Humility

We often see humility coupled with pride, especially in the Book of Mormon. For a long time, I think that I misinterpreted humility: I understood it as a low view of my own importance. Now I would say that having humility is having a modest view of my own importance.

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking about yourself less."

I believe that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, and each one of us are of utmost importance! However, we must remember that God is our Father and has given us everything. As we acknowledge His power and mercy, we are showing Him our love. We must be willing to submit to His will. 

"Humility is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of spiritual strength."

My patriarchal blessing counsels me to be humble. It says that I must always give credit to my Heavenly Father for the gifts and blessings that I possess, for they are gifts of the Spirit that He has given to me. I am confident that I can do whatever the Lord requires of me, as long as I rely on Him. That confidence is in God (not in myself) and it enables me to do things far beyond my own capability.

Humility and gratitude bring some of the greatest happiness to my life. Bekah recently mused, "I definitely know that gratitude and happiness are inseparable. You can't be grateful and not be happy. That just is not a thing." I agree with her wholeheartedly.

I love this general conference talk given by Bishop Edgley in 2003: The Empowerment of Humility. It brought tears to my eyes as I thought of all the wonderful, humble examples in my life.

"They are consistently doing the unnoticed, the unspectacular, but humbly and righteously doing the important."

It brought tears to my eyes as I thought of the ultimate example of humility- my Savior Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the love and mercy of my Lord that allow me to become a better person. Not in my own right, but to further His work and build His Kingdom. I am thankful for the gospel in my life and the many experiences I have that humble me. Sometimes it is hard to admit that while I am in the process of being humbled, but I know that it is for my good. I am humbled to know that I am a daughter of God and He loves me so very much. With that knowledge, I hope to help other people feel His love. 

Thoughts about covenants.

 Throughout the course of this semester, I have gained a greater understanding of Christ’s Atonement and how to apply it in my own life. I have also learned a great deal more about the covenants I have made through baptism and sacrament ordinances, and am now preparing to make in the temple. The purpose of this paper is to further explore the meaning of “covenants” as stated in Mosiah 18:8-10, and how I can continue to prepare to make eternal promises with our Heavenly Father.

The first covenant I would like to discuss is the first essential covenant we make to enter into the kingdom of God: that is, baptism. Mosiah 18:8-10 states:

“And now as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens that they may be light;

“Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrections, that ye may have eternal life-

“Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you.”

There are several main points in this passage of scripture that I’d like to address: First of all, it is made clear that those who make covenants with God must be desirous and willing. I recently attended the baptism of Simon, who lives in my YSA ward here in Provo. He has been attending BYU as a non-LDS student and after investigating the Church, chose to be baptized. At the end of the meeting, our bishop said something that struck me. He addressed Simon, and told him that many people have served him over the last years and months to be prepared to enter into the waters of baptism; but now, as a member of the Church and a disciple of Christ, it is his responsibility to serve others. It is very evident that Simon understood the covenant that he just made with God, as spelled out in D&C 20:37:

 “All those who humble themselves before God and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hears and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end…”

Simon is an example to me because he is clearly full of desire to join the ranks with Jesus Christ through the covenant of baptism. I imagine that it would be a difficult decision as an 18 year-old young man, 2000 miles away from home and family to change his entire lifestyle. However, it is not that hard to envision in my own life, because throughout this semester, I have learned that I make that same commitment each week when I take the sacrament. Partaking of the bread and water is a literal renewal of all of the covenants I have made.

I have already covenanted with my Heavenly Father by being baptized at age eight and partaking of the sacrament each week. I keep my end of this two-way promise by humbly repenting of my sins and all of the aforementioned things. In return, I can be worthy to have the Spirit of God accompany me through out my life, as long as I am living worthily. Honoring baptismal covenants is an important part of making all of the covenants on the path to eternal life. As I honor my baptismal covenants, I am also preparing to make other covenants. The next covenant is the endowment.

I have not yet received my endowment, but attending a temple preparation class helped me to better understand what covenants I will be making when I do. These instructions and covenants will prepare me for the blessings of eternal life as long as I am faithful to my end of the promise. In my temple preparation class, I learned that contrary to previous policy, I do not have to wait to receive my endowment until I am about to leave on a mission or be married. My instructor told me that a new statement given by the Brethren of the First Presidency has encouraged bishops and stake presidents to be aware of this policy change. Knowing this has changed my outlook on preparing to make covenants with God. I want to let my endowment—a personal experience about my own eternal progression—be a separate experience from my wedding or impending mission, so that I will not be distracted from the importance of my covenants. I hope that this will let my endowment experience be very personal and meaningful. Because I now know that I can prepare to enter the temple before I go on a mission or get married, my desire and motivation to do so has increased exponentially. I have been studying the Plan of Salvation and trying to improve many areas of my life in preparation to make covenants in the temple, alongside keeping my baptismal covenants. I also learned this semester that partaking of the sacrament not only renews baptismal covenants, but all promises and covenants made with our Heavenly Father.

