Friday, March 16, 2018

To Be Like Him





Know Him by Becoming like Him



The Savior tells us that the very best way to know God is to become likeHim. He taught: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”9
Worthiness is essential to becoming like Him. He commanded, “Sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands … that I may make you clean.”10 Starting on the road to becoming like Him, we repent and receive His forgiveness, and He cleanses our souls.
To help us as we progress toward the Father, the Lord gave us this promise: “Every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am.”11
Through our faith in His atoning sacrifice, the Savior cleanses us, heals us, and enables us to know Him by helping us become like Him. Mormon taught, “Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, … that ye may become the sons [and daughters] of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him.”12 As we strive to become like God, 
He can make of us more than we could ever make of ourselves.
'And This Is Life Eternal'

Saturday, February 3, 2018

The Great Plan of Happiness



"Three Degrees of Glory" Art by Nancy Lubeck Kramer


“The Great Plan of Happiness”
Questions like, Where did we come from? Why are we here? and Where are we going? are answered in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prophets have called it the plan of salvation and “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8). Through inspiration we can understand this road map of eternity and use it to guide our path in mortality.
The gospel teaches us that we are the spirit children of heavenly parents. Before our mortal birth we had “a pre-existent, spiritual personality, as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father” (statement of the First Presidency, Improvement Era, Mar. 1912, p. 417; also see Jer. 1:5). We were placed here on earth to progress toward our destiny of eternal life. These truths give us a unique perspective and different values to guide our decisions from those who doubt the existence of God and believe that life is the result of random processes.
It was Eve who first transgressed the limits of Eden in order to initiate the conditions of mortality. Her act, whatever its nature, was formally a transgression but eternally a glorious necessity to open the doorway toward eternal life. Adam showed his wisdom by doing the same. And thus Eve and “Adam fell that men might be” (2 Ne. 2:25).


"Eve" Art by Nancy Lubeck Kramer
The Lord has promised that in the eternities no blessing will be denied his sons and daughters who keep the commandments, are true to their covenants, and desire what is right.
Many of the most important deprivations of mortality will be set right in the Millennium, which is the time for fulfilling all that is incomplete in the great plan of happiness for all of our Father’s worthy children. 


2 Nephi 2:24-27
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
27 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.
2 Nephi 5:27

27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.





Sunday, January 28, 2018

Bearers of Light

Bearers of Heavenly Light

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Lord Be With Us


The Lord Be with Us

The Lord be with us as we walk

Along our homeward road.
In silent thought or friendly talk,
Our hearts be near to God.
In silent thought or friendly talk,
Our hearts be near to God.

The Lord be with us till the night
Enfold our day of rest,
And be in ev'ry heart the light,
In ev'ry home the guest.
And be in ev'ry heart the light,
In ev'ry home the guest.

The Lord be with us thru the hours
Of slumber calm and deep,
Protect our homes, renew our pow'rs,
And guard us as we sleep.
Protect our homes, renew our pow'rs,
And guard us as we sleep.

Text: John Ellerton, 1826-1893
Music: Tracy Y. Cannon, 1879-1961. © 1948 IRI


“If it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them.” 


Draw Near unto Me through Obedience
Again, listen to the words of King Benjamin: “I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true.” (Mosiah 2:41.)
Obedience brings blessings here and now. Jesus said, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:17; italics added.) Happiness and peace are found when we are in harmony with ourselves, with God, and with our fellowmen.
Sisters, we are those instruments. He needs us, and we need Him. Instruments that are in tune play beautiful melodies. Be obedient. Be prayerful. Remember Him. Keep His commandments. Draw near to Him and feel the joy and peace that will come as He draws near unto you. (See D&C 88:63.)