Let Your Light Shine

I saw this quote on my cousin's blog and just loved it. So I thought I would share it with all of you.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- Marriane Williamson

After reading this quote I felt empowered. We have been born with gifts and talents in order to share them with others. I loved how he said "there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you." We are supposed to stand out, we are to be a beacon on the hill, we are to let our light so shine before men, we are to be an example to everyone. It's okay to do all the things you are good at and it is okay to be good at many things. We don't need to apologize or make excuses for being wonderful. We ARE children of God and we are destined to become Gods one day. I hope this quote kind of picked you up like it did me. Now get out there and shine!

Why Mormons Build Temples

This is a great video about why Mormons build temples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8

Our Savior's Love and Sacrifice

My testimony of the Atonement and Christ's individual love for us has been greatly strengthened. I've had to face many significant trials recently which have seemingly all been heaped on at once (when it rains, it pours), and I've felt a more acute need to be closer to the Savior as a result. I think it is human nature, but I feel really terrible that it sometimes takes tough trials to make us 'snap out of it' and draw closer to God. This reminds me of the following scripture: "And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." -Helaman 12:3- Hopefully these trials will serve as a good wake up call for me to strive harder to improve my relationship with God and His Son.

I had to teach Sunday School 2 weeks ago and part of the lesson was about repentance. I was prompted to read the following poem from Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, "Broken Things to Mend." Reading this poem has touched me greatly, so I thought I would share it with those who still read this blog.

In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath,
Passes the place where once abode
The Carpenter of Nazareth.

And up and down the dusty way
The village fol would often wend;
And on the bench, beside Him, lay
Their broken things for Him to mend.

The maiden with the doll she broke,
The woman with the broken chair,
The man with the broken plow, or yoke,
Said, "Can you mend it, Carpenter?"

And each received the thing he sought,
In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;
The broken thing which each had brought
Returned again a perfect whole.

So, up the hill the long years through,
With heavy step and wistful eye,
The burdened souls their way pursue,
Uttering each the plaintive cry:

"O Carpenter of Nazareth,
This heart, that's broken past repair,
This life, that's shattered nigh to death,
Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?"

And by His kind and ready hand,
His own sweet life is woven through
Our broken lives, until they stand
A New Creation - "all things new."

"The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,
Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,
Mold Thou into the perfect part,
O, Carpenter of Nazareth!"

What a great message that poem contains. I love my Savior so much, and am humbled every time I think about all he went through - for us! "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." -Mosiah 14:5- He suffered for us so that we wouldn't have to if we but repent (See D&C 19)! But also suffered so that he could succor us when we are going through our Gethsemanes (see Alma 7:11,12). It's my testimony that Christ yearns to see us truly be happy. I know that such happiness is attained only when we are striving as best we can to live the gospel. He is quick to forgive, ready to comfort, and willing to mend our broken souls when we willingly place them on His bench. His love for us is more profound than we could ever imagine. I am eternally grateful for His grace and mercy. May we all include Him more in our busy lives, think about Him more during our hectic days, and show our thanks to Him who gave everything for us by obeying His commandments.

Why do we have callings?

Well it is about 4 A.M. the day before my two finals in Biology and Organic Chemistry back to back 7:30 to 11:30 and I have had enough for a couple minutes before I dive back into transcription and translation, monocots and dicots, and more interesting fun. What I really wanted to post about was the need for callings. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of very few churches that has no paid ministry. The Church asks a lot of the members, especially those that hold leadership positions. I have often wondered why? Another interesting aspect is we don't pick what ward we want to go to, why? I have heard friends and others comment and say if their pastor is changed and they don't like the new one, they'll just go find another church and a new pastor who they like. Why can't we do that in our church? Here is an answer I have thought of. The purpose of the plan of Salvation is to help us become like God. Everything that has occured from the beginning of our existence (well I guess there never was a beginning) has been with the end-goal of becoming Gods. That is a doctrine well taught in the Bible and by modern prophets. Our best example of that was the Savior himself, God the Son Jesus Christ. I believe by examining and emulating His life, we help our progression in becoming more like God. What did the Savior spend His time doing? Administering to the sick, the needy, the hungry, the naked, the poor, the humble, but most of all, the sinner. Teaching, serving, and living a life of total self-denial as the perfect example was one of the divine purposes of His life. He even said to the people in the America's "What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am." So why do we have a calling? Why are we asked to be Sunday School teachers? Or Bishops? Or missionaries? Or serving on committee's? Because in doing so and receiving no reward, we are taught how to love like the Savior loved, how to teach like He did, and how to become as He is. In my ward growing up we had a trailer park in the ward boundaries that was very low-income. It seemed like a lot of the members in this neighborhood were less-active, always needing assistance, and had problems with lots of things. I had countless opportunities as a youth to shovel walks, gather food for a family in need, offer fellowship to kids who weren't as popular, and serve, serve, serve. I often complained as a youth and wished this neighborhood would be realigned to another ward. But now as I look back, I grew as a result of opportunities to serve the poor, the hungry, the naked, the sinner. That was God offering to me a divine opportunity to become more like His Son. So the next time you are asked to home or visit teach less-actives, clean the church, go with the missionaries, volunteer at a service project, take the deacons camping, help the ( ) family move, drive the scouts around on the morning of the food drive, teach a lesson in Church, just remember this is God offering to you a divine opportunity to become more like Christ. So instead of complaining, murmuring, or grumbling, cherish it as the gift from God it is.

What does it mean to be "justified?"

