Now the joy of (Tova) was so great even that (she) was full; yea, (she) was swallowed up in the joy of (her) God, even to the exhausting of (her) strength; ...
Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.
Sorry I haven't been posting. Easter wasn't planned very well this year :S. It's 12 days go over my busiest weekend! :) jk.
So, here are some thoughts I've been having. I've been thinking about the people who are in Christ's story, and thought I'd mention a few of them.
Judas
I don't understand Judas. He had walked for three years with the greatest man on earth, and then basically sold him.
One of my teachers pointed out that although Judas had done a terrible deed, the thirty pieces of silver were used for good. After Judas killed himself, the priests took the money back, and "...bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in." (a potter's field was the poorer people's graveyard).
Angel
Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
I love this. Even though Heavenly Father couldn't take the cup from His Beloved Son, He sent someone to be with Him. Imagine the honor of being that angel; sent down to comfort the Savior during the greatest trial that was ever experienced.
Peter
Luke 22: 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
And we later see that this was fulfilled.
Joseph of Arimathea
Matt 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’disciple:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
What an awesome guy! I wish we knew more about Joseph. He may have risked his position, or offered to risk his wealth to obtain the Savior's body. And after that he didn't just put him in an ordinary spot; he put him in his own new tomb. Let me say it again. What an awesome guy!
Soldiers
Matt 28:11 ¶...Behold, some of the watch (the soldiers who'd been guarding the tomb) came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears (if you get in trouble for lying), we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
I know that Christ walked the lonely road for us. I know that through the example of the Angel, Joseph of Arimathea, and the repentance of Peter we can see how we can best honor Him and help others around us.
To start off this post, here's a story told by Brad Wilcox:
A BYU student once came to me and asked if we could talk. I said, “Of course. How can I help you?”
She said, “I just don’t get grace.”
I responded, “What is it that you don’t understand?”
She said, “I know I need to do my best and then Jesus does the rest, but I can’t even do my best.”
She then went on to tell me all the things she should be doing because she’s a Mormon that she wasn’t doing.
She continued, “I know that I have to do my part and then Jesus makes up the difference and fills the gap that stands between my part and perfection. But who fills the gap that stands between where I am now and my part?”
She then went on to tell me all the things that she shouldn’t be doing because she’s a Mormon, but she was doing them anyway.
Finally I said, “Jesus doesn’t make up the difference. Jesus makesall the difference. Grace is not about filling gaps. It is about filling us.”
Seeing that she was still confused, I took a piece of paper and drew two dots—one at the top representing God and one at the bottom representing us. I then said, “Go ahead. Draw the line. How much is our part? How much is Christ’s part?”
She went right to the center of the page and began to draw a line. Then, considering what we had been speaking about, she went to the bottom of the page and drew a line just above the bottom dot.
I said, “Wrong.”
She said, “I knew it was higher. I should have just drawn it, because I knew it.”
I said, “No. The truth is, there is no line. Jesus filled the whole space. He paid our debt in full. He didn’t pay it all except for a few coins. He paid it all. It is finished.”
She said, “Right! Like I don’t have to do anything?”
“Oh no,” I said, “you have plenty to do, but it is not to fill that gap. We will all be resurrected. We will all go back to God’s presence. What is left to be determined by our obedience is what kind of body we plan on being resurrected with and how comfortable we plan to be in God’s presence and how long we plan to stay there.”
Christ asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice—not even the smallest part. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. Justice requires immediate perfection or a punishment when we fall short. Because Jesus took that punishment, He can offer us the chance for ultimate perfection (see Matthew 5:48, 3 Nephi 12:48) and help us reach that goal. He can forgive what justice never could, and He can turn to us now with His own set of requirements (see 2 Nephi 2:7; 3 Nephi 9:20).
“So what’s the difference?” the girl asked. “Whether our efforts are required by justice or by Jesus, they are still required.”
“True,” I said, “but they are required for a different purpose. Fulfilling Christ’s requirements is like paying a mortgage instead of rent or like making deposits in a savings account instead of paying off debt. You still have to hand it over every month, but it is for a totally different reason.”
I know that through Christ's grace, through His Atonement and His love, we can all be healed. We can feel His peace and the happiness that comes with it.
Please send at least this video to anyone you know or feel may be suffering. Please know that people love you and are praying for you. I know that angels are looking down at you, and cheering you on. It may seem bleak and hopeless, but as you open your heart, God will pour light into your life, and you can make it out of your dark places.
D&C 76:22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the atestimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he blives!
