Christmas is the Love of God

After Lehi explains his vision of the Tree of Life to his sons in 1 Nephi 8, Nephi is really confused. Hard to blame him, since Lehi just talks about a tree with some fruit, an iron rod leading to it, a big river, a big building, and lots of confusion. I don't know if I would understand that either. But, Nephi does the right thing and prays to understand it. And I LOVE the way he is answered in 1 Nephi 11.

An angel comes to him, and Nephi asks for the interpretation of the tree, itself. Rather than straight-up answering his question, the angel shows him the following in verse 13:

"And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white."

If you couldn't guess,  the angel explains a few verses later that that virgin is the "mother of the Son of God," in other words, Mary.

Still, Nephi doesn't quite get the point. The angel continues to show him a vision, though, and verse 20 reads:

 "And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms."

Hopefully you can take a guess as to who this is. The angel's words are beautiful, though, so I'll use his from verse 21:

"Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!"

The point I'm making is here, though. Immediately after saying this, the angel asks Nephi if he knows the meaning of the tree. The miraculous part? He does.

"Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things."

What? Just from seeing Mary and Jesus, Nephi comprehends the love of God? The same love of God that was just represented in a tree?

Now, here's the real question: When you see Christmas decorations or even just think about the holiday, do you feel the love of God? Do you think about His unbelievable love that He clearly has to give up His son for us?

I especially love the end of Nephi's answer there: "It is the most desirable above all things." To make it better, the angel adds, "Yea, and the most joyous to the soul."

Christ's birth represents that which is most desirable and most joyous! I love Christmas, because I love the Savior! Have a great holiday season, and remember why we are celebrating!

A Thankful Testimony

It would be foolish of me to have a blog centered around the Gospel of Jesus Christ and yet not have a post about Thanksgiving. As a missionary, I can say that more and more, the things I'm thankful for are all centered around the blessings of that gospel, and in reality the things I'm thankful for and my testimony aren't all that different.

I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who knows me and is ever mindful of me. I'm thankful that He loves me enough to hear my prayers, providing me comfort and guidance when I need it most. It is truly mind-blowing to me the way I receive personalized direction from someone with such immeasurable importance as His. I am very thankful for that.

I am thankful that that Father sent His son, who provided a means that I can live in His presence once more. I am thankful for the Plan of Happiness which has allowed me to grow as much as I have in the past 19 years, without being condemned for the ways that I have achieved that growth. That is really something. I have made mistakes, sometimes less accidental than others, yet I know that my Heavenly Father still loves me and I know that through Christ's sacrifice, I can live in His presence. I am very thankful for that.

I am thankful for Christ's ministry, before, during, and after His mortal ministry. I am especially thankful for the Scriptures, which give us an account of His dealings on Earth. The guidance they give me and the rest of the world is insurmountable. His commandments truly do set us free and have brought joy and peace to my life. I am very thankful for that.

I am thankful for the living prophets we have on Earth today, through the Restoration of the Gospel and Priesthood. We are able to get direction from God applicable to these troubled times that we live in. I am sure the Israelites had hard times, too, but I need guidance for today. Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles give that to me. I am very thankful for that.

I am thankful for something I slightly referred to in the previous paragraph: the Restoration and for Joseph Smith's courage. Because he knelt to pray, the world again has access to Christ's Atonement. We can once again perform any ordinance necessary to enter the Kingdom of God. We have the fulness of Christ's church on Earth, all because a young boy didn't turn back in the face of persecution and scorn. I'm very thankful for that.

I am thankful for my family. Since coming on my mission I realized, first, just how much they have done for me as I look at how much families really do struggle in the world. Second, I can't describe the love I feel from them every time I hear from them. Heavenly Father blessed me with a pretty good situation here on Earth, and even better, He has provided a way that I can be with them for all eternity. I am very thankful for that.

And finally, I am thankful that I can take these things that I am thankful for to the people of Western New York. I am in a once-in-a-lifetime situation, where I can talk to people in ways that aren't normally socially acceptable, yet are remarkably influential. I love being able to see the gospel alter people's views on life, themselves, their family, and their future. I love the people that I've met, and the area that Heavenly Father has called me to serve in. I love that the things that I'm thankful for--my testimony--are what I get to talk about all day long, and I know that they can make people as thankful for all their blessings as I am. I am very thankful for that.

Have a great holiday, everyone!

How Long Will We Swat the Wasps?

This is a story that a friend of mine sent me from a book she was reading. I really like the message, so I thought I'd share:

"Dear Emily,

People will tell you that if you leave wasps alone, they will leave you alone. Poppycock! Those people have never spent much time in a garden. I have been stung countless times when I was just minding my own business. Did it keep me from enjoying my garden? Only once. It dawns on me, Emily, that a wasp sting teaches an important lesson in life. Let me explain.

