New Years Resolutions

I have decided that 11 posts is not enough on this blog that is supposed to be like my testimony. I'm feeling a little bit pathetic in my writing here. I am really feeling bummed because during the Christmas season when my focus should be the Savior I couldn't even find time to read the scriptures and post about how it made me feel. I resolve to make more posts here during the coming year.

Last night our family started reading the Doctrine and Covenants for our family scripture study. Verse 10 of chapter 1 really caught my eye.

"Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man."

Whoa, I think about the amount of mercy that I give to my family when they do things that irritate me or when I am trying to discipline someone, yikes! I should be a lot more merciful and kind and tenderhearted. Knowing all of the screw ups that I make I should think about how I would want the Lord to be merciful to me in my weaknesses. I am going to try really hard in the coming year to think of how I would want the Lord to deal with me when I am dealing with my family or friends.

This morning I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Ether chapter 12, in verse 25 Moroni says"Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words."

I don't feel like my words are powerful, I do feel like I say them better than I write them, because the Spirit helps out a lot when I am talking. I feel like my writing is a weakness and yet I feel driven to record my thoughts about things in the hope that I may benefit someone. I certainly don't feel like I would be mocked, but I can relate to what Moroni is saying here (maybe this relation is the important part). Anyway there were a few things from my reading that I would like to share but felt to confess my weakness first :).

Verse 4:Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

When I think about the world that I am living in I sometimes get into a pattern of "stinky thinking" or in other words not having a very positive outlook on things. I am sure that the adversary has a lot to do with this. He is the only one that I can think of who would want me to have such a poor and dismal outlook. This scripture reminds me that I can hope for a better world, the Savior will come again, I know this for a surety so I will continue to see miracles all around me and hope for the better world. This hope will anchor me to Christ, who has the power to help me face all of the challenges that I will encounter while I wait for Him to come again. If I overcome my "stinky thinking" and help others I will be abounding in good works and feel the joy and happiness that Heavenly Father wants me to feel. Hooray!

Verse 6:"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Here was another good reminder for me. Trials are necessary... they are like fertilizer for our faith. My recent experiences in growing a garden have helped me understand that fertilizer is a gardener's friend. As a daughter of God I can look upon trials as opportunities for my faith to grow, then even if I cannot smile through adversity I can hope for the genuine smile of relief after the trial is over and know that my faith will be stronger.

Verse 19:"And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad."

This scripture is talking about those who believed in Christ even before He came and because they believed they were able to see Him with their eyes. I know that when He comes again I will see Him with my eyes. I wonder though if this can be applied to other things... say our children or the children that we hope to have. It seems that all things go back to this for me, it is just a huge desire and longing in my soul, so I wonder if I can see my children with an eye of faith will I ever behold them with my natural eyes? Then will I be glad? I think that I need to learn to be glad as I wait to see if this application applies.

Verse 37"And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father."

Whew... if I see my weaknesses I can be made strong. What a relief because I see my weaknesses all of the time. I think that the strength will come because I am so disgusted by my weaknesses that I try to overcome them. I know that with the Lord's help, one day I will overcome all of my weaknesses. Until that day, they will continue to drive me to my knees in repentance, begging for help to overcome.

Last one, verse 41:"And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen."

How awesome! I guess that I will continue to seek Jesus through the scriptures because having the grace of God the Father and Jesus Christ abide in me forever sounds like a really wonderful thing.