Bear up their Burdens with Ease

 I gave this talk in church a few weeks ago and I keep having this thought that I need to share this with y'all! I would love for us to continue to share our testimonies, talks and experiences with each other, and I encourage all of us to do it more often! I know that it strengthens me to read your thoughts, feelings and testimonies.

Bear up their Burdens with Ease

I was grateful for this topic to talk about. As I read through this talk, Bear up their Burdens with Ease, by Elder Bednar,  I was able to reflect on my life and experiences that I have had. I really love to listen to, read and study Elder Bednar’s teachings. Recently I have been reading his book, Power to Become along with the Continuos Atonement by Brad Wilcox. Both are amazing books and talk a lot about this Strengthening and Enabling Power of the Atonement. I feel like my eyes have been opened just a little bit more to what this is and how I can apply it in my life.  So my talk will focus more on the Strengthening and Enabling Power of the Atonement. I feel like I am still grasping this concept so bear with me as I talk about it.

Elder Bednar says, “The enabling power of the Atonement of Christ strengthens us to do things we could never do on our own.” “Most of us know that when we do things wrong and need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives, the Savior has made it possible for us to become clean through His redeeming power. But, do we also understand that the Atonement is for faithful men and women who are obedient, worthy, and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully? I wonder if we fail to fully acknowledge this strengthening aspect of the Atonement in our lives and mistakenly believe we must carry our load all alone—through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline and with our obviously limited capacities.
It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to the earth to die for us. But, we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to enliven us—not only to guide but also to strengthen and heal us.
I know that I have had experiences in my life and in the life of others around me where I have seen and acknowledged the redeemtive side of the Atonement  However I didn’t know that first hand I would be able to experience and recognize in my life the Strengthening and Enabling power of the Atonement.  

After we had our fourth baby I had a postpatum hemmorage. It was scary and I was nervous and in shock. I pleaded to Our Father in Heaven that everything would be ok and that my body would function properly.  Through the tender mercies of the Lord I was blessed and strengthened and all was well. However that experience left me quite traumatized and the thought of having any more children was not even an option in my mind. I was lucky to be alive and raise the children that we had been blessed with. However many years went by and then we received the gentle prompting from the holy ghost that our family was not complete and another one was waiting...I was distrought, scared and nervous. In my heart I knew that if it was supposed to happen then everything would be ok. But my mind had a hard time letting me believe it. I had a choice to make. I could either follow the promptings of the spirit that led to a confirmation through much prayer, OR let fear overcome me and choose not to.  With faith I decided to aline my will with my Heavenly Father’s will for me and my family.
The pregnancy started out hard with having dizzy spells and getting morning sickness at 6wks that continued on and off till I delivered. I knew that I was going to be sick because of past pregnancies but this time it was difficult to deal with as I had 4 other kids at home and my husband is a busy anes resident.  I thought to myself...why does this have to be SO hard, if it is the will of God? Honestly at the time the only thing that sufficed that question was...well I guess it was still hard for the Savior while he was fulfilling the will of God so why should it be any easier for me?
In Alma it says,
“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities”
To me that gives me hope and faith to know that He knows how to succor His people because he has Felt and bourne our individual burdens no matter how small or big they may be.

Elder Bednar says, There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice (see Alma 34:14), He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power.

The Savior said in Matthew 11....”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.”

Elder Bednar says, Covenants received and honored with integrity and ordinances performed by proper priesthood authority are necessary to receive all of the blessings made available through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Making and keeping covenants yokes us to and with the Lord Jesus Christ. In essence the Savior is beckoning us to rely on Him and pull together even though our best efforts are not comparable with the Savior.  --So if I understand that right? By making Covenants by the proper priesthood authority we are already yoked! He is already right there, we just have to rely on Him... then why at times do we think we have to do it all by ourselves! Well, I am learning that I didn’t and I never had to!  
Elder Bednar says, We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help. Through the Savior’s Atonement we can receive capacity and “strength beyond [our] own” 

