The first "product" I would like to share is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have been a participant of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my entire life. I was baptized at eight, not because of tradition (though that helped) but because I knew the commitment I was making was right. Over the years, I have learned line upon line (and had to back track a few times to learn again) that the Gospel is true. I know that accepting Jesus Christ into my life makes my life better and makes me a better person. On those days that I don't make a conscious effort to have Him in life, I have REALLY bad days. How do I bring Christ into my life? Prayer is first. I try every morning to pray to my Heavenly Father in the name of His Son. I talk to Him. Sometimes, I plead. I remember to give thanks. He answers - sometimes through thoughts that come to me, sometimes through a calm feeling of peace, sometimes a rebuke for not living His commandments, sometimes a voice speaks clearly to my mind. And yes, sometimes, there is nothing a all - but as was stated to Oliver Cowdery, in Doctrine and Covenants 9:9, "But if it be not right you shall have not such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of though that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong;..." And I try to pray throughout the day - not a formal prayer, but little conversations. Mostly, these little prayers are to give thanks for protection or helping me to not make a mistake or to find whatever I'm looking for.
Second is scripture reading. Reading the scriptures are the words of God to us. They are guidance that He has prepared for us over the ages. Literally, the wisdom of the ages. Sometimes, they seem to apply to my daily life. Sometimes, they seem to apply to the world at large. Sometime, I just don't get what is being conveyed to me. And sometimes, I seem to get the joke. I'm humbled to know that the words have been prepared and preserved so that I might benefit from them (if I choose to use them).
Third is repentance. Through prayer and scripture reading, I learn where I need to improve my life. It's not easy, but it's worth it. I am constantly reminded of the words of King Benjamin, "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meeking, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19) I see this in myself and see it in others.
Fourth is family. For seventeen years I was fortunate enough to stay home with my children. As the children have matured, we have had to make adjustments to our schedules and our DMO. But we still do what we can to be together. We have family prayer almost every morning and evening. We have family scripture reading almost every evening. We have family home evening weekly. We have family meeting weekly. We have family dinner nightly. We attend church together at least weekly. My husband and I have a weekly date most times. Now that we travel together to work, we have companion study almost each morning, which usually consists of reading from the Ensign. Sports didn't work for our family. Theater did. We are fortunate to home school. We work together to make our house a home.
The Gospel permeates my life. I'm not perfect at living the Gospel, yet. It is constant work, but as Christ said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29) This is true. When I'm consciously living the Gospel, I have peace. That doesn't mean my problems have disappeared (though sometimes that has miraculously happened through His grace), but they are easier to bear and solutions are presented.
I know the answer to the ills of our world. It is each person having faith in Jesus Christ, repenting and making a commitment to Him that would heal us all. His promises are sure. I have seen the promises fulfilled in my own life. I invite you as Moroni of old, "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:4-5)
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P.S. I'm asking in advance for all readers to forgive my blogger inadequacies. I'm learning and I will get better.
