miracles and band aid's

I have recently been reminded of the greatness and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We sat in a lesson with a mom while her bouncy 2 year old rummaged through my purse next to me. Suddenly she noticed something on my face, pointed it out so graciously, popped off the couch and ran down the hall. Returning moments later pulling my face down to her and placing an angry birds band aid over the "boo-boo."

What a tender heart, she wanted to make sure I was feeling better and taken care of. Much like our Savior Jesus Christ. He heals us inside and out. I am reminded of a testimony from a missionary that was so powerfully given. "How grateful I am for a Big Brother that can fix anything." Band aid or not He is there with open arms waiting for us to reach out to Him.

One of my favorite stories from the Bible is the story of the woman who knew if she could just touch His clothes that she would be healed. "And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that ^avirtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?" Of all those people around and touching Him, He knew the ONE! "And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy ^afaith hath made thee whole; go in ^bpeace, and be whole of thy plague." (Mark 5:29-34) I find so much power in this simple testimony of such a great woman. It brings warm rays of love into my heart each time I read about her faith.

I know that my Savior lives. He knows just what we need and He will make us whole. What a beautiful gift. It was not free. He had to suffer and bleed in order to know how to heal us. He loves us so much that even when it was tough He couldn't turn away from the will of the Father. He knew that without his sacrifice we wouldn't have anyone to place a "band aid" over our "boo-boo's." Be that one that He says so lovingly to "thy ^afaith hath made thee whole; go in ^bpeace"

direct answer

 

I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth! I know that the Priesthood has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that through that Priesthood we are each blessed! There is no other way that the experience that I am about to share could have happened, only through the proper authority given from our loving Father in Heaven!

I know that our Father in Heaven answers our prayers and that He hears our deep cries for help! The last few days I have learned a lot of lessons. It seems I have been battling with my own mind. At last I felt like I couldn't handle it and so I asked for a Priesthood Blessing. During my studies that morning I asked Heavenly Father specifically what it was that I thought I needed. Specifically what I thought He could help me with. I pleaded wit Him for His help, I talked with Him as if He was sitting right in front of me. When we arrived for my blessing like they always do the Priesthood holders asked me what I needed a blessing for. Choking back the tears I told them a little of my concerns, leaving out some details and left the rest up to the Spirit. As their hands rested upon my head I felt the Spirit from God all around. I felt His warm love overwhelm me and cover me with a blanket of comfort. Not only were the words that were spoken inspired from God, but the feelings that were in the room, and the almost silent words that pierced my heart. In my blessing I was given a direct answer to my prayer! I had prayed for something very specific. During the blessing I was blessed with that exact thing that I asked for earlier in the day.

There is no other way that the Elder that gave me the blessing could have known. He used the same wording and the same phrase that I had prayed about. As I reflected on this over and over through the rest of the night I changed. I gained a sure knowledge that Heavenly Father works through the Priesthood. That He loves each of us so personally and will answer our prayers. There is no way that this Church could be false. This is the Church of Jesus Christ and I invite everyone to feel what I have felt! I am so thankful for those Elders. I am so thankful that they were willing and worthy to use the Priesthood and that they followed the Spirit while doing so.

"The priesthood is here. It has been conferred upon us. We act in that authority. We speak as sons of God in the name of Jesus Christ and as holders of this divinely given endowment. We know, for we have seen, the power of this priesthood... Paul wrote concerning the priesthood: 'No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.' (Heb. 5:4.) We have not acquired it through purchase or bargain. The Lord has given it to men who are considered worthy to receive it, regardless of station in life, the color of their skin, or the nation in which they live. It is the power and the authority to govern in the affairs of the kingdom of God. It is given only by ordination by the laying on of hands by those in authority to do so. The qualification for eligibility is obedience to the commandments of God. There is no power on the earth like it. Its authority extends beyond life, through the veil of death, to the eternities ahead. It is everlasting in its consequences." President Gordon B. Hinckley

a special Christmas

As the Christmas season approaches I cant help but think of the excitement and the joy of this wonderful Holiday season. The Prophet Thomas S. Monson said "This is a glorious time of the year, simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories, and charitable in spirit. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn. This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas."

Since I am away from my family and have been for over a year I have been thinking of something special that I could give them. "We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves--giving of the riches of the heart and mind--and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store." (James E. Faust) As I have been thinking of this I have really caught on to the true spirit of Christmas. To me it doesn't matter what is under my tree, or in the mail. It matters that it came from someone that I love. The birth of Christ was not wrapped in sparkling paper with a HUGE glittering bow. It was not expensive and didnt take up a ton or room. It was a humble and quiet birth. So too my gifts should be. His birth and life was a testimony that Heavenly Father lives and that He loves us. The Atonement also was a gift of love. This Christmas I am going back to the basics. I am creating lasting gifts that will bring in the Spirit and touch the hearts of those that I love. What a better time to offer your testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and to share how He blesses your life.

Step back for just a second. Remember the true meaning of Christmas and make this year a year to never forget. Make this season centered on Jesus Christ. After all He is the real reason to celebrate.

no beauty

When my mind gets going... there is no stopping it! The other day I was staring at flowers. They were so beautiful and just brilliant to look at. I caught myself staring and realized I had just gone off into a little dream world. I started thinking of how beautiful those precious flowers were, how easy it was for me to day dream and to love the delight that was sitting right in front of me.

It is so easy to love something that is beautiful. However it is not easy to love something that has no beauty. That is when it takes effort and a determination. Most of the time resulting in a deeper love and a stronger attachment. My mind remembered a scripture that talks about Jesus Christ "...and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him." (Mosiah 14:2) Although He had no beauty to desire, the things that He did for us are beautiful! "Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Mosiah 14:4-5)

I do not understand all that He went through. I will not ever know the pain that He felt. But to me it is beautiful. To me it makes my heart melt and my spirit rejoice. He is beautiful I have come to feel and see the beauty that radiates off His redeeming love. His beauty is much bigger then any I have ever seen or held. I can not wait for the day when He says to me "Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet..."(3 Nephi 11:14). He is my Savior. He is my brother and He is beautiful. On that sacred day will I rejoice for the testimony that I have. I will rejoice for the efforts I have done to keep His commandments and I will praise and adore at His feet.

pure testimony

Just a few days ago I had the chance to sit at the feet of a servent of the Lord and learn from him. Elder Per G. Malm a General Authority, a leader in the Church, came to visit with our Mission. It was an amazing experience. Feeling the love and the devotion he had for our Father in Heaven was contageous! I felt his excitment and pure testimony flow from every word that he spoke. In all that was said I think the most precious of all was the feeling I felt.

This feeling was the Holy Ghost. How peaceful and amazing that feeling was. I felt as if my Father in Heaven was sitting right beside me. Like He was whispering right into my ear that He loved me, and that He was watching out for me. "And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—" Helaman 5:30 That is a feeling I wish to never lose, and never forget!

I know that our Father in Heaven loves us, each and everyone! I know that our Savior Jesus Christ suffered pains and afflictions and temptaions of every kind for you and for me. (Alma 7:11) I know with every part of me that Jesus Christ is our Savior. That only through Him can we be saved again. I know that this is His Church! I could go on and on for days about the things that I know! I know them because I asked. I humbled myself and I asked my Father in Heaven if the these things were true and He told me through the Holy Ghost. Through that still small voice.

Our Father in Heaven calls prophets to lead and to guide us. He works the same yesterday, today and forever! If Prophets and Apostles were needed in times of old then they are sure needed now! I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to hear from one of His dedicated servents! To feel the Spirit that