Looking back I can see the divine help that I received...I pleaded at times that the sickness would be taken away or that I wouldn’t have to experience ALL the uncomfortable things of pregnancy,  but it was never taken away... The delivery was fast so no epidural and it was the most immense pain I have ever had to experience in my life! I Don’t recommend having babies without drugs!! The first six months of his life were a challenge with a very colicky baby, going off only a few hours of sleep, nursing, taking care of the other children and keeping the house in order! Which I am sure any parent can relate to of how chaotic life can be with babies! However as I reflect on that experience I was indeed blessed through the enabling power of the Atonement to do physically what in my own power I could not do!  I learned that I by my own strength had reached my limit and that if it weren’t for the enabling power of the atonement I could NOT have done it...and not just done it by enduring it but by actually thriving and flourishing and being able to do all that was required of me!  I was humbled that our prayers had been answered.  Our baby was perfect and nourished for how sick I had been and I was ok and had a speedy recovery.  It was miraculous! I am grateful to have trusted in the Lord to get me through the hardest of times physically as of yet . He didn’t take the pain away but I know that I was blessed to have patience, I was comforted and strengthened in body and spirit and that helped me to bear it easier. I truly felt Heavenly Father’s love for me and the Savior’s love.
in the BOM in Mosiah 24 this principle is related
“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs” (Mosiah 24:14).
Many of us may assume this scripture is suggesting that a burden suddenly and permanently will be taken away. The next verse, however, describes how the burden was eased.
“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:15; emphasis added).
Elder Bednar says, The challenges and difficulties were not immediately removed from the people. But Alma and his followers were strengthened, and their increased capacity made the burdens lighter. These good people were empowered through the Atonement to act as agents (see D&C 58:26–29) and impact their circumstances, And in the strength of the Lord Alma and his people were directed to safety in the land of Zarahemla.
 I have learned now that what it was that I received was the Grace of God through my challenge and many, many tender mercies. Elder Bednar says if we replace the word grace in the scriptures with Strengthening and Enabling power of the Lord we would all better understand Grace. Grace for me has always been a confusing word to me, so I loved his simple explanation.  The Savior often in our lives extends to us His grace without us even recognizing it, but as I have sought to learn more about this I feel like I am starting to actually recognize it in my life and I am humbled and know that I need it!
 This seemingly small experience of mine made a big impact for me and my progression, as it has taught me more about trusting the Lord, about sacrifice, submitting to and understanding His will, about never being alone in our trials or challenges, about how to rely on His Strength and activate that enabling power, and about His love for me. I know that when we Trust in the Lord, have Faith and move forward with the Strength of the Lord we can do all things and do HARD things. His Enabling/Strengthing Power or grace and tender mercies are REAL.  I know that Jesus is our Savior and we need him and His enabling power to get us through our hard times with ease. As covenant making and keeping people we can also tap into that power to become better, further progress in this life and ultimately achieve our potential.  I know that the Savior knows how to succor his people in their times of need and that He loves us.
I want to end with this last quote from
Elder Bednar, “The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah. I testify and promise the Savior will help us to bear up our burdens with ease. As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will. We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances according to our will. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon.....As the Lord declared, “Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end.”  

Find sometime to go to lds.org and watch the new Mormon Message "Mens hearts will fail them" It is truly inspiring! I loved listening to it!

Love you all!

Grateful

Hello Family,

I just wanted to take this time on this Thanksgiving day to let you all know that the one thing I'm SO grateful for every year is my amazing Family. I say it every year because its so true! You are all examples to me; and I hope you know that I pray for each and everyone of you! I love you and I'm so grateful to call you my brothers and sisters!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Chelsey

The One Truth Most Worth Knowing

If you haven't taken time to watch or listen to President Packer's CES Fireside.... I encourage you to listen to it with an open heart and with the spirit. It is a beautiful, plain, straight forward talk on the great love of our Savior on mercy, justice & repentance.

Click here for link.

Love you all!!

