Have Ye Received His Image In Your Countenances?

Have Ye Received His Image In Your Countenances?

The other day as I was walking into the Idaho Falls temple an elderly couple, who looked like they were in their 80s, were walking out. I noticed the bright blue eyes of the man and the look of peace in his eyes and face. The woman had a gospel glow about her too. They literally radiated joy and love in their faces. I thought of them the other day when I read in Alma 5:14 - Have ye received his image in your countenances? I looked up countenance in the dictionary and it said it meant expression of the face. I thought of other times I had noticed that special glow radiating from someone's face. I think the times I have noticed it the strongest is when I've been in the presence of prophets and apostles. Then I thought, do I show that I've received his image in my countenance? I found some general authority quotes that tell me I should. Brigham Young said:

"There is not a man or woman on this earth, whose peace is made with God, and who are associated with holy beings, and seeking after holy principles, but theircountenances are lit up with a lamp of divine cheerfulness."

More recently President Faust said:

"A sacred light comes to our eyes and countenances when we have a personal bond with our loving Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior and Redeemer."

All this made me think that there's no place for us as members of the church to walk around with sour expressions and grumpy attitudes. But what if I'm not "feeling" it some days? There's an expression , "Fake it until you make it." In other words, pretend to be happy and you'll eventually feel that way. But in reality, we should be the happiest people on earth. We have the joy of the gospel and our countenances should show it - just like that wonderful elderly couple that made such an impression on me as they were walking out of the temple.

Mosiah 24:15

I really liked this verse. It says, "...they did submit cheerfully and with patience to the full will of the Lord." Christmas time provides us with so many opportunities to serve! A lot of times I find myself groaning and complaining about giving simple acts of kindness. This verse was a great reminder to give my service cheerfully. I'd like to bear my testimony of sevice and how I know it impacts my life for the better. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Alma 7:23 and 24

This is Alma the younger speaking. If you remember right, this is the same Alma who hated the church and who taught against it, leading many a stray. After repenting here he is, a missionary, teaching the truth and living the gospel. Let's see what he says. Verse 23: And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

Verse 24: And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

These are such good scriptures. They give us an example of what we should do, and how we should act. I, after reading this, have made a commitment to follow Alma's words and to try my hardest to be patient, to be thankful for all I have been given, and to be more humble. I know it is the Christmas season and we are all excited, but I challenge each of you to slow down a little and really be thankful for our Savior and for all that he does for us. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ, atoned for our sins and died on Calvary. I have a testimony that he will come again at the second coming, and that if we remain faithful we will be saved. I am so thankful for his perfect example and for the sacrifice he made for all of us. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet. I am thankful for the Aaronic preisthood which I hold and for the many blessings it brings. I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

My Soul is Pained No More

Anyone who has messed up and done something wrong, felt sick about it, and wondered if they could ever be forgiven and can take great hope from the story of Alma the younger. He did terrible things in trying to tear down church and not only was he able to repent, but he went on to be one of the great prophets of the Book of Mormon.

Mosiah chapter 27 explains how his father prayed for him and because of those prayers an angel appeared to him and told him to repent. Alma the younger felt so bad that he couldn't move or speak for two days. During that time he let the atonement work in his life. When he could speak again he said, "I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the spirit... my soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more."

I have a testimony that no matter how bad a person has sinned, if he repents the pain can be taken away and the future can again look promising. It's one of the wonderful lessons of the Book of Mormon.

2 Nephi 31:19

In this verse, it says, "...for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save." This verse really made an impression on me, because I realized that Christ really is the only reason that we have anything that we have, and he is the only reason that we are able to progress and become better in this life. We have "come thus far" by having strong faith in him, and obeying his words. It's very comforting to know that he is always there for us, and he wants us to keep getting better and better, and to do it through faith in him and obedience to his words.

