Believing Christ

 "16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:

 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."

Ezekiel 37

The stick of Judah    and    the stick of Joseph 

"shall become one in thine hand"

 

I would like to explain today, how these two books have greatly impacted my life as they have become one in my hands. 

When I was 18 turning 19 I read the book of Mormon through fully for the first time ever. It was an experience I will remember for ever. It wasn't a glorious experience. It was actually very simple. I can still remember some very key words and sentences that opened my heart to ask and to receive a witness that this book is true. 

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

my heart was pierced by something new, something that felt familiar. It was warmth, it was comfort, it was peace. 

As I read these few verses tears slipped slowly from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks as I felt the powerful confirming witness that these words were true. 

After that I set aside the book, it was kind of like "cool, I read it through in through. Now I don't have to read it for a while." That warmth I felt faded and once in a while I would read a verse here and there, but nothing to keep my faith growing. 

A few years passed and I picked it up again, a friend had challenged me to read it in 2 months. However, I am a slow reader and it took me six. As I read it, I focused on the God head and the atonement. My life was changing. I was learning to apply the teachings. A few months into my mission I finished it. My heart again, was filled with warmth. and a smile was on my face. Only this time, it was different. I didn't set the book aside and move on, I continued studying from it. By topic. By chapter, here a verse there a verse. 

Then I realized after having a lot of bible questions asked that I couldn't answer that I was only educated in one stick. That I needed to further my knowledge I began to read the New testament from the beginning. I am still reading it. ALMOST FINISHED! As I read and study from the Bible... I see the reality of Jesus Christ, I gain a witness of his ability to heal, to strengthen, and to forgive. It shows me that I can be healed. That I can arise and walk even if I feel like I can't. 

The book of Mormon as I read them side by side through in through, has become the how, the application. I know Christ can do these things, He did this for the people of old... But how does he do this for me personally, here and now? 

How do I continually access his power? How can I be made whole each day? How can I personally be forgiven? I make a lot of mistakes... How can I BE WORTHY TO LIVE WITH GOD FOR EVER?? I alone will never be worthy. None of us will. Except if we repent daily, sincere true repentance. We must accept Christ accept that he is and that he has the power to forgive. It is so important that we humble ourselves and continually REPENT. In the book of Mormon many people become prideful, caught up in vain ambitions, and sins of the world, they cut them selves off and distance themselves from God. How often do I do these things!? More often than I would like to admit. They become a wicked people as they stop following God. They worship worldly material and lose sight of God. Then they are compelled and brought to humility time and time again. Through the atonement they are forgiven and given opportunity after opportunity to make things right. To return to God and to change.

 

This blog was inspired by a meeting we had a few days ago where we were asked "How does the book of Mormon help your testimony of Jesus Christ?"

 

I reflected on that question for a full day. At first I was frustrated. I knew it had helped but I couldn't think specifically.. how.

So I started to think of stories from both the Bible and the book of Mormon.  I thought of some stories from the bible first. One in particular. The one where Christ heals a man on the sabbath.      

This man waited 38 years to be healed. He truly was seeking for that help in his life. He watched as many people enter the waters to be made whole as he couldn't get him self there on his own he had to continue in waiting for divine help. I pictured myself in this story, as I anxiously await the Saviors healing power in my life. So many times in the Bible you hear "thy faith hath made thee whole"... "Arise, take up thy bed and walk"... "Be thou whole.." "Thy sins are forgiven thee" so on and so forth... At times I feel like this poor man. Just waiting to be made whole. I pictured myself sitting at the Saviors feet as He kindly crouched down asking what I was at the pool for. He asked if I had the faith to be made whole. OF COURSE! PLEASE HEAL ME. I pictured him saying "I will not that thou should be made whole, however, rise, take up thy bed and I will help you to carry it" He doesn't always remove the pain or the rough patch, and I often wonder why? As I have asked many times the why of my situations I always feel I need to be more patient or I need to try harder. This time as I asked the "why" I felt something different. I have been told this story of Saul who becomes Paul before, it became an answer to my prayers:

"7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 It's not always the right timing. Or the will of God to make us whole. This has been a rough trial for me knowing that I could become perfectly healthy at any given moment. BUT WHEN, or will it ever happen?" 2 Corinthians 12

(Our thorns in the flesh)

The thorn could be removed from me, however, this pain this thorn of mine has become a constant reminder to always receive strength from Christ, it has taught me to remain close to him, to keep him with me always. Each morning and through out the day as I pray for strength I am fully putting my trust in the lord that he will get me through the day. Through these prayers i remember the Savior constantly and I am given the strength I need. That is why at times he doesn't remove our trials. It's like when he healed 10 lepers and only one returned to give thanks. Often times when we are healed we forget the source of healing. We forget to continually give thanks. This is his constant reminder to me that he is here.

I then flashed to a book of Mormon story or two. I thought about the prophet nephi and how hard his life was. His own brothers continually turned on him and sought for his destruction. Nephi never lost hope there was a few verses that jumped out of my memory, a time when Nephi was left bound in the wilderness to be devoured by beasts.

"17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound."

 

He prayed for the strength and then he acted, he fought his way from the cords. He broke free. Because he pleaded with the lord that he might receive strength.

 

Then I pictured this same family as they were lead across the great sea the Americas or "The Promised land" (1 Nephi 17 - 1 Nephi 18 ) They were lead by the hand of God to a new place and new home where they would be free.

 

I flashed again to another story. Of a a man named Alma, as he is teaching people the way of a new life a life centered on God, him and his people are cast into prison for believing in God and their trials are great, however. Again, they rely on the Atonement and they pray. They pray for help to escape these terrible situations and this is their answer:

 

"14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."

Mosiah 24

 

Again the Lord is giving them the strength they need to be made free. To over come the obstacles of life.

 

So how has this helped me?

 

I know that when I pray for guidance, if I pick up the book of Mormon or the Bible I can receive an answer as I read in the pages stories of people who received much strength through the Lord, I read of people who were healed and I read of people who weren't healed but that were given great help, I know that it is possible for me. If I do my part I will receive divine help.

 

 7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

1 Nephi 3

 

I know that when I read from the book of Mormon Heavenly Father can communicate with me with the words of each story, I know that these aren't just made up stories, but the records of a people who knew and understood Christ, of a people who anxiously awaited his coming in their lives. It has taught me to look to Christ in all that I pass through.

 

Some times we don't understand why we are asked to do something, especially when that something doesn't work out the way we wished or would have liked, some times we do things that don't make any sense, but we know God is asking it of us. I know a lot of my life I am just following His answers and hoping for the best, knowing that God would never lead me a stray. I know that He can lead us all to our promised land, our land of safety and refuge from the storms of life.

 

 6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.

1 Nephi 4

 

We first must trust, and then act.

 

 He can calm our seas when they are to rough to find our way on our own. I have learned through the things I have read in the book of Mormon, I have learned to apply what I read, to take it into my heart and to live it. As I have done so the Atonement has changed me. To be a woman of happiness. A woman of virtue. A woman who is patient, slow to anger. It has shown me the reality of Jesus Christ. It has taught me of my divine worth. That God loves ALL of his children.

 

The book of Mormon is centered on Christ, helping me to make him the center of my life. He is my help, my strength, the one who rescues when I feel there is no hope. He is the one that listens when I am up, He is the one who listens when I am down. He is there in the good, he is there in the bad. HE IS ALWAYS THERE. Always loving and always lending his hand to lift us, to help us arise, to pick up our beds and to carry them with us.