How Can We Come to Know the Truth

(Observations taken from Luke 17:11-19) 

What Happened?

1. They recognized their need to be healed
2. They recognized the Lord, who He was and what He could do for them
3. They pleaded the mercy of the Lord .
4. Christ commanded them to show themselves unto the priests
5. They went as Jesus commanded
6. As they went they were healed
7. One saw that he was cleansed
8. He turned back
9. He glorified God/ Gave Him thanks
10. And Jesus said “Arise, go thy way"
    

Application

1. We must recognize our need for the truth (D & C  123:12)
2. We must accept that we cannot do it without Christ.  (2 Nephi 31:21)
3. We must understand that we are infinitely loved by an eternal being (Psalms 8:4-5)
4. What we want will not be handed to us. We must act.  (2 Nephi 25:23)
5. The way is marked before us. We must seek out that way and follow it. (Matthew 7:14)
6. In the process we will often obtain our answers and see the miracles. (D & C 123:17)
7. We must recognize the answers when they come (D & C 8:4)
8. We must always return again and again to He who has healed us. (Mosiah 4:9)
9. We should always praise Him and give for the answers we have received. (D & C 59:21)
10. Once we have our answer, we should “go our way” be an example, and endure to the end. (2 Nephi 31:20)

My Mission, My Zion

As many of you may or may not know I just returned from serving an 18 month mission to Panama. As a post to kind of jump start my blog I thought I would share the talk which relates some of my mission experiences. Enjoy! More blog posts to come in the future. Its good to be back.

The word in Spanish for mission is ‘mision’. When split in two one ends up with two words ‘mi’ and ‘sion’. Translated into English this literally means: my Zion. As missionaries we invite others to come unto Christ. To come to know their Redeemer through the learning and applying of His restored Gospel. We then invite them to follow His example, just as He extended the invitation over two thousand years ago “Follow thou me.” I spent the past eighteen months in Panama, with the hope of bringing but “one soul unto Christ” When I left I did not know what to expect. But as I helped others come to know their Savior, their Redeemer and their Older Brother… as they came to find their Zion… it was in their journey that my mission became my Zion and what I learned from each and every one of them I wish to share with you today. With their examples of today and scriptural examples of yesterday I hope my message will encourage each of us to be better, to walk straighter; to keep our eyes always focused on those things of eternity.  May the Holy Ghost aid and guide me as I speak with all of you this morning.

We read in the scriptures often of the importance of persevering. In 2 Nephi 31:20 we learn “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” The Apostle Peter for me has always been this great example of perseverance. We see his love and devotion to our Lord and Savior numerous times during His earthly ministry. But perhaps the greatest was first the agony of his denial, followed soon after by his acceptance to lead the Lords primitive church after His ascension into heaven. We are all familiar with the story. The night before the Lord’s crucifixion He prophesied that before the cock crowed, Peter would deny Him three times. It is my personal belief that in this moment Peter felt assured that such a thing would never occur. But just as the Lamb of God predicted, before the cock crowed, Peter denied Him three times. In Luke’s moving account of this experience, we read that Peter when the Lord looked upon Him “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.”

I personally think it could have been very easy for Peter to leave and never return. Shame, embarrassment, or guilt could have motivated him to separate himself. But he was the one who had known who Christ was. He was the one who had stepped out of the boat, and walked onto the water to the Master. Later, he was the one to whom the Lord directed His admonition to “feed my sheep.”  He never gave up, and no matter what we have done, neither should we. Moments of discouragement, hardship and frustration may come. But we must never let these things overtake us. If we are to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We must keep going, keep persevering until the end. Like the first convert of my mission. 

