He'll Carry You

I've been listening to this song on repeat.

Seriously, this song touches me so deeply. It is a reminder that our Savior, Jesus Christ, understands heartbreak. It reminds me that, though I loved him, I love Jesus even more.  And it's okay to absolutely love my Savior.  He is my best friend and He truly KNOWS what I'm feeling. Before my mission, I did not so naturally turn to Him for comfort and support when I went through challenges. I tried to carry them myself.  

Usually I cherish songs for their melodic components.  Yet this one is pretty simple, nothing too remarkable.  The lyrics are what hit home, and Hilary Weeks sings them with such emotion. 

When I talk about the Music of My Faith, this song is the epitome. My faith is what I believe in through the trials I face. Knowing that He still loves me despite my weakness, especially when I maybe thought of someone more than Him at times.  One of the most remarkable passages is in Alma 7. We think of Christ's Atonement as covering just our sins, but verses 11-12 explain that the Atonement is all-encompassing:

 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Thank you, Pandora, for putting this on my playlist. 

He knows your heart
He knows your pain
He knows the strength it took just to simply breathe today 
He sees the tears that you cry
He knows your soul is aching to know why 
He hears your prayers each humble word
When you said you couldn’t face another day he understood 
He knows the path when you walk blind
Though you felt alone He’s never left your side

He knew there’d be moments when no earthly words
Could take away your sorrow 
And no human eyes could see what you’re going through 
When you’ve taken your last step and done all that you can do 
He will lift your heavy load and carry you

He’ll bring you peace and leave you hope
And in the darkest night he’ll comfort you 
Until you know the sun will rise and each new day
You will have the strength to live again

And when there are moments when no earthly words 
can take away your sorrow 
And no human eyes could see what you’re going through 
When you’ve taken your last step and done all that you can do 
He will lift your heavy load and carry you

He hears you when you’re crying in the night 
He hears you when your soul longs to find
Till the morning will come 
And the light of the dawn reassures

That in the moments when no earthly words 
can take away your sorrow 
And no human eyes could see what you’re going through 
When you’ve taken your last step and done all that you can do 
He will lift your heavy load and carry you

Baptism and Rainbows

Many Latter-day Saints grew up singing the song, "When I am Baptized," more commonly known as "I Like to look for Rainbows." Recently two beautiful girls sang this at Elena's baptism.

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain

And ponder on the beauty of an 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.

I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,

And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

Elena with Ellie and Hannah at her baptism

Mormons' beliefs about baptism come from the Bible: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5). The Savior was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. The Book of Mormon clarifies this phrase:

       "And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water?
      "Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments." (2 Nephi 31:6-7)

Baptism is a commandment and an ordinance where we make a COVENANT, or a two-way promise, with Heavenly Father.

What do we commit to when we're baptized?

• To Remember our Savior, Jesus Christ
• Take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ
• Keep His commandments

A church magazine for children explains simply that to take upon yourself the name of Christ means "to put His work first in your life and do what He wants instead of what the world wants." 

What does Heavenly Father promise us in return?

• A remission of our sins
• Being born again
• The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, which we receive by the laying on of hands shortly after baptism. 

What a deal! We are definitely receiving so many more blessings for baptism than we are committing to. I'm grateful for my Savior and that I can be clean every time I repent and take the Sacrament. I, too, "want to be the best I can and live with God again." 

See also: 

Children's Songbook, Hymn #103

Blessed and Happy

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

Mosiah 2:41

This is the scripture I chose for my mission; that is, it has been my "theme" scripture for the last 17 months. Why did I choose it? I believe it sums up God's plan for us. In the second lesson that missionaries teach we explain our purpose in this life, which is to "have joy and prepare to return to God's presence." Heavenly Father wants us to be happy! He gave us commandments so we can have true joy and return to Him! It sounds ridiculously simple, and it is! Life is not easy, but the commandments help us choose liberty and eternal life .  

In the back of our Hymnbooks at church is a list of scripture references where we can look up our favorite verses and find hymns that correlate with them. I had never thought to look up my favorite verse until yesterday, and I found one hymn that references Mosiah 2:41! 

"We'll sing of his goodness and mercy.

We'll praise him by day and by night,

Rejoice in his glorious gospel,

And bask in its life-giving light.

Thus on to eternal perfection

The honest and faithful will go,

While they who reject this glad message

Shall never such happiness know."

