My testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith.

 OH how I can not wait to meet this Man some day. After I meet the Savior of course.

  Joseph Smith a fourteen year old boy with a heart full of faith, the desire to become His most divine self, a question and a prayer that has, and will continue to change to world forever...

 At a young age Joseph Smith was concerned for the welfare of his soul. He wanted to be with God forever, however... He was unsure how that was possible. 

 His parents were grand examples, they taught Him as much as they knew about God, they lived in a dark time where original truths were lost. Yet were unsure of how to find it. 

 Families were torn apart, friendships were lost, and many Churches were rising. Confusion was growing.

  As He continued to grow His concerns deepened, each Church claimed truth, He knew not which one to join. Therefor he turned to The Bible, as he studied He learned there was one Lord, One Faith, and ONE baptism. Which one was THEE FAITH? That's what he needed to figure out. He had the true desire to find out. He found in the Bible James one verse 5

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Thats when he knew, He needed to do JUST as it says and ask God. How to ask? He was unsure. One day He entered into a grove of trees now known as the sacred grove, He began to pray out loud. I would try to explain his experience in my own words but I could never do it justice! This is what He described:

"15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

 16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

 17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

 18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

 19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

 Many people did not believe that Joseph had seen a vision, for as far as they knew God had ceased to do so, however... Our God is an unchangeable God. If he ceased to do miracles than He would be a changeable God. He has revealed His truths to prophets of old, so why would He not follow that same pattern and reveal His truths to Prophets today? 

"24 However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.

 25 So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."

Now before my mission I struggled to fully KNOW that Joseph Smith was in deed a Prophet, when I got called to serve HERE at the sites where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored... I felt very inadequate. As time is passing and I stand in the grove of trees where God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to the young boy Joseph Smith there is a feeling within this grove that I could not deny. That Joseph Smith did indeed see Jesus Christ as He explained. 

 The way my testimony has become strengthened is by ASKING God, by reading the Book Of Mormon, and by submitting my stubbornness and my desires to bring them inline with God.  The next part to James 1 is verse 6

" 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

 If you feel like it is impossible to believe, put your faith to the test, and ask God. Joseph Smith KNEW with all He was that God would answer Him. I have grown to know over my short 22 years of life that Joseph Smith did indeed restore the true church of Jesus Christ to the earth again.  The world was in a great need of a restoration and not a reformation. He brought back original truths that had been long since lost. He brought back the TRUE light of Christ to a world.

 The world we live in today has become so dark and so twisted, it seems as though there is no hope. I know that there is, and the only way that hope can be found is through Following The Savior Jesus Christ, by living the teaching of Jesus Christ presented through the Book of Mormon. To study the Bible, and The Book Of Mormon together. To reaally feast upon the words of Christ. The Book of Mormon has FOREVER changed my very being. The more I read it and live what I read, the closer to Christ I grow, and the MORE happiness I have found. Not just happiness, but PURE JOY. Joy in Christ. My Savior. My king, My best friend, My EVERYTHING.

"7 ¶Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 5

I know that God calls Prophets today just as He has in times of old. He loves us all and He wants ALL of us to live with Him FOREVER. 

" 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

 Amos 3:7   

 Joseph Smith History

Moments that matter most

 bahah not the best picture of me ever.

 This is My New friend. I met her a few days ago and we bonded rather quickly. She told me I was the miracle of her vacation, I expressed to her that she was the miracle to my mission. She will forever be a sweet friend to me. As we went through the Smith Farm it was such a blessing to feel of her special spirit and the love that she has for God.

 Being at the sites is such a beautiful blessing, Here I am able to come in contact with people from ALL OVER THE WORLD. How blessed i am that this beautiful woman lives near my home town. I have promised her that when i get home we will take a day and walk around temple square, get lunch and maybe even go to a movie! She was so excited, as am I.