Sweetness

So it has been awhile since anyone has posted on here, and I have been wanting to share this for quite some time. I have just been too lazy to actually sit down and write it, so here goes. I feel so grateful and blessed that I served a mission, especially for my time in Austin. It changed everything about my mission, and quite frankly, it completely changed me forever. It was there that I truly learned how to be a missionary and my love for the people grew even more than I thought possible. I was blessed to have an amazing experience in Austin that I will never forget. I had the opportunity to teach the most amazing woman! Her name is Imelda, and she is the sweetest, most wonderful person! My companion and I met her through her fiance in the ward. She was the most prepared and ready person that I have ever met! It was through teaching her that my testimony of the gospel became what it is today. When I first got to Austin I had been out in the mission for 9 months, so about half way through. I couldn't speak Spanish. I had just been with 3 English speaking companions in a row, in an English area. I felt more inadequate to teach in Spanish than ever. I couldn't understand anything and I couldn't express myself and teach the gospel the way that I wanted to. I tried really hard though. I wanted to learn Spanish and I found that the best way I learned was to listen to others. So I literally took 2 weeks and told my wonderful companion that I was just going to listen and learn. I really didn't teach much. I studied, listened, and finally after that time was able to express myself, albeit limited. When we met Imelda I still didn't feel 100% confident in my ability to teach the gospel in Spanish, but I was trying. We were teaching her the first discussion, and it was my turn to teach about Joseph Smith and the first vision. I can't tell you what I said, how I said what I said, but it was one of the most spiritual experiences in my life. It was at that moment when I was bearing my testimony that I knew, without a doubt, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the earth today. I had always known, but this experience solidified my testimony forever. I remember feeling the spirit stronger in the room than I ever had, and probably ever have since then. My companion said that I explained everything perfectly and said things in just the right way. I honestly had no idea what I said. It was just such a wonderful experience. She was baptized about 2 weeks later, and her baptism was so special, she even got up after and bore her testimony and expressed her love for the Savior. I don't know if she still goes to church, and I have no way of contacting her, but I know that I was supposed to meet her. She changed my life, and because of that experience my attitude toward my mission changed. I knew that I was there to baptize. Nothing else mattered.

After I served in Austin, I had the opportunity to return to the border of Mexico to the town of Eagle Pass. I started my mission in Del Rio, which is about 45 mins north of Eagle Pass. So I already knew what border life was like. I loved it! The humble people, the food, the border control....I loved it all! My companion and I were out one day "harvesting" and knocked on the door of a small, half built house. A 19 year old boy came out and started talking to us. He was interested, and had actually met the missionaries before and had always wanted to learn more about the church. He was golden, and his name is Juan. We began teaching him immediately. He was receptive to everything and was baptized about a month or so after we first met him. We helped him through hard times, and helped him to stop smoking. He was so happy. And I was so happy for him. He finally had the answers to life that he had been looking for. His life was not easy, and he was the only member in his family. But he went out with the Elders and tried to be the best he could. He often expressed how my companion and I were his angels and that we saved him. Since I have been home from my mission, I have kind of stayed in contact with him. He used to call me all the time when I first got home. It is sad to say this, and I feel really bad, but there were many times that I ignored his calls. When I did talk to him he would tell me all these horrible things about his life. He had been to jail, had a kid, and was in fights. It was terrible and I didn't know how to help him, so I ignored him. I know, that's terrible. But I really didn't know how I was supposed to help him. Well, about 4 months ago he called me. I didn't answer and just let it go to my voice mail. Then right after I got a text from him. He said, "Hi Alisha, it's John. I want to thank you for showing me the true church. It's amazing how much it has helped me. Ur mission was not in vain. U guys are the best thing that has happened in my life. I am living a good life and I owe it all to you and Karalea. Thank you. I hope you are doing well." I was shocked, to say the least, to receive this text from him. I felt horrible that I had been screening his calls. Really, really horrible. I texted him back telling him thank you, and thanking him for letting us teach him the gospel. It was so good to hear. It made me really, really, really happy to hear this. It is one of the sweetest things that someone has ever told me. I am so eternally grateful that I served a mission. Especially in the wonderful TSAM. My life is better because of it, and the experiences that I had will stay with me forever. I will never regret my decision to serve the Lord. I love the gospel and I know that I am blessed to have it in my life.

The Challenge to Become

So it was my last week at institute last night. I can not explain what going to institute has done for me. I know you all are probably sick of hearing from me but I feel like I am bursting and I can't wait to share what I have learned every week! It has been so awesome to come home and study the topics out more with Matt and have our understanding grow together.

