Inviting All

Chris and I are currently attending a branch. There are about 40 members who come regularly. It seems that half are actually from nearby wards who are called to attend the branch and help out.

We have been called as Young Men's and Young Women's presidents. It is most definitely out of my comfort zone.

Chris isn't as lucky as me and doesn't get to teach every Sunday. (Sometimes there are no young men.) I do get to teach. The church updates the manuals every year with some current conference talks, personal progress goals, and Mormon Messages. (Because these are the same manuals that were used when I was in Young Women.) I love the updates.

The Mormon Messages are my favorite. I have used one almost every week I've taught.

This is a good video that works for the condition our branch is in now. It is amazing that all it has to take is inviting someone to come to church, or meet with the missionaries or read the Book of Mormon. This reminds me that we always have to trust that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can work in everybody's life. We don't need to be afraid to share.

Trials

Our Relief Society lesson today was about trials and waiting patiently on the Lord. Sometimes I feel like I have a lot of experience waiting patiently.  I found this quote I saved almost a year ago.

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility, ... It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire."

Orson F Whitney

It isn't always easy to go through trials. But I know what good they do us.

Easter

In our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning: ‘He is not here: for he is risen.' Thomas S Monson

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. …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. Isaiah 53:4-5

In the words of the hymn, “Let me not forget, O Savior, / Thou didst bleed and die for me." I wonder how many drops were shed for me. James E Faust

We know that in some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name. Bruce R McConkie

I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way. Bruce R McConkie

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. Alma 7:11-12

Come What May and Love It

The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.


Joseph B Wirthlin

Sunday Thought

And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.

I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way.

Bruce R McConkie

Full Talk Here

The Book of Mormon

Sometimes I get caught up in going through the motions of daily scripture study and prayer, without sometimes thinking too much about it.

But I know that daily prayer and scripture study are a few of the keys to happiness. They help get closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon is the word of God. No one could ever convince me otherwise. It speaks of Christ, love, the atonement, prayer, priesthood, prophets, faith, repentance, charity, family... any gospel topic you can think of.

Chris and I were just talking about this. And he said how sad is it that some people just dismiss the Book of Mormon because they think it is about Joseph Smith. Even if it was, how much are they missing?! I wish everyone could feel the power this wonderful book can bring into our lives. And they can, they just have to read it with and open heart.

This conference, my favorite talk so far was Elder Holland. His testimony was so powerful. I have already listened to it a couple times and I am sure I will again. Read it here. But this is a snippet. I wish I was as eloquent as him, but I agree 100% with his words.

"Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”