I have always loved learning about charity, but it has also been a difficult thing for me to conceptualize. I know what charity feels like, and what it looks like, but I can never say exactly what it is. However, when Brother Griffin told us today to replace "charity" with "Christ," everything made so much more sense. I now know exactly how to explain what charity is. Charity is Christ.
We read in Moroni 7:45:
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, and seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
We replaced the word charity with "Christ" and it was so beautiful!
I wanted to elaborate more on a few of the things I learned.
Christ suffereth long, and is kind--
This one really stuck out to me. It showed that Christ was always kind and service-minded, even when He was just finishing trials or enduring hard things. For example, He healed the man's ear after suffering through the Atonement and He washed His disciples' feet after hearing that He would be betrayed. If I put myself in those scenarios, I would just want to give up on life if those trials happened to me. I would selfishly want to wallow in self-pity. However, when Christ has to endure hard things, He always turns to helping others. That really is the most beautiful example of charity.
Christ envieth not, and is not puffed up--
To me, both of those things sounds like sins of comparison a.k.a. pride. To not envy or to not be puffed up is to be humble. Christ is the ultimate example of humility and I aspire to develop that quality. I learned that it doesn't matter what I am like compared to others. It only matters what I am like compared to the Lord.
Christ seeketh not [His] own, is not easily provoked--
When it says that He seeketh not His own, it means that He spends time with people who don't love Him even though He loves them. I think that is such a hard thing to do. It is easy to love people who treat you with respect and kindness, but it is hard to show compassion towards people who do not return the feelings. Further, Christ is not easily provoked. Even when people were abusing Him and being so rude, He never retaliated but instead showed peace and forgiveness. I think these things will be difficult on my mission. People will not always treat the missionaries with respect and kindness, but I still need to love them and show them charity. I am so grateful for Christ and His perfect example.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Sacrament
I enjoyed studying the sacrament prayers this week in class. They are found in Moroni 4 and 5. It was interesting because Brother Griffin mentioned how they are repeated so often. They are probably the scriptures we hear the most because we hear them on a weekly basis at church and we always make sure they are read word-for-word. Then Brother Griffin said that he thinks those are Heavenly Father's favorite scriptures. If Heavenly Father had a favorite scripture, He would want us to hear it often and hear it exactly how He wrote it. That really put the sacrament prayers in a new light for me.
We then talked about how it is important that the bread comes first. There is bitterness in life that can be eased by the sacrament. However, when you drink something bitter and then drink water after it, it becomes more bitter. When you eat bread before you drink water, the bitterness gets sucked out and then the water can cleanse. I thought that was very symbolic and made me grateful that I have the opportunity to partake of the sacrament every week. Life is less bitter and easier when I have the chance to reflect on what the Savior has done for me.
I used to not understand the sacrament as well, but now I am so grateful for the chance to renew my baptismal covenants every week. We learned that the baptismal covenant is external. Everyone can see that we are getting baptized. However, the renewal of the covenant is an internal and very personal procedure. I love that the sacrament is a time for me to ponder and reflect. It is a time when I am personally able to make goals and covenants with the help of my Savior. It is a time that really does bring me peace.
I have a testimony that as we do the things listed in the sacrament prayers, we truly will receive the blessings listed as well. We may have His Spirit to be with us, which is the greatest gift imaginable. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has provided us with the sacrament because I know it is an opportunity to grow closer to Him.
We then talked about how it is important that the bread comes first. There is bitterness in life that can be eased by the sacrament. However, when you drink something bitter and then drink water after it, it becomes more bitter. When you eat bread before you drink water, the bitterness gets sucked out and then the water can cleanse. I thought that was very symbolic and made me grateful that I have the opportunity to partake of the sacrament every week. Life is less bitter and easier when I have the chance to reflect on what the Savior has done for me.
I used to not understand the sacrament as well, but now I am so grateful for the chance to renew my baptismal covenants every week. We learned that the baptismal covenant is external. Everyone can see that we are getting baptized. However, the renewal of the covenant is an internal and very personal procedure. I love that the sacrament is a time for me to ponder and reflect. It is a time when I am personally able to make goals and covenants with the help of my Savior. It is a time that really does bring me peace.
