The Right Way is to Believe in Christ

I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony today of our Savior Jesus Christ, His mission, His ministry, and His gospel… and the hope that it brings each one of us. 

Twenty years ago, this very day, was my first full day in the mission field.  I was on the other side of the world and excited to learn and to share.  I was humbled, and overwhelmed, and felt inadequate, but I was full of faith in Him and grateful for the message of joy and hope we were sharing.  Of the places I've visited and people I've met in my life since then, Korea and Koreans still hold a special place in my heart. ;)

One thing I heard a number of times as a missionary, and something I'm sure many of you have heard in other places and situations in your life (and maybe increasingly so today), is the idea that... all roads lead to the top of the mountain... it doesn't really matter which one you take or what you believe.  As someone who enjoys hiking, I don't mind a new trail every now and then, but today I'd like to share with you my firm testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ who truly is "THE way, the truth, and the life."[i]

As I was turning the page in the Come, Follow Me manual last week (after having studied Moroni 1-6), I noticed that the title of the lesson for those chapters was… "to keep them in the right way."  I hadn't focused on that phrase in my study, but it caught my attention because I had just read 2 Nephi 25:28-29, which says:  "... the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.  And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul."[ii]

This was also an important part of Moroni's message: "I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ... None were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.... their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way..."[iii]

There are many things we think about and strive to do, even as disciples of Christ, but these verses helped remind me of the simple, plain, straight, and narrow way.  As we believe in Christ and deny Him not, we are "in the right way."  He will be the author and finisher of our faith.  As we press forward, steadfastly focused on Him, we can have eternal life.  I'm grateful to know that path, that trail, the right way... even Jesus Christ. 

So, what does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ and to deny Him not?  What does it mean to take His name upon us and serve him with determination to the end?  I think for each one of us there may be a slightly different answer in any given moment... something the Spirit teaches us to focus on... but, in general, I think believing in Christ includes…  

·         learning of Him (who He is, what He does, why He does it), 

·         striving to hear His words and the voice of the prophets,

·         seeking and following the Spirit’s direction,

·         keeping His commandments,

·         remembering Him always,

·         making and keeping covenants,

·         having a broken heart and a contrite spirit,

·         humbly striving to know and do His will,

·         looking for His hand, His handiwork, and His miracles all around us,

·         acknowledging His blessings, His grace, His mercy, His justice,

·         desiring to follow Him,

·         repenting,

·         coming to Him with our concerns,

·         trusting Him and relying on Him,

·         courageously standing as a witness of Him and His goodness,

·         not losing hope in His promises to us,

·         avoiding distractions and keeping Him the focus and most important priority in our lives,

·         rejoicing in Him,

·         sharing our hope in Him with others,

·         looking for ways to love and minister,

·         going about doing good,

·         working diligently,

·         remembering the great things He has done for us and those that have gone before,

·         praying always,

·         giving thanks in all things,

·         inviting others to come to Him,

·         and remaining steadfast in faith in Him.

President Nelson gave a talk at BYU in August 1998 titled "Gratitude for the Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ.”  In this talk he identifies our Savior’s two objectives as (1) His mission and (2) His ministry.  President Nelson teaches that Jesus’ mission was His Atonement.  He refers to 3 Nephi 27:13-14 as the Lord’s mission statement, when Jesus said: “I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me.”

I love that clarity!  Jesus' mission was the Atonement; it was why He came to earth.  Isaiah reminds us that “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”[iv]  Without Jesus fulfilling His mission there would be no hope for us.  But He did and there is hope!  He is hope! 

Prophets had this hope before Jesus was born.  I love King Benjamin’s testimony of the Savior’s mission.  In Mosiah 3, he shares with his people what an angel taught him.  The angel said: “I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy… For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases… And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning… And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; … And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.”[v]

The angel’s teachings not only testify of the Savior’s Atonement, but also Jesus’ second objective that President Nelson identifies as His ministry.  Beyond His mission of the Atonement, Jesus also offered an example of the importance of love, ordinances, prayer, knowledge, and enduring to the end.  After discussing each of these, President Nelson says this:  "Surely the best evidence of our adoration of Jesus is our emulation of him."[vi]  I love that!  Jesus Christ is the only way.  He also showed us the way.  The best way we can show our love for Him is by trying to follow Him and be like Him. 

