Stand up

Here's a question to think about: "How can we best stand up for what we believe?"

I'm not going to try to tell you what you should post on Facebook or Instagram and I'm not going to attempt to drag you to do your home-teaching or visiting teaching-- Because standing up for what you believe is not just about what we say or do. It's about who we are. 

There are many scriptural references that invite us to, "Arise and shake ourselves from the dust." That is the greatest way to stand up for what you believe--being a living example. When we are applying the atonement in our daily lives we will be standing up for our beliefs even as we walk down the street. It will be seen in the smile on our faces and the light in our eyes.

For a lot of us the biggest obstacle holding us back from getting more "vertical" with our beliefs is ourselves. What I will say next is intended to be said with love and by the Comforter so that those reading might feel some of the same motivational promptings from the Spirit of God as I did as I studied this topic.

The truth is, we have a lot of false beliefs. I'm not talking about the church. I'm talking about us personally. 

False belief #1: "I'm not good enough."

Also comes in the form of, I'm not strong enough, smart enough, pretty enough and even righteous enough. We may agree with our friend from the School of Rock when he declared, "I'm not cool enough to be in the band." Well you are cool enough to be in God's band--And anything that makes you feel otherwise is a lie from the devil himself. The important part is to remember why we are good enough. It's because we come from divinity. In speaking of The Lord, Paul said, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being... For we are also his offspring." (Acts 17:28) Our potential is made possible through the atoning blood of Christ. 

So, let's apply the atonement. 

False belief #2

"I have good enough excuses."

One of my favorite Nike posters goes a little something like this:

I'm not trying to be overbearing. But I testify that the joy of the gospel is worth it. It's worth every trial and every hardship. It's worth everyday that the lord sees fit to allow you to struggle with what He needs you to struggle with. It's worth every step toward Him no matter how broken or imperfect.

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (Mosiah 2:41)"

So let's apply the atonement.

False belief #3

"I'm not ready."

We can talk about the trials that come into our lives because of work and school, but honestly for most if not all of us, our trials can go much, much deeper than that. We may feel wounded and held back from the front lines--unable to arise, "running together with our armor girded about our loins, covenanting with the Lord that we will never forsake him," like the faithful Nephites under the direction of Captain Moroni. We feel as if we are better off left behind—“others will get it done in my place.” For those of you who may feel similar feelings as these I bare you my solemn witness that there is a Balm in Gilead. Christ lives and He is the Savior and He needs you now more than ever.

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." 

So let's apply the atonement. 

If we are applying the atonement in our everyday life our natural inclination will be to stand up for what is right. We'll do our home-teaching and visiting teaching. We'll know what to post on social media and when and to whom.  We won't have to make the decision to defend our beliefs at the time of conflict. It will already be in our nature. As Will Smith said, "If you stay ready, you ain't never gotta get ready." We should always remember the council of Jeffrey R. Holland when he said, "Defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion--but defend them."

 You are good enough, you don't need excuses and you can stand for what's right starting today--Because of Jesus Christ who makes weak things become strong. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Consider It

Last week while participating in a father-son World Series baseball tournament in Phoenix, Arizona my testimony of the Gospel was strengthened by a simple picture. Let me explain.

It had been a while since I had left the bubble of Provo, Utah. That means I hadn't heard a swear word, a dirty joke or even seen an alcohol bottle in a long time. I was used to that atmosphere. That's probably why I was shocked to meet some new friends on the team who seamed to be incapable of finishing a sentence without the F-bomb or a sexual joke mixed in there. I don't mean to be judgmental, but even through their laughs and jokes it was clear as day that there was something missing in their lives. 

It didn't completely sink in until a friend of mine sent me a simple picture with a smile. Wow. There it was. In one simple picture I saw the meaning of the gospel. I saw a smile that reflected true happiness and eyes filled with Christ's light. It reminded me that when we follow the Savior the blessings are evident even in our countenances. It didn't matter that she happened to be drop dead gorgeous. You can't fake that kind of joy. There is no filter on Instagram called "Light of Christ." There is no earthly source that can provide the kind of peace and love that come from the everlasting gospel. None that even come close!

We are all imperfect people, but I know that following Jesus Christ is the way to true, lasting happiness. I know that He lives and is waiting for us with open arms. Any sacrifice necessary to have His Spirit guiding you in your life is eternally worth it. And if you ever question that, you can start by following the ageless council of King Benjamin from the Book of Mormon who said:

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 2:41)

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Let there be light: finding love in the darkest of times

This week's beautiful blog post is from guest blogger Carlie Palmer. Carlie writes:

There is so much darkness in this world. So much. There are millions of hungry, suffering children. There are murders and kidnappings. There are beggars dotting the streets in cities around the world. There is abuse and violence. This is not an easy world to live in.

