Looking toward the light and example of Jesus Christ, who is "mighty to save." May we face our individual struggles and challenges by being willing to drink whatever " bitter cup" (or trial) we are given, and not shrink from doing what will ultimately strengthen us.
I think this scripture is a comparison between the imperfection of man and the perfection of Christ. Adam (or mankind)) are imperfect, but those imperfections can be swallowed up in the power of Christ's atonement. Nothing can be permanently wrong when we allow the mercy of the atonement to work it's cleansing miracles. Lives are repaired, and hearts are healed when we give our lives to Christ to be bound up in his perfect love, grace, and mercy.
How thankful I am for that reminder! Heavenly Father is in control of my life, and I give Him my heart willingly and completely--come sorrow, shame, or personal devastation, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..." (Romans 1:16)
Please decide that from this moment forward that you will give God you will in all things. I promise you he will grant you special blessings if you do.
I went to
my local LDS Temple the other night. I enjoyed a very sweet, peaceful
experience, which helped to ease the burdens of life. (To learn more about LDS
Temples, or watch a short video, please visit: https://discover.mormon.org/en-us/topics/temples/?play=hero)
As I went
to leave a special area in this beautiful temple of God, I smiled goodnight to
the sister, who held the door for me. I had a thought to thank her for her
service at the temple, but I did not.
As I went
to descend the stairs to the lockers and change out of my white clothing, I
thought about how I wanted to do what Heavenly Father wants me to do, above my
own discomfort. I turned myself back around, opened the door to the room, which
I’d just left, and told this sister (whom I have never seen before) "Thank
you for your service at the temple. Then we hugged, and said goodnight. =
This time
as I began down the stairs, I felt thankful that I had followed that
impression. It wasn't a big thing that I'd done. I'm not even sure it
made much of a difference to the sister. But it made a difference to me,
because I had stretched myself out of my comfort zone. And more
importantly, I realized that the words of appreciation were really mine.
While the
sister may not have realized it, I had the witness that those are the words
Heavenly Father wanted me to speak to her. And while my words weren't all that
impressive in scale, I felt the magnitude of understanding that I had spoken in
those moments with a portion of his voice and love. That was a sweet feeling
for me to know that I could be part of speaking kind words for Him.
When I
arrived to the locker room, and took notice that it was 10:40 pm! I'd never
stayed that late in the temple, because that last session is completely done by
10 pm. But the 8:15 pm session that I was part of, did have to wait for
the 8 pm session to finish, before we could move forward through the temple
session.
In the
locker room, I also took notice that there were sisters dressed in all white
work uniforms. These sisters stood around visiting happily among themselves by
our lockers, as they waited for us from the last session to leave, so they
could begin cleaning the temple (which they do each night). I smiled to
myself, and wondered what a blessing it would be to clean the house of the
Lord.
After
changing into the dress I’d worn in, I made my way through the inner
lobby. I saw more workers in white. This
time it was the men, standing around visiting pleasantly, as they waited for
the patrons (me and the other non-workers) to leave. Again, I smiled as I
considered the privilege of this literal temple work, which they and the others
accomplish.
As I
rounded the corner to make my way into the main, outer lobby of the temple, I
saw two college age men sitting on the nearby chairs. I smiled at them
both, but the facial expression of one dark haired young man, who was leaning
forward with his arms on his legs and his hands gripped together, just passed
his knee. I can't explain it, but there was either an expression or
spiritual insight, I'm not sure which- but I seemed to sense a dissatisfaction
with his temple job.
I had the
thought to not only smile at these young men, but to also thank them for the
service they render in the temple, and expressed how much I, and others,
appreciate what they do. But, as I thought that, I also felt doubt about
speaking. "I don't know them, and besides, do I really feel
thankful
for what they do?" And with that embarrassed thinking, I continued on
through the wooden exit partition into to the main lobby, and then out the
temple doors.
I kept
thinking I should go back, and thank them for helping keep this beautiful
temple clean. I even thought, once outside, that I could hurry back in and
thank them. But I'm sorry to say that I justified myself to believe that
would be too embarrassing, and hence, I let myself walk on without expressing a
voice of appreciation.
I felt
badly that I had withheld my small voice, which might have brightened the heart
of that young man. As I walked through that cold, dark night to my van, I
expressed my apologies to Heavenly Father. I told him that I wasn't sure if I
should have said anything, but that I think I should have. And I
asked his forgiveness that I didn't speak where I could have. I asked if
He would please take that sick feeling of regret from me, and help me to learn
from that experience. My peace did not come immediately, but it did come,
as I prayerfully recommitted myself to not withholding the kind words I have to
speak.
You are probably
thinking to yourselves that I was "overthinking" it. But I am
not so sure. I can't help but recall, "where much is given, much is
required. (JST, Luke 12:57)I had a keen
sense in that moment, as I do even now, that I am called unofficially to be a
steward of Heavenly Father's words of love, and actions, to others.
When I
fail to speak or do things, which might have consoled or brightened the life of
others, I have an awareness of my accountability to God. I further know,
that if I fail to heed impression too often, those impressions are going to
stop coming to me.
Thankfully,
I know that Heavenly Father is merciful and forgiving when I fail to speak and
act in love, but hopefully I allow those moments of my shortcoming to help
teach and remind me to improve, and "scatter sunshine all along the
way."(see video)
As I read
in The Book of Mormon (another testament of Christ) I learned a great deal from
chapter 10, but I was particularly impressed with the words I read in Helaman
10:4-5 (Request you free copy of The Book of Mormon- https://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon:)
4
Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have
beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which
I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and
hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my
commandments.