I am grateful to my friend to invited me to go to institute. I don't think she will ever know how much I needed to go. I didn't realize how much I needed to go. I'm not saying everyone needs to run out and go to institute. It just has been an amazing testimony builder for me. I am so excited to go again in the fall. I have learned so many things that I never even knew and I have gone to church my whole life! I think of things differently and have a fresh perspective on our life here on earth.

I just want to bear my testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that He came to earth and suffered for all of our sins, trials, and hardships. He knows us! He knows us so well if we just trust in him he can heal us!

He is our comforter. I know that I am nothing without Him! I know that by being valiant and striving to be on the right path we can return to be with our Savior and Father in Heaven.

I know that President Monson is the prophet for our day and that he is the mouthpiece for our Savior. I know the apostles are also prophets and speak for our Savior. I know the scriptures are true. I know that by studying and feasting and thirsting after them brings us peace, hope, and truth of the knowledge of this great work. We are on this earth for a much higher purpose than we even know. It is my greatest desire to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus and fulfill my mission on earth.

I want to leave just a quote from Elder Oaks that we talked about in institute last night. He says,

"From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become."

Are we just going through the motions? Are we doing or becoming? I know that by repenting and trusting in our Savior we can change and become fully converted. I love you all!

Kenzie

Be Valiant in the Fight of Faith

Members of the Church who have testimonies and who live clean and upright lives, but who are not courageous and valiant, do not gain the celestial kingdom. Theirs is a terrestrial inheritance. Of them the revelation says, “These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.” (D&C 76:79.)

Now what does it mean to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus?

It is to be courageous and bold; to use all our strength, energy, and ability in the warfare with the world; to fight the good fight of faith. “Be strong and of a good courage,” the Lord commanded Joshua, and then specified that this strength and courage consisted of meditating upon and observing to do all that is written in the law of the Lord. (See Josh. 1:6–9.) The great cornerstone of valiance in the cause of righteousness is obedience to the whole law of the whole gospel.

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”; it is to deny ourselves “of all ungodliness,” and “love God” with all our “might, mind and strength.” (Moro. 10:32.)

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to believe in Christ and his gospel with unshakable conviction. It is to know of the verity and divinity of the Lord’s work on earth.

But this is not all. It is more than believing and knowing. We must be doers of the word and not hearers only. It is more than lip service; it is not simply confessing with the mouth the divine Sonship of the Savior. It is obedience and conformity and personal righteousness. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21.)

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” It is to “endure to the end.” (2 Ne. 31:20.) It is to live our religion, to practice what we preach, to keep the commandments. It is the manifestation of “pure religion” in the lives of men; it is visiting “the fatherless and widows in their affliction” and keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27.)

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to bridle our passions, control our appetites, and rise above carnal and evil things. It is to overcome the world as did he who is our prototype and who himself was the most valiant of all our Father’s children. It is to be morally clean, to pay our tithes and offerings, to honor the Sabbath day, to pray with full purpose of heart, to lay our all upon the altar if called upon to do so.

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to take the Lord’s side on every issue. It is to vote as he would vote. It is to think what he thinks, to believe what he believes, to say what he would say and do what he would do in the same situation. It is to have the mind of Christ and be one with him as he is one with his Father.

This is from a talk given by Elder Bruce R. McConkie. My topic in institute this week was on the three kingdoms of glory. My teacher used a quote from the talk so I came home and read the whole talk and love this whole section about being valiant. Being valiant is something I have thought a lot about lately and after going to class and reading this talk I really need to change some things. I know that with the Lord's help He can help me overcome weakness and help me in my sincere desire to become more valiant.

Preparation for the Second Coming

The last 2 weeks of institute were about the Second Coming. They were really good lessons and kinda scary too! It is so overwhelming sometimes. My teacher ended the class with these questions from Elder Oaks that have stuck with me and have really made me think.

"What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?

If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparation are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them."

As I have thought about these questions I think there are a lot of changes that I can do right now to be preparing for the Second Coming. The signs are all around us. We are here on this earth at this time for a reason. We were sent to prepare the world for our Saviors coming. It is our responsibility to teach those around us, especially our families the importance of this gospel. Now is not the time to be sitting on the fence trying to do some worldly things and then some good things too. We need to be stronger. If we are not doing those things we should we can repent. Repentance is not something to be scared of, it is a gift. It is a good thing to be preparing our temporal needs for the Second Coming but I think that our spiritual preparation is even more important.

