All Christ Does For Us

I have always known that Christ suffered for our sins and died for us. The great struggle he went through is something that we all look to with a great deal of gratitude. Something that I seem to look past however, is that he is still doing so much for us!

In 2 Nephi 26: 24-25 it says, "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth..."

Jesus Christ works every day to help each and every one of us. We are so lucky to have a brother who loves us so much. I know he lives!

Parable of the Sower

Today in my scripture study I was reading about the Parable of the Sower in Mark chapter 4. Christ tells about a a sower who spreads seeds across the ground. Some of the seeds go off to the side and birds come and eat them. Some of the seeds landed on hard ground, and immediately started growing, but then because they had no roots they withered and died when the sun came. Some of the seeds were surrounded by weeds and were choked off. Some of the seeds however, found good ground, grew strong, and brought forth fruit.

It was really interesting to me, and so I tried to figure out what it meant. I had a few ideas, but as a read on I found the true meaning. People sow the word of Christ. Sometimes as soon as people hear Christ's gospel, Satan comes and immediately takes it from them and it does not enter into their hearts. Sometimes the gospel enters into people's hearts, they receive it with gladness, but they don't strengthen their roots. When the trials and hardships come, they aren't stalwart and are offended. Some of the people are "choked off" by the riches and lusts of the world. Then there are the people who receive Christ's gospel and endure to the end.

At first I related this to missionary work. There are going to be the people who don't want to hear and who don't accept it, but then there are the people who embrace it with their whole hearts. To watch that seed of faith grow and blossom in people is an amazing experience. Missionaries aren't the only ones who have the opportunity to see this. We can all share the gospel with our friends. But we can't be discouraged when one of the seeds we sow doesn't land in the right place. If we keep sowing seeds we will be able to find those who are prepared to nurture it and allow it to bless their life!

Then I applied it to myself. What type of ground am I? I think sometimes I am good ground, but other times I harden a little. Or maybe I allow some weeds to come in and harm the word of Christ inside of me. It was a great experience to look within and find the things that keep me from being fertile ground. There are some great things to learn from this parable and I hope we will all take a look at the ways we can be better sowers and receivers!

Happiness - The John Tanner Story

Where does happiness come from? We can get many different answers from different sources. The world tells us that when we act on our immediate desires we gain happiness. This gives us pleasure, which can be a temporary substitute for lasting happiness. True happiness comes from following the plan that God has created for us. Who would know better than our Father what will make us happy?

The other day I watched a video about a man named John Tanner. He was a self-made wealthy man who was converted to the LDS faith in the early years of the church. The missionaries taught him, and he had a desire to be baptized. He couldn't however, because of a diseased leg that crippled him. The missionaries asked him if he had the faith to be healed. He did and the Lord healed him. He was baptized that evening.

Throughout the rest of his life he was called upon to help the church with its financial struggles. He willingly did so and over the course of his life gave 50,000 dollars to the church (we did the math and it came out to be around 2 million dollars in our money today). This cost him and his family a great deal. They had become poor and actually had to beg for food to survive. At the end of the film, he was called on a mission. Before he left he forgave the church all the debt they owed him. He then left his family to serve the Lord.

My feelings during this movie centered mostly on the great sacrifice of this man. To give all your money, and then watch your children go hungry would be a huge trial. I wondered at the great devotion and faith of this man. Then a thought hit me. Brother Tanner must have been happier during this trial of his life than at any time before. He knew the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he lived it! He accepted the Lords will for him, and did all he could to serve.

This emphasized the point that money does not bring happiness, living the gospel brings happiness. In 2 Nephi 2:27 it says, "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." The happiness from liberty and eternal life doesn't have to be just a future blessing. As we are obedient to the commandments now, we receive the blessings now.

The choices we make determine our happiness. Let us all choose to follow the Lord, choose to feel of his love, and choose to be happy at all times and in all places. As we do so, we will more fully become the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth

It has been interesting to see how I have changed over the course of my life, and especially the last year on my mission. In Alma 32 it talks about faith and how it grows and what it can become. At different times I felt like my faith was pretty strong in parts of the Gospel, and especially in the Gospel as a whole.

Just recently I have found a completely new perspective on things. Have you ever seen someone in denial about something. I used to hate it when the football or basketball team that I was rooting for lost. I would make excuses and blame it on other things. I conviced myself that they didn't really lose, they just got a bad deal from the refs, ect... But that doesn't change the truth that they did lose.

 I always knew that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints was true for me and other mebers, but didn't understand that it is just as true to everyone else. It is as true to those who don't believe it yet as it is to me. Sometimes we try to tell ourselves that a certain situation changes things (ie: bad calls by refs), but no matter the justification truth doesn't change because someone doesn't want it to be true.

When you can accept truth, no matter what it means, and be happy about it; it will change your life. You will find greater peace, happiness, and self assurance. The truth (especially of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Plan of Salvation) gives us something solid to hold to our whole life. There is nothing better than the assurance that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over us, and the knowledge that if we obey, we will return to live with him and our families!

I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet, and we have prophets speaking to us today. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It is true for us all. Let us continue to share this great truth with everyone!