Because He Lives

"They said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 

He is not here, but is risen." 

Luke 24:5-6

What would it have been like to be there when the angels announced that Jesus Christ had rose from the dead and fulfilled prophecy? I can't even imagine the joy that must have filled everyone who heard! Each time Easter comes and we remember and celebrate the risen Christ, my heart fills with joy. Its because he lives that I can have a personal relationship with him as if he were still here. Its because he lives that I can be with my family for eternity. Its because he lives that we all have agency, or the ability to choose for ourselves.  Its because he lives that our loving Heavenly Father would send each of his spirit children to Earth to learn and grow in our mortal bodies.  Its because he lives that we can have joy! Its because he lives that we can repent of our sins and not be weighed down by guilt or shame. Its because he lives that we can make sacred promises through the proper priesthood authority on Earth today that will bring the greatest happiness and joy in this life and the life to come! Its because he lives that we can have hope to know that we will see those we love who have pasted on again! Its because he lives that we can have eternal life! It means everything to me that he lives today and that everyone can come to him and find the peace he promises! Easter season is a great time to remember what he has done for each of us and what we can do to better follow his example! I know he lives! I know he has provided a way for us to come to him and gain eternal life! Let us each follow him and come closer to him this Easter season! Because He Lives!! 

Small Steps

"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost." 

-4th Article of Faith-

The first principle of the gospel is Faith in Jesus Christ. What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? When we have faith in Jesus Christ we follow his example.  Faith is a principle of action. It is taking a step forward towards a place that maybe we aren't sure of, but with a hope that once we take the step Christ will do rest. Miracles are wrought through and in response to our faith and the steps we take. Some may wonder why He can't just give us what we need without us having to go through all the work, well, we can't move forward if we aren't willing to move. As a result of our faith we have a desire to repent, the second principle of the gospel.

I love the bible dictionary definition of repentance, "a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world...Repentance is not optional for repentance; it is a commandment of God." Repentance should not be something we shy away from, it is an opportunity for us to see God in a different way and to increase our relationship with him. Following adequate faith in Jesus Christ, repentance is a sacred experience where we remember what the Savior did for us in the Garden of Gethsemane. Repentance leads us to desire to be baptized by the proper authority. 

Baptism, by the proper authority, is the path way to receiving exaltation! We make sacred covenants with Heavenly Father that gives us full access to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, including a remission of sins! I often think back to the day that I was baptized and what that really means to me now! I have felt my Saviors love so many times and it never ends! I know that each time I fully repent I am forgiven and he remembers my sins no more! But baptism is dead with the Gift of the Holy Ghost! 

Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the proper authority is the baptism by fire or the purifying process! He refines us and purifies our sins and as we live worthy of him he will help to guide us through our lives and give us peace when we are doing what we need to do! 

I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings happiness! Baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the proper authority will bring added happiness and will be the means of true joy! It has done that for me and I know it can do if for anyone who pursues this course! I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has given us a simple path with simple steps to follow. He doesn't complicate it! I know he lives and loves each and every one of us! 

Whats in a Name?

"The Lord sets his standard so he can bless us. Think about those blessings: he promises those who meet the standards the help of the Holy Ghost. He promises personal peace. He promises the chance to receive holy ordinances in his house. And he promises those who endure in living His standards that they will have everlasting life...because we love the people we serve, all of us want to do better in lifting Heavenly Fathers children to faithfulness and purity... they need to have all the blessings of the Lord... you begin by holding up the Lords standards clearly and without apology. And the more the world drifts from them and mocks them, the bolder we must be in doing that."

-President Henry B. Erying-

What's in a name? As a missionary we all wear name tags that have two pretty important names on them. The first is the name of the church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Immediately when someone reads the name tag they know what I represent and who sent me, but it goes a lot deeper than simply the church. I represent Jesus Christ. Each time I think of this I think back to when I was 8 years old, being baptized, and making covenants with Heavenly Father. One of those covenants that everyone makes when they are baptized is to take the name of Savior Jesus Christ upon you. What does that really mean? To me it means to act in such a way that if someone where to see me they would know that I believe in Jesus Christ and the relationship that I have with him is important to me and I take it very seriously. The Lord has set a standard for those who take his name, it is standard that requires a little more of us, requires that we be a little more conscious of our actions and words. He asks us to act in such a way that all who see will want to know him through us.

The second part of a missionaries name tag means so much to me! It represents a family, with hundreds of years of history and stories that have built the name, bringing it down to where it is now.  I often look at my name tag and think of the stories told by each side of my family that have played such a major role in getting me to where I am now! Each person has a story behind their name, people who have fought to keep the name alive. We are all products of those who have come before and are paving an important path for those who will come.

I am so grateful to wear the name of my Savior on my nametag and to represent him. I am grateful to wear the name of Major on my tag and represent my family. Be proud of who you are and where you came from! Represent it well! The best way is to uphold the standard set by the Lord and the families we each come from! What's in your name?