"We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual. A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value."

When I think about preparing if we are not spiritually prepared then all the preparing we did for our temporal needs will probably be wasted because we might not be around to use that food storage we saved up.

I know that we have been specially selected to be here on earth now. This gives me peace and hope since this world is so wicked and sometimes it seems like we will never make it. I am grateful for repentance and that we can change and be better today than we were yesterday. I am grateful for the promise that if we are faithful and endure to the end we can return to be with our Father in Heaven.

Sister Beck

So this past weekend, (Sat March 19th) I got the privilege of attending a Relief society meeting where Sister Julie B. Beck spoke! It was so awesome to be in the same room as her, and hear her words, and to meet her! :) Here are some of the highlights that I loved in this meeting::
** When you are asked to do a calling, ALWAYS say yes. Then pray and figure out what yes means!
** Relief society isn't a program, it's a way of life. We have been prepared in Primary and Young womens to come to relief society and live the way of a Disciple.
** The Lord doesn't care about your excuses of why you don't go Visiting Teaching... ( House isn't clean, you are to busy, you don't even know your sisters you teach, you don't have an active companion, you are shy..etc) He only cares about you helping his other sheep, to rescue them and offer them RELIEF.
** The Lord EXPECTS us to lead and to guide.
** As mothers, we need to be raising up Missionaries!
** Blogging is not to waste time, or to neglect your children, to whine and complain, it is an opportunity to SHARE THE GOSPEL! It's exactly what this blog is :) I love it!

She had some time where she answered questions from the audience. someone asked sister beck this: "After traveling so many places, and meeting so many women, what is your greatest concern for the women?"
Her answer was this:: Number 1: We are not always aligned with God.
number 2: Anger-- (2 nephi 28:20)
number 3: Apathy--Saying its ok what people do, it's there choice. not trying to help people come to Christ. (2 nephi 28:21)
and number 4: Entitlement. (2 nephi 28:22) Satan leads us to believe there is no Hell.

** Simplify our lives, get rid of activities that are not important.
** Some things are essential; making covenants, serving others, and being aligned with God. That means to spend some time with Him, reading our scriptures and praying to our Heavenly Father. We are to FEAST upon His words. The Lords says: Pray always lest ye enter into temptation.
** as mothers we think we have to do everything, there are certain "shifts" to a day. the day shift, swift shift, and night shift. We need to decide which one of those shifts are the most important to us and conserve our energy for that shift. We cannot work all three shifts or else we will eventually tire and wear out.
** We can be precise in things.
** Sometimes the spirit makes us feel guilty for us to repent. repentance= change.
** When I have the spirit, the biggest challenge challenge will not matter and I can handle it, when I don't have the spirit, the littlest challenge will be a BIG deal. --eliza snow. (D&C 11:12)

I loved her talk, and I loved how she would get a question and answer it perfectly. she has a great knowledge of the scriptures, and she has the strongest testimony. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to listen to her!

Come to Zion

Last week at institute our lesson was on Zion. I have to say I am really enjoying going to institute and learning more about the basic doctrines that I normally wouldn't think to study about. It gives me so much to think about and I enjoy studying more about them in my own personal studies. Here are a couple of quotes from Elder Christofferson's talk called Come to Zion that my teacher used in class.

Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember, “the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary (1) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen—Zion will come only as they happen.

The Savior was critical of some of the early Saints for their “lustful … desires” (D&C 101:6; see also D&C 88:121). These were people who lived in a non-television, non-film, non-Internet, non-iPod world. In a world now awash in sexualized images and music, are we free from lustful desires and their attendant evils? Far from pushing the limits of modest dress or indulging in the vicarious immorality of pornography, we are to hunger and thirst after righteousness. To come to Zion, it is not enough for you or me to be somewhat less wicked than others. We are to become not only good but holy men and women. Recalling Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s phrase, let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up the summer cottage in Babylon (see Neal A. Maxwell, A Wonderful Flood of Light [1990], 47).

