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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