What Belief can Do

In John 14:12 Jesus taught, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” I love this scripture because it quite simply tells us what we are able to do and become if we have faith. There are many times that I do not feel like I am doing enough, or can do enough. As I remember this scripture, and pray for help the Lord does help me.

Christ was the ultimate example, he healed the sick, raised the dead, taught, served, loved, learned, and ultimately returned to our Heavenly Fathers presence. If we have faith, the Lord has promised that we shall be able to perform the same works. That means that we to can heal, teach, love, learn (I especially love this one as I am studying), and return to our Fathers presence. I am grateful for this promise and know that with faith in the Lord nothing is impossible.

Ways that we can strengthen our faith in God is by studying him and learning about his character. As we understand who God is it becomes easier to have faith in him and his gospel. I encourage you to study out who God is. One great place to start is here: https://www.lds.org/topics/god-the-father?lang=eng&old=true

How can I endure to the end?

This last week in my religion class we were talking about the Doctrine of Christ. We read together in 3 Nephi 11:32-39. After having discussed and read all these verses, my professor gave a set of scriptures to act as a second witness of Christ's Doctrine, 2 Nephi 31.

2 Nephi 31 explains the importance for faith, repentance, baptism, and the need for the Holy Ghost, but I especially loved verse 20, which reads:

 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Many times for me I feel like I have a hard time progressing. I look at the Doctrine of Christ and think, "Great so I have been baptized, received the Holy Ghost... now I just have to endure to the end, Right?" but this enduring part can be hard. I constantly find myself enduring as I am, as opposed to enduring to the end.  

As 2 Nephi teaches, we “must press forward with steadfastness”. The action of pressing forward implies that we are going somewhere, not staying stationary. The act of enduring to the end means that we continue to improve and become more like Christ. The thing that also makes this verse so great is how it tells us how to improve and endure. “having… love of God and of all men” and “feasting upon the word”.

If we will study the scriptures and look for ways to show our love through service, we will not stay stationary, but help ourselves and others continue “forward with steadfastness”. Seeking to endure to the end WILL give us eternal life, and we will not be as we are now, but we will become more Christlike.

Guidance through Faith

Ether 6:8-10

"And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind. and they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord. And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them"

I love this scripture because it reminds me that God is always looking out for us. Even though I am sure that this experience was scary, the people of Jared were optimistic and happy. As they sang and praised the Lord he guided them to the promised land. I am certain that they did remember him at every moment while they were tossed about in the sea. To me, I know that if I try to remember the Lord as I am tossed about during the day that he will bless me and guide me to where I need to go.

This scripture shows perfectly the principle of faith. As the people of Jared were in the middle of the sea, they had no clue where they were neither did they have any way to steer the barges, but they had faith that the lord was guiding them. They showed their faith through song and praise.

I love our meetings every Sunday as we get to sing and praise God. Luckily, the faith promoting experience of singing and praising the Lord doesn't have to be limited to Sunday. We can pray to God and praise him as we go throughout our everyday lives. We can read scriptures daily and we can share our faith promoting experiences with others, all with we praise the Lord!

I encourage you to praise the Lord during the week and seek to increase your faith. I know that through this the Lord will guide you.

Guidance Through Prophets

This last week in my Everlasting Gospel class, we have been discussing prophets and dispensations. Talking more about the prophets of old has led me to study more on who prophets are. In Hosea 12:10 it reads, "I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets". God not only speaks to the prophets, but by the prophets. They are how God leads his children hear on earth. This is extremely important to know that God uses others to bless his children. I know God is a loving father, and the father of our spirits. This is important to know that the Lord speaks to me, that I can receive answers to my prayers. Most of my answers that I have received have come from the words of the prophets, both ancient and modern.

There are many examples of prophets both ancient an modern that bless us. Elder Stevenson explains the importance of prophets in his video:

They gave us what is known as scriptures. Scriptures contain the word and will of God. As we study the scriptures we will draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and feel more abundantly of his love. As I said earlier, most of my answers have come through the words of prophets, by me studying the scriptures. I encourage you to come up with questions that you have, pray about them, and then study the words of the prophets. I am certain something will stand out and you can know that that answer is from God.