23 For we asaw him, even on the bright hand of cGod; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the dOnly Begotten of the Father—
24 That by ahim, and through him, and of him, the bworlds are and were created, and the cinhabitants thereof are begotten dsons and daughters unto God.
He is Risen; John the Beloved's Witness of the Resurrection
There are many more, of course. If you go to this page, each Conference there has been something about Him and His Sacrifice. After all, this is His Church :).
Recently, around the Conference Center, there was a protest against the Church policy that women can't hold the priesthood.
Today, as part of my Young Women's church class, we discussed this. Why don't women hold the priesthood?
A couple of them brought up that women are more spiritual, or more intellectual than men, and that men need the priesthood to catch up.
I DISAGREE WITH THIS!!!!! I dislike generalities with a passion. I know plenty of girls who aren't spiritual, and boys who are very spiritual (and vice versa, of course :)). I know smart boys and girls, and not-so-smart boys and girls.
But if the priesthood isn't for boys to catch up, why do they have it?
When I researched this on lds.org, it brought up this exerpt from "The Basic LDS Manual for Women:
“Priesthood
is to be used for the benefit of the entire human family, for the
upbuilding of men, women, and children alike. There is indeed no
privileged class or sex within the true Church of Christ. … Men have
their work to do and their powers to exercise for the benefit of all the
members of the Church. …
“So
with woman: Her special gifts are to be exercised for the benefit and
uplift of the race” (quoted by John A. Widtsoe, comp., in Priesthood and Church Government, rev. ed. [1954], 92–93).
Men
and women have different but equally important responsibilities in the
home and the Church. Priesthood power can help each person perform those
responsibilities for the benefit of all
I know that the priesthood is the power to act in God's name. I know that it is a man's responsibility to remain worthy of that calling, and a woman's responsibility to support him in that calling, and to pursue her own mission.
I was listening to this talk this morning, and it was soo powerful, I just had to share it.
I know that the Savior suffered EVERYTHING for us. "What weight is thrown on the
scales of pain when calculating the hurt of innumerable patients in
countless hospitals? Now, add to that the loneliness of the elderly who
are forgotten in the rest homes of society, desperately yearning for a
card, a visit, a call—just some recognition from the outside world. Keep
on adding the hurt of hungry children, the suffering caused by famine,
drought, and pestilence. Pile on the heartache of parents who tearfully
plead on a daily basis for a wayward son or daughter to come back home.
Factor in the trauma of every divorce and the tragedy of every abortion.
Add the remorse that comes with each child lost in the dawn of life,
each spouse taken in the prime of marriage. Compound that with the
misery of overflowing prisons, bulging halfway houses and institutions
for the mentally disadvantaged. Multiply all this by century after
century of history, and creation after creation without end. Such is but
an awful glimpse of the Savior’s load. Who can bear such a burden or
scale such a mountain as this? No one, absolutely no one, save Jesus
Christ, the Redeemer of us all" (-Callister) “For many years I thought of the Savior’s experience in the garden
and on the cross as places where a large mass of sin was heaped upon
Him. Through the words of Alma, Abinadi, Isaiah, and other prophets,
however, my view has changed. Instead of an impersonal mass of sin,
there was a long line of people, as Jesus felt “our infirmities” (Heb. 4:15), “[bore] our griefs, … carried our sorrows … [and] was bruised for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:4–5).
The Atonement was an intimate, personal experience in which Jesus came to know how to help each of us.” -Merril J. Bateman What better proof that the Savior loves us? Why else would He go through with all of this? He was perfect. And instead of living an easy life, He helped us by giving us a chance to be perfect, through the Atonement.
I had the chance to attend a "Best of EFY" meeting a year or so ago, and one of the speakers was Brad Wilcox. He talked about how the church is different from other churches. He help us remember by spelling the word GOSPEL, like so: Godhead Only True Church Spirit Priesthood Everyone Living Prophets
Godhead: We know that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate beings. (examples of this in the Bible can be found in Acts 7:55-56, and Jesus' Baptism) We also know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have physical bodies.
This was revealed in the latterdays through Joseph Smith's 1st Vision.
Some people argue that Joseph Smith just lied about the first vision. Well, let me quote The Trickster's Queen "If I was going to lie to you, I'd want to to believe me." Back then, the idea that the godhead was made up of 3 SEPARATE beings was unheard of! So why would Joseph try to get people to believe him with something as outrageous as that?
Others say that he wasn't lying, he was just crazy, and having a hallucination. Bro. Wilcox shared that when people have hallucinations they are things that they know about. ie, If you've never seen an elephant you can't imagine you see one/have a hallucination about one, because you don't know what it looks like.