LDS Hymns, No. 19 "We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet"

How fitting that a verse about happiness in following Jesus Christ is found in a hymn about prophets! I am grateful to know that God loves ALL His children and would not cease to speak to them through his prophets (Amos 3:7). God continues to be a God of miracles and He has a mouthpiece on the earth to lead and guide us in these Last Days before the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What is God's prophet telling us right now? Read here!

Learn more here!

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

It's hard to believe that it has already been one year since my childhood friend, Ammon, passed away. Last year I wrote my thoughts about it--and that has been the most-read of all my posts since I started this blog.
Read it here:

Losing a Friend, Gaining an Angel

In the post, I reflected on my thoughts of God's plan of salvation. I shared my knowledge of the Spirit world, how after we die, before we return to God's presence, we are in an in-between state where we continue to teach and learn the Gospel. The New Testament teaches this clearly:

1. When Christ was on the cross, He told the man next to him, "Today thou shalt be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43). 
2. Later, when Christ appeared to Mary, He told her, "Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father." (John 20:17). 
3. Christ did not immediately return to God in Heaven when He died, but had gone to the Spirit world to preach the Gospel  (1 Peter 3:19; see also 1 Peter 4:6). 

Not too long ago, I attended the funeral of a young girl who tragically passed away here in Thompson's Station, TN. The funeral was at a Christian church, but there was still an overwhelming despair that permeated the sanctuary so thickly, you could feel it even if you walked in blindfolded.  Many Christians have a faith and hope in an afterlife but not the clarity, answers, and full picture that modern revelation provides.

I repeat my testimony that The Plan of Salvation is not just something to believe in because it brings peace, but it's a knowledge and an assurance that there really is more than this mortal life.  A Prophet asked God about the doctrine of the Spirit World taught in the Bible, and he received a revelation that confirmed these truths taught in the New Testament. This has helped me as I've thought about Ammon in the last year, where he is and what he is doing. "Worshipping at Jesus' feet" just doesn't answer enough of my questions.

If you find yourself continually aching and empty because of the loss of a loved one, ask yourself, "Do I truly, fully know God's Plan of Salvation, and where we go when we die?" Because there are more answers out there. You can have MORE peace and MORE clarity in your life. The Church of Jesus Christ is on the earth in its fulness.

This hymn is for all who say good bye to each other, either for a temporary time or until the next life.

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

God be with you till we meet again;

By His counsels guide, uphold you;

With His sheep securely fold you.

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again

When life's perils thick confound you,

Put his arms unfailing round you.

God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again

Keep love's banner floating o'er you;

Smite death's threat'ning wave before you.

God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet at Jesus' feet.

• Talk to a missionary here
• Learn more about the Plan of Salvation here

Music from Conference

LDS General Conference was AWESOME.

I especially loved how music was tightly interwoven into the weekend. So many incredible hymns and hymn arrangements were sung, and music was referenced in EVERY session. 

In his talk on Forgiveness, Elder Cardon quoted "Gently Raise the Sacred Strain:" 

Holy, holy is the Lord.

Precious, precious is his word:....

Repent and live;

Tho your sins be crimson red,

Oh, repent, and he’ll forgive.

President Henry B. Eyring referenced the hymn, "Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide," in his talk. He described a Sacrament meeting over 65 years ago that drew him close to the Savior. As they sang that hymn, he felt the Savior's love and closeness as well as the comfort of the Holy Ghost. 

Elder Russell M. Nelson used the lyrics to "Families Can Be Together Forever," in his talk. He said, "We invite [our inquiring friends] to receive more, especially the glorious truth that through God’s eternal plan, families can be together forever."

In Priesthood Session, Elder Tad R. Callister used a music analogy, "There is an old saying: do not die with your music still in you. In like manner I would say to you adult leaders, do not get released with your leadership skills still in you. And President Uchtdorf quoted “Lord, I Would Follow Thee:" "Brethren, if we truly follow our Lord Jesus Christ, we must embrace a third title: healer of souls. We who have been ordained to the priesthood of God are called to practice “the healer’s art.”

He later gave a beautiful musical comparison: "In the great Composer’s symphony, you have your own particular part to play—your own notes to sing. Fail to perform them, and with certainty the symphony will go on. But if you rise up and join the chorus and allow the power of God to work through you, you will see 'the windows of heaven' open, and He will 'pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.' Rise up to your true potential as a son of God, and you can be a force for good in your family, your home, your community, your nation, and indeed in the world."

