Anyway, today I really need the power of the word of God to work in me. I need His strength. I don't feel worthy of it. I'm going to begin my study today in the most recent conference report by reading the scriptures listed in the back that are listed as the most often referred to scriptures this conference.
The first is Joshua 1:9 which says, "Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." A footnote to this verse is D&C 38:7 which says, "Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me." It is a comfort to me to know that He is watching me and is with me always. It does help me to be strong and courageous when I remember that He is there with me always.
The next scripture is John 14:6 which says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." This is a foundational doctrine that I want to always keep in my remembrance.
Next is John 14:27 which says, "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." I remember when I was around 12 years old, I wanted to make a special scripture sampler: something that was profound and powerful. I searched and searched the scriptures and this was the one I chose. Although I never made the sampler, I have always remembered this scripture with fondness. I find great comfort in the peace of the Lord.
The next scripture is John 19:30 which says, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." I am grateful that Jesus finished His work.
The next scripture is Galations 5:22 which says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." I am grateful to know of these fruits so I can constantly evaluate my feelings and see if I truly am partaking of the fruit of the Spirit.
Next is 2 Nephi 2:11, "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility." This is the symbol I see in my mind when I read that verse:
There is perfect balance and wholeness with opposition, which is an interesting principle. I wonder how the "opposition": wickedness, misery, bad, death, corruption and insensibility will hold a place during the Millennium? If we need these things to be able to have righteousness, happiness, good, life, incorruption and sensibility, all of which will exist in the Millennium, then where will the opposition come from? What will give us the proper balance?
The next scripture is Mosiah 18:9, "Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life." If this is the desire of our heart, we are ready to be baptized to show the Lord that we covenant to serve Him and keep His commandments. His promise to us is to pour out His Spirit abundantly upon us. This is the desire of my heart, so I know that I made the right decision for me to be baptized.
The next scripture is Helaman 5:12, "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 wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." I love this scripture. It is definitely one of my favorites. I love the imagery it brings to my mind about the power, in the midst of the storm, that comes from building on the foundation of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to know that by being built on that foundation, I cannot fall.
The next scripture is D&C 13:1, "Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of the Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." I am grateful for the restoration of the Priesthood of God on earth. I believe these keys are given to worthy Priesthood holders today.
Next is D&C 19:16, "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent." This is such an amazing and humbling gift and I am grateful for it.
Next is D&C 25:13, "Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made." Wow, I really love that phrase: cleave unto the the covenants which thou hast made. I have come to realize over the years the importance of this and it has become one of my prime motivations for choosing to continue my belief in the Church and my desire to keep being LDS. I have made covenants and I will keep them.
The last most referred to scripture was Moses 1:39, of course, which reads: "For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." This is another of my favorite scriptures because it reminds me of the whole purpose of the Lord's plan. It is the why.
This has been an enjoyable study session and I want to work on memorizing each of these scriptures.
The next scripture is Mosiah 18:9, "Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life." If this is the desire of our heart, we are ready to be baptized to show the Lord that we covenant to serve Him and keep His commandments. His promise to us is to pour out His Spirit abundantly upon us. This is the desire of my heart, so I know that I made the right decision for me to be baptized.
The next scripture is Helaman 5:12, "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 wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." I love this scripture. It is definitely one of my favorites. I love the imagery it brings to my mind about the power, in the midst of the storm, that comes from building on the foundation of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to know that by being built on that foundation, I cannot fall.
The next scripture is D&C 13:1, "Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of the Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." I am grateful for the restoration of the Priesthood of God on earth. I believe these keys are given to worthy Priesthood holders today.
Next is D&C 19:16, "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent." This is such an amazing and humbling gift and I am grateful for it.
Next is D&C 25:13, "Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made." Wow, I really love that phrase: cleave unto the the covenants which thou hast made. I have come to realize over the years the importance of this and it has become one of my prime motivations for choosing to continue my belief in the Church and my desire to keep being LDS. I have made covenants and I will keep them.
The last most referred to scripture was Moses 1:39, of course, which reads: "For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." This is another of my favorite scriptures because it reminds me of the whole purpose of the Lord's plan. It is the why.
This has been an enjoyable study session and I want to work on memorizing each of these scriptures.
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