Over the last three months I have witnessed much of this darkness. I work in an orphanage that is home to over eighty children, though it was built for fifty. These eighty children have been abandoned or taken from their families because of neglect or abuse. In the afternoon we go to the hospital and care for more abandoned children. I have spent hours in the ICU with sick, wheezing infants who have oxygen masks strapped to their faces. I have held children who seemed close to death, their bodies tiny and weak. I have seen children and adults alike who are missing limbs and begging in the streets for food. Yes, there is plenty of darkness in this world. Enough to even get lost in.

Then how is it that I am happier now than I have been in a very long time? How is it possible that my heart feels so full of love and praise? I know of no other explanation than this: Because of the Savior, the world is also full of light.  

I have honestly been completely puzzled by my happiness here in Romania. That sounds odd, I realize, but it is true. I expected to feel completely weighed down by the hardship that would surround me each day. I thought that my heart would be completely broken by what I would see and experience. I was wrong. Well, at least partially.

Many days I do feel the weight of the suffering that encircles me. My heart does ache for these people. I have felt deep anguish as I have come to love people who have so little and have watched as they suffer. Every time I go into the ICU at the hospital I am overwhelmed with a profound sorrow for the children there. I do experience the darkness. While I know that this is just a taste of the darkness that the children must have experienced, to me it is real and intense.

But there is something more powerful. In Genesis we read of the creation of the world.

Genesis 1:1-3

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

I feel this same process happening inside of me every day. I step out of my communist bloc apartment building and enter the dark world. I go to the orphanage. I see hard things. I sit next to my sweet, paralyzed girl Adi and dream about the life she will never have. My heart fills with sorrow. And then, somehow, Christ enters my heart and says, “Let there be light.” And there is.

This happened to me at the hospital the other day. Again, I was in the ICU (which looks nothing like the ICUs that we are used to I might add). There is a tiny baby there with severe hydrocephalus. Because of his condition his head is large and misshapen. His giant head must weigh more than the rest of his body combined and then some. This sweet little boy does not move much and when he makes noise it is a quiet sort of whimper, as if he is too sick to even cry. A few days ago I went to check on him. I checked his diaper and it was dry. I could not pick him up because of the severity of his condition. I felt helpless. The few diapers that I left in his crib seemed a completely insignificant offering. I didn’t know what else to do so I laid my hand gently on his tummy and began to hum. I don’t know if he was even aware that I was there. I had a moment of complete despair. I knew this child was close to death but that, with the proper medical care, could probably be fine. I knew that he had been abandoned there and was now suffering without a mother or father by his side. I felt darkness weighing on my heart. But even there, God reached me. He said, “Let there be light,” and again, there was.

God whispered to my heart that He loved that little boy and that while his earthly family was not by his side, He was. I felt so much peace in knowing that someone cared, that someone understood the pain of this small child. I felt strongly that this boy would be taken care of. Someday, when he is with God, he will run and jump and play with the other children. Even is his life, the light will chase away the darkness. 

So yes, our world is full of darkness. There will be times in our lives when that darkness seems to completely overwhelm us. But somehow, if we turn to Him, God will again say, “Let there be light.” And there will be.

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

Every time we do a good deed, help someone in need, smile, love someone, share what we have, etc. we are adding to the light in the world. Focusing on the darkness will not make it go away. Lighting a candle will.

In John 14:18 Christ promises, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

I testify that this promise is real. I have experienced His comfort and care. He has filled my darkest moments with light.

Over and over again.

-Carlie Palmer

Here is the link to Carlie's incredible blog:

http://brokenwingsrm.blogspot.com/?m=1

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A French Miracle

I visited home last weekend for a very special family occasion. My little brother was going to the temple to recieve his Endowment! (https://www.lds.org/topics/endowment?lang=eng)

Before we entered the temple we stopped by the visitors center to look around. Right before leaving, my dad told me he heard a sister missionary speaking French, so I walked up to her and started speaking French with her. I learned that she only knew basic vocabulary but it was still cool. 

After we went back outside to take pictures in front of the temple, we were shorty followed by two sister missionaries from the visitors center who wanted to talk with us. They told me that two French people had just walked into the visitors center with limited English, and they wanted me to come help teach them! It was the perfect timing!

I was able to speak with these two young French guys about the restoration of the gospel and how it could be a blessing in their lives. The reason that the came to the temple while on vacation was because they saw this huge, beautiful building on the hillside and they were just drawn to it! And now they have a greater understanding of who we really are and how Christ is at the center of all we do. They even know where to go to contact the missionaries in France to learn more!

