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!

Making it to the Celestial Kingdom

About a month ago, we had a combined Young Men/Young Women activity that was a large object lesson on the three kingdoms. After the fun was over, we gathered together and I summed up the experience with a short talk. Here are some of my notes from that night:

Kingdoms
Celestial Kingdom

• Dwell in presence of God and Christ
• Don’t receive it in one attempt. “It is the result of a lifetime of righteousness and constancy of purpose”
• Must exercise faith in Christ
• Must receive ordinances of salvation and keep associated covenants: Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, Melchizedek Priesthood ordination for men, Temple endowment, Marriage sealing
• Must keep commandments
• Must repent
• Must Endure Faithfully
• Given to all who would have received it if they didn’t have the opportunity in this life
• Given to all children who die before age of accountability (eight)
• Comparable to Glory of the sun

Terrestial Kingdom

• Can have presence of Christ but not the Father
• Honorable people who were deceived by craftiness of men
• Members of the church who were not valiant
• Those who rejected the opportunity to receive the gospel in mortality but later received it in the postmortal spirit world
• Comparable to Glory of the moon

Telestial Kingdom

• Did not receive the gospel or a testimony of Jesus
• Redeemed from spirit prison (hell)
• Comparable to Glory of the stars
  

Utilize the atonement: You can do it! You can gain Eternal Life

• "...be assured that eternal life is within your reach. The Lord wants you to return to Him, and He will never require anything of you that you cannot fulfill. All His commandments are calculated to promote your happiness." (True to the Faith, page 53)
• The Atonement reconciles us to the Father, we are made perfect through Jesus (DC 76: 62 and 69)
• The Savior invites all of us to receive eternal life
• We ALL sin; we ALL need the Atonement
• Repent Now—for most of us that will mean daily
• Elder Eyring said in General Conference (Do Not Delay: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=c63a6a4430c0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 ): “All of us have faced deadlines. Fear can grip us when we realize that there may not be enough time left to finish what we promised we would do. The thought comes, “Why didn’t I start earlier?””
  
  "That temptation to delay comes from our enemy, Lucifer. He knows that we can never be truly happy unless we have hope in this life and then realization, in the next, of eternal life. It is the greatest of all the gifts of God. It is to live in families forever with our Heavenly Father and with Jesus Christ and to have eternal increase. Satan wants us to be miserable as he is. And he knows that we can only have that true happiness if we are washed clean through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by deep and continuing repentance, and the making and keeping of sacred covenants offered only through God’s authorized servants."
  
  "And so Satan tempts with procrastination throughout our days of probation. Any choice to delay repentance gives him the chance to steal happiness from one of the spirit children of our Heavenly Father."
• President Kimball said:
  “One of the most serious human defects in all ages is procrastination,” and then he defined it: “an unwillingness to accept personal responsibility now”
• Elder Eyring also said:
  "...know that we are not the helpless victims of our circumstances. The world tries to tell us that the opposite is true: imperfections in our parents or our faulty genetic inheritance are presented to us as absolving us of personal responsibility. But difficult as circumstances may be, they do not relieve us of accountability for our actions or our inactions. Nephi was right. God gives no commandments to the children of men save He prepares a way for them to obey. However difficult our circumstances, we can repent."
  
  "Similarly, the world might be willing to excuse our bad behavior because those around us behave badly. It is not true that the behavior of others removes our responsibility for our own. God’s standards for our behavior are unchanged whether or not others choose to rise to them."
  
  "The truth is that today is always a better day to repent than any tomorrow. First, sin has its debilitating effects on us. The very faith we need to repent is weakened by delay. The choice to continue in sin diminishes our faith and lessens our right to claim the Holy Ghost as our companion and comforter."
  
  "...even should we be forgiven at some later time, the Lord cannot restore the good effects our repentance today might have had on those we love and are to serve."
• Alma 34: For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors…Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world
• Story from Elder Eyring:
  " I knew a man once who could have thought that and given up. When he was 12 he was ordained a deacon. Some of his friends tempted him to begin to smoke. He began to feel uncomfortable in church. He left his little town, not finishing high school, to begin a life following construction jobs across the United States. He was a heavy-equipment operator. He married. They had children. The marriage ended in a bitter divorce. He lost his children. He lost an eye in an accident. He lived alone in boardinghouses. He lost everything he owned except what he could carry in a trunk.
  
  One night, as he prepared to move yet again, he decided to lighten the load of that trunk. Beneath the junk of years, he found a book. He never knew how it got there. It was the Book of Mormon. He read it through, and the Spirit told him it was true. He knew then that all those years ago he had walked away from the true Church of Jesus Christ and from the happiness which could have been his.
  
  Later, he was my more-than-70-year-old district missionary companion. I asked the people we were teaching, as I testified of the power of the Savior’s Atonement, to look at him. He had been washed clean and given a new heart, and I knew they would see that in his face. I told the people that what they saw was evidence that the Atonement of Jesus Christ could wash away all the corrosive effects of sin.
  
  That was the only time he ever rebuked me. He told me in the darkness outside the trailer where we had been teaching that I should have told the people that while God was able to give him a new heart, He had not been able to give him back his wife and his children and what he might have done for them. But he had not looked back in sorrow and regret for what might have been. He moved forward, lifted by faith, to what yet might be."