I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I joined back in 1964 after a long struggle with faith. I had loved the Savior ever since I could remember, but the church of my youth deserted me as it moved into the intellect movement of the 60's. Without spiritual guidance, I fell away. The Lord distinguished between the words of my mouth and the longing of my heart. He knew that I wanted to believe and so he sent a young woman who told me the story of the Restored Gospel. She bore her testimony of Jesus Christ and promised me that I could know for myself and have my own testimony.

Now forty-six years later I can only thank her from the bottom of my heart for introducing me to the church. Indeed I do have my own testimony. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, called to restore Christ's church to the earth. We have a prophet today who leads and guides us. I am so grateful for Latter-day scriptures that bear testimony of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It stands as another witness of the Savior and it's truths have touched my life in very personal ways.

I hope that my poetry reflects the growth of my testimony and my love for Jesus Christ.
Showing posts with label SCRIPTURES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SCRIPTURES. Show all posts

Surrounded by Peace

I do love mornings.  It is a quiet and reverent time when you can be alone.  It is my time for reading the scriptures, for prayer and for meditation.  There will be no phone calls nor texts nor emails to distract me.  I can be alone for just a little while and there find myself surrounded by peace. 

In the study guide for President Spencer W. Kimball, it tells about a time when he was recuperating from an illness and was staying with some friends.  One morning, they found the bed empty and assumed he had gone for a walk.  When he had not returned by 10:00 a.m., they began to worry and a search began.  "He was finally discovered several miles away under a pine tree.  His Bible lay next to him, opend to the last chapter of St. John.  His eyes were closed, and when the search party came up to him he remained as still as when they first caught sight of him.

"Their frightened voices aroused him, however, and when he lifted his head they could see traces of tears on his cheeks.  To their questions, he answered, 'Five years ago today I was called to be an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I just wanted to spend the day with Him whose witness I am.'"

I have been inspired by this story to change my paradigm of prayer and scripture study.  I like to think that mornings are when I just spend a little time with the Lord.


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The Scriptures

For many, many years I have read the scriptures daily.  I love the stories of Jesus the most but within all of the books of the Bible and the Book of Mormon are certain passages that are special to me.  We all have our favorites.  I am partial to the 23rd Psalm, the Sermon on the Mount, Paul's discourse on charity, Alma's words at the waters of Mormon (and about a hundred others).  However, at a time in my life when I was really searching for some answers, I discovered something.  As I really searched the scriptures and when my heart was open to learn, I began to find my answers right there in those books I had read so many times before.  It was like words just jumped off the page as I read.  Often I had never remembered reading them before.  It was an amazing discovery.   It is one of the nicest gifts the Lord has given to me - to us.  To all of us.  He speaks to us through the words of scripture written long ago and preserved so that we might be so touched.

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My Favorite Scripture

Do you have a favorite scripture?  When I was just a little girl I did. I loved the 23rd Psalm because it reminded me that the Lord is always watching over me and I didn't have to be afraid.  But seventy years have come and gone and the list has grown.  I can honestly say I never tire of reading all of our scriptures. How could you tire of reading such passages as these:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul:  He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. . . 

 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth  forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile— Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;  That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.  
This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Such examples are just a brief glimpse of my love affair with the scriptures.

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