God Is Our Rock

"Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting god. Amen." 2 Nephi 4:35

"Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation." 2 Nephi 4:30






"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God." Psalms 62:7







"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." Deuteronomy 32:4

"For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?" 2 Samuel 22:32

-JS

Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!

Today, Mother Nature decided that there should be fall of cold, white fluff. That beautiful, chilly stuff that coats our lawns and makes everything look...heavenly.

  

"Heavenly?" you might ask, especially during the days that you think should be warm. Maybe "Heavenly" is not your favorite word to describe snowfalls in the spring. By now, you'd probably think there shouldn't be any snow. Just warm, sunny weather; flowers blooming; birds singing; bare feet; and all those fun, springy things. But my chocolate-loving sister has another idea for it. I asked her for a word to describe how things look after (or during) a snowfall. The first thing she said was "heavenly." 

When you think of heaven, what do you think of? I think of light, and dazzling colors. I think of beauty beyond the imagination. Of peace and purity. 

Now look outside your window, with snow falling all around, blanketing everything in pure white. Compare it to heaven. Try to look at it through the eyes of a child--filled with perfect joy at the sight of the snowflakes fluttering down from the sky. Can you see heaven?

My sister helped me to see the springtime snowfall as a gift from Heavenly Father. He wants us to experience a little piece of heaven. He wants us to be as white and pure as snow. So He shows us. He gives us a true beauty that we can only see through the eyes of an innocent child, or a cheerful person filled with gratitude for what surrounds them. We can be that person!

-JS

Judged According To Our Works

These scriptures help us to know that Christ suffered for our sins, so that we could return to Heavenly Father and be judged according to our works here on earth.

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison..." 1 Peter 3:18-19

"For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." 1 Peter 4:6

-JS

We Are All Enlisted

We Are All Enlisted, Hymn #250

Verse 3
"Fighting for a kingdom, and the world is our foe;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Glad to join the army, we will sing as we go;
We shall gain the vict'ry by and by.
Dangers may gather--why should we fear?
Jesus, our Leader, ever is near.
He will protect us, comfort, and cheer.
We're joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o'er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army there's a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by."

Every day, the world grows darker. There are many who seek to destroy the Church and pull us down, using mockery, criticism, lies, and belittling. Not only are people working hard to destroy our faith, but there are those we cannot see--the adversary--who pry, push, shove, and seek to ruin us little by little.
But we can make a difference! We can resist the evil and the world around us. The world can at times be our biggest foe. We want to be like others, to fit in, to feel included. There are many things that we want; worldly things that bring nothing but temporary feelings of happiness. At times like this we must dare to stand alone, to be "peculiar," to be our true selves! (There's a great video about this by Thomas S. Monson-- https://www.lds.org/youth/video/dare-to-stand-alone?lang=eng)

So what is our responsibility? 
Jude, Christ's half-brother, gave us the answer.
"Beloved... [I] exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Jude 1:3 (emphasis added)

We, as Latter-Day Saints, need to "earnestly contend for the faith." Think back to Joseph's First Vision. This was an incredible event in history. But there is one part of this event that is often skimmed over briefly, because it can be pretty scary and hard to comprehend. It is the time right before Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph. Also, keep in mind that this was Joseph's first attempt to pray aloud.

"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction." Joseph Smith--History 1:15 (emphasis added)

This must have been a terrifying experience for Joseph. But there is more; he had the strength to continue praying--pleading--with God to deliver him from the sudden darkness and despair that overtook him. His tongue was bound, but his heart was not. Finally, when he was nearly to the point of giving up, he was saved from his terror, and was rescued by the Light.
The adversary preys upon our weaknesses. But we can make our weaknesses become strengths through Christ and His Light. We need to "unbind our tongues" and become Lights in the time of trial.

What can we do?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
"From every [person], young and old, ...I ask for a stronger and more devoted voice, a voice not only against evil and him who is the personification of it, but a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God. ...Unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those 'who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.'"

Here are some examples I got from seminary:
1. Our example of living the gospel is one important way to contend for the faith.
2. Our Christ-like compassion for others can soften hearts and bless lives.
3. As members of the Church we are to cry repentance to the world by boldly standing up for gospel principles.

In conclusion, Jude said,
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Jude 1:20-25

May you ever have the strength to defeat the adversary and continue in the Light of the Savior!
-JS

Love From, Love For, Love Like

My Seminary lesson this morning was about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's love. President Uchtdorf had many great things to say about Their love.

