{Joyful Life: Grateful Heart}

Often times in the scriptures, Moses, Nephi, and other prophets went up in the mountains to feel close to God. There they learned great things. They learned of their potential as sons of God. They learned of His infinite power in creating the universe. Holy prophets saw angels, visions of the last days and the gospel being spread to all the earth, and even the birth, life, and Atonement of Jesus Christ Himself. For this reason, I believe that nature and mountains can be a sacred place for each of us to be taught new things that God would have us know and understand. (**Although, if we are humble and seeking we can be taught anywhere we need to be)

Last saturday, I went on a hike with my ward (congregation). We started off at around 11. The sun started to beat down on us. I quickly became very hot. My water did little to cool me down. The beautiful trail occasionally opened up to reveal breaktaking vistas of the surrounding mountains that pierced the sky, some still topped with snow. Countless pine trees stretched to reach the light emanating from the sun. As the trail steepened, my view narrowed more and more to simply trudging onward, and I became less and less observant of the beauty around me. My objectives dwindled down to making it to the top and back down for the lunch provided afterward. 

We have all heard the cliche that life is a journey, but do we ever become so focused on a distant goal that we stop enjoying the path that takes us there? What of all the beauty that surrounds us, the "small and simple things" that Heavenly Father provides for us simply because He loves us and wants us to be happy? The scriptures teach us to "...press forward, with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men..." and promise eternal life if we will do so. (2 Nephi 31:20) Pressing forward is not easy. Discipleship is not easy. It is meant to test the deepest part of our souls, every ounce of our integrity, faithfulness, courage, and determination we possess. We will only discover that strength if we are tested. But our journey does not need to be drudgery. This life is not meant to be consistent misery until we expire and return to meet God. The prophet Lehi taught, "Men are that they might have joy." Joy is one of the purposes of our creation! That joy,  that perfect brightness of hope, and love of God and of all men comes from gratitude. "A grateful heart is the catalyst of all Christlike virtues." It comes from seeing the beauty in our circumstances, as imperfect or challenging as they are. Everything that God gives us is a blessing. He wants us to have joy! "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it please God that he hath given all these things unto man...And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled save those who confess not his hand in al things, and obey not his commandments." (Doctrine and Covenants 18:21) In storms or sunlight, darkness or day, in deep sorrow or peaceful contentment, there is and always will be something to thank our Heavenly Father for. Even when trials come, if we choose to be grateful, we can have peace and joy in our hearts. The apostle Paul wrote, "In everythign give thanks, for this is the will of God." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

God also has inspired His servants to teach this doctrine today.  In October 2008, President Monson shared a few ideas in a talk called Finding Joy in the Journey. He said, 

This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now....Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings. 

Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”....May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.                                       Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we  fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed.

In closing, I pray that all of us will reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where does my spirit go when I die?

He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved."

There is power in gratitude. There is joy to be found in the simple things. There is much to thank God for. 

"Men are that they might have joy." Why? Because God loves us and because He wants it to be so. 

{CTR Always, ETTE}

"The ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, 'Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily.' ” 

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{Always Remember Him}

The word remember is recorded in holy writ nearly 500 times. God wants us to keep the most important things always in our minds, because what we remember influences so much. What we remember influences our actions, desires, understanding, and eventually what we become. The most important event in time and eternity is the voluntary sacrifice of Jesus Christ for every person that has ever or will ever lived. (we call that sacrifice the Atonement) If we remember Christ, we will grow in our faith and testimony. We will increase in our love and obedience, finding the forgiveness we need to cleanse us from sin. We come to feel in our hearts  all things will be made right by Him. We will have peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come. Remembering is the key to eternal progression. But what does it mean to always remember Him? Why do we need to always remember Him?

A few weeks ago, I was reading in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ and I noticed a pattern. The people had miracles in their lives that they could not deny. They knew from fulfilled prophecies that Christ was born in Jerusalem. They knew He would come. They believed that all their fathers taught about the Son of God coming to earth and suffering for their sins. But eventually in 3 Nephi 2 we read, "....the people began to be less and less astonished at a sign or wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all they had heard and seen." Somehow with time, when their priorities began to shift, when popularity and monetary gain became more important than a connection with God, the people forgot all that God had done to preserve them. They didn't remember times when God's love was evident in their lives, from streams of tender mercies to mighty miracles. An understanding of Christ's Atonement, the literal key to salvation itself became less and less of a focus until they lost their way. They forgot that the Son of God condescended from glory and power to willingly subject Himself to all the pain of every soul. Because of Him death would have no sting. Good permanently triumphed over evil forever and ever. They could be clean from their sins, be healed in their hearts and souls, if they would obey the gospel. And just like these people so long ago, until we remember these truths and come unto Christ, we are denying ourselves these blessings of eternal importance.  
I think something that helps me remember the Savior (something I still need to work on every day) is remembering that He never forgets me.

