May Christ lift you up

The scene Mormon describes in Moroni 9 is so awful and heartbreaking, the wickedness of the Nephites. I love how despite the awfulness, Mormon believes and encourages his son to believe that it will be all right, that he can have peace and assurance, and that Christ will carry his burdens. 

22 But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him.

Moroni 9:22

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/9?lang=eng

More this one:

25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

Moroni 9:25

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/9?lang=eng

It is amazing that we can find peace in dark, awful times, through Christ. 

How to help and influence others

Notes from Elder Scott's talk "I Have Given You an Example"

• study the Plan of Salvation
• as I study the simple gospel, I will know what to do
• First love them. Then:
• ask them questions to make them think
• give them time to think on these questions
• let them answer them for themselves
• bear my testimony
• Find something to trust them about
• Pray about ways to do this
• Keep my sharing of the gospel simple
• Above all, follow the Spirit
• To be effective, to do as Christ has done, follow this principle:
• The Atonement is what makes it possible to live eternally as families

Plan of Salvation

• Pre-mortal life
• Heavenly Father created my Spirit. I loved Him and knew Him. Think of my earthly father and how much love and reverence I have for him. Compare that to how I feel about my Heavenly Father and what my relationship with Him should be like. Why do I love and respect Him?
• He has given me the experience to learn about Him and His Son and gospel
• He has blessed me with prayer
• He has helped me through trials
• He has given me witnesses through the Holy Ghost of Him and His love for me
• He has a plan for me
• He answers my prayers
• He loves all His children and all of them will have the fair opportunity to come unto Him and learn of Him and follow Him

I want to dedicate my whole life

Tonight Joseph and I did a session at the temple, the first one in a month or two. I'd really missed it. But beforehand, I got a really bad headache and felt super bloated because I had a big bowl of cereal because I just had to eat something. But I was still looking forward to going. I had really missed it.

And I had a great experience. One of those experiences that you get when you don't deserve it. One of the experiences you never really deserve. My experience was that I had such a tremendous, strong desire to dedicate my whole life to Heavenly Father and the Savior and the Gospel. I had never wanted it so bad. It was like I made a real choice to make the last covenant with Them, and I wanted to shout hosanna about it and raise my hands as high as I could. I couldn't express how strong I felt. I couldn't adequately show how important that covenant was to me and how sure I was that I would keep it.

I've been more emo lately, well starting today, really. I wanted to cry about so many things. About getting the precious opportunity to finally meet an old woman that I can befriend and love and visit and glean love and wisdom from, in our ward! The sister missionaries took me to Sister Heaton's home for a visit. I loved it. Her house was big and old and full of grandma stuff. She was so warm and welcoming and faithful and I knew I was supposed to meet her. I can't wait to go visit her and spend holidays thinking of her. Dad instilled that love for the elderly in me. And I'm so grateful. 

So going to Sister Heaton's made me want to cry because it was so celestial and her life was a testimony of her faith. And then in the temple thinking about what I wrote about before this. And then also thinking about the people in my life who are struggling with the Church right now and how heartbreaking it is and how much I just want them to feel how much better life is when Heavenly Father is in it, and especially when He comes first. I kept thinking of Landon and Claire and David and getting all choked up. I wrote their names on the prayer roll and prayed for them in the Celestial Room.

I'm so grateful for those special, sacred, rare experiences when the Spirit just overtakes me and I'm overcome. And I know so clearly what needs to happen and how I feel and what Heavenly Father is telling me and wants me to know. It's real and it's celestial and it's so far above this world. And I really do want to dedicate and consecrate my whole life to building His work.