When my companion and I met Jesus Martin he was on the street selling empanadas. We had wandered around all afternoon searching for an investigator, following an address that seemed to have never existed. A problem all too common unfortunately. When we found Jesus he asked if we had a book. We gave to him and explained briefly the Book of Mormon. We would not see him for another month. We did finally make it to his home, following a prompting of the spirit; it was not long before he expressed the sincere desire to be baptized. Yet he related to us that he had done far too many things. He struggled with problems of the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. But we looked at him and asked him if he truly desired to be baptized, to be clean. His words, reminded me all too well of the words of Peter as Christ washed His apostles feet. “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head” (John 13:9) and I saw that in Jesus’ eyes as he begged us to help him become clean. Up until the day of his baptism he struggled. But he was cleansed, through baptism by water and the spirit. Jesus has already left this life, but the Sunday before he died, he blessed the sacrament, exercising the priesthood keys that he held. His was a life of perseverance, and though he never held any high position in the church. He offered his whole soul as an offering unto God (Omni 1:26)

Just as we must persevere through our struggles, a great source of strength can be found in prayer. The admonition to “pray always” or pray without ceasing is found at least 50 times in the Bible alone.  The church, as we know was restored once again upon the earth because a fourteen year old boy entered a grove of trees and asked our Heavenly Father in prayer a simple question. God has always encouraged communication with him. On my mission I had many opportunities to see answers to prayers; but perhaps the greatest, was when a twenty one year old boy named Michael, just like the first prophet of this dispensation, asked to know the truth.

I had just been transferred to my second area. Michael lived with his grandma, mother, and younger brother behind our apartment building. This particular evening we had taught him about the Word of Wisdom and invited him to be baptized. The simplest way to put it, he was a wreck. He shed tears as he admitted that he was a man of little faith, that he did not know if the church was true and he was not sure how he could ever know. As we taught him an all too familiar scripture came to mind “Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”  So we invited Michael to give the closing prayer in that moment. We all got down on our knees and Michael began to pray. With all the fervency of a lost soul looking for the way to go he pleaded to our God and our Father. He asked him, in much the same way I am sure Joseph did almost two hundred years ago, to know what he should do. Then he asked God to send him a sign, to show him, somehow, if he should be baptized into this church.  And the scriptures read concerning signs: “But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe. Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God. (Doctrine and Covenants 63: 9-10). I knew that Michael believed. I begged God, in my heart in that moment, that He would reach forth His hand and work a miracle.

All too soon, the prayer ended. But no one moved. All that could be heard was Michael sobbing and all that could be felt was the Spirit, so strong physical warmth enveloped the room and all present. We asked Michael what had happened, what he had felt but he continued to cry. His grandmother also began to implore and he finally spoke. He told us that when he had asked God to know what to do he had felt a man beside him. When he had pleaded to know if he should be baptized on the date we had challenged him and had asked for a side, the unseen man had reached out and touched his arm.

I do not know what happened to Michael. I believe that if he has not already he will one day be baptized. Michael was an example to me about the power of faith and prayer. God knows what we need before we ask it, but He implores that we ask, that we might build our faith. We must pray always. We cannot miss even one morning or one night if we do not want the adversary to treat us like “waves upon the sea, driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6) Pray always. I you have been lacking start today. I can testify that it is strength, a necessity, like water in an arid desert; it is water to our souls, in this arid and fallen world.

Seeing God answers prayers throughout my mission taught me that God is merciful. The story of Paul, once Saul which we find in the New Testament also bear testimony to my heart of the love and compassion of our Father and His Son. Many of you are familiar with the conversion of Saul to Paul. He was a Pharisee who “made havoc for the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison (Acts 8:3). Saul was bent on destroying the church, even as he travels on the infamous road to Damascus we read that he is “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1) and then we know, that as Saul journeys on this road, the Savior appears to him beseeching “Saul, Saul, why persecuteth thou me?” And thus Saul was converted to Paul and became one of the greatest missionaries of the primitive church. “And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God (Mosiah 27:26)

Thirty five year old Jaime was Saul. Jaime persecuted members of the church whenever they had the misfortune to cross his path.  Leaders came to his home to do family home evenings with his wife and kids who were faithful active members. They desired to learn. He desired to argue. He had a book of our doctrine, with biblical scriptures that disproved every single point. With that as his weapon, he went around destroying the spiritual morale of his family. He kept them from going to the temple. They wept, he was glad. This modern day Saul continued, until he began his own journey down his own personal road to Damascus.  First, he decided to go to church with his wife. But he felt nothing. He was moved by a lesson on the Book of Mormon, but still he felt no inclination to change. Then, one night, after years... seven to be exact, of praying to know what he should do, he had a dream.