 Our life here on earth is so much more than what we think. It isn't time to just live day to day. It is the time to create experiences that enrich our lives and the lives around us. To lift and love others. To be lifted and loved as well. This is our time to be instruments in the hands of our lord. To care for those in need, to provide comfort to the broken heart, to be company to the lonely, to help the sick and the needy. We are Gods hands here on Earth.

Daays to NEVER be forgotten.

 The memories I am making here in the New York Rochester Mission will last forever. The area in which I am serving at the moment will always hold a dear place in my heart! It has made an impact on me in many different ways, memories that make me laugh, cry, cause fear, and everything in between. All situations turn into a laughing matter once enough time has passed.... or so I hope ;)

 As a missionary you have moments that you feel joy beyond anything I can express, moments that break your heart, and moments that are just WEIRD. Being a site Sister here at the Hill Cumorah, and Palmyra Church Historic Sites has been such a neat experience so far. We definitely keep busy. For 3 weeks in July we have the Hill Cumorah Pageant going on where our days are stretched out a looooot longer than the average missionary, 1,000's of visitors travel in from all over the world to witness this pageant! All summer we have different bus tours from various parts of the world that we show around the sites, and in the winter things here become a little slower, nevertheless we are still kept busy! We have the blessing of being able to take part in online proselyting, and being regular proselyting missionaries as well as site sisters!

  My favorite part about the sites is being able to take youth tours during the summer to bear testimony and share experiences with the youth, to be able to create a converting climate for people not to much younger than me is such a special experience. The sacred Grove is what really started to plant my conversion. I feel very blessed to be here to help the youth be able to plant their testimonies deeper. There is nothing better than being an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring others closer to Christ.

 As I have also had the experience to do the "Normal" Missionary work as well I have learned quickly that it is more than just baptisms and "success" not every one is willing to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ... And when they say no it is heart breaking in a way I have never experienced in my life. As you sit in a persons living room, at a park bench, or on their door step testifying to them that you know what you are sharing with them is true it is impossible to not LOVE them. The more time you spend with them the more you desire for them to accept the Gospel, unfortunately it doesn't always work out that way, and when it doesn't it is very saddening. However it is so important to "not become discouraged, discouragement will weaken your faith"- Preach my Gospel. HOWEVER! That moment when some one is willing to receive what we extend brings more joy than anything I have ever experienced. I think that when we are feeling the spirit of God and delivering that into ones heart is a glimpse of what life with God will be like. Pure joy. Righteous desires bring forth great happiness.

 Success is something that is found with in. Success is based of of our diligence to keep pushing through even when it seems as though life is in a drought. Pushing through with a hope for the future knowing that as you do your best to find, teach and help others become converted the Lord is pleased.

This is one of my absolute most favorite scriptures! it comes from the book of mormon. Once we learn to trust in the lord and know that there is hope for the future no matter what our past or present situations might be we find great peace and begin to enjoy life more.

 "34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm."

MY FAVORITE MORMON MESSAGES.

i hope ya know we had a hard time

mens hearts shall fail them

the restoration

lifting ones burdens

 

follow me and i will make you fishers of me

"FORGET ME NOT"

Forget Me Not

DIETER F. UCHTDORF

SECOND COUNSELOR IN THE FIRST PRESIDENCY

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It is my prayer and blessing that you will never forget that you are truly precious daughters in God’s kingdom.

My dear sisters, what a joy it is to be with you today. I always look forward to this annual general Relief Society meeting and the excellent messages given here. Thank you, sisters. It is a precious honor for me to be assigned by President Thomas S. Monson to speak today and to add a few thoughts addressing the sisters of the Church.

A while ago I was walking through a beautiful garden with my wife and daughter. I marveled at the glory and beauty of God’s creation. And then I noticed, among all the glorious blooms, the tiniest flower. I knew the name of this flower because since I was a child I have had a tender connection to it. The flower is called forget-me-not.

