The Joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

   Last month my comanion and I were invited to speak at a chruch youth conference entitled, Especially For Youth. we were asked to help teach the youth how they can have more experiences sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with their friends and those they meet.

  We had a wonderful experience and loved having the opportunity to hear these teens share amazing stories and experiences where they had been able to defend, stand up and invite others to learn more about what they believe.

  As I heard their stories I was reminded of a scripture in the Book of Mormon, in 3rd Nephi 12:16;

 16 Therefore let your ^alight so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and ^bglorify your Father who is in heaven.

I know that this is God's work. And that we are His children and he wants us to be a light and example to others. Sharing the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known. I know that when we let our hands become His hands we experience greater joy as we seek to lift and build others.

We met so many counselors that had their paper work in to go and serve missions or were getting ready to go and we even met a girl who had been home for 7 months from her mission. They had so much light and were so excited and ready to serve and be "Sister Missionaries!"

I am so amazed and so thankful that God calls on us at this time in our lives, for the courage and example that all these women have to go out and serve the Lord and live the joy of the gospel for themselves as they lift and testify to others of the divinity and reality of Jesus Christ.

  

I am just so amazed at the faith of the rising generation, their faith just gets stronger and stronger. So many young girls came up after the activity and took pictures with us and expressed so much desire to serve and share the gospel with their friend.

I was like, "wow, I definitely don't remember having so much courgae and determination at their age. It was just so cool to see.

Awhile back I recieved a message on facebook from an amazing young woman in our ward. (I want to grow up to be just like her).

Sister Bishop,

I know you probably won't remember this, but it has been on my mind for months. Back in February, we had New Beginnings and when I was at your station you asked me what my favorite YW value was. I told you it was Faith but couldn't explain why. Ever since that time it has bothered me. I've been trying to figure out within myself why faith really is so important. I guess it's one of those things I've been taught my whole life, but never took the time to find out on my own. So, after months of prayer and pondering here is my delayed answer to your question. Faith is my favorite because it is the foundation for everything else in the gospel. It is faith in Jesus Christ that influences my actions every day of my life. Without it, I would be lost. I've been reading the book, Jesus the Christ, and as I learn of His example, it is Faith that He is the Son of God that allows me to turn to those teachings for guidance. I have Faith that keeping the commandments will bring forth blessings, even though I often can't see the results of my actions immediately. One of my favorite hymns is "I Believe in Christ" and this line is one of my favorites: "I Believe in Christ, So come what may. With Him I'll stand in that great day." As I face the trials of life, it is Faith that we can one day return to our home in Heaven that encourages me to try to stay strong. I know that my Savior lives with all my heart and that if I put my trust in Him, He will lead. Faith is what has led me to know this, and what has given me the desire to go on a mission and share the message of the gospel with others. I know that was kind of long, but I just had to share this with you so I could finally get it off my mind. I guess I'm in some ways Im a perfectionist (although I'm far from being perfect) so this would bother me for a long time if I never answered your question... :)

It is people like my friend here that I know God's work will continue to grow, and more and more people will be come to know the love of the Savior because of their faith and desire to serve the Lord.

The Errands of Angels: Erasers and Repentance

I loved this thought with the start of the coming school year. Repentance is such a happy thing. It makes me think that through daily repentance we can get an A+ in our journey of life this year :). So keep your pencils sharp (through daily prayer) and erasers ready! (with daily repentance).


The Errands of Angels: Erasers and Repentance:   With school starting I really like this thought about repentance. At the beginning of each school year each student is given an eraser to ...

"Feasting Upon the Words of Christ..."

  Lately I have been thinking so much about the power that comes to us from the scriptures.  So many times, day after day I see how the Book of Mormon changes people. They become happier, more at peace, gentle, and most importantly, I get to see their love for the Savior increase.

In the Book of Mormon there is a scripture that reads:

  7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves,

 for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them

as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance which faith and repentance bringeth a ^achange of heart unto them—

  8 Therefore, as many as have come to this,

 ye know of yourselves are ^afirm and steadfast

 in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they

 have been made free.



I know that through the power of God's word we are truly made free. We can be delivered from temptation and sin, and be able to direct well our course here in mortality. They will change us to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ, and we can truly feel the joy and strength from the gospel in our everyday lives.

SO GET CAUGHT READING!

The study of the scriputes has been a quiet peace that has been a needed anchor to my soul. They have strengthened and lifted my family.  I know each of you can experience the same.

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a ^asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of ^bhope, and a ^clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and ^dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have ^eeternal life."- (2Nephi 31: 20)

"Come unto Christ and Be Perfected in Him..."

Over the course of my mission so far, I have realized there is such a special feeling being at a baptism and witnessing their determination to follow Christ.
 I have often reflected on what it is that makes these events so special.