“In my dream” he told us, “I was a spectator as I watched a couple walking through a deserted city. They looked for something, what I did not know. They passed abandon streets, the wife, always leading, the husband, complaining that they would never get there because she did not know where they were going. They came to a park, the center of the city. An old woman stood there. She explained ‘there are many roads, which you can take to get where you are going; there are roads upon which you can take a car, a bus. There is beautiful road to your left and the most dangerous road to your right” The husband insisted that they take one of the more comfortable roads. One that they knew would be free of danger. But the wife disagreed. She assured her husband that they must take the most dangerous road. It was the only way to get where THEY wanted to go. With complaints from the husband every step, they went. They passed ferocious animals and crossed broken bridges. Through darkness and fog and all kinds of dangers they walked. The husband complained, the wife, pressed on. Then they reached the end of the road and the crest of a hill. A man gardened not too far away. The husband insisted they ask. The wife began to walk up the hill. The husband cried in anger ‘you don’t know if that’s the way, you don’t know… we must ask!’ and he turned to ask the gardener. In that moment I cried out” Jaime told us, “and said to the man, ‘follow your wife, she knows the way, she has always known the way, follow your wife!’ and then “Jaime said “I woke up, confused, I was not sure what it all meant, but I got down on my knees as if to pray. Before I could open my mouth the words came to me ‘Follow your wife, she has always known the way, follow your wife’ and I knew” Jaime said” that I needed to be baptized.”

We met Jaime on May 2^nd, and on May 10^th he was baptized. He went from attacking the doctrines of the church, to testifying of their truthfulness. He had said never and God had only said, not yet. Now, we may not have dreams. We may not feel or see or hear angels. But God tells us that it is never too late. When Jesus taught the parables of the prodigal son, the lost sheep and the lost silver he ended each by saying “I say unto you likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repent, then over the just that need no repentance…”  (Luke 15) No matter what you have done no matter how far down the wrong road you think you have gone, the drops of blood that stained the Garden of Gethsemane and the cross of Calvary are a witness to each of us that all is not lost. They cry out to us to come back. Christ himself beckons “Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.  (D &C 6:37). Jaime taught me, that it is never too late for anyone, no, not even for you.

My last example is the Book of Mormon’s own Saul. We all know him, as Alma the Younger. He is described as being a “very wicked and idolatrous man… he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities… giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.” (Mosiah 27).  Like Alma the Younger who wandered around reaping havoc where ever he went there was once a young man named Gerald.

One day we found a key in the street. It was a part of our area that we had never been in, so we decided to knock on the nearest door. A woman named Diosalina answered and let us in. She told us about her family. About her seventeen year old son, who was rather rebellious but loved to learn English because he wants to go the States someday. We wrote down the address and went to find Gerald. When we found him there was nothing exciting about him. In fact he did not even seem interested. We left him a pamphlet about the Restoration and invited him to English classes and that was the end of the conversation. We did not even ask for his number, but we left him ours. He came to English class and lingered afterwards. He asked if he could walk with us part of the way home so that he could see where the church was. He expressed the desire to come to that Sunday’s services.  As we walked he told me that he had never been baptized. We invited him to be baptized three weeks from that day, the Saturday before I would come home. He accepted, we left him with a Book of Mormon and prayed that he would attend. He came. He stood and bore his testimony. Everyone was shocked. The following day we taught our first lesson about Joseph Smith. He told us he knew it was true. The following day we taught him about the Book of Mormon. He expressed the desire that it be shared with the world. He told us that he had burned every worldly book, movie, or CD that he’d had. He began to read the Book of Mormon, reading as much as twenty chapters in one day. That next Sunday he came to church dressed just like a missionary. He only needed the nametag. He started going out to visit people with us. Then he told us why he had changed so completely, so quickly.

