January 3, 2011

Tonight I used the New Testament study guide, lesson 1. In John 1:1-13, it teaches that Jesus Christ is the word of God and that it was through Him that everything was created. He was and always has been completely obedient to every word spoken by God. I think His name/title of The Word is completely appropriate due to His perfect obedience in carrying out God's will. In verse 9 it says Christ is the light which "lighteth every man that cometh into the world." The Savior has given me life because of His gift of the resurrection and the Atonement. Because of the resurrection I have the hope of an immortal life. And because of the gift of the Atonement, the possibility of eternal life, or life with God, is a reality for me. He has shown me the way to go so I can obtain this eternal life. The hope that is a part of my life because of the resurrection and Atonement give meaning to my mortal day to day life. He has given me light as well through His example. It is a shining light to me of how to act, how to be obedient, submissive to the will of God and humble, and how to love and serve others. Following His light enriches my life immensely for how it helps me to strengthen relationships with the people I love and how it teaches me to be the best person I am capable of being. I am so thankful for the light and life of Jesus Christ, my Savior.

November 9, 2010

I read in D&C 132:24-25. It's interesting in verse 24, that it says, "this is eternal lives - to know the only wise, and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent." I've always thought that means that with eternal life one has the capability to have spirit children, creating new "lives." But perhaps it is plural because it's talking about a plural amount of people attaining eternal life. Because in the next verse it says, "broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths;" which is also plural. I guess "the deaths" could be referring to more than one type of spiritual death, father than referring to "the deaths" of a plural amount of people. As I wrote that, I almost stopped, thinking it silly that there could be more than one type of spiritual death, but I glanced over at the footnotes and sure enough, it says to look under the topical guide for "spiritual death, first & second death, second." I guess I never realized there are two kinds of spiritual deaths. Now I'm curious. Okay, from reading over the topical guide, it appears to me that the first spiritual death refers to being cut off from the presence of the Lord's spirit as a result of sin. The second spiritual death refers to the "everlasting death" of perdition, which there is no redemption from.

November 4, 2010

Tonight I read another Conference talk called Temple Mirrors of Eternity by Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Seventy. I love the imagery he used as he talked of looking in the reflecting mirrors of the temple and seeing our eternal reflection. I love how he compared it to our place in the generations of our family. By looking one direction I can see being a daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter and so on. And looking the other way I can see being a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and so on. I am so grateful for my eternal family. My favorite quote from this talk is "mortality's great lessons distill upon our souls as we learn and teach in eternal roles, including child and parent, parent and child." I really have learned so many eternal lessons through my experiences and role as a daughter. And now, as a mother, I am just beginning to teach in that eternal role and it is truly an honor. Even teaching, I am still learning so much. I love my eternal roles as mother and daughter and am so grateful for the blessing of an eternal family, knowing I will participate in those roles forever.

October 28, 2010

Tonight I opened my scriptures up to D& C 63 and verse 47 seemed to jump out to me. It is short and says: "He that is faithful and endureth shall overcome the world." I find great comfort in that. I look forward to the blessings of eternal life and the joy that will be mine by living a life of faith. I enjoy living faithfully. I find great peace in doing so. I read the footnote verse to Ether 4:19 which says in part that the faithful "shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world." I love that phrase and what it teaches me. It emphasizes the careful, loving nature of God. He truly has planned and prepared so much for me, and has provided a way for me to enjoy what He has prepared to give me if I qualify for those blessings.

October 26, 2010

I read Alma 41 and loved how Alma elaborated on the principle of restoration. I will be raised to happiness if my works have been righteous. Basically the principle of restoration is that we receive what we are. A corrupt being cannot be "restored" to eternal life. We must be changed through the Atonement of Christ, through repentance and coming unto him, and we can become clean and then be restored to eternal life.

October 20, 2010

Tonight I read a few verses in D&C 11:5-14. I really liked verse 7 that talks about seeking for wisdom rather than riches, and that riches will be granted eventually, with the greatest "richness" being the gift of eternal life. I definitely prefer that blessing above worldly wealth and if it takes a lifetime of seeking God and his righteousness instead of seeking earthly riches, it would be worth it to me.

I also was struck by verse 10 which teaches how to obtain a gift of the Spirit. First is to desire in faith, have an honest heart and then to believe in the power of Jesus Christ, then that gift will be granted. And verse 12 especially stood out to me. It says to "put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good - yea to do justly, to walk humbly; and to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit." I found a lot of comfort in that verse because I really do feel led by that Spirit and it is comforting to know that the Spirit leads me to make choices that are just, humble, and to judge righteously. With so much confusion and distraction in the world sometimes I worry about how I can know what the right thing to do is. This verse offered me comfort by encouraging me to just trust in that Spirit that I already feel led by. I know He will help me make the right choices.

