Week 14: Run with Patience

Week 14: Run With Patience

   If I have learned (and relearned) one thing through scriptures study, it is that God really does answer our prayers, and that, sometimes, He does it through his written word. This past week I was really struggling with my self-worth as well as patience with the Lord's timing. Many of my friends have recently gotten engaged and had success in their lives. I, on the other hand, have hit a ruts and obstacles that make me feel like I have "fallen behind" or that I am not as blessed as others are.

    Heavenly Father wanted to teach me that thinking was not from Him this week through my scripture study. I was reading in Hebrews 12, when I came across a few verses that really stuck out to me, Verses 1 and 2 say, "...and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and to set down at the right hand of God." 

    First off, I really liked the wording of verse one about running with patience the race set before US. Each of us has our own path, our own identity and destiny that we must fulfill. Each of us has a path set before us, which is OUR path to follow. We need to have faith and patience in the Lord's timing. He is in control; all we need to do is run OUR OWN race!

    Secondly, I think the author of Hebrews wanted us to the reason that we could have patience in our races of life; this is the reason why after asking us to have patience, he talks about Jesus Christ. As we read in verse two, Jesus Christ endured his path and now he is here to help us finish ours. I am grateful for the Savior. I am grateful, not only for his example, but in him helping me along my own path. I pray that I, as well as anyone who reads this, will remember that Christ is God's gift to each of us individually, and that through him, we can have joy in patiently walking down our own individualized paths of life. 

Week 13: Adam and Christ

Week 13

Adam and Christ

    Recently in my studies, I have decided to study more about the life and ministry of Adam, the first man to walk to Earth. While doing this study, we covered a scripture in class that really interested me. This scripture talks about Adam and puts him in a perplexing position; the scriptures is found in Romans 5:19, which reads, "For as my one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."   This scripture seems to put Adam in bad light; many Christians nowadays believe that Adam's first sin was what ruined humanity. As the scriptures put it, this sin made us, his offspring, sinners and kicked us out of God's presence and made it so we will have to die. They quote other scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 15:22 to support such a claim.
  However, this week, I read a talk which really put this into perspective. In a talk given by Tad R. Callister called Our Identity and Destiny, Callister talks about how important Adam was to God's plan. When describing Adam and Eve,  he said, "They were in a state of spiritual neutral and could not progress toward their divine destiny until they were cast out of the garden and thus put in spiritual gear... Being immersed in a world of good and evil, having the capacity to choose, and being able to draw upon the powers of the Atonement resulted in man having unlimited opportunity to progress towards his destiny."
   This talk helped me to realize Adam had a very important job in helping us return to live with our Heavenly Parents; now when reading the previously stated scripture, I don't see it as a comparison, but as some of the steps in God's plan. God wanted us to rely on the Savior He provided, and the only way He could make sure that was possible was through the Fall of Adam, through showing us how desperately we need His help. 
   I am so grateful for a Father who loves me. I am also so grateful for a Father who is willing to cut me down and hurt me, so that I can be raised even higher. And I am grateful for a Father who was willing to send down His son to help us on our way back home. 

Week 12: Belonging

Week 12: 

Belonging

    Before I share my thought, I need to lay the scenery:
If I were to admit my biggest struggle at BYU, it is the lack of belonging I feel; in the sea of 35,000 students, I feel like a dot on a huge wall or a single, lonely blade of grass in a blanket of green. It has been so hard for me to find a group of friends that I can "belong" with.
    This past week, I was really struggling with this feeling of loneliness, so I did the only thing I knew I could do: I prayed. I prayed for a friend, someone I could latch onto to help me get through this hard time. After praying for what felt like an eternity, a scripture reference came to me that I did not recognize in 1 Corinthians 3:23. The verse reads, "And ye are Christ's and Christ is God's."
   In that moment, I thought, 'I belong to Christ and if I belong with Christ, he will care for me; he wants to be with me.' Sometimes we forget, as Christians, that we have promised to take Christ's name upon us; we have promised to be part of and belong to Christ's team. As members of his teams, he promises to always take care of us and help us thrive. It is on Christ's team that we can find a sense of belonging. I know that he is the Savior of the world, and he cares enough to help us feel like we belong. He will never leave us alone; he will always give us a place to belong.

