As we strive to live the higher laws of Jesus Christ, our hearts and our very natures begin to change. The Savior lifts us above the pull of this fallen world by blessing us with greater charity, humility, generosity, kindness, self-discipline, peace, and rest. Jesus Christ offers rest to our souls. In a busy world, we all could use a little more rest. Some people leave their faith traditions searching for happiness in the wrong places. They may think that too much is being asked of them, that the higher laws are too much work. But as President Nelson teaches, it is "more exhausting to seek happiness when you can never find it!"
I am grateful for the safety and rest of the covenant path. As President Nelson has stated, we live in a "sin-sick world" (see "A Plea to Sisters," President Russel M. Nelson, October 2015 General Conference). The challenges and temptations that my children will face as they grow up are daunting. Unprecedented. But there is always hope and peace in Christ. Because of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, I don't have to raise children in a world full of wickedness without the Iron Rod—the word of God—to help lead through the increasingly turbulent clouds of darkness (see 1 Nephi 15:24). I am grateful for the recently updated "For the Strength of Youth" guidebook, that emphasizes to youth (and to all of us) that Jesus Christ is the source of our strength. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost that can be our constant companion every day, and in every decision. What a glorious blessing that I don't want to take for granted!
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But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Prayer is very personal. It is sacred communication with deity.
In a recent "Face to Face" broadcast with the youth of the Church, President Eyring and Elder Holland shared some thoughts about how to have more meaningful prayers. One of my friends recently wrote about some of Elder Holland's suggestions in a blog post. One suggestion was: "Picture yourself literally going before the throne of God. Remember who you're talking to! Really take prayer seriously. Take time once in a while to kneel in the middle of the room, not leaning up against a chair or bed, and just kneel there for a while before starting your prayer until you feel worthy to approach the throne of God" (https://thethingswecanlearn.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/making-the-time-on-your-knees-count/). What a powerful practice! When I pray, do I remember that I am kneeling before the God of the universe--a omniscient and omnipotent being? So far, I have tried this once since the broadcast. It reminded me of the importance of being reverent and listening for spiritual promptings. Another suggestion was to make sure our minds our clear and conscious when we pray. Elder Holland explained that he and Sister Holland used to set an earlier time in the evening to say their night time prayers as a couple, so they weren't as tired during the prayer. Both of Elder Holland's suggestions are ways that we can demonstrate to God that we take prayer and revelation seriously. My most sacred experiences with prayer have occurred when I really wanted an answer. Jesus explained that the first great commandment is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37). I believe that the most meaningful prayers occur when we pray with all our hearts, souls, and minds. (This is why fasting, which constantly reminds us of our dependency on God, is so powerful.) Enos wrestled before God in prayer (Enos 1:2). Alma the younger fasted and prayed for many days (Alma 5:36). Jesus went into the mountains, where he could be free from distractions and feel closer to God, to pray (Matthew 14:23). Making my prayers more meaningful is a lifelong process. My desire is that I can come to see God as he really is and be receptive to his personal direction for me. I hope to make meaningful prayer a central part of my life and the lives of my family. And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. What does it mean to have a "broken heart?" When I think of a broken heart, I think of someone who has lost it all, someone who's dreams are shattered, someone who can't make it on his or her own. Then I think of Jesus Christ, the Master Healer. I think of Christ taking someone's broken heart and mending it piece by piece, "one by one." (See Elder David A. Bednar and Paul Cardalls' song "One by One": https://www.lds.org/new-era/2016/07/one-by-one?lang=eng.) In the end, the heart is completely restored. No cracks, no missing pieces. Whole and perfect, as if the heart had never been broken. A broken heart is the sacrifice that Christ requires in place of the Mosaic requirement of animal sacrifices. "The shedding of blood in animal sacrifices was an outward ordinance intended to remind those involved of the future sacrifice of the Son of God and of the need for the believer to offer up at the same time an inward sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit... "The 'broken heart' spoken of in the scriptures is not the sorrow one feels because he has lost a close relative or loved one or suffered some other personal disappointment in life. Rather, the broken heart spoken of in the scriptures is the natural consequence of a person’s recognizing and admitting his own sins and imperfections (https://www.lds.org/manual/aaronic-priesthood-manual-2/lesson-19-a-broken-heart-and-a-contrite-spirit). A contrite spirit is a repentant spirit--a spirit willing to put off the natural man and become a Saint. 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. Only through the atonement of Jesus Christ can I have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." To do so, I must yield to the Holy Ghost's promptings and run from the adversary's temptation. When I become like a little child, submitting my will, trust, faith, and hope to the Father.
