Choice.

One of the greatest blessings our Heavenly Father gave us is our Agency, or our right to choose. All through life we make decisions some small, like what to have for breakfast, and others quite large, like what to do for a career. These choices really show us who we are and will be. For instance, the small choice of not doing homework leads to choosing that repeatedly. This will eventually lead to poor grades, which will ultimately limit career choices. Choices of spiritual matters are even more important, because “I can’t stress too strongly that decisions determine destiny. You can’t make eternal decisions without eternal consequences.” (Thomas S. Monson, Prophet. As Quoted by Elder Randall K. Bennett) When we look at these choices with that eternal perspective things get more clear and we can better see what we really want for ourselves. We must always realize that although we can make our choices the consequences are naturally connected, we don’t choose those. “My dear brothers and sisters, your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never too late to begin to choose eternal life! (Elder Randall K. Bennett) If you want it, Choose it. I love the scripture in Joshua 24 which reads: “choose you this day whom ye will serve; …but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. (v.15) So let’s all make our choice, and let it be to Serve God!

Hope.

I love the scripture in Ether 12:4, which reads:

            "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

Hope for a better world ~ Like watching the sunrise!

This scripture tells me that although this life sometimes throws us a fast ball that we didn't really see coming, if we have faith/believe, where can indeed hope for a better world, as that is what has been promised us by our Father in Heaven through many prophets. And then this hope is our anchor to help be the "sure and steadfast" children of God that he expects us to be. That will then be our motivation do to good for our brothers and sisters who need our help, because many do in a large amount of different kinds of ways. And what we do for them will Glorify our Heavenly Father! That is awesome, so let’s all gain that Hope through Faith!

Trials

I was reading the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees (Jacob 5, The Book of Mormon) the other day, which sometimes is a stumbling block for many of us. But I learned something that is pretty amazing to me, although it may not be the main message of this allegory but a good message nonetheless. In verses 20 – 22 it shows the Master/Lord of the vineyard (God) showing his servant a branch which he had hid in the “poorest spot in all the land of [the Lord’s] vineyard”. The servant wondered why this spot was chosen, and the Lord says “Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.”

On the other hand look at verse 25 where the Lord of the vineyard shows a branch placed in a good spot of ground (later in the chapter he describes it as "a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard" v. 43). This tree was nourished just like the rest but only part of it brought forth good fruit. It had some things handed to it, had it easy.

What I was thinking of today as I read this scripture is that though sometimes we feel that God has handed us a "poor spot of ground" (trials, or a "hard" life), and it’s just too much to deal with. Sometimes we seek to "counsel" God and tell him we don't deserve our situation. We observe others with not so poor ground, and think that we have been unjustly dealt with. We do not know what God knows, great things are in store for those that follow His counsel. He nourishes all of his children just sometimes we don’t recognize all the blessings he gave us. Some of us don’t accept blessings either so therefore we let ourselves start to whither away. What we need to focus on is what we can do to bring forth good fruit. Strive to do what the Lord our God asks and requires of us. Lay up treasures in heaven! Trials are always for our good and will help us to become better. God knows our potential and he lets us struggle so that we may grow.

The Purpose.

As missionaries we often think of about our purpose and if we are fulfilling it. Our purpose is to “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”(PMG p. 1) What about you, what is your purpose? Are you fulfilling it? The prophet Lehi shared with us our purpose as children of God, He said, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”(2 Nephi 2:25) So he says that our purpose is to have joy. That’s great because that’s what I want anyway. That’s pretty easy, sometimes.

What are some things that bring you joy in this life? If you’re like me you begin to think of some hobbies that you like, your family, and friends. Something I do find joy in but don’t remember as often as I should is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Christ Himself. An angel of the lord once explained where we can find joy, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”(Luke 2:10-11) this angel brought “good tidings of great joy” which is Christ. So he is that great joy, and is truly where we can find it by the barrels full!

