Perfect Power

I made an exciting and enlightening connection in my study today. I'm currently reading My Redeemer Lives, a compilation of Easter talks. The talk I'm on is Elder Belnap's To Them Gave He Power to Become.  In this talk, Elder Belnap discusses the Atonement and the perfection of Christ.

In one section of the talk, he references Hebrews 4:14-16, which says that Christ is without sin.  When I thought about this, I realized that it feels right to me to think of it this way: Christ isn't endowed with some unique anti-sin power that we can't have - He has power over sin because of His closeness to His Father, and because of his determined resistance to temptation.  If we want Satan to be bound, we must do that same thing - come close to both Christ and our Father so we can gain the strength to resist temptation.

Christ really did set the example for us in all things.

Carry

To be the star most glowing
Wandering revealed
Progressing images of you showing
What with me was once concealed

We'll find if in this world we might -
Wondering if this was right...
If I was right.

Justifying.
My doubts
Along with my faults
My heart pining
Searching for a way to prove
That, to all of me, you can move

Desiring past experience varied
Fearing that it must
As with memory away carried
Carry with it trust

Spark.
For the light that you will have to earn.
And will my thoughts upon you mark
But fall on me to burn.

Letter To Me

Dear me at nineteen,

You just moved away from home for the first time.  This is the most dramatic change of your life so far, and you're excited, scared, shy, and feeling a little small - but you are also overcome with the feeling of BIG.  This is a big thing for you - and the roommates you have now will become the best thing that ever happened.  You'll gain so much from them, laugh more than you thought possible, scream at the TV, learn beauty tips, and experience Pangaea (you just wait).  Your heart will never let go of these girls - even when they get married before you do.

I may very well have listened to Letter To Me by Brad Paisley for inspiration here (yes, you will come to love and appreciate country).  You will receive a lot of comfort from that song come March – thank you to one of your darling girlfriends for that one.  You’ll be roommates with her in Summer 2014, and she’ll continue to be a great example of love, understanding, and acceptance for you.  Take advantage of that.  In fact, take advantage of all of the wonderful examples in the next twenty months.  You will meet many, some very unlikely, and they will teach you a lot.

One will help you realize there is messy craziness in the world, but that entropy is part of life and it’s okay.

One will teach you how to be truly observant of yourself.  He will help you feel yourself out and be in tune with your emotions in ways you didn’t know you needed.

Another will remind you that even the happiest, most social people need to feel noticed.

One very important person will show you that you are worth loving, and that soaking up each moment is the best way to live.

That same person will teach you to embrace your quirks, love your under-appreciated movies, and not be embarrassed of your affinity with exceptional phrasing… even puns.

You will be reassured that God is with you through many sources, scriptural and otherwise.  The Lord will be closer to you than ever before.

A dear friend at work will remind you to move forward in faith, taking action even when you are unsure.

One will help you solidify the idea that listening to silly pop-stars helps – especially when you are crazy emotional.

Similarly, you will learn from multiple people that indie music can brighten your mood and really help you think.  Don’t reject this idea – I know you want to.

Shannon Hale, that lovely genius of a woman, will teach you that embracing your love of the Austen world is okay.  Beneficial and therapeutic, even.

You will learn to see beauty in the world more fully.

An unlikely friend will help you break barriers related to sharing your emotional stories.

He will also show you that, even though things are messy, you are strong – and, more importantly, you need not be ashamed of your past.

One will tell you the meaning of matching energy levels to make connections.

One will show you to challenge your beliefs.  Don’t reject this, because it will only strengthen your convictions.

A supervisor will teach you that there is meaning in rules and guidelines.

Following promptings will come to mean more to you.

You will learn to be persistent, encouraging, and even how to change lives.

You will read, listen to, and watch things that will blow your mind and change your perspective about absolutely everything.

You are going to learn things about yourself that you’ve never thought of.  In all honesty, chica, I don’t believe in writing “what I wish I knew in…” style things, because 

I don’t wish 

                   you knew then 

                                         what I know now.  

                                                                      I know you.  

