The Future Is As Bright As Your Faith

I think of this phrase often when I see or hear about tragedies and trials:  "The future is as bright as your faith." President Thomas S. Monson said it in 2009.  (Link to his speech:

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/05/be-of-good-cheer?lang=eng )

In it, he says: "It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future... if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives...  [F]ocus instead on our blessings...   Paul declared, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”¹

... How might we have joy in our lives, despite all that we may face? ... “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”³     The history of the Church in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, is replete with the experiences of those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer as they have made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives. This attitude is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. It will not remove our troubles from us but rather will enable us to face our challenges, to meet them head on, and to emerge victorious."-  President Monson

I'm thinking about this today while one of my closest friends, at age 48, lies in the hospital after a C-section with a struggling preemie that was born yesterday.  I'm scared for both of them.  I'm praying for both of them. But I know that even the most loving and fervent prayers for the most deserving and beautiful people are sometimes met with a "no" by our loving Heavenly Father whose wisdom and love exceeds our own understanding.  Yet I pray, and I hope that they will be okay.  My friend is too weak and depressed to have visitors, she texted me.  So all I can do is pray, and I am.

Another quote is coming to my mind today and yesterday. "If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong."   Link to quote/article:  http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/05/faith-in-adversity?lang=eng&query=nothing+can+ever+go+permanently+wrong

"President Howard W. Hunter said: “If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right.”

There is a peace and consolation that only God can give for certain unbearable pains. Sometimes, that peace of God is the only thing that makes sense. We keep the willingness to feel the pain that accompanies love, while keeping our faith so strong that there is a living God who is aware and involved and who will balance the scales and wipe away all our tears in the end.  We will be happy together, in the end, if not right now.

http://bcove.me/k6qq109j   This video that I recommended on my last post is the answer that the suffering or scared believers need. The Savior told his apostles, at the Last Supper before he was to be killed (and later resurrected) that they would have trials but that they should not fear. They should love one another and have peace. Watch it if you are scared or sad. It is a real, quiet source of strength.  It is a reminder that we are in this together, with Jesus leading us, and we will be okay.

Idea for a meaningful Easter

This link to a video is valuable. http://bcove.me/k6qq109j  

The Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples is depicted slowly, thoughtfully, without rushing. The words of the Savior to His apostles, the peace and courage he gave them, the commandment to love one another-- it is all so beautiful and meaningful.

I think watching this video with my family will make Easter more meaningful this year.

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

Good Friday and Good Easter -

Today is Good Friday, the day millions celebrate Jesus giving his body and soul on the cross, taking the weight of punishment for every sin of every person, out of obedience to His Heavenly Father.  I am feeling quiet and awed.  It makes me want to be more willing to do whatever I should, and more loving.

Easter represents hope.

Without Easter, there is only despair.  We either believe that Easter is true-- there literally was a resurrection of Jesus Christ, and there'll be a literal, physical resurrection for all humanity-- or we don't believe it.  No gray area.

If you don't believe, what purpose is there?  Anything meaningful is like a wildflower, glorious one day, and dust the next. 

I believe in the miracle of Easter.  I believe in the literal resurrection: bodies together with spirits, for everyone.  Joyfully!  The resurrection will be a free gift to everyone, whether or not we follow God at all.

The New Testament says:

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

... even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15: 20-22).

And the Book of Mormon says:

Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. (Alma 11: 44)

On a related topic:

Last night, at bedtime, C.E. said it didn't make sense: baptisms of people who lived before Jesus was born couldn't count.  She said that he hadn't paid for their sins yet, and he hadn't been resurrected yet.

I said that it was like A.J.'s little "I-owe-you" papers.  You can't take a scrap with "I owe A.J. 50 cents" to the bank or the mall because it doesn't count; it's not Real. But you keep it in your piggy bank with faith that someday that scrap of a promise will become something Real.  It turns into something Real when you trade it for real money from your mom.

This conversation reminded me of my own thoughts as a nine-year-old kid, attending the Calvary Christian School in New Hampshire.  I loved that we learned about Jesus from the New Testament every morning, before any other subject, at that school.  I could feel the holy spirit of what was being taught. 