Mosiah 12:8

"...except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth, yet they shall leave a record behind them..." This verse made me smile- not because people are being destroyed, but because even if you're bad, you're supposed to leave behind a record. Even if in the past you've just never quite gotten around to posting and you feel bad about it, there's still hope! Because even horrible, wicked, people are supposed to leave a record. However, I think we as a youth are a above that, and so we definitiely have the obligation of leaving a record. I'd like to bear you my testimony that this blog is testifying of the word of God, and it makes a difference when you take the time to read it and post on it. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Alma 5: 16&18

Right now in Alma, the people have decided that having just one ruler like a king is not what the Lord wants. So they have established a group of judges that will rule and judge the people in the land. Anyway, in chapter 5 of Alma, verse 16 and 18 express some things the Lord might say to us, good or bad, on judgement day.

Verse 16: I say unto you, can you imagine yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth? Verse 18: Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a rememberence of all your guilt, yea, a perfect rememberence of all your wickedness, yea, a rememberence that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?

Between those two scriptures, I want to go to heaven and be welcomed because of my good works I have done here on Earth like in verse 16, rather than going to the judgement seat with the guilt I have for not helping a neighbor in need, for not going to church one day, or for not being as nice to my siblings as I could be. I hope that is all our goal. To be on the right hand of God, and receive eternal life is the greatest gift we will ever be given. So we must hold to the rod and endour to the end. And this I leave you with, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hearts Knit Together in Unity and Love

This Sunday marks the three month anniversary of the challenge to read two pages a day in the Book of Mormon. That puts us at page 186, Mosiah, chapter 20. It's about a third of the way through the challenge.

This past week I was profoundly impressed with chapter 18 of the Book of Mosiah. Alma is baptizing new members into the church at the waters of Mormon. We read that there are about 450 souls who join the Church. That's about the size of a ward. The council Alma gives at that time applies to all wards in the church. He teaches his people in verse 8 that they should bear one another's burdens and comfort those that need comfort. Verse 21 particularly stood out to me where it says he commanded them that should have "their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another."

The image of hearts knit together is a powerful one. When I think of something that is knit, like blanket or sweater, I envision that yarn fastened together in a way can hardly be pulled apart. I love that feeling in our ward - a feeling of unity and love, with members caring for and loving one another.

Knowing Who We Are (Mosiah 5:7-12)

In these verses King Benjamin invites us to be baptized and take upon ourselves the name of Christ and have it "written always in our hearts" by keeping the commandments. I think King Benjamin was really trying to tell us how important it is to be baptized but the part that impressed me the most is the way he reminded us so many times about the name of Christ and how important it is that we have that name and remember it always. I know that whenever I have a bad day or feel sad or inadequate it is so reassuring to know that I am a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father and I think bearing the name of Jesus Christ works the same way. That is one of the distinctive qualities of our church that we are The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints, like knowing that we are children of God knowing that we are the Church of Jesus Christ gives us strength and purpose knowing that we are truly a part of the Saviors true church.

President Hinckley said,“This church does not belong to its President. Its head is the Lord Jesus Christ, whose name each of us has taken upon ourselves. We are all in this great endeavor together. We are here to assist our Father in His work and His glory. . . ."

I am so grateful for the Savior and His wonderful gospel that has been restored to the earth today and I know that is being run by the true and living prophet Thomas S. Monson. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Mosiah 6:3

King Benjamin says that he has "...appointed priests to teach the people, that thereby they might hear and know the commandmetns of God, and stir them up in remembrance..." Well, besides priests, we have so many other teachers here to help us do exactly what the verse said- learn about the commandments and help us remember why we're here. We have Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, parents, our fellow youth, and other ward members that have taught and are still teaching us these wonderful things! I'm so grateful for all my leaders and our ward in general that help me learn of the gospel.

The Strength of the Lord

Our goal is to be at page 172, Mosiah 13 by now, but if you're not that far, don't worry. I"m just glad you're reading the scriptures. Feel free to write on the blog about any scripture that has recently impressed you, whether it's from earlier in the Book of Mormon or any of the other scriptures.

I was impressed this week with Mosiah 10:10-11 where it says: "... And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle. Now the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended on their own strength."

It seems to me that, while we don't fight battles with swords and shields like the Nephites, that we face battles of a different kind all the time. It might be peer pressure or temptations or even feeling depressed or inadequate. But just like the Lord helped the Nephites win military battles, in his strength we can overcome the day to day battles we face and be victorious.