Keep the Commandments

"Keep the commandments, keep the commandments,
In this there is safety, in this there is peace"

What beautiful words from a simple primary song.  Recently I read 1 Nephi 3-4 and discovered that there is so much more to that phrase "Keep the Commandments".  Indeed these chapters use the phrase or phrases close to it at least 13 times.  You know that strange feeling you get when you write or look at a word for so long it looks like it has been misspelled?  I felt something akin to that as I read and reread the word "commandment".  It was as if I couldn't grasp what the word really meant.  I wanted to understand that word better.  What is a commandment?  Why is it so important to keep it?

Recognizing the two parts of the word, I decided to use my Dictionary.com app to quickly look up the word command and the suffix, -ment.  The word 'command' can be a verb or a noun.  The act of giving an order or command is the verb (i.e. The general commanded his troops).  The specific order is also call a command (i.e. The command was to march).  In any case it typically denotes an order given by one who has authority over another and this authority is usually bestowed upon one who deserves and has earned it.  It is understood that those who follow such a command would do so out of respect either in a positive light because they want to obey or in negative way out of fearful respect for the power held by the commander.

It would have been just as, if not easier, to say in each case, "Keep the commands of the Lord", "be faithful to the Lord's commands", etc.  So it was interesting that they bothered to add -ment at all.

The suffix, -ment, is placed at the end of a noun to make it concrete and denote an action or resulting state.  The addition of this particular suffix adds greater authority.  A command-ment is concrete, solid, unchanging and what is more, it implies further that there must be action in response to the command.  It is not a request or order that will just go away if we ignore it.  The consequences of breaking a command from one holding worldly authority could be quite negligible. Obedience to a commandment from the Lord  can be the difference between living spiritually and physically or dying in either respect.  In this case Lehi's family and ancestors would need to understand all the commandments of the Lord in order to prosper and grow in the promised land.

Nephi understood this.  He knew that every commandment given of God was solid and unchanging and that if not followed negative consequences would result.  He recognized God's authority as the ultimate authority and knew that God would fulfill His great and wise purposes in His own way.  He respected God's judgement and did strive to keep the commandments out of faith that God knew what was best.  Even as it came time to smite Laban lying drunken on the streets of Jerusalem we see Nephi's struggle and also his faith.  Could he really break one commandment in order to fulfill another?

There were consequences to murder and they were death.  I can imagine Even felt much the same way.  The consequence for eating the forbidden fruit was also death. For Eve, knowledge, family, and eternal progression for all mankind were on the line.  Nephi's situation wasn't much different as his family faced going to a new land without a full record of the laws and commands they were to follow.  Such a loss would likely ruin any chance of progression for Nephi's future family.  Nephi was thus commanded by the same creator of the law against killing to kill in order that future generations might live spiritually, knowing the law and keeping it.  This is the reason the Spirit tells Nephi, "It is better that one man should perish than that a nation shall dwindle and perish in unbelief." (1 Nephi 4:13)  Nephi's faith in the Lord's purposes led him to be able to that which was necessary for the greater good.

This anecdote brings in the theme of sacrifice that is tied to keeping the commandments we are given.  We must make sacrifices as ordered by the Lord that we and others may grow and improve.  "Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25), Christ suffered all that we might live again, parents give up money, comfort, and time to raise children.  In all the cases I can think of the commandments require us to give up something we enjoy for the betterment of ourselves and others.  The key to motivating ourselves to willingly keep commandments is to be as Nephi.  We must:

• Recognize the authority from which the commandment comes
• Decide the level of respect we have for that authority
• Have faith in the promises that authority has made to us
• Act, even when we can't see to what the action may lead

Nephi said, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7)  

He also stated, "...let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord..." (3 Nephi 3:16, 4:1) and, "Surely the Lord hath commanded us  to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord?..."  Nephi was willing to sacrifice all because he had faith in the consequences of obeying the commandments of the Lord.  He knew that by fulfilling the commandments that he would be given safety and peace.  We too will receive that safety and peace as we keep the commandments of the Lord.

The Challenge of Laying Hold on Every Good Thing

As a little girl, it was very easy to tell that which was good from that which was bad.  If it was pretty and colorful or made of sugar or chocolate or if it was a book, it was usually good.  If it was dark (including dark chocolate), hard, uncomfortable, or painful it was bad.

