July 23, 2010

Tonight I read Mosiah 18:8-11 which shares Alma's words to those who wanted to be baptized. According to this scripture, when we are baptized we should feel ready to come into God's fold, be called His people, bear one another's burdens, mourn with others, comfort others, and stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places. I don't know if really felt all those things at 8 years old, but I know I did feel a love for God. And since then those desires have all developed in me. Now, when I take the Sacrament, I do remember that I "have entered into a covenant with Him that [I] will serve Him and keep His commandments." And His promise to me is that He will pour out His Spirit more abundantly upon me. I find it interesting to note that the scripture says "more abundantly," which to me suggests that He does bless us with guidance from His Spirit even before we do our part of serving Him and keeping His commandments. But we are blessed with it even more through our faithful obedience. I love the power and influence of the Spirit and every day I pray for that guidance and I do my part to be worthy to receive it.