In the Sunday morning session, the same President Uchtdorf told a memorable story about Saints in Africa singing in the dark during a power outage. As a "sweet and overwhelming chorus of voices filled the chapel," the members sang one song after another with an energy and spirit that touched President Uchtdorf's soul. "In the midst of great darkness, these beautiful, wonderful Saints had filled this Church building and our souls with light."

Elder Falabella's third lesson-learned in a home is that A Child Who Sings Is a Happy Child:

"The Savior understood the importance of sacred music. After He observed Passover with His disciples, the scriptures relate, 'And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.' And speaking through the Prophet Joseph, He said, 'For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.' How touching it is to hear the song of a little one who has been taught by his or her parents to sing, 'I am a child of God.'"

Hymns aren't always the only music referenced. I loved Elder Porter's story about his roommate Bruce, whose cheerfulness showed in every aspect of his life. He was even caught one snowy, miserable, and wintry morning walking around the campus at Brigham Young University with arms outstretched, singing, "Oh What a Beautiful Morning!" from the Broadway Musical Oklahoma. 

Elder Porter concluded, "In the intervening years, that bright voice in a dark storm has become for me a symbol of what faith and hope are all about. Even in a darkening world, we as Latter-day Saints may sing with joy, knowing that the powers of heaven are with God’s Church and people."

What song that was sung at Conference was your favorite? Not sure? Check out GC highlights here:

http://conference.lds.org

He Sent His Son

"For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  

John 3:16

Here in the "buckle" of the Bible belt as some refer to it, everyone loves The Bible (the actual Bible, although I hear great things about the show on the History Channel too); and from what I have gathered, this is the most commonly-known verse in all of the Old and New Testaments combined.

I love the simple doctrine taught in this short verse. God is our Heavenly Father. We are His children! He loves us and wants us to return to Him and have eternal life. He is separate from His son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son! We will have eternal life if we have faith in and believe in Jesus Christ. We will NOT perish! I know that this is true. 

This week we have been visiting dozens of homes and asking families, What does Easter mean to you?

Some of my favorite responses:

• "A new beginning. For me it's truly when the new year starts."
• "Love."
• "Everything!"
• "Spring."
• "The Resurrection, which brings me comfort to know that my Savior is always near."
• "General Conference...because April General Conference is always the same time!"

This is one of my favorite "Easter" songs. Just like John 3:16, it's simple. It's complete. It expresses my FAITH in my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

He Sent His Son

"How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does he ask? Live like his Son."

-Mabel Jones Gabbott

LDS Children's Songbook

I Think the World is Glorious

Hello, Spring!!

To me, the arrival of Spring is like arriving at the end of a long, difficult trial. Like most Californians who are spoiled with warm, beautiful weather year-round, I struggle with the concept of winter. I do not like the cold or any thing that comes as a result of coldness. However, it makes me appreciate the warmth that slowly seeps back into the calendar. Days become longer, tan lines appear, and Mother Nature seems to explode, especially out here in Tennessee, the epicenter of trees, flowers, birds, and insects (and allergies)! The advantage I see to long, icy winters is the chance to experience opposition. I realize now that I took for granted the beautiful Southern California climate, now that I am finally experiencing winter.

Can you think of how this relates to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Rather than answer that myself, I invite you to share your own insights.

This morning as I stood out on the balcony soaking up the sun's warm rays, I thought about how glorious this world is. An ancient prophet named Alma testified, "All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." (Alma 30:44)


When you look around you, especially this time of year, how can you deny the existence of Deity? There must be a Power beyond our own that is masterfully composing this symphonic eruption of life and intelligence.

There IS.

His name is Heavenly Father. He loves us, and He wants us to "have joy!" (2 Nephi 2:25)

From the LDS Primary Children's Songbook:
I Think The World is Glorious

Lucky

A lot of times, when something miraculous happens, we attribute it to "sheer luck" or "coincidence."

Disciples of Jesus Christ know that it is something much more.

President Thomas S. Monson said, "Remember that you are entitled to our Father’s blessings in this work. He did not call you to your privileged post to walk alone, without guidance, trusting to luck. On the contrary, He knows your skill, He realizes your devotion, and He will convert your supposed inadequacies to recognized strengths." (Sugar Beets and the Worth of a Soul)

This quote makes me think of a song from the 2011 EFY Album, "He Knows Me Better," by Jenessa Buttars.  The words might not be 100% right because I typed them from my memory.