I am grateful to a Heavenly Father who looks over us and guides us to be in the right place at the right time. I know He loves us and wants us to be happy. The ultimate proof of this love is manifested through Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. 

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Why Mormons Do Genealogy: a testimony from Darci Crandall

Darci Crandall writes:

Since I was young, I’ve loved learning about different peoples and cultures.  One thing I’ve noticed is that in pretty much every culture there exists the idea of honoring one’s parents and forefathers.  In Spain, Mexico, and many South American countries, there is the “Dia de los Muertos,” where people remember and pray for their friends and family that have passed on.  Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, originated from the same root idea.  In Confucianist Asian culture, the concept of filial piety plays a large role--which is showing reverence to one’s parents and ancestors.  And many languages from across the globe have lower and higher forms, to distinguish and recognize those who are older as ones we should respect.

"A Family Tree" -by Norman Rockwell

It’s intrinsic in every culture—to honor one’s forbears.  And in my mind there is no greater way that I can honor my ancestors than to offer them the saving ordinances included in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

In the scriptures, the Savior declared that “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  Christ himself was baptized (see Matthew 3:15-17), and the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi added that “if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” (2 Nephi 31:5).

 

Because baptism is such a necessary ordinance, and not all people have the opportunity to hear the gospel during their mortal lives, God has provided a way that His Will may be accomplished.  Through a latter-day prophet, God has once again revealed how ordinances are to be performed for those who have died.  These ordinances take place in temples and are performed by live proxies. (See also 1 Cor. 15:29)

 

The ordinances, (for example, baptism by immersion, or confirmation to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost), are performed in behalf of those who are dead so that if they choose they may receive those ordinances as their own.  When Mormons perform temple ordinances for our ancestors, it is not forced upon them.  It is not something that can be forced upon them.  What we are doing can be likened to opening a door.  We open the door, but they must choose for themselves whether they will enter.  We do hope that they will choose Christ and His Way.  And so we offer that opportunity of choosing to all that we can. 

 

We offer it to them because we love them—because they’re family.

 

In the Latter-day Saint faith, we believe that Heavenly Father is the literal Father of our spirits.  We lived with Him as part of His Family before coming to the earth.  Only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can we return to live with Him again.  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to return to their presences because They love us.  They love us because we are Family.  Heavenly Father wants us to have everything He has, and I believe that is why He organized us on this earth in families. And our families can be together forever when we are sealed in holy temples.

 

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Courage

This week, guest blogger Kristina Murri shares some wonderful insights. She writes:

At this time in our lives, "the decade of decisions," we face many very important decisions, and some of these decisions will be quite hard.

 

In the past couple of weeks, I have decided to attend graduate school for Statistics and also earn my PhD., so that I can become a professor. While I am quite excited about the opportunities that this choice will offer, it now requires quite a bit of hard work. I will have to take the GRE this summer, fit in a few extra Stats classes before I graduate, while continuing to improve in my classes.

 

At times, it would be easy to back out and say what I am facing is too hard and too difficult or not worth it in the long run, but during these times is exactly when I must demonstrate more faith and even - courage. Courage is doing the right thing even though it may be the hard thing. While I may face much work ahead of me, I hope it will be worth it and so I will continue to press on. Courage is continuing to exercise faith even when the odds may be against us.

 

During this day and age and phase in our lives, we must develop the attribute of courage. We must stand strong for our beliefs despite the outcomes that lie ahead.

 

That's why I love this video about courage. It shows Queen Ester as she approaches the king in behalf of the Jews. To stand before the King without being called was to face death, yet through her fasting and prayers and the fasting of her people, she goes in unto the king.

 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2221439363001

 

This video teaches that whatever our individual circumstance, we will be called to face the difficult tests. The choice is ours to show courage or to falter.

 

This is what President Monson says about courage. "Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but also a determination to live decently. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well."

 

Most of all, I know that courage will allow us to prove our faith. We will become more like Christ and in the end, we will be glad that we have chosen the high road and not to falter. Courage gives us the ability to practice other Christ like virtues. Exercising our courage will transform us into people of strong character.

 

I am choosing to have courage!

-Kristina Murri

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Discipleship

What does it mean to you to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? 

Elder Neil A. Maxwell said,

"God’s greatest gift—eternal life—will be given... to... those who respond to Jesus’ invitation, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22)."

When Christ called out to peter and his brother Andrew while they were fishing, "they straightway left their nets and followed him "(Mathew 4:20). There is great meaning that can be found in the reaction of these two noble men.

What are the "nets" that we must drop in our own lives in order to follow Him? They can come in many different forms.

"Jealousy, resentment, and self-pity can all keep us from becoming alive in Christ."