I appreciated the #LighttheWorld invitation earlier this month to identify Christlike examples around us.  That invitation helped me pause to think about some of the attributes and characteristics of the Savior and then recognize where I see them in others.  It also made me think about what it means to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ heals, He is an advocate and mediator, He offers peace, He finds stillness, He creates beauty, He is obedient, He is humble, He is kind, He is steadfast and immovable, He is meek, He is merciful, He is just, He feeds the hungry, He visits the sick, He sits with one person, He listens, He teaches, He sees people and their needs, He helps others see, He gives His time, He has compassion, He blesses, He prays, He seeks to know and do His Father’s will, He calms, He forgives, He waits patiently, He cheers, He frees us, He fulfills, He calls, He softens hearts, He cares, He mourns with friends, He comforts, He strengthens, He eases burdens, He gathers people, He remembers, He loves, He touches, He walks with us, He comes, He invites us to come, He brings light, He leads, He delivers, and He lifts us up! 

These are also characteristics I observe in family members, friends, and others…  

·       I will never forget a sweet experience I had when visiting my brother’s family in New York City a few years ago.  We were on the subway and someone on our car was asking for money.  Most were ignoring this man’s pleas.  My sweet 4-year-old nephew happened to have a dime or a nickel in his hand and kept watching this man with real concern.  He didn’t say anything but turned to look at his mom a couple of times and after a few seconds of thinking about what to do, he walked across the car and handed this coin to this man.  Suddenly everyone seemed to be paying attention.  The spirit in that entire section of the car was lifted.  This man and everyone nearby couldn’t help but smile.  Obviously, this dime or nickel wasn’t going to save him, but someone seeing him seemed to bless all of us.

·       I also think of my sister and brother-in-law who show up when they know I need help—whether that’s spending a couple of hours putting together a treadmill or bringing their children by to brighten my day from the car windows. 

·       I think of my parents who share light with everyone on their path—whether that’s listening to me, being positive and kind to everyone they meet, or sharing with others.

·       I think of my aunt who had brain surgery earlier this year.  Things haven’t gone as smoothly as she’d hoped, but she continues forward rejoicing in the Lord and His goodness.

·       I think of friends who pray for each other and send uplifting and encouraging text messages.

·       I think of health care and other essential workers this year who have offered kindness and hope in difficult times.

I'm grateful for good examples.  I'm grateful for His example and goodness.  I hope we can each see people around us being like Jesus and maybe even share with them those Christlike attributes we observe.  Then, with His help, we can work to incorporate these attributes and characteristics in our lives, too.  Like Moroni invited us this week, we can “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with [His] love.”[vii]

In October 2017, Elder Christofferson taught, “As we partake of the sacramental bread and water… we would do well to consider how fully and completely we must incorporate His character and the pattern of His sinless life into our life and being… We cannot be content to remain as we are but must be moving constantly toward ‘the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.’”[viii]  And President Howard W. Hunter once taught, “The real Christmas comes to him who has taken Christ into his life as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force.”[ix]  

In the last general conference Elder Scott D. Whiting taught, “Becoming as Jesus Christ is will require changing our hearts and minds, indeed, our very character, and doing so is possible only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ… Christlike attributes are gifts from a loving Heavenly Father to bless us and those around us. Accordingly, our efforts to obtain these attributes will require heartfelt pleas for His divine assistance.”[x]

President Hunter gave some wonderful examples of becoming more like Jesus Christ, when he invited us in a 1994 Christmas message to… “Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.”[xi]

All of these are examples of believing in Christ and denying Him not, helping us to “stay in the right way.” 

I love the Book of Mormon and the powerful witness it provides that Jesus is the Christ!  During this uniquely challenging year, I have been so grateful to be studying it more deeply.  Its teachings of Jesus Christ and His mission and His ministry have provided peace and direction and an increase of the Spirit in my life. 

