The Gospel's Gift

The gospel is such a great blessing in my life! I would be nothing without it. It has given me hope when there could have been none, joy when I am least expecting it, and comfort when I am feeling down. Because of the gospel, I am a better person! :)

Ever smiling,
JS

The Beauty Of The Gospel

These are some words that came to my mind as I answered questions for seminary today. It is incredible what can happen to us when we follow the Spirit's promptings--and just listen.

"Behold, I say unto you, my servants Ezra and Northrop, open ye your ears and hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, whose word is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of the joints and marrow, soul and spirit; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 For verily, verily, I say unto you that ye are called to lift up your voices as with the sound of a trump, to declare my gospel unto a crooked and perverse generation."  Doctrine and Covenants 33:1-2

1. What do you think it means to declare the gospel “as with the sound of a trump”?

The notes of a trumpet are clear, strong, and powerful. When we declare the gospel "with the sound of a trump", we declare it with power. If we are faithful, then the Holy Ghost will clearly manifest the truth of the gospel to those we teach. As we speak, we must teach with clarity, strength and power, declaring the gospel to others through the way we act, speak, and live.

2. In Ezra Thayre’s vision, when he played the trumpet, it produced the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. Why do you think the sound was so beautiful?

The gospel itself is beautiful! The word beauty is defined as "the quality present in a thing or person 

that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind." The note that pierced the air as he blew into the horn must have filled him with joy as the power filled him. The beauty of that sound was from the power of it. We can feel God's power through things like this, when we fill our lives with beauty and joy.

Ever smiling,

JS

The Gift Of The Gospel

I absolutely love Seminary! It has taught me so much, and continues to broaden my perspective and strengthen my testimony of the truths of the Gospel!

These are some things I enjoyed from Seminary today. 

"While some information has merit, as members of the Church we have access to the source of pure truth, even God Himself. We would do well to search out answers to our problems and questions by investigating what the Lord has revealed through His prophets. With that same technology today, we have at our fingertips access to the words of the prophets on nearly any subject. 

...What has [God] taught us about personal happiness and fulfillment through His prophets?" ~Kevin R. Duncan

A story shared from the Friend:

Mike and his younger brothers, Eric and Tom, liked to go hiking with their dad. Dad always said he knew the mountains like the back of his own hand. He had grown up walking the same paths with his own dad, who was a sheepherder. 

One summer day [the boys] were excited to reach the top of the trail—a high meadow filled with fresh green grass and flowers of just about every color. And so they took off running through the trees at top speed, even though they were tired from their morning’s hike. They wanted to burst onto that meadow like jackrabbits.

'Stop when you get to the meadow,’ Dad called after them. ‘I’ll meet you there.’ They ran ahead, each trying to get in front of the others. [They forgot] Dad’s instruction. They ran in circles through the deep grass, jumping and dodging, whooping and hollering and tagging each other. Then Eric had an idea. ‘Let’s race all the way across the meadow!’ 

Tom hesitated. They couldn’t see the far side of the clearing because a grassy hill obscured their view. But Mike wasn’t worried. ‘I think this is the same meadow we came to last summer,’ he assured his brothers. They gathered back at the trees. ‘Ready!’ Eric shouted. ‘Set! GO!’ The wind felt fresh and cool on Mike’s cheeks and in his hair, and the faster he ran, the more wind he got. Soon he was leading the race. He felt like he could run forever. 

‘STOP!’ a voice bellowed like thunder behind them. All three boys stopped immediately. They turned and saw Dad running toward them from the edge of the meadow. ‘Come back here beside me,’ Dad called, more gently this time. The boys obeyed. [Then] they walked together across the meadow. As they topped the little hill, Dad suddenly stopped. Just a few paces ahead of them, a sheer cliff dropped down at least 20 or 30 feet. If they had been running, there was no way they could have seen it in time to stop. 

‘We could have died,’ Mike said softly. 

‘Well, maybe. I’m sure glad you stopped running even though I didn’t have time to explain. Sometimes we have to obey first and ask questions later!’ 

‘Especially when someone else knows what’s coming, and you don’t,’ Mike said.” (Ana Nelson Shaw, “Stop!” Friend, June 2005).

What we truly are in our heart will inevitably be revealed in our thoughts, words, and behaviors. The real truth about a man cannot be kept secret. ~Seminary

What a gift the gospel is in my life! I am so grateful for the opportunities I have to learn and grow from Seminary and other spiritual lessons.

Keep smiling,

~JS