4/30/15

Be as a Child





I was recently in a Sunday School class, and we were discussing Christ's plan to 'become as a little child.' A lot of concerns were brought up.
"Well, I don't want to be hurt." "What ever happened to standing up for yourself?" etc.
I had a question: since when did being like a child mean opening yourself to the bad things of this world and saying "Here I am, hurt me!"
When do children do that? Most of my little siblings do the opposite.
Me: "Get off of that fence!" Little Sister: "You're not in charge of me!"

1 Corinthians 14 says, "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (1 Cor 14:20) In other words, be children in manners of the soul-- be teachable, humble, excited, ready for fun. The Savior also said, "Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children..." (D&C 29:47)
But it doesn't mean we want to stay in diapers all of our lives. Nor do we need to sit there and be hurt.

Children are also very willing to love and forgive. There's a story from "The Book of Virtues" (an awesome collection of stories and poems) about two little girls who get into a fight. Their mothers come out and see them and start railing at each other. Then the fathers, uncles, cousins, and neighbor's acquaintances come out and they all start arguing. Meanwhile, the two little girls helped each other up and started playing again. An old woman pointed the girls out to the mob, who were all touched by the quick forgiveness the girls had shown.

So for me, when Christ says, "Become as Little Children" I don't think, "oh no, now I need to eat creamed spinach and sweet potatoes for the rest of my life as I am hurt on all sides by people."
Through the scriptures and teachings of latter-day prophets I know that I need to be child-like by being open-minded and willing to love.

Here is a song I heard by John Michael Montgomery:
"Little Girl"

"I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.~Charles Dickens.

I know that as we become like little children we come closer to God and His Son, and we can gain eternal life (Matt 18:3)

More Scriptures

Death is a scary thing.
So it might be weird that I've spent the last five minutes looking up scriptures on death.
But the scriptures offer a lot of comfort.

If you've lost a love one recently, have moments of grief remembering someone who's passed away, or if you have a friend who needs help coping with loss turn to the scriptures. They provide simple truths about the reality of death; not the giant wall our human minds have set up, but the doorway it is meant to be.

Here are some of the scriptures I found, and a basic summary next to them:

Alma 14:11 (those unjustly killed)
24:21, 26 (those killed as civilians in a war)
40:12 (state of paradise)
46:39 (having faith)
46:41 (those dying of old age)
56:11 (soldiers)
D&C 42:46 (righteous death)
101:36 (joy after death)

122:9 (days are numbered)

4/20/15

Grace Series Part 5-- "Love of Christ" 1 Corinthians 8:35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
... 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


4/12/15

12 Days of Easter Day 12-- The 2nd Coming

I decided to share a paper I wrote quite a while ago about the Second Coming, and what my feelings were.
http://2ndcomingfearsandfun.blogspot.com/

I hope you had a wonderful easter; that you were able to feel the Spirit and appreciate the Savior and His Atonement.

4/6/15

12 Days of Easter: Day 11-- The Life of Jesus Christ


I loved this compilation of the Bible Videos the LDS Church has been putting out.
It is very long (almost three hours), but if you just pick a point and watch for a while it really portrays the life of Christ in a very understandable and moving way.

12 Days of Easter: Day 10/Grace Series pt 4-- "The Gift of Grace" (Pres. Uchtdorf, April 2015)

Here is a link to the General Conference talk given yesterday by Pres. Dieter F Uchtdorf.
I was so happy when he started talking about grace-- the subject I've been focusing on recently.
He is an amazing speaker, and drives home many points. 

The main point I took from him was this: Grace Unlocks and Opens the Gates of Heaven.


4/5/15

12 Days of Easter: Day 9-- The Apostles' Testimonies of Christ

THE LIVING CHRIST

"The Living Christ" is a testimony published by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. It is a beautiful work, and one which my stake (a group of congregations) has been asked to memorize.
I extend that challenge to you: either read it and become familiar with it, or memorize it if you'd like.

