with true joy. God is kind, and He loves us. I invite each of  you to live these commandment, and watch the flood of blessings and happiness that will come your way.

But I haven't received an answer about the Book of Mormon yet..

So somehow you have stumbled upon The Book of Mormon, huh? It's been explained to you that we must read it and pray and ask God if it's true or not, right? And you did just that, but there was no overwhelming feeling or grand experience? Guess what? It's okay, normal, and many people have that same experience. This was my experience and for a while I thought that something was wrong with me, or I didn't do it right.  I'd like to share just a few things that's helped me resolve this common concern.

First, everyone feels the Spirit, or the Holy Ghost differently. So stop comparing your feelings to others.  It's been described that "You may feel a comfortable feeling. Or you may feel warm and exhilarated. You may cry, but the tears are joyful." In Galatians we are taught that the fruits of the Spirit are  ‘love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith’ (Gal. 5:22). It takes time, and effort to figure out how we feel the Spirit. For me I know that when I feel peace, a clarity of mind, and a motivation to do better, I am feeling the Spirit. Next time you are at church, reading your scriptures, praying, or any other environment where the Spirit can abide, ask yourself, "Did you understand the topic? Did you feel good about what you heard? Did you want to rush out and act upon the counsel of the speaker? Sometimes the Spirit will undeniably shake you, but most times it will come quietly and without great notice.” (New Era. Feb 1993) If you can say yes to those questions, you are feeling the Spirit, and it doesn't matter if it's not the same as others.

President Packer said this of his experience of reading The Book of Mormon for the first time:

“When I first read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover, I read the promise that if I ‘would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if [the things I had read were] true; and if [I would] ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he [would] manifest the truth of it unto [me], by the power of the Holy Ghost’ (Moroni 10:4). I tried to follow those instructions as I understood them. "If I expected a glorious manifestation to come at once as an overpowering experience, it did not happen. Nevertheless, it felt good, and I began to believe. …“I learned that anyone, anywhere, could read in the Book of Mormon and receive inspiration. …“My experience has been that a testimony does not burst upon us suddenly. Rather, it grows. …“Do not be disappointed if you have read and reread and yet have not received a powerful witness. You may be somewhat like the disciples spoken of in the Book of Mormon who were filled with the power of God in great glory ‘and they knew it not’ (3 Nephi 9:20).“Do the best you can” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2005, 5–7; or Ensign, May 2005, 6–8).

How beautiful is that? Even an apostle of the Lord shares some similar feelings. He did not have a grand experience, but he recognized that he felt the Spirit. When we understand that the Spirit can only come from God, we can recognize truth anywhere. In the Book of Moroni we are taught:

"Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually."

 Second, we can receive an answer about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon during all stages of reading it. Some think that we have to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover, not missing a single word, then pray and ask if it's true. While, it's so important that we read The Book of Mormon cover to cover, that is not a prerequisite to knowing if it's true or not. We can pray to our Heavenly Father anytime to know whatever we want, this applies to our quest of knowing if the Book of Mormon is true.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie gives this suggestion as another way to find out if the Book of Mormon is true, he said:

“There is another and simpler test that all who seek to know the truth might well take. It calls for us simply to read, ponder, and pray—all in the spirit of faith and with an open mind. To keep ourselves alert to the issues at hand—as we do read, ponder, and pray—we should ask ourselves a thousand times, ‘Could any man have written this book?’ And it is absolutely guaranteed that sometime between the first and thousandth time this question is asked, every sincere and genuine truth seeker will come to know by the power of the Spirit that the Book of Mormon is true, that it is the mind and will and voice of the Lord to the whole world in our day” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1983, 106; or Ensign, Nov. 1983, 73–74).

My last thought is that when we ask Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon is true; we must ask having "real intent".  Elder Dallin H. Oaks said the following,

"Moroni did not promise a manifestation of the Holy Ghost to those who seek to know the truth of the Book of Mormon for hypothetical or academic reasons, even if they ‘ask with a sincere heart.’ The promise of Moroni is for those who are committed in their hearts to act upon the manifestation if it is received. Prayers based on any other reason have no promise because they are not made ‘with real intent’”(Pure in Heart [1988], 19–20).