He told us that he’d had a dream. In that dream he was walking from one end of town to the other. He said everything was bright and beautiful. He told us that up ahead of him he saw two girls that looked like they were preaching. Then beside him, he saw our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In his dream Christ called him by name and said “you are going to meet two girls, and these two girls are going to turn on a light in your life. If you are to progress and reach your full potential... if you desire all the blessings I have planned for you, you must accept this light into your life and you must never turn back.” Two days after this dream, we knocked on his door. He knew the moment we entered his home, that we were those girls from his dream. He told us that he knew his sins were forgiven because as he prayed he felt such joy. Like Alma the Younger who said “and oh what joy, and what marvelous light, I did behold, yea my soul was filled with joy…” (Alma 36:20). Gerald was baptized on the date that he accepted. This past week, thanks to technology, Gerald called me. He told me that for the second time he has blessed the sacrament and that he would be meeting with the branch president to discuss his desire to serve a mission. He is preparing to serve a mission and a year from now will accept a call to fulfill the deepest desire of his heart, to tell the world about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  

Alma asked the faithful saints of  Zarahemla,  “And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? (Alma 5:26) Have you felt this change of heart? If you have not, do you what you have to in order to be completely converted. Gerald showed me what it means to truly be converted. To change everything about yourself so that it is in harmony with God. A true conversion is not limited to age, Gerald is only seventeen. It does not matter how much money you make or how well you are educated. What really matters is where your heart is. What do you love most? God does not care so much what you want Him to give you, but what you are willing to give Him. King Benjamin taught “unless ye become as a little child ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 3:19). As followers of the Savior, we must become as little children and then become like Him, or we will never enter into the “many mansions” that he has prepared for us. Brothers and sisters, do what you have to. Start today. And never look back.

At this moment I feel as Ammon did, when he spoke of his brothers of his experiences… they consecrated 14 years of their lives to our Lord. And while the time cannot compare my heart bursts with the words of Ammon as he recounted. “We have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all of this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many… yea and my joy is carried away, even unto the boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on His name… now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever…” (Alma 26) Seeing these people change, changed me. Their journeys strengthened my testimony. Their struggles increased my faith. I can testify that the greatest convert, is none of the people that talked of today…. But the one who humbly stands before you now. I thought I knew of the love of my Savior. But I did not truly know it until I watched each of these come to know their Savior. As they found their Zion… they guided me to mine.

"All Little Children are Alive in Christ..." Moroni 8:22

I intended to do this post some time ago but felt I needed to take time to ponder the subject and really figure out how I was going to present to the readers of my blog. The shooting in Connecticut was tragic indeed. It is one of those moments in our history where we realize just how wicked the world is becoming and how badly people need God in their lives. As has been anticipated, there has been political back lash regarding gun control from the left and the right side of the aisle. However, I am not going to discuss the politics from a Latter Day Saint perspective. Rather I am going to talk about an aspect of my religion that gives me hope regarding the children that were killed that day.

First, recall in the New Testament when Christ is teaching His disciples in Matthew 18:3 we read "except ye be converted and become a little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." and continued in verse 4 "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." I invite you to ponder for a moment on the humility of the little children in your life. How sweet and innocent they are. Indeed I often feel that in interacting with small children we come to know the ways of our Savior just a little bit better for they are fresh from His presence.

Another instance of the importance of little children in the plan of salvation is seen in the Book of Mormon. In the crowning even of this other testament of Jesus Christ the Master Himself visits that people of the Americas in the flesh. As he teaches among the people he commands them to bring their little ones forward. We read "And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded that multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground... and he took their little children one by one and blessed them and prayed unto the Father for them.. and angels did minister unto them" (see 3 Nephi 17). Perhaps the sweetest aspect of this account is the fact that the Savior took them "one by one" on an individual basis and blessed them and prayed for them. We even read that He wept over them. I am certain that the day of the shooting the Savior wept as the little children were killed. Yet the Book of Mormon also teaches us that "the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory, and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgement which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them at the last day." (Alma 14:11) Essentially, God allows bad things to happen to good people that He might judge the wicked with justice and we know that the little children dwell with Him in the paradise of God.

The final doctrine that brings me such great hope as we grieve the loss of those sweet spirits from this world. In D&C 137 we read of the qualifications and blessings of the Celestial Kingdom which, from previous posts, we know to be the highest degree of glory where the righteous will go to dwell with a loving and all powerful Heavenly Father. In this chapter we read "All children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the Celestial kingdom of heaven" Thus these children who lost their lives are now dwelling with God in his Eternal glory. I hope that this post has brought you some peace. That it has helped you see the peace that the Gospel can bring to your lives. I pray that God comforts you as go throughout this New Year. May He bless you this year and all the rest of your lives my dear readers. Until you read again.