One day while working in my garden, a wasp landed on my shoulder. When I tried to brush him aside, I flicked him onto my neck where he promptly stung me. I'd been stung before, but this was one sting too many. Angry, I went to the shed and I grabbed a can of spray and a fly swatter. I covered my face with cheesecloth and put on a hat to cover my bald head. I pulled on a thinck long-sleeved shirt and snatched a pair of gloves. I was headed to the garden for a war. My mission was to eliminate any wasp that buzzed within fifty yards of my garden. Two hours later, the potatoes were still full of weeds that hadn't been hoed, the water hadn't been turned on, and I hadn't fertilized the carrots. It didn't matter; I was going to kill all the wasps God ever created: and I had done a great job. I had killed dozens of them. The problem was that they never seemed to go away. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, waving and swatting and apraying and jumping around. It took me half a day to realized how crazy I was being. There would always be more wasps than I could kill, and I was miserable.

Life is the same. There will be times when you are minding your own business, hurting no one. Then someone will come along and sting you. You have two choices. One is to get angry and waste days of your life swatting at anyone who looks threatening: if you do, you'll find when you're through, you've accomplished nothing. The better path is to protect yourself the best you can, and enjoy your garden. When you get stung it will hurt; you may cry and wonder what you have done to deserve such treatment. Let it end there. Take a deep breath, place a dab of wet mud on the sting, wipe your tears, and put a smile back on your face. Turn back to your garden and enjoy the beauty before you. I hope this makes sense. Now, go tend to your garden and enjoy it immensely.

Love, Grandpa Harry"

Forgiveness is Real, but so are Consequences

One of my favorite stories about Moses (yes, I'm still reading the Torah... I'm to Numbers now, though!) is actually one of the most demoralizing. Nevertheless, its message is clear and its lesson imperative.

In Numbers 20:8, the Lord commands Moses to take up a rod and speak to a rock, and the Lord would cause water to come out of the rock. As confusing as that is, it's what the scriptures say, and it is what God commanded Moses.

However, out of pride, Moses instead took the rod and struck the rock.

In Numbers 20:12, the Lord responded to this act of rebelliousness by Moses and Aaron, saying, "Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." Later in the chapter, Aaron also loses his right to the High Priesthood.

No question, repentance and forgiveness is real. Moses carried on in his calling as the Prophet of God. He was hailed throughout the Old and New Testaments, and in Deuteronomy 34:10 is described as the greatest prophet Israel had ever had or will ever have. Surely he will have eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

Nevertheless, there is an important lesson to learn here. Despite Moses' repentance and his receiving forgiveness from the Lord, his life was changed forever. Because of one stupid act of rebellion, his goals and his future were completely altered. In Deuteronomy 34:4, he sees the Promised Land--his goal was in sight--yet it was forever unattainable because he didn't keep God's commandments to exactness.

In our lives, we are going to make mistakes, and maybe we won't be held to quite the same standard of perfection as Moses. But we can not forget that our decisions now will give us direction for our entire future. Our goals and our desires depend greatly on our everyday actions. We can always repent, and the Atonement can always help us, but we will always have consequences to our actions.

The Living Christ - The Testimony of the Apostles

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

We rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

-The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

http://www.lds.org/languages/LivingChrist/LivingChristEnglish.pdf

"Lest Any Man Should Boast"

One of the most oft quoted verses of the Bible is Ephesians 2:8-9, which reads:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Many members of the Christian community use this scripture as "proof" that what we do here on Earth doesn't matter, that our keeping the commandments plays no role in our salvation.

First, let me preface what I read this morning with a quote from King Benjamin, found in Mosiah 3:17:

"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."

I assure you, as I write this post, I in no way intend to diminish the saving power of Christ's infinite Atonement. But, as I was reading Alma 26 this morning, I couldn't help but think that Ammon teaches us exactly how to "not boast."

In that chapter, he is just getting home from the Land of Ishmael. It's his mission homecoming talk, if you will. And he is STOKED. I was stunned by the adrenaline as he goes on and on about how incredible his mission was, of the people who were converted, the miracles he witnessed. He even says in verse 16, "I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." 

However, just like many born-again Christians who I speak with, Ammon's brother, Aaron, gets a little wary and says in verse 10, "Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting."

But I love Ammon's response. Well, really it is the rest of the chapter, but I am going to take bits and pieces of verses 11 through 16 so that you understand it:

 "I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold my joy is full, yea my hear is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things.

"Have we not great reason to rejoice? Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God. He has brought [our brethren] into his everlasting light, and they are encircled about with his matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord?"

Like I said, I could keep going with the whole chapter, but look at this: When we "work" for God, it is not our own work, and we cannot boast of ourselves. I love Ephesians 2:8-9, because it reminds us that it is only by the grace of God through Christ's great sacrifice that we can ever be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 echoes what the Book of Mormon teaches. 

Nevertheless, it does not advocate that we do not serve God with all that we have to offer. Heavenly Father's Kingdom has to be built, and we are to be the instruments in His hands. Not so we can boast, but so that we can show God's great power and glory.

King Mosiah explained it as such in Mosiah 2:24:

"[The Lord] requires that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

I love the Savior and am so happy that I am in His service as a missionary!