Friday, April 6, 2012

Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer




Finding Joy through Loving Service

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


M. Russell Ballard

May we show our love and appreciation 
for the Savior’s atoning sacrifice

through our simple, compassionate acts of service.








April 2011 General Conference

"I believe there is one simple but profound—even sublime—principle that encompasses the entirety of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we wholeheartedly embrace this principle and make it the focus of our lives, it will purify and sanctify us so we can live once again in the presence of God.
The Savior spoke of this principle when He answered the Pharisee who asked, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
“This is the first and great commandment.
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:36–40)."


"When this pure love of Christ—or charity—envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like unto that of the Savior. He shared this desire with His Apostles on the eve of His Crucifixion. He said:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you. …
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35).
The love the Savior described is an active love. It is not manifested through large and heroic deeds but rather through simple acts of kindness and service."

"My good friend Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin talked of the power of this principle when he said: “Kindness is the essence of greatness. … [It] is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes” (“The Virtue of Kindness,”Liahona and Ensign, May 2005, 26)."




 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure” (Moroni 7:48).





1 John 4:19

 We love him, because he first loved us.




Romans 8:39

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



I am so grateful to our Savior,
our Redeemer,
our brother,
Jesus Christ.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

The Light of the World



The Lord is my alight and my bsalvation
whom shall I cfear
the Lord is the dstrength of my life; 
of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1


I know He lives.


The Lord is My Light

The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?
By day and by night his presence is near.
He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;
This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring.


The Lord is my light;
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night he leads,
He leads me along.


The Lord is my light; tho clouds may arise,
Faith, stronger than sight, looks up thru the skies
Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign.
Then how can I ever in darkness remain?


The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength.
I know in his might I’ll conquer at length.
My weakness in mercy he covers with pow’r,
And, walking by faith, I am blest ev’ry hour.


The Lord is my light, my all and in all.
There is in his sight no darkness at all.
He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King.
With Saints and with angels his praises I’ll sing.


Text: James Nicholson, 1828–1876
Music: John R. Sweney, 1837–1899




Isaiah 12:1-6


 aAnd bin that day thou shalt say, O LordcI will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord aJEHOVAH is my bstrength and my song; he also is become my csalvation.
 Therefore with ajoy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
 And in that day shall ye say, aPraise the Lordbcall upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
 aSing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

 Cry out and shout, thou ainhabitant of Zion: 
for great is the Holy One of Israel in the bmidst of thee.





The Light Divine

The light of God rests on the face
Of brook and flow’r and tree
And kindles in our happy hearts
The hope of things to be.

Father, let thy light divine

Shine on us, we pray.
Touch our eyes that we may see;
Teach us to obey.
Ours the sacred mission is
To bear thy message far.
The light of faith is in our hearts,
Truth our guiding star.

The light of faith abides within
The heart of ev’ry child;
Like buds that wait for blossoming,
It grows with radiance mild.

Today thine unseen purposes
By faith’s rare light we feel.
Dear Father, make us pure in heart;
To us thy will reveal.


Text: Matilda Watts Cahoon, 1881–1973.
Music: Mildred T. Pettit, 1895–1977, arr.