I’m not exactly sure why this tiny flower has meant so much to me over the years. It does not attract immediate attention; it is easy to overlook among larger and more vibrant flowers; yet it is just as beautiful, with its rich color that mirrors that of the bluest skies—perhaps this is one reason why I like it so much.

And there is the haunting plea of its name. There is a German legend that just as God had finished naming all the plants, one was left unnamed. A tiny voice spoke out, “Forget me not, O Lord!” And God replied that this would be its name.

Tonight I would like to use this little flower as a metaphor. The five petals of the little forget-me-not flower prompt me to consider five things we would be wise never to forget.

First, forget not to be patient with yourself.

I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.

Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.

And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

It’s wonderful that you have strengths.

And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses.

God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths,¹ but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect,² and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.

Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.

In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences.

For example, insisting that you have a picture-perfect family home evening each week—even though doing so makes you and everyone around you miserable—may not be the best choice. Instead, ask yourself, “What could we do as a family that would be enjoyable and spiritual and bring us closer together?” That family home evening—though it may be modest in scope and execution—may have far more positive long-term results.

Our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in that journey.

Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.

An acceptable sacrifice is when we give up something good for something of far greater worth.

Giving up a little sleep to help a child who is having a nightmare is a good sacrifice. We all know this. Staying up all night, jeopardizing our own health, to make the perfect accessory for a daughter’s Sunday outfit may not be such a good sacrifice.

Dedicating some of our time to studying the scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hours stitching the title of the lesson into homemade pot holders for each member of your class perhaps may not be.

Every person and situation is different, and a good sacrifice in one instance might be a foolish sacrifice in another.

How can we tell the difference for our own situation? We can ask ourselves, “Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?” There are so many good things to do, but we can’t do all of them. Our Heavenly Father is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater with an eternal perspective. Sometimes, that may even mean nurturing small but beautiful forget-me-not flowers instead of a large garden of exotic blooms.

Third, forget not to be happy now.

In the beloved children’s story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the mysterious candy maker Willy Wonka hides a golden ticket in five of his candy bars and announces that whoever finds one of the tickets wins a tour of his factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate.

Written on each golden ticket is this message: “Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket … ! Tremendous things are in store for you! Many wonderful surprises await you! … Mystic and marvelous surprises … will … delight, … astonish, and perplex you.”³

In this classic children’s story, people all over the world desperately yearn to find a golden ticket. Some feel that their entire future happiness depends on whether or not a golden ticket falls into their hands. In their anxiousness, people begin to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket.

So many people today are waiting for their own golden ticket—the ticket that they believe holds the key to the happiness they have always dreamed about. For some, the golden ticket may be a perfect marriage; for others, a magazine-cover home or perhaps freedom from stress or worry.

There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings—we hope and seek after things that are “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”⁴ The problem comes when we put our happiness on hold as we wait for some future event—our golden ticket—to appear.

One woman wanted more than anything else to marry a righteous priesthood holder in the temple and be a mother and a wife. She had dreamed about this all her life, and oh, what a wonderful mother and loving wife she would be. Her home would be filled with loving-kindness. Never a bitter word would be spoken. The food would never burn. And her children, instead of hanging out with their friends, would prefer to spend their evenings and weekends with Mom and Dad.

This was her golden ticket. It was the one thing upon which she felt her whole existence depended. It was the one thing in all the world for which she most desperately yearned.

But it never happened. And, as the years went on, she became more and more withdrawn, bitter, and even angry. She could not understand why God would not grant her this righteous desire.

She worked as an elementary school teacher, and being around children all day long simply reminded her that her golden ticket had never appeared. As the years passed she became more disappointed and withdrawn. People didn’t like being around her and avoided her whenever they could. She even took her frustration out on the children at school. She found herself losing her temper, and she swung between fits of anger and desperate loneliness.

The tragedy of this story is that this dear woman, in all her disappointment about her golden ticket, failed to notice the blessings shedid have. She did not have children in her home, but she was surrounded by them in her classroom. She was not blessed with a family, but the Lord had given her an opportunity few people have—the chance to influence for good the lives of hundreds of children and families as a teacher.

