The Truth Shall Make You Free

The Savior once told a group of his followers, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  (John 8:31-32)

I am thoroughly convinced that we will never be able to fully progress in life if we don't accept and embrace certain truths.  These truths are what set us free from any doubts or sins that hold us back.

One truth that is essential for us to understand is that we are children of God.  As we embrace this truth we gain a confidence that we are of worth and value.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf once said, "Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love."  How could our lives be changed if we more fully believed this one most basic truth?

Another truth that sets us free is the understanding that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can repent and be forgiven of our sins.  This truth enables us to correct any behaviors or thoughts that are not in line with the Lord's standards and enjoy the freedom that comes as we keep the commandments of God.

I love what the third verse of the Battle Hymn of the Republic says:

In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me.

As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,

While God is marching on.

 

We can help to make men free as we share these precious gospel truths with others.  I feel so blessed to be a full-time missionary because I get to witness people experience the liberating power of the Atonement.  The gospel of Jesus Christ truly changes lives.  I have seen it time and time again, including in my own life.

The Savior taught, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life." (John 14:6)  It is only through Jesus Christ that we can truly be free. 

The Measure of Our Love

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, once said, "The measure of our love is the measure of the greatness of our souls."

I want to share some things I have learned about love from some remarkable individuals.  These exceptional people have been my mission companions.  And according to Elder Wirthlin's definition, they are some of the greatest people I know because they are so filled with love for God and their fellowman.

My companion in the Missionary Training Center has a very fun-loving spirit.  We spent a majority of our time in the MTC laughing.  We had so much (maybe too much) fun with each other and the missionaries in our district and zone.  Her fun-loving nature not only brought lots of laughs and good times, but it also brought a spirit of unity.

 

My trainer in the mission field is one of the most amazing people I know.  She taught me (and continues to teach me) about pure love.  She is so sincere and genuine.  People are so drawn to her because she radiates the pure love of Christ.

My second transfer in the mission field my trainer and I received another companion.  This companion taught me a lot about demonstrating love.  When she loves and cares about someone she just can't help but put her arm around them and give them a hug.

 

My first transfer in Mayfield, KY I served with an individual who has become one of my best friends.  She loves people so deeply and fiercely.  And she has this way of making you feel like you are her favorite person in the world.  (I am thoroughly convinced I was her favorite mission companion.)

 

My second companion in Mayfield taught me a lot about unconditional love.  She put up with a lot from me as I had many different personal struggles.  Even though there were times she had no reason to love me, she did and would serve me in many little ways.

  

My third companion in Mayfield is one of the most accepting peole I know.  She has this inherent understanding of the worth of a soul and loves and accepts people despite their flaws and shortcomings (especially her companion's).

 

 

I served one transfer in McMinnville, TN and my companion there taught me about the loyalty and commitment that comes when you love others.  She is always concerned about the welfare of others and would do absolutely anything for those she loves. 

My first companion here in Manchester has this amazing ability to make connections with people, whether it's figuring out a mutual friend or a common interest.  She cares so much about people that she remembers little details of their lives.

 

My current companion is the type of person that everyone wants to be around because she always has something nice to say and a compliment to give.  It's so easy for her to love people because it's so easy for her to see the good in everyone.  She's like BYU TV, she sees the good in the world.

I have learned so much from these incredible individuals.  I truly consider them sisters.  I am inspired by their example of keeping the commandment to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" and to "love thy neighbour as thyself."  (see Matthew 22:37-39)

May each of us "pray unto the Father will all energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love." (Moroni 7:48)

Sacrifice Brings Forth the Blessings of Heaven

In the hymn "Praise to the Man" there is a line that just absolutely rings true to me.  It says, "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven." 

I have pondered on that statement many times and I want to share a conclusion I have come to about the role of sacrifice in our lives by linking a few scriptures together.

In a revelation received by Joseph Smith, the Lord stated that "eternal life...is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (D&C 14:7) 

We could rephrase the line from that hymn and say that sacrifice brings forth eternal life.  But what is eternal life?

