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!