Week 11: Prayer for Us

Week 11:

Prayer for Us

    This week in class, we have been covering the night that the process of the Atonement began for our Savior. While reading, I found a passage that was very interesting and that I would like to share.

     In John, chapter 17, Christ is going to the Garden of Gethsemane and is being followed by his apostles. In this chapter, Christ offers a prayer known as the great intercessory prayer. For a lone time, I have wondered what the word "intercessory" means; so, I decided to look it up. It means to intermediate or plead on the behalf of someone else. Having some knowledge of the chapter, I automatically thought that it was in behalf of the apostles that were with him. However, after reading, I realized it wasn't only for them; in verse 20, he says, "Neither do I pray for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word."    

    All the sudden, I realized that not only was he praying for his apostles, but for me and for everyone else who believes on him. Now this prayer grew in significance as it was meant for me as well. It helped me realized how much Jesus loves us and how much he wants for us. Now the question is: what is it that he was pleading for in our behalf? If we look at the next verse it tells us, "that they all may be one; as though, Father art in me, and I in thee..." 

      Jesus Christ's only purpose is to help us become one in purpose, thought, and dead with our Father. How dedicated was he to that purpose? Well, following this prayer, he suffered, bleed from every pore, and then died for us, so that we can become one with the Father. How wonderful it is to know that we are not alone he journey back to our Father in Heaven; Christ will do everything he can to help us there! I know that He lives and that He will continue to help each and everyone of us in our journey back home.

Week 10: Go Through Samaria

Week 10:

Go Through Samaria

This week in preparation for my religion class, I was reading John 4. This chapter is well known for the story where Jesus teaches the woman at the well. However, this time as I was reading, verse four stuck out to me. Jesus is on his way into Galilee, however, it says that, "he must needs go through Samaria." In the context of jewish tradition that move did not make any sense. Even though this was a shorter path to Galilee, Jews considered Samaritans filthy due to their heritage, and they did everything possible to avoid them. So I asked myself: Why would Jesus do this? After a few minutes of meditation, I felt the Spirit whisper to me, "because he wanted to interact with the woman at the well; not just talk with her, but bind her wounds  and then enable her to become the person she needed to be."

I felt like I had a similar experience last week. This past week was a really rough week for me. School was tough, the social scene was not that much better....all in all, I just wanted to give up because I felt so alone. I felt like a outcast at a campus of over 35,000 people. While doing my homework last weekend, I got an impression to pray, so I began to pray. As I did this, I felt the love of the Savior around me, helping me to remember that I was not alone and that I was greater in his eyes than I realized. On a day where I was alone, Christ came to me. He is willing to do whatever it takes, even breaking social norms of old, to come to our aid and help us remember our identity and destiny.
I pray that anyone reading this will remember the Savior's role in our everyday lives and see their true identity with the help of the Savior.

Week 9: Sheep

Week 9

All We Like Sheep

   As a teenager, I remember hating the parable of the lost sheep and the good shepherd. In my mind, it was always brought up when talking about less-active members of our quorum; I can still hear my young mens leader say, "we need to help the Good Shepherd and help find those lost sheep. The reason this bothered me was that, during the time I was a teacher and priest, I struggled with severe depression. As our leaders talked about the lost sheep, I remember thinking, "But what about those injured and wounded sheep among the ninety and nine? What about us that are part of the fold, do everything we need to do, and struggle? When will He help me?"

   A few days ago, I got my answer. I was reading in the Book of Mormon when Abinadi was testifying of our Savior and quotes Isaiah. In this verse he says, "All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way" (Mosiah 14:6 and also in Isaiah 53). 

   I realized that even as a struggling sheep in the ninety and nine, I had still turned my own way. I had done as Peter had when he took his eyes off of the Savior and began to sink. I had turned my gaze from him and had lost my faith in his abilities to remember my wounds. All of us in our own away turn from him, whether it be in sin or just losing faith in his ability to heal and raise us. However, we need to remember that because we all have all turned to our own ways, each of us is that lost sheep, whom the Lord will "go after that which is lost until he has found it." 

    I know that Christ will find everyone of us, lift us, and help us to great things. All we have to do is keep our gaze on him!