The Savior in His great intercessory prayer said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." (John 17:3)  Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ.

The conclusion or realization I have come to is that if we want to really know our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ there are sacrifices we must make.  And when we consider the great and atoning sacrifice our Savior made for us, how could we expect to do anything less?

What are we willing to sacrifice in order to know God?  In the Book of Mormon we read the account of a man who so desperately wanted to know God that he said in his humble prayer, "O God...I will give away all my sins to know thee."  (Alma 22:18)

Are we willing to give away our sins to truly know God?
Are we willing to submit our will to His will? 
What will we do to show our Heavenly Father that we are completely devoted to Him?

These are questions I have asked of myself many times.  And I have decided that I want it to always be completely and utterly evident that my Heavenly Father and my Savior come first in my life. 

So if that requires me to spend 18 months away from my family and miss my twin sister's wedding and my older brother's wedding and the birth of my sister's first child, I'll do it.  I will sacrifice those things and whatever else the Lord may ask of me because I want and need to know Him better.

There are sacrifices that will be required of each one of us that will seemingly demand our all.  But when we remember that those sacrifices are the price we pay to know God, suddenly it feels more like an offering than a sacrifice.  We want to "come unto Christ, the Holy One of Israel, ...and offer [our] whole souls as an offering unto him." (Omni 1:26)

Our sacrifices, or our offerings, will bring forth the blessings of heaven.  And I can't think of any greater blessing than truly knowing God our Father and Jesus Christ.

Living After the Manner of Happiness: Reading

I am an avid reader.  At times I'm even an obsessive reader (trust me - if you were to ask me how many times I've read the Harry Potter books, it would be very clear to you that I have a problem).  I have found great happiness in my life through reading.  Fantasy, romance, historical fiction, biographical, motivational--I love reading it all.

I especially love reading the scriptures.  I have found so much comfort, peace, guidance, and inspiration in reading the word of God.  And I have come to learn for myself that the scriptures are true.

My first real, personally significant experience with the Book of Mormon happened when I was 11 years old.  It was summer and because we had a pool in our backyard, we had invited some people to come over and swim.  I don't remember what happened exactly, but I had a bad attitude about something and my mom sent me to my room and told me I could come out when I had changed my attitude. 

As I sat in my room, in a foul mood, I decided to read in the Book of Mormon because we had a goal at church to read it by the end of the year.  It was July or August and I wasn't even done with 1 Nephi, so I had a lot reading to do in order to finish it.  I read the last couple of chapters in 1 Nephi, and as I got to 2 Nephi chapter 2, a verse seemed to have been written just for me.  2 Nephi 2:27 says:

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."

I realized in that moment that I was choosing to be miserable, like the devil himself is miserable.  And that really made me mad because I didn't (and still don't) want to be anything like him.  I learned then that I can choose either to be like Jesus Christ or like the devil.  And that is a choice between happiness and misery. 

After reading that verse I immediately changed my attitude and enjoyed the rest of my day.  I had gained a personal testimony that day of the power of the Book of Mormon.  And ever since then I return time and time again to the Book of Mormon as a source of guidance and strength.

 

President Boyd K. Packer said, "Life moves all too fast. When you feel weak, discouraged, depressed, or afraid, open the Book of Mormon and read. Do not let too much time pass before reading a verse, a thought, or a chapter."

So if you're feeling down or overwhelmed and need some encouragement and inspiration, read the Book of Mormon!  It will bless your life, and it can change your life as you take time each day to read from it.
 

Living After the Manner of Happiness: Health

To continue this blog series on happiness the next topic is 'health.'  Those who know me well know that I am definitely not the one to talk to about a healthy lifestyle, especially considering my breakfast this morning was leftover pizza.  Actually, during my mission I have had many "breakfasts of champions."  Below is a picture of my breakfast one in morning while I was serving in Mayfield, KY:  Cap'n Crunch, Ski (an awesome lemon orange soda), and of course my daily vitamin supplements (that's healthy right?).