After this lesson I have felt the desire to become more like Zion, to have a broken heart and contrite spirit. When I do this as an individual I know I will be able to build Zion in my home and around me. I am so grateful for this gospel and my opportunity to go to institute! I am learning so much and my testimony is growing. I know this church is true and I would not be the person I am without it!

Charity

Daily Living::
Clothe yourself in Charity, the pure love of Christ.

Clothed with charity suggest an inner quality that is in our very being. IT IS WHO WE ARE. IT IS WHAT WE DO. it is in our countenance. Our feelings, attitudes, values, perceptions, and, above all, our actions are charitable like unto Christ. Charity will never fail. Oh, that we might be filled with this love, "which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him... (Moroni 7:48; 2 Peter 1:3-10)

Hey Family... I am speaking on Charity on this upcoming Sunday. I love this quote and I'm planning on using it. If anyone has any other great quotes on Charity or any thoughts, that would be awesome, and I would love to hear them!! :)
Love you all!
Chels

Salt of the Earth

After teaching the Beatitudes in Sunday School last week I have been thinking a lot about sharing this part with you all.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
As I thought about this scripture and thought about purity I came upon these scriptures:
D&C 101:39-40
39 When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men;
40 They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that salt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.

D&C 103:9

9 For they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men;
Matt 5:13

13 ¶Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?

Who are the Salt of the Earth and the Savor/Saviors of men? From these scriptures it explains that it is the Covenant Saints.
"The Savior asks but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?"

I found this great quote from Carlos E. Asay about how salt loses its savor and its relation with man:
"A world-renowned chemist told me that salt will not lose its savor with age. Savor is lost through mixture and contamination. Similarly, priesthood power does not dissipate with age; it, too, is lost through mixture and contamination. When a young man or older man mixes his thoughts with pornographic literature, he suffers a loss of savor. When a priesthood bearer mixes his speech with lies or profanity, he suffers a loss of savor. When one of us follows the crowd and becomes involved in immoral acts and the use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and other injurious substances, he loses savor. Flavor and quality flee a man when he contaminates his mind with unclean thoughts, desecrates his mouth by speaking less than the truth, and misapplies his strength in performing evil acts. King Benjamin cautioned, “Watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God” (Mosiah 4:30)."
Remember that Salt only loses its savor through mixture and contamination.
Carlos E. Asay continues:
"We must fight daily to retain our savor, our purity. We must press forward, clinging to our standards of holiness, remembering all the while that we are called to be the savor of men."

So as we are the Salt of the Earth we must fight DAILY to retain our savor or our purity and the blessing for doing this is that we can be the savior of men. Jesus Christ is our Savior and the only Savior of men, but he has called the Saints to join him in his work. We help him by sharing the gospel, redeeming the dead, and perfecting our own lives. If we are unable (by contamination) or unwilling to do that work,..."wherewith shall the earth be salted (preserved)?"

I love this last quote by Carlos E. Asay:
"We should extend honor, friendship, and hospitality to all of our brothers and sisters. To the inactives we extend the hand of fellowship; to the nonmembers we extend the divine invitation “come and see”; with the fathers of yesteryear we establish links which weld fathers to children and children to fathers. In all of this, we advance the purposes of the Master and assist in the reconciliation of men to the God who gave them life. And, in the process, we not only preserve our savor but we save ourselves. I count it significant that the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Salt Lake City. From this center of the Church flows the message of salvation to all the world. To this city of salt, men and women gather from all corners of the earth to receive instruction and edification. Such instruction, if accepted and practiced, will enable men to retain their savor and assist them in becoming saviors of men.

Now back to the pure in heart shall see God.
I love this quote from Harold B. Lee:
“If you would see God, you must be pure. There is in Jewish writings the story of a man who saw an object in the distance, an object that he thought was a beast. As it drew nearer he could see that it was a man and as it came still closer he could see that it was his friend. You can see only that which you have eyes to see. Some of the associates of Jesus saw him only as a son of Joseph the carpenter. Others thought him to be a wine-bibber or a drunkard because of his words. Still others thought he was possessed of devils. Only the righteous saw him as the Son of God. Only if you are pure in heart will you see God, and also in a lesser degree will you be able to see the ‘God’ or good in man and love him because of the goodness you see in him. Mark well that person who criticizes and maligns the man of God or the Lord’s anointed leaders in his Church. Such a one speaks from an impure heart.” (Lee, “Decisions for successful living, pp. 56-63.)

