The Atonement

 

"I am convinced that [our earthly journey] is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that [everyone who ever lives will] have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. [We will] have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary."

"I believe that [you and I], to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price."

"When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

God's Words Never Cease

"Why does God not speak to us today?" "If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why would He hold back His words from us?"
When asked these questions by a friend, Hugh B. Brown responded as follows;

"May I suggest some possible reasons: perhaps God does not speak to man anymore because He cannot. He has lost the power.”

He said, “Of course that would be blasphemous.”

“Well, then, if you don’t accept that, perhaps He doesn’t speak to men because He doesn’t love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men.”

“No,” he said, “God loves all men, and He is no respecter of persons.”

“Well, then, if He could speak and if He loves us, then the only other possible answer, as I see it, is that we don’t need Him. We have made such rapid strides in science, we are so well educated, that we don’t need God anymore.”

And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war: "Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why He doesn’t speak.”

My answer was: “He does speak. He has spoken, but men need faith to hear Him.”
http://www.lds.org/liahona/2006/06/the-profile-of-a-prophet?lang=eng&query=profile+of+a+prophet

I testify that God speaks to us. Like in times of old, God has called a prophet to lead and guide His church. Through that prophet, we hear the word of God. I know this to be true.

"Come, listen to a prophet's voice,
And hear the word of God"

I know Christ lives. I know that His church has been restored upon the earth. How grateful I am for this knowledge.

Trials

"And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.”
The great and exquisite suffering of the Savior was for us, to keep us from having to suffer as He suffered. However, suffering is a part of life, and few will escape its grasp. Since it is something that each of us has gone through, is going through, or will go through, there is scriptural suggestion that we can learn spiritual lessons if we can approach suffering, sorrow, or grief with a focus on Christ.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
As we are called upon to endure suffering, sometimes inflicted upon us intentionally or negligently, we are put in a unique position—if we choose, we may be allowed to have new awareness of the suffering of the Son of God.
Sometimes we cannot understand that mortal suffering can bring eternal blessings. “If the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.”
-"Your Sorrows Shall Be Turned to Joy" October 1983, Robert D. Hales
-"That They Might Know Thee" October 2006, Keith R. Edwards

 

The Lord knows and loves us. He wants us to fulfill his plan. The simple fact is that part of the plan is to understand what Christ went through so we can access His atonement. So that we can lay up our treasures in heaven. I am so grateful that I have trials. I don't love my trials, but I love what comes from my trials. God is so good my friends!!

 

Parable of the Current Bush

This is definitely one of the most humbling videos I have ever seen.
Do you ever wonder why hard or trying things happen to us? When we are doing all we can, why does it seem like God isn't? Sometimes we have to be cut down to become who God wants us to become. Remember that!

Click Here  to watch the video.

Testimony

"What young musician, after years of agonizing rehearsal was finally scheduled to debut in a capacity concert hall, would, while en route to the performance, stop to join a long line forming at the latest hit movie, forgetting the thousands of people waiting to hear her?
"What world-class runner, after training for well over a decade, would find himself in the Olympic finals, only to stop running halfway through his race to watch the high-jump finals taking place on the other side of the field?
"These examples may seem preposterous—but how much more tragic it is for someone who, equipped with a testimony of the truth and a knowledge of the purpose of life, becomes more absorbed in life today than in life forever. Who’s just a little more concerned about his or her status and standing in mortality than in eternity. Whose focus is not directed to God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, with whom it is possible to have a glorious connection and bond."
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/10/a-yearning-for-home?lang=eng

We all can gain, or even have, this testimony of truth. And how important it is to remember the eternal perspective of that testimony vs. the worldly perspective. God is forever. And we will be too. So focus on that! Focus on the eternal. Makes this life a whole lot better, I promise you that!

Miracles

I believe in miracles. Little moments that God gives us to keep us on track. To remind us that He is in control. 

These last couple weeks have been full of tiny miracles. I don't have time to write them all, but I am grateful for them all. 

I love my life. I love this time that I have to serve my God. I love being a missionary and sharing the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel. I am grateful for my Savior who has given me all. It is to Him that I sing praises and to Him that I worship. And I choose to do it in His way. 

I bear my testimony to the world that Christ lives. And He loves us unconditionally. As we serve Him and follow Him we will see miracles. How blessed I am for this sure knowledge!

Book of Mormon

Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

....For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.

(2 Nephi 29)

 

I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. I know that alongside the Bible, it contains the fullness of the Gospel. I love the Book of Mormon. After reading it, I couldn't deny the power and gifts of God. I love this church with all my heart!

Our road...

Suffering

Why does God allow suffering to happen to good people? I have been asking myself this question a lot more than usual lately. I haven't completely come up with an answer, but I have found some stuff I really like...

From the talk, "That They Might Know Thee" October 2006, Keith R. Edwards;

"And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.” 

The great and exquisite suffering of the Savior was for us, to keep us from having to suffer as He suffered. However, suffering is a part of life, and few will escape its grasp. Since it is something that each of us has gone through, is going through, or will go through, there is scriptural suggestion that we can learn spiritual lessons if we can approach suffering, sorrow, or grief with a focus on Christ. Anciently Paul wrote that our suffering may give us an opportunity to know the Savior better. Paul wrote to the Romans:

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” 

Now, lest anyone go looking for hardship and suffering, that is not what is taught. Rather, it is the attitude with which we approach our hardships and trials that allows us to know the Savior better.

 Although the purpose of the suffering is not always apparent at the time, the Prophet Joseph had a singularly spiritual experience as he lingered in Liberty Jail. The Lord comforted him:

“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.” 

“Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. 

“The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” 

As we are called upon to endure suffering, sometimes inflicted upon us intentionally or negligently, we are put in a unique position—if we choose, we may be allowed to have new awareness of the suffering of the Son of God. While Alma tells us that Christ suffered all that any of us will ever have to suffer that He might know how to succor us, the reverse may also be true: that our suffering may allow us insight into the depth and magnitude of His atoning sacrifice.

We all can learn from our suffering "if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” We suffer to know Christ better. To become better. 

From the talk, "Your Sorrows Shall Be Turned to Joy" October 1983, Robert D. Hales;

[Our] suffering in mortality will bring a greater appreciation of the blessings of a resurrected, perfect body. Also, our joy of service in helping [others] in time of need brings us a greater appreciation for one another. We are told that out of suffering, sorrow, and sadness that joy will come. Sometimes we cannot understand that mortal suffering can bring eternal blessings.

When Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail, he cried to the Lord for comfort, and the Lord gave it to him. He said that “if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:7.)

Suffering is universal; how we react to suffering is individual. Suffering can take us one of two ways. It can be a strengthening and purifying experience combined with faith, or it can be a destructive force in our lives if we do not have the faith in the Lord’s atoning sacrifice. The purpose of suffering, however, is to build and strengthen us. We learn obedience by the things we suffer. We should be humbled and drawn to the Lord.

The Lord knows and loves us. He wants us to fulfil his plan. The simple fact is that part of the plan is to understand what Christ went through so we can access His atonement. I am so grateful that I have trials. I don't love my trials, but I love what comes from my trials. God is good!!