The Healing Power of the Atonement

The Healing Power of the Atonement

This week as I was reading the beginning chapters of Alma I came to a set of verses that have had a big influence on my life in the past few years.

Several years ago I was introduced to a book by John Bytheway entitled “When Times are Tough, 5 Scriptures That Will Help You Get through Almost Anything”. As I read this book I was moved by the lessons taught about the Savior and his love for us and his knowledge of what we will experience here on this earth. Little did I know at the time how much these scriptures would come to help me through my own tough time.

A few months after reading this book a very good friend of mine became very sick. I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time taking him to Dr’s appointments and to clinics. During this time we spent lots of time talking about life, family and things of the gospel. Although he was sick I was not prepared for the phone call I received from his wife one morning early, telling me that my friend had passed away. How could this be, he was young, he had a young family and wife. I felt so much grief for his children, for his sweet wife and for myself. I had grown to enjoy our talks and his advice and friendship and now he was gone. I had never been so sad. I was not sure how to help his wife and children and deal with my loss at the same time.

That is when I remembered one of the scriptures that I had read in the book by John Bytheway. It is found in Alma 7:11-12. “And he (the son of God) shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities”

This is when I truly understood all that was the Atonement. It was not just for sin, in fact sin is not listed in these verses. The Savior knew what I was feeling, He understood what sorrow I was feeling and if I would allow Him he would help me through those feelings and help me to understand  his plan.

As I came to understand that he would succor me, or he would come to me and take from me the pain then I was able to let those feelings of sadness and pain go. I was able to be with his sweet wife and to, I hope, be her friend and to help take some of her pain from her.

Elder Oakes teaches us this: “The Savior teaches that we will have tribulation in the world, but we should "be of good cheer" because He has "overcome the world." His Atonement reaches and is powerful enough not only to pay the price for sin but also to heal every mortal affliction.” I am thankful for the power of the Atonement and that He freely gives to us His sacrifice. I know that his atonement is for all of us if we will just reach out to him and accept his love.

Worship...my responsibility

This week as I have been reading in the beginning of Mosiah a particular theme caught my attention and that was WORSHIP. As I read about King Benjamin and how he called the people to him and what he taught them I was very interested in that theme of coming to meetings and learning and worshiping

The first verse that impressed me was Mosiah 2:5, “And it camp to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate from each other.” As I read this verse I was so thankful that we worship as families. That we as a family have always sat together at church, not with friends or apart but as a family and “every family separate from each other”. In an article by E. Jeffrey Hill a contributor for the Church News gave several ideas about ways that we could worship as a family on the Sabbath. They are as follows:

1. Get to bed early on Saturday Night- family members can better worship together if they are rested.
2. Pray and read together- “just because Sunday is different, do not get out of the weekday routine of family prayer and scripture reading”
3. Give Priesthood Blessings- this is a day to turn our hearts to each other, also share patriarchal blessings with each other.
4. Fast as a Family- There is strength and learning that happens as we fast and pray together
5. Proclaim the Gospel
6. Redeem the Dead- Sunday is a great day to do family history work as a family

The next verse about worship that I as drawn to was that of Mosiah 2:9, “…for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you would harken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.” As I read this verse I thought about my own personal worship and how do I come to hear those things being taught in my meetings? Have I prepared myself to hear, understand and have the mysteries unfolded to me? A quote from President Kimball explains that our personal worship is our responsibility. “We do not go to Sabbath meetings to be entertained or even solely to be instructed. We go to worship the Lord. It is an individual responsibility, and regardless of what is said from the pulpit, if one wishes to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, he may do so by attending his meetings, partaking of the sacrament, and contemplating the beauties of the gospel. If the service is a failure to you, you have failed. No one can worship for you; you must do your own waiting upon the Lord”

My worship is my responsibility. I must come to church each week prepared to be taught by the spirit and to have His mysteries unfolded to me.

