Alma 50:21-23
"For it has been their quarrelings and their contentions, yea their murderings, and their plunderings, their idolatry, their whoredoms, and their abominations, which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their destructions. And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked brethren have been consigned to bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites. But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges."
The Nephites were in the midst of one of the bloodiest wars ever fought. Thousands had been killed; fathers, sons, husbands, and friends who weren't going to return home. If the past has taught us anything about war, it is that we are all excited when it is over and done with. Yet, in this passage we are told that even through all of that, there had never before been a happier time among the people of Nephi since Nephi was alive. So what could have brought them such happiness in such dark times? The gospel did. They were righteous and had incredible testimonies that gave them hope and joy. We may not all have testimonies such as theirs, but the act of coming closer to Christ and strengthening your testimony is enough to have that hope. They also had to choose to be happy. If they had given into the overall feelings of war, they would not have been a joyful people, but when they sought out the good and searched for the joy, then they found the happiness. If we do the same, we will also find that joy. We are all fighting our own wars and if we give in to the battles then we may lose our happiness as well. But by choosing to be happy, that's surely what we will receive.
Paige
Monday, January 28, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Week 2 - Coming Unto Christ
Alma 36:17-20
"...I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this though, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pain no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!"
As human beings, none of us are, or can be perfect in this mortal life. We will make mistakes and we will do things that we wish we hadn't. There is no way around that. But there is a way to fix it once it has happened. That way is Christ. He has given his life for the benefit and eternal happiness of ours. He loves you more than you could ever know. He has felt every pain, sorrow, and heart ache that you have. He is the only one that truly knows what you're going through. Through Him we can make our own redemption, but that's just it, we have to make it happen. We must use the atonement to save ourselves. Christ has done his part, now do yours. Repentance is the only way to become perfect. And no matter what you have done, it is possible to "get rid of it" in the sense that God will remember it no more. You cannot come unto Christ cleanly, you must lay your sins at his feet and let him take them from you. Only then can you be clean.
Wishing you a happy day!
Paige
"...I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this though, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pain no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!"
As human beings, none of us are, or can be perfect in this mortal life. We will make mistakes and we will do things that we wish we hadn't. There is no way around that. But there is a way to fix it once it has happened. That way is Christ. He has given his life for the benefit and eternal happiness of ours. He loves you more than you could ever know. He has felt every pain, sorrow, and heart ache that you have. He is the only one that truly knows what you're going through. Through Him we can make our own redemption, but that's just it, we have to make it happen. We must use the atonement to save ourselves. Christ has done his part, now do yours. Repentance is the only way to become perfect. And no matter what you have done, it is possible to "get rid of it" in the sense that God will remember it no more. You cannot come unto Christ cleanly, you must lay your sins at his feet and let him take them from you. Only then can you be clean.
Wishing you a happy day!
Paige
Week 1 - Reaping the Fruits
Alma 32:42-43
"And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."
With the recent announcement of the age change at which young men and women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can serve a mission, I have decided to become a missionary. This will entail a lot of hard work, but I'm ready and willing and excited for it. This work may be frustrating at times, but there will be blessings that come with it as well. As laid out by Alma, any of us that are working on hard tasks have a way of gaining the blessings that come. We must be diligent in our faith and nourish, or study, the words of our Lord's gospel. When we dive into the words of Christ, we will receive the fruits of it. They may not come right away, and they most likely won't come all at once, but we are promised that as we plant those seeds of diligence, faith, patience, and long-suffering, that the tree that grows will provide us with its fruits. And these aren't just any fruits; these are the purest, sweetest, and most precious fruits of all. Christ's gospel gives us access to the best that can be offered to us, and there is no other way than by Him and through Him to receive it. Study, learn, feast on His words and the blessings will surely follow.
Wishing you all a happy day!
Paige
"And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."
With the recent announcement of the age change at which young men and women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can serve a mission, I have decided to become a missionary. This will entail a lot of hard work, but I'm ready and willing and excited for it. This work may be frustrating at times, but there will be blessings that come with it as well. As laid out by Alma, any of us that are working on hard tasks have a way of gaining the blessings that come. We must be diligent in our faith and nourish, or study, the words of our Lord's gospel. When we dive into the words of Christ, we will receive the fruits of it. They may not come right away, and they most likely won't come all at once, but we are promised that as we plant those seeds of diligence, faith, patience, and long-suffering, that the tree that grows will provide us with its fruits. And these aren't just any fruits; these are the purest, sweetest, and most precious fruits of all. Christ's gospel gives us access to the best that can be offered to us, and there is no other way than by Him and through Him to receive it. Study, learn, feast on His words and the blessings will surely follow.
Wishing you all a happy day!
Paige
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