"All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience" (D&C 122:7)

I am changing my tone a little bit for this post. Normally my posts are very intellectual drawing on scriptures and logic to explain doctrinal concept that I see as rather controversial in the world of religion that mingles to often with personal opinion and hostility. Today's post is founded upon an email I sent to a very dear friend some time ago who is now serving a mission for our Lord and Savior (and doing a good job of it too). I pray that you, my dear reader can be uplifted by it just as I pray he was uplifted by it.

I know life can be hard; believe me I know. But I can personally testify that through the grace of our Savior and his atonement,  just as I have, you can once again find the peace that comes from living a life shoulder to shoulder with Him. The experiences of this past year (I can without a doubt say that it has been one of great adversity but also great growth for me) have shown me numerous things that I thought I knew but I guess never fully understood. There are four thoughts that I wish to share with you. Four lessons that I believe will help you get through whatever difficulties you are currently facing and aid you the rest of your life. Just as they have helped me once again refocus my gaze on what really matters.

1. Happiness is a Choice

Its such a simple concept but is so life changing when embraced and fully understood. It is what has gotten me out of the darkness that I've been wandering through for what felt like an eternity. I woke up a recent morning and I made the decision that I wouldn't let past mistakes hurt me any longer. I'm going to be happy. I am blessed in so many ways and it is a disservice to myself to not acknowledge all that He has given me. I am going to serve a mission. Not just a literal, go out into the field and serve, kind of mission. My life is going to be a mission for Him. We cannot be properly receptive to the Holy Ghost when we let darkness and despair dampen our vision of Eternal Life with our loving Heavenly Father. I have learned the hard way how it feels to be far from the Lord and I can testify that it is not a place of happiness or joy. The scriptures tells us "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve" (Joshua 24:15) Choose to serve the Lord my dear readers. That includes choosing to rejoice in this beautiful life he has given us. The Savior suffered to cover all our pains, disappointments, sins, and yes even our broken hearts. The only thing that is truly ours to give is our will, with the debt to Him that we have accumulated, I can think of no better way to repay Him than by living a joyful, service-filled life. I pray you go about your life with the desire to be happy and a yearning to bring others that happiness. Therein embodies that joy of the Celestial Kingdom and a life with our Lord.

2. Be Not Afraid

Fear, such a corrosive emotion. It decays the spirit and imprisons the mind. It can swallow even the faintest gleam of hope if we do not face it and learn to replace it with faith. The scriptures teach us "the Lord did not give us a spirit of doubt or of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7). I loved that scripture when I first read it eight years ago and I love it even more now. What we feel when we look at ourselves and say that we are not good enough... that we are not worth it... that we cannot do it... is not from God but from Satan, the father of all lies. I'm sure all of you know this. But do you know it. Do you believe it with all that you are? Do you truly understand the contrast between the dark, foreboding grip of the adversary and the gentle, inviting embrace of the Spirit? I pray that you do. If not, I implore you to never cease to ask the Lord for His Spirit to be constantly with you. When He leaves, when we allow the troubles of life to turn our gaze away from Him, it is like we are engulfed in a storm from which there is no harbor. Our sails must be ever raised in the name of our God. In the midst of the pelting hail we must turn our gaze heavenward and cry for the Lord's guidance. He will not leave us comfortless. Even when it seems that there is no comfort to be had. We must press on. Christ is the ultimate example. Even though he had every power to stop the pain of the atonement He chose to do His Father's will. I pray that we be just like Him. May we, in the midst of our pain, always look up towards heaven and know that Christ is never far way. As you go forward be not afraid my friend. "Weeping endureth for a night but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalms 30:5). Always remember that no matter how harsh our storms may seem if we do not turn our back on Him, He will never cease to be with us.