"We [should] also be much less concerned with our public image and with what “they” think, being, instead, much more concerned with having Jesus’ image in our countenance."

Whatever nets may be holding us back, there is no sacrifice that's not worth making that would allow us to follow Jesus Christ more fully.

"There is no greater calling, no greater challenge, and no greater source of joy—both proximate joy and ultimate joy—than that which is found in the process of discipleship. This process brings its own joys and reassurances. We must not, however, expect the world to understand or to value our discipleship; they will not. In a way, they may admire us from afar, but they will be puzzled about the priorities resulting from our devotion."

In order to withstand the pressures of the world, our discipleship must come from us. It must be a true, ongoing effort summoned by our own use of the God given gift of agency. It takes more than sitting and listening and feeling good. It takes learning by faith.

When I say learning by faith I mean, for example, that nothing that you will read in this blog post will have any lasting effect on you unless you take what the Spirit of God has whispered to you and go and have your own, personal experience with the Savior's atonement. Same goes for us with any talk, or doctrine, or ordinance. 

"So it is that discipleship requires all of us to translate doctrines, covenants, ordinances, and teachings into improved personal behavior. Otherwise we may be doctrinally rich but end up developmentally poor." 

When we start having more and more personal experiences with the Savior's atonement shaping us into better disciples, we begin to see things clearer. One thing we see clearer is who we really are. We really start living.

"Discipleship turns on our spiritual sensitivities. It increases the “aliveness” in each of us. These sensitivities are enhanced, not diminished, with discipleship. It’s part of what the scriptures call becoming “alive in Christ because of our faith” (2 Ne. 25:25; see also Rom. 6:11; 1 Cor. 15:22). In contrast, there’s a dullness and a sameness about sin. With discipleship we learn to act for ourselves rather than merely letting ourselves be “acted upon” by circumstances (see 2 Ne. 2:13).

The more we act and learn through personal, faith driven experiences and tap into His power, the more we see who the Savior truly is.

"Shouldering the yoke of discipleship greatly enhances both our adoration and knowledge of Jesus, because then we experience, firsthand, through our parallel but smaller-scaled experiences, a small but instructive portion of what the Savior experienced. We come to know him better and better. Knowledge alone, however, is not enough for true discipleship."

Which brings us to maybe the most difficult and ongoing test of discipleship: The battle to conquer the natural man.

I think that one of the most powerful tools the adversary uses against us is the slow, and sneaky way he gets us to just go through the motions. It's true, we are stripped of power when we take for granted the amazing tools Heavenly Father has given us to grow. I have felt it as I just read my scriptures nonchalantly and pray without fervor. I've felt it when I give service without love in my heart. I've felt it when I've tried to take the easy way out of trials before learning what Heavenly Father needed me to learn. The natural man is ok with easy sailing, while the holy man inside is starved.

 When we strive to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, "then we can learn the great lessons about the relationship of righteousness to the powers and the joys of heaven.

It is left to each of us to balance contentment regarding what God has allotted to us in life with some divine discontent resulting from what we are in comparison to what we have the power to become."

Brothers and sisters, nobody is perfect and the Savior knows that. He knows better than anyone! And for that reason He blesses us for every single effort we give. Discouragement is never His desire for us. However low we feel, it's His hope that He yearns for us to hold on to.

"So, the lingering question should not be, How many imperfections do I have? but rather, Is my discipleship sufficiently serious that I am working patiently and steadily to overcome my weaknesses, perhaps even changing some of them into strengths? (see Ether 12:27)."

I testify with all my heart that He can and will change weaknesses into strengths which brings a joy like no other. A joy that is more personal than anything else.

"Of course, when it occurs in our lives, emancipation from various forms of bondage brings no celebrating parades, nor does it make the evening news. But it is big news because we “come off conqueror” (D&C 10:5)."

Now if you've felt something today in your heart, remember this quote:

“Now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:10). Such is still the test. Deeds, not words—and becoming, not describing—are dominant in true discipleship."

And let's remember to be patient.

Life may be full of disappointments, unexpected changes, or even bad timing or blown chances but, "in an ultimate sense our individual developmental schedules reflect God’s timetable, not ours, for God will not withhold from us certain growing experiences that He, in His infinite wisdom, allows us to undergo for our eternal benefit. His timetable, if followed, prepares us incrementally for the journey of discipleship and for going home."

So let us drop our nets, exert the necessary efforts to learn by faith, and strive to conquer the natural man. I testify that in doing so the blessings of heaven will be poured down upon us. I know that Christ lives and He knows His sheep by name. 

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Quotes from this blog post came from here:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/06/becoming-a-disciple?lang=eng