Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Wow. Just, Wow.
This weekend was our Stake conference weekend. Normally, that is a good thing, but this weekend, we had stake conference, attended by Elder M. Russell Ballard. He is an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. THAT was a really good and quite a remarkable thing!
Her presided at our stake conference. He spoke to the adults on Saturday night, then he spoke to the youth of the stake on Sunday morning and then he spoke to the entire stake in the general session after that. We are so lucky!
I don't remember any other stake conference that I felt so powerfully. I have attended a lot of good meetings where doctrines of truth were taught. I have had the Spirit confirm teachings with power before, but this weekend was different. The only thing I can account for this difference is that we literally sat the the feet of the apostle and were taught by him.
Most conferences I can usually sense a theme that ran through the speakers' messages. But this weekend the only real thread that ran throughout the messages was that of the Divinity of Jesus Christ, of his teachings, His love, His Gospel, His Atonement. Maybe because today was Palm Sunday and my mind has been leaning to the final week of the Savior's earthly life simply because of the pre-Easter time of year, I felt an overarching renewal to my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. And that holds a power unto itself.
I do "stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me." This time of year especially. But we were taught about Charity, and learned what we can do each day to be a little more like the Savior in the ways we care for those around us. We learned that regardless of what the outside world says about us and our church, Jesus Christ IS the central focus of our worship and this is His church, restored to the earth once more. We learned as we are obedient to the Lord's commandments we increase in faith which, in turn, gives us power and a desire to keep covenants. We learned that joy, contentment ad peace come from being worthy of, and having the companionship of the Holy Ghost. We learned that "women are the Lord's secret weapon". We learned that we must avoid complaining about the "why ME?" situations in our life and instead focus on the strengths and growth we gain as we endure whatever challenges we have well.
We learned that our youth must develop spiritual roots long before they leave our homes. We learned that we can be strengthened as we seek to understand the scriptures and the doctrines of Christ. We learned that having a great DESIRE to know the mysteries of God will drive us to search the scriptures, pray with real intent and listen closely to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and as we do these things, the Lord will visit us with his spirit and we will learn more of what we want to know.
We learned that we do, indeed, have a Savior who loves us and that our discipleship cannot be a spectator sport. We learned that we can't expect God to make our decisions for us, but He will confirm righteous decisions we bring to Him for approval. We learned that when we repent and are forgiven, the final step is to forgive ourselves. We learned that we must give our best efforts in order to be prepared to serve and influence others within our individual spheres of influence to become more like our Heavenly Father. We learned that our callings within the organization of the church are so we can help others mature spiritually and if we do this together we will be tuned into the promptings of the Spirit.
And finally, we learned that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and He loves us. He lives and wants us to choose to follow Him. His Atonement is more than just a way for us to change and repent of our sins and do better--though it is that for sure! His Atonement gives us the ability to forgive ourselves, heals our heartaches, mends our souls and soothes our hurts that are caused by others.
I knew that before, but now? Wow. Just, wow. Easter commemorates Jesus's resurrection and victory over death but also His ultimate triumph over sin and sorrow. And for that, I am forever grateful. For the messages this weekend that reminded me that all I knew, I'm grateful. What I comprehend of His sacrifice for me is still overwhelming in the effect it plays in my life and all the opportunities He has offered me by that perfect love He shows me.
I'm humbled and so very blessed. Wow.
Her presided at our stake conference. He spoke to the adults on Saturday night, then he spoke to the youth of the stake on Sunday morning and then he spoke to the entire stake in the general session after that. We are so lucky!
I don't remember any other stake conference that I felt so powerfully. I have attended a lot of good meetings where doctrines of truth were taught. I have had the Spirit confirm teachings with power before, but this weekend was different. The only thing I can account for this difference is that we literally sat the the feet of the apostle and were taught by him.
Most conferences I can usually sense a theme that ran through the speakers' messages. But this weekend the only real thread that ran throughout the messages was that of the Divinity of Jesus Christ, of his teachings, His love, His Gospel, His Atonement. Maybe because today was Palm Sunday and my mind has been leaning to the final week of the Savior's earthly life simply because of the pre-Easter time of year, I felt an overarching renewal to my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. And that holds a power unto itself.
I do "stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me." This time of year especially. But we were taught about Charity, and learned what we can do each day to be a little more like the Savior in the ways we care for those around us. We learned that regardless of what the outside world says about us and our church, Jesus Christ IS the central focus of our worship and this is His church, restored to the earth once more. We learned as we are obedient to the Lord's commandments we increase in faith which, in turn, gives us power and a desire to keep covenants. We learned that joy, contentment ad peace come from being worthy of, and having the companionship of the Holy Ghost. We learned that "women are the Lord's secret weapon". We learned that we must avoid complaining about the "why ME?" situations in our life and instead focus on the strengths and growth we gain as we endure whatever challenges we have well.
We learned that our youth must develop spiritual roots long before they leave our homes. We learned that we can be strengthened as we seek to understand the scriptures and the doctrines of Christ. We learned that having a great DESIRE to know the mysteries of God will drive us to search the scriptures, pray with real intent and listen closely to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and as we do these things, the Lord will visit us with his spirit and we will learn more of what we want to know.
We learned that we do, indeed, have a Savior who loves us and that our discipleship cannot be a spectator sport. We learned that we can't expect God to make our decisions for us, but He will confirm righteous decisions we bring to Him for approval. We learned that when we repent and are forgiven, the final step is to forgive ourselves. We learned that we must give our best efforts in order to be prepared to serve and influence others within our individual spheres of influence to become more like our Heavenly Father. We learned that our callings within the organization of the church are so we can help others mature spiritually and if we do this together we will be tuned into the promptings of the Spirit.
And finally, we learned that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and He loves us. He lives and wants us to choose to follow Him. His Atonement is more than just a way for us to change and repent of our sins and do better--though it is that for sure! His Atonement gives us the ability to forgive ourselves, heals our heartaches, mends our souls and soothes our hurts that are caused by others.
I knew that before, but now? Wow. Just, wow. Easter commemorates Jesus's resurrection and victory over death but also His ultimate triumph over sin and sorrow. And for that, I am forever grateful. For the messages this weekend that reminded me that all I knew, I'm grateful. What I comprehend of His sacrifice for me is still overwhelming in the effect it plays in my life and all the opportunities He has offered me by that perfect love He shows me.
I'm humbled and so very blessed. Wow.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Video Easter Sunday
The tomb is empty and thus my life is full.
How I love Him ! And revere Him. I strive to do His will and fail all too often. But He picks me up, dusts me off, and helps me try again. Surely He is the God of Love.
For He has borne my sorrows, my sins, and my grief.
I invite you, all of you, to come unto Him and enjoy His peace, His calmness in the midst of chaos and sorrow, and the warmth of His love. Bend your knees and seek Him out. You will feel His cleansing power.
He IS risen.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
"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.
"For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through Him might be saved."
John 3:16-17
"He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."
Matthew 28:6
"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name--hear ye Him."
3 Nephi 11:7
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