3. Love, Even in Loss

 I have never been one to simply lay down and let the adversary have his way with me. Eventually, after all the blows I've taken this past year, I got up. I don't think I got up spiritually until recently but the day we said goodbye, I physically and literally made the choice to pick myself up and go on. I honestly believe that I didn't start becoming my old self again until I started to really love those around me. Previously I selfishly wished that someone would just take my hand and tell me everything was going to be alright. Then, I started noticing the need to take the hands of others and be the comfort that they needed. Have I always done it willingly, no. But gradually, as I've prayed for opportunities the Lord has brought people to me that could use my help and influence. I don't pretend to be the answer to all their problems but I pray that like you are going to be, I can be an instrument in the Lord's hands. Just remember that even when we fail, lose someone or something we love, or feel as if we just can't go on, reach out. Think of the hymn "Because I Have Been Give Much". “Because I have been given much I too must give.” How selfish is it to expect everyone else to give to us when there are so many which need our love and companionship. I pray that as you go about your life you reach out in love. No matter how difficult or monotonous the days may seem, no matter how unsuccessful you may feel, even if you come to regret any of your past decisions never forget to love with all that you have. Have charity my friends, “it never faileth” (1 Corinthians 13:8) and if you are found possessed of it, neither will you.

4. Some Times the Brightest Rainbows Only Come After the Harshest Storms

How merciful the Lord is my friend. It took until a short time ago for me to realize that it was all in my hands. That I could spend my days wallowing in thoughts of what could have been or pick myself up and strive to notice the rainbows. As a child I always loved the spectra of light that represented a wonderful promise from God; a promise that he would never again flood the Earth. I think in many forms, He sends us spiritual rainbows, beautiful reminders that if we will but be obedient and always live for Him that our lives will not always be flooded with adversity and trials. He does not promise that there will never be rain, He simply assures us that we will never be engulfed in a storm that He will not help us through. I think it is absolutely magnificent. Moroni reminds us that the Lord's grace is sufficient for all men (Ether 12:27). I have a firm testimony of this and all I have told you. He lives and He lives to call us back to Him. He did not send us here to fail. He sent us here to live, to learn, to grow, and above all, to succeed. Remember that as you live for Him my friend. Remember it as you teach those whom God has prepared for you. Never forget that the sun always comes with the dawn, that at some point the clouds break to show the sky again. Endure. Endure with faith. Endure with patience. Endure with love. Look for life's rainbows and strive always to stand tall in the storms.

I do not pretend to understand any portion of the ways of the Lord. I am far from perfect and far from making it back to our Father in Heaven. But I have a testimony; a testimony of the power of adversity and trials to help us grow; a testimony of the power of the priesthood and the reality of our Lord. I know He lives. What a comforting concept! What a joyous proclamation. I pray my dear reader that you study the scriptures with diligence for they are the words of God. Pray with sincerity, for the Lord hears and answers your prayers. Serve with charity, have patience in affliction, let virtue garnish your thoughts and actions, accept the Lord's will with humility, strive for godliness, seek wisdom, gain knowledge both of spiritual and secular things, endure with temperance, and above all feed your faith. As you go throughout your life never forget what your trials have taught you. The Lord is always there even when we choose to turn our back on him. He believes in you, He loves you, and He waits for you. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I know that Christ lives for He is my rock and my companion. I bear witness of the Holy Ghost and his ability to guide us in all the ways of righteousness. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, feast upon its pages, there is no greater joy then understanding and becoming more like Him. I know that this church is led by a prophet, heed his words and you will face all things in this life with courage and strength. I pray that you accept all things that the Lord places before you and always have the faith to say "thy will be done." I hope you are well. I hope you are noticing the Lord's hand in your life and preparing with real intent to serve with the purpose of bringing salvation to those you will meet. You have been called and chosen. Thrust in your sickle with all your might and reap the rewards of a life deserving of all the Father hath. I leave these things with you in the name of our Lord, our Savior and Redeemer, our God and our King, even Jesus the Christ, Amen.

"Consider the Lilies of the Field..." (Matthew 6:28)

Being a college student some times money can be a little tight. There have been times where I've fretted over how in the world I'm going to make ends meet. This is some thing that each of us goes through and is familiar with. Often it keeps us up late into the night and makes it difficult to focus on the things that matter most in our lives. However, I can testify that the Lord always does provide.

