Inside Out

This past week in my Book of Mormon class, we went over the chapter of 4th Nephi. Starting in verse 3, we read that the Nephites had "all things in common among them". What is interesting about this chapter is that it is super short. It is super short for the amount of time covered because it is not exactly relevant for our time. It discusses how to live in a perfect society. Well, we are in no means living in a perfect society, and Mormon knew that when translating. We can tell this in verse 6, as we picture Mormon translating saying, "and thus did the thirty and eighth year pass away, and also the thirty and ninth, and forty and first..." and he keeps saying this until finally he says, "yea, and even until fifty and nine years had passed away". It is almost incredible when you read these scriptures as you picture and witness the truthfulness of this record and how it is meant just for us. We can see in this scripture as well the building of a Zion society, and then in the next chapter, Mormon, they fall into war again, which the falling always begins with pride. One thing I have written in my notes is that "one must want the consequences of what one wants." When we, in our heart, want and are doing good things, of course, we can expect a good outcome for our lives, and of course that is what we want. But how often do we think, when life is going good and we begin to be a bit prideful, "Oh yes. I want to be miserable." No! Absolutely not! I would assume that most people just want to be happy. And that is through repenting, humbling oneself, and coming unto God and keeping His commandments. That is the only way we can achieve true and everlasting happiness. Sometimes, Heavenly Father needs to mold us into the people we need to be, and sometimes that requires stretching and refining us. However, in the end, we achieve the consequence of what we want based on what we truly want, deep deep inside our heart.

Steps to Perfection

We do not need Christ's help to try and be perfect. We need Christ to be perfect. Christ is our completing factor, and the only way we can obtain perfection.

In 3 Nephi 12, Christ speaks the Beatitudes to the Nephites. He first begins by giving us a gateway: listen to the prophets, believe and be baptized. Then, Christ explains the journey up the staircase to perfection and ultimate happiness. First, in verse 3 he says, "blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". We first must learn to recognize our wrong doings and repent. This then leads us to true repentance, coming unto the Lord, and to mourning. "Blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." As we come unto our Savior with a broken heart, we are blessed and comforted. Because we are then comforted and blessed, we are then more humble and willing to do His will: obtaining meekness. When we are then more meek and willing to do His will, we move up to the next step of the staircase: taking action. We want to seek His will. "Blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost". When we are doing the right things, and seeking to do His will, we have a softened heart and are more able to have the Spirit with us. As we are progressing up this staircase, it is important that we are merciful, which is the next beatitude that Christ teaches. People of all walks of life are progressing up the staircase and are on different levels than we are. As we are taking action and seeking to do the right thing, it is important that we do not judge, for if we begin to judge those behind us on the stairs, we will eventually start heading the direction we are looking: backward down the stairs. So "blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Christ is already at the top of the stairs, yet He never judges us; He maintains who He is and walks down to where we are, walking with us and helping us as we climb up the stairs. After we can be merciful to one another, we shall be "pure in heart, for they shall see God". After we can be pure in heart, it is important that we are "the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." We need to love and encourage others, bringing peace unto others lives with the peace that we have. Lastly, Christ says, "And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Notice how in the first and last beatitude, Christ says "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". This is how we can achieve the kingdom of heaven and the utmost happiness. However, we all make mistakes. We cannot do it on our own. Whatever you are going to be, be the very best at that you can. Then glorify our Father who art in Heaven who has given you everything. In the last verse of the chapter, Christ says "therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect". He does not say "try to be perfect", he commands us to "be perfect". He knows and I do that through Him, we can all be made perfect. Let us try each day a little harder, to be a little better. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Emmaline

Season Finale

WHO WILL IT BE LADIES??

Catherine and Sean?

Lindsey and Sean??

Or wait, let's be real.

It's me and Sean. 

Have fun watching tonight!!!

Emmaline

It's Not Pushing Buttons

I have chosen to write about kind of an interesting verse of scripture today. It is a very simple verse, yet something that Brother Griffin said about it sparked my pondering. In 3 Nephi 1:3 in the Book of Mormon, it reads, "then he departed out of the land, and whither he went, no man knoweth...". I read this just like a regular verse until Brother Griffin began talking about the tender mercies of the Lord, and how he likes to think of this verse as one of them. Nephi had done his part, and then, after he had, he was just gone, hopefully to return back with our Father in Heaven again after a lifetime of trial and doing the Lord's will. He then followed up later with a quote which reads, "prayer is not about pushing buttons-- it's about pushing yourself." I began thinking back on my life and am so clearly able to recognize countless tender mercies from the Lord. But how often do I return the favor? How often am I willing to submit to His will, even when it may not be what I want? I thought back on some of my prayers, and how I definitely think I can do some changing. Sometimes we get so caught up in life and the fast pace of it, that we feel as though we need things right now. However, that is not always how God works. In fact, God is always there, but He stretches you-- he tests you, and he teaches you. In times of complete trial and adversity, it seems as though we are alone, but if we keep enduring and putting our faith in Him, He will stretch us until we have been molded from that trial. Until we have learned and grown and some times even still we have them, for what ever reason. But it is His will, to help bless our lives and to also bless the lives of others. My dear brothers and sisters, as we pray and rely on the Lord, remember to be patient. Remember to be humble. Remember to have a soft heart and He will bless you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Emmaline

The Wise Man Build His House Upon The Rock

This week for my Book of Mormon post, I would like to focus on just one scripture. This scripture has been a key stone in my life, and I have found time and time again that it is useful. This is the amazing Scripture Mastery: Helaman 5:12.