Only True Church: There can only be one true church. Because all of the churches say different things. Like it says in "Fiddler on the Roof": "You are also right"(-Tevye) "He's right? and he's right? They can't both be right." "You are also right" :)
How can you tell which church is true? That is what Joseph Smith wanted to know. That is why he went to the Sacred Grove and prayed to Heavenly Father to know. I'm sure he didn't expect to actually SEE God and Jesus Christ, but he did, and they told him that none of the churches on earth were true. Later, others appeared to Joseph Smith, and helped him organize Christ's church on the earth.
The way that YOU can find out is the same way: pray. I suggest that you read the Book of Mormon. It is really an amazing book. It has comforting words, it has battles, and people dying for the truth. If you read it and pray about it, I'm sure that you will feel the Spirit telling you that it is true.
Spirit: Soon after you are baptized a member of the church, you are Confirmed-- given the gift of the Holy Ghost (or the Holy Spirit, whatever you want to call it), who will guide you and comfort you through life. You can still feel it, even if you aren't a member. But this is how Brad Wilcox described the difference: When you feel the spirit, it's like blowing up a balloon, you feel full and happy. If you haven't been confirmed, the air just wooshes right back out. But if you HAVE been confirmed, then it's like tying th knot on the balloon.
Priesthood: The LDS church has the Priesthood authority. Think about this situation Bro Wilcox gave: Suppose you were driving down the road, and you saw a kid on a bike. The kid 'pulled you over' and said "You were speeding, here's a ticket." Would you think the kid was serious? (say "no") Why not? Because the kid doesn't have the authority to pull you over and give you a ticket! That's what it's like with the priesthood. The priesthood is the right for all worthy men on earth to act for Heavenly Father. In the church we have the Aaronic Priesthood, which is given to male members at 12 yrs. and the Melchezidek Priesthood, which is given when boys turn 18.
Here are a couple videos that have to do with the priesthood:
"The Power of God:
African-Americans/Africans are able to get the priesthood.
Everyone: Once there were a couple of missionaries. They were spreading the truth of the gospel. They met a woman one day, and started to talk to her. She asked them "So you claim that your church is for everyone?" "Yes" the missionaries said. "Well, what about the people who have died? How do you bring your gospel to them?" the woman asked "I've asked this question of many religious leaders, and not one has answered me. But when someone DOES answer it, I'll know their church is true." The missionaries were overjoyed "We do take our gospel to the dead!" and they explained how in our temples, we do saving ordinances (like baptism) for those who have died, and then the spirits of those people can choose whether or not to accept the gospel. This woman was sooooo happy to finally find the true gospel, and was baptized, and one day, she probably went herself into a temple to do some saving ordinances.
Living Prophets: Here is a story that demonstrates the importance of having living prophets.
"In January of 1975, on a dark,
rainy night in Tasmania, a 7,300–ton barge smashed into two piers of the
Tasman Bridge, which connects Hobart, Tasmania, with its eastern
suburbs across the bay. Three spans of the bridge collapsed. An
Australian family by the name of Ling were driving across the bridge
when suddenly the bridge lights went out. Just then a speeding car
passed them and disappeared before their very eyes. Murray Ling 'slammed
on his brakes and skidded to a stop, one yard from the edge of a black
void' (Stephen Johnson, "Over the Edge!" Reader's Digest, Nov. 1977, 128).
"Murray got his family out of the car and then began warning oncoming
traffic of the disaster ahead. As he frantically waved his arms, to his
horror, a car 'swerved around him and plummeted into the abyss' (p.
128). A second car barely stopped in time, but a third car showed no
sign of slowing down and crashed into the Lings' car at the edge of the
bridge.
"Suddenly a loaded bus headed toward Murray, ignoring his waving
arms. In desperation, risking his very life, he 'ran alongside the
driver's window. "There's a span missing," he yelled' (p. 129). The bus
swerved just in time and came to a halt against the railing. Dozens of
lives had been saved.
"I am grateful for these Brethren whom we sustain as prophets, seers,
and revelators who forewarn us of bridges not to be crossed"(Spencer J. Condie)
The scriptures tell us that God is unchangeable. To finish up with prophets, this is a poem Sophie wrote expressing appreciation to the prophets of today:
What have the prophets done for me? They have spoken for God. All of my questions they're answering 'Bout how to hold on the rod.
I wonder "What's truth? And how do I know? When I find it what's it like?" Why look, here's a talk that perfectly shows Everything. Now I can hike.
But, I think I'm worthless. I'm not important. Why should anybody like me. But then I read stories, and words of a chant. And now I know who I'm to be!
