Week 11

I was able to attend a fireside this week that helped me view the Atonement of Jesus Christ in a different way. Alma 34:31 states "Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation ; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you." I think this describes the process we go through as we turn to the Savior perfectly. When we are willing to soften our hearts and plead for forgiveness, immediately the plan of redemption comes into our lives. We can be forgiven and become one with God again. 

The fireside speaker also gave another perspective of the word "atonement." He broke it up like this: at-one-ment. Being "at-one" means that we are in a relationship with someone. When we are "at-one" with God, we will be able to be "at-one" with those around us. This life is all about building relationships and coming closer to Christ. I know that as we strive to be one with God we will be able to help those around us and draw closer to our Father in Heaven. 

Week 10

This week I was reading in the New Testament from the Epistle of James. In the last verse it invites us to be unspotted from the world. I took the opportunity to look up the definition of this word and it means unnoticed.

I thought that was really cool, to be unnoticed from the world. One way I think about this is that when we are serving God, we usually go unnoticed from the world, but God notices. Also, if we are focused on the things of God and not of the world, the world won't notice us. The world will not be able to tear us down with all of its wickedness and lies. It will just look over us as unimportant. But we know better. We will be blessed as we do not become "of the world."

I love this analogy. I hope I will be able to focus on the things of God a little more and become unnoticed by the world so that I can become closer to my Father in Heaven. I know He is real and that He loves me.

Week 9

Sometimes all you can do is try and do your best. Even then, somethings still don't work out the way you would like them too. I don't have a specific verse of scripture that I was thinking about this week; it was more of a reflection on the many different people in the New Testament who kept trying. One specifically that comes to mind is Paul. He tried to do his best and share the Gospel, despite being beaten and thrown into prison. He kept trying.

As a college student, I have felt beat many times. I try so hard to do what I am supposed and somehow things don't work out quite like I had planned. It can be kind of discouraging and make me feel like I am not doing enough. I have come to realize (and still need to put it into practice) that I am doing my best. And that is all that God asks of me. He wants me to keep trying, despite the setbacks and disappointments. I know that He will make up the difference.

Week 8

Something we talked about in my class, Christ and the Everlasting Gospel, was the account of Peter walking to Jesus on the water in Matthew 14. When Christ walks toward the disciples on the water, Peter says, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." Christ told him to come and Peter began walking on the water. I have some thoughts about this point in the story. First, Peter was willing to leave the comfort of the boat (his comfort zone) to come closer to the Lord. Second, Christ inspired Peter to have enough faith to walk on the water. No one else besides Jesus had done this before. Think of what we can do as we place our faith in Jesus and choose to come to Him. We will be able to see miracles in our lives and help others see them too. God wants us to show our faith and enjoy miracles. We can do it if we are willing to take those steps of faith.