He Knows Me Better

It feels like I've only got

a piece of the picture
I'm tryin' to figure out
Just where I fit here
But there is One who sees
All I'm meant to be

In a world of voices
that say they have the answer
I escape the noises
close my eyes and I turn
to the One who sees
all the pieces put together
He knows me better

Sometimes I can't see past

what's on the surface

But He helps me understand

the depth in my purpose

that gives me faith to hold

as my path unfolds

He knows every one of us
is learning as we go
His love is the compass
that guides us home

I consider myself LUCKY to know that my Savior Jesus Christ lives and that He suffered for all that I have and will ever go through.

This was quoted in this month's Ensign article, The Enabling Power of the Atonement. Elder Holland originally stated this here: Come Unto Me.

Some other quotes about luck that I like:

"In every prayer that children hear, there should be thankfulness expressed for God’s hand in all things, for evidences of his presence and influence. He is the God before whom man bows; to him we make acknowledgment and to none other. We live in a world dominated by the concept of 'Lady Luck.' Our children too soon learn that much of their success is attributed to being lucky or to chance." How to Teach the Ten Commandments

Spencer W. Kimball counseled an audience of women, "If you succeed, it isn’t because of luck. Success comes from faith and work and prayer and from constant righteous effort. It is a question of agency—of what you choose to do with gifts of God—everything upon the earth, wherein there is life" (Privileges and Responsibilities of Sisters, General Conference October 1978). 

Serve God with All Your Heart

Jesus taught us that we should love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:36). He also taught: "O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve Him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day" (Doctrine & Covenants 4:2). Heavenly Father isn't one to waste words, so as I pondered these verses, I realized these must be separate and distinct ways to love and serve God. I found that Christlike attributes are linked with them.

So, for the last year I have been topic-studying the Book of Mormon with each of these individual ways. Since VALENTINE'S DAY is tomorrow, I thought it appropriate to share about serving God with all your Heart, arguably the most important of them all. 

In the first 160 pages I have already tallied 40 references to the hardness/softness of our hearts (the wicked are hardhearted, Nephi could not soften the hearts of his brethren, etc). I have learned that God really cares about how soft our heart is; i.e. how teachable we are. The Lord requires our hearts so the Atonement can truly work on our behalf. (2 Nephi 2:7).

In the New Testament Paul teaches us that Charity comes from a pure heart (1 Timothy 1:5). We can serve God with all our heart by having Charity. My Dad described it well in his last letter to me: "I think ofttimes charity is just glossed over when studying the Gospel. Many seem to focus on the Savior's atonement or perhaps his teaching of love for one's brother without looking deeper. They think of charity as just giving of your stuff to those who don't have much. But charity is much more than that."

It is more than that.

Without charity, we are nothing, and we cannot be saved without it. In Lehi's dream, the Tree of Life, which represents the love of God, is the most joyous to the soul (1 Nephi 11:21-23). We overcome the natural man by becoming full of love (Mosiah 3:19). Charity is more than doing good deeds; it is the pure love of Christ, it is loving others the way that Jesus Christ loves us. So how do we get this charity? We pray for it. We go out and serve, as I mentioned in an earlier post.

Another Christlike Attribute associated with serving God with all your heart is Humility. Those who are humble recognize that their gifts and strengths come from God (1 Nephi 4:31, 9:5-6,17:50-51, Alma 26). They are willing to trust God's servants (1 Nephi 1:1, 2:16, 4:6-7, 5:5, 5:8). They express gratitude and do not go about their day without constantly praying for help (2 Nephi 32:8-9 , 1 Nephi 18:16).

Christ's baptism was an act of humble submission (2 Nephi 31:7). The Savior was the greatest example of charity and humility and yielding his heart to God (Helaman 3:35). It is so important that we give God our heart (see the second comment about this). I know that if I am righteous, Satan has no power over my heart (1 Nephi 22:26).

I love the Book of Mormon! I never grow tired of studying it and learning from it. It IS the word of God! It is another Testament of Jesus Christ! As we study the scriptures, we can learn how to serve God with all of our Heart.

In the song, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, there's a certain line I love the most:

"Here's my HEART, Oh, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."

What are some other ways we serve God with all our heart?

The Song of the Righteous is a Prayer

My thoughts turn to the wonderful people I have been teaching and the questions and concerns that they have had. I also think of my own spiritual needs and the aspects of my faith that I have been actively working to build.