The lesson here is that if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.

This is not to say that we should abandon hope or temper our goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.

Fourth, forget not the “why” of the gospel.

Sometimes, in the routine of our lives, we unintentionally overlook a vital aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ, much as one might overlook a beautiful, delicate forget-me-not. In our diligent efforts to fulfill all of the duties and obligations we take on as members of the Church, we sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long to-do list, as a block of time that we must somehow fit into our busy schedules. We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.

My dear sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come. The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us.

While understanding the “what” and the “how” of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the “why.” When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet.

Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and obligations before us. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.

My dear sisters, seek out the majesty, the beauty, and the exhilarating joy of the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The “what” and “how” of obedience mark the way and keep us on the right path. The “why” of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration.

Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you.

As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and insignificant. I wondered if I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.

Years later I can look back on that young boy with tenderness and compassion. And I do know now—I was never forgotten.

And I know something else: as an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart—neither are you!

You are not forgotten.

Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.

Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!

He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name—you are the daughters of His kingdom. The Psalmist wrote:

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? …

“For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.”⁵

God loves you because you are His child. He loves you even though at times you may feel lonely or make mistakes.

The love of God and the power of the restored gospel are redemptive and saving. If you will only allow His divine love into your life, it can dress any wound, heal any hurt, and soften any sorrow.

My dear Relief Society sisters, you are closer to heaven than you suppose. You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness. Accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as your way of life. Cherish the gift of activity in this great and true Church. Treasure the gift of service in the blessed organization of Relief Society. Continue to strengthen homes and families. Continue to seek out and help others who need your and the Lord’s help.

Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you.

Thank you for who you are. Thank you for the countless acts of love and service you offer up to so many. Thank you for all that you will yet do to bring the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ to families, to the Church, to your communities, and to the nations of the world.

Sisters, we love you. It is my prayer and blessing that you will never forget that you are truly precious daughters in God’s kingdom, in the sacred name of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

"None were with him"

 This talk is life changing!

Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are.

Close

Thank you, Sister Thompson, and thanks to the remarkable women of this Church. Brothers and sisters, my Easter-season message today is intended for everyone, but it is directed in a special way to those who are alone or feel alone or, worse yet, feel abandoned. These might include those longing to be married, those who have lost a spouse, and those who have lost—or have never been blessed with—children. Our empathy embraces wives forsaken by their husbands, husbands whose wives have walked away, and children bereft of one or the other of their parents—or both. This group can find within its broad circumference a soldier far from home, a missionary in those first weeks of homesickness, or a father out of work, afraid the fear in his eyes will be visible to his family. In short it can include all of us at various times in our lives.

To all such, I speak of the loneliest journey ever made and the unending blessings it brought to all in the human family. I speak of the Savior’s solitary task of shouldering alone the burden of our salvation. Rightly He would say: “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me. … I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold [me].” ¹

As President Uchtdorf so beautifully noted earlier, we know from scripture that Jesus’s messianic arrival in Jerusalem on the Sunday preceding Passover, a day directly analogous to this very morning, was a great public moment. But eagerness to continue walking with Him would quickly begin to wane.

Soon enough He was arraigned before the Israelite leaders of the day—first Annas, the former high priest, then Caiaphas, the current high priest. In their rush to judgment these men and their councils declared their verdict quickly and angrily. “What further need have we of witnesses?” they cried. “He is [worthy] of death.” ²

With that He was brought before the gentile rulers in the land. Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, interrogated Him once, and Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Judea, did so twice, the second time declaring to the crowd, “I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man.” ³ Then, in an act as unconscionable as it was illogical, Pilate “scourged Jesus, [and] delivered him to be crucified.” ⁴ Pilate’s freshly washed hands could not have been more stained or more unclean.