I know that Jesus suffered for me and that He loves me. A scripture that is dear to my heart reads, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have companssion on the son of her womb? yea they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me" (Isaiah 49:15-16) I can't imagine my mother forgetting me. Even greater than the love of a devoted parent for their child is the love Jesus has for me and for every soul, every person on earth, every child of God. No one, no matter how lost they may feel, how much they have strayed or sinned, is exempt from this divine love. It is eternal. It is perfect, unconditional, and never ending. Please if you feel you are lost, seek the Savior. He will pull you up from the depths of despair which He Himself descended below and lift you to freedom and peace. 
 I think when the Savior looks at His hands, now resurrected, immortal, and glorified and sees the marks of the nails He thinks of each of us with love. Christ Himself taught, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." If we do the things He commands, we are His friends. Because He was the Son of God, no one had the power to take His life from Him. Instead, He gave it to us. Christ humbled Himself and allowed the will of the Son to be swallowed up in the will of the Father. His love for us and desire to see us return to our heavenly home was stronger than any desire He had to shirk from incomprehensible agony and suffering. 

 
President Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles taught,
 "His mission was the Atonement. That mission was uniquely His. Born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father, He was the only one who could voluntarily lay down His life and take it up again (see John 10:14–18). The glorious consequences of His Atonement were infinite and eternal. He took the sting out of death and made temporary the grief of the grave (see 1 Corinthians 15:54–55). His responsibility for the Atonement was known even before the Creation and the Fall. Not only was it to provide for the resurrection and immortality of all humankind, but it was also to enable us to be forgiven of our sins—upon conditions established by Him. Thus His Atonement opened the way by which we could be united with Him and with our families eternally. This prospect we esteem as eternal life—the greatest gift of God to man (see D&C 14:7).
No one else could effect the Atonement. No other person, even with the greatest wealth and power, could ever save one soul—not even his own (see Matthew 19:24–26). And no other individual will be required or permitted to shed blood for the eternal salvation of another human being. Jesus did it “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10)." ("The Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ", April 2013) 

This changes everything. I love my Savior. I know He died for me and all. I know He paid the price for my sins, the pains of Hell I would have had to suffer, overcame death so that one day if I follow Him I will stand before Him and know that I am clean. I will have a resurrected, immortal body free of disease and pain.  I can live with those I love forever. There is no greater, life changing, beautiful knowledge than this. I hope and pray that all of us can find the Savior in our lives, let Him change our hearts, and live changed forevermore. Let us never forget. 
We can always remember Him. 
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
{CTR Always, ETTE}

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{When Saw We Thee?}

I have some friends who every day before they go to sleep discuss a tender mercy with each other. A tender mercy is something small and sweet that God does in our lives to help us know He is there. My spiritual highlight of yesterday really struck me even though it was one of those simple things.
I left Walmart and noticed someone standing the typical spot that homeless people do. Honestly I haven't always stopped to give them something, but this woman caught my attention. She held up a sign that said will work for food. I also noticed her swollen belly under the makeshift sign. Her plight tugged at my heart strings. I can't imagine being pregnant and homeless, worrying about where my next meal would come from at a time when I'd hope to get optimal nutrition. I had some crackers in my car and gave them to her. Then I drove off some but decided to turn around and give her a little cash from my wallet. I wished I could do more and thought about how much I taken for granted all that God has blessed me with. I've never not had all that I need. I know that He loves that woman though; He is mindful of her plight and loves her no less than He loves me. A few scriptures ran through my mind as I drove away.
"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) When we give of ourselves, who are we really serving? That child of God, loved and known of Him, and God our Father.

Mosiah 4:19-21 reads, "For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another....." Then the verses go on to discuss the evil in judging the person who begs from substance for you. I know that a merciful Father in Heaven does hear and answer every prayer. He loves us enough that He wants all of us to inherit all that He has. We ought to strive to emulate His supreme goodness and generosity if we are to become like Him. And Heavenly Father gives us so much, only for our benefit and not for a return, except the joy of seeing us grow and reach our full potentail.

One final thing really touched me. The Savior taught the parable of the Sheep and the Goats. At the last day, we will be judged and found on the right or left hand of God. He tells those found on the right hand in Matthew 25:35," For I was a hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." The righteous asked him, "Lord, when saw we thee?" And the Son of God replied, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." President Eyring has said, "When we offer succor to anyone, the Savior feels it as if we reached out to succor Him." The Savior suffered for our sins, struggles, and sorrows. He knows of our suffering and will sustain us through it. We have the blessing, if we will seek and ask the Lord for it, to reach out and help others. There is nothing that we have that does not come from God.  As we give of it freely, we will feel the Holy Ghost telling us that is right, and be filled with the love Heavenly Father and the Savior have for us and for them. We receive more than we'll ever give because we become like Christ. We have so much to grateful for and so much we can give. Pray and ask how you can help and go find someone in need: emotionally, physically, spiritually.
{CTR Always, ETTE}

 

(This is also why the Lord asks us to live the Law of the Fast. This is a way that the Lord enables all of us to help the poor)
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/is-not-this-the-fast-that-i-have-chosen?lang=eng&_r=1

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