I have a testimony that as we do the things listed in the sacrament prayers, we truly will receive the blessings listed as well. We may have His Spirit to be with us, which is the greatest gift imaginable. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has provided us with the sacrament because I know it is an opportunity to grow closer to Him.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Testimony
The readings this week, along with the talks given at General Conference, have caused me to think so much about my testimony. We read in Ether 4:4:
"And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his word, of which the Father and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record--and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day."
This talks about the 3 witnesses of the gospel-the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The fact that these 3 divine beings stand as witnesses of the Church alone leads me to believe that it is true. However, even though other amazing people may bear testimony of the truth of the gospel, it is up to me to find out for myself if I really know it is the living church on the earth today. Brother Griffin said that the most important testimony is my own. That really hit me hard because I felt like my testimony may be inadequate when compared with others' testimonies.
President Holland gave an amazing talk at Conference this weekend that really got me thinking about my faith. The talk is not in print yet, so I am unable to quote it exactly, but I would like to mention some of the principles mentioned. I realized during his talk that there are so many things about the gospel that I do not know. Sometimes, that can make my small and simple testimony seem insignificant and unimportant. If I do not know everything, than the church must not be true. However, I realized that this is not the case. I need to cleave onto the things that I DO know and use them as reason alone to stand convicted in what I believe. Those things that I know for sure should serve as a shield against the ways of the world, and when I am tempted to have doubts or concerns about my testimony, I should remember that I have precious truths that I can never go against.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I have my own testimony. Though it may be small and I do not know of the truth of all things, it is something that I can claim for myself. It is something that I have gained through those trying experiences that bring me to my knees. My testimony is my rock. I need to never let go to the things that I know to be true. I need to develop the things that I believe, and I need to believe the things that I may doubt. I am so grateful for a church that encourages us to be curious and inquisitive, and I am grateful that I do not have to have a perfect testimony to go on a mission or serve in church callings or even be baptized. I would like to bear my testimony of the things that I know to be true.
I know that this gospel is the same gospel that Christ established when He came to this earth. Following it's teachings it the only way to grow closer to Him, and that is my greatest desire. I want to live with Christ and my Heavenly Father again. I know that the priesthood is restored on the Earth today. It is powerful and, when handled with care, can bring about mighty miracles. I know that Joseph Smith restored the church. Joseph Smith was an instrument in God's hands and I am grateful for his conviction and his tireless work. I know that the power of prayer is real. God loves to hear from me. I know that Christ performed the Atonement for me individually. I don't understand it, but I know that I was in His thoughts when He was suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is my best friend. I say these things in His name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.
Monday, April 1, 2013
I Can Become Strong Through the Lord
I am going on a mission on April 24th which is really coming soon! As excited as I am, I can't help but have some days where I am filled with doubts. I doubt my ability to learn a new language and live in a new country. I get down on myself when I think of the amount of courage and persistence that a mission takes. I start to have deep feelings of inadequacy and I start to feel severely unprepared.
However, I felt so much peace and reassurance when I read from the book of Mormon this week. In 4 Nephi, Ammaron is looking for someone to give the plates to. He settles on giving them to Mormon. This is shocking, though, as Mormon is only 10 years old! I can't even imagine. I have a little brother that's 14 and that seems way too young--10 is just crazy! However, Mormon was mature, learned, and had a testimony of Christ. He had these amazing qualities that God worked with. Heavenly Father shaped Mormon into the instrument God needed Mormon to be. Mormon, at 10, didn't have every quality he needed to be so imperative in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. However, he had the desire to be a man of God. He knew what he needed to become and he let the power of God change him.
This is so reassuring to me. I think I have a few qualities that will help me be a good missionary. However, there is SO MUCH that I need to learn and I know I am not even close to being the missionary Heavenly Father needs me to be. As I come to Him, though, and give Him all that I have, Heavenly Father will work with me and help me grow. He will be patient with me and help me grow into my potential.
I know that when I go to Brazil, there will be times when I feel like a measly 10 year old. There will be times when I just don't know what to say, or when I am so exhausted, but I can't let those feelings drive me to inadequacy. Though I may feel unqualified, I need to remember that Heavenly Father trusts His children with amazing things. I know He has a plan for me to become someone great. I am so excited to serve Him so soon. I hope I can emulate the qualities of Mormon as I serve as a missionary. Heavenly Father, through the healing power of Christ and the Atonement, helps people become more amazing than they ever though possible.