Such ecclesiastical and political rejection became more personal when the citizenry in the street turned against Jesus as well. It is one of the ironies of history that sitting with Jesus in prison was a real blasphemer, a murderer and revolutionary known as Barabbas, a name or title in Aramaic meaning “son of the father.” ⁵ Free to release one prisoner in the spirit of the Passover tradition, Pilate asked the people, “Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?” They said, “Barabbas.” ⁶ So one godless “son of the father” was set free while a truly divine Son of His Heavenly Father moved on to crucifixion.

This was also a telling time among those who knew Jesus more personally. The most difficult to understand in this group is Judas Iscariot. We know the divine plan required Jesus to be crucified, but it is wrenching to think that one of His special witnesses who sat at His feet, heard Him pray, watched Him heal, and felt His touch could betray Him and all that He was for 30 pieces of silver. Never in the history of this world has so little money purchased so much infamy. We are not the ones to judge Judas’s fate, but Jesus said of His betrayer, “Good [were it] for that man if he had not been born.” ⁷

Of course others among the believers had their difficult moments as well. Following the Last Supper, Jesus left Peter, James, and John to wait while He ventured into the Garden of Gethsemane alone. Falling on His face in prayer, “sorrowful … unto death,” ⁸ the record says, His sweat came as great drops of blood ⁹ as He pled with the Father to let this crushing, brutal cup pass from Him. But, of course, it could not pass. Returning from such anguished prayer, He found His three chief disciples asleep, prompting Him to ask, “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” ¹⁰ So it happens two more times until on His third return He says compassionately, “Sleep on now, and take your rest,” ¹¹ though there would be no rest for Him.

Later, after Jesus’s arrest and appearance at trial, Peter, accused of knowing Jesus and being one of His confidants, denies that accusation not once but three times. We don’t know all that was going on here, nor do we know of protective counsel which the Savior may have given to His Apostles privately, ¹² but we do know Jesus was aware that even these precious ones would not stand with Him in the end, and He had warned Peter accordingly. ¹³ Then, with the crowing of the cock, “the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord. … And [he] went out, and wept bitterly.” ¹⁴

Thus, of divine necessity, the supporting circle around Jesus gets smaller and smaller and smaller, giving significance to Matthew’s words: “All the disciples [left] him, and fled.” ¹⁵ Peter stayed near enough to be recognized and confronted. John stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus’s mother. Especially and always the blessed women in the Savior’s life stayed as close to Him as they could. But essentially His lonely journey back to His Father continued without comfort or companionship.

Now I speak very carefully, even reverently, of what may have been the most difficult moment in all of this solitary journey to Atonement. I speak of those final moments for which Jesus must have been prepared intellectually and physically but which He may not have fully anticipated emotionally and spiritually—that concluding descent into the paralyzing despair of divine withdrawal when He cries in ultimate loneliness, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” ¹⁶

The loss of mortal support He had anticipated, but apparently He had not comprehended this. Had He not said to His disciples, “Behold, the hour … is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” and “The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him”? ¹⁷

With all the conviction of my soul I testify that He did please His Father perfectly and that a perfect Father did not forsake His Son in that hour. Indeed, it is my personal belief that in all of Christ’s mortal ministry the Father may never have been closer to His Son than in these agonizing final moments of suffering. Nevertheless, that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.

But Jesus held on. He pressed on. The goodness in Him allowed faith to triumph even in a state of complete anguish. The trust He lived by told Him in spite of His feelings that divine compassion is never absent, that God is always faithful, that He never flees nor fails us. When the uttermost farthing had then been paid, when Christ’s determination to be faithful was as obvious as it was utterly invincible, finally and mercifully, it was “finished.” ¹⁸ Against all odds and with none to help or uphold Him, Jesus of Nazareth, the living Son of the living God, restored physical life where death had held sway and brought joyful, spiritual redemption out of sin, hellish darkness, and despair. With faith in the God He knew was there, He could say in triumph, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” ¹⁹

Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of theHoly Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” ²⁰

My other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ’s lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial and abandonment and, at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. Now, may I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find only unresponsive onlookers when He sees you and me along His Via Dolorosain our present day. As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” ²¹ for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Letting Your Light Shine!