We know this from Moroni 7:12-13:

12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

Grateful as I am for this definition and its clarity on my childish understanding, it has lead me to realize: that which is good is not always pretty, pink and fluffy, and that which is bad is not always sharp, disappointing, and unfortunate.  Our lives are filled with beautiful, horrible things and painful wonderful experiences.

Consider on this: I have two wonderful sisters and two fantastic sisters-in-law.  The four of them have brought into this world the most beautiful children I have ever seen, who have grown to be some of the greatest youth in the Church.  I admire them, their decisions, and their examples.  But if you ask my sisters, the combined 135 months (11 and a quarter years) they spent being pregnant, were NOT the most comfortable and painless experiences.  And that doesn't even include the occasionally painful things they have had to face in raising those 15 beautiful children over the past 15 and a half years.  That which is good is not always painless.

Now think on this: Some of the brightest lights and most colorful scenes are found in New York City.  While many of the flashing lights of Broadway proclaim innocent advertisements and worth while theater, underneath the surface runs a current of filth.  On my first trip to New York I was greeted happily by the bright lights and excitement of the big Apple.  Yet, I was surprised to find in the midst of the dazzling glow of Times Square and Broadway a smaller, but brightly colored sign above the entrance to a club.  Once my naive mind realized what it really was, I was first of all confused by the word "Gentlemen" in this establishment's name, and then realized that all that is bright and beautiful is not good.

"For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water;  wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil." --Moroni 7:11

I read this verse with new insight this time around.  I considered on my stage in life and the many things I could be bitter about.  I considered on friends whose lives were being wasted on being bitter.  Obviously, most of you will read this and think, "Oh, she means being single."  Well, yes, that too.  But there are other things I could be bitter about.  Some know that about 9 months ago I had applied to and interviewed for entrance to George Washington University, my dream graduate school at the time.  Due to what I can only explain as a lack of work experience, I was not accepted.  For a while this past year I very easily could have been bitter about the difficulty of finding employment.  Today is fast Sunday and I could very well be bitter about the fact that as I am writing I haven't eaten in 23 hours and counting.  "A bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water..."  This was the best argument I had ever heard against becoming bitter.  When we become bitter, no matter what the reason or cause, we have a more difficult time doing that which is good and positive, and end up bringing forth that which is bitter, painful, and uncomfortable, instead of that which is sweet.

Combining these two thoughts in adjacent verses I discovered an amazing thing.  All too often we take those things that Heavenly Father has blessed us with, those things we think should be bright and fluffy but are more often sharp and painful, and make them into reasons to become bitter because we fail to recognize them as good things in our life.  A warning arises in the following verses (Moroni 7:14-15):

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. 
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. 

To a girl unmarried, a student unaccepted, a worker unemployed, a human being hungry, more dates (particularly first dates...), more school applications, more employment applications, and the resistance of food are NOT good things.  The girl, student, worker, and human being see each of these things as necessary evils they must go through in order to received their desired outcome.  As they are seen in an evil light, it is easy for that little piece of negativity to embitter the entire fountain from which they draw.  The same could happen with any good thing we are given from God that we do not recognize as good things.  Instead of realizing our goals we turn to condemning and giving up on them.  Unfortunately, if not corrected this could lead to a long life of disappointment, depression, and sin.

Having been all of these things (and at least one of them currently), I can see clearly now, in at least three circumstances, the beauty of the trials I have passed through.  Not getting accepted to grad school lead to a grueling job search.  Yet, while I was not fully employed, I had the wonderful opportunity of substitute teaching seminary and serving in many other capacities.  As for fasting, let's face it, food always tastes better after not eating for 24 hours, not to mention other immediate blessings of the satisfaction of self control and a closeness to the spirit not found in indulgence.  In each instance I realized that these "necessary evils" weren't evil at all, and believe it or not, I'm even starting to believe that about dating too.

"It is given unto you to judge...For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ...Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ."

Moroni 7:15-16, 19

We indeed have the responsibility for righteous judgement and to "lay hold upon every good thing".  It is in recognizing the good things and not condemning them, even when the good means pain and discomfort for a time, that we become the "Children of Christ".  This life isn't easy; it was never meant to be. If it were we would never be able to understand the true depth of the love our Father in Heaven has for us.  The easy love, easy education, easy money, and easy food generally leads to more and longer lasting pain, disappointment, and discomfort.  I'm grateful for the trials in my life, even the ones I currently have to go through.  I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to allow me to be tried and tested and molded into a better person each day.  Will I still complain about my trials now and then?  Of course! I am human.  Yet with this greater insight, I hope that throughout my trials I will always be able to recognize them, not as necessary evils, but as my greatest blessings.