Oftentimes I feel life here on earth is just filled with so many distractions and temptations all around us that sometimes are just hard to overcome, but I am so grateful for the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Atonement brings about change and getting us closer to perfection and it is always there. What a beautiful and wonderful gift that is and that our Savior so freely gave to us so that we can return to our Father in Heaven. We can come to him and find peace and forgiveness and then move forward maintaining our purity so that we can be the Salt of the earth. I believe that by maintaining this purity we will be the pure in heart that will see God, seeing the reality of Him through the miracles and tender mercies of the Lord which constantly remind us that we are sons and daughters of a true and living God, and ultimately as we truly "see" and live with Him again.

Broken Heart & Contrite Spirit

3 Nephi 9:19&20

19: "And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away...

20: And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit."

Back in the day, sacrifice by the shedding of blood was a means of worship and was a type or a symbol of the sacrifice of 'The Lamb of God'. In this scripture, the Savior is speaking to his people in the Americas, the Nephites, and teaching them this important aspect of His gospel. He had just atoned for the sins of the world. Literally. He had just spent 3 hours in Gethsemane, half way around the world, suffering the pains and sicknesses and sins of everybody who had ever lived or would ever live, only to be arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross. After suffering incomprehensibly in Gethsemane, he was beaten, humiliated, spit upon, whipped, ridiculed, and made to carry His own cross on the long road to Golgotha. He was then nailed to a cross and hung between two criminals. The perfect Son of the Living God. While on the cross, he suffered AGAIN for the pains and sins of the whole world (you and me and all the stupid things we have ever done or will do), pleaded with the Father to forgive His condemners, and then finished His mortal work.

In America, a thick darkness filled the land and the earth shook and trembled. The whole face of the land was changed, mountains arising out of the ground, cities being completely destroyed, fire consuming the land... for the space of 3 full days. Complete darkness. No light. Listen with your spiritual ears... no LIGHT! The third day, he rose from the grave to become the first fruits of them that slept. He not only conquered sin (offering us the ability to repent and be clean), but also death (allowing each and all of us to be resurrected and reunited with our perfect bodies). And so he teaches us that we do not need to offer sacrifices by the shedding of blood anymore; the ultimate sacrifice by the shedding of blood had been accomplished! Instead, he instituted a new, higher law; 'Ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.' It is easy to sacrifice an animal in the name of the Lord... but much more difficult to sacrifice the animal within each of us unto the Lord! To offer Him a broken heart and a contrite spirit means that we offer Him our will, our obedience, our humility. It means that we cast off our pride, repent of our mistakes, and recognize our dependence on Him. It means we are teachable and moldable. Much more difficult. And it truly means much more to Him. If we love Him, we will want to make this offering. He wants your heart. The deep part. Not the superficial part that occasionally thinks of Him when you need something. The deep part that strives daily to be a better you; a happier, cleaner, more loving you. He wants to know that you mean it when you say you believe in Him and love Him. We have to mean it. And thus this change in our offering.

I know He lives. I know He was slain for our sins, because He loves us. I know I am a happier, better man because of His gospel than I would ever be on my own. I know His suffering for me was not in vain, because I repent. I have tasted the sweet fruit of forgiveness. I have felt the peace that comes when His great atoning sacrifice in my behalf has been properly applied. We need Him. All He asks is for us to offer for a sacrifice unto Him our broken hearts and our contrite spirits. Note the word OFFER. He requires it of everybody, but will force it on nobody. It is a true offering.

Love you all.

Gunnar

Conversion to the Gospel by Studying the Scriptures

"Further, for the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is and grow to understand it more fully. That means you will study it. ⁵ When I say “study,” I mean something more than reading. It is a good thing sometimes to read a book of scripture within a set period of time to get an overall sense of its message, but for conversion, you should care more about the amount of time you spend in the scriptures than about the amount you read in that time. I see you sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you. Remember Alma’s description of what it feels like: “It beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.” ⁶ You will know that the gospel is being written in your heart, that your conversion is happening, as the word of the Lord from His prophets, past and present, feels more and more delicious to your soul." --Elder D. Todd Christofferson (When Thou Art Converted)

I love this part in his talk about truly studying! It doesn't get anymore plain than this. I know this is how we should study and I can testify that when I study like this my testimony does grow and I feel the spirit so much stronger.

