Doubt Your Doubts

In October 2013 General Conference, President Uchtdorf said, "It’s natural to have questions--the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith--even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters--my dear friends--please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."

We all have doubts. Some of our greatest battles occur within our own minds. It's what we do with those doubts, which will determine the direction of our lives. While I'm a Sunday School class I was taught about a disciple of Christ who also doubted:

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

As Peter looked around at the boisterous sea, he was reminded of his doubts rather than his faith. As he took his eyes off the Savior, his carnal understandings took control of his reactions. He was a fisherman. He knew the properties of water and knew that walking on water wasn't meant to happen. And so it is with us--many things that require faith cannot be understood through our carnal understandings. Believing there is a God cannot be proven simply by science. Faith takes leaping away from the edge of understanding. It takes trust. It takes seeking God and then applying the feelings of the heart. It cannot be proven by science, but it can be felt within ourselves.

How many times in our lives do we take our eyes from the Savior? How many times do we allow ourselves to be tossed by the boisterious sea rather than taking hold of the truths of the Gospel? Sometimes it is easy to take in our circumstances without allowing the Savior to play an active role.

When my little brother died, it was these verses of scriptures that helped my daughter finally put her trust in God. It was through realizing that Peter took his eyes from the Savior, which caused him to struggle. This lesson encouragesd her to keep her focus on the Savior, which then helped her to overcome.

1 Nephi 3

TRUST IN THE LORD

When Nephi and his brothers were sent to get the plates, even though the Lord commanded them to do so--it still wasn't easy. They attempted to get the plates from Laban twice with complete failure and nearly dying in both of those attempts. It wasn't until their third attempt that Nephi actually obtained the plates. This experience causes me to reflect on our own lives. I think I mistakenly assume that when I am on the Lord's errand, the circumstances surrounding that errand will become easy. I assume that He wants me to accomplish the task; therefore, any or all difficulty will be avoided. However, this just simply isn't the case. We are taught that there must be opposition in all things. Understanding that opposition comes even when we are doing good is crucial in our success with whatever it is that we are endeavoring to accomplish.

As we understand the opposition we may face, it gives us the strength to preserver in faith. Believing that God truly is with us, and as we preserver he will create an opportunity for us to succeed. But faith isn't just a hope it requires action and the Lord can't help us unless we are continually moving our feet "acting" as He would need us to do so. As we "act", He will guide those actions into our accomplishing the task. It won't be easy. It won't necessarily happen on the first attempt; however, as we trust that He truly will help us despite the opposition we face, we will succeed.

I have been attempting to write a book for several years. I think I have been allowing the opposition to win. I trust in the Lord; however, my trust is lessoned as the enormity of the task overwhelms my senses. Only through faith and trust in Him will this goal be accomplished.

Ether 3

PRAYERS

In verse 9, the Lord explains that because of the faith of the brother of Jared, he was able to see the Lord's finger. He then said that "never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast..."

I think about my own life and my quest for faith. Sometimes I think I have great faith, but then I realize just how far I have to go. It definitely is a quest of a lifetime that I am willing to continue to endeavor. When I was newly married, I remember believing that God was there, and believing that
He helped His children; however, I struggled to believe that He would directly help me. Then, one day I was in need. I knelt down and prayed. I told Him that I knew He was real. I knew He could hear me. And then I told Him how I desperately needed help.

I had promised to bring a meal to a family in need that day. I had thought I had the materials to prepare the meal, but as I began the task, I realized I did not. I was without a car, and the nearest store was miles away. If I walked to the store, I would not be home in time to prepare the meal for the family. I searched through my pantry for something different, but I was low on groceries. It was at this moment, I knelt in prayer. I desired to help the family in need, but I had no idea how I was going to accomplish it without help.

As soon as I finished my prayer, I began calling people in the ward. I hoped to find someone who had the ingredient; however, nobody seemed to answer my phone call. Then while I was still on the phone, the operator came through the line (I didn't know that happened), and asked if I was willing to accept a call from someone. This person was in my ward. I didn't know them well, but I knew of them. I immediately accepted the call to hear what this person may need wondering if there something I could do to help them and curious to find out why they would use an operator to get a hold of me. To my surprise, this person was calling as an answer to my prayer. She said that she did not know why it was so important to get a hold of me, but that she knew I was in need. She asked what she could do to help me? As I heard her explanation, I felt overwhelmed with love and gratitude. I knew the Lord had heard my prayers. I immediately knelt down and thanked my Heavenly Father for hearing my need.

From this moment on, I knew the Lord was aware of me individually. My faith began to grow in this thing and it continues to grow to this day. Someday, I want to have the faith of the Brother of Jared.

Ether 1

THE POWER OF PRAYER

I was touched as I read in the account of Ether today about the power of prayer. The brother of Jared continuously instructs his brother to ask of the Lord, and each time--the Lord answers. I was first impressed with the faith to seek the Lord, and second impressed with power of prayer. I keep thinking that because they first had the faith to seek the Lord, they must have had complete trust that the Lord would direct and answer.


