Healing Waters

Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, he is very literally our Savior and Redeemer.

 The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the "good news" of Christ's sacrifice for us, giving us a path back to the Father.

On our path back to live with our Heavenly Father there are certain things that we must do. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet teaches us about the gate by which we enter to get on the path.

2 Nephi 31:17-18

17Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and ^abaptism by water; and then cometh a ^bremission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

 18And then are ye in this ^astrait and narrow ^bpath which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which ^cwitnesses of the ^dFather and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

Baptism opens the gate, beginning the road that will take us back to His presence. This covenant is a commitment we make to follow Jesus Christ throughout our lives. It symbolizes the end of our old life and the beginning of a new life as a disciple of Christ.

Even after we are baptized, we will still make mistakes, however this doesn't mean we have to get baptized again. Instead we have the opportunity to go to church where we are able to renew our covenants.

At Church we sing, pray, and discuss the gospel with the other members of the congregation and we also take the sacrament in remembrance of the Savior. At Church we participate in the sacrament by eating bread and drinking water that was prepared to symbolize the body and blood of Jesus Christ. We can take that time to meditate on how Jesus Christ can help us and think about how we can better keep the covenants we have made with Him.

’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer    

Thought it scarcely worth his while                         

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

 Myra Brooks Welch, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand,” The Gospel Messenger, Brethren Press, 26 Feb. 1921.

   Boyd K. Packer taught:

"We can even “retain a remission of [our] sins.” ²¹ Baptism by immersion is for the remission of our sins. That covenant can be renewed by partaking of the sacrament each week. ²²

The Atonement has practical, personal, everyday value; apply it in your life. It can be activated with so simple a beginning as prayer. You will not thereafter be free from trouble and mistakes but can erase the guilt through repentance and be at peace."  

 I know that through the atonement of Christ we can all be healed. Start now by taking the first step and repent. Through baptism we can be cleansed from sin. As we continue through life we can continue to repent and improve if we will just let Christ help us. We cannot overcome sin alone. It is only through faith and repentance that we can be forgiven, and when we are, we will be at peace.
 

Small and Simple Things

    Sometimes in life what we do isn't good enough. Now matter how much we do it always seems not to be enough in the eyes of the world. We burn ourselves out trying to fit in or please people, but we still feel like we have not accopmlished a thing. Doubt can be one of Satan's biggest tools against us. He want us to think that no matter what we do it is not good enough. He wants us to think that no matter how hard we try we will fail. Our loving Heavenly Father through his servants teach us differently. The prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon stated:  "Now ye may suppose that this is ^afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by ^bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." (Alma 37:6)

     President Eyring and others in this video testify of the small and simple acts of others and the great impact they had on their lives.


    President Howard W. Hunter (1907–1995) taught that people who have honest doubts can overcome them and gain a stronger faith. “I have sympathy for young men and young women when honest doubts enter their minds and they engage in the great conflict of resolving doubts. These doubts can be resolved, if they have an honest desire to know the truth, by exercising moral, spiritual, and mental effort. They will emerge from the conflict into a firmer, stronger, larger faith because of the struggle. They have gone from a simple, trusting faith, through doubt and conflict, into a solid substantial faith which ripens into testimony” (1)

     Using the example of drip irrigation, Elder Bednar explained that “with drip irrigation, applications of water are more focused and more frequent than with . . . other methods.” Similarly, “if you and I are focused and frequent in receiving consistent drops of spiritual nourishment, then gospel roots can sink deep into our soul, can become firmly established and grounded, and can produce extraordinary and delicious fruit.” If we understand this, the pattern of small and simple things has greater power. This pattern “produces firmness and steadfastness, deepening devotion, and more complete conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel.” In this way we become “increasingly steadfast and immovable” and “less prone to zealous and exaggerated spurts of spirituality followed by extended periods of slackness.” (2)

     I know that God wants us to be happy and overcome the trials that we face. I know that overcoming life's challenges is a process and takes time. As we take time to recognize the small and simple things in our lives that we do we will feel more useful in the world. We won't need to worry about what the world thinks about us. We will recognize ourselves as children of God who loves us and wants us to learn all we can here on earth. During your times of doubt and trials, take a little time to think of all the small and simiple things you are doing for others. I know that this will bring you a sense of belonging and a strength and a desire to do more.

Cleansing Effects of Fire

      Growing up I learned the importance of opposition in all things. I have learned that opposition is all around us. When you start to get on top someone decides it is time to try and knock you down. When you try to do what is right, the doors open for you to do wrong and you have to make a choice. There are things in our lives that can be used for good and bad depending on how we want to use them. For instance Fire. Fire has been a blessing to man from the beginning of time. It gives us light. It gives us a way to sustain life through warmth and cooking food. I remember sometimes during the spring we would use fire to burn grass in the ditches or the lawn, to clean any impurities from it. This would allow the water to run freely through the ditches and the grass to grow greener. Whenever I had a sliver I was taught to burn the end of a needle to clean it before useing it. So many times fire can be used for great purposes. However, in opposition to those uses come consequences if used wrongly. If we let the fire burn the grass too much it wouldn't grow back. If I touched the fire it would burn me which has no possitive effect. Careless use of fire can cause great destruction in wildlife and communtities.