If you should ask what the prophets have done, I will just smile and say. They've spoken for God, and, with the sun Have helped me to start a new day. -Sophie
I love this talk. Elder Holland really helps the scriptures become real to me.
I know that if we truly love God, nothing else will matter to us. We will pray to have His guidance, and we will act for Him and with Him in everything we do.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-- we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, we seek after these things.
This is the longest article of faith, and it is one of my favorites.
There was an article in the New Era (an LDS Youth magazine :)) that has some words from prophets and other church leaders about some of the key words/phrases:
We Believe
“[This]
article of our faith is one of the basic declarations of our theology.
We ought to reflect on it again and again. Then, whenever we might be
tempted to do anything shoddy or dishonest or immoral, there would come
into our minds with some force this great, all-encompassing statement of
the ethics of our behavior.”
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), “Fear Not to Do Good,” Ensign, Jan. 2000, 2.
Chaste
“Human
sexuality is more than a physical matter. Chastity and fidelity begin in
the spirit, not in the body. They are an expression of the condition of
our spirit. When our spirit is in tune with godly thinking and gospel
truths, we want to live high standards, and our actions reflect that
desire. Thus, chastity and fidelity are more than sexual abstinence
before marriage and sexual fidelity after marriage. They express the
quality of our spiritual life.”
Terrance D. Olson, “Truths of Moral Purity,” Ensign, Oct. 1998, 43.
To be benevolent is to be kind and giving, in a word—to do good. During His ministry Jesus Christ “went about doing good, … for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). As you live your life with benevolence, God will strengthen and uplift you.
Seek after These Things
Read the “Entertainment and Media” section in For the Strength of Youth
(page 17). Is the entertainment you choose consistent with these
standards and with the thirteenth article of faith? Consider writing in
your journal about how you have been blessed by making good media
choices.
Virtuous
“Virtue ‘is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards’ (Preach My Gospel,
118). It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the
heart and in the mind. … It is the accumulation of thousands of small
decisions and actions. … Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity
and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to
receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost.”
Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women general president, “A Return to Virtue,” Ensign, Nov. 2008, 78–80
I think that these are excellent thoughts about this article.
Here are a couple of other connections I had:
Admonition of Paul
When it refers to the 'admonition of Paul' it's talking about this scripture: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are atrue, whatsoever things arebhonest, whatsoever things arecjust, whatsoever things aredpure, whatsoever things areelovely, fwhatsoever things are of good report; if there be any gvirtue, and if there be any praise, hthink on these things. (KJV)
Honesty
And that is the last article of faith. The last statement that sums up the belief of us Latter-Day Saints.
I hope this has helped with understanding the Articles of Faith, and what Mormons believe in and helped make them seem real, instead of just words on a screen.
I don't know about eveyone else out there, but sometimes I have a hard time feeling like I'm important, and that I matter.
One quote that always helps boost my self-confidence, is this one, from Elder Holland (Oct, 2005 "To the Young Women"):
"You can’t live your life worrying that the world is staring at you.
When you let people’s opinions make you self-conscious you give away
your power. … The key to feeling [confident] is to always listen to your
inner self—[the real you.]” And in the kingdom of God, the real you is “more precious than rubies."
(note: rubies are among the 4 most precious stones)
Here's another one, talking about how we are ALL important to God:
While we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, ‘What
is man in comparison to the glory of creation?’ God Himself said we are
the reason He created the universe! His work and glory—the purpose for
this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt mankind (see Moses
1:38–39). … Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach
our potential as His sons and daughters.
“This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we
are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation
we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning
within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of
exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great
desire to help us reach it.
There is another quote that says "Be yourself, everyone else is taken" :)
I think that people really want to know what you're like. They don't want you to pretend. Of course, some people just want you to be what they want you to be, but those people aren't worth being around, unless you can still be strong, and be yourself.
How do you feel about dying? Is it the end? What will it be like? Will I see God? or Jesus?
I think that for most people, it will be a happy day; a day when they are finally at peace from worldy cares, and are able to be at rest in paradise. I think that the majority of people are good, and will be able to say that they loved God while in life.
How would you prepare for such a day?
I love these talks given in previous General Conferences (a bi-annual LDS event): The First Great Commandment by Jeffery R Holland Your Once Upon a Time by Dieter F Uchtdorf
I think that they really talk about preparing, and what you need to do, and how to keep perspective.
Here are two videos of songs that I L. O. V. E. LOVE!!
"Live Like You Were Dyin'" Time McGraw
"I can only Imagine" Mercy Me.
I think that those songs really cover what I want to say.
Bye! Best of Luck in Life!
Sophie