Some times what we are experiencing is a trial of our faith. Consider the story of Abraham when he is asked to sacrifice Isacc. In the original Hebrew the text reads somewhat like this with a climactic tone to it: "Take thy son, thine only son, whom thou loves, even Isacc... and offer him for a burnt offering... " (Genesis 2:22 What's interesting about the original Hebrew is that the Lord approaches Abraham saying "Lacakh na" essentially "take I pray thee." The word "na" in Hebrew denotes a kind of respect, so if taken literally, the request that God is making of Abraham is done with respect, almost as if the Lord understand how hard such a request is for His prophet. The text goes on to discuss how the Lord wishes Abraham to offer Isacc as an "ohla". There are many different sacrifices offered in the Bible but an "ohla" is special because it is known as the sacrifice used to commune with God. It is formally known as the offering of peace.

I think at times we all feel like Abraham must have felt. Overwhelmed, like God is asking too much and not blessing us enough. Or, that He is taking blessings from us that we feel He promised us. There will be hard times in this life my dear readers. Times where we feel like we cannot handle what the Lord is plading before us. Recall Paul's admonishment to the Corinthians: "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which ye are able" (1 Corinthians 10:13). The Lord will not give us any thing we cannot handle. He will not ask us to lift a cross that is too heavy for our shoulders to bear, nor give up any thing with out blessing ten fold for our sacrifice.

I love the story in the Book of Mormon of Alma and his people who are subject to the Lamenites. They are weighed down with the burdens of their enslavement but Alma records "The Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease" (Mosiah 24:15). At times the Lord does not remove the trial that we are going through or ease the affliction that we are under. Rather he gives us the strength to get through it. Whether its financial issues, the stresses of family, relationships, school, or work the Lord knows what we most need to glean all that He wants us to learn from that experience.

One of the greatest things that we need to remember is the importance of drawing closer to God in our trials, not further from Him. Decide now my dear reader, this moment, that instead of turning and walking away you will fall on your knees before Him and pray for the strength you feel you lack. Worry not for yourself for Christ said "He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". A beautiful verse in the Doctrine and Covenants reads "Fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever" (D&C 122:9). 

I invite you my dear readers to "consider the lilies of the field" and the "fowls of the air" are they not provided for by a loving and merciful God? As I have said before He knows you my dear reader. Be not afraid of the  tumultuous storms of this life. Recall the account Christ gives of the five sparrows sold for two farthings and "not one is forgotten before God" (Luke 12:6). The Master goes on to say "But even the very haris of your head are all numbered; fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:7). 

At times it may seem like we are forgotten. Like we are left to wander without any sense of direction or purpose. Other times we may feel like God is being unfair or punishing us for some thing that we've done. One of my favorite concepts comes from a General Conference talk entitled : Laborers in the Vineyard by Jeffery R. Holland. In it he says "Surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don't expect it and often feel they don't deserve it." God loves you. He loves you so much that he "gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." Just as he "clothes the lilies of the field" He will clothe you with the warmth of His mercy and wrap you in the arms of His love. Never cease to draw near unto Him. Remember the words of the Apostle James "Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you" (James 4:8). Seek Him. Know Him. Glorify Him. Count your blessings and may He always be with you, until you read again. 

"Come Unto Me" (Matthew 11:28)

I promise that the post on the priesthood is coming but I wanted to stray from that a little bit a share a post about  my faith’s stance on the atonement of Jesus Christ. As many may or may not know the official name of the LDS church is: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We revere Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, yet many still do not call us Christians. I hope that in my post I can prove to you and to all that Latter Day Saints are not only Christians but that we cling to Christ as is necessary to get through this life.

I have talked to many people of late who have felt discouraged and alone. To them I say with the invitation to find out for yourself, you are never alone. He is always there; even when we feel He is not. He never leaves us. As much as I enjoy the poem Footprints in the Sand (if you haven’t read it, google it, it is a beautiful poem) I do have one qualm about it and that is this. When the man in the poem goes through hard times the Lord says that He carries him. That’s all sweet and good but I sincerely believe that Christ never ceases to carry us. Even those that have turned their back on Him, he waits, ready with open arms for us to look to Him and return to His presence and His embrace of love and mercy.