I’d like to close today with the beautiful story of Christmas as told in 3 Nephi 1.  Here we find powerful examples of people who, like Moroni, would not deny the Christ.  They were watching for the sign of Jesus’ birth here on the American continent: “Behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night...  Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet. Now… when Nephi... saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful. And… he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith… And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.”[xii]

In April 2017, President Nelson taught, “True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world.  They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous… There is nothing easy or automatic about becoming such powerful disciples.  Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel.  It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought.  But, when we do, our doubts and fears flee.”[xiii]

I testify that Jesus Christ did come.  He was born in a humble place.  He came to do the Father’s will.  He came to save all of us.  He came to provide the way for us to return home to our Heavenly Father.  He came to set an example for us to follow.  We can find joy and peace as we diligently strive to follow Him, stand as witnesses of Him, and share the blessings of His gospel and our Heavenly Father’s plan with others.  He invites each one of us to come unto Him.  When we do, He promises to walk with us and show us the way.  I know He lives and loves us.  I know He is the way, the truth, and the life and that every good thing comes from Him, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

---

[i] John 14:6.

[ii] 2 Nephi 25:28-29.

[iii] Moroni 1:4, 6:3-4.

[iv] Isaiah 53:6.

[v] Mosiah 3:2-17.

[vi] Russell M. Nelson, “Gratitude for the Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ,” BYU Devotional, Aug. 18, 1998.

[vii] Moroni 7:48.

[viii] D. Todd Christofferson, “The Living Bread Which Came Down from Heaven,” General Conference, Oct. 2017.

[ix] Howard W. Hunter, “The Real Christmas,” BYU Devotional, Dec. 5, 1972.

[x] Scott D. Whiting, “Becoming like Him,” General Conference, Oct. 2020.

[xi] Howard W. Hunter, “The Gifts of Christmas,” First Presidency Christmas Devotional, Dec. 4, 1994.

[xii] 3 Nephi 1:8-13.

[xiii]  Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” General Conference, Apr. 2017.

Easter Thoughts

I love Easter and the hope and peace its message brings!

Joseph Smith taught, "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."

We learn from the Bible Dictionary, "One of the most fundamental doctrines taught by the Twelve was that Jesus was risen from the tomb, with His glorified, resurrected body, as in Acts 1:21–22; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33. To obtain a resurrection with a celestial, exalted body is the center point of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Resurrection of Jesus is the most glorious of all messages to mankind."

I love this and believe it!  This year I have had a few thoughts about Easter that have brought more peace and direction:

First and foremost, I love the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. Because He conquered death and sin He brings hope now and forever! We will be resurrected.  We will live again.  We can change. We can become like Him. That's why we're here on this earth. To learn of Him and walk in His ways. We need His help all along the way. He is there. We can walk with Him. I'm grateful for our Heavenly Father's love in sending Jesus to earth to live for us!

I had a thought about Mary Magdalene recently. Each of the gospel writers record the events of the Resurrection slightly differently, but we know that Mary was the first to see Him. What a special privilege. I started wondering what made that possible. Maybe He would have come to her first wherever she was, but I tend to think that she did some things that made her ready. She had come to the tomb with others and when they saw that it was empty the others left, but she stayed. Maybe she stayed because she was sad, maybe she wanted time alone to process and mourn, maybe she wanted to be close to Him or where he last was? Maybe? Maybe she felt like she should stay for some other reason? I don't know why she stayed, but I believe she was where she was supposed to be. She truly loved the Lord, that's all she could think about, she wanted to be with Him and so she was there when He came.  She was where she was supposed to be. And He came to her. Where should we be? Do we seek Him above everything else? Are we willing to wait? Are we open and vulnerable enough to express our love to Him? I was touched by a beautiful sign in the Mesa Arizona Temple that I visited for this first time this weekend. It was a simple, but powerful scripture from the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." I believe that's what the pure in heart would desire and work for and prepare for and focus on - above all else wanting to be with Him. 

