Start by believing in Christ....

Is it just me or does it seem like the ending of every book in the Book of Mormon end with a bang!  I'm pretty sure all of my favorite scriptures land in the ending of each book.  They are so blunt but sooooo powerful!  I just finished 2 Nephi and I love how simply he explains the Gospel! He talks about baptism and how it is the first step to reaching Eternal Exaltation.  He talks about how Angels speak through the Holy Ghost and speak the words of Christ.  "Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."

He also mentions 5 main reasons of the Book of Mormon

• Persuadeth them to do good
• Maketh known unto them of there fathers
• Speaks of Jesus and teaches us to believe in him
• And teaches us to endure to the end  

I also love the Simplicity of Vs. 10-11 in chapter 33

"Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ.  And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ!"  "And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye-for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words at the last day."

Simply start by believing in Christ and He will show unto you the truthfulness of this Gospel.  

Simple reminder :D

Wow, I must say it has been quite some time since I last posted!  Unfortunately moving home, looking for a job and planning a wedding took up 99.9% of my time.  Moving home from Texas felt like what I imagine coming home from a mission would feel like.  I new with all the new changes my spiritual high would fade away.  I know it's fully my choice how much effort I put into the small and simple things that lead to those spiritual highs, but I just knew things were going to be hectic.  I can't say I didn't have time because I found time in Texas when I was working over 40 hrs a week and hanging out constantly.  But I think I have a good excuse being a newlywed and enjoying every second Craig and I have together. :)  Every day I miss Texas and the growth that took place there.  As I SLOWLY :/ read the Book of Mormon I amaze myself at the stuff I wrote the last two times I read it.  I'm amazed at the things I connected and realized.  I miss being that focused and I'm trying HARD to get back into the swing of things.  I know it's going to take a while though because even in Texas when I only had myself to focus on it took about 4 months to really get focused and decide that I wanted to dedicate a lot more of my time to reading the Book of Mormon.

Like I said I'm SLOWLY reading it again and at this rate it will take me probably 2 years to read when the last two times took me 2 and 5 months.  As I read tonight though (really trying to focus) I felt that spark of excitement again.  :D  I love whenever I read the Book of Mormon I not only read what it is saying but automatically start feeling a stronger love towards family and friends who have inspired me through out the years.  I swear every time I soak myself in when I read, I constantly have thoughts of people who are examples in my life and I want to write each one of them a message on Facebook.  It is such a powerful book that can truly bring peace in a storm.

A scripture I read tonight that really jumped out to me is in 2 Nephi 10....

VS 20 "Let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are upon an isle of the sea."

VS 21 " But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea"

VS 23 "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."

I love that scripture because not only does it remind us of our agency but it reminds us that we may have to give up some things but he will always bless us in return!  What a sweet simple reminder!! :)

Grace and Mercy

Mercy-"Our Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses and sins.  He shows mercy when He forgives us of our sins and helps us return to dwell in His presence.  Such compassion may seem to conflict with the law of justice, which requires that no unclean thing be permitted to dwell with God.  But the Atonement of Jesus Christ made it possible for God to "be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."  True to the Faith

Grace- "Because of the Fall, everyone will experience temporal death.  Through grace, made available by the Savior's atoning sacrifice, all people will be resurrected and receive immortality.  But resurrection alone does not qualify us for eternal life in the presence of God.  Our sins make us unclean and unfit to dwell in God's presence, but we need His grace to purify and perfect us "after all we can do." True to the Faith 

I've thought a lot about these two words lately.  Now I know the LDS religion doesn't believe that we are fully saved by grace but I do know that a huge part of our religion is based of that which is the Atonement.  I am relieved to know that God has provided a way for us to be saved.  But I am also grateful that he hasn't just made it simple for us to just rely on Christ to be saved but we must put in an effort as well.  Like it says above we need His grace to purify and perfect us AFTER ALL WE CAN DO.  Some days I get so caught up in negativity thinking of all the things I've done wrong or things I should be doing more of that I feel overwhelmed.  But I've realized that my intentions are good and if I just try each day to do the best that I can  that in the end if I have faith I will be saved by Grace because I tried my best to make it through this life.  

1 Nephi 1:20  "...But behold, I, Nephi will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

Alma 58:11 "...The Lord God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him."

So grateful for this Gospel in my life!   

Firm Foundation

So I've decided to take on the New Testament.  As I read the Book Of Mormon just this last time, I really loved in 3 Nephi where Christ comes to the Americas.  It made me want to read more about Christ and really get to know him and his stories and all the miracles he performed.

I was reading in St. Mark 4 and I really like the parable it talks about.  It's the parable of the sower and it lists 3 different types of situation.

1. Some seeds fell upon stony places and sprung right up but had no depth into the earth (roots.)  So when the sun would come up, they were scorched.


2. Some fell among thorns where when they sprung up they were choked and yielded no fruit.


3. Others fell on good ground that sprang up and yielded fruit.

So in this story he is comparing those situations to us (people.)

1. Some of us fall upon stony ground and don't really allow roots to grow so when temptation, trial and hardships come we are easily affected by them.


2. When we get caught up in the cares of the world we are "choked" so to say and can't really progress.


3. When we do all that we can we can allow roots to grow so we can hold ourselves up in hard times and cont. to progress.

When I read this parable I thought a lot about it and what kind of ground I'm on.  A thought came to mind of how my parents have set such a firm foundation for me, that I need to continue to do all I can do to stay on that firm ground.  I've had experiences in life where I feel like I've been living on "stony" ground where I've lost the roots that my parents planted.  Fortunately, because of those experiences I've been able to find my own solid ground and plant deep roots in hope that when trials come they will be strong enough to hold me down and continue to bring forth "good fruit."