Tuesday, December 30, 2014

New Years resolutions

  • Resolve to spend more time with those we love.
  • Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be.
  • Resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.
It is my testimony that many of the deepest regrets of tomorrow can be prevented by following the Savior today.

Of Regrets and Resolutions by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf


See that you serve Him with all your heart

So for the new year I have decided to study a subject from cover to cover in the Book of Mormon.

Yesterday I was listening to an awesome talk on marriage and the speaker said that there are over 400 references to heart in the Book of Mormon. I decided that that would be our first study as a family.

We found 3 references in the first chapter of Nephi already.

1 Nephi 1:1 Nephi talks about his "many afflictions" but yet how blessed he is from the Lord. He was blessed to know the mysteries of God and the Goodness of God. This said "Grateful Heart" to me. I was also studying for my young women's lesson today and this reminded me of a really great question in one of the talk.

"Do you remember the first time you knew there was a God and could feel His love?" 

Robert D. Hales, “Eternal Life—to Know Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 80–82

 This is where I talk about the answer to this question for me

1 Nephi 1:5 Lehi prayed with all his heart- I asked myself 2 questions.

1. Have I ever prayed with all my heart? The answer was yes when I really wanted something or when I was hurting. The second question was

2. How can I increase the amount I pray with all my heart? This reminded me of one of my goals for this year to have a kneeling morning and night personal prayer. Kneeling helps me focus on what I am doing and not get distracted. It also helps me to pray more earnestly and with all my heart. I am also going to try to pray my gratitude with all my heart not just my needs and wants.
Yesterday, a day I have prayed for with all my heart for 7 years finally came, and I was able to work my last day out of the home since 2007. It was a good day and on my way home I prayed with all my heart sincere gratitude for the deliverance and goodness of God in my life that he would bless me to be home again with my children and serve them full time.

1 Nephi 1:15 Lehi's heart was filled with rejoicing in the Goodness of God

Last night on my way home from my last shift in 7 years my heart was filled with gratitude that I could finally quit working outside of the home. That God, as He had promised when I felt commanded to return to work, had provided a deliverance and given me a way to come home. It seemed like the day would never come many times over the last 7 years. But I realized  that God had carried me through His command to work and blessed me all along. God is good to me!

Loved this as a parting testimony from Elder Holland

"I testify that my witness of these things is true and that the heavens are open to all who seek the same confirmation. Through the Holy Spirit of Truth, may we all know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent"

Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 40–42

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Wisemen

 Wisemen

 


"May we give as the Savior gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift. We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given. May we also give gifts that have eternal value, along with our gifts that eventually break or are forgotten. How much better the world would be if we all gave gifts of understanding and compassion, of service and friendship, of kindness and gentleness."
—Thomas S. Monson, "The Real Joy of Christmas"

Friday, December 19, 2014

Mary- Ponder in your heart

Mary

By word and deed, Mary, the mother of Jesus, teaches us some significant virtues of a true disciple.

Little of Mary’s life is recorded in the scriptures. But what is recorded shows that Mary (1) faithfully obeyed the word of God, (2) expressed joy for God’s blessings, (3) received God’s witness and counsel from his servants, and (4) had a posterity who glorified God. In the life of Mary, we find a pattern of righteousness for all Saints to follow. Mary, His Mother By Susan Easton Black

Luke 1:26-56, Luke 2:5-7, 19

 

 

Mary's life from the Scriptures



Mary's Lullaby Children's Song book pg 44

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Emmanuel-#sharethegift

Emmanuel or Immanuel

One of the names for Jesus Christ. It comes from words in Hebrew that mean “God with us.”

Immanuel is a name-title given as a sign of God’s deliverance (Isa. 7:14). Isaiah’s reference to Immanuel is specifically identified by Matthew as a prophecy of Jesus’ birth into mortality (Matt. 1:18–25). The name also appears in latter-day scripture (2 Ne. 17:14; 18:8; D&C 128:22).


 

The Gospel of Matthew shows that God had not abandoned His people, Israel. Matthew referred to the Son of God as Emmanuel, or “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). The Savior’s actions, teachings, and miracles illustrate that God was with the people of Israel and had sent them His Son. Matthew concluded his Gospel with the promise Jesus gave His disciples: “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).  Chapter 2: Matthew 1–4 New Testament Student Manual, 2014

Jesus Christ the creator of the world came down to earth in a stable to be with us.
We went to Temple square this week and I have been thinking about the wonderful blessing that this image portrays so dramatically. The Christus behind with the creations of the worlds without end showing us the God that created the earth and him coming down to be in a stable with the nativity in front. What a joy it is to have God With Us.

I love the way Nephi talks about God with Us and calls it the condescension of God. 1 Nephi 11



I have felt the love of the Savior this week and been carried when things were hard and felt joy beyond words. God is truly with us, both then and now!!

Friday, December 12, 2014

Redeemer-#sharethegift #heisthegift

Redeemer 

Alma 11:40–41

Jesus Christ is the great Redeemer of mankind because he, through his atonement, paid the price for the sins of mankind and made possible the resurrection of all people.

