D&C 122:8

First as a note - lds.org is amazing!!!  I love being able to just type in a phrase, only knowing that somewhere in the scriptures it is there, and then BAM it pops up right there.  No hours of searching the topical guide or index, no having to say somewhere in the scriptures it says ... but with a few keystrokes you have reference that is specific. LOVE IT!

To give a little background on this post, Lori and I attended a YSA Summit this summer where Richard and Linda Eyre spoke as the keynote speakers.  I was very inspired by all they had to say, and still find myself reflecting on their words.  One of the suggestions they made to the young adults at this conference was to focus on the Savior during the Sacrament.

***As a side note I tried to teach this idea to 6&7 year olds and I realized how hard it really was to do when I tried to have my kids focus on the Savior for only 30 seconds!!!

At the Summit Brother Eyre told how as a mission president he created a way to help his missionaries focus on the Savior during the sacrament.  For each month he choose a topic that related to the Saviors' life/mission and for each week he illustrated these topics specifically with examples from the scriptures and his own thoughts.  He told how many of the missionaries testimonies of Christ grew as they focused for just 5 minutes a week on the Savior.  He entitled this project What Manner of Man and it is available for anyone to read weekly during the Sacrament.  I have recently put these weekly discussions into a binder so I can easily pull it out to read during the Sacrament.  And each time I read I have found that I gain a little new perspective or insight on the Savior and all that he has done for mankind and ME personally.

So as I read during Sacrament yesterday I came across a phrase that hit me in a different way...

D&C 122:8 says - "The Son of Man hath descended below them all.  Art thou greater than he?" (Also see Ephesians 4:9-10 for all you people who like to have things from the Bible too.)

I was really interested by that phrase "descended below them all."  As a woman, and basically as a human-being, I am practically always comparing myself to others. (I know I shouldn't, but I think we all do it, at least every once in a while.)  I often believe that others are so much better than me, or might I use the phrase to fit into the metaphor  a bit more closely, that others are much "higher" than me.  I find that I feel low in my accomplishments, talents, and abilities.  Yet in order to "descend below them all" Christ had to be "higher" than even the best people who have been on this Earth.

As such, Christ is not only there for each of us to look up to, to be our example, to teach us how to be better, to give us a pathway to become like our Father in Heaven, but he has also gone to the lowest parts of our sins & pains and from there He can lift each of us as we ask for forgiveness, pray for relief and comfort, and have days where we feel we have no worth.  If only I could always remember this maybe in my times of triumph I would praise God and in my times of sorrow I would look to him for guidance.  Yet like we all have to do I have to keep working at this idea in hopes that one day I will always counsel with the Lord in all my doings. (Alma 37:37.)

Well thanks to all of you who have read this novel of a post! If you have felt nothing from my words I want you to know that you have a Savior, He is there for you, and whether you accept him or not He loves you, and so do I!

General Conference

I love that October General Conference starts the week before the main event with the Relief Society General Conference. If you had the chance to watch it at a Stake Center or wherever I believe your love grew, as mine did for President Uchtdorf.

I have always loved and had a great respect for Dieter F Uchtdorf, with his predictable airplane references, awesome German accent, funny one liners, and abounding knowledge of the gosple. Yet after listening to his talk last weekend entitled "Forget Me Not" (click to read it) I found that my heart grew a little more fond of this Apostle of God.

In order to never forget the words spoken I hung this in my room:

If you have not yet heard or read this talk I urge you to please click the link above. I garuntee it will be worth any time you take to read it. If you only have a short time scroll to the fifth point. If you have heard it I hope it has sunk into your heart at it has mine.

On to the Main Event...

Conference weekend is always AMAZING!! Not only is the spirit so strong, but we have the greatest priviledge to hear from God's own mouth pieces upon this earth.  Specifically we are able to hear the words of a beloved prophet President Monson:

I know that each and every talk that was given over the past 2 days, and last weekend, are the words that our Heavenly Father would like his children to hear and take into their hearts, minds, and actions.  I am so thankful to live in the time of the restored gosple.  I know it is His only true church upon the earth.  I know our Savior is Jesus Christ, and that it is only through him that we are able to gain immortality and eternal life.  I know the Book of Mormon is the most true book and that its words are for us in these days.  That by reading it we gain not only come closer to God and know more of Him, but also be inspired and blessed by reading its words and living its teachings.  I know President Monson is the Prophet of God, he speaks his words.  I KNOW it, and I cannot deny it.

So the other most awesome thing about Conference is the Priesthood Session = GIRLS NIGHT!!

Our Girls Night this time consisted of pizza and "17 Miracles".

So here is a short Review of the movie -

Having been prepared by many I sat down to watch this movie with a box of Kleenex and they were most definitely needed.  I however went into it thinking I knew everything about the Willie Handcart Co. and that this would just be a retelling of all the stories I had heard before.  However with one of the most shocking beginings I have ever seen in any movie before "17 Miracles" starts out with the Mormon Batallions basically last order before going home - that they destroyed the remains of the Doner Party.  My mom and I were SHOCKED to say the least.  So right off something new and interesting.

As the movie follows Levi Savage you know what is going to happen, and yet somehow you hope that this time around Winter will be delayed and that everyone makes its safely.  However I can only explain their trials as a test they must of had to go through, not only for themselves but also as an example for all of us.  Each miracle and story in this movie is inspiring and yet heart wrenching.  I thought of my expirence of Trek and could not believe I was able to walk in the same footsteps those of this party walked. 

I really enjoyed this movie and recommend it to any who want to learn a little more about the handcart pioneers.  I would caution to any who are like me and are sometimes disturbed by certain images, that the reoccuring theme of men becoming like wolves with hunger that is shown in the beginning of the movie is not pleasant and a bit disturbing.  However the goodness definitely outshines this one moment.

Hope you have had an awesome Conference weekend!  'Till we meet again. :)

I Stand All Amazed

As I drove towards work this morning this was my view:

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I could not help but be inspired by this beautiful morning.  I have recently felt very confused and even depressed about all the wrong I do in my life.  I’ve always know that Christ had suffered for my sins, but during the last few weeks, for many reasons, I felt that I was unworthy to be forgiven.  But luckily the spirit overcomes those feelings and I found my heart extremely full as I drove.  Instead of doubt I felt only the prompting that I could do better and that it would be God’s power that could help me do so. 

I know how that sounds.  But I have truly felt in what has been described by many famous words – “the depths of despair,” “the valley of the shadows of death,” etc.  So to even feel hope and except the warmth of the Gods unfailing and unconditional love was a leap that I could not have made on my own.

Since I was SUPER early I drove not to work, but to the temple grounds.  I seemed to be drawn to the place I knew would be filled with more peace or love then I could feel anywhere else.

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It was SO quiet.  The few people that were there whispered and even though I was in the heart of a busy city it was quieter than home.  I sat at the edge of one of the fountains just looking upwards trying to soak in the moment and memorize every detail. I pulled out my iPod to do a little scripture reading, but first found the last hymn I had gone to and it was perfect.

“I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.  I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.  Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me!  Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine, To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine, That he should extend his great love unto such as I, Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.  Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me!  Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I think of he hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt! Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?  No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat, Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet. Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me!  Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!”

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