Rewards in Both This Life and the Next

As I think about Hope, I believe that President Dieter F. Uchtdorf talks about it best:


I love the first sentence in the video, "Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness." For all those who are feeling a little down, maybe sorrowed or even a little depressed: remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to change your life. If your life is filled with misfortune and regret and missed opportunities or poor decisions, seek the forgiveness and peace that comes through Jesus Christ. Through His atonement He has promised us that if we will repent of our sins, forsake our trespasses, and seek to be righteous and obedient, he will prepare a magnificent home for us in the life to come. I like the words of Ether, a prophet in the Book of Mormon.
       
          "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."

Have hope in things that are good - in Jesus Christ, and in His gospel. Have hope that you may improve your life. Have hope that your faith may be strengthened. Know that Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, love you. "The Love of the Son of God pierces all darkness..."

What Is This Thing That Men Call Death?

Given a recent tragedy in my family I felt inspired to talk about death. When I heard of this tragedy the
first thing that popped into my mind was a poem by Gordon B. Hinckley former president of the church. The poem goes like this:

"What Is This Thing That Men Call Death?

What is this thing that men call death?                                             

This quiet passing in the night?

‘Tis not the end but genesis

Of better worlds and greater light

O God, touch Thou my aching heart

And calm my troubled, haunting fears

Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure

Give strength and peace beyond my tears.

There is no death, but only change

With recompense for vict’ry won

The gift of Him who loved all men

The Son of God, the Holy One."

   In this poem he talks about the strength that God can give us.  Personally, I love the line "There is no death, but only change..." As sad as death inevitably is, there is always something we have that we can turn to... the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is always there to offer comfort. Through this gospel, we know that there is more to this life; this life is merely a time for "men to prepare to meet God." (Alma 34:32) I know that there is more after this life. I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and I know that he has a plan for us. Although at first death, or better yet "change", is a time of tears, God will help and give you strength. Lean on Him - He is there.

You Know Enough!

I have run into people on my mission that struggle with this concept. They feel that they need to know everything about the church. To believe and live you faith as Neil L. Andersen says, "You may not know everything, but you know enough." We need not get carried away in needing to know all of the small things, answers will come through out time and diligent study. We know enough to be baptized, we know enough to live our Faith, we know enough to do these things. We need to have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father to trust in them that we know enough and that the answers they give us are what we need. What greater witness can we have than from God? "You may not know everything, but you know enough."

Tuning Our Lives

In the world of music, there is a device called a Tuning Fork. This device is a two-pronged fork that is used in music as a "standard of pitch" so that you may tune other musical insturments. After striking the Tuning Fork against a hard surface of some sort, the forks start to vibrate giving you your pitch.

Your probably asking yourself right now, what does this have to do with anything? Well let me tell you. In our lives we go through a lot. We go through disappointment, disouragement, heart ache, etc. When we have our lives in "tune" with what we know is right it allows us to be more happy than we were before. When we know God is pleased with us it relieves some stress whether we realize it or not.

Now, not being in tune does not always mean that we are being disobedient; it can mean that we just have some things that we can work on. For instance, studying our scriptures is something that might not seem too big, but it is something that can make a difference. Maybe we're doing it, but can we be doing better at it? That is just an example. There are so many things that we could work on because none of us are perfect but we are trying our best. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are so proud of us when we are striving to be the best that we can be. And when we are striving to "tune" our lives to the "frequency" of the spirit, God can help us so much easier than when we are off of the path they want us on.

 

Sometimes people may call their lives a bad song, but what could make that bad song better? Could just doing a few minor adjustments make that song better? Maybe just adjusting the pitch of their guitar would make the song better? I think that it can. I know that as we strive to do what is right, As we work our hardest to live the way God would have us live that He will bless us. He wants us to be happy, and as we work on adjusting our "pitch" as we use our "tuning fork" and become in tune with the Spirit of God that He will help us. I know these things are true and I know through Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father will forgive us of our sins. Let us all adjust our lives so that we may be more in tune with the Spirit.

Act in All Diligence

What is Diligence?
-"Diligence is steady, consistent, ernest, and energetic effort..." (Preach My Gospel pg. 121)

Why is it so important to be diligent in all things that we do?

Because when we are diligent in all things, we grow physically or spiritually etc. We grow in whatever aspect we are working at. The 2 words that I like most from the definition of Diligence is steady and consistent. It is like trying to be a body builder... Do you think a body builder becomes the way he does over night? Or a Moto-Cross rider gets to where he is by being lazy? No, the body builder has to work at being strong and the Motor Cross rider, definitely has to work at being skilled in what he does otherwise things like doing that backflip would be much much harder!

Now diligence applies in all aspects of life, but when it comes to the Gospel, it really applies. In Doctrine and Covenants 107: 99-100 the Lord says this:

"Wherefore let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand..."

You know that last part sounds pretty harsh, but it isn't, because God is telling us to be diligent but he has also given us a promise that if we are diligent in what he asks he is going to bless us beyond belief, and in Doctrine and Covenants 75:5 it tells us this:

"And thus, if ye are faithful ye shall be...crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life."

So again, I ask the question why is there a need for us to be diligent?
- Because if we are diligent we are going to grow, gain experience, and reach that goal that we are trying for.

Why is it needful for us to be Diligent in living the commandments that God has given us? And doing what God has asked of us?

-If we are diligent in all things that God asks, he is going to bless us.

I know that God blesses us for our effort in keeping the commandments. I know that God loves us and is so happy with us when we do what is right. So go do what is right! :)

Tender Mercies of the Lord

This is an amazing video. How often do the tender mercies of the Lord go unnoticed to us? Sometimes we get so busy with our lives that we forget that Heavenly Father is blessing us everyday with the things that we stand in need of. In this video David A. Bednar an Apostle of the Lord talks to us about the tender mercies of the Lord. Some of which he says are Fatih, Repentance, etc. In times of great distress and need we should take a step back, evaluate our lives, and look for the tender mercies of the Lord.

You are never alone!

So as I have sat here and pondered about what I should write about. I have been thinking a lot about how we are never alone. How Heavenly Father is always there for us in the thick and the thin. He loves us and he cares for us.

Our Brother Jesus Christ knows all about our lives He knows how we feel, He knows what we go through, He knows our pains and He knows our joy's. In Doctrine and Covenants ( a book of revelation given to Joseph Smith) Section 19:16 Christ reminds us that He knows what we go through because He has been there himself. The verse says, " For behold, I, God have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent." That is a powerful verse, the Lord tells us himself that He has been in our shoes.

So how can we shy away from feeling alone in times of need? Or in all times for that matter? Well Sister Elaine S. Dalton tells us how...we should turn away from feelings and thoughts of negativity, those are not of God. God does not put bad thoughts in our minds. We need to also say a prayer, "What greater witness can [we] have than from God?" D&C 6:23.



I know that as we do these things and not just these but as we listen and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ we will feel His love, we will feel comforted, and will feel that sweet spirit that Jesus Christ has promised.