Strategies of the Devil

This week has been a week with lots of new information and understanding about how the Lord would have his church run and how He would ask us to live and obey him. With so many weighing in on social media, I found that I was torn back and forth on what was truth and what Heavenly Father would want me to do and understand. I was thankful for my study in the scriptures this week as I concentrated on the strategies of the devil in these the latter days. I desire to understand how the devil works and recognize in my life when he is putting things in my path that are there to cause me to stumble. It takes work and diligence to stay steady and when we begin to stumble to increase our hold on the rod of iron, or the word of God, and steady ourselves against the false doctrine and strategies that promote “the kingdom of the devil” (2 Nephi 28:19)
 I found in my study this week the words of Bishop Richard C Edgley of the Presiding Bishopric to bring great comfort and warning. He warned about the reality and attacks of the advisory:
“We have … had very specific warnings regarding Satan’s power, influence, and determination. Nephi prophesied more than twenty-five hundred years ago of the trials and turbulence that you would face. You all know the scripture. It is found in the 28th chapter of 2 Nephi: “For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all s well- and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” [2 Nephi 28:20–21] “I believe this scripture is true. I believe the time is now. And I believe the target is you. For the most part, Satan has made great strides in establishing and selling his value system, which is based upon the son of man, not the Son of God: ‘Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die’ (2 Nephi 28:7) and ‘There is no hell’ (2 Nephi 28:22). His is a value system based upon selfishness, self-indulgence, and immediate gratification. Thus we see devastating decisions constantly being made by those of your age. We see cultures infested with drugs, sex, alcohol, pornography, laziness, and many other spiritually devastating practices. But that does not have to be you. “President Gordon B. Hinckley has warned us and pleaded with us: ‘I wish to say in the strongest language of which I am capable, stay away from moral iniquity. You know what is right and wrong. You cannot use ignorance as an excuse for unacceptable behavior. … “‘I beg of you, my dear young friends, to avoid such behavior. It will not be easy. It will require self-discipline. … You need the strength that comes of prayer’ (“To Men of the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 58–59)”
 President Hinckley asks that we stay away from that which Satan would make look appealing. We must head the warning issued by Isaiah “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” ((Isaiah 5:20) We must stand for what is right and we need to be strong and call upon the Lord in prayer to help us to withstand the evil that is so prevalent in our communities.

My Soul Delighteth

This week in my Book of Mormon study we began to read the words of Isaiah in 2 Nephi.  Just before those writings in 2 Nephi 11:4-5 we read “Behold, my soul delighteth proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ…And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made unto our fathers; yea my soul delighteth in his grace and his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death”.  As I was doing some research on these verses I found some interesting information about the phrase “My soul dedighteth in”. 

This phrase, “My Soul Delighteth In” occurs only in the writings of Nephi upon the small plates in the Book of Mormon.  Here is a list of those times:

·         2 Nephi 4:15  “My soul delighteth in th scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and profit of my children”
·         2 Nephi 4:16 “My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard”
·         2 Nephi 11:2 “My soul delighteth in his (Isaiah’s) words”
·         2 Nephi 11:4 “My soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of the Christ”
·         2 Nephi 11:5 “My soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers”
·         2 Nephi 11:5 “My soul delighteth in his grace and in his justice an power and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death”
·         2 Nephi 25:4 “My soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn”
·         2 Nephi 25:5 “My soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah…”
·         2 Nephi 25:13 “My soul delighteth to prophesy concerning (Christ)”
·         2 Nephi 25:13 “My soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men.”

All of these scriptures talk about those things that bring delight or joy to the prophet Nephi.  As I read over these items I wondered if I take the time to delight and give thanks for these things and the many more that are given to me by my Father in Heaven. 

It is my testimony that I do delight in the scriptures, that they bring great understanding to me of my purpose here on the earth and the Fathers plan for me.  I am learning to delight in the words of Isaiah, and also the other prophets in the scriptures.  My soul delights in missionary work and the bringing of the word of God that they may know of the coming of Christ.  My soul delights in covenants, that I have been baptized and that I am sealed to my husband and children.  That the Lord has given me promises that he will bless me when I am obedient to his commandments.  As I continue to grow and understand grace and mercy my soul delights in those promises of the Atonement that include grace and mercy.  And most of all my soul delighteth in plainness.  I am grateful that the gospel is plain and not complicated, that the love of our Savior is plain and freely given.  I delight that the Lord works among the children of man and I have the privilege to be a recipient of this work here on the earth. 