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. How would it feel if the God of the Universe said to you, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"? I cannot think of a truth more important than the knowledge that I am God's child. While I may not hear God's verbal approval, I can know that God is pleased with me when I feel the Spirit in my life. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be with God. Near the end of his fast, Jesus went into the wilderness. With all the distractions around us, the wilderness is a place where we can feel near to God. Going into nature, we only hear and see the sounds and sights of God's creation.
The verse states that Christ was led "up" into the wilderness, suggesting he went to an area of high elevation. Since the days of Adam, prophets have gone to mountains to commune with God. Moses spoke face to face with God on a mountain. (See Moses 1:27-30.) Traveling to a high mountain is "symbolic of leaving Earth and approaching heaven itself." (See http://www.ldsphilosopher.com/blog_posts/temple-preparation-class-lesson-1/.) Despite being led by the Spirit up to the wilderness, Christ was tempted by the Devil. Even when we are trying to do the right thing--trying our very best to follow the Spirit--we will face the Devil's temptations. However, each of us has the ability to follow Christ's example and resist the temptation. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13.) And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood It's easy to over-complicate Christ's Gospel. In reality, the beauty of the Gospel comes from its simplicity. I have faith in Christ. I believe in him, learn of him, and follow him. I become his disciple. This faith leads me to change (repent) so that I can become more like him. I then take the first step on the covenant path of discipleship: baptism. This allows me to receive the Holy Ghost, a constant companion for the rest of the path. I continue to develop faith in Christ, continue to repent, weekly partake of the Sacrament, and help others on their own paths. ...the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever. The Holy Ghost has many names and many roles. When I think of his role in my life, I think of
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. The Holy Ghost brings people to Christ. That is one of his most essential roles. Christ did not come unto Simeon immediately; he had to wait for many years. When Christ was near, the Holy Ghost led Simeon to Christ at the temple. If I want to come to Christ today, I need to worship him in the temple. The temple is literally the House of the Lord, the connection between heaven and earth. As a result, I feel peace and joy in the temple.
Some words on the "consolation of Israel": "Luke’s use of the phrase “the consolation of Israel” is striking, and it is clearly to be taken in a messianic sense. Throughout their history, the people of Israel had suffered greatly, both for their own sin and because of the oppression of others. Their land was frequently overrun by foreign powers who knew the strategic significance of Palestine, which connected Africa, Europe, and Asia. They suffered under slavery in Egypt and endured the troubles of exile. In short, they were a people in desperate need of consolation and comfort—the kind of permanent comfort that could come only when the Son of David would arrive to guard them and to provide for the forgiveness of their sin. "Simeon spent his life waiting for this consolation, for the Messiah to come and redeem his people. He had been given a unique promise that he would not die before he saw the Christ—the Messiah—with his own eyes (Luke 2:25–26). When he was an old man, this promise was finally fulfilled, and he marveled at the glory of God in the face of the infant Christ. Thus, he was prepared to die and meet His Creator." (See http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/consolation-israel/.) There is interesting symbolism in Simeon seeing Christ. Jesus Christ is the life of the world. Yet, when Simeon finally had the promise of seeing Christ fulfilled, he was prepared for mortal death. The purpose of life is to prepare to meet God (see Alma 34:32). Without Christ's atonement, we would remain tarnished by sin, and would not be worthy to dwell in God's presence. Christ is the King of Kings. Yet his first mortal reign was not of powerful, glorious dominion. The Israelites may not have found a dominated war leader, but they did find the only person who could provide the permanent comfort that comes from the forgiveness of sins. I should follow Simeon's example and attend the temple regularly. I should repent daily of my sins and recieve the "consolation of Israel" in my life. |
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