Faith in the Lord is a powerful thing. There is a difference between believing in the Lord and believing that the Lord will direct our path. Many times in my life I lean more on the simply believing in the Lord, and then I go about my activities trying to accomplish all that I must without the Lord's divine intervention. It requires great faith to stop and realize how much better we would be with the Lord directing our path, and then to trust that He can and He will. It seems to me to be a circle of faith: to first have the faith to stop and counsel with the Lord, to then listen for His direction, and then to move froward with faith.

For me, I have the faith that this pattern in life works; however, I don't often use it. When I have exhausted all other scenarios, I then seem to turn to the Lord. Why not begin with the Lord? Why must I struggle on my own? I do believe the Lord trusts us in orchestrating our lives, but I don't think that means that we can't counsel with him in all things. In fact, in Nephi we are instructed to ...counsel with the Lord in all dealings...(1 Nephi 37:37).

At the end of this chapter two powerful messages seemed to cap off my original impressions. First, in verse 42 it states, "I will go before thee." This simply promise of the Lord reminds me that the Lord is willing to be with us. However, we must first seek Him in order to have that companionship. The second phrase that hit home was in verse 43 it states, "And thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me." The Lord here tells us that He will bless us when we seek Him. When we choose to allow Him in to our lives, He will make things happen to our benefit, but WE MUST trust in Him enough to first ask.

Moroni 7

This chapter had so many nuggets of truth is hard to know where to begin:

In verse 12 we learn that "all things which are good cometh of God". I love this statement, because of its simplicity.  ALL things good=from God. ALL THINGS. On this statement Moroni expounds his thoughts when he says in verse 13, "that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God."

I also like that in verse 16 it explains that "the Spirit of Christ" is given to every man, that he may know good from evil. In this life, we will need that spirit to be with us. There are many things inviting us to "do" to "come"--things that need to be discerned through the Spirit of Christ. I have watched with sadness as people--I love--have fallen away from the church. I believe it is because they focused on things that were not important. Much like the Jews in Jerusalem, they have focused beyond the mark of the Savior. Jacob, in The Book of Mormon, explains this when he says, "the Jews...despised the words of plainness,...and sought the things they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken sway his plainness from them..." (Jacob 4: 14). Neal A Maxwell explains, "The gospel is plain and simple. The Jews rejected the simple gospel and God's plan by "'looking beyond the mark' (Jacob 4:14)--the mark of Christ who is the center of it all" (Neal A. Maxwell, "Not My Will, But Thine," 7).

We continue to learn that "it is by faith that miracles are wrought " (vs. 37), "no man can be saved...save they shall have faith" (vs. 38), "he (the man) cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart" (vs. 43), and "if a man be meek and lowly of heart...he must needs have charity for if not charity he is nothing" (vs. 44).

We also learn what it means to have charity in verse 45 when it says, "charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, 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. I love this description or this checklist--so to speak--of charity. My mind works in formulas and checklists. As I read through this checklist, I notice similarities to the 13 article of faith. I also notice the importance to seek the good and positive in life. Just recently I have learned a lesson on charity that I hope to never forget:

I haven't been here for a while. It's not that I don't have more to say, but perhaps I've needed time...

Today I am writing about Brandon again. I was recently informed of someone speaking in a sacrament meeting about service. In his talk, he spoke of my little brother, and the example Brandon had been to him. I just received the talk, and it has caused me to reflect on life.

I always knew the things that this person shared of Brandon, but I was too busy to really "see". As I have contemplated his divine nature, I have wondered if I am neglecting an important portion of loving the people around me--if I am not taking the time to bask in their light. I think--as a mom, it is easy to always correct my children with behaviors that need correcting, and easy to neglect to praise the good. I think I am missing the process of truly seeing others as God sees them. I think I have been defining others by their trials rather than their strengths, and I need to start defining others by their strengths and not by their trials--my children included. 

I remember on Brandon's frequent visits to my home, him taking a multitude of pills. I remember watching him as he counted out the various pills that he needed to sustain his life. I remember asking him about his medical condition, about his well-being (which quite often focused on his medical condition), and about his life in general. I remember anxiously asking him of his work--always afraid that another company would view his "medical" history to be too difficult to continue employing him. I remember watching him struggle as he talked. I remember hating that his vocal chords were ruined. It was difficult for Brandon to push enough air through his throat to speak. I often worried about other people judging Brandon's difficulties, and I desired to protect him from their scrutiny.Whenever Brandon came to visit, I thought often of his medical trials, but I forgot to enjoy the person Brandon truly was... In retrospect, in my effort of protecting Brandon, I became the problem I desired to protect him against. Perhaps this is a story about loving a person entirely--the good and the bad. In my limited understanding previous to Brandon's passing, I was loving Brandon entirely; however, now--as I reflect on his life, I wonder if there could have been more charity, more love, and more joy if I had only taken the time to bask a bit in his great strengths? I wonder how I could have grown as a sister, and as a mother--if I had only allowed myself the opportunity of being the student rather than being the teacher all of the time?

Seeing people for their good qualities is a gift. This gift in which I speak is the gift of charity. Seeing others as they truly are is a lesson that will not be lost on me. 