You learn things when you are ready for them, and you’re not ready to learn everything you will yet.  I will tell you, though, that you will be ready to learn more than you ever thought you could when it’s all over.

You will find heroes, and you will discover just how much the concept of heroes means to you, because of your connection to their personalities.  Keep your heart open, and these next twenty months (I can hardly believe it has only been 20 months) will be the BIGGEST of your life.  Listen to people, especially to your own thoughts, and you will stretch yourself.  You will learn, and you will change – but don’t be scared of that. 

Remember how mom once said, very wisely, that the only thing constant in life is change?

That’s still true.

Love, with all the encouragement and reassurance I can muster,

You at twenty-one.

Pink.

My heart was very full yesterday. Testimony meeting was incredibly uplifting, Sunday school gave me stuff to think about, and Relief Society brought me a lot of comfort and a great reminder of God's Love for me.

What about it reminded me of God's Love?

This.

(sorry for the poor quality, there's not much of this short available on YouTube)

In this super-cute Pixar short, a sad little sheep is reminded of his unchangeable worth, regardless of his absence of fluff.  He complains how his friends think he looks "ridiculous, funny, and pink."  The jackalope responds to this by assuring him there isn't anything wrong with pink.  The sheep is pink, so what?  It's part of his sheep-ness to be pink.

"Pink. Pink?  What's wrong with pink?  Seems like you've got a pink kink in your think."

This made me think of what things I don't like about myself - and that, hey, "what's wrong with pink?"  It's part of my me-ness to be (fill in the blank).  This, combined with the message from President Uchtdorf that we matter to God really strengthened me.

"God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him."

This is a testimony from a Prophet of God, and is my testimony as well.  Be okay with everything that makes you YOU, all the "-ness," because you matter to Him.

A Powerful Day

Today has been powerful for many reasons.  I have been comforted by the Lord in ways I hadn't felt for a while, and I have been reminded of just how much that comfort can mean for me.  It is always comforting to feel that the Lord needs me, and even more so to feel that He is proud of me.  I have really needed everything the Lord has given me today, so I am feeling very grateful.

But one of the biggest reasons today was so powerful was that it was the official homecoming of (former) Elder Keith Eberhard, one of my dearest friends.

This is Keith.

In his homecoming talk today, he spoke with such deliberance (is that a word?) and surety.  I know he has a very strong testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of His Gospel here on the earth today.

We must decide to choose the path of happiness, or not-so-happiness.

This is the truth.

We are imperfect.  But God gives us imperfections to help us grow.  I know we will grow from our trials, because I have grown from mine.

Our spirits are blessed with gifts.  These are part of our personality, and also things we learn to develop.

That's how we make decisions. By following the Spirit.

Through God, all things are possible.  Through God, we can become the people He wants us to become.

I know the Book of Mormon is true, and I declare it amidst much opposition.  I know, through the Spirit, that this is His Gospel.

He's pretty cool.

It was so good to see him today and to hear his testimony, which has been strengthening my own from the time he gave his farewell talk, to the very first letter I received from him while he was in Washington, until now.  I know it will only continue to do so.  I'd like to thank this astounding young man for his faith and strength.  You've done great things for the lives you've touched,

and I know you will never stop.

Good to have you back, bud.

Gifts.

In my study of Preach My Gospel today, I did a lot of thinking about charity.

Love is the first and great commandment of God (Matt. 22:36-39).  Charity is Christ's pure love, and we are to develop it.  It is also a gift from God to us.  Charity is something we receive from God, but that does not mean it is something we obtain and then leave alone.  We cannot have charity if we are not close to God,as  it is a gift from Him.  However, we also need to do our part: use the gift and develop it.

I think this is true of all gifts from God; we need Him in order to have and keep His gifts, but it is our responsibility to develop those gifts.  Charity and all other gifts mean very little unless we use them and help them grow.

Onward and upward.

