The Book of Mormon...a Tender Mercy

Earlier this week I was reading one of my favorite talks, "The Power of Deliverance" by Elder L Tom Perry. I love the story he shares about his friend Scott on his first airplane ride alone, but what caught my attention this time was a paragraph a little later that says,

      "I wish to speak about how the Book of Mormon, which is a tender mercy of the Lord preserved for these latter days, delivers us by teaching us in a pure and “most correct” way the doctrine of Christ."

I LOVE the Book of Mormon! I love the stories and the doctrine it teaches, but most of all I love how relevant it is to each of us. This book was written for us right now and can help each of us in our daily challenges. It answers questions that we all have at some point or another, whether they are voiced or not. Questions like Why should I believe in Jesus Christ are beautifully answered.

Most of all, I love this book because of the testimony it has helped me gain of my Savior, Jesus Christ. In the introduction it says that coming to know that the Book of Mormon is true WILL help us know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. When I read passages like Alma 7:10-13, I truly feel that Jesus Christ is there, that He loves us, that He lives. I read of his visit to the Americas and see that he loves all of us, I read about having faith in Him and I want to act on that faith.

I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know that it is another testament of Jesus Christ. Please, if you haven't studied it, start now. I promise that it will change your life.

"There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path."  --Ezra Taft Benson

Great are the Words of Isaiah

Today as I was reading in my personal study time I read 3 Nephi 22 and 23. Chapter 22 is Christ quoting Isaiah chapter 54 and in Chapter 23 he gives us a commandment. To 'search these words' for 'great are the words of Isaiah.' Having just read Chapter 22 I was in complete compliance and agreement! I think that the words that Christ is quoting from Isaiah are some of the most beautiful verses in scripture and contain amazing promises.

What hit me most as I was reading was verses 10-17, especially verse 11. "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted!" That line struck me. How often have we felt this way? I know that many times throughout my life I have felt like this. I believe most (if not everybody) feels like this at some point. Even Joseph Smith in a time of his great suffering called out "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?" In a letter my Grandpa wrote recently he taught me about how we all have to go through hard things. During hard times we learn and grow the most, and in the following verses it talks about the blessings that are a "Heritage of the servants of the Lord". The list is quite remarkable. He will,

• Lay our stones with fair colors
• our foundations with saphires
• windows of agates
• gates of carbuncles
• thy borders of pleasant stones
• thy children shall be taught of the Lord
• great shall be the peace of thy children
• In righteousness shalt thou be established
• Thou shalt be far from oppression
• whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake
• No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper
• every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn

We all go through challenges and hard times. We often feel without peace. My plea is don't give up. There are great promises for those who remain righteous and faithful! Keep praying. Keep reading. When you are going through a hard time, read this chapter. I know you won't regret it, after all, Great are the Words of Isaiah.

We can be Healed

     Isaiah 53: 3-5 is one of my aboslute FAVORITE verses about Jesus Christ. I love how at the end it says "and with His stripes, we are Healed". It is through Jesus Christ that we can be healed from anything. I saw this video about post World War II members of our church in Germany and the Netherlands. It really touched me how even the deepest of scars, brought by terrible war, can be healed through Christlike love.

I can't even imagine how the German Saints felt when they recieved that wonderful gift! I am so grateful to know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that it is through Him that you and I can be healed. I am grateful for the wonderful people I know who demonstrate Christlike service and make me want me to strive to be more like Him!

Mercy

A couple years ago, one of my brothers friends was preparing a talk. I don't remember exactly what it was about but he and my brother were discussing how Justice and Mercy are eternal laws. He asked me what I thought, and now . . . a few years later . . . here is my reply...

Thank you Boyd K Packer for this wonderful analogy! I am so grateful for the Mercy we are able to recieve through our Savior Jesus Christ!

Plus, the music in this video is pretty cool :)

Just a few thoughts :)

    This morning while I was thinking about my goals for this New Year, namely my goal to continue developing my personal relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ, I started thinking about the past year. 2013 brought a lot of changes in my life, good changes that I know were led by God, but very hard in some aspects. Leaving the family and friends that I love so much to do something I wasn't sure I wanted to do in first place was a choice that I had to make. I am forever grateful for that choice because of where it has led me today.
     Early in my mission I recieved some advice that has been a tender mercy to me since. My wonderful friend told me about an experience she had a few months ago that was hard for her. She talked about pleading with God to take away the challenge that he had given her, but that as long as he wanted her there, she would be there. That really hit me. I knew that God had called me here, I KNEW it. I had never felt something so strongly in my life. I knew that I had the choice to either do what I knew God wanted me to do, or to give up and go home. She continued in her e-mail with suggestions of what would help me to swallow my bitter cup.
     She reminded me that our Savior has given everything for us. I realized then that this 'sacrifice' that I am making is completly insignificant compared to what He has done for us. It brings to mind the scripture "The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he"?
    My goal for this year is to become consecrated, to not just sacrifice, but to consecrate my life to God and to serve him the way he would have me serve. I invite all who read this to think about the things that they can do to be just a little bit more like the person God knows they can become!

Also...for anyone who is going through a hard time, a quote from my wonderfully wise friend, "Add some sugar to your bitter cup and focus on the sweet things. It might still be hard to swallow but it won't be quite so bitter".

A reminder of the beauty of God's world.

Beauties of the Earth

A couple of weeks ago, we woke up and the world was covered in Ice! I had never seen this before! I am excited to share my echo to the refrain in For the Beauty of the Earth, 'Lord of all to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise."

Often times I have found the Tender Mercies of the Lord around me in nature. I am so grateful for the diversity of God's creations! When I am having a particularly hard time, there is always something, a beautiful sunset, a flower blooming a little late, icicles on a tree, or a beautiful lightning storm. I know that God is aware of each of us and no matter how hard a day or a week might seem, there is something out there that will add a little sweet to your bitter cup.

Happy New Year! I hope you have New Years Resolutions that are fun and will also help you to become the person you would know you have the potential to be!