I love the temples and feel like they are one of the greatest symbols of our Heavenly Father's love and  our Savior's triumph over the tomb. We visit temples to make covenants with God and to do work for our ancestors who died without the chance to make their own covenants.  In 1918, President Joseph Fielding Smith received a beautiful vision and understanding of the Spirit World (recorded in D&C 138) and how, during the time between His death and resurrection, the Savior organized His faithful followers in the Spirit World to preach the gospel and that leaves a lot of temple work for us to do.  This weekend I had the chance to spend a lot of time in the temple and I'm grateful for the peace and purpose and hope and direction I find there personally and for the promised blessings to each of our Heavenly Father's children offered there.  

"He is risen. Tell is out with joyful voice."  

"He lives, my one sure rock of faith, The one bright hope of men on earth"  

"What praises can we offer To thank thee, Lord most high?"  

"I believe in Christ; he is my King! With all my heart to him I'll sing;"

"He lives! All glory to His name!"  

"Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!"  

Good News #PrinceofPeace

There is a lot of news and information available today, so we have to choose what we'll listen to and believer and take in.  I think it's important to look for the good and not to get distracted or overwhelmed.  I'm grateful for the reminder that lasting and eternal peace comes from the Prince of Peace, our Savior, Jesus Christ!



A few other thoughts of peace and the Prince of Peace:

• John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
• D&C 19:23-24: "Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me. I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will."
• See also Alma 36:14-21 where Alma the Younger finds the joy and peace of Christ!
• Elder M. Russell Ballard taught, "Peace—real peace, whole-souled to the very core of your being—comes only in and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When that precious truth is discovered and gospel principles are understood and applied, great peace can distill in the hearts and souls of our Heavenly Father’s children. Said the Savior through Joseph Smith, “He who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23)."
• Elder Franklin D. Richards taught, "Jesus Christ is called the Prince of Peace (see Isa. 9:6), and his message is a message of peace to the individual and to the world. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan of life that will restore peace to the world, remove inner tensions and troubles, and bring happiness to the human soul. It is the greatest philosophy of life ever given to man. A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to establish this peace and happiness in the hearts and homes of the people."

This Weekend

This weekend was full of goodness!

It began with a nice walk in the spring afternoon, followed by Rob Gardner's "The Lamb of God" performed in Sandy.  Wonderful!  I love this music and message and the peace and focus it brings!

Then a trip up the mountain brought more peace and joy and sunshine to my soul!  (A little more sunshine that I had planned on -- my face was showing it for the rest of the evening.)  ;)  I'm so grateful for the beautiful world all around me and nearby.  I love the mountains.  I'm grateful for the ability to walk and go and see these places and find the peace and beauty that our Heavenly Father has prepared for us.

Then stake conference on Saturday evening was really wonderful. The prophet Joseph Smith taught, "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."  The whole message on Saturday night was of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  Speakers talked about the Last Supper, Gethsemane, the Trial and Crucifixion, and the Resurrection and we watched some of these wonderful videos....







I was so grateful for the reminder and focus on Him.  That's what it's all about!  He makes us whole.  I'm grateful for the life and love of our Savior, and our Heavenly Father and His plan.  I want to know Them both better.  I know that's one of the greatest purposes of our life.

After the Saturday evening meeting we had an ice cream social at our bishop's home.  It was very nice to have a chance to spend time with good people.

The Sunday meeting was good as well and then I had time for a Sunday nap!  :)  I attended an evening fireside.  For me, the most important part of that was a little bit of time to sit and think and write out a few thoughts and prayers and ponderings...much related to this message from today's Music and the Spoken Word - Designing a life.  

Bubbles

I really like this article!  There are lots of good things to think about....

1. TRAVEL.  See the world.  Get outside your bubble.  Go places.  Experience life and people and things that are different than you.  That's a great thing and we should do it whether near or far.  We should learn about others and be open and also share about ourselves in the process.

2. BE YOU.  We can't let the world change us.  Before and as we go and after we return we need to truly know and remember who we are and be that.  Obviously we learn and grow as we go, and must be humble, but we should be firm in our core beliefs and identity and not let the world determine that for us or make us afraid to share who we truly are.