The Book of Mormon testifies of the love of our redeemer. In Helaman 5:12 the prophet Helaman admonishes his sons before he dies “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 woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” It shall have no power over you. Whenever I read that verse I always envision the instance when Christ and his disciples are afloat on a sea that is angry and raging with a furious storm. Hesitantly the disciples wake the sleeping Master crying “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” At times I think we are like Christ’s disciples, crying in the midst of our anguish, loneliness, trials and afflictions “Master, carest thou not that I perish”

I know I have been there. I know what its like to not want to continue because you feel like there’s just no reason to. Yet the Savior offers to you the same words he spoke to the sea. “Peace, be still” I say unto you my readers, peace be still. For the God of all the world is your Father who loves you with a perfect love. Who believes in you even when you have ceased to believe in Him. When you feel you have sinned too much, when you feel you are welcome no where the Lord calls to you “Come unto me”. He offers us peace “not as the world giveth.” Come to know the man of sorrows, confide in Him who is acquainted with grief for He knows how to comfort you.  To the lonely, look to Him who was “despised and rejected of men”. The atonement encompasses all that have lived, do live, and will yet live upon this Earth and any other worlds that our all-powerful God has created. Yet at the same time he suffered for you. Only you. He felt your pains, your grief and your sorrows and he willingly took them upon himself that he would know how to best comfort you when you experienced them. At times we too may cry out as the Savior did “Father, Father, why hast thou forsaken me” but I am here to tell you that he never has and he never will.

He suffered beyond our comprehension. Christ himself tells us in the Doctrine and Covenants “which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit- and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink-“ (D&C 19:18). He knows my dear readers. He knows more than you could ever understand how you are feeling. His blood stained the ground for you. He has “engraven you upon the palms of [his] hands” (Isaiah 49:16). His mercy is extended to all. He loves all His children. One of my favorite passages from D&C reads “Therefore, fear not little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail” (D&C 6:34).

The storms will come my dear readers. They will come. But always remember that Christ has already weathered that storm. He has already felt the pelting rain of your guilt and withstood the mighty gales of your shame. Turn to him, know him, and find peace in He who knows you.

At a very hard time in my life I wrote the following poem. I think we can all relate to the lost and wandering sailor.

The storm it rages ‘round me                           

My ship is tossed about                                  

The wind it whips and howls                         

And I am filled with doubt                             

I know the fault is mine                                  

That I will meet my fate                                 

I crossed the line forbidden                            

And now it is too late                                     

I could not see the harm                                 

In sailing to its edge                                       

There were no chains that trapped me           

I saw no dangerous ledge                               

My confidence was blinding                          

My pride it made me deaf                              

To warnings all around me                             

Til there was nothing left                               

The water is like shackles                              

As it pulls me under                                       

My cries they are not heard                            

Above the clapping thunder                           

The waves they hold me fast                          

The wind becomes my tomb                          

I close my eyes and wait                                

Knowing it will be over soon                         

Then a voice doth call me                              

How does he know my name?                      

I know not who beckons                                

But he hails me just the same                         

He offers me his hand                                      

The scars are plain to see                                

It is my Savior and my Lord                             

Come to rescue me                                          

Yet I fear I cannot face Him                             

I have done to many things                             

That they could not be covered                       

By His healing wings                                          

He calls to me again                                          

He’s holding out his hands                                 

I can see his patient love  

Where on the waves he stands                          

Finally with a cry

I lunge for His embrace

But my spirit is too weak

And I remain in place

Then He is beside me

Shielding me from the wind

He tries to hide the pain

But I recognize my sin

I feel the bitter guilt

And fight back my tears

Watching His fist clench

As he battles through my fears

Finally the wind dies down

The waves they cease to be

The clouds begin to clear

And the sun it blindeth me

Again the hand is offered

And into His eyes I gaze

For I am standing at the side

Of He who calmed my waves

He weathered my life’s storms

And bowed beneath their gales

For God could not expect

Me to have perfect sails

My masts were tattered and broken

By the depths I was almost swallowed

The winds they overcame me

And in agony I wallowed

But He came with the dawn

New parts He did supply

From His perfect vessel

So only one must die

Now with my ship I sail

He is at the head

And towards eternal life

I am humbly led

From the course I will not stray

And God one day I’ll see

Standing in a Heavenly harbor

Ready to welcome me

He waits for you. He pleads for you. He calls to you. Pray to him my dear reader. He died for you so live for Him. May we all heed the admonishment that came from our beloved Savior. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Turn it over to Him who already knows and ye shall come to know the joy and peace that comes from being a disciple of the Master, the Redeemer of the world, and the Savior of us all.

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stries we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5)