However, I felt so much peace and reassurance when I read from the book of Mormon this week. In 4 Nephi, Ammaron is looking for someone to give the plates to. He settles on giving them to Mormon. This is shocking, though, as Mormon is only 10 years old! I can't even imagine. I have a little brother that's 14 and that seems way too young--10 is just crazy! However, Mormon was mature, learned, and had a testimony of Christ. He had these amazing qualities that God worked with. Heavenly Father shaped Mormon into the instrument God needed Mormon to be. Mormon, at 10, didn't have every quality he needed to be so imperative in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. However, he had the desire to be a man of God. He knew what he needed to become and he let the power of God change him.
This is so reassuring to me. I think I have a few qualities that will help me be a good missionary. However, there is SO MUCH that I need to learn and I know I am not even close to being the missionary Heavenly Father needs me to be. As I come to Him, though, and give Him all that I have, Heavenly Father will work with me and help me grow. He will be patient with me and help me grow into my potential.
I know that when I go to Brazil, there will be times when I feel like a measly 10 year old. There will be times when I just don't know what to say, or when I am so exhausted, but I can't let those feelings drive me to inadequacy. Though I may feel unqualified, I need to remember that Heavenly Father trusts His children with amazing things. I know He has a plan for me to become someone great. I am so excited to serve Him so soon. I hope I can emulate the qualities of Mormon as I serve as a missionary. Heavenly Father, through the healing power of Christ and the Atonement, helps people become more amazing than they ever though possible.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Pride
For my ten week project, I decided to study the Christlike attributes listed in Preach My Gospel. It just so happened that the characteristic I was studying last week was humility. In Preach My Gospel, it says that "The opposite of humility is pride." That's why verse 24 of 4 Nephi 1 really stood out to me. It reads:
"And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world."
After many years of the people being united, with no separation of people, some of the people start being prideful. We see in verse 26 what this lead to:
"And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ."
What a sad thing this is to see. As soon as pride entered the people's hearts, they become a divided people. They lose the Holy Ghost in their lives and then they start to deny the truthfulness of Christ's church and revolt against it.
From my other studies of pride, I have learned that it makes you do two dangerous things: compare and forget. First, pride is a sin of comparison. Pride makes you compare yourself against those who have less than you. When this occurs, you put yourself on a pedestal and believe that you are better than those around you. This destroys all humility in your heart, because when this occurs, you automatically forget that we are all children of God. We all are indebted to our wonderful Heavenly Father. And, as I mentioned before, when we are comparing, we are usually comparing our strengths to others' weaknesses. When you see yourself above others, you will do everything to stay there and you are usually unwilling to change yourself. Your heart becomes hardened. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is also dangerous to compare yourself to those who have more than you. This creates feelings of jealousy and degrades your self worth. When this occurs, you will be ungrateful for what you have and you will be asking God why you don't have more. Usually, this type of pride will make someone bitter and unwilling to succumb to Heavenly Father's will.
Pride is also a sin of forgetfulness. I have noticed time and time again that in the scriptures, people become prideful when they forget the hand of God in their lives. This can happen both when they forget what God has done to deliver their fathers and when they forget what blessings Heavenly Father has given them in their own lives. Pride makes you focus on what you have done for yourself and causes you to ignore the blessings in your life that have come from other people. Wickedness often comes from forgetfulness. When people forget to see the hand of the Lord in their lives, they are quicker to break covenants and lose the Holy Ghost.
We see how the pride has affected these people. Because of pride, they are quick to lose everything they have worked so hard for. The united people quickly divide and the perfect church of Christ quickly dissipates.
Throughout this whole thing, I have thought about how Christ really is the perfect example of humility. Not once was He ever prideful, and I have to admit there are sometimes when He could have been. I think of the classic example in the premortal existence. Satan presents his plan laced with pride--Satan wants all of the credit for his plan to go to himself. However, when Christ presents His perfect plan, He gives all glory to Heavenly Father. Also, He was humble enough to submit to Heavenly Father's will, even when it included performing the Atonement. I am so grateful for Christ's perfect example of humility.
"And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world."