In my mind it makes sense to think that Heavenly Father will not give us answers if we don't intend to act on them. Consider why you are reading the Book of Mormon and if you intend to act upon the things you are learning. President Packer said, "After you have read the Book of Mormon, you become qualified to inquire of the Lord, in the way that He prescribes in the book, as to whether the book is true. You will be eligible, on the conditions He has established, to receive that personal revelation."

I know with all my heart that The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that we can transform our lives for the better when we apply the principles that lie within the pages. I know this because when I was 17, I knelt at the foot of my bed and asked the Lord if The Book of Mormon was true, and the clearest thought entered my head which said "You already know it's true, and that's all you need." All of our experiences are different, because we are unique and view the Gospel through our own eyes. So don't worry, just focus on feeling the Spirit, praying sincerely and your answer will come. One of my very favorite scriptures says "and in Christ there should come every good thing." I am so thankful for the Book of Mormon being one of those very "good things" in my life. I echo the words of Boyd K. Packer who said, "If you persist, I assure you that it will be the most rewarding book you have ever set your mind to read."

Reasons to Read the Scriptures

This week I have been thinking a lot about why we are asked to read the scriptures. I made a pretty good list and thought I would share a few of the things I learned.

• It can be so easy to feel distant from our loving Heavenly Father. This relationship is different from others, because we can not talk to Him face to face. But, he has given us the ability to pray which allows us to communicate to Him, and receive guidance through the Holy Spirit. Elder Hales once said, "He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. For when we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets." The scriptures provide us with a way to hear His voice, and receive council for our personal lives. Ardeth G. Kapp described her scripture reading in this way, "The holy scriptures are like letters from home telling us how we can draw near to our Father in Heaven. He tells us to come as we are. No one will be denied. He loves everyone."

• The scriptures provide us a means to get to know our Savior and God better. We learn of their character, and nature through the scriptures. We start to understand who They are and we can trust Them.

• Have you ever been reading the Book of Mormon and become frustrated that the Nephites and Lamanites are in another pride cycle? You end up asking yourself, "How did they allow themselves to lose themselves in pride, again?" Well, the scriptures allow us to learn from other people's mistakes. There's a saying that goes "An intelligent person learns from their own mistakes, but a genius learns from the mistakes of others." In Psalms 77 it says, "I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old." We are told to remember the Lord in the present, and in the past. Heavenly Father has given us many tools, like the scriptures, so that we might feel his love, and feel remembered by Him. Elder L. Tom Perry said, "I guess one of the greatest mysteries of mortality is why mankind fails to learn from history." Heavenly Father has no doubt put obvious patterns of behavior in the scriptures for our benefit and learning, to help us avoid the same problems in our own lives. Through the scriptures we can find trials similar to ours, learn from others' lives, and find ways to overcome challenges.

I know that the Book of Mormon, and the Bible together are the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and through studying them we can find peace that heals the wounded soul. I echo the words of Sister Kapp, "I ask you, will you open your scriptures and read them every day? Why? Because the glorious promises will then be yours. You can have a sure testimony of our Father in Heaven’s love for you. You can know the gospel plan and the blessings that come through obedience and right choices. The verses you mark will become anchors to cling to when the voices of the world try to confuse you or discourage you. They will lift you up in spirit when you’re down, and you can experience the feeling of being close to our Father in Heaven."

h a n d s

As I have studied the scriptures lately the mention of "hands" has really stood out to me.  I have found there is a depth and significance in this reference to "hands", and it has increased my testimony of the love the Savior has for each and every one of us.

My very favorite scripture is Isaiah 49:16 which says, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." This scripture makes it so evident to me how much Christ loves us, because He always carries us with him. Even in his perfected resurrected body, He carries the marks of the crucifixion in His hands, feet, and side. We are so much apart of Christ, and all He has to do is look at His hands to remember us, for "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."

One of my favorite parts in the Book of Mormon is Christ's personal ministry among the Nephites. After Christ introduces himself as the the ^"light and the life of the world" He asks them to "Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world (3 Nephi 11:14) ."

"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come. (3 Nephi 11:15)

His hands are evidence of the love He has for each of us. This scene in the Book of Mormon touches my heart every time I read it. Christ is so aware of each and every one of us, and we can learn about his love for the "one" as we learn about him in the scripture and come closer to him. 


The prophet Mormon  pleaded to his brothers, and friends to remember the kind, loving, relationship Heavenly Father wants to have with His children. He says, "Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?" This call beckons us to remember who is watching over us, and guiding us. Elder W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy explained what we can learn from Christ's hands.