 

 " I testify that except for the Atonement of the Holy Redeemer, the demands of justice would prevent every soul born on earth from returning to the presence of God, to partake of His glory and exaltation, 8 for all make mistakes for which we cannot personally appease justice."  Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer Richard G. Scott

Names of Christ Christmas gift


Thursday, December 11, 2014

King of Israel-#sharethegift #heisthegift

King of Israel 

New Testament

John 12:13

Old Testament

 

In an act of great selfishness and pride, the people refused to obey the Lord and his prophet. They wanted to be like everyone else. They wanted a king the world could admire rather than the unseen King who could only be known by faith. “Hearken unto their voice,” said the Lord to Samuel, “and make them a king” (1 Sam. 8:22). A King for Israel By Peggy Furniss Lee

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Prince of Peace-#ShareTheGift

Prince of Peace

In the scriptures, peace can mean either freedom from conflict and turmoil or the inner calm and comfort born of the Spirit that God gives to his faithful Saints.

John 14:27

 


"My message tonight pertains to the only source of true and lasting peace, Jesus the Christ—our Prince of Peace.. . . He can bring peace to those whose lives have been ravaged by war.. . . Peace can come to those who are not feeling well. Some bodies are wounded. Others ache spiritually because of missing loved ones or other emotional trauma. Brothers and sisters, peace can come to your soul as you build faith in the Prince of Peace.. . . . Peace can come to one who suffers in sorrow. Whether sorrow stems from a mistake or a sin, all the Lord requires is real repentance. Scripture pleads with us to “flee [from] youthful lusts; … [and] call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Then His soothing “balm in Gilead” can heal even a sin-sick soul.. . . Peace can come to those who mourn. The Lord said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”22 As we endure the passing of a loved one, we can be filled with the peace of the Lord through the whisperings of the Spirit.. . . . Peace can come to all who earnestly seek the Prince of Peace. His is the sweet and saving message our missionaries take throughout the world.. . . Peace can come to all who choose to walk in the ways of the Master. His invitation is expressed in three loving words: “Come, follow me.” Jesus the Christ-Our Prince of Peace By Elder Russell M. Nelson



 

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “The ideal place for … peace is within the walls of our own homes, where we have done all we can to make the Lord Jesus Christ the centerpiece.”3




Monday, December 8, 2014

Mediator-#sharethegift #heisthegift

Mediator

 

"There is a Redeemer, a Mediator, who stands both willing and able to appease the demands of justice and extend mercy to those who are penitent, for “He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.” (2 Ne. 2:7.)" The Mediator by Elder Boyd K Packer

Friday, December 5, 2014

Messiah-#sharethegift

Messiah

A form of an Aramaic and Hebrew word meaning “the anointed.” In the New Testament Jesus is called the Christ, which is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. It means the anointed Prophet, Priest, King, and Deliverer whose coming the Jews were eagerly expecting.

Many Jews were looking only for a deliverer from the Roman power and for a greater national prosperity; thus, when the Messiah came, the leaders and many others rejected him. Only the humble and faithful were able to see in Jesus of Nazareth the true Christ



"He pronounced: “Yea, verily … , if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive.” 3 His promise invites us not only to reach towards Him but also to take the all-important next step: to come unto Him.

This is such a motivating, cheering doctrine. The Messiah extends His arm of mercy to us, always eager to receive us—if we choose to come to Him. When we do come to the Savior with “full purpose of heart,” 4 we will feel His loving touch in the most personal ways."
To Look, Reach, and Come unto Christ  Anne C. Pingree

"We celebrate the birth of the Son of God, the Creator, our Messiah. We rejoice that the King of kings came to earth, was born in a manger, and lived a perfect life. When Jesus was born, the joy in heaven was so great it could not be contained, and angelic hosts parted the veil, proclaiming unto shepherds “good tidings of great joy, . . . praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”3

  . . . .  It is only fitting that we—like the Wise Men, shepherds, and angels—take time to rejoice and celebrate that glorious first Christmas Day." 
Seeing Christmas through New Eyes  Dieter F. Uchtdorf

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/1996-06-04-lesson-6-new-testament-customs-anointed-one?lang=eng




Activity for the kids

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Jehovah-#ShareTheGift

Jehovah

Jehovah was the premortal name-title given to the Firstborn Son of God. He is now referred to as Jesus Christ. The meaning of the name Jehovah was explained by Elder Talmage:
Jehovah is the Anglicized rendering of the Hebrew, Yahveh or Jahveh, signifying the Self-existent One, or The Eternal. This name is generally rendered in our English version of the Old Testament as Lord printed in capitals. The Hebrew, Ehyeh, signifying I Am, is related in meaning and through derivation with the term Yahveh or Jehovah.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 36.)


 
#ShareTheGift



"As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3)."

Jehovah and the Wonderful Plan of Our Heavenly Father By Diane L. Mangum

Coloring Page
Heavenly Father said that for His plan to work, someone needed to go to earth to help us learn how to get back to heaven.

Someone needed to show us how to follow Heavenly Father. Who was obedient enough to do it?

Someone needed to atone for our sins so we could repent when we made mistakes. Who was good enough to do it?

Someone needed to die and be resurrected so we could all be resurrected and return to heaven. Who was brave enough and loving enough to do it?

Was anyone willing to do all this for us?

One person was. Our oldest brother, Jehovah, said, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27).
How we loved Him for that.

When Jehovah came to earth, He was our Savior. He was called Jesus Christ.