The TALK (or a portion of it) by Greg Slevin about Brandon Elkington:

(Greg worked as a pharmacist at a Camp where Brandon was a counselor.):

Brandon was another person I met at Camp.  He was also a counselor, who had type 1 diabetes.  He was about 20 something.  Unlike Zach--Brandon also had another condition.  One of the things that the pharmacy students and I do on the Saturday that we get to camp is to set up the infirmary and package all of the staff medications in bubble packs.  The first time I met Brandon was when I was helping a student package his medications.  Not only was Brandon cursed with Type 1 diabetes--he also had another auto-immune condition that affected his other organs.  His own body would attack his other organs.  He was on some very powerful medications to prevent this from happening.  When you take powerful medications there are always side effects, sometimes powerful side effects.  He had multiple things going on that he dealt with every single day.  I can tell you that I have never seen Brandon with anything on his face other than a smile.  He was always positive.  You would never have known that he was battling multiple diseases.  He would often be giggling with a friend on the other side of the room and you would just wonder what they were talking about.  He had a gift.  Like Zach, he would do anything to help you out.  He wouldn’t even hesitate.  Didn’t care what it was.  If you asked for help he would just jump up out of his seat and say let’s go.  When I was helping to prepare for camp, I was surprised to not see his name on the roster this year.  We had talked the previous year and he thought for sure that he would be coming to camp this year.  I just assumed something came up.  It was certainly not uncommon for people to miss a year.  Sometimes if someone can’t come for the entire week they get permission to come for part of a week.  Their name may not always be on the roster.  It could have been that he was in the "maybe column"--that he hadn’t committed yet.  The roster always changes right up until camp.  Sometimes even during camp people have to go home for an unexpected reason.  At teen camp Saturday evening, we had just finished getting the medical stuff set up, and all of us headed to the lodge for staff meeting and training.  One of the first things that Alan, our camp director, said was that he had to make an announcement.  He wanted to let us know that Brandon had died.  He ended up getting a respiratory infection… I think it was the flu.  Because Brandon had to take medications to prevent his body from attacking his other organs, he could not fight infection very well.  I really don’t know a lot of the details.  I didn’t know that it had happened.  Many of the others there had known.  I was in shock.  Brandon was such a nice guy.  Brandon lived in eastern Idaho, so I didn’t really know him that well.  I just knew him one week out of the year, and can tell you he has had a tremendous effect on my life.  It is people like him and Zach that make it easy for me to be positive when I am performing service.  My words don’t even come close to describing him.  When I got back from camp, I tried to learn more about what had happened to him.  When I went to his Facebook page there were hundreds of people that had commented about him.  This is what they had to say:  1) He was truly a gift of God.   2) He is an example of the sort of positive influence that I hope to be.  3) Brandon was a great guy and a true friend to everyone he came across.  4) He was such a fun loving guy.  5) I had only a few brief interactions with Brandon. I remember being impressed with his unrelenting optimism in the face of great difficulty.  6) With the many struggles that had come your way you fought threw it, always smiling anytime I saw you. 7) You were a man people could count on, always willing to help others before yourself.  8) What an amazing guy you were! So full of life and fun!  9) He has always been so strong and a friend to everyone.  10) His kind, sunny personality will be greatly missed. The messages went on and on.  There were Hundreds of messages.  I do believe that Brandon stands blameless before God.

Ether 12

FAITH

I love how Moroni defines faith. He says, “faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (12:6). Moroni then goes on to explain that if there is “no faith among the children of men, then God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith” (12:12). So, as we demonstrate faith—as we persevere and hope for the best, God can then create miracles in our lives…

Moroni then offers us examples of faith: he said, “it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth (12:13) it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost (12:14)… it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites (12:15)”. Moroni then repeated, “…neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore, they first believed in the Son of God” (12:18). 

This “faith” which Moroni speaks about, is what we all desire. However, sometimes when we struggle it is easy to forget our purpose and lose sight of our faith. Ironically, it is by having faith that we are allowed the strength to climb those mountains and overcome our fears.  President Monson has counseled, “Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rain may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandment” (Thomas S. Monson, Be of Good Cheer, General Conference April 2009).

 “My beloved brothers and sisters fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith” (Thomas S. Monson, Be of Good Cheer, General Conference April 2009).

I love the message of faith President Monson teaches us through this quote—there will be “storm clouds”—there will be “fears” in our lives; however, if we are faithful, our future will be bright.

I am sure there were reasons for fear in the lives of Alma and Amulek as they defended the gospel despite being beaten, and spit upon. As they stood in faith, while the prison walls shook around them. I am sure there were reasons for fear in the lives of Nephi and Lehi as they too—were thrown in prison, and as the Lamanites were preparing to slay them. I am sure there reasons for Ammon to fear as he entered enemy territory, as he withstood a band of thieves, and as he testified of the gospel to a Lamanite king. I wonder what would have happened had these prophets of old allowed their fear to overcome their faith? What would their story have been then? Without Alma and Amulek, there would be no conversion in the city of Ammonihah. Without the faith of Nephi and Lehi, the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost would not have happened. Without the faith of Ammon and his brethren, there would not have been the people of Ammon, or the two thousand stripling warriors. Without the faith of these prophets of old—thousands of people would not have been converted to the gospel. However, because their reasons for fear did not overcome their faith, all of these things did happen, and their messages continue to touch us today. 

Elder Bednar said that “fear is a potent emotion and an important element of our mortal existence” (David A. Bednar, “Therefore They Hushed Their Fears”, General Conference April 2015). However, he further stated, “Correct knowledge of and faith in the Lord empowers us to hush our own fears” (David A. Bednar, “Therefore They Hushed Their Fears”, General Conference April 2015).