My mind instantly goes to prayer.

In Doctrine and Covenants 25:12, The Lord tells Emma Smith that "the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing." During this time, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had been restored to the earth but a few months, and it's noteworthy that the Lord thought it essential to call someone to organize the music of the Church so early in its latter-day history.

I submit that most religious songs are, in essence, prayers. There are songs of praise to our Maker, like "How Great Thou Art." There are songs of Worship and repentance, like "More Holiness Give Me." There are songs of desperate pleas for the Lord's presence, like "I Need Thee Ev'ry Hour."

In a missionary meeting yesterday, I heard a powerful quote, "Pray as if a child might open his eyes to see if He is really there." (Gold star goes to whomever can find the reference for that first)

WOW.

I think of the kind of faith a little child has. In General Conference last October, President Henry B. Eyring told a story of his 3 year-old granddaughter's experience in an LDS temple for the first time:

"She looked around and asked, 'Mommy, where is Jesus?' Her mother explained that she would not see Jesus in the temple, but she would be able to feel His influence in her heart. Eliza carefully considered her mother’s response and then seemed satisfied and said, 'Oh, Jesus is gone helping someone,' she concluded."

President Eyring explained that no pavilion obscured Eliza's knowledge that God is close to her and she expected to see the Savior in His temple. I love the perfect faith and innocence that little children have! The song I chose for this post is A Child's Prayer.



Please pray. Talk to Heavenly Father. He LOVES you and He wants to hear from you. He misses His precious sons and daughters. He will help you with any of your challenges. He is the Greatest Listener. As a representative of Jesus Christ, I promise you that Prayer is essential to helping us become like our Savior and Redeemer. I continue to have incredible experiences with prayer every day. I had a particularly special experience last night as I knelt to pray. I knew without a doubt that I was truly talking to a Divine Being, and not to the corner of my bed. He was really there, and he heard  and answered my sincere, pleading prayer last night and He answered it!

What are your experiences with prayer?

Because I Have Been Given Much

The Christlike Attribute I am focusing on this year is Charity. For some this comes so easily and naturally; for others it takes a bit of work. In this last General Conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard told us that the best way to ingrain the love of Christ into our hearts is one simple practice:

"In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help....If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible."

The only way we can truly have charity is to constantly be "giving-minded." One of my New Year's Resolutions is to perform one act of service a day, and in order to reach that I have to constantly be searching for the opportunity. For me, it's more than allowing the car to pull out in front of me or holding the door open for someone at the library.  Those are givens.

Charity turns my mind towards the Savior, who performed the greatest act of love man has ever known:
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Because I have been given the Gospel, I, too, must give it. Because we have been given the gift of eternal life, we must share the knowledge of that gift. As members of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, do we fully realize what we have?

 Because I Have Been Given Much

Because I have been given much, I too must give

Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see

Who has the need of help from me

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care

I cannot see another's lack and I not share

my glowing fire my loaf of bread, my roof's safe shelter overhead

that he, too, may be comforted

Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear lord

I'll share thy love again according to thy word

I shall give love to those in need

I'll show that love by word and deed

Thus, shall my thanks be thanks, indeed

LDS Hymns, No. 219

More, Savior, Like Thee

New Year's!!! My favorite holiday. The excitement of Christmas still lingers as people aren't quite ready to take down trees and lights. And it's a day of new beginnings! Why is goal setting so important? I love to set goals and make plans; to me it is the truest form of repenting because we are making action plans to change and become more like our Savior. It is so important that we are constantly focusing on how we can better ourselves.

I love this song because to me it is a prayer to Heavenly Father asking Him to help us change. You can also look at it as a list of Resolutions. The final "more" sums it up...More, Savior, like thee.

More Holiness Give Me

More holiness give me,

More strivings within,

More patience in suff'ring,

More sorrow for sin,

More faith in my Savior,

More sense of his care,

More joy in his service,

More purpose in prayer.

 

More gratitude give me,

More trust in the Lord,

More pride in his glory,

More hope in his word,

More tears for his sorrows,

More pain at his grief,

More meekness in trial,

More praise for relief.

 

More purity give me,

More strength to o'ercome,

More freedom from earth-stains,

More longing for home.

More fit for the kingdom,

More used would I be,

More blessed and holy--

More, Savior, like thee.

 

 LDS Hymns, No. 131