Seek The Lord Often

Section: D&C 77 Principles and Doctrines: o Doctrine: The spiritual is in the likeness of the temporal. Our spirits look like our bodies. The same holds true for animals (vs. 2). Application of one truth from this section to my life: It is comforting to know that my spirit and body look the same. It encourages me to know that my family will easily recognize me on the other side. It also motivates me to keep my body healthy so me Spirit can look good and stay healthy as well. Section: D&C 79 Principles and Doctrines: o Doctrine: The comforter teaches the truth and the way we should go (vs. 2). Application of one truth from this section to my life: I am so grateful that I have a member of the Godhead as my constant companion to help me out when life gets difficult. I want to live my life in such a way as to always be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I want to radiate the Spirit of Christ to others. Section: D&C 80 Principles and Doct...

Today we had our final New Testament class of the semester. It was an awesome experience to learn about the life of the Savior in depth. As we came to the final verses in the four gospels, I found some interesting occurrences that coordinated with foreshadowing verses in the beginning of Christ's ministry. It seems as if the gospel writers are showing how Christ came full circle. How he, like one of his disciples, "fought a good fight and finished his course." Only his fight was one against death and the very jaws of hell. He came, he experienced it all, and he conquered. He did it for us. Here are some about Christ's birth and death: Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Mark 15:46 And he bought fine linen and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto...

Last week in my New Testament we talked about Christ's suffering for our sins, sorrows and sicknesses in Gethsemane. The subject seemed especially relevant since final projects and tests are starting to pile up. Last week was a very hectic one for me and I was under some pressure. It was comforting to know that Jesus Christ felt perfectly every stressful situation I have gone through, am going through, or will ever go through. Jesus Christ was perfect, but that's not to see he didn't feel at least somewhat apprehensive when he was nearing the time of his ultimate suffering and sacrifice. Brother Griffin made an interesting point when we read Mark 14:32-36 . He pointed out that since Christ was perfect he had never felt the intense guilt and sorrow for sin. He had never even committed a little  sin, let alone feel the collective remorse and bitterness of conscience of the vilest sins of the entire human race. Jesus feels sobered by the immense task of the Atonement that ...

This last week in my New Testament class we studied the end of Jesus Christ's life and his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. In John 17, he gives the great intercessory prayer. There was one particular verse that really stood out to me. Part of verse 24 reads: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am..." Christ is likely speaking of  us being with him in his kingdom someday, but when I read it I thought of something more immediate. I thought of the suffering Christ was undergoing in the Garden of Gethsemane and how it is possible he asked for us, his brothers and sisters, to be with him. I love the picture by Carl Bloch that depicts Christ suffering with an angel at his side. It is beautiful to think of all who were relying on and pulling for Jesus in his infinitely important and vital role. I can only imagine how it was for us watching down from the heavens as he suffered for each one of us individually. How must we have fe...

This week I'm going to jump into Christ's parable of the talents in Matthew 25. "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey" (Matt. 25:15) . In the parable of the talents, Christ teaches us some very powerful lessons. He teaches us that we are not all given the same number of talents. God is a just God. Isn't he? Aren't we all equal in his eyes? Why is it that he seems to give some more talents than others? There are a few things I would like to highlight from this scripture. First, the word talent can have many different meanings and applications, but in this post I am going to focus on the Greek word "talenton" which means "weight." Now if we read the scripture, it makes a lot more sense. Heavenly Father gives us weights or responsibilities according to our ability to handle them. At the end of the parable, when the Lord re...

This week I am going to combine a scripture from last week with something that Brother Griffin said this week. The scripture is found in Matthew 22. In verse 42, Jesus poses the question, “What think ye of Christ?” This question motivates our actions, for how we act depends on how we view Christ. Who is Christ to you? Is he merely a man? ( C.S. Lewis andTad R. Callister ). Is he a prophet? Or do you view him as your savior? What is his character? What emotions do you feel when you think of him? Do you fear him? Do you feel his mercy? What causes you to feel the way you do about him? I have struggled a lot of my life to feel Christ’s love. I have often seen him as a “hard man” ( Matthew 25:24 ) and felt that if I made a mistake I was not worthy to enter into his kingdom. I saw only the justice side and not the mercy. Stephen E. Robinson, in his book “Believing Christ” talks about how we need to believe that Christ can save us in instead of just believing in him. We need to be...

I've been very uplifted this semester as I've had the chance to study the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ in the New Testament. I've felt peace as I've learned from his teachings, example and parables. He invites us to follow him. He leads us. He is truly the good shepherd. I was very touched by the scriptures about Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10 . Jesus Christ will never force us to follow him. He is a shepherd. He does not simply herd his sheep. He leads us. Like any good shepherd, he knows his sheep by name and they know him. They follow him because they recognize his voice. No one enters his fold but through him and through making covenants with him. He is the door of the sheepfold. Those who wish to have them as their leader promise to live as he did and invite others to enjoy the same kind of life. He has laid down his life for his sheep and he loves them. He provides protection from the gloom, confusion and evil influences of the world. If being part ...