I Feel My Savior's Love

Laie Hawaii Temple Cultural Celebration

Here With Us by Joy Williams

From the contemporary Christian artist, Joy Williams, the song Here With Us, shares the story of Christ's life from his nativity to his resurrection and beyond.

I Am A Child Of God

Crown Of Thorns, Crown Of Victory - Larry Hiller

For me the crown of thorns has become a symbol of the Savior’s awareness of all our hidden pains—and His ability to heal them.


An intriguing look in to the possibilities of Christ's crucifixion, please read Crown Of Thorns, Crown Of Victory.

A Serviceable Twelve Days of Christmas

Rembrandt's Adoration of the Shepherds

I love Christmastime. I love everything about the season, especially the emphasis on the advent of Christ. And so yesterday, while folding laundry nonetheless, I had an idea hit me. What if for the twelve days leading up to Christmas you did a serviceable act each day? You’ve heard of Santa’s helpers? Here’s your chance to be even more. Be Christ’s helper. And really, your options are limitless. Here are a few:

1. Go to a friend’s house and help them with a chore; laundry, dishes, wrapping Christmas gifts, anything. Helping hands make light work.

2. Take someone who needs a boost to lunch. Stay as long as they need an ear to listen to them. Or, invite them for a special homemade meal.

3. Think of someone you care for and admire, write them a thoughtful note expressing your gratitude and drop it on their front door. You can do this anonymously too if you wish.

4. Adopt a family for Christmas and give them little gifts each day leading to Christmas or save up for the big day. If you decide to save up, make sure you do a little prep each day (the idea is to focus on others each day).

5. Call someone you haven’t talked to in awhile and chat. It’s always great to hear from an old friend.

6. Help your children (if you have children or do this yourself) sort through their toys and choose a few gently used items to donate to a charity or someone of their choice. It’s a great opportunity for them to experience the joy of sharing.

Anyhow, these are a few ideas of different things you can try each day leading up to Christmas. Trust yourself and follow any ideas that come to mind. You won’t be disappointed!

***If you’d like to try A Serviceable Twelve Days of Christmas you can begin on Monday, 13 December and finish on the 24 December. Or begin Tuesday, 14 December and finish on 25 December. Have fun and enjoy the Spirit of Christmas!***

Alma 37:36-47: Counsel With Christ And He Will Direct You

The Liahona

 36Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

 37Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

 38And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

 39And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

 40And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

 41Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;   
 42Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

 43And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.     UAdd a Note 

 44For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

 45And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.     UAdd a Note 

 46O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.     UAdd a Note 

 47And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell (Alma 37:36-47).

2 Nephi 10:23-25 - Cheer Up, We Are Free To Choose

  

23Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.     UAdd a Note 

 24Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.     UAdd a Note 

 25Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen. (2 Nephi 10:23-25)

2 Nephi 9:50-53: Come Unto the Holy One of Israel

 50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

 52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice (2 Nephi 9:50-52).

Sharing the Light of Christ

1 Timothy 4:12 - An Example of the Believers

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.     (1 Tim. 4:12)


Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Not sure? Try an experiment: read his words in The Holy Bible or The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ for a month. During this time try to be a believer and do and say those things that a believer would. If you're not sure what a believer would say or do, just look in the scriptures for examples. Any researcher knows that you can't conduct your experiment with one trial run to get solid data. You need to conduct your research over a period of time and repeat attempts. Persistence and a desire to know are require as you experiment with your faith. I have found for myself, through consistency and faith, that I do believe in Jesus Christ. It is this faith that is the foundation of all my life's happiness and hope and the source of fulfillment and purpose that I currently enjoy. Try this experiment and discover for yourself.

Lessons I Learned As A Boy

Mormon Tabernacle Choir: This Is the Christ

Jesus Christ: He Will Save Us

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

http://mormon.org/jesus-christ

Our Lord's Tender Mercies Remembered

"The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works (Psalms 145:9)".

"I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance (1 Nephi 1:20)".  

 

"Good Things To Come" by Jeffrey R. Holland

Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. . . trust God and believe in good things to come.

Love Is the Key--Matt. 22:36-40

  36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

  37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

  38 This is the first and great commandment.

  39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:36-40

This passage of scripture has found its way into the forefront of my focus lately. I appreciate the purpose of scripture in revealing eternal principles for our benefit and learning. One principle and lesson to be learned here is the importance of love in our lives. If we can learn to first love God with all the capacity we currently possess and then, from there, branch out and love all others as we love ourselves, then we are well on our way to keeping the greatest commandment of all. 

Christ proclaimed that the commandments to love God and love others as ourselves was the foundation upon which "... all the law and the prophets" rests. In modern day, "the law and the prophets" is called The Old Testament, which was the Jewish canon of scripture in Christ's day. I think what Christ is trying to teach us is if we keep love as the motivating force for all we do and are, then we will find our capacities to keep all other commandments magnified. This is one reason why the commandment to love is the greatest. With love, you've got it covered.

None Were With Him

Happy Easter everyone!

John 13:34-35: Love One Another As I Have Loved You

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)

I find it interesting that the Lord's parting commandment to his apostles addressed the virtue of love and that love would be the hallmark of a true disciple of Christ. Of all the things He could have advised his disciples on, love was it. 

I believe love is intended to be the true motivator for all action and the sum total of everything good has love at it's core. And where love is, there we will find Christ.

Love One Another