September 2, 2010

Tonight I read D&C 27:15-18, a couple of verses talking about wearing the whole armor of God. I really love the symbolism of it all. "Have your loins girt about with truth" to me, means to have an understanding of my purpose, my role as a woman in the Lord's plan and to remember all of the wonderful teachings of truth enveloped in that plan. It is through our loins that we work together with God to carry out His purposes. "Breastplate of righteousness:" The breastplate protects the heart, and I believe that righteous living also protects my heart. It keep it open to the Spirit. "Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace:" Our feet are our mode of transportation wherever we go. Wherever I go, I will be protected by the gospel of peace and I should also be sharing that with the people I encounter along the way. "Shield of faith" which protects us from the "fiery darts of the wicked:" I believe faith really is a powerful protection. When there are any questions or uncertainties that can't be reconciled right now, I can be protected by choosing to exercise faith anyway and thus preserve my testimony. "Helmet of salvation:" The helmet protects our brain, which if our brain dies, we die. That is our life... salvation is life, eternal life. "The sword of my Spirit:" The sword is a defense and offense. We can use it to protect ourselves and do battle with. The Lord's spirit is really used in the same way. It offers great protection and also is a great weapon against any who speak against the things of God.

August 17, 2010

Tonight I read the chapter on the Atonement in the Gospel Principles manual (chapter 12). I so appreciate the simplicity of this teaching: "We accept Christ's Atonement by placing our faith in Him. Through this faith, we repent of our sins, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and obey His commandments." His offer extended to us is His paying the price of suffering for all of our sins. What our part is to receive that offer is to repent and keep His commandments. It is that simple. Not necessarily always easy, but certainly simple. I am really grateful for the gift of the Atonement. It is two-fold. One, I will be resurrected and my body and spirit will be together in an immortal state. I am so excited for that because I really love my body. I love all that I can do and feel with this amazing body. And two, if we choose to place our faith in Him, He has also given us the gift of eternal life, but we have to choose it. That gift is conditioned on our faithfulness. I am so thankful for the plan that provided a Savior, and so grateful to Christ for fulfilling His great mission. What faith He must have had to accomplish what He did. His example provides me with a road map for my own life. I am so grateful for my Savior.

August 1, 2010

Today I listened to a Conference talk called Generations Linked in Love by Russell M. Nelson. It is about genealogy and I absolutely am passionate about genealogy.

The "scripture" I want to write about tonight is actually the Sacrament hymn we sang in church called Jesus Once of Humble Birth. I also heard it again later on a cd I was listening to. My favorite lines that struck me today were the last two verses: "Once he groaned in blood and tears; now in glory he appears. Once rejected by his own, now their king he shall be known. Once forsaken, left alone, now exalted to a throne. Once all things he meekly bore, but he now will bear no more." What struck me is the fact that just like Christ, the day will come when I too will be freed forever from the sorrow of blood, tears, rejection, and bearing great hardships. I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that He made it possible to walk back into the presence of our Father and receive eternal glory. I am grateful for the peace, love and joy I feel in my life right now and am so looking forward to experiencing those great emotions for eternity.

July 30, 2010

I am at an intensive leadership training for my business and I am so grateful for this habit I have established of studying the gospel every day. Tonight I am reading an Ensign article called Investing in the Golden Years. This was such an excellent article with sage advice that when really taken seriously will alter the course of our life. I think about being an old woman and the kind of person I want to be and I think about eternity and what I want to inherit. And I know that it is my choices today that will determine where I'll be in the future. And I tell you what. I am doing all I can with myself today to be committed to the process of change and growth so that I will be the kind of person I want to be in the future. I apply what I learn and I feel it has made such a difference. My favorite quotes from this article are: "If you run, you don't have to walk as far." And President Tanner, "Father in Heaven has given us a program by which we can prepare ourselves for immortality and eternal life. I would encourage all members of the Church, old and young, to live the principles of the gospel every day and thereby prepare themselves for the time when they have finished their mortal existence so that they can really retire to eternal life." That is my #1 goal in life. Period. Everything I do is to help me accomplish that goal.

June 23, 2010

I opened my scriptures today and read in D&C 20:26-34. I especially liked verse 29 and then the reminders in verses 32-34 that we can fall from grace... even the sanctified need to take heed... and the protection against that is to pray always. I feel like to pray with a sincerity of heart will be the greatest protection and one would not do that if they didn't believe in God or at least have a hope that He is there. So much of what I do is based on my faith in God; trusting that it's all real, that He know me, He created me, I can return to live with Him.

Verse 29 lays out what needs to happen to live in His kingdom. Entry necessitates repentance, believing on the name of Jesus Christ, worshiping the Father in the name of Christ, and enduring to the end in faithfulness, and I would clarify that that means always relying on the Savior's Atonement. Without it there is no hope of returning to live with God. Since it has occurred, the important thing is to accept it and remember it. Remembering the Atonement helps me to remain humble and grateful and meek. I don't deserve that great gift... it was given freely as an expression of love... the greatest love there is. I truly am so grateful for the Atonement and for my Savior's love.

June 11, 2010

Today I just opened my scriptures and they fell to Mosiah 26. I read something I had written in the margins and the corresponding verse, 24. It says, "For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand." In the margin, I had written, "to know the Lord we must keep his commandments." I want to know Him. I keep his commandments the best I can because I love Him and want to know his voice when He calls. The footnote is John 17:3 which says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Knowing Him is eternal life. It is what I want, more than anything. I believe that one of his commandments is to study His gospel through the scriptures, which is why I am trying my best to establish that habit in my life. Three more days and I've done it for a week straight! I've got to keep going, because I do love Him. I love Him and I want to keep his commandments.