Have you watched this yet?

If not you should! It still amazes me how each time I watch these firesides it is exactly what I need to hear. I am so grateful the the prophets and apostles that are here for our day to teach us the things we need to do. This is seriously such a good talk!

http://lds.org/broadcasts/watch/ces-fireside/2011/01?lang=eng&pid=738917358001&pkey=AQ~~,AAAAmBrDwtE~,_58lK-P1xvJ5WTHbRnmdONkYkAiPKoal&bcpid=738917358001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAmBrDwtE~,_58lK-P1xvJ5WTHbRnmdONkYkAiPKoal&bclid=738194652001&bctid=747289204001

The Best Is Yet To Be

Elder Holland gave this first in an address at BYU in 2009 and then it was in the January 2010 Ensign and I just came across it and I loved it.

"As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.

There is something in many of us that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life—either our mistakes or the mistakes of others. It is not good. It is not Christian. It stands in terrible opposition to the grandeur and majesty of the Atonement of Christ. To be tied to earlier mistakes is the worst kind of wallowing in the past from which we are called to cease and desist.

When something is over and done with, when it has been repented of as fully as it can be repented of, when life has moved on as it should and a lot of other wonderfully good things have happened since then, it is not right to go back and open some ancient wound that the Son of God Himself died to heal.

Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is that charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ.

The proviso, of course, is that repentance has to be sincere, but when it is and when honest effort is being made to progress, we are guilty of the greater sin if we keep remembering and recalling and rebashing someone with his or her earlier mistakes—and that someone might be ourselves. We can be so hard on ourselves—often much more so than on others!

You can remember just enough to avoid repeating the mistake, but then put the rest of it all on the dung heap Paul spoke of to the Philippians. Dismiss the destructive, and keep dismissing it until the beauty of the Atonement of Christ has revealed to you your bright future and the bright future of your family, your friends, and your neighbors. God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go."

These are just a few parts of his talk that I really liked and stood out to me. I highly recommend reading his whole talk! Here are some of my thoughts about it. I am so grateful for my savior Jesus Christ and that died so that I can be healed from my mistakes and the mistakes of others that have hurt me. We are here to learn and grow and when we don't forgive and forget we are only hurting ourselves. We need to have faith in Christ and trust that He does have a plan for us and even though we might not be able to see it until a little later. Faith is always pointed forward to the future! Faith is the opposite of fear. When we have faith in God we will be happy because we will be moving forward and trusting in the one who knows us best. I really loved the part when he says, "Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve." So often I think we don't allow others to grow because we focus too much on their mistakes from their past. But don't we all want to be forgiven of our own sins and have them be forgotten? When we forgive others past mistakes and forget them we are showing faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement. I know that Jesus atoned for us all and that through Him is the only way to move forward and forget our past. “He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).

Keep The City From Falling

Alma 59:9

Background: Moroni is Captain over the Nephite Army. He is in the middle of a HUGE battle with the Lamanites and has just lost another city. There are hidden treasures of applicable knowledge within these war chapters... this is just one little nugget.

9 And now as Moroni had supposed that there should be men sent to the city of Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, and knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that city.

The Nugget: It is easier to keep a city from falling into the hands of the enemy than it is to get it back once you've lost it. Whatever amount of preparation, whatever sacrifices need to be made, whatever amount of hard work may be necessary to protect the city against the enemy is well worth it, if in the end you maintain that city and keep it safe. So it is with us. It is way easier to keep ourselves from falling into the hands of the enemy by striving to live a clean and wholesome life than it is to try to fight our way out of the peace strangling grasp of the enemy of all righteousness. There is always a way out. The way is Jesus Christ. But, just as Moroni and his men found out, it can be a difficult and painful road. Whatever preparation, sacrifice, and hard work we need to give in order to keep ourselves from falling will be well worth the effort. Let's help keep each other strong, motivated to do good, supported in our trials, and safe from the hands of the enemy.

Love you.

Gun