Going back to the theme of this paper as found in Mosiah 18, one of my promises to Heavenly Father necessary to keep my covenants with him is to “stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places,” which is also included in the Young Women Theme. I have been reciting this convicting statement ever since I was twelve years old. This means to me that I will act in accordance with His will across all situations and against all opposition. I consider myself lucky that I have not encountered many opposing forces to my faith, however, by reading and understanding this scripture I have learned that the request to stand as a witness of God did not end when I graduated out of the Young Women’s program.

D&C 66:2 says:

“Blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting covenant, even the fullness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories which are to be revealed in the last days.”

God is so good. He provides me with opportunities to exercise faith and trust by allowing me to make covenants with Him. Even though I already experience many benefits from these covenants, He continues to pour out blessings of the fullness of the gospel and offers unfathomable glory in the kingdoms to come. Throughout this semester—by taking a Book of Mormon class and attending temple preparation, by learning more about the sacrament and studying the Plan of Salvation—I have developed my relationship with my Heavenly Father exponentially. I have a better understanding of Christ’s atonement and how it is applicable in my life, and I strive to understand the importance of making and keeping my covenants with God. As stated in the July 2012 Ensign article, “keeping our covenants is a commitment to become like the Savior” (Understanding Our Covenants with God). I am committed to become more like my Savior, Jesus Christ, and thus will strive for the rest of my life to keep the covenants that are made possible through Him. 

Mosiah 1:3-4

“Were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God….Lehi did teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.”

I do not know when I marked these verses, but I am so glad I did. It caused me to pause in my reading and consider what meaning I must have gleaned from them before. One of the most effective ways for me to read scripture is by putting myself in the present situation: when I read those words in Mosiah, I think, “Were it not for these scriptures, I would be suffering in ignorance. The scriptures are given to me at this day for the purpose of fulfilling the commandments of God. My parents used the scriptures to teach me, and one day I must also teach my children the word of God.”

I am so thankful to be born of goodly parents, as Nephi would say. My mom and dad reared me in the gospel and taught me essential truths that carry my testimony today. My dad is a scriptorian, and knows the word of God inside and out. Not only does he know the words, but he also lives them. He is a wonderful example—like Lehi—of teaching the word to his children and “so fulfilling the commandments of God.” I hope to fulfill this commandment as well, when I have a family of my own. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have to study the word of God, and my testimony is strengthened as I do.

Jacob 1:15

“And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own head if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.”

I have held many callings in my life, and that will continue as long as I am active in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of those callings are bound by time, such as “counselor,” “visiting teacher,” and “Relief Society president.” Some of my callings will last forever, such as “big sister,” “daughter,” and “friend.” Some of my callings, like “mother” and “companion,” have not come yet. These callings are all very different, yet they have one thing in common. They all are given to teach me how to serve after the manner of Jesus Christ.

Jacob and Joseph magnified their Priesthood callings. I do not hold the Priesthood, but I know that I can still draw upon its power when fulfilling my own callings. Right now as the RS president of my YSA ward, I feel overwhelmed and emotionally drained. But I also feel so much joy when I am able to get to know the sisters in my ward and serve them. I just pray that I can find time each day to magnify this calling and do my best so that when I answer to God, I can be confident.

Welcome, God.

I am writing my journal this week on my experience with Elder Ballard’s talk, “The Joy of Hope Fulfilled.” The main point that I received from this talk was that the Lord is in control. Elder Ballard quoted Doctrine and Covenants 6:43, which reads, “Fear not little flock. Do good. Look unto God in every thought.”

God has always been an essential part of my home, family, and life in general. I grew up in the gospel and I don’t think a day has gone by when I haven’t communicated with God in at least one blessing of the food with my family. However, in the last few weeks, I have found myself coming closer and closer to this admonishment in my own personal life. I now cherish my relationship with God because I depend on it. He gets me through the hard days and listens no matter what.

One of my dear friends has a habit of praying before every single meal, even at restaurants or in a noisy food court. He doesn’t do it to show off righteousness, it is always very subtle and humble. Recently, I pointed this out to him and said that I really admired that habit (it is one that I could definitely improve on). He told me about a scripture that he came across while on his mission. It is 2 Nephi 32:8 which reads, "For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray."