After many years of the people being united, with no separation of people, some of the people start being prideful. We see in verse 26 what this lead to:
"And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ."
What a sad thing this is to see. As soon as pride entered the people's hearts, they become a divided people. They lose the Holy Ghost in their lives and then they start to deny the truthfulness of Christ's church and revolt against it.
From my other studies of pride, I have learned that it makes you do two dangerous things: compare and forget. First, pride is a sin of comparison. Pride makes you compare yourself against those who have less than you. When this occurs, you put yourself on a pedestal and believe that you are better than those around you. This destroys all humility in your heart, because when this occurs, you automatically forget that we are all children of God. We all are indebted to our wonderful Heavenly Father. And, as I mentioned before, when we are comparing, we are usually comparing our strengths to others' weaknesses. When you see yourself above others, you will do everything to stay there and you are usually unwilling to change yourself. Your heart becomes hardened. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is also dangerous to compare yourself to those who have more than you. This creates feelings of jealousy and degrades your self worth. When this occurs, you will be ungrateful for what you have and you will be asking God why you don't have more. Usually, this type of pride will make someone bitter and unwilling to succumb to Heavenly Father's will.
Pride is also a sin of forgetfulness. I have noticed time and time again that in the scriptures, people become prideful when they forget the hand of God in their lives. This can happen both when they forget what God has done to deliver their fathers and when they forget what blessings Heavenly Father has given them in their own lives. Pride makes you focus on what you have done for yourself and causes you to ignore the blessings in your life that have come from other people. Wickedness often comes from forgetfulness. When people forget to see the hand of the Lord in their lives, they are quicker to break covenants and lose the Holy Ghost.
We see how the pride has affected these people. Because of pride, they are quick to lose everything they have worked so hard for. The united people quickly divide and the perfect church of Christ quickly dissipates.
Throughout this whole thing, I have thought about how Christ really is the perfect example of humility. Not once was He ever prideful, and I have to admit there are sometimes when He could have been. I think of the classic example in the premortal existence. Satan presents his plan laced with pride--Satan wants all of the credit for his plan to go to himself. However, when Christ presents His perfect plan, He gives all glory to Heavenly Father. Also, He was humble enough to submit to Heavenly Father's will, even when it included performing the Atonement. I am so grateful for Christ's perfect example of humility.
Monday, March 18, 2013
The Holy Ghost
A scripture that stood out to me this week was 3 Nephi 19:9. It reads:
"And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them."
I think about the things that I pray for and the things that I most desire. Most of the time, those desires involve petty things like test scores or struggling relationships. This scripture really put things into perspective. The thing that I should desire most is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. I should live my life in a way that will allow the Holy Ghost to be by my side at all times. I should plead with Heavenly Father to have the Holy Ghost in my life because I should be so sad when I think about my life without Him. This scripture really made me think that I take the Holy Ghost for granted.
After I read this, I started thinking about the nature of the Holy Ghost. When it is time for Christ to leave His mortal ministry, it hurt Him so much to think that He would have to leave those He loved so much. He sent the Holy Ghost to be on Earth and to be a mediator, of sorts, between Christ and His followers. I love that imagery. To think that Jesus left me this precious gift fills me with His love and gives my life new direction. It also encourages me to be sensitive to the Holy Ghost's promptings; I would hate SO much to not be receptive to messages from God and Jesus Christ.
I am leaving on a mission in 37 days (!) and I know that the Holy Ghost will be an integral part of my life as a missionary. My Stake President told me in my missionary interview that missionaries are the only group of people who are entitled to have the Holy Ghost with them if they are keeping the rules. He explained to me that not even the Apostles are promised with that blessing. How humbling that thought is! I am going to be a missionary, and because of that, the Holy Ghost will be my constant companion. It is my prayer that I will learn how to best appreciate the gift of the Holy Ghost. After reading this scripture, and seeing how vital the Holy Ghost is, I hope I never take Him for granted again.
"And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them."
I think about the things that I pray for and the things that I most desire. Most of the time, those desires involve petty things like test scores or struggling relationships. This scripture really put things into perspective. The thing that I should desire most is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. I should live my life in a way that will allow the Holy Ghost to be by my side at all times. I should plead with Heavenly Father to have the Holy Ghost in my life because I should be so sad when I think about my life without Him. This scripture really made me think that I take the Holy Ghost for granted.