So how do we tap in to this great joy? Let’s look at a scripture, “But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.”(2 Nephi 9:18) We must believe and endure, which will grant us inheritance in the kingdom of God, where we will find or joy is full forever! That sounds pretty awesome! To believe is to have faith, so we must have faith in Christ and endure to the end. So let’s talk about faith, faith in Christ helps us to also have hope in the promises he has given, like eternal life. Elder Derfler use to always say that the greatest joy in this life comes from knowing you will have joy in the next life.  I believe that is true. There is a cycle here; it starts with faith which leads to hope in that which our faith tells us is true. Hope then fosters joy in our lives by helping to look past the trials we face now to the brighter future of living with our Heavenly Father. When we feel joy, it being a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22), it helps us to have a stronger faith because we can feel the spirit confirm our faith. So it continues, unless we let any of these things get interrupted. Without joy we get discouraged and faith falters. Without faith we won’t try for divine intervention to change and become better. Without hope we look to future for nothing better and trails throw us to the dirt.

Now about that enduring thing, how do we do that? What does it even mean? Enduring to the end is to keep the commandments of God and press forward striving to all we can to follow Christ in every way. Keeping the commandments does bring joy, “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) He promises it as long we are faithful, and righteous. Obviously we won’t be perfect but when we slip we should repent immediately and never do it again. Then we recommit and proceed again to do our best. It’s hard, I know, and when we mess up, we often get troubled by this and get discouraged. DON’T DO THAT! Remember what we said that does before. Find joy in repentance because the heavens do (Luke 15:7).

So if you desire this gift of joy like this king, listen to answer he gets on how to receive it. “And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.”(Alma 22:15-16) Basically he says pray and have faith (the first step of the cycle) you will find joy. So as we do this we will accept Christ and begin to follow his example if we are truly converted and seeking His Joy. A couple of ways to follow the Gospel are: rear your children in righteousness and help them do what is right (3 John 1:4); another is to invite those around you to come unto Christ and repent just as you have (Alma 29:9).

Time.

This past Sunday was my birthday,and it made me think of what I have done with the last 20 years of my life.  It makes me wonder what is time and what is it for? The dictionary defines time as: “a limited period during which an action, process, or condition exists or takes place”. This is one point I would like to discuss. As stated in Alma 12:24 this life is “a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God”. This is very important to remember but often times forgotten. It would be really handy if I could have this constantly in my mind reminding me of the purpose of all of the things that life can throw at us. I have made some obvious mistakes at different points in my life, of which I am not proud of. Of course I wouldn’t change them either, because as I relied on the Atonement I have changed for the better and have been forgiven. One can never be perfect but we can get closer as we progress through life.

                It’s also essential to remember the eternal perspective by remembering just how short this life is compared to our existence extending forever.  Our existence here is illustrated by this mental picture: take a string and extend it in both directions until you can’t see either end standing where you are tie one thread on the string. That is this life in the eternal comparison. Let’s not let the decisions of this tiny little moment ruin our hopes and dreams for the rest of forever. Although we sometimes have trials, the adversity and afflictions of this life “shall be but a small moment”, but if we “endure it well” (D&C 121:7-8) the rewards are out of this world, literally. I love this promise given by the lord. As we face life we can hold our heads high and keep our eyes pointed to God as the goal. Those that can keep this perspective tend to move past their trials with out getting hung up and blaming the one that could help them through those points in their lives, God. Let us move forward with faith and remember why we are here, and where we plan to go!

The Pure Love of Christ

     Something that has really been on my mind lately is charity, the pure love of Christ. This is something that I need to work on. It should be our motivation for how we treat the people around us. It will drive us to be more like Christ than anything else would. The prophet Mormon, in the Book of Mormon put it best:

 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:46-48)

I love this scripture because it teaches us how to gain this charity. I would recommend reading the entire chapter it is awesome. Christ showed us charity when he performed the atonement and "went about doing good". Lets all seek to follow the lords own counsel when he said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).