A Record of Worth and Power

Mormon 8:14-15
14 And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord; the plates thereof are of no worth, because of the commandment of the Lord. For he truly saith that no one shall have them to get gain; but the record thereof is of great worth; and whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless.
15 For none can have power to bring it to light save it be given him of God; for God wills that it shall be done with an eye single to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long dispersed covenant people of the Lord.

The record spoken of is the record abridged by Mormon, his son Moroni, and translated by the latter-day prophet Joseph Smith Jr.  In translating and printing this record which God himself declared to be "...of great worth...", Joseph Smith Jr. received great blessings. Something I noticed in the rereading of these verses was that the blessings promised are not to Joseph only.  The blessings of the Gospel are for all the world.  Joseph obtained those blessings not only for himself but created the pathway for the whole world to receive such blessings through the Restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A relatively few received the news of the record from the mouth of Joseph himself.  If it were up to Joseph alone to bring the record to light among all people He would have had an impossible task ahead of him.

Thankfully, our loving Heavenly Father did not say, "Only one man can bring the record to light and him will the Lord bless." No, the verse opens these blessings to all who share the message of the restored Gospel: "...and whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless."  Each person who has received the message of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the coming forth of the Book of Mormon has the ability to bring that light to others.  It is as if each person who receives the Gospel has their own torch lit and it is up to each of us to pass that light to others.  But verse 15 gives a caveat: "For none can have power to bring it to light save it be given him of God..."  God requires that the work of sharing the gospel be done His way, not seeking for power, glory, or riches for ourselves, but with "an eye single to his glory, or the welfare of the...covenant people..."

So how does one received the privilege of being one of God's particular messengers?

As a youth I received a very clear impression one day in my seminary class that I would serve a mission.  I had never really doubted this fact. Both my brothers and my sisters had served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I had been blessed by their service and admired the lessons they had learned, the testimonies they had strengthened, and the stories they shared.  Young women in the church at that time were allowed to apply for missionary service as they reached their 21st birthday and so about 6 months before my 21st birthday I began to seriously consider if serving a mission would be the right thing for me to do at that time in my life.  I had many concerns regarding school, social pressures, and the desire to eventually get married and have a family that caused me on occasion to question my early impressions that I would serve a mission.  I did not take such a decision lightly and often gave myself to serious thought and study on the matter.  I remember coming across two specific scriptures during that time that solidified not only my desire to serve, but helped me to recognize God's call to me to be one of those messengers to whom He would give power to share the restored gospel.  A particular verse strikes me now as I consider this same question of who can receive this power to bring the gospel to light: 

"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"

--Doctrine & Covenants 4:3

God has opened the blessings of bringing the record of the Book of Mormon to light to all who desire to share it.  Missionaries are particularly blessed as they are set apart to preach the gospel for a dedicated period of time and I feel so blessed to have received that call in my life.

It has been almost five years since I entered the Missionary Training Center as a new missionary called to serve in the California Carlsbad Mission, but the 18 months I spent there was a blessed time in my life.  Each of the people I met and those I taught had a great impact on my life and my testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the restoration of God's true church on the earth, complete with living prophets and the authority of God.  Having been home for 3 years now I find I am still blessed anytime I find the opportunity to share the light of the gospel with those around me, member or non-member.  Mormon was not only prophesying of Joseph Smith in these verses, but of any who would continue to share Joseph's story and the work he brought forth unto us.

I know Joseph Smith was called of God to bring the record of the Book of Mormon to light and I know that the record that is the Book of Mormon is a true record that contains the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that by living the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the Bible and the Book of Mormon that we can receive all the blessings our Father in Heaven wishes to bestow upon us including eternal life with Him and our families in His kingdom.  Jesus Christ is my Savior and I am so grateful for his everlasting love for us and the constant opportunity to share His message with the world.

Arise Ye Men and Women of God

Mormon 6:16-21

16 And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried:
17 O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!
18 Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.
19 O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!
20 But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.
21 And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed with your fathers who have gone before you.
22 O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth with you according to his justice and mercy.


I have not seen many years on this earth. I am barely over a quarter of a century in age. Many twice and three times my age often sigh in my general direction over lost years of youth. However, this does not mean I am without serious and concerning thought. As I have studied in the Book of Mormon recently I have been greatly impressed with the strength of the youth. From Helaman's Sons to Captain Moroni who was my age when he led the Nephites to victory. 

