The Boon of My Existence

The Boon of My Existence

One of the talks that I wanted to discuss from the October 2011 General Conference was Elder Christofferson's about repentance. One of my favorite all-time scriptures, that I found while trying to gain a better testimony of the gospel, a testimony based in living what I believe to be true, was from Mosiah 16:12-13. In it we read:

12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent. 
13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved? 

The reason this verse stuck out to me was because of the image of the Lords arms of mercy being extended repeatedly to us, only waiting for our accepting of His love. To me, Elder Christofferson is saying that when he said that " the invitation to repent is an expression of love." How could it be an expression of love? I think it is because the Lord loves us so much and  because Jesus Christ is the perfect example and way to happiness in this life and the next, He always knows how to show us a better way. So, as He reaches out to us, to hug us and love us, He invites us to change because that is the path to true happiness: repentance and progression. I'm grateful that not only does He offer us His arms of mercy, but that He cheers for us and comforts us along as we strive to improve ourselves, for in the end, we can only do it with His help.

The Privilege of Parenthood

Parent Trap? Nope!

This past General Conference Elder Andersen, one of the Lord's Living apostles spoke on the subject of children. Unlike the worldly trends, our Church places great importance on the rearing and bearing of children, knowing that "it is a crowning privilege of a husband and wife who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for these spirit children of God." 

Now that doesn't say that with privilege comes a life of ease. Nope, I would say the opposite is true. If anything, parenthood makes life harder. Perhaps this is what Elder Nelson, a father of ten, partly meant when he said:  

"We came into this life to acquire a physical body. We may fall in love and be married. We may have children and experience the trials of mortal life. (Please forgive me for mentioning children and the trials of life in the same breath. I sense that they are both part of our growing process.)"

Can children be a trial in life? I would answer by paraphrasing Elder Scott, when was anything worthwhile ever easy? Yet, the blessings and profound feelings of love that come with parenthood are life-changing. Prior to being a parent, hearing of the suffering of children hurt, but not as much as hearing of the same when thinking of our own children now. It is such a privilege to love children. My heart ails for those who aren't able to have children, especially when they try so hard to have them in their life. What a blessing of the Lord are these children given to us. Truly, they help us to grow if we allow them. I have a friend that told me that adults don't have kids, kids make adults. I think this is true when the parents 'man up' to their responsibilities as parents.

For Whom the Bell Tolls: You

There's a quote by Brigham Young where he says that "we never began to build a temple without the bells of hell beginning to ring. I want to hear them ring again!” I think that this quote could also be applied to those who are trying to worship the Lord in His Holy Temple. Satan's bells ring for temple worshippers as well. Yet, despite whatever opposition to His work, God will help us through anything if we will depend on Him and our covenants to Him. Elder David A. Bednar, a living apostle, said that what gave the early saints the strength to endure through all their opposition was "the fire of the temple covenant that burned in their hearts. It was their commitment to worship and honorably hold a name and standing in the house of the Lord." I've seen it many times when going to the temple, or even participating in any ordinance leading to the temple, opposition come in whatever form. Yet, if we just push through with God's help, the adverse conditions are to no avail.