JOHN THE BELOVED'S WITNESS

A touching video taken from the King James Bible. I loved this one!

HE LIVES: TESTIMONIES OF JESUS CHRIST

12 Days of Easter: Day 5-8-- An Easter Pageant

This post counts as four days because it took that long and longer to put it together :S.

EASTER PAGEANT

By Tova Biesinger

This can either be recorded or acted, depending on your level of comfort acting out these different people.

Voice of God: But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.
Narrator: Our Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior and show us the way to live according to God's plan. For God so loved the world, that he gave his onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
He Sent His Son
Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love
Nephi: And behold he cometh, according to the words of the angel... . And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.
Enter Caiaphas and priests
Narrator:Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Caiaphas: Jesus is entering the city for Passover. We must find a way to take Him and put him to death
Priest: Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
Enter Judas
Judas: What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?
Caiaphas: (after a whispered conference) And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Exit all.
Narrator: And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane
Enter JESUS, Peter, James, and John, and other disciples.
JESUS: Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Exit other disciples.
JESUS: My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed
JESUS: O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter
JESUS: What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
He went away again
JESUS: O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Thy Will, O Lord, Be Done
Gethsemane
Then cometh he to his disciples
JESUS: Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Enter priests, mob, and Judas.
Judas: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.  Hail, master; (and kissed him.)
JESUS: Friend, wherefore art thou come?
Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
James stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
JESUS: Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Exit all.
Narrator: Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands
Enter priests with JESUS, meeting Pilate and soldiers.
Narrator: And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Pilate: Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Narrator: And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
Enter mob.
Narrator: And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
Pilate: Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
Mob Barabbas.
Pilate: What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?
Priests: Let him be crucified.
Pilate: Why, what evil hath he done?
Mob: Let him be crucified.
Narrator: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, ..., he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude.
Pilate: I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Exit all; soldiers taking JESUS.
Narrator: Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
 ¶And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Isaiah: He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
¶Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.Narrator: And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
There is a Green Hill Faraway
Enter mob, soldiers, Disciples, Mary. Set up Cross.
Narrator: ¶They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Upon the Cross of Calvary
¶And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Priest: And saying, ... save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
2 Priest: If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Priest: He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Narrator: Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice
JESUS: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Amazing Grace
Narrator: ¶Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. And Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom was John.
JESUS: Woman, behold thy son!
to the disciple  Behold thy mother!
Narrator: And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
JESUS: I thirst.
Narrator: Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost
Behold the Great Redeemer Die
D&C 19:16-19
Reverently and Meekly Now
I Stand All Amazed
Enter Mary Mag., Joanna, Mary mother of James, and Luke
Luke: Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdelene, Joanna, and Mary mother of James came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Enter Angels.
Luke: And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth
Angel: Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen
He is Risen
Exit all.
That Easter Morn
Enter two disciples and JESUS, meeting.
Narrator: ¶And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, ....And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
JESUS: What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
1 Disciple: Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
JESUS: What things?
2 Disciple: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
JESUS: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Narrator: And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
1 Disciple: Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.
Narrator: And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Abide with Me
Enter Disciples.
Narrator: And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them.
Enter JESUS.
JESUS: Peace be unto you.
Narrator: But they were terrified and affrighted, ...
JESUS: Why are ye troubled? ... Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:...
Narrator: And he shewed them his hands and his feet. And they yet believed not for joy, and wondered
Peter: O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Christ the Lord is Risen Today

(optional for those who believe in the Book of Mormon...)Enter Nephites and Nephi.Nephi (the 3rd): And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.
And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death. And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not. And again the third time they did hear the voice, and didopen their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.
Voice of God: Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.
Enter JESUSJESUS: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
Nephi: And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.
Easter HosannaExit Nephi and Nephites.

JESUS: And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father.
You Raise Me UP
Joseph Smith: Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
Onward Christian Soldiers