“Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious”

Alma 31:35

One evidence to me that God lives is the binding together of people after a tragedy (namely the dark night tragedy only days ago).  It is in those times that we go back to the basics and focus on the absolute most important things.  


What are people focusing on? In what I've seen, it's turning to God, and bearing one another’s burdens.  It doesn’t have to be taught as much as it is just in our nature, the nature of the pure in heart, to love and help one another.

It just so happens that loving God and loving out neighbor are, as taught by Jesus Christ, the two greatest commandments, and on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. -Matthew 22:36-40

That is what is taught, but somehow, innately, if we are trying to live life right, that is also what we know, and what we do when life brings us back to the basics.  To me, that shows the divinity of what it means to be created by God.  There is goodness all around us, and as we learn more of what the Savior taught, we can continue to keep our lives in focus (even in times not of tragedy) on the most important things.  As we focus on what the Lord would have us focus on, I testify that we can grow in the confidence that He lives, that He loves us, that we are His children, and all other truths He would have us to know.

Love, Michelle

Because of thy Son

So I am reading Alma 33 in The Book of Mormon today because in church this week we will be going over Alma 32-35. I am trying to be on top of the reading so I can get more out of the lesson.  So anyway in verse 4 the prophet Alma starts to quote the prophet Zenos.  I liked verse 4 which says:

"4 For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me."


I couldn't help but wonder what kind of situations Zenos has been in!  First he's in the wilderness, then he's being delivered from his enemies.  Just saying-- this man does not have a boring life.  Normally I just breeze through Zenos, I'm like Zenos, got it, prayer, lesson learned, moving on.  But as I took the time to look at each situation Zenos prayed, (see vs. 3-11) I felt like I had a window into the life of Zenos and also how gratefull he really is that the Lord has answered his prayers.


I also liked verse 11


"11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son."


I like how in this verse we can recognize that our Father in Heaven doesn't listen to the prayers of only "perfect people," but that He cherishes the prayers of the weak, and he cherishes our sincerity.  None of this would be possible without the Son.  What an amazing gift that His Son died for us so that through Him we can return to live the Father.


So those are some of the things that stood out to me in my scripture study today :)


~Michelle

Looking Forward

Today I was reading in Alma 32 in the Book of Mormon, and these verses stuck out to me:

"40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and withpatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."

Note the value in looking forward, which can be compared with the story of Lot and his wife when the Lord says,

 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."

I don't think there is too much I need to elaborate on, but I like the idea of looking forward with faith and how the Lord wants us to do our best to nourish his word with an eye of faith that things will work out, and that our understanding will deepen as we seek Him.  He doesn't want us to look back and mourn his guidance, but to look forward and trust that His way is the BEST way.  The best is yet to be :)

~Michelle

Another Nation

Today I was reading on the mormon.org website about The Book of Mormon. Though I have read and believed in The Book of Mormon for virtually my whole life, the idea of there being so many religions out in the world sometimes seems overwhelming to me. Not that I think there is anything wrong with people in other religions, but why would they care to believe what I believe?

So as I was reading this page, when I got to the third section "The Book of Mormon Testifies of Christ", I was reminded of a reason that the Book of Mormon is such a powerful witness to me and what makes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unique, with the value of it's wonderful truth.

The part that stood out to me was one of the purposes of the Book of Mormon. The website reads, "The title page states that the Book of Mormon’s purpose is to convince all of us "that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations."" Not only do I love that the Book of Mormon is a testament of Jesus Christ, but I love the additional witness that it is, along with the Bible, that helps me gain a deeper appreciation for and understanding of Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the WHOLE world.  This deeper appreciation is the kind that doesn't come from just being told something, but the kind that is felt deep in side as I read from the pages of the Bible and The Book of Mormon, as they witness together in beautiful harmony of the true divinity of Jesus Christ.

Yes, other people in other religions believe in Jesus Christ, and I am SOOOOO so grateful for that, because He is our Savior and He deserves all the credit we can give Him. But, does the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ have something it can offer every human being on the face of the earth?  Also Yes.  To those who don't believe in Jesus Christ, it is an additional witness-- another piece of convincing evidence that Jesus is the Christ, another chance our merciful God has given them to believe.  And to those who do already believe in Jesus Christ, it is a treasure.  Another piece to the puzzle.  A gift given to us from God to get to learn even more about Him as we get to hear additional witnesses of those in another land in another time who also gave all they had to follow the Savior, and how He helped them.

So with all the witnesses that we have in the world, I add my own.  That Jesus Christ lives.  That He loves us.  That He died for me and you.  And that as we seek Him, we will find, and our hearts will be filled with His rest, the rest of the Lord.

~Michelle