 “Hands are one of the symbolically expressive parts of the body. In Hebrew, yad, the most common word for hand, is also used metaphorically to mean power, strength, and might  Thus, hands signify power and strength. To be in the hands of God would suggest that we are not only under His watchful care but also that we are guarded and protected by His wondrous power. Throughout the scriptures, reference is made to the hand of the Lord. His divine assistance is evidenced over and over again. His powerful hands created worlds, and yet they were gentle enough to bless the little children. Every one of us needs to know that we can go on in the strength of the Lord. We can put our hand in His, and we will feel His sustaining presence lift us to heights unattainable alone. How do we learn to extend our hand and connect to the comfort provided by the Lord? Imagine the wounds in His hands. His weathered hands, yes, even His hands of torn flesh and physical sacrifice, give our own hands greater power and direction. It is the wounded Christ who leads us through our moments of difficulty. It is He who bears us up when we need more air to breathe or direction to follow or even more courage to continue. If we will keep the commandments of God and walk hand in hand with Him in His paths, we will go forward with faith and never feel alone” 

The hands of Christ remind of His suffering for each of us, the love he has for the individual as he let the Nephites touch them "one by one", and that we will never be alone. We always have a hand to hold and to guide us. I am so grateful that Jesus Christ loved me enough to suffer and atone for me. I have felt his guiding hand in moments of darkness, bringing me to the light. I love Him. I know He loves each of us. I invite each of you to watch this video and pay special attention to His hands. I know  Jesus Christ loves and  knows us personally, and extends His hands to all. I hope that we might follow His example, and lend a helping hand to those around us.

Seen In Terms of Forever

Recently, I read a scripture in Proverbs that said, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Usually when I think of visions in the scriptures I think of Lehi's vision of the tree of life or Joseph Smith's first vision that led to the restoration of Christ's church. But, in this context I think that Solomon was referring to an image in our mind, or a dream we have for ourselves.

Our Heavenly Father has a vision for each of us, "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1: 39)

Who we are and who we are becoming is so important to our Father in Heaven. He created us and has a specific plan for each of us; because we are His vision.

President Uchtdorf said, "Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence."

Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and to become the person He knows we can be. This is done by setting goals , making covenants, and trying to emulate the example of our older brother Jesus Christ. This is not an easy task, but it's possible.

We are encouraged by Elder Holland to "not to give up 'for ye are laying the foundation of a great work'. That 'great work' is you—your life, your future, the very fulfillment of your dreams. That 'great work' is what, with effort and patience and God’s help, you can become. When days are difficult or problems seem unending, I plead with you to stay in the harness and keep pulling. You are entitled to 'eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days,' but it will require your heart and a willing mind. It will require that you stay at your post and keep trying."

We are never alone in our efforts to improve ourselves. We will fail at times, and make mistakes, but He will never leave us.

Elder Wirthlin testified of this by saying, "Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities."

I know that Heavenly Father loves us beyond our comprehension, he sent His son Jesus Christ to show it was possible to become perfect, and I know that through the Savior we can reach our fullest potential, and fulfill His vision. 

Becoming the Good and Faithful Servant

Well, hi!

My name is Hermana Reed and I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am serving in the Nashville, Tennessee Mission and also serving as a blogging missionary.

This blog is called,"Becoming the Good and Faithful Servant", because this title is who I, and other followers of Christ want to become. I remember being about 15 years old and reading the parable of the talents and being so moved by Christ's words:

"Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful,  enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

Becoming the good and faithful servant requires committing our lives to discipleship. Chancey C. Riddle said "The word disciple comes from the Latin discipulus, a learner. A disciple of Christ is one who is learning to be like Christ—learning to think, to feel, and to act as he does. To be a true disciple, to fulfill that learning task, is the most demanding regimen known to man. No other discipline compares with it in either requirements or rewards. It involves the total transformation of a person from the state of the natural man to that of the saint, one who loves the Lord and serves with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength. 

I have always loved this analogy from C.S. Lewis that describes the process of becoming more like Him. 

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, New York: MacMillan Co., 1960, p. 160).

I can't imagine anything sweeter than after passing through this life and being greeted by our Savior, Jesus Christ, and hearing him call us His "good and faithful servant." 

It is my hope and prayer that we will become more like He is and be able to find peace in those words when that time comes for us.