"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Today Sister Susan Easton Black spoke at the Brigham Young University-Idaho Devotional. She taught about the last week of Christ's mortal life. She told of the symbolic events that fulfilled prophecies and brought about the gospel declared in the pre-mortal councils of heaven.
I am so glad that I know of the mission and life of Jesus Christ and its significance. This life is one of eternal value, our potential goes far beyond the graves of this earth. We are to become as Jesus Christ is. We are to return to the presence of our God and Father having gained experience and been cleansed by Christ, our Savior.
We are to prepare for eternity in this life that we can only know as finite. If the thought has never crossed your mind that this life is only a small time away from celestial worlds and from God, please take time to think about it. If you have never wondered why things are the way they are or if there is any purpose to our existence, try to imagine a Father of godly glory who loves you. If you can picture Him, imagine that you can talk to Him. What would you say? What questions would you have? Do you believe that He would answer if you spoke to Him?
I know that He lives. I am His daughter and my potential is that of divinity. I speak with Him and know that He hears me. He has answered me, guided me, counseled me. I love Him.
24 March 2010
08 March 2010
Friendship
Last night there was a CES Fireside given by Elder Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy. He talked about mentors and friendship. There are those people who come into our lives for moments, those who remain an active part, and those whom we always feel a part of no matter how often they come in and out of contact with us.
I was very moved by his comments as I have found myself in much reflection on this very subject. Good friends have helped me become who I am. I constantly marvel at the goodness that makes up their lives. Their quiet example has often invited me to search within myself: what is my focus? I can answer Jesus Christ, but I often have to ask how I can bring Him into a much clearer focus.
Many resources are available for this purpose. Romans 15:4 says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Hope in what? Jesus Christ. The scriptures are one way for us to learn more about Him, a way to help us see Him better, understand Him better, and in the end know Him completely.
Another source is the examples of parents, mentors, and good friends. I am very blessed by them every day.
I was very moved by his comments as I have found myself in much reflection on this very subject. Good friends have helped me become who I am. I constantly marvel at the goodness that makes up their lives. Their quiet example has often invited me to search within myself: what is my focus? I can answer Jesus Christ, but I often have to ask how I can bring Him into a much clearer focus.
Many resources are available for this purpose. Romans 15:4 says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Hope in what? Jesus Christ. The scriptures are one way for us to learn more about Him, a way to help us see Him better, understand Him better, and in the end know Him completely.
Another source is the examples of parents, mentors, and good friends. I am very blessed by them every day.
02 March 2010
Bridle Your Passions
Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the First Quorum of the Seventy, and his wife, spoke at the BYU-Idaho devotional today. Their message was concerning passion, how does it fit within the gospel. He said that passion is good, a godly attribute. Passions are not to be distinguished, they are to be fulfilled. Heavenly Father wants to show us how to do that. We cannot ignore them, nor can we give them full control, we must master them.
They talked about the added spirit and power that comes when a horse is broken correctly. It is not breaking the spirit of the animal, it is teaching it to have added control. This comes from time spent with the master, the trainer, from coming to recognize his voice, and intentions.
Likewise, our passions, when refined by time spent with our Master, can be an avenue to deeper understanding of eternal truths. Alma 38:12 says, "Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness."
I know that learning to control my passions has brought added joy to my life. I am still learning to fully rely on the Lord to teach me proper use of emotions and desires. He is truly meek, He has truly mastered His passions and will show us how to do the same.
They talked about the added spirit and power that comes when a horse is broken correctly. It is not breaking the spirit of the animal, it is teaching it to have added control. This comes from time spent with the master, the trainer, from coming to recognize his voice, and intentions.
Likewise, our passions, when refined by time spent with our Master, can be an avenue to deeper understanding of eternal truths. Alma 38:12 says, "Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness."
I know that learning to control my passions has brought added joy to my life. I am still learning to fully rely on the Lord to teach me proper use of emotions and desires. He is truly meek, He has truly mastered His passions and will show us how to do the same.
01 March 2010
Applicable Truths
Doctrine and Covenants 88:78-80
"Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms- That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you."
I recently did a group project for which we presented a modern dance class. Our topic of choice was Fall and Recovery, a philosophy of Doris Humphrey. Part of our assignment was to relate this topic to various other aspects of life. We chose the gospel of Jesus Christ, mental health, and physics.
I researched physics, which I have never formally studied. I am amazed at the correlations I discovered. As I studied gravitational potential energy, I found symbols of the constant pull of adversity in this life. Until we learn to change the velocity of our descent, we often receive pains and bruises, putting our bodies at risk for injury each time we 'crash' into the floor. This is much like sin and negativity.
A change in velocity implies a change in the rate of motion and in direction. In the Bible Dictionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, repentance is described as "a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world."
On this earth, I will never be able to separate myself from the constancy of gravity, however, I can definitely learn to avoid the painful impact that comes from lack of control. Without knowing how to soften to the floor or how to slow the rate of descent, I would only continue to hurt and destroy my body. The same is true about the gospel of Jesus Christ, without knowing Him, truly understanding His power to change me, I would only continue in sin, destroying my soul. The adversary will never stop pushing for me to fall, but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can change and learn to avoid the detrimental effects of sin.
I believe that we are to learn as much as possible about the world around us because it can teach us truth about God and our divine purposes here on earth.
"Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms- That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you."
I recently did a group project for which we presented a modern dance class. Our topic of choice was Fall and Recovery, a philosophy of Doris Humphrey. Part of our assignment was to relate this topic to various other aspects of life. We chose the gospel of Jesus Christ, mental health, and physics.
I researched physics, which I have never formally studied. I am amazed at the correlations I discovered. As I studied gravitational potential energy, I found symbols of the constant pull of adversity in this life. Until we learn to change the velocity of our descent, we often receive pains and bruises, putting our bodies at risk for injury each time we 'crash' into the floor. This is much like sin and negativity.
A change in velocity implies a change in the rate of motion and in direction. In the Bible Dictionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, repentance is described as "a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world."
On this earth, I will never be able to separate myself from the constancy of gravity, however, I can definitely learn to avoid the painful impact that comes from lack of control. Without knowing how to soften to the floor or how to slow the rate of descent, I would only continue to hurt and destroy my body. The same is true about the gospel of Jesus Christ, without knowing Him, truly understanding His power to change me, I would only continue in sin, destroying my soul. The adversary will never stop pushing for me to fall, but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can change and learn to avoid the detrimental effects of sin.
I believe that we are to learn as much as possible about the world around us because it can teach us truth about God and our divine purposes here on earth.
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