In a roundabout way, this scripture shows the power that can be drawn from having the Lord in our every thought. The Lord is in control and he is aware of me individually. Jesus Christ has atoned for me and His sacrifice gives me peace, comfort, and refuge. The least I can do in return is to let Him into my life and “look unto Him in every thought.”

Do you ever just delight in the gospel?

On Thursday this week, we discussed a passage in 2 Nephi 11:4-6. It reads:

“4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

 5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.”

We were asked the rhetorical question- do you ever just delight in the gospel? For my journal this week, I want to answer that question with a resounding “Yes!” I delight in the coming of Christ. I delight in knowing that soon I will be able to make more covenants with the Lord in His holy temple. I delight in the grace of the Savior and in His Atonement. I delight in my testimony:

I delight in the Atonement. I know that it can be drawn upon not only for repentance from sin, but for relief from pain, for comfort, for understanding, and much more. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and am only beginning to know and understand Him in my life. I am nowhere close to perfect, but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I can draw closer to Jesus and become more like Him. I strive to emulate His countenance each day.

I delight in my family. They are essential to my happiness. I spend quality time with my family whenever possible, and I believe that by living righteously according to the commandments of God, I can be with them forever, into the eternities.I  know that families are central to Heavenly Father's plan of Salvation and I can't wait to create my own. I delight in my aspiration to be a mother in Israel, and I also hope to rear my children in the teachings of the Church. 

I have a strong testimony of the Word of Wisdom and the gift of our physical bodies. I know that my body is a gift and that I must treat it as a temple of God. Because that's exactly what it is! I have a testimony of temples, and I have no stronger desire than to go to the temple for myself to learn more about God's plan and make lasting covenants with Him. I have an intense testimony of Priesthood power. I know that it is truly the power of God and I am so thankful for men who exercise it worthily.

I delight in the opportunity I had this weekend to review my patriarchal blessing and listen to prophets speak in General Conference. I have a testimony of personal revelation. I know that everyone is entitled to receive their own personal revelation and I have experienced that connection with heaven for myself. I also know that we are led by true and living prophets who receive divine revelations that speak to me directly, and the Church as a whole.

I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon that grows each time I read.  I know it comes from God because it gives me peace and happiness and wonder when I study it. I have felt the spirit of the Restoration in the Sacred Grove and I know and love Joseph Smith. This is just a small inkling of my testimony, but these things I share in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Am I merely a player?

A few days ago in class, we discussed the principle the Elder Bednar taught in a conference address and that Nephi taught in the second chapter of the second book of Nephi: To act, or be acted upon. “To act” is to take initiative and be proactive. It leads to happiness and effectiveness. The difference between being proactive and simply being acted upon is the use of the gift of agency. We are free to choose a) liberty, freedom, and eternal life or b) captivity and death, as taught in the scriptures. There are four essential ingredients that make our choices a matter of agency (like choosing between Sprite and beer, rather than just choosing Sprite or 7-Up). They are:

1. Knowledge of good and evil.

2. Opposition.

3. Law

4. Having the power to choose

I have had many experiences in my life that exhibit the difference between “acting” and being “acted upon.” Most recently is the adjustment into college life. I know from a couple of rough days that if I let myself simply be “acted upon” and not make conscious choices about how I spend my time, I quickly run out of time and find myself stressed and flustered. It is essential for me to make checklists and choices every day in order to fit in all of the necessary things. Relating to the analogy we’ve all heard before- as long as I fit the essential pebbles in my jar first, it is easy to fit the fun sand in between the cracks. I am learning this more and more each day. Some of the choices I make don’t seem to have eternal consequence, but I know that each decision will either benefit or harm my character, and as I strive to choose the things that Jesus would, I can come close to God.

I should really start doing family history work.

This week, we were asked to read an address given by President Uchtdorf in July at a city-wide celebration for the Ogden Temple dedication. He said, “Our pioneer ancestors will be most pleased if you learn something from their sacrifice, and if it makes a difference to you and your children.” He used the hymn “Come, Come Ye Saints” as a point of reference for his talk. Pioneers sang the words, “All is well.” Actually, all was not well, but their happiness was not based on outward circumstances. The pioneers learned to have faith and trust in God. The best way that I can show my gratitude to my pioneer ancestors is by incorporating faithfulness, compassion, love, industry, optimism, and joy into my own life.

