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!

Week 1: Who Am I?

Week 1: Who Am I?

Moses 1

We live in a world where the question of "who am I?" is a very difficult question. Many philosophers and soul-seekers spend there entire lives traveling and searching for the answer. I love reading Mose 1 because it gives us the answer.

While God is speaking with Moses face to face, God calls Mose, "my son" not once, not twice, but three times (verses 5,6, & 7). This Hebrew superlative helps Moses see that this is true. He even goes further to tell Moses what he wants for each of His children and that "(His) work and (His) glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Mose1:39).

Now, how can that help us? These passages of scripture are not only applicable to Mose, but to us as well. We need to remember that like Moses, we are Sons and Daughters of this same God. He wants everything for us. He wants us to have joy in this life and to enter back into His presence.