 Recently, I have made the decision to serve a mission. This decision has never made me happier in my life, and I have not even gone on one yet! However, many times with important decisions that we know are right, Satan likes to get in our head. He tries to convince us in any way He can from doing good in the world. He will use doubt, fear, temptation-- just about any tactic he can. HE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO SUCCEED. This has taken me a little while to discover, but once we come to recognize that it is Satan who is giving us these negative thoughts, it is a lot easier to turn to the Lord and to receive strength. In Helaman 5:12 it states, "And now my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty story shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." Notice how it does not say "if" the devil shall send these things, but rather "when". We are all going to be faced with temptation in our lives. In fact, sometimes it may feel like we are literally wrestling with the Devil. I have never truly felt this "wrestling" until I made the decision to serve a mission and started my mission papers. Things just kept coming up in my life: mostly doubt, fear, and feelings of inadequacy. It was not until I was able to recognize that these feelings were coming from Satan because He KNOWS how important this work is, and importantly, he KNOWS me and knows what I am capable of accomplishing as a tool in the hands of our Lord. However, I remembered when I received my conformation to serve a mission, it was not until I told Heavenly Father that I was putting all my fears aside and moving in the direction He wanted me to with complete faith, that I received my answer. You see, fear is the opposite of faith. Satan has the power to bruise our heal, and I guarantee that He will try and often succeed. But I know that if we have the Lord on our side, that we have the power to crush his skull. My dear friends, whoever may be reading, I hope this helps. Build upon a sure foundation, which is keeping the Savior, Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father in your lives. I know that if we do so, we will not fall and Satan "shall have no power over us". This I say humbly, giving praise to my Father up above, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Keep on keepin' on!! LOVE YOU ALL!

Emmaline

Better or Bitter?

We all encounter trials in our lives. Even though it may seem like it, nobody lives that "picture perfect" life. Trials are specific to the individual, and if we embrace them correctly, they can change our lives and become molded into the best people we can be. Trials can lead us into two different directions, two different words, two different lives, yet by only changing one letter.  Better... or bitter? In the Book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, Captain Moroni is an amazing man. He is an example of such courage and standing up for what one believes in. However, in Chapter 60, Moroni, although a great man, accuses a member of the government, Pahoran, for many wrong things based on what he assumes about Pahoran. Now this is definitely not easy for Pahoran. This no doubt is a trial for him to be accused like this, as it would be for any who are in fact trying to do what is right yet are stuck in a sticky situation. Pahoran easily could be upset and react bitterly toward Moroni for accusing him like this, and in no way want to help. However, in chapter 61, verse 9, this is how Pahoran responds to Moroni in his letter: "And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free." Pahoran absolutely takes the high road here, and responds with a soft heart, going on to say that he is with them and will help them. He did not seek for power. He was not angry. He did not turn bitter. And because of this, Pahoran became a better man. Moroni then marches to the aid of Pahoran and they fight together. Because of the way Pahoran responded to Moroni, They both together are bonded and have the power of God on their side. As we go forth and encounter trials in our every day lives, may we think of Pahoran and remember the two options that lay before us: bitter or better. May we all strive to try a little harder to be a little better, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Emmaline

I Choose Happiness. What About You?

I am a firm believer that "happiness is a choice". In fact, I even have a quote in my room that says that exact thing. That is why this week in my religion class, when we talked about happiness, this quote immediately popped into my head. Happiness is not something that just happens to you. It is not something that is thrust upon you. Especially in the world that we live in today, it is important that we constantly are making an effort to choose to be happy. What a beautiful thing that God gave us the freedom of choice. Our free agency allows us to determine how our lives are: each and every day. In Alma, chapter 50 verse 23 of the Book of Mormon, it talks about how although they were in one of the greatest wars of all time, with their brethren dying and the heart ache and pain and exhaustion they were suffering, there "was never a happier time among the people since the days of Nephi". Wow. This struck me hard as Brother Griffin had us read this verse over and over. They were happy. "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25)-- even amongst the hardest and the toughest parts of our lives. You guys, we can choose to be happy. And we must. Satan will try to distort our thinking, he will try to put doubt and fear in out brains, he will try to constrain us to our past and say there is no hope for the future. He wants you because he knows your potential and has no desire for us to be happy. But. There is hope. And there is the present. And we can change who we are and how we feel right now. There is our Father in Heaven and His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. For any that may be struggling, who are experiencing heart ache, who have made mistakes, let us come unto our Savior and Redeemer, who will make up the rest for us, after all that we can do. God and all of His power are always one step ahead of Satan and will always win. Let us keep Them on our side, and bind the enemy that does try to hold us down. Let us be HAPPY. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Emmaline