I have had many opportunities to learn about my pioneer ancestors. I was lucky enough to attend trek twice- once when I was fourteen, and most recently, this summer. The experiences that I had while re-enacting what the pioneers went through have shaped the person I am today. It gave me a reason to research my own ancestors, and when I learned about the specific things they went through, I felt a connection to them. From this connection, I feel a stronger desire to find my ancestors through FamilySearch and do their temple work. When I have family names to take to the temple, my experience is so much more meaningful and it makes me excited to go through and take out my own endowments. So, you see, learning about my family ties makes them happy, makes me happy, and will benefit my future family for eternities to come.

Avoiding the murmur trap.

Despite having grown up in the same household, same environment, and same time period, there are many things that make Nephi stand apart from his older brothers. In our reading for September 9 (1 Nephi 1-6), I learned about the differences between Nephi and Samuel versus Laman and Lemuel. In class we discussed “filters.” How do I see my life around me?

I have been learning this week especially, as I come in contact with many new people each day, that my filter is unique. I walk down the path from my apartment to campus, and see others walking in the same direction, perhaps even to the same class. I am often preoccupied with my own thoughts. However, I have been trying to be more altruistic this week and consider what others may be seeing through their filters.

Some people may obey because they are afraid of punishment. Some people may obey because it is socially acceptable. Nephi obeyed because he knew God. I strive to be like Nephi in this sense, and make choices based on my testimony, rather than making choices based on what others think of me. In this transition period, it has been interesting to see others make choices without the guidance and encouragement of their parents, and to ponder how I am making those choices. It would be easy to stay out late each night or forego scripture study and prayer. However, I find comfort in the routines that I have grown up with and feel peace when I choose to come closer to God.

In class, we discussed “the murmur trap.” The things that Laman and Lemuel complained about were almost always true. But so what? The problem isn’t the events, but the filter in which we see the events. My goal is to be like Nephi more often, and view my trials and hard experiences as opportunities to learn and grow.

Safety for the Soul

Elder Holland—October 2009

One of the worst large-scale calamities is the enemy of truth. Satan is all around us, at all times. He specifically targets that which he does not have- a body. He also targets the Book of Mormon, because it has brought forth the fullness and restoration of the gospel. The Book of Mormon has been attacked and denied for 179 years, and still it stands true. No amount of research can add up to disprove the Book of Mormon, because there is no other answer. The fullest measure of faith comes through embracing the divinity of the Book of Mormon. I hope that by the end of this class, I will have developed a greater testimony of the Book of Mormon. I believe in its truthfulness, and through that I have a testimony of Joseph Smith, of Jesus Christ, and of the reality of the Second Coming. Now, I just want a better understanding of the teachings and principles that are scattered throughout this great book. Hopefully as I learn more about how I can apply those principles in my life, I will be better prepared to be a missionary, to be a wife and mother, and to face my Savior in the Second Coming. It’s great to read the Book of Mormon; I’ve done that since I was young. But this semester, I want to learn how to truly study and apply the Book of Mormon. I want to live it. And by doing so, I can create “a safety for my soul.”

I'm done?

Wow. What a crazy time. It is so bizarre to think that high school is now officially over. After senior banquet, prom, baccalaureate, seminary graduation, looking back assembly, yearbooks, graduation, and the all-night party, I am physically and emotionally exhausted. Some people had even more things going on...for example, my friend M got engaged the day after we graduated. They're getting married in August. And my friend A opened her mission call tonight. She leaves for the West Indies in October. All of these things and more have been occupying my mind and my time this week, and they were all wonderful!

I had the opportunity to speak at Seminary graduation. I loved it. A lot of people shy away from speaking in public, but as long as I'm prepared (and even when I'm not), I really love it. I am not entirely sure why. The whole meeting was very nice and we heard great testimonies from fellow graduates- the most memorable from Josh. Remember Josh? He has multiple sclerosis from birth and is in a wheel chair. He used to be in my ward before the boundary split, and I've had a lot of opportunities to get to know him. And he has had a lot of opportunities to get to know and understand the Lord. I cannot imagine living such a restricted life...Josh is physically incapable of so many things. But that does not stop him. Even though it is hard to understand the words he speaks, the Spirit he invites into the room is amazing. He is so close to the Lord as a result of his trials and handicap. He inspires me.

Thursday felt like four separate days. It is crazy to think that this was only one year ago for my dearest friends, who are now all over the world serving the Lord. I got to hang my tennis racket on the memory wall at the Looking Back assembly and it was so emotional! Tennis is probably one of the things I will miss the most about high school. I was on yearbook staff this year and the yearbooks turned out great. We then went to lunch with a group of my closest friends and our parents, and the graduation ceremony was in the afternoon. It wasn't as terribly long as I expected it to be. Okay, here's the best part: J RAPPED for his graduation speech. And it was amazing!! Haha. Just imagine. I got to lead the class onto the floor and sit front and center the whole time. Perks of being a nerd, I guess.