"Since 'God is love,' the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love. But because a veil separates this mortality from our heavenly home, we must seek in the Spirit that which is imperceptible to mortal eyes. Heaven may seem distant at times, but the scriptures offer hope: 'Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.'" (Ensign, Nov. 2009)

"Love is the guiding light that illuminates the disciple's path and fills our daily walk with life, meaning and wonder. Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship. Love is the way of the disciple." (Ensign, Nov. 2009)

So, how can we feel love FROM Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

"Hereby perceive we the love of [Christ], because he laid down his life for us..." 1 John 3:16
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10

This is evidence enough that They love us. God sent His greatly loved Son to suffer and die for us, and take upon Him the burdens of the world, so that we could have the chance to repent and be resurrected into our true form, and return to live with Him again.
I also think that the Spirit has an important part in this. If we are constantly in tune with the Spirit, then we can more easily feel the the love from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Spirit will bring Their love into our homes, and into our hearts.

How can we feel love FOR Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3

If we love Them, we need to keep Their commandments. It's a simple as that. We need to have Their commandments written on our hearts, and keep them as constant reminders. The greatest commandments are about love. 

"...The first of all the commandment is, ...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31

This leads into my final subject--
How can we feel love LIKE Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." 1 John 3:11
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. ...Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. ...If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:7, 11-13

If we desire to love like Them, we need to first love others, and work on finding the good in everyone. Love your neighbor as yourself. Everyone is different. God made it that way. He made it so that we all have weaknesses, but so that we can turn the weaknesses into strengths. Part of that is learning to love one another. When we learn to love one another, we learn to love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

To conclude, here are some questions to ponder and answer.
~Are you doing your part to receive and recognize love from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
~How are you demonstrating your love for Them and where would you like to improve?
~Are you learning and practicing love like Them?
~What does Their love mean to you?

Always remember that you are loved--so greatly that it is hard to imagine. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are always watching over you and filling you with Their love!
-JS

Go Beyond Yourself

"My mother had a saying: Welcome the task that makes you go beyond yourself, and you will grow. Life is full of things that make us go beyond ourselves. I don't think I've spent a single year of my life unstretched." --Julie B. Beck



-JS

Mercy

To love mercy is to be merciful. To be merciful, we need to be compassionate to others, and be willing to help them and guide them. If we are merciful, we will be kind, loving, and willing to love. We can better apply this principle in our lives by choosing to help others and setting good examples for them. We can also think about others' needs before our needs and think before we act.

-JS

Christ's Love

This is something I wrote in January to all my friends and family.

I felt inspired by this scripture, and the way He said it. Try to picture it in your mind the way He is speaking--with eternal love for each of us, a humble, yet inspiring voice, and speaking gently.

"These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

So if any of you are struggling right now with trials, or with a friendship, or something else entirely, think of Christ. Think of His never ending love for all of us. Think of Him, and be of good cheer, for He is our Savior and Redeemer, our loving Brother, and He loves us greatly!

-JS

Patience

"Patience is a process of perfection. The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your souls (Luke 21:19). Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your patience you win mastery of your souls. Patience means to abide in faith, knowing that sometimes it is in the waiting rather than in the receiving that we grow the most. This was true in the time of the Savior. It is true in our time as well, for we are commanded in these latter days to 'continue in patience until ye are perfected' (D&C 67:13)." --Dieter F. Uchtdorf

-JS

Poem

I'd Rather See a Sermon 

by Edgar A. Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

-JS

Repentance

If we are righteous, we are given amazing gifts. The gift of happiness. The gift of hope. The gift of patience. The gift of love. The gift of faith. But most importantly, the gift of repentance. Imagine yourself coated in dirt from head to foot. You just took a very long hike and you are exhausted. When you arrive home, you go straight to wash yourself. You scrub all the dirt away. Finally, you emerge, feeling clean and fresh. Now compare this to repentance. The dirt is sin. The exhaustion is caused by the sin. When you truly repent, you wash away the dirt (the sin), and become clean and pure once more. Your spirit is refreshed and you are filled with light. This light comes from the Spirit. When we are pure, we can walk in the Spirit. We keep our covenants and avoid sin. Because of this, we can keep those gifts mentioned earlier. All the beauty and love of righteousness is ours, if we keep ourselves pure, and walk in the Spirit. We all want this, and the way to access this is through repentance.

-Carmody