Week 8: Lifts Us

Week 8

He Lifts Us

     One of my favorite stories in the New Testament is the story of Peter walking on the water. As many of you know, the story goes that the apostles were sailing in the middle of a stormy night and see Jesus walking on water towards them. Peter, to prove that Jesus was not a ghost, asks, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water" (Matthew 14:28); to which the Lord invites him to come. Peter got out of the boat and started walking to Jesus. He was doing so well until he looked around him at the tempest; at this point he begins to sink and shouts out for the Lord to save him. The Savior does save him and then tells him this, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31) 

     This week I had a very similar experience. I was preparing to take a Chemistry test, praying and studying the entire week, and I felt like I had done everything to prepare. I started the test and everything was going smoothly, until I got to a problem that I didn't feel strong in. I began to "sink," feeling I had no chance of doing well. I said a prayer begging with almost the same plea: "Lord, Save Me!" At that moment, I looked back at the problem and saw tiny detail which made the problem solvable and finished the problem. In my mind's eye, I could see the Savior pulling me up and asking me that same question, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

     When we look at the story of Peter, we might wonder why he was afraid of sinking; if he were a fisherman, he would have been a very skilled swimmer. In analyzing this, we could see that the fear of the storm took him. I felt that same way about my test; I had studied and was capable of doing well on my test; however, fear of failure took me. It feels nice to know that there is a Savior who, although knowing we are capable of fixing our own problems, is willing to lift us up in times of fear. I know that he will come to our aid, and, most of all, I know that when we fail to see that strength within us, he believes in us.

Week 7: Returning Home

Week 7

Christ helps us return home

This week in class, we discussed the miracles of Matthew chapter 8 in the Bible. One miracle that really hit me this week was the healing of the leper. In this miracle, "there came a leper and worshipped him (Jesus) saying 'Lord, if thou wilt, thou cant make me clean.' And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying 'I will; be thou clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed"         (Matthew 8:2-3).

 Now, to better understand the significance of this miracle, we need to understand what happens to someone when they are found to have leprosy. When leprosy is first spotted by a priest, the priest immediately sends them to leave society; they cannot return home to say goodbye or go back and get their  worldly goods. They must immediately leave everything and suffer alone. When Christ heals this man of his leprosy, he gives him the chance to go back home to his family, to restart his life, and to have the happiness that we once enjoyed.

This story can and is a very good lesson for us. I am a sinner, and as we know, no unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God. However, Christ can heal us of our imperfections and make us whole. He gives us the chance to return back HOME, back to our celestial home to dwell with our Father in Heaven and our families in never-ending happiness. This story was a good reminder to me of that power Christ has and I pray that it will serve as a reminder to you as well. May you have the faith to let Christ cleanse your life!

Week 6: Beauty from Ashes

Week 6:

Beauty from Ashes

   Since its announcement to become the second temple in Provo, the Provo City Center Temple has become one of my favorite temples. Its beautiful design, use of the older tabernacle, and its location make it so special to me. This week as I attended the temple, I thought about a scripture that is always brought up when talking about this temple in Isaiah 61. I decided to study that section of scripture this week. 

   In this chapter, Isaiah is speaking about Christ and his ability to heal. In verse 3, the scripture related to the temple, he says:

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Of course this scripture makes sense for Provo City Center Temple, as this building was caught in a fire and then brought back in beauty and given to us all to enjoy as a House of the Lord. However, as I studied this chapter and this verse., I realized that not only can it relate to the temple, but it can used to describe what he can do with us.

   In my life, I have gone through a lot of "fire;" my parents got divorced, I struggle with clinical depression and anxiety, have wrestled with my identity and self-worth. In a way, I always feel like a pile of ash, burned, blown, and kicked around by life. I have felt deep sadness and felt heavy and worthless. However, there is someone who can come and heal us, to not only bring us back, but to "give us beauty from (our) ashes." This person is none other than the Savior himself, who gave everything so we could be whole. He can heal all wounds, lift us in our sorrows, and make us into the people we were made to be! After reading and realizing that, my connect to this temple, and to Christ the Great Healer, has grown. I feel closer to my Savior and know that he can make me into something beautiful and grand. He can heal us all.

  I challenge all who read this to read the story of the Provo City Center Temple and to pray to know if God can do the same to you, that is, "give you beauty for ashes."

