20 - Healing

This is me on December 22, 2011. I had just wrecked my bike on a busy road in Franklin, Tennessee.

Twelve days later, I looked like this—

Isn't it remarkable how quickly the human body can heal itself? For months I've reflected on this pivotal life experience. The seriousness of the injury is not what made this incident memorable; my cuts, scrapes and bruises really were rather minor. Instead, I call this experience pivotal because it deepened my understanding of the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

The Savior suffered every pain we have ever endured. The prophet Alma taught—

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. (Alma 7:11)

Physical pain is only part of the picture. Some of the most painful hues and gradients in our lives involve spiritual, mental and emotional deficiencies and damages. These wounds are often more difficult and take more time to heal. 

But they will heal. As we earnestly seek for love and mercy, help and healing, hope and motivation, the Savior through His infinite atonement will heal our broken hearts. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained—

[H]owever late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines. [T]here is nothing...that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized.

MORE ONLINE
Where Can I Turn for Peace?, Hymns #129
The Merciful Obtain Mercy, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality, Elder David A. Bednar

Inspirational Thoughts

 

Notes, Part II

For one hour each morning at 8 a.m. I study the gospel of Jesus Christ. My greatest resources—or friends—for this period of study are the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, a manual written by living prophets and apostles and directed toward full-time missionaries like me. Following are some things I've learned during these precious hours of study.

Some Thoughts about Charity — February 9, 2012

Jesus Christ is our perfect exemplar of charity

1. Charity is the pure love of Christ (see Moroni 7:47)
2. Charity is a gift from God. We must actually pray for charity in order to receive it (see Moroni 7:48)
3. Charity can prevent sin (see 1 Peter 4:8, especially footnote a)
4. Charity means desiring others' salvation (see Mosiah 28:3)
5. Charity includes acts of love that may make us uncomfortable—offering constructive correction, receiving constructive (or even hurtful) correction, allowing ourselves to take a supporting role so somebody else can shine, praising others who may not reciprocate praise, choosing to lead when you are inclined to follow, choosing to follow when you are inclined to lead, choosing to walk beside somebody who needs a friend, extending a friendly hand instead of an undesired push or pull, boldly declaring testimony of Christ, boldly inviting others to change

MORE ONLINE
The Laborers in the Vineyard, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
The Merciful Obtain Mercy, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Charity Never Faileth, President Thomas S. Monson

19 - Repentance

People fear what they do not understand.

I used to fear eating mushrooms before I discovered how wonderful they taste. I used to fear public speaking until I tried it—then I actually enjoyed it!

I used to fear repentance. I'm not alone in this. The very word seems to evoke images of guilt and suffering and anguish.

It shouldn't be that way. Repentance is wonderful. I've come to identify the word with another word I used to fear but now embrace: change. Isn't it amazing that we can choose at any moment to turn our lives around? And isn't it amazing that with concerted effort and a determined resolve to rely on the Lord we can actually change?

The Bible Dictionary identifies repentance with another word I love: fresh. Its description of repentance reads—

[D]enotes a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world.

Rather than inspiring feelings of fear, repentance should cause us to feel joy. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said—

[O]nly through repentance do we gain access to the atoning grace of Jesus Christ and salvation. Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration.

Because of the Savior's atonement, I can change and so can you. Change can happen in an instant.

And that's something to smile about.

MORE ONLINE
The Divine Gift of Repentance, Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Cleansing the Inner Vessel, President Boyd K. Packer
The Miracle of the Atonement, Elder C. Scott Grow

18 - General Conference

God is not a silent observer in some faraway mystical land. He is involved in the very details of our lives. He speaks today to living prophets and apostles, just as He did anciently.

One of the great truths I cherish is that there are living prophets and apostles to guide me through the ills of modern society. I cannot imagine getting by without their inspired counsel. Life is far too confusing and complicated without the gospel, and prophets and apostles are called by God to teach the gospel according to our needs and circumstances. Wise and true and righteous as Moses and Isaiah were, they did not deal with Facebook and Twitter and television. God's commandments do not change but circumstances do. Much like an anchor holds down a ship in stormy weather, unchanging doctrine taught by living prophets and apostles acts to anchor our souls to truth in the whirlwind of trends, fads, gossip, perceptions and chaos that surrounds us.

Every six months living prophets and apostles teach truths in a worldwide broadcast known as General Conference. The most recent General Conference occurred last weekend. You can learn what these inspired leaders taught by visiting lds.org. In coming weeks and months I will write about their counsel on this blog.

Thomas S. Monson, who leads The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, is called of God to be a prophet. Fourteen other men are similarly called as special witnesses of Jesus Christ. I know this is true. Should you desire to know this for yourself, ask God in sincere prayer. He will answer.

MORE ONLINE
Why Do We Need Prophets?, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
An Ensign to the Nations, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?, Heidi S. Swinton