Now I am studying Mormon who was a child when he was given the responsibility of preserving thousands of years of history from those who would destroy it. Mormon is impressive in many ways. From the time he was a boy his world was filled with wickedness, selfishness, greed, corruption, and destruction. He watched the slow degeneration of his entire people and the scripture quoted above is his plea to those he loved and served so well in spite of their pride and wickedness.

It was not very many days after reading these verses that I listened to Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk from the Priesthood Session of the October 2012 General Conference. As I listened to the talk on a long drive alone in my car, I verbally sounded a hearty "Yes!" with each argument he made in favor of boys and men needing to grow up and take a higher place and responsibility for their lives. My greatest hopes were that many of my single male friends and colleagues had listened and would step up and be more worthy than they had been and my biggest fear was that those who needed those words the most had not heard them.

I must say that I agree with Elder Christofferson and worry very much about the lack of worthy young men...especially as a young single adult, and let me explain why.

I grew up in Utah, a state know for its peculiar culture of young marriage and lots of children. This is a culture that stems from our faith and belief in the great importance of the family. I currently live in an apartment with three other young adult women. Each of us are at different points in our lives ranging from college educated and working full time to working part-time and attending school full time. All of us are return missionaries, all home for more than 18 months. Each of us has different goals and desires for our lives, but I will tell you, I have not had so many conversations about boys, marriage, and family since I moved out of my last college residence more than a year and a half ago. We are all united in our desires for marriage and family. We look at ourselves and see that we are active, church attending, temple attending, scripture reading, prayer saying, worthy young women and cannot help but ask ourselves (as all of our parents and relatives do), "Why aren't we married yet?"

All too often the verse from Isaiah 4:1 comes to mind, "And in that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach." As Mormon considered on the wickedness of his own people, I worry that we will soon find ourselves in that same situation asking where have all the good, worthy men gone?

Now before anyone thinks of me as a man hating, bitter feminist who can't see the good in the world, let me be the first to say that I have been greatly blessed with wonderful men in my life. I was raised by a righteous father (and mother) and I have seen my brothers become great men and seen my sisters marry great men. I have also seen those same siblings raise wonderful sons who will someday become great and worthy men. I work in a predominantly male environment and yet I have been greatly impressed by the level of respect the men I work with have for myself, my female coworkers, as well as their wives and children. There are good men in the world, but there are just as many more who perhaps needed Elder Christofferson to knock some sense into them.
While discussing my concerns with a friend, who happens to be a good worthy man in my acquaintance, it came to my attention that perhaps there are just as many men wondering where all the good women have gone as there are women wondering where all the good men have gone. Selfishly, I had not considered that there are women who need to step it up just as much as the young men do. But it is true. Elder Christofferson's talk was not just for young boys who need to step up and be men, it was to all of us. 

1 Corinthians 13:11 states: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." What childish things are hiding in our closets? Is there pride, ignorance, or unjust judgement? Do we spend too much time considering on what he said or she said that we disliked instead of searching for the good in others? Do we spend more time on mindless television or Facebook rather than fulfilling our duties as siblings, children, parents, teachers, employees, or friends? Brethren and sisters, we have many good things to do. The prophets are pleading with us to do our family history, attend the temple, get an education, and yes, find eternal companions and raise righteous families.

Considering on the myriad of talks given in this past conference, I heard a clarion call to action. I don't want it spoken of me the way Mormon spoke of his lost and fallen people. We must be better, seek the Lord early, keep the commandments, be obedient, be kind, smart, true, and grateful, etc. I can't explain one way or another why I have not yet found my "Prince Charming" and I will patiently await the day I do, but one thing I know for sure is that I am committed to being a better person when I meet him than I am now, and I hope he is planning to do the same.

Promises of Support

How often do you feel like you are outnumbered two, or even three or four, to one?  How often do you beat yourself up trying to wrap your head around another concept that is difficult for you to swallow?  How often are you tempted to just throw in the towel?

I've been there.  We all have. We don't all have the same experience with pain and sorrow and trials, but we have all felt at sometime or another that we are all alone.

It was in a time like this that I found new hope in the war chapters, yes, the war chapters!  In Alma 44:4 it states: "Now ye see...that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion."  In the midst of battle with Zerahemnah, Moroni stops to state this simple truth.  In this battle the Lamanite army was double the size of the Nephite army.  Even with all their armor, the Nephites shouldn't have stood a chance.  Indeed, at one point they even began to fail until they were reminded that true strength comes not from swords or shields or earthly courage, but from the one and only true God, Our Father in Heaven.