                                                                              

      Recently I learned of a fire burning out of control near my home in Arizona. Supposedly the fire was started by careless campers who left their fire to go on a walk. The winds caught some embers and caused the surrounding area dry from lack of rain to catch fire. It took no time for the heavy spring winds to quickly spread the fire.

       Currently the fire has burned 339,000 arcres and has 0% containment. Over 8,000 people have been forced from homes with over 3,000 people being prepared to evacuate. There are over 2,500 people along with many pieces of machinery fighting the fire. It is crazy to think how something so useful as fire can yet be so destructive. It can be a great aid to humanity, yet it can be a great downfall. There are things in life that we must learn to control and use for the purposes they are intended for.

        There is another type of fire that is talked about in the scriptures, and that is the baptism by fire or the Holy Ghost. Just like fire, the Holy Ghost has many uses in our lives. Just like fire the Holy Ghost works in ways of opposition as well. He works in our lives according to our obedience and ways that we live our lives. Just like we must be careful when using fire we must be careful to never lose the fire of the Holy Ghost. If we follow the teachings of the scriptures and modern day prophets we will have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. So what does the Holy Ghost do for us, and what specificaly must we do to have him with us all the time?

The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, along with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is one in purpose with the Father and the Son, but is a separate being. Through Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed:(2)

  

The special mission of the Holy Ghost is to testify of the Father and the Son, to reveal the truth (Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4,5), to comfort us (John 14:26), and to sanctify us. He is a divine guide and teacher.

"Almost everyone has felt the Holy Ghost at some time. But there is a difference between experiencing the occasional influence of the Holy Ghost and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Although the Holy Ghost may temporarily comfort someone or reveal truth to them, the gift of the Holy Ghost is reserved for those who have been baptized and confirmed into Christ’s Church. This gift is the privilege of enjoying the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost conditional upon keeping the commandments.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is given when a person is confirmed a member of the Church after baptism by someone having priesthood authority from God. It is given by the person having authority laying their hands upon the head of the person who was baptized and giving them a blessing to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-18). Whether or not we then receive this great gift depends on our keeping the commandments of God."(3)

    Like fire, the Holy Ghost has a cleansing effect on us. Just like we must be careful when using fire we must be careful to never lose the fire of the Holy Ghost. When we sin the spirit is driven away from us because it cannot be in unholy places, but when we repent and live the gospel standards we feel clean and pure. I know that through repentance we can receive the fire or feelings that the Holy Ghost gives us. When we do what is right we receive feelings in our heart.
       The Scriptures Teach:

  But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your ^dbosom shall ^eburn within you; therefore, you shall ^ffeel that it is right.

  But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a ^astupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is ^bsacred save it be given you from me. (Doctrine and Covenants section 9:8-9)

      I know how much the Holy Ghost can and will help us in our lives if we will take the time to allow him to. God works in us through the Holy Ghost. As we strive to be obedient to God's commandments we can have the "burning" feelings of the Holy Ghost at all times to lead us to always make the right choices and do the right things.

Power Through The Priesthood

          When I was in the sixth grade I had an accident that helped me gain a strong testimony of the power of the Priesthood. I had just woken up from a nap and had to go feed the cows before dinner. I hopped on my bike to ride down to the barn. As I was coming around the corner there was a big pudle of water that I tried to avoid, but because of my speed my back tire slid out from under me and my handle bar hit my stomach and knocked the air out of me. After what seemed forever I got my breath back and staggered back up to the house. I laid on the couch for awhile and my mom thought I was just being a baby. She told me to go upstairs and lie down. She told me that I just needed to suck it up and I would get better. Around 11 O'clock that night my parents decided to take me to a family friend who was a doctor. He checked my stomach and thought it would be good to go to the hopital. Before we left my Father and the doctor who both held the Priesthood authority of God laid their hands on my head and gave me a Priesthood blessing.


       Now I am sure that some of you are wondering what the Priesthood authority of God is and why it is so important in the world today?
   
    (1)  The priesthood is the authority to act in God’s name. The same priesthood authority that existed in the original Church established by Jesus Christ exists in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. The Church is directed and led through this authority. All male members of the Church who are prepared receive the priesthood in order to help lead the Church and serve Heavenly Father’s children. A man with the priesthood might serve in some of the following ways:

• Leading congregations of the Church
• Performing the ordinances of the Church, such as baptism
• Blessing those who are sick

      I was one of those who was sick after having my bike reck and I was able to receive a blessing. We arrived at the hospital and they ran tests on me to see what was wrong. They found out that I had lacerated my liver. Because I lived in a small town and resources were tight I was flown to a major hospital in Phoenix Arizona. There I was put into the ICU. One night I wasn't doing very well. I had a fever and was in a lot of pain. The doctor's came in and decided that they would do surgery. They left and prepared the room for me to have surgery and returned again thirty minutes later. They decided to check me again just to make sure I needed surgery. In that thirty minute time span my liver had healed just enough to where I didn't have to have surgery. The liver is the only internal organism that heals by itself. However, I know that it wasn't just luck that kept me from having surgery, but it was the Priesthood of God that healed me. I was still kept under close watch, but was released from the hospital a few days later.  

           I know that the Priesthood authority works in the world today. God has a living prophet on the earth. The Priesthood is a blessing in our lives. through it the necessary ordinances can be performed and we can experience many miracles.