Ponderize

After watching conference I was super motivated by a talk given by Devin Durrant, First Councilor in the Sunday School Presidency.  He spoke about pondering the scriptures.  He called the task "Ponderizing".  I was instantly moved by what he said and knew that it needed to be a part of my life. Here is what he said:

 I invite you to “ponderize” one verse of scripture each week. The word ponderize is not found in the dictionary, but it has found a place in my heart. So what does it mean to ponderize? I like to say it’s a combination of 80 percent extended pondering and 20 percent memorization.

There are two simple steps:

First, choose a verse of scripture each week and place it where you will see it every day.

Second, read or think of the verse several times each day and ponder the meaning of its words and key phrases throughout the week.

Imagine the uplifting results of doing this weekly for six months, a year, 10 years, or more.

As you make this effort, you will feel an increase in spirituality. You will also be able to teach and lift those you love in more meaningful ways.

So I am into my second week of Ponderizing and I love it!  There is such power in the time spent thinking about the scriptures and the time spend memorizing the details and concepts that are shown within.  I plan on continuing the act of Ponderizing and hope that many will join me!  

Here is a link to Brother Durrants talk:  

• MY HEART PONDERETH THEM CONTINUALLY

Remembering and Revelation

In 1 Nephi 17:45, Nephi asks his brothers why “ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord our God”.  I wonder about times in my life that I have been slow to remember the Lord.  In remembering the Lord we will become more obedient to him.

 I remembered a time when at the beach we lost our toddler.  I was in a panic that he had gone into the water and we would have lost him.  After searching for a bit in a fit of panic, my Mom and I knelt in prayer on the beach and asked the Lord to help us find that sweet boy.  Moments later we were told that he had been found and they were bringing him back. This was a miracle in my life that sometimes I forget.   I do not remember that when I am having a trial no matter how big or small I can call upon the Lord to help me.  

Later in that same verse we see that Nephi describes his brothers as “past feeling” in reference to the still small voice, or the voice of the Lord.  Elder Boyd K Packer tells us that “revelation comes as words we feel more than words we hear.” (PersonalRevelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise, Boyd K Packer, Oct 1994) How true I have found this to be in my life.  When I am living my life in a way that allows for free flowing of the spirit I am able to feel the word of the spirit guiding me. 

How grateful I am to the scriptures to help me to learn those things that the Lord wants for me in my life.  I am thankful that the Lord is also patient with me and continues to send revelation to me through the spirit and through my searching the scriptures diligently.  

Steadfast and Firm

This week I have been drawn to the idea of knowing what is in the scriptures and why I need to know it.  Words like Firm, Steadfast, Diligent, and Seek are all words that have stuck with me. 

I have thought about Laman and Lemuel, the elder brothers of Nephi found in the Book of Mormon. Why did they have such a hard time?  What made them murmur so often? And, do I find myself murmuring against my Father?

Lehi, the father of Lamen and Lemuel expresses his desires for his sons in 1 Nephi 2:9-10.  Here it states:

"O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountian of righteousness! And he also spake to Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!"

Lehi wanted his sons to have the blessings that would come through following the commandments of God but they were resistant to do what was needed to have those blessings. 

In verse 12 of the same chapter we see that they have begun to murmur against their father and we find out why they were murmuring. "And they murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God that had created them."

If we are not immersed in God’s word than we will not know him and we will not be steadfast and immovable, but will begin to murmur against the Lord.

There is a wonderful talk given by Sister Elaine S Dalton entitled "Press forward and be Steadfast” that speaks to my desire to follow the Savior.  I know that it will not always be easy to follow him or to do all that he asks but I do know that if I will follow him he will give me his greatest gift, eternal life. 

INTRODUCTION

Hi, I am a Stay at Home Mom gone back to school.  As part of my going back, I have decided to start a blog to write about my experiences.  In particular I will be writing about what I learn as I Search the Scriptures Diligently.  

In 2 Nephi 4:15 we read, "For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and profit of my children."

I am like Nephi in that my soul delighteth in the scriptures and I am going to keep this blog for the learning and profit of my children.

I hope that as you read what is written here you will send feedback and insight that you have about the topics posted.