After I read this, I started thinking about the nature of the Holy Ghost. When it is time for Christ to leave His mortal ministry, it hurt Him so much to think that He would have to leave those He loved so much. He sent the Holy Ghost to be on Earth and to be a mediator, of sorts, between Christ and His followers. I love that imagery. To think that Jesus left me this precious gift fills me with His love and gives my life new direction. It also encourages me to be sensitive to the Holy Ghost's promptings; I would hate SO much to not be receptive to messages from God and Jesus Christ.
I am leaving on a mission in 37 days (!) and I know that the Holy Ghost will be an integral part of my life as a missionary. My Stake President told me in my missionary interview that missionaries are the only group of people who are entitled to have the Holy Ghost with them if they are keeping the rules. He explained to me that not even the Apostles are promised with that blessing. How humbling that thought is! I am going to be a missionary, and because of that, the Holy Ghost will be my constant companion. It is my prayer that I will learn how to best appreciate the gift of the Holy Ghost. After reading this scripture, and seeing how vital the Holy Ghost is, I hope I never take Him for granted again.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Judgment
In 3 Nephi 14:1, we read "And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again, saying: Verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged." There are many warnings in the scriptures that I do not find it difficult to adhere to. For example, I have never been tempted to murder or steal or anything like that. However, judgment is something that I really have had a hard time with. Therefore, this scripture really stood out to me and I wanted to elaborate my feelings on it.
BYU is a place where it is so easy to get caught up in judging others. BYU students have so many of the same qualities, so it is only natural to find others' differences and compare them to yourself. Every day on campus, I find myself looking at other students' appearances or listening to conversations or watching others' habits. And I judge. More than I should. Although it may seem temporarily gratifying to find someone else inferior, it is a slippery slope that will only carry us further from Christ. This scripture, and Brother Griffin's words, reminded me how important it is to reevaluate this habit.
Judging is so pointless. As Brother Griffin taught, every person in this world is here for the same purpose. We are all on the same path to get back to our Heavenly Father. However, we are all on different places on the path. We all have been given different talents and also been blessed with different weaknesses to expound upon. The bad thing about judging is that we compare our weaknesses to others' strengths and we compare our strengths to others' weaknesses. I am sure Heavenly Father gets so sad when this happens. He gets so sad when we aren't able to see the great things in other people or when we aren't able to see the miracles within ourselves.
Through this lesson, I have learned that every single person has divine worth. This scripture has given me a new resolve to stop judging. I should love everyone and try to see the best in them. I should love myself and not compare myself to others' strengths. I need to remember that every other person on this Earth is a son or daughter of God. I need to remember how God must feel when I think badly of one of His precious creations. I am grateful for Christ and for the perfect example He is. I know that He loves everyone on this Earth and I aspire to be more like Him everyday.
BYU is a place where it is so easy to get caught up in judging others. BYU students have so many of the same qualities, so it is only natural to find others' differences and compare them to yourself. Every day on campus, I find myself looking at other students' appearances or listening to conversations or watching others' habits. And I judge. More than I should. Although it may seem temporarily gratifying to find someone else inferior, it is a slippery slope that will only carry us further from Christ. This scripture, and Brother Griffin's words, reminded me how important it is to reevaluate this habit.
Judging is so pointless. As Brother Griffin taught, every person in this world is here for the same purpose. We are all on the same path to get back to our Heavenly Father. However, we are all on different places on the path. We all have been given different talents and also been blessed with different weaknesses to expound upon. The bad thing about judging is that we compare our weaknesses to others' strengths and we compare our strengths to others' weaknesses. I am sure Heavenly Father gets so sad when this happens. He gets so sad when we aren't able to see the great things in other people or when we aren't able to see the miracles within ourselves.
Through this lesson, I have learned that every single person has divine worth. This scripture has given me a new resolve to stop judging. I should love everyone and try to see the best in them. I should love myself and not compare myself to others' strengths. I need to remember that every other person on this Earth is a son or daughter of God. I need to remember how God must feel when I think badly of one of His precious creations. I am grateful for Christ and for the perfect example He is. I know that He loves everyone on this Earth and I aspire to be more like Him everyday.
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