  This past weekend we were able to see two Burmese children make that special promise with their Heavenly Father. I thought to a previous night when we had taught them about following Jesus Christ  and asked each of them why they wanted to be baptized. The boy answered, "So I can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost." And the girl answered, "So I can return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ one day."

  And here they were, dressed in white and ready to be baptized!

 Over the past month and a half we had taught them how to pray, and this past week they would take our nametags and teach us all about how God calls prophets. They had learned so much and LOVED IT in a way that I admired. With whatever they learned they would practice and review all week. They would even have their dad pretend to be the student and they would pretend to be missionaries and teach him.



As they each got ready to enter the water I was reminded of a scripture;

 

"And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."

I know that there is so much power in the promises we make with our Heavenly Father. I know that He always keeps His promises. As we enter in and strive our whole lives to keep our promise, or covenant to Him, I know the blessings of God can be each of ours, and our eternal hopes will be realized.
   In The Book of Mormon, Jesus teaches the people and us the importance of these things, He says;

  " And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

   Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day." (3 Nephi 27:19-20)

I love this scripture because it encompasses the hope of these two children that my companion and I have grown to love. It is my hope I can be more like them, filled with the bright hope and faith of Christ and a determination to follow Him.

Choose the Right

Lets face it. We live in a world of increasing complexity. How thankful I am for clarity and direction that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings into my life.

It is meant to be Black and White.

Wrong and Right

When everything seems grey and unclear

and before you turn to fear

Ask yourself: 

When you are faced with a choice or want to know whether something is good or evil, you can ask yourself, “Does it invite me to do good? Will it strengthen my faith in Christ?”

Moroni 7:15-17

Indeed we can with confidence,

 CHOOSE THE RIGHT

Testimony of a Prophet

  Recently my companion and I have had the opportunity to teach several Burmese children about Jesus Christ and His Gospel at their parents' invitation and request.

   We have really enjoyed our time with them. This past week we talked about the role of Prophets in leading us to Jesus Christ. 

It was such a joy to share with them that God continues to call prophets today starting with Joseph Smith. 

 In my life I have gained a personal conviction that God and Jesus Christ really did appear to Joseph at the tender age of 14 in answer to a humble prayer of which Church was Christ's church.

   I know that Christ answered Him that he should join none but was to be an instrument in Christ's restoration of His Primitive church that He had established anciently.

   This knowledge of prophets today strengthens my faith of God and Jesus Christ's love for us. That God is the same yesterday, today and forever and will never leave us without clear guidance and direction.

  

 I am so thankful for the Prophet Joseph Smith, for bringing forth the Book of Mormon through the gift and power of God, and his role in restoring Christ's church to the earth once more.

In one of my favorite hymns called "Praise to the Man" the lyrics of the first verse are;

"Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!

Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.

 Blessed to open the last dispensation,

Kings shall extol him and nations revere."

Can People Change?

So the other day my companion and I found ourselves in the apartment of a member of the church that had been struggling and had not been to church in a long time. Of course we were there to find out why and to see if there was anything we could do.
   As we spoke with him and asked questions we discovered the things weighing on his soul were grave indeed.
  He was discouraged as he felt in his 5 years of being a member that people cannot really change. That they will always revert back to their original nature. Sure it may be possible for a short while, but as philosophy often advocates we are what we are and we cannot TRULY change,
 (what a condemning thought, or at least severely depressing).
   We didn't know what to say, but we set up a time to meet with him at a later day expressing that we had faith in him and wanted to discuss further even though he expressed that he did not desire to waste our time.
   As my companion and I discussed this morning, we knew that change was possible, lasting change, we had seen it in our own lives. But how to convey that to a friend with little hope and struggling faith we were not sure.
   As we studied and prayed we came the the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

  President David O. McKay summarized power and purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this simple phrase:

"The purpose of the gospel is...to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature."

I have learned on my mission more than ever that the Atonement is how we apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ and obtain the change spoken of by President David O. McKay.

   The purpose and point to life is to CHANGE. My companion, Sister V. said it perfectly, "If people cannot change then there would have never been an Atonement."

 Our friend did have one thing right. We have limited capacities in our own abilities to change and "to put off the natural man." It does not make sense that a person could seek to become more divine in their predisposed nature without divine help.

   I want to share with you that I know that is why Jesus Christ sent His Son as Sister V. previously mentioned.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"(John 3:16)

In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin explains:

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father" (Mosiah 3:19)

I know that the reason we are here is to learn grow, become and to change our vary natures to be more like Jesus Christ that we may one day abide His glory and live with God forever. How thankful am for the hope and peace this knowledge gives to me. I know that is our message of hope to the world. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.