I think that too often when we think of bubbles or sharing the gospel it sounds self-righteous.  It shouldn't be.  A humble learner and traveler will learn and share freely out of love and care and desire to learn and grow.  (I heard a neat thing this week.  Meekness is recognizing that others need you.  Humility is recognizing that you need others.)

While we humbly learn and share we need to not be distracted!  The world is loud and persuasive, so we need to be sure to stay focused on the most important thing - building Zion, truly becoming a disciple of Christ, making Christ the center of our lives.

I really like these two quotes from the article:

Joseph Smith said, “We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. … The time is soon coming, when no man will have any peace but in Zion and her stakes” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,  160–61).

We need to be Zion people – A Zion Person. Pure in heart, and of one heart and mind. How do we do this? Be clean, and follow the Savior and His prophets: “We will become of one heart and one mind as we individually place the Savior at the center of our lives and follow those He has commissioned to lead us.” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson)

While reading this article I thought of salt and leaven.  Here are a couple of really good related references:

Salt and Light by Matthew Richardson

• Elder Ballard teaches that "we should not try to take ourselves or our children out of the world.  The Lord does not need a society that hides and isolates itself from the world. Rather, he needs stalwart individuals and families who live exemplary lives in the world and demonstrate that joy and fulfillment that come not of the world but through the spirit and doctrine of Jesus Christ."

Matthew 5:13

• Salt preserves and saves.
• We can't lose our savor or we're good for nothing!  ;)

We can't hide ourselves (like a bubble implies), but we must preserve the purity of our salt and light and leaven and create our 'bubble' so that it makes a difference in the world and grows in influence (like the original article says.... start with ourselves, families, then communities, etc.).  I think the world discounts bubbles.  I think that those who are interested in creating a haven of peace and goodness in their lives and homes and families are sometimes judged unfairly and seen as self-righteousness or selfish.  Those who choose to focus on and build and share the good should be valued and be able to share.

I'm reading Evicted right now.  I don't recommend it, but it's eye-opening in some ways showing the cycle of the hard, sad life when there's no leaven, or haven, or peace.  In some ways I believe these articles and thoughts are what comes after peace - peace and Zion means striving for oneness with God.  That's what we work for and share.️

Rest

I walked into church today looking for REST!  Physically I was tired, probably emotionally and spiritually, too.  I was grateful to be there and knew there would be chances for uplift, but I was kind of hoping it could be one of those 'sit quietly in the back and just feel good' kind of days.  I was hoping I wouldn't have to participate much and wanted to hear, "You're doing great.  Thanks!"  Haha!  How's that for a Sunday attitude!?  ;)  I was prepared.  I had read some of the lessons and was very glad to be there, but wasn't feeling particularly enthusiastic.

It's not too far off to think that, though, right?  After all, we have this invitation from the Savior in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  He invites us to come to Him and find rest.  I've felt that rest and joy and peace before and I do think it's a reason we go to church, but for whatever reason, and probably for very good reason, every song and lesson was more of a call to action today:

Let Us All Press On
Let us all press on in the work of the Lord,
That when life is o'er we may gain a reward;
In the fight for right let us wield a sword,
The mighty sword of truth.
Fear not, courage, though the enemy deride;
We must be victorious, for the Lord is on our side.
We'll not fear the wicked nor give heed to what they say,
But the Lord, our Heav'nly Father, him alone we will obey.
We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few
When compared with the opposite host in view;
But an unseen pow'r will aid me and you
In the glorious cause of truth.If we do what's right we have no need to fear,
For the Lord, our helper, will ever be near;
In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer,
And prosper the cause of truth.

Hope of Israel
Hope of Israel, Zion's army, Children of the promised day,
See, the Chieftain signals onward, And the battle's in array!
Hope of Israel, rise in might With the sword of truth and right;
Sound the war-cry, "Watch and pray!" Vanquish ev'ry foe today.
See the foe in countless numbers, Marshaled in the ranks of sin.
Hope of Israel, on to battle; Now the vict'ry we must win!
Strike for Zion, down with error; Flash the sword above the foe!
Ev'ry stroke disarms a foeman; Ev'ry step we conq'ring go.
Soon the battle will be over; Ev'ry foe of truth be down.
Onward, onward, youth of Zion; Thy reward the victor's crown.