Another Testament

I have been learning and re-learning many simple truths of Christ's Gospel lately.  Today in my study, Preach My Gospel   asked the question: How has my study of the Book of Mormon influenced my testimony of Jesus Christ?  I would like to share my thoughts on this.

http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/

What I have learned from the teachings of the Book of Mormon is the bulk of what I know and believe about Christ.  I got some basics, crucial ones, from primary songs and teachings of those around me when I was young, but the central point to my love for and testimony of Christ lies in the Book of Mormon.  I learned so much about Christ my freshman year at BYU when I was in Brother Tyler Griffin's Book of Mormon classes - largely because he was a very good teacher, but also largely because of how he helped me understand the Book of Mormon and just how perfectly it helps us understand and get to know Christ.

The Book of Mormon really is, as it says on its title page, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."  The Bible and the Book of Mormon together contain the fullness of the Gospel of Christ. (Doctrine and Covenants 42:12).

A central purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ. (Preach My Gospel, Chapter 5.)

And that it does.

Part

among the growth
one seat alone
as if on oath
something to own

unlengthy phrases
but everything humming
things in phases
left still running

live extra
ordinary spark
contact.
but much apart

a new care
the finish white
find me there
one instance polite

sidewalk broken
forward start
meet me a moment
in a heart

a part
heart part
apart.

In His Name.

Last week, I posted about how I'm studying Preach My Gospel, and a couple of things I have been learning. I have a little more of that for you today.  Today's study was mostly focused on the topic of spreading the words of Christ. Many promises are made to those who preach of Him.  One of the promises is that He will be with those who teach.

From the words of the the Lord given through Joseph Smith in August 1832:

"But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness in all things.  And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say." (Doctrine and Covenants 100:5-8)

I have always been taught to end prayers, testimonies, and lessons "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."  This can seem like a small detail, but the importance of it became very real to me today.  Saying things in His name indicates to Him that we are inviting Him to the message we are saying, and that we are inviting Him to us.  When we do this, He comes.  Christ comes whenever we invite Him in - He is an immediate RSVP-er.  When we bear our testimonies in His name, He is there testifying with us.  When we ask things of God in His name, He is there in that prayer, listening to us.  And, when we teach in His name, He is teaching with us.  Christ is always with us whenever we invite Him in, especially when we speak in His name.

I am so grateful for His presence.

Simple.

I have something simple to share with you today.  It's simple, but it is very, very big - at least to me.

I have been studying Preach My Gospel lately.  (This is a publication by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, made in order to help people study and share Christ's teachings.)  I started right after finals were over, and I committed to study it for an hour every day, all summer long.  It is surprising how fast that hour goes by.  Each topic brought up by that manual is a gem.  Today, I was studying The Atonement of Jesus Christ (in chapter 3 of the manual) and I found myself cross-referencing not only the scriptures suggested in the text, but scriptures I had scribbled in throughout seminary years and my religion classes at BYU.  I have learned a lot about the words of Christ over the years, and much of it has been foundational things I learned from my teachers in Primary, Sunday School, Seminary, etc.  However, I was amazed today when it hit me that all of these teachings come from the scriptures.
This Gospel isn't just a Church.  It isn't just a bunch of good people teaching good things - though it is also that.  This Gospel is the word of Christ.  What I have been learning my whole life comes straight from the words He gave to His prophets, both anciently and in this time, to teach.
In my Atonement study today, one verse in particular struck me.

Christ understands us because of the Atonement He performed while He was on the earth.  He knows us perfectly, and wants us to know He loves us.  He also wants to teach us, and that is why He has instructed prophets to teach and record His words - so they can make it to us and we can learn.
This Gospel is PERFECT.  Christ is perfect, and He is a perfect teacher.  I know this manual was written by those inspired of God, because I feel His Spirit so strongly when I study it.  Reading what I did today really solidified to me that these are His words and His teachings.  This isn't just the teachings of "a church."  This is true; this is eternal and beautiful DIVINE TRUTH.
His word.  His teachings.  His Love.  His power.  I feel this so very strongly, and I am so grateful for His confirmation of my study and learning.  I know He loves His children.  I know He loves me.  I say these things in His name.

There is my simple truth for you today.
Onward and upward.
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