I cannot begin to express my love for The Savior Jesus Christ. He has been here for me through it all. When other sources have ceased to comfort Me, HE is HERE. He is here, constantly calling for us to come back. I cannot even imagine the grief and pain He feels in His heart as he watches over a world He created out of love for us becomes so lost and so dark. A place He hoped we could live and love to live here and gain experiences. Unfortunately experiences aren't always easy, and we are not always perfect. Luckily for us there was only ever one perfect Man here on earth and it was Him. He overcame the world so we wouldn't have to; he suffered the pains he suffered so that we would not have to be alone. At times we may be alone in the world, but through Christ we are never alone spiritually.

Life storms may come but never let your light stop shining!

 This is going to be a video blog, these videos express perfectly what I am trying to say. As we come into this imperfect world we are all born with the light of Christ within us, the dark tunnel doesn't have to be lonely, we need not wait for the tunnel to end, while we can have Christ become the light guiding us through.

 Even our Savior stood alone as He was betrayed by His own, left to stand the blows with none at his side. His friends rejected him, He walked the path alone as He bore the cross of our pains. He did these things alone so that we wouldn't have to. I have what I call Gethsemane moments. Even the Savior for a small moment asked that if it be the Fathers will that He wouldn't have to drink from the bitter cup, but His charity, His true pure love over powered the pain that He felt in those moments and He drank from the cup. We all have our moment that we plead with the father, that He might take away our pain; the He might ease the burdens from our backs, however... Because of the unfortunate effects of agency He can't always remove these burdens instantly, rather He will slowly help us to develop stronger muscles in our backs, and He will build us up as the world can break us down.

 

 Don’t be afraid to be who you truly are, don’t hide yourself from the world. I once had an experience with a friend, everything I did wasn't good enough, and no matter who I was... it wasn't right. I was too loud, or to quiet, to calm or to hyper. My hair was to blonde, or to dark, to short, to long, I was too short, to thick or too thin. It became hard for me to breathe. I began to lose my spark as I hung around this friend. I became sheltered and I guess you could say I lost my twinkle. For anyone that knows ME I am almost always in a good mood. I am almost always positive. I love the world, I love getting out and meeting people and helping others.  I was losing that. Finally one day it clicked that I needed to break free, I needed to cut lose and find myself.

 As I cut lose I found a sense of relief. I began to seek out my old relationship with my true friend and Savior Jesus Christ. As I draw near to him He takes pieces of old me and refines them, replaces them and helps me to become better. Finding your true self can be hard, being passed through the refiners fire is never and easy journey as we allow the Lord to press out the kinks and bends. Don't be afraid to let go. Don’t be afraid to try.

  Then I took the largest leap of faith I have yet to take in this life and I came on a mission. I let go of EVERYTHING. Things I love and things... things I don't quite love. I let go and let Christ in. I walked away from the past and I promised Heavenly Father I would give ANYTHING to become the woman He NEEDS. I left my past at the door as I entered into a world where no one knew who I was previously; I gained the fresh start I so much needed. I let go of my insecurities so I could gain strength in my Savior, I let go of regrets so I could find peace, I let go of my weak things so they could be made strong. His grace is sufficient. His love is enough. Enough to do ALL things. He created the world; He can heal a broken heart. I know that because He healed mine.

 It wasn’t/isn't easy to let go. But it was and is necessary. Every day I let go of a little more, in return I receive a great reward and new piece of the TRUE me.

"14 Ye are the alight of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

-Matthew 5

  Don’t be afraid to shine. Don’t be afraid to be a light to the dark world we live in. Don't be afraid to become who God needs for you to be. For so long I was a fish trying to climb trees, until I finally realized I am meant to swim! Not fly. Find your niche and run with it! Let go and let Christ in. He CAN and WILL work wonders from within!!