As Zion's Youth in Latter-days
As Zion's youth in latter days, We stand with valiant heart,
With promise shining in our eyes, Resolved to do our part.
Upon a noble past we build; The future fills our view.
We face the challenge of our day And pledge we will be true.
The truths and values we embrace Are mocked on ev'ry hand.
Yet as we listen and obey We know we can withstand
The evils that would weaken us, The sin that would destroy.
With faith, we hold the iron rod And find in this our joy.
Thru test and trial we'll have our fears, But we will not despair.
We're here to serve a righteous cause; Truth gives us strength to dare.
We'll love, and learn, and overcome; We'll sing a joyful song,
As Zion's youth in latter days, Triumphant, pure, and strong

The Restoration of the Priesthood

A Witness of God by Elder Neil L. Andersen

I sang loudly, I made comments in each of my classes, I participated, I talked to people along the way, I was filled, I found some rest, but mostly I was motivated to not stop, to keep going.  We need to go on.  There is important, urgent work we need to do.  We have been blessed with great truths and blessings and responsibilities and we are asked to share.  Others need us and we need them and the chance to learn and grow by forgetting ourselves and serving.  We shouldn't run faster than we have strength, but we should keep going.

Two other scriptures come to mind:

• Doctrine and Covenants 128:22, "Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing."

• Helaman 10:4-5, "Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.  And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever."

A couple of other thoughts about rest:

• Repentance brings rest (see Alma 12:34).
• We should labor diligently that others may find rest in Christ (see Jacob 1:7).

I'm grateful for these reminders and the help that He gives us when we desire rest and when we desire to serve Him.  He will give us the strength we need. 

Sunday Thoughts

Today I was inspired by a lot of GOOD!  I don't even know where to begin.... so I'll just jump in:

I'm looking forward to studying Church History this year in Sunday School and have decided to study a little bit more about Joseph Smith.  I was inspired by my reading before church this morning.

There was more goodness and light in sacrament meeting.  I'm grateful for the sacrament and testimonies.  I know the Savior's Atonement is what heals.... everything ....it's the answer to all the problems!  Also, there are so many good people in the world, with a lot of good to share.  I think it would be a blessing if we had a chance to truly know each others' hearts.  We are each blessed with experiences that teach us and help us grow.  We can share and strengthen each other in the most important things.  It's best if we're patient and don't judge and see the good and share our own.

Today's Sunday School lesson - Behold, I Am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World - was wonderful!  I loved studying verses from the Doctrine and Covenants that teach us more about Jesus Christ and His attributes.  I also loved this quote by President Boyd K. Packer: “[The Atonement of Jesus Christ] is the very root of Christian doctrine. You may know much about the gospel as it branches out from there, but if you only know the branches and those branches do not touch that root, if they have been cut free from that truth, there will be no life nor substance nor redemption in them.”  We must have Jesus Christ and His Atonement as the center of our lives for our lives to have life and substance!  I love that and know it's true!  He gives life and meaning and purpose.  What a wonderful thing to be thinking about as we set goals for a new year!  AND...the second we treasure up His words and diligently and faithfully keep the commandments we are encircled in the arms of His love (see D&C 6:20)!  Also, fear not, doubt not, do good (see D&C 6:33-36)!!!

