The Gospel of Jesus Christ is True

This phrase commonly said in testimonies contains important understanding and teachings. To be in Christ's church "ye must take upon you the name of Christ" and the church must be "built upon [Christ's] gospel," (2 Ne 27:5,8). What is Christ's gospel? This question is answered in verses 13 through 22 in 2 Nephi 27. Gospel refers to the "good news" of the atonement that Christ paid the price for our sins that we might return to God and live with our families forever. In verses 13 through 15 it discusses Christ's part in the Gospel, and 16 to 21 is our part and the doctrine. The gospel and doctrine we must follow includes repentance, baptism, enduring to the end, etc. 

What is the difference between "I know the church is true" and "I know the gospel is true"? 
We were asked this in my Book of Mormon class, and we created some annalogies to correlate church and the gospel. Here are a few:

        Hogwarts is like Church as magic is like the Gospel
        Hospital is like Church as treatment is like the Gospel
        A sailboat is like Church as the wind is like the Gospel
        Body is like Church as the spirit is like the Gospel
        University is like Church as classes and teaching are like the Gospel

This helped me discover the difference between Church and Gospel. For the Church is dynamic and changes with different people and buildings, but the gospel is constant through the teachings and good feeling. The gospel is the doctrine of Christ and is perfect. Therefore both can be true, but the phrase "I know the (church/gospel) is true" has different meanings.

I've loved these intreaging things I've learned in my Book of Mormon class and Gospel Doctrine. I love learning more about Christ, this church, and the gospel. I loved this quote that I found that says, "Jesus Christ knows each of us personally. If we but reach out, we can know Him too." (https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ) I've loved studying the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon) in more depth this year to find Christ and God in each scripture and page. 

If you haven't seen the Christmas video for this year go to mormon.org and you will be amazed by the power the video has with very few words. I love the spirit brings and I challenge you to accept the Christmas challenge. There are a few things that you can do each day of December to grow closer to Christ through service and love. Do it! It starts on December 1st and the theme is "Jesus lifted others' burdens and so can you."

#LIGHTtheWORLD
www.mormon.org
Melissa Longhurst
Laugh Love Inspire Smile

   

Give Thanks!

In church this week, a friend of mine spoke about the times we feel and show our gratitude. Yes, there are specific holidays for people and individual events to be grateful for. There's much more we can show our gratitude for each day and week. He spoke of the opportunity we have each week to worship and have a day of rest, for this day is a perfect time to show our thanks.

I found many inspiring quotes this week about thankfulness. I love to think of gratitude in prayer. An important message comes from Alma 34:38 "That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." There's so much to be grateful for; nevertheless, it just depends on what you choose to focus on. Wherefore "learn to pray not because you need something but because you ought to thank him [for] everything."


President Thomas S. Monson remarked, "To live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven." I love the thought of keeping gratitude in our hearts brings us closer to God, angels, and those we love. Remember you're loved deeply!

"Because he loves you he will find you" - Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Melissa Longhurst
Laugh Love Inspire Smile

Patience and Trust

          I love the stories of Stephen Jones in the article, "One Question That Puts Life in Perspective"(https://www.lds.org/blog/one-question-that-puts-life-in-perspective?cid=HP_TH_10-11-2016_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2-2_). In the conclusion of some of his experiences he shares,

           "Two months after saying no to an opportunity that didn’t feel right, two months of struggling financially, the phone call came. A teaching position had opened up near my home and they offered me a job. It came right when I needed it, right when I was at my lowest. And after that call I looked up and said, 'I trust you. I trust you.'

           God knew me. He had answered my prayers. But He made me wait on it. He made me stretch. And sometimes He does that—even when we want good things, even when we’re focused on things that will matter in 1,000 years. The point is if you trust Him, He will never let you down, because He looks out for us today, tomorrow, 1,000 years from now, and for eternity. "

          I love the messages told within the personal experiences of Stephen Jones, and I love to remember the parallels from my Teachings and Doctrines of the Book of Mormon class. Within third Nephi, Nephi "cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold the voice of the Lord came unto him..." (3 Nephi 1:12). Wherefore, then questioning God's choice to keep the knowledge of the sign's coming from him for so long when people's lives were on the line. When he poured out his soul, all he believed he could, Nephi continued to stretch and discover more that was in his soul. God waited to respond to Nephi in order to help him understand more about himself, his own soul, and created opportunity and growth for him to become more like God.

Love Inspire Smile
Melissa Longhurst

Joy and Grief

Choosing and studying a question helped me reflect on this past year and how to continue onward. The question “How can I find and feel joy through times of trouble and loss of a loved one?”, focuses on finding peace and understanding inner thoughts and feelings. I found myself engaged and applying the words of modern day prophets to my everyday life through the stories shared and discussed. “Suffering is universal; how we react to suffering is individual.” Your Sorrow Shall Be Turned to Joy by Robert D. Hales, for the sorrows remain inevitable but many reactions towards others and ourselves come from each challenge.

This past March my youngest brother, Eric, passed away. There’s not a defined line between time for grief and joy in these situations. Many situations involving the loss of a loved one have a variety of those experiences and a variety of people who are affected in different ways. In the past months, my mind has felt foggy at times about my understanding of myself and how I am truly doing. Somedays I’ve forgotten entirely about the situation, and other times I feel guilty for not feeling sorrowful. Of course God does not intend for us to remain overwhelmed with grief constantly, but at times I don’t know how to balance my thoughts of sadness with the surprisingly evident times of joy and happiness. Nevertheless, how might I control and understand my emotions, of sadness, love, and joy, to better understand myself?

To more fully understand this confusion of joy and grief, I found a beautiful talk entitled “The Healing Power of Grief” by Steven Eastmond. He states, “one can feel both sadness and peace at the same time,” this created understanding of God’s purpose and plan of grief and how it isn’t simply overwhelming sadness that can consume us from day to day. Later in the talk Brother Eastmond describes, “grief is the price we pay for loving someone- and that the price is worth it.” Although heartbreaking in some instances of hardship, grief keeps our memories full of experiences with the loved one and can bring peace. Christ’s knowledge of your specific challenges brings an opportunity to keep an understanding and active relationship with him. At times I take this knowledge for granted, but through faith and study to receive answers, my relationship yearns for a stronger friendship.

A quote found in Russell M. Nelson’s talk entitled Joy and Spiritual Survival, and further quoting Hebrews 2 he says, “As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, ‘who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.’ Think of that! In order for him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy!”

Another topic I’ve had in my mind is about the future and how to continue forward in challenges. The future contains countless opportunities, yet my mind wanders to family celebrations that Eric won’t be there for. Nevertheless, I haven’t found all the answers that are quite right for me in my specific times of need. Everything will work out if we rely on faith in Christ and find simple joys to brighten our lives. An understanding that the angels surrounding us from day to day are those who have passed on before, and we feel their presence and love for them continually.

I’ve experienced many small miracles which help to answer the small doubts and worries in my mind, and I would love to continue this study through talks written about comfort and joy through trials and loss. I hadn’t realized the abounding number of talks written on these topics, but realize everyone faces challenges in this modern day. God speaks through his prophets to strengthen us that we might return to him.

Live Laugh Love Life

Melissa Longhurst