5
And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will
bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in
faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee
according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my
will.
I am not
a prophet, called to officially "declare the word," but that does not
mean that Lord wants me to keep silent. Nor does it mean that there aren't
specific things which He will direct me to speak or act upon-even in my small
sphere of influence. I feel strongly that as disciples of Christ, we are called
to bear testimony to the truth, wherever we may stand.
I believe
that as we are unwearing (tireless) in our efforts righteousness, we will also
see an increase of blessings, and that we too shall be made "mighty in
word and in deed, in faith, and in works."` I believe these blessings will
unfold as we seek to align our will to His in all things.
May we live
worthy of the Spirit of God.
May we always
have a prayer in our heart, that we will know what words He would have us
speak.
May prove
our faithful in the cause of righteousness; that our hands will be clean before
the Lord, and meekly act in purity and holiness of heart.
I was reading an interesting section of scripture in the Bible. John 13:33-17 reads:
14 If I then, your Lord and aMaster, have bwashed your feet; ye also ought to cwash one another’s dfeet.
15 For I have given you an aexample, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17If ye know these things, ahappy are ye if ye do them.
Let me tell you how I understand these scriptural verses...
If our Savior, who would shortly thereafter die on the cross for our sins and all this sins of the world, was willing to wash the feet of his disciples, why should I hesitate to symbolically wash the feet (i.e. serve and bless) of those around me.
The past year has been a major turning point for me. I have learned more about what real love is, what putting off idleness means, and I have learned that what a thought was happiness was so limiting compared to the joy and peace I feel now. Why? Well, because I made some big improvements in my life, as it relates to God.
I used to pray often as I went about my day, but I was lazy and rarely got down on my knees. My prayers were fairly short. I used to read the scriptures only occasionally (as I'm LDS/Mormon--that includes The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price...You can find all of these at this link (Easiest to select book from left hand side. Free apps and downloads. And amazing scripture keyword search features! http://www.lds.org/scriptures?lang=eng). I used to be late to church every Sunday. And the list goes on.
I was essentially trying to be a righteous person, but in the easiest and laziest way possible. I wanted special blessings from God, but I didn't want to have to put too much effort in. Besides, I made a lot of excuses for myself. My motto was something like, "He knows me best, and He knows I cannot do what the others are doing. He understands the pain and ramifications left over from my childhood, and he knows I was left to live with the scars."
The problem with such mottos, though there is a great deal of truth there, is that it's all a BIG EXCUSE. While it's true Heavenly Father loves me as I am, he still wants to see me do better and improve. With my own children I want to see them work harder. I don't want them to do things in a mediocre way. I was scarred from a traumatic childhood, but I've learned that God doesn't want us to settle for less. He wants us to have hope for more, and faith that he can heal us. I have felt his healing power in my life, and know it is very real.
By replacing the hopelessness and acceptance of mediocrity of my heart --with hope and increased faith, I've also chosen to have a change of heart. Indeed, I have been given a new heart!
Now I refuse to miss a day of scripture study. I kneel not just once a day but several times a day. I also pray much longer, with greater fervor and desire to express my gratitude to God, as well as to pray and listen and learn of what he would have me do with my life. I am NEVER late to church now (nor have I been in a year!)... I prepare clothing the night before for my family of 7. Because of these changes, many other wonderful and even miraculous changes can be seen not only in the actions of my heart, but also my home, and even in the better behavior of my children!)
These changes have required a lot of effort on my part, because it means I try and think of God's will above my own will. (This has been a challenge, because I have always been a "strong willed girl," and I've always liked to do things my way!) Now throughout my day, I pray a lot whether kneeling or in silent prayer --whether at work, with my family and friends, or creating my art. I'm trying to learn what God's will is for me, instead. I have a few attributes I always pray for. Among which it to be able to put off the natural man, take the name of the Savior more upon my heart, and to plead for His gift of Charity (See:1 Corinthians 13 --which is another topic for another time.).
Another major aspect of my heart is that I've decided to give far more service to others outside my home. I used to excuse myself from serving very often, because I have my hands full with 5 young children.
I used to say to myself such things as, "I can't go clean the church, because if I'm going to clean it's going to be in my own home." Or, "I can't take dinner or cookies to anyone, because I have a large family of my own." Or, "I can't talk in church they don't understand me (or I have too many problems of my own to try and write a talk for church)."
That ugly tune has changed. I serve whenever and wherever I can. I often take dinner to people, or cookies, visits, etc. I open my voice in church far more than I used to, in sharing my love of the Savior. It's been among my favorite ways that I feel joy and hope. I know that I grown in my ability to feel greater depths of love from serving.
I hope you will take verse John 13: 17 to heart: "If ye know these things, ahappy are ye if ye do them."
I assure you that if you serve with genuine desire to please your Heavenly Father you can't help but feel joy. And even if you only serve out of an attempt to feel joy, without having yet developed a genuine desire to do it for God---just the desire perhaps to feel happier (or another good reason)--- it's still hard not to feel some amount of satisfaction and happiness. I hope you will look around you and pray for opportunities to serve. In this world of hopelessness, hurt, and despair the opportunities to brighten someones day are endless. Christine