 

Okay now that we've established how unqualified I am to talk about health, I'm going to share some observations I've had about the happiness of those who do live healthy.

While I was serving in Mayfield there were three people that were awesome examples to me about the benefits that come from being  healthy.  The first was a member there who is a hard core runner.  And when I say hard core I mean hard core.  She has run 20+ marathons and did a 50 miler.  I frequently would ask her questions about running because I was just so amazed to know someone who found so much enjoyment from running.  Seriously foreign concept to me.  But she told me that she finds a lot of happiness and satisfaction in running.  She inspired me so much that I'm considering training for a half marathon.  (I'm not ambitious enough to try a marathon.)

The other two people who were great examples to me of health were Elder and Sister Pack, the senior missionary couple who also served in Mayfield.  They are the healthiest people I know.  I've never met people who are so aware of what they eat.  It was an inspiration to me because I'll eat pretty much anything and I realized I should be way more aware of what I actually put in my mouth.  It's really clear to see the blessings they receive from their healthy lifestyle because they are enjoying great health as they are "advancing in years."

I absolutely believe that as we choose to be more healthy, whether that means we change our diet or increase our activity level, we are going to feel a great measure of happiness.  The Lord cares about our health and our well-being.  He cares so much about it that He gave us the Word of Wisdom, a law of health. 

The Lord revealed this commandment to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith and promised, "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint."
(D&C 89:18-20)

Those are some amazing blessings promised to us and I hope we all will identify ways we can be more healthy.  I for one am going to start by committing right now to not eat pizza for breakfast.  And I'll avoid the Cap'n Crunch and Ski breakfast combo.

 

Living After the Manner of Happiness: Work

The summer after my freshman year of college was quite possibly the worst summer of my life.  Probably because I was the biggest bum known to mankind.  I didn't have a job and didn't put forth much effort to find one.  I would stay up really late and sleep in until 1:00 or so in the afternoon.  I wasn't very pleasant to be around because I was negative, impatient, and lazy.

But I learned a valuable lesson from my entirely unproductive summer.  I learned that I will never, ever find happiness and satisfaction in life from laziness and idleness.  Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, "Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God."

Through our hard work and service we can be the source of bringing about much good in our lives and the lives of others.  I quite like Captain Moroni's admonition that we "be up and doing."  The Lord told Joseph Smith that "men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." (D&C 58:27)

Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would "proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder." (Isaiah 29:14)  We can all be part of that "marvelous work and a wonder" as we participate in missionary work, family history work, as we look for opportunities to serve others, and work to strengthen our families.

The Savior told us, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." (John 4:35)  He's telling us that there is work to be done and He's giving us an opportunity to be a part of it.  I know we will find happiness and satisfaction in our lives as we "thrust in [our] sickles, and reap with all [our] might, mind, and strength." (D&C 33:7)  Let's get to work!

 

Born of Goodly Parents

The first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the Book of Mormon starts out with the author, Nephi, saying: "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..."

22 years ago today I was born of goodly parents.  I came into this world with one of my best friends, my twin sister Alexa.  I was born into a family where I had a big brother and a big sister who would become some of my greatest examples and sources of support.  Two little sisters and two little brothers, who I utterly adore, would join our family.  And one of the first people to greet me into this world, aside from my parents, was my Aunt Debi, who would become one of my role models.


 

In reflecting on all of this, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for God's great plan of happiness.  I can see so clearly how my Father in Heaven has a specific plan for me.  And I know that an essential part of that plan is my family.  I love knowing that I can be with my family forever.

God is our Heavenly Father and He has a plan for His children.  Part of that plan includes the opportunity to live with our families forever.  Our Heavenly Father has so many blessings in store for us and the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us how to live so we can claim those blessings and have peace and happiness in this life and eternal life with our families in the next.

Today on my birthday, I am grateful for my life here on earth.  I am grateful for the family I am a part of and I'm grateful to know that we were all born of Goodly Parents.  I love my Heavenly Father and I love the plan of salvation that He has provided for each one of us.  And I'm especially grateful that this is the message I get to share as a full-time missionary.