Words of Counsel from Alma

Alma 7:23-24:

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.

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

Gaining a testimony

In reading this scripture this morning, it reminded me of the first time it was brought to my attention. Craig Merrill, I believe in a testimony meeting, talked about it.

45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

He mentioned that people tend to think that Alma the younger was converted by his experience of having an angel appear to him. It is true that it caught his attention, but he still had to go through the same process we all do of gaining a testimony. There isn't really a shortcut. Remember that Laman and Lemuel both saw an angel and it didn't have the same effect on them as Alms's experience.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

I don't remember the last time we sang this in sacrament meeting, up until today. I really like the words. I hadn't paid much attention to them before. I especially liked the 2nd verse.

1. God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.


3. His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

4. Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

Here is some information I found that talks about this hymn and the man who wrote it.

If the Savior stood beside me.......

I saw this painting at Deseret Book a few months ago when I was looking for something for a YW lesson.

It really makes you think. Do I think of the Savior during the Sacrament as much as I would if He were actually passing it to me personally?

This 15-20 minutes are the most important in our whole week. Partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's supper allows us to repent and renew the covenants we made when we were baptized. When I first got baptized, I didn't really get it. I was so disappointed when I wasn't able to keep that sinlessness for more than an hour or two. I didn't realize that taking the sacrament with real intent each Sunday is as sanctifying to my soul as my actual baptism. They work together to help me make it back to my Father in Heaven.

The words to two different songs come to my mind when thinking on this subject. The first is:
If the Savior Stood Beside Me
Click here to see two of my daughters sing with other Young Women from our area for a General Young Women Meeting in 2007.

Here are the words:

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I often kneel to pray?
Would I listen to the Spirit's voice, and hasten to obey?
Would I count my many blessings? Would I praise Him gratefully
If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I comfort those in need?
Would I try to show the Savior's love in every word and deed?
Would I give to those who hunger? Would I serve more willingly
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

The other song I think of is "I Am a Child of God". The words originally said "teach me all that I must know". The story that circulates is that the prophet suggested to the author of the lyrics that it might be better for that line to read "teach me all that I must do." Now I have heard some say that it might be more appropriate for it to say "teach me all that I must be."

That is the purpose of life. To learn more about God and Jesus so we can know more, so we can do more, and ultimately that we can be more what He wants us to be.

In praise of sacrament meeting

First off, kudos to a great home teacher who got my laptop working on our wireless router once again!

Now onto the topic which has been on my mind for the last little while..... Church.

I love going to church. I love the feeling I get when I go. I love learning more about Jesus and Heavenly Father and their Gospel. I love meeting with people who aren't perfect but who also love God and want to learn how to serve Him and be more like Him.

In trying to find a picture that would go along with my topic, I was quite dismayed at what I found when I googled "lds sacrament meeting". There were a couple official church sites but there were also some former church members grumbling about sacrament meeting. (That's why I decided to make my post title something with sacrament meeting in it. Hopefully, it might rise to the top.

I love hymns. I love hearing different people talk about their experiences in how their understanding of the Gospel has helped them in their life. I listening to different people expound on the scriptures so that I can understand them better. I love it. How can anyone make it through a week without it? I haven't even discussed that going to church gives you the opportunity to partake of the sacrament of the Lord's atonement. This gives me the chance to start over and try to do better the next week. I love the "start over" approach the Gospel gives me.

I love church.