While I was on my mission I came across several scriptures in the New Testament that mentioned being "justified." I had no idea what it meant to be justified. I thought that it probably had something to do with being supported like justified in your actions, or justified with your answer, but I just wasn't really sure. I wrote home to my dad about this topic and began to search the scriptures on my own. What I found was an amazing set of doctrines that link in perfectly with the Gospel. It is Justification, Purification, and Sanctification.
The first place I went to was the dictionary where one of the definitions of justification says "To cause to be free of the guilt or penalty of sin, and to be reconciled to God." In my journal I have written, "Faith is required in order to be justified, and we have access to the Peace that God offers through faith. Grace = Peace, Grace = Diving love and protection, Peace = Calm, tranquility. So we have access to grace and peace, or God's love, protection, and tranquility through faith in Jesus Christ, and then comes a hope of the glory of God. Hebrews 5:9 says "being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Being cleared of blame or guilt by the blood of Jesus Christ, we will escape the wrath of God, His punishment to those who break His commandments, as required by the law of Justice." Justification is a divine verdict at the bar of judgement of not guilty, but not only are we found not guilty, but because Christ shares his absolute and infinite perfection with us, we are also found to be fully righteous. Whereas He formerly condemns, He now vindicates (which means cleared from suspicion, wrongdoing, hint of wrongness.) Although as sinners we once lived under God's wrath, as believers we now live under God's blessing. Titus 3:7 "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." We are saved not by our own works, but by the Grace of Christ. And how does He do it? He tells us, let me break down the last part of that scripture. "He saved us, by the washing (cleansing with water) of regeneration (being spiritually reborn) and renewing (to become new, or restore to a former sound condition) of the Holy Ghost. What does that sound like? The basic Gospel of Christ. Faith, repentence, baptism by immersion, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We are saved, justified, and made heirs by the power of the Atonement when we submit ourselves to Him, and follow His Gospel, which has now been restored to the earth in all its fulness.

Eternal Truths

For FHE tonight we read an amazing talk! It was given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell in 1979. Whenever I stumble across a great talk like this (thanks Matt for sending the link our way) it makes me wonder what other talks are out there that I am missing out on. You can click here for the link to this talk. I would highly recommend reading it. It is also amazing that even though this talk was given almost 30 years ago, it still totally applies today. Right now Devin is learning in law school how to "shepardize" a case - which basically means validating it and making sure that the law from the case still applies and that is hasn't been overturned by a later court, etc. Isn't it nice to know that we don't have to do that with the Gospel? The church is true. The doctrines we are taught are eternal. It is nice to know that we will always have a reliable place to turn for wisdom, counsel, comfort, or whatever else we may need. Unlike man-made law that changes as the opinions of men and society change, God's laws are the same and has never changed, nor ever will. No matter what else is going on in this world the church is constant. For that I am truly grateful.

Anyway, on to what I thought was so profound. I don't even think it needs an introduction. Just read what he said.

"When, in situations of stress, we wonder if there is any more in us to give, we can be comforted to know that God, who knows our capacities perfectly, placed us here to succeed. No one was foreordained to fail or to be wicked.

When we have been weighed and found wanting, let us remember that we were measured before and were found equal to our tasks; and therefore, let us continue but with a more determined discipleship.

When we feel overwhelmed, let us recall the assurance that God will not overprogram us; he will not press upon us more than we can bear (see D&C 50:40).

God bless you and keep you, my special friends, to the end that you will carry out each and every assignment given to you so very long ago. You have been measured and found adequate for the challenges that will face you as citizens of the kingdom of God; of that you should have a deep inner assurance. Be true to that trust, as all of us must."

I was just so comforted in knowing that no matter how crazy we think our lives are or how hard the trials or callings or responsiblities or whatever that we are facing seem, we can do it. I have always heard quoted that "Heavenly Father will not tempt you above that which ye are able to bear" but for some reason the way that Elder Maxwell said this just struck a different cord inside of me. It really made sense. Heavenly Father knows us. We are His children. He knows how we are going to respond, He knows our likes and dislikes, He knows our challenges, but most importantly, He knows us, and He loves us. He did not put us on this earth to fail. He wants us to succeed and He is going to help us and comfort us through the tough times. Maybe now that I am a mother I can better understand the love that Heavenly Father has for us. There is no way that I would set Amy up to fail. While I would not ask her to do things knowing that she could not do them, I wouldn't deliberately make things too easy for her either. I love her and am going to do whatever I can to see her succeed. We grow through our trials, our challenges stretch us. Our Heavenly Father is exactly the same way. And it is so comforting to know that. Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder of the truths we already know.

Comfort

I have lately been thinking about the "comfort those who stand in need of comfort, mourn with those that mourn" scripture. Sometimes that is hard to do. You don't know what to say or do to help them and not make them feel worse. I have a friend who just went through a miscarriage. I tried to think of things and when all was said and done, the best thing was just to talk. And I wonder why they don't end that scripture with the best medicine: "Rejoice with those who rejoice." We would talk about things that made us laugh. Our kids, the craziness of being a mother, insomnia and the things we do when we can't sleep, etc. I think that has helped (I hope). But that phrase just keeps running through my mind. "Rejoice with those who rejoice."

The gospel gives us that comfort through rejoicing. Another phrase that I love from the hymn "We thank thee, O God for a prophet" is "rejoice in His glorious gospel, and bask in its life giving light." What great imagery! I haven't had a trial like a miscarriage before, but I hope that there will be a way for me to rejoice like my neighbor in the little things, and especially in the gospel. Hopefully we can all rejoice together for the wonderful truths like the Plan of Salvation and the fact that our families will be together forever!