We must remember that this life is not just about seeing who can make it through the easiest...that was the plan of the adversary.  If I were to truly consider which experiences mean the most to me and make me who I am, it would not be the ease at which I breezed through some classes, nor the simplicity of the easy decisions I have made.  It is the rough and tumble of life that creates us. 

In the midst of trials it is always difficult to see the promised blessings or the growth we are achieving.  President Henry B. Eyring said this: "If the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble."  In the midst of our trials this sturdy foundation is essential to remembering the marvelous support God is willing to give us.  When life is at its worst and I am tempted to become ornery and bitter scriptures like the one in Alma 44 remind me to be faithful and trust in my God for aid and support.  Without such hope I would give in, becoming an unhappy and angry person, a person I never want to be.

Though sorrow and trouble may befall you and you feel about to fail, I pray that you may find a little reminder, as I did, that your trials can never outnumber you when you are one with God. Our body is a temple where the spirit of the Lord my dwell, not much different from the Holy Temple where we worship.  Just like Earthly temples, no matter what may rage around us, our Heavenly Father stands as beacon to guide, comfort, and preserve us.  I know that as we keep our Heavenly Father, His Gospel, our faith, and our religion as our main motivation that endurance will be easier and we will find happiness through the storms of life.

Who is your Enemy?

On May 19, 2012 my Stake Presidency challenge the Young Single Adults in my stake to study the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes a day.  As I have done this many thoughts have come to me.  Some have been very personal revelations but there have been many that I have just been aching to share.  I loved companion study on my mission and I hope each of you will be my companions and share your insights with me as I share mine with you.

I was in the middle of Alma when the challenge was issued and on the brink of my very favorite set of scriptures...The War Chapters.  I don't know why in all my youth these chapters got such a bad reputation, I have learned so much about life, its challenges, and the safety measure I need to put into place to keep myself safe.  For instance, in Alma 43:25-46 we experience one of the first battles of the Nephites versus the Lamanites egged on by the dissenting Zoramites.  Being thus threatened by the Lamanites, Moroni seeks the will of the Lord in destroying them--not for destruction's sake, but for the sake of their wives, children, religion, and freedom.  This being the case and the Lamanites having such an opposite purpose (that of tyranny and power) the Book of Mormon states in verse 30 that Moroni "thought it no sin that he should defend them (the Nephites) by stratagem..."  In verse 46 we gain further insight into his reasoning, "for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies."  This same justification for Earthly judgement and punishment is repeated in Alma 48:14 and in Doctrine & Covenants 98:23-36.

As I pondered these verses in Doctrine & Covenants 98, two words stood out: ENEMY and PATIENTLY.  The verses urge us to be patient with the afflictions placed on us by our enemies, and that by doing so, we would be rewarded.

It occurred to me that I have no physical enemies.  No specific person that I am aware of seeks to harm me physically or mentally.  I guess in this knowledge I have been great blessed.  However, it also occurred to me that my enemy does not always need to be a who; it can also be a what.

The enemies we fight or patiently bear are those of jealousy, loneliness, sorrow, fear, and unkind thoughts. At times we may find that we can patiently bear these enemies attacks and temptations.  Other times it may be all that we can do to keep our mouths shut and our thoughts to ourselves.  It is easy to lash out irrationally as a result of these adversaries.  We choose to fight jealousy with bitterness, loneliness and sorrow with hermitage and depression, fear with anger and frustration, and unkind thoughts by unleashing them, often at those who do not deserve their sting.  It would be better to fight jealousy with kindness, loneliness and sorrow with services, fear with prayer and faith, and unkind thoughts with compliments and bitten tongues.

But if we are to bear the attacks from our enemies patiently, how was Moroni able to receive the Lord's permission in fighting back?  I found the answer in section 98:29, 31, "And then, if he shall come upon you or your children, or your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation, I have delivered thine enemy into thine hands;...Nevertheless, thine enemy is in thine hands; and if thou rewardest him according to his works thou art justified; if he has sought thy life, and thy life is endangered by him, thine enemy is in thine hands and thou art justified."  The instruction is to choose our battles wisely.  It is not given unto us to rush against every enemy or lash back foolishly against temptation.  It would be easy for us to give in and let our non-physical compulsions overpower us because we chose to fight them before we chose to think about them.  Think of the blessings we could miss out on if we left our patience at the entrance of the arena.  As we patiently seek the Lord's will in the timing and stratagem these, our battles, we will be blessed as the armies of Moroni to conquer with His blessing.  And like the armies of Moroni, we will not be "slain by the hands of [our] enemies."