But there were limits to what those teachers could teach me.  They didn't have the Book of Mormon. And I was not a Mormon.  One day, my 4th grade teacher answered my question, "What will happen to my Morfar (Grandfather) who died without believing in Jesus?" by telling me that Morfar would have to be in hell with all who are not "saved".  Horrible.

When the (Mormon) missionaries taught me that there was definitely missionarywork taking place in the world of the dead, just like here on earth, it made sense.

D & C 138: 57-58 says "...Faithful elders...when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God... in the great world of the spirits of the dead. The dead who repent will be redeemed..."

God provides a chance for everyone.  Even a nine-year-old can understand these things.

President Monson's Marching Orders

I liked this person's post so much that I am copying and pasting the whole thing.  (From http://www.gentlyhewstone.wordpress.com/ )

President Monson’s Marching Orders  --Posted by Huston on April 13, 2011

"After every General Conference, my family tries to study the prophet’s talks to see what he wants us to work on, and we make a list of those priorities.  We usually summarize them in our own words, but this list is mostly copied and pasted directly from his text.  You might find more or less than these, but we saw 30 things he directly instructs Latter-day Saints to do:

Saturday Morning–Introduction
1. May we continue to be faithful in performing such ordinances, not only for ourselves but also for our deceased loved ones who are unable to do so for themselves.
2. Thank you, as well, for your faithfulness in paying your tithes and offerings and for your generosity in contributing to the other funds of the Church.
3. May I suggest that if you are able, you might consider making a contribution to the General Missionary Fund of the Church.

Priesthood Session

1. May we be worthy recipients of the divine power of the priesthood we bear.[start of talk] –> Safeguard it, treasure it, live worthy of it. [end of talk]
2. May it [priesthood] bless our lives and may we use it to bless the lives of others.
3. Many movies and television shows portray behavior which is in direct opposition to the laws of God. Do not subject yourself to the innuendo and outright filth which are so often found there.
4. I am sorry that any of us is subjected to profane language, and I plead with you not to use it. I implore you not to say or to do anything of which you cannot be proud.
5. Stay completely away from pornography. Do not allow yourself to view it, ever.
6. Avoid alcohol and tobacco or any other drugs, also addictions which you would be hard pressed to conquer.
7. If you have not read the Book of Mormon, read it.
8. If you do not already have a testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one.
9. Once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through obedience to the commandments of God and through regular prayer and scripture study. Attend church. You young men, attend seminary or institute if such is available to you.
10. Should there be anything amiss in your life, [repent].
11. [young men, get married]
12. Choose a companion carefully and prayerfully; and when you are married, be fiercely loyal one to another.
13. She is not to be demeaned or insulted but should be respected and loved.
14. If any of you are having difficulty in your marriage, I urge you to do all that you can to make whatever repairs are necessary.
15. Do not let your marriage get to the point where it is in jeopardy.
16. discipline ourselves so that we stand above the ways of the world. It is essential that we be honorable and decent men. Our actions must be above reproach.

Sunday Morning–Temples

1. If you have been to the temple for yourselves and if you live within relatively close proximity to a temple, your sacrifice could be setting aside the time in your busy lives to visit the temple regularly.
2. If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple….Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is.
3. Now, my young friends who are in your teenage years, always have the temple in your sights. Do nothing which will keep you from entering its doors and partaking of the sacred and eternal blessings there.
4. may I share with you some sage advice from President Spencer W. Kimball. Said he: “It would be a fine thing if … parents would have in every bedroom in their house a picture of the temple so [their children] from the time [they are] infant[s] could look at the picture every day [until] it becomes a part of [their lives].
5. I plead with you to teach your children of the temple’s importance.
6. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation.
7. may we make whatever sacrifices are necessary to attend the temple and to have the spirit of the temple in our hearts and in our homes.
8. May we follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, that we might have eternal life and exaltation in our Heavenly Father’s kingdom.

Sunday Afternoon-Conclusion

1. May we long remember the messages we have heard. As we receive the issues of the Ensign and Liahona magazines which will contain these messages in written form, may we read and study them.
2. May we be good citizens of the nations in which we live and good neighbors in our communities, reaching out to those of other faiths as well as to those of our own.
3. May we be examples of honesty and integrity wherever we go and in whatever we do."