After the ceremony, I went to dinner with my parents and grandparents and then to the all-night party. Sooo amazing. I cannot even tell you. It was so fun.

Now I am just trying to come to grips with the fact that I'M DONE. What? After all that hard work, and long days, and no sleep, and fun friends, and careless attitudes, and silly teachers, and busy work, and speed dips...I'm just done? The end came so fast, and now I have one summer before my life as a college student and a real, live adult begins.

So, enough about that. Here are some gems from Preach My Gospel. During the last General Conference address, we were challenged to read and study PMG with our missionaries. It is a missionary tool, but all members of the Church can use it everyday. I have loved taking this challenge with my missionaries and receiving feedback from them! Today, I would like to point out Chapter 4, How do I recognize and understand the Spirit, especially in reference to receiving personal revelation. I LOVE PERSONAL REVELATION. I love reading my patriarchal blessing. Different words and phrases and meanings and feelings and burnings in my heart jump out at me each time I do. In PMG, it says that Joseph Smith said that personal revelation is vital for our daily work. So, I would like to make a goal to read my patriarchal blessing more often with personal scripture study, and extend the same challenge to you. It makes me feel so happy to know that Heavenly Father knows and loves me enough to provide a personal blessing. Just for me. To lead and guide me through happy and hard times. To remind me of my spiritual gifts- gifts that He gave me so that I can bless His other children with the gospel. 

As I read my blessing, I can be prompted through the Holy Ghost and I have several experiences with this so far... One blessing I am promised is to receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I have a gift of faith, and I have faith that the Book of Mormon is true. I have never received a special experience that testifies that to me, personally, though. But I know that "faith without works is dead" so I am working to become more diligent in my scripture study so that I may have that strong assurance of my faith and testify to others- perhaps on a mission, just at school, or in my home.

Now that summer has begun, hopefully blogging will not continue to fall to the bottom of my priority list. There are no grades for me to maintain, only health and love and happiness. So here's to all of those good things and the beginning of my last "carefree" summer.

Press Forward

This year I have the opportunity to serve on our seminary council. What a timely calling! I have already learned so much about myself and my testimony. During the summer, the council searched The Book of Mormon to find a theme that could benefit Viewmont students, not only in seminary, but in every aspect of their lives. It was an eye-opening experience that taught me about the process of revelation. After much discussion, consideration, and prayer, we felt unified in our impression that 2 Nephi 31:20 is to be our theme for 2013:

I must press forward. Notice the word "must". It is not an option. I will press forward by acting on promptings of the Spirit, big or small.

With a steadfastness in Christ. I looked up steadfastness, and one definition I found is "unwavering faith". With unwavering faith in Christ. As I am making important decisions that will affect the rest of my life, I need to go forward with decisions and know that He will provide a way. I will have faith in Christ by trusting His timing.

Having a perfect brightness of hope. Faith, hope, and charity are three best friends. Faith is in Jesus Christ, hope is in His atonement, and charity is the pure love of Christ. Hope is my personal favorite part of this verse...it affects every aspect of my life. I have hope that I will survive high school, I have hope that I can grow in the gospel, and I have hope that I will have a family of my own one day. (Read my favorite talk about hope here) I will have hope by looking for the good in every situation.

And a love of God and all of men. I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves me and I love Him. In fact, we are all His children and all have divine potential. President Monson counseled us to see people not as they are at present, but how they can become. I will show my love to God by following His commandments and I will love others by trying to see them through God's eyes.

Feasting upon the word of Christ. We have all known our parts of speech since elementary school...what is feasting? It's a verb. It's an active verb. In order to feast, we can implement the advice given to us in the primary song "Search, Ponder, and Pray". I will feast by putting my spiritual studies above my studies in school.

And endure to the end. Enduring is not merely surviving. It is intended to be difficult, but ultimately, refining. We have the gift of the Atonement, so we must repent. We must have the Holy Ghost with us. We must serve others and become one in our Savior. We must share the gospel with others. And we must maintain faith and hope in Christ (Elder L. Tom Perry). I will endure to the end by learning that the Lord loves and supports me in my endeavors, as long as they are His will.

And here comes the promise...

I can have eternal life.

And you can too.

Wherefore, you must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if you shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

My capacity to love and understand the gospel is growing. My faith is growing. My seed is planted and my roots are growing deeper with each passing day. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I love my family. I want to gain a greater understanding of the Atonement. I am willing to try my faith and study to attain this knowledge...and what better way to do it than in seminary? I am so excited to study the Book of Mormon this year, and hope to be able to share it with many others.