President and Sister Nelson's talks at the worldwide devotional were very nice!  A couple of my takeaways:

• Be pure!  Avoid anything that offends the Spirit!  Generate more love.  As Parley P. Pratt said, “The gift of the Holy Ghost...quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form, and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.”
• Help prepare the world for the millennial reign of the Savior by sharing the gospel!  Study the words of the prophets and of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  Know Him!  Remember that what God says is right is right and what He says is wrong is wrong.  Understand and obey divine law!  We can learn God's laws by study and faith and by living by every word that comes from God (see D&C 84:44-45)!  We can increase our discipleship by consecrating time each week to studying everything Jesus said and did....in the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants.  As we learn all we can about Jesus Christ our love for Him and His laws will grow.  We can study the topical guide and everything that He is.  We can seek to understand each of His titles and what they mean.  We can study the words of the prophets and pray for a witness of the truth.  We should learn to articulate these truths in our own words, practice, pray, and speak about what we believe.  His identify, Atonement, and attributes can become real to us and we choose to be one of His true disciples NOW!  We should love Him, serve Him, do what He did.

Finally, I'm reminded of a question that my brother-in-law asked his family last week, "When did you feel the Spirit today?"  I love that question and want to ask it more consistently in my life!  My answer today:
* When I was watching a video of the First Vision.
* When I was listening to President Hinckley's testimony.
* When I was listening to President Nelson's blessing at the end of his talk tonight.

Prayer

I have been thinking a lot lately about prayer and fasting.  I'm grateful for its power and the reminder today by our bishop to learn to pray effectively and fervently.  He told us to:

• Live righteously and don't block the connection to the Spirit in our lives with distractions.
• Pray morning, noon, and night.  Plan, make it a priority, have it be a continuous conversation.
• Pray simply and with gratitude and testimony.
• Ponder carefully what to pray for, prepare ahead of time, organize your thoughts, seek His will.  President Eyring taught: "I have had prayers answered. Those answers were most clear when what I wanted was silenced by an overpowering need to know what God wanted. It is then that the answer from a loving Heavenly Father can be spoken to the mind by the still, small voice and can be written on the heart."
• Pray boldly, out loud, fervently, wrestle, cry unto Him, ASK!  If we want specific answers we need to prepare and ask specific questions.
• Answers come in different ways - sometimes immediately as we ask, sometimes as we fast and pray for a long time, and sometimes the answer is no.  Sometimes the Lord expects us to make our own decision.  We should use the scriptures and our agency.
• Prayer brings us to our Heavenly Father.  What a wonderful blessing to be able to speak to Him!

Here are a few other talks I've enjoyed about prayer:

• Priesthood and Personal Prayer - Henry B. Eyring, April 2015
• Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority - Richard G. Scott, October 2014
• Where Is Thy Pavilion? - Henry B. Eyring, October 2012
• The Spirit of Revelation - David A. Bednar, April 2011
• Prayer and Promptings - Boyd K. Packer, October 2009 
• To Acquire Spiritual Guidance - Richard G. Scott, October 2009
• Lessons from the Lord’s Prayers - Russell M. Nelson, April 2009
• Pray Always - David A. Bednar, October 2008
• Ask in Faith - David A. Bednar, April 2008
• Personal Revelation:The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets - Robert D. Hales, October 2007
• Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer - Richard G. Scott, April 2007
• Sweet Power of Prayer - Russell M. Nelson, April 2003
• The Lifeline of Prayer - James E. Faust, April 2002
• Prayer - Henry B. Eyring, October 2001
• “Write Upon My Heart” - Henry B. Eyring, October 2000
• “Look to God and Live” - Jeffrey R. Holland, October 1993
• The Language of Prayer - Dallin H. Oaks, April 1993
• The Power of Prayer - Thomas S. Monson, April 1991
• Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayers - Richard G. Scott, October 1989
• Patterns of Prayer - Bruce R. McConkie, April 1984
• "Our Father Which Art in Heaven" - L. Tom Perry, October 1983
• The Power of Family Prayer - John H. Groberg, April 1982
• Prayers and Answers - Boyd K. Packer, October 1979
• “We Need a Listening Ear” - Spencer W. Kimball, October 1979
• The Prayer of Faith - Thomas S. Monson, April 1978
• “Hallowed Be Thy Name” - Howard W. Hunter, October 1977
• Prayer - Ezra Taft Benson, April 1977
• The Importance of Prayer - N. Eldon Tanner, April 1974
• The Importance of Prayer - Franklin D. Richards, April 1972