My Joy in Life

3 Nephi 5:13--"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."


In the MTC (Missionary Training Center) one of our teachers had us recite this verse each morning.  As I restart my journey into the "Blog-o-sphere", I feel once again that I can fulfill my calling as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to share the Gospel to all who wish to seek it that all my beloved brothers and sisters might have the everlasting life promised to the humble saints of God.

There are so many thoughts that go through my head sometimes as I study the scriptures and the words of the prophets that all too often my mind races so fast from one thought to the next that I forget the importance of writing it all down and sharing it with others.  My first post had some of these deep thoughts and while I didn't start this blog with the intention of sharing my testimony on it all the time, I've decided that is what it shall become.

That being said, I wish to point out that the contents of this blog reflect MY thoughts in MY study.  They are to be taken as inspiration I have received and connections I have made through scripture which I wish to share.  The contents of this blog are NOT to be taken as official declarations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  For any who are not currently members of said church who may be seeking truth I urge you to read The Book of Mormon, visit www.Mormon.org, and accept visits from full-time missionaries  assigned in your area to teach you and your neighbors the basic principles and doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know Jesus Christ is my Savior.  That his miraculous birth, tragic death, and triumphant resurrection were all done for me and for you.  I know that he is the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father.  I know they have called prophets anciently and today which have and do lead us to learn and follow the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that we may return to live with them by following their words given by ancient and modern prophets.  Last but most certainly not least, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are loved by our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  I know that of all we do wrong in this life that we can receive forgiveness and They want that more than we can even imagine.

All right, here it goes!

Deep Thoughts Thursday: Rainbows

After spending a ridiculous amount of time looking at either my computer screen or phone display on this rainy Thursday, I looked up and realized that the sun had come out and that a dull pain was developing behind my eyes.  It was time to disconnect.

I plugged my phone in to charge, grabbed my keys, my sweater and some graham crackers and headed out the door for some much needed "sanctuary" time.  As I walked I felt a sense of pride that I could leave my phone and computer and essentially all my worries behind after what has seemed like a month of nothing but constant movement, thought, and worry.  My walk reminded me of Pres. Thomas S. Monson's recent plea, "In this fast-paced life, do we ever pause for moments of meditation—even thoughts of timeless truths?"  

Remembering the endless rain that poured down just this morning, the threatening thunder and even the anxious power outage I experienced while teaching today, I looked around me at the pristine mountains behind and the thin strip of light that was the lake ahead of me and was reminded of the Primary hymn, "When I am Baptized".

"I love to look for rainbows whenever there is rain.

And ponder on the beauty of the Earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as clean as Earth right after rain;

I want to be the best I can and live with God again."

As I looked around I thought, "Well, that stinks, there aren't any rainbows around here." And I continued my walk thinking about other things.

As I turned to head towards home after twenty or so minutes, I was struck again, by the beauty of my surroundings.  The song entered again and again I searched for a rainbow. To my surprise I noticed something I missed the first time around.  Rainbows were everywhere!

 I looked at the trees, most still full of pink and white springtime blossoms.  I saw pink tulips and yellow buttercups, little purple wild flowers and lots of green grass.  I beheld the bright blue sky above the grey clouds passing over snow capped mountains, all of which were made brighter and more brilliant by the golden intensity of the setting sun. How had I not noticed this before?!  I watched as the sun gradually lowered itself behind a distant cloud and stood in awe at how the rays of light seemed to outline the dark clouds just perfectly.

I have since pondered on the words of that dear primary hymn which has taken on new meaning.  I realized that the rainbows we look for after rain aren't just those beams of light caught in the prism of falling rain drops, but the light of the sun as it pierces the now clean air to illuminate and accentuate the colors around us.  It is also the light of the Son as He enters our clean souls after repentance and baptism, adding to and magnifying our divine nature and potential.                

I know this is a true principle.  I have seen it work in my life and in the lives of those around me.  When we live our lives "as clean as the Earth right after rain", the Lord makes more of us than we could ever make of ourselves.  He intensifies our efforts, enhances our desires for good, and strengthens us to endure future storms.  And right when we think we can no longer bear our trials, the sun/Son parts the clouds and His bright white light breaks through showing us rainbows of hope all around.

Genesis 9:8-17, Psalms 27:1