The Miracle of Forgiveness

Because our Heavenly Father loves us, He sent His son Jesus Christ to provide a way for us to become clean and live with Him again. A way has been provided for us to overcome our weaknesses and to get rid of the guilt, pain, and remorse that accompanies sin; that way is called Repentance.

No matter where we are at in life, no matter what we have done or what we have been through, we can always repent and come unto Christ. We learn in the Book of Mormon that "...as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me." (Mosiah 26:30) But why does He offer that? Why will He always forgive us and why does He want to forgive us? Because He loves us. He wants us to feel joy and peace and that can only come by the power of repentance. I testify that He stands with open arms waiting to receive us. If we will get on our knees and plead with Him, He will be there to comfort us and to fill us with peace, happiness, and love. This is the Miracle of Forgiveness.

Families are Forever

One of the most glorious truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that families can be together forever. This knowledge gives great strength during hard times of loss and death. Watch how it has blessed the lives of those in this video.

 

How comforting is it to know that we will all be together forever? Our Father in Heaven prepared a plan for us, called The Plan of Happiness. A path that would bring us through life and back into His presence with our families and loved ones. That is why it is so important to follow our Savior's example and the plan that he has laid before us. But as a loving Father He has left the choice up to us. We "...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." (2 Ne. 2:27)

The choice is ours and dependent upon our actions. But if we follow the plan, the promises will be fulfilled. I testify that this plan is real and that we can and will live with our families forever if we will follow His plan. We will never have to say goodbye.

Flecks of Gold

Do we really receive blessings from our Father in Heaven? Watch this video to see how we can recognize these blessings and look for the answers to our prayers.  

Just like the man in this video, it is easy to get caught up in the chaos that is going on around us. Without concentrating or focusing on the little 'flecks' in our lives, we can easily go day after day feeling hopeless and ignored. Our Father in Heaven works in mysterious ways and gives to us "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" (2Nephi 28:30). By taking time out of our busy lives to communicate through prayer, to study the scriptures, and go to church, I testify that our lives will be filled with blessings and joy beyond our comprehension. Just as the old prospect had a hefty pouch from daily collecting those little flecks, we too can have fulfilling lives from filling our lives daily with acts of God.

The Consequences of Doubt and Fear

In Matthew 14 we read a story that we have all probably heard and read a hundred times. The apostles are out in the sea and they see someone walking out toward them on the water. This is where the story picks up. "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matt.14:27-31)

   It was only recently that I noticed the specific things that caused Peter to fall. When Peter started out, he was fine; he was walking. But then two things happen. First, he fears because of the boisterous wind and second, as Jesus later points out, he doubts. These two simple things are what Satan uses to counteract the uplifting and positive affects of the spirit.

    We each have untold potential. Satan knows this, so he will use any tactic he can in order to get us to fear and doubt ourselves. But if we will hold firm to our trust in God, then these deceptions and false 'winds' can never pull us down. If we trust that through God all things are possible, then we can never fall. So if you ever feel lonely, or scared, or like you aren't good enough, remember where those thoughts are coming from and pray to your Father in Heaven and I promise help will come. Just as Peter sank and received help from Christ, we too can receive the same help if we reach out for it. I testify that as you do so you will feel his arms around you as you grow closer to Him and rely more on Him. For "...with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26)