Week 5: The Word

Week 5 

Christ is The Word

This week in my religion class we discussed John 1:1-3. In these verses, it says:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

We know that the Word described by John is none other the Jesus Christ. From this scripture, we can conclude that in the beginning Christ was the firstborn and stayed by God’s side. We also know that He was a god, in the fact that he was perfect and did take part in the creation of this world. So why would I want to share this verse? What struck me this week about section of scripture is how John does not say, “Jesus was with God and Jesus was God,” but that he called Christ, “The Word.” Why would John give that name to Jesus?

            In class, we examined how “The Word” was translated from the Greek word, “logos.” This is probably a word you have heard in school to describe how an author uses logic to help convince his audience. Our professor pointed out how John used “The Word” or “Logos” to show how Christ is the mind/logic of God; everything that Christ ever did was in line with the will and mind of God. Why is this important to you or me? For me, this realization hit me really hard and strengthened my testimony of Christ as the perfect example. If you want to know what God wants us to do, follow Christ! He did the Father’s will every time.

I know that Jesus is the Savior of the world, not only for paying for our sins, but also in laid down the path we need to follow to get back to our Father in Heaven. I challenge you to look at the life of The Word this week and find one way to put your life more in-line with the will and logic of the Father. I know it will bring you closer to the Savior and our Father in Heaven.

Week 4: The Viewpoints

Week 4:

The Four Different Viewpoints of Christ

This past week we looked at the differences between the 4 testaments in the New Testament. So often we know Christ's story so well that we just clump the stories together without looking at the beauty of each individual testimony. While Matthew is speaking to the Jews and trying to convince them of the divinity of Jesus, John takes a totally different approach as he testifies that Jesus was the Great "I AM." While Mark has an general oral overview of Christ's life through his actions, Luke tries to give the most balanced account of Jesus. 

Why would Heavenly Father do that? Why would He allow for such different accounts? It could (and has) caused much contention on who really Christ is and was. A scripture that helps clarify this is 2 Corinthians 13:1, "This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." 

Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints use this to convince people of the truth of the Book of Mormon. Today, I would like to take a different stand and testify that all 4 books of the New Testament testify that Jesus is the Christ, the very Savior of the world. In a world that has slowly faded away from God's truth, I testify that Bible is a true book and gives testimony to Son who saved us all. 

Week 3: The Fall

Week 3 

The Fall: A Misunderstood Part of God's Plan

We live in a world that hates everything about the Fall of Adam and Eve. Many denominations and sects of religion believe that this was the greatest travesty of all time. However, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we see the Fall not only as a great blessing, but as one of the great pillars of Heavenly Father's plan for us. 

In the book of Moses, we read this commandment from God to Adam and Eve: "But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Moses 3:17). The underlined part of this passage is very interesting to me because it is not in the Bible; why would this be left out? I am not sure why, but the word nevertheless makes the second part of this commandment more important than the first. So, in the words of our Father, this command  had a very important part of for them to choose. One thing I know is that this choice was not an easy one, but without it, we could not be (2 Nephi 2:23-25);  we know that without leaving the Garden, Adam and Eve would not be able to have children.  

While other see this a travesty, a destructive part of God's plan, I know that God knew this would happen, and He is in control. I know that, because of this foreknowledge, our Father prepared a Savior for us, even Jesus the Christ. I invite all who see this post to pray to know that these things I say are true. I promise that if you do, you will feel the power of their truthfulness and will provide you will the joy our Father in Heaven wants for you!

Week 2: The Testaments

Week 2: Christ and the Testaments of Him

In class this week we discussed Christ as seen through the words of the prophets. One scripture the spoke to me this week was in 2 Nephi 29:3. This is God speaking to the prophet Nephi about the Bible. In this verse God tells Nephi that, his "...words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible." It iis very ironic because Bible comes from the greek meaning "a little library." So the people are say "A little library! A little library! We have got a little library, and there cannot be anymore little libraries." 

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we declare that God's word is not limited to "a little library," but that His word is continuous and is contained in more that just the Bible. We know, as God stated latter in that chapter of 2nd Nephi that, "the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that (He) am God, that (He) remember one nation like unto another... speaking the same words unto one nation like unto another" (2nd Nephi 29:8). Christ and His Gospel are not only in the Bible, but in the words of Book of Mormon prophet and also to modern day prophets as seen in the Doctrine and Covenants and discourses given by those prophets today!

I encourage you to see out all of those testaments of Christ, that ye may know Him!