Ether 3

Ether 3

|I have continued studying the scriptures, but I haven't kept as faithful of a journal as in times past. I am attempting to repent of that today with this entry.

There were several things that touched me about Ether 3.

I loved that in verse 14 it describes Christ through Christ's own words:
"Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters."

We are God's children. Jesus Christ loves us. He paid the price for our sins so that we might be redeemed.

I also love the faith demonstrated by the Brother of Jared. He had the faith to believe that if he asked God to touch the stones, then he would. He had the faith to ask. He had the faith to trust. He gave us an example of how we can pray to our Heavenly Father when we are faced with trials. And probably more poignant was what God taught us through this interchange. We can learn from this account that answers to our prayers do not always come in the same way. Sometimes Heavenly Father will tell us; however, sometimes we will need to come up with a solution on our own, and then move forward with faith--just like the Brother of Jared moved forward.

3 Nephi 14

As I continue to read about the be-attitudes, I reflect on my life, and I how I can be better now. IN verse 20 it states, "Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them." I feel I have met with several people who are struggling with their testimonies, because of things they have read concerning Joseph Smith. As I read The Book of Mormon, I feel power in each page, my life is changed for the better, and I am have felt the spirit guiding me to make right choices. Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon. I am sure he made mistakes in his life as he was only a man--not a God; however, I can't deny that he was a prophet of God, because of the fruits he was able to bring forth during his life. I can't deny what I feel when I read from The Book of Mormon. I know it to be true. I have no doubt that it is another testament of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that the Lord himself guided the publication of this book. This whole thought goes along with several more scriptures in this chapter as well.

Verse 3: "And why beholdest thou the bean in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye."

I don't desire to know all of Joseph Smith's transgressions. Nor do I think, we can possible know them accurately. Without Joseph being able to testify against them on his behalf, I think we will never know the whole story. Although I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, I also believe that he was a man, and being a man--he was prone to make a few mistakes. In saying this, I am not excusing him of evil; however, because of his "fruits", I believe that some of the "evil" that is being said, is fabricated by the devil. I truly believe that someone who was "evil" could not have translated The Book of Mormon; therefore, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the evil that has been and will continue to be spoken of him is a misrepresentation of a prophet of God.

Verse 14: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

I think we have to willing to seek and pray for answers in our day. As I study the scriptures, and as I pray, I know the Lord will guide me. There are many things that can pull me away from my testimony if I allow them to do so; however, I have no doubt that if I am doing my part--God will lead me through that narrow gate.

In our day, I see many who have fallen away, and who continue to fall away. I pray for the strength to continue on the path for I know Satan is aware and very real. I am at war with him, and I am determined to win.

Finally, on another thought, the Lord admonishes us to do his will and build our "testimonies" on his foundation. Those of us who "heareth" His sayings and "doeth" them, will be built on a firm foundation (verse 24-27). Sometimes it is difficult to follow the Lord's will, or to even accept His will in our lives. Some of these moments, can cause us great distress, and could be a reason or someone to fall away.

I will never profess to understand all that is God's will, but I will bear testimony that I know that He is overall, and if I trust in Him all will be right in my life. I may not like His will, but I know that all things will work out for my good. I know that I will become better as I trust in Him. Just recently, my little brother passed away. I wish it wasn't God's will to take him. I wish there was a different plan. However, I know that as I rely on my Father in heaven, all things will work together. This is called faith. I may not understand all things, but I know that with God--all things will be right. Right now my heart hurts, and I find myself battling depression--He never said these trials would be easy, but He did say He would help us through them. So, I trust. I pray. I ask for help. And I know someday--I will be on the other side of this pain, and because I trust in God and His will, I also know that I will see my brother again.

3 Nephi 10

As the Savior is speaking with the people he says, "How oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens and ye would not." This phrase is mentioned a couple of times as the Savior speaks with the people. As I read this phrase, I wondered--how many times does He now try to gather us, and we do not hear? How do we shut out the worlds sufficiently to hear His voice accurately? 

How is the Lord gathering me? Am I seeing what He is doing for me in my life? Am I open to His communications?

I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God lives. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet who translated The Book of Mormon. As I read from The Book of Mormon, I feel the truthfulness of its doctrine. It guides me and teaches me in my life to become a better person. It is something that makes me better. I have recently had conversations with people who are struggling with their testimonies, and as I seek to help them, I want to record how I know. Although this testimony is simple, I can feel it in my heart. I trust that anything that makes me better--must be good; anything that enlightens me--must be good; anything that directs my path towards the Savior--must be good. I trust that I may not understand all things, but that God does, and He will direct me--he will gather me if I allow Him to do so. We live in a day and age where there are many confusions and contentions. In order to rise above that confusion, we must be willing to trust, to seek, and to persevere. Faith is not something for the faint of heart. I think back on Joseph Smith's early days of the church how he had to study to get his answers. It wasn't taught to him immediately, but over a long period of time. There is information put out by the church that has caused a lot of confusion about Joseph Smith. I haven't read it. I am debating whether I should or not; I don't always feel that I need to know everything to know that the church is true. 

Alma 56 & 57

LESSONS FROM THE STRIPLING WARRIORS

This chapter of scripture is one of my favorite in all the Book of Mormon. I love the example of the two thousand stripling warriors and the lessons their example teaches me. When I read about them, I hope that I can be the mom that is described in these verses, and I hope that my children can be like the stripling warriors. This chapter serves as an example of what I want to accomplish in this life.

Lesson #1
Verse 45: "And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.

We face many things in our life that require courage. Elder Lynn D. Robbins in the October 2014 general conference said that, "Courage is the form of every virtue at its testing point." I love this description of courage. President Monson has stated in numerous talks that courage is needed in order to overcome the trials we will face. These stripling warriors had courage to do whatever was required for the benefit of their people. In fact that encompasses lesson #2.

Lesson #2
Verse 47: "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives..."

This is an unselfish love that I think takes a great deal of spiritual strength to acquire. It is part of the natural man in us all to think of ourselves. I can only imagine how I would feel if I were them facing an enemy army. I can't imagine the strength of character they must have had in order to think of other people above the fear of their own lives. I can't imagine the faith they must have had to trust in their mother's words when their mother's had told them to not doubt.


Lesson #3
Verse 47 and 48 "...yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."

In my patriarchal blessing, it talks about my faith as a mother. These scriptures seem to speak to me directly. I feel I have been instructed that through my faith, my children will be saved. These mothers had that kind of faith. I'm not sure how to acquire this kind of faith, but I know I can pray for direction. I want my children to be like the Stripling Warriors and not doubt, because I KNOW. That is a mighty example. An example I hope I am setting.

These young men had great faith, and they were willing to declare their faith. In verse 46 it states, "...behold, our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall..." This line teaches me about faith in God. It teaches me to trust in Him over everything else. It teaches me to set aside my fears, and be believing. It teaches me to teach my children to do the same.

I know that God is with us. I know that He loves us. I know that He knows us individually. I know that as we let go of our will, and as we turn our will over to Him, He can do great things in our lives. As we trust Him, He will create miracles. I pray for this kind of faith. I pray that I can be like the mothers of the Stripling Warriors.

Lesson #4
Verse 56: "But behold to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war."

This continues throughout the story of the Two Thousand Stripling Warriors--they go to battle, and not one of them die. In Alma 57:25-26 it states, "there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds. And behold their preservation was astonishing... And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe--that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power."

These young men were walking miracles. The scriptures attribute it to their faith. It seems to teach me a little about faith, and my desire to trust in the Lord in all things. For in 57:27 it states, "their minds are firm and they do put their trust in God continually."

And then in 57:21 it states, "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that heir mothers had taught them."

I believe that their example teaches us to rely on God a bit more in our lives. It teaches us that as we keep the commandments, and as we trust in God--we can expect that God will look out for us. We can have the faith that all will work together for our good, because God promises blessings to the righteous. This doesn't mean that I think we won't have trials. I assume that these young men felt it was a great trial to be at war rather than at home. I suppose it was a great trial to face the Lamanites in battle at such a young age; however, no matter their trial they were still firm, and because they were firm--they had faith that God would be with them.

There are many around me that are struggling with great trials. I've been asked by my kids why bad things happen to good people. With these thoughts in mind, I can't answer "WHY", but I can say that those of my friends who are faithful, are somehow happier, are somehow lifted, are somehow feeling the presence of God despite their struggle; however, those of my friends who turn away from God, are seemingly lost, and are not receiving the assurance that all work together for their good.

Each and every one of us will face trials in this life. God is overall. He loves us. As we are obedient to Him and  submit our wills to His, we will be blessed. Maybe not in our time frame, but we can be assured that we will.

ALMA 48

MORONI

In a previous post I compared Amalickiah and Moroni. In verse 7 the scriptures point out that same comparison when it says, "that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God."

I'm not sure why this comparison intrigues me so much. Perhaps, it demonstrates who we can become--we can choose to influence others for good, or for bad. Or, perhaps it is the idea that the people in our lives can directly influence who we become. The stark difference between Amalickiah and Moroni seems so apparent there shouldn't be any gray area in our lives--we can either choose to be like Amalickiah or choose to be like Moroni. However, although I know our own determination to become plays a huge role in what we will eventually become--I also think that in order to "Become"--we must be diligent--keeping our eyes fixed on that ultimate goal. If we are not diligent Satan can carefully lead us way from the pathway with small, seemingly minuet transgressions. On the other hand, we can also form our lives into a life like Moroni's by small, seemingly minuet righteous choices.

The scriptures describe Moroni:
Verse 11: Strong Mighty Man; A Man of Perfect Understanding; Found Joy in Liberty

I can be more like Moroni by increasing my undrestanding through prayer, and seeking God first.

Verse 12: Heart Did Swell With Thanksgiving Toward God; A Man Who Labored for Safety of People

I can be more like Moroni by being more thankful towards my Heavenly Father--seeking more gratitude in prayer rather than seeking my wants and needs. I can also fulfill my calling by seeking the Lord's guidance without complaint.

Verse 13: Firm in the Faith of Christ; Believing that if He was Faithful in Keeping the Commandments, then the Lord would Deliver Them from Their Enemies (verse 15, and 16).

I can be like Moroni by trusting in God and keeping my faith. Trusting that if I do keep the commandments, then I can have faith that all will work together for our good.

I love in verse 17 it states, "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."

The scriptures then mentioned more men that were like unto Moroni--Ammon, Helaman, The Sons of Mosiah, Alma...

I want to be like Moroni. I want my name to be on a list in heaven like unto this list--not for the glory of men, but to fulfill my desire of becoming all that God would have me become. I want my children to be like Moroni too! I want us to seek God first in our lives.

As I read this scripture, my heart longs to become. My heart desires my children to also become. I have faith that the Lord can guide us. I have no doubt that we will have shortcomings and struggle at times; however, I also have no doubt that all can be made right through Heavenly Father.

As I was reading this, I felt prompted to memorize this scripture with my family. I think Moroni should become a hero for my little people, and I can help create that!

Alma 33 & 34

Jesus Christ is our salvation. As we pray, and seek Him in our lives, the atonement can become real in our lives. He stands as an advocate on our behalf. In order to allow Him to be our advocate, we must choose to use the atonement, and by so doing we obtain the mercy we desire.

Alma 34: 9 states, "For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made; or else all mankind must unavoidably perish..."

Alma 34:15, &16 states, "And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety..."

This life is our time to prepare to meet God. Through Jesus Christ, we can become clean.  As we seek Christ, and as we practice faith unto repentance, we allow the atonement to cleanse us from our sins. It is only through the atonement of Christ that we can be saved. For no "unclean" clean can enter into God's presence. Because our Father loves us so much, He provided a way for us to return. He wants us to succeed. He desires our return; however, we must choose our path. We must use our agency to acquire this great gift that has been offered.

We are in the Christmas Season, and the Church has launched a campaign proclaiming that Christ is the gift of Christmas. I have a testimony of this. Jesus Christ died for us. He suffered in Gethsemane providing for me a means to repentance. He died on the cross breaking the bands of death, and allowing me to live again in my Heavenly Home. Without this truth, I do not believe we would celebrate Christmas. Without Easter, there would be no Christmas. But because Christ did what He did, the true gift of Christmas is Him. The atonement is the greatest gift ever given.

It is my hope that I can remember the true meaning of Christmas. The reason for the season.

Alma 32

FORMULA FOR LIFE

Alma 32 is one of those "formula" type chapters for me. There are some real gems for principles within this chapter. My favorite principle is when Alma says, "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore, if ye have faith, ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."

Alma explains that even if we can only have a desire to believe, then if we allow that desire to work within us through experimenting on that desire, we will then know whether it is good or bad. He explains that if it is good, it will expand and grow within us, and we will know that is good. As we do this, we begin to build our testimonies; however, we have only begun. We must be willing to continue experimenting, which will continue to build our testimonies. And herein lies the formula: Working at our Testimonies + Endurance = Eternal Life. For as Alma explains, "If ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life" (Alma 32:41). So, as we work our testimonies, by studying the word (the iron rod...as Nephi described it) and enduring to the end--we shall be led to eternal life. For the tree in which it speaks is the tree of life, and as we learned from Nephi, it leads to life eternal.

Alma's formula is exactly what we need for our day. It is our answer on how to remain steadfast. As I look around, I feel that there are many voices pulling us away from the principles of the Gospel. There are many who have fallen from these principles already: We must hold on to our testimonies in order to remain strong, and the only way to do that is by studying the scriptures.

I once wrote a talk about this idea of faith, and this is what I wrote:

We are taught more fully about our foundations of faith through Alma. He also spoke of the importance of the word of God; however, rather than likening the word to an iron rod—he likened the word to a seed which is planted in the heart. He states that if we will no more “than desire to believe”, the seed or the word will begin to sprout and grow. And as it beginneth to grow, we will know that “the word has enlarged our souls, and our understanding will be enlightened, and our minds will expand.” (Alma 32:34)  Alma states that continued nourishment and patience will cause the seed to grow into the tree of life —“a tree springing forth into everlasting life.” (Alma 32: 26-42) As we continue to study the scriptures, our foundations of faith will grow, and our knowledge will expand.

President Boyd K. Packer said, “True doctrine understood, changes attitudes and behavior…the study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”

I have an elder brother who until just recently has not been interested in many of the lasting joys that accompany membership in our church. However, slowly his disinterest turned to interest, and a few weeks ago my dear brother and his beautiful wife were sealed in the temple with their two children. I can’t begin to express the feelings that accompanied this marvelous event. It truly was a sacred moment in our family. After the sealing, I asked my sister-in-law what it was that made the difference for her and her family. She said that it started with a simple goal—a baby step.  As a family they made a goal to read the Book of Mormon in a year. She said that at times it was difficult. She remembers many mornings when no one wanted to rise for early morning scripture study, but through perseverance day by day this baby step turned into something more than a simple goal. The seed planted by the word of God, began to enlarge their souls, and by the end of the year my brother received the priesthood, and he and his wife were sealed in the temple for time and all eternity. My sister-in-law said that without scripture study, they would not have made their covenants in the temple. By studying the scriptures, their foundation of faith, and their testimony of truth was strengthened through the Lord.  As we study our scriptures, we too will be building a foundation of faith. President Monson said, that as we establish a firm foundation for our lives, we are given a precious promise:

Fear not I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
(“How Firm a Foundation,” Hymns, no. 85)

Alma 31

What Matter's Most

In Alma 31:27, Alma describes the awful wickedness of the people when he said, Behold, O God, they cry unto thee, and yet their hearts are swallowed up in their pride. Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world."

I wonder how often I allow the things of the world to overshadow the things that matter most. I think it is easy to see these people in the scriptures and think it was their sin, and not relate it back to our day; however, the scriptures for our day. I think the world is is in our lives more than we realize. As I look at my phone, am I crowding out the things that matter most? I often try to remind myself to stay off social media sites while my children are with me, so that I might give them my full attention, or to do the "most" important things prior to indulging in social media. Richard G. Scott said, "Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it!" (Richard G. Scott, "Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority", General Conference 2014).

There are other things in the world that can overshadow the most important things. I think we have to be constantly diligent in putting God first in order to stay on the straight and narrow. I know that Satan is aware, and he will stop at nothing to tempt us away from the things that matter most. I don't think these people are much different from us. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves indulging in the same sins they found themselves.

At the end of this chapter, Alma offered a prayer on behalf of these people, and the scriptures say that it was "according to the prayer of Alma" (Alma 31:38). To have the faith of Alma, and to pray with such power is my ultimate goal in life. Because of Alma's faith, many of these hardened people came to the knowledge of God.

Alma 19 & 21

Changed Hearts = No More Desire to Sin

Alma 19

After the household of Lamoni had heard the Gospel, and repented of their sins, the scriptures say, "their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil." I think this is our goal; to have no desire to sin.

The other night at the dinner table, my kids were asking me about temptations, and repentance. I told them that as they are obedient to God's commandments, their hearts will change and they will not be tempted by the things that seem to tempt them now. I explained that obedience keeps our hearts in line with the Gospel. Of course we will all have struggles, and we will need to be continually repenting; however, as our hearts change, our desires change as well.

I feel this is a continual process. There are moments in my life where I feel much like the statement written in Alma--"having no more desire to sin", and all though that is my continual desire, I am learning that there are times when I am not even tempted, and other times when I am. It reminds me to continually be seeking after the things of God. It reminds me that my focus needs to be set on Him--all of the time.

Continue in Faith

Alma 21

When Ammon delivered his brethren from prison, they had suffered greatly. What impresses me most is what they did as soon as they were released. The scriptures say, "And they went forth withersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the word of God in every synagogue of the Amalekites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites where they could be admitted." 

I love that they were patient in their afflictions. I love that they continued even though they had been beaten and naked. I love that they took no thought for themselves, but rather of God. I love that they knew what mattered most. I am struck by their conviction, their faith, their hearts, their desire to do the Lord's will. I want to be like that.

In the beginning, Aaron and his brethren didn't have much success. As just noted, they were cast into prison, they were beaten, and when Ammon found them--they were naked. As these men pushed forward, as they were patient in their trial, and they continued on God's path, they scriptures also say that the "Lord began to bless them, insomuch they brought many to the knowledge of the truth..." Sometimes in life, we may feel like we are doing all that we can to do what is right, and it may feel as if nothing seems to be going right. We may wonder why we are not being blessed when we are doing everything we should be doing. I love this example in the scriptures, because it demonstrates that sometimes those "blessings" do not always come quickly. Sometimes we are given the opportunity to have a "trial of our faith". We are blessed to endure, and as we endure--we are molded into better people. If we can remain faithful, our hearts become more refined. If we remain faithful, we become better. I truly believe the Lord is there waiting to give us the blessings we desire. I believe that He is watching and I believe that He is cheering us on. I can hear Him in my mind saying, "Just a little longer...hold on, don't give up". I believe that as we do HOLD ON, and as we refuse to give into the temptation of giving up--the Lord will bless us...after the trial of our faith--He will bless us. 

Alma and Amulek

Faith to Move Mountains

Alma and Amulek had been in prison for several days. They had been beaten, and spit upon. They were naked and hungry. When they had carried this burden for several days, Alma said, "O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance" (Alma 14:26). And Alma and Amulek were given power to break the bands which held them, and the prison shook, and tumbled and all that were inside died--except Alma and Amulek who walked from the rubble. "And it was said, "For the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ" (Alma 14:27).

I like the phrase "according to our faith". It causes me to wonder about my own faith. Do I have the faith to ask a miracle from my Lord? What kind of faith is needed in my day to day life, and am I acquiring it? How can I increase my faith?

I want to have that kind of faith. I want to be close to the spirit just like Alma and Amulek. I want to be the Lord's servant.

I think of the moment in the New Testament when the man approaches the Savior to heal his son, adn the Savior asks if he has faith enough for the miracle, and the man answers, "I believe; help thou mine unbelief"(Mark 9:24). I think of myself similar to this man. I want to believe; however, I need the Lord to help me with what I lack.

I do have the faith that as I continue reading my scriptures, saying my prayers, and putting God first in my life, that when the time comes that my faith may be challenged--the Lord will have made my faith whole.

For right here and now, I do have faith in Him. I know that He is there. I know that He can do all things. As I read the scriptures, and as I read the words of the latter-day prophets, I know that He is there, and He strengthens me. I have no doubt that as I persist in these things, it will make all the difference.

Integrity #3 Personal Progress

Examples of Integrity in the Scriptures:

I was touched that Joseph knew that by defying Potipher's wife, he would be punished. However, he cared more about what God thought than what others thought. He suffered in prison for years before he was released. It would be difficult to not be bitter when in choosing the right--bad things happened. It is important to remember that we may not always see blessings immediately, but if we endure our trials with faith, then all things will work together for our good.

I liked how Esther chose to stand up for her people even when it could mean death. She too, chose to care more about doing the right, rather than caring about herself. She put the Gospel principles first in her life. It would be easy to be quiet. There are times in my life when I want to be quiet, but in order to be like Esther, I must stand for the right even when difficult.

Again, Daniel prayed even when it could mean death. The Lord blessed him, and saved him from the Lion's den; however, the Lord doesn't always save. Abinidi also did what was right, and he did perish. There are times when we must be willing to trust in the Lord's purposes no matter the cost.

Job never spoke against God even when he lost everything. He held to his FAITH in all things. I love the example of Job, because hard things happen to all of us in this life, and there is always the temptation that it is easier to simply give up. In Job's hardest moments he said, "God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live" (Job 27:6-7).

I like how Paul returned to God when he was called unto repentance. He testified to King Agrippa of his vision. Not only was he despised of the Jews (because of his persecution towards them prior to his conversion), but he spoke against his fellow brethren and then was despised of them as well. Paul was so persuasive that King Agrippa was almost persuaded. He testified no matter what the result. Even if it meant death.

Doctrine and Covenants 124:15 says, "...blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord." I think this is the key--loving what is right before God above all other things!

Joseph Smith History 1: 21-24: Joseph testified of his vision, and in response to his testimony, he was persecuted by all the sects of religion. An obscure boy caused the ridicule of elite men, which caused Joseph much sorrow. Despite his sorrow, he would not waiver from his testimony. He knew he had seen a vision, and no persecution could make it otherwise. Much like Paul could not deny his vision--Joseph could not.

I love how Joseph said, "Who am I that I can withstand God?" He knew that no matter what the world believed to be right, he could not deny what he knew to be right.

Each and every one of us have had those “moments” in our lives—those moments of decision.  In a world where holiness is mocked, I have often reflected on the “how” of standing. And as I have pondered, my thoughts keep returning to “obedience”. The “how” of standing happens when we choose to be obedient. When we choose to read our scriptures and apply them to our lives, when we choose to follow the FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH…ultimately when we choose to keep the commandments despite the difficulties, and no matter the consequences. If I may I would like to illustrate with a personal experience from my own life. When I was in Junior High, I was asked to speak out against a young man who I had witnessed breaking the rules. I wasn’t alone in my decision to take a stand. Five of my girlfriends joined me as we met with the principal, and conveyed the experience. To our surprise, our testimonies against this young man were the cause of his expulsion from school. In an effort to protect us from social ridicule, our principal gave us an alibi. He placed us all in detention, and we were told to say that we had been caught sloughing, so as to hide from our peers our reason for not being in class. I remember feeling that I had made the right choice to speak out; however, I didn't feel at peace with the alibi given to me by the principal. In fact, as I started relaying the alibi to my peers—no one believed me. I had never sloughed before, and because of the way I conducted myself on a regular basis—no one seemed to believe our story. That night, with a heavy heart, I explained my situation to my father, and he counseled me to do a hard thing. He told me that it was right to take a stand, but just because I had done one right—didn't make it okay to cover it up with a wrong. Lying was still lying. He counseled me to pray about my decision, but he felt that I should be honest with my peers, and stand behind my original decision to take a stand. Telling the truth not only perjured myself, but all of the other girls who had also taken a stand—our alibi would no longer be an alibi. The next morning I apologized to each of them, and explained what I was about to do. Some of them begged me to change my mind, but I could not be swayed—I was resolute in my determination to do what was right. The months that followed were difficult ones for me. My family received phone calls in the middle of the night with threats, and profanity. I was talked about openly—even so I could hear the conversations in hallways and in the locker room. My peers would turn their back on me in the hall, and at times I felt as if I had some sort of disease. Ultimately, I felt very much alone. Even my best friend was angry with me. However, despite the challenges--the peace that I felt made it worth the trial. I knew that I had made the right choice, and I truly felt that Heavenly Father was with me. This experience solidified my heart and sealed my testimony of the power of obedience. I became something more. My classmates knew it—I knew it. After the anger and frustration had worn off, my peers treated me with a new level of respect. More important than their respect—however, was my new determination to be obedient—always—no matter the cost. Mosiah 2:41 states, “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” (Mosiah 2: 41). When we choose to keep the commandments, when we choose to stand on the Lord’s side, when we choose to stand in Holy Places—we are blessed and we set ourselves on the pathway of becoming all that our Father intended of us. We are molding and shaping our lives. Sister Dalton said, "Take a few minutes to envision where you want to be in one year or two or five. Then take action to prepare yourselves. People don't just run a marathon when they decide to do it. They must train daily, slowly building stamina and endurance to run the 26.2-mile distance. So it is with life. It is daily diligence…that will help you reach your goals. Your daily decisions will influence generations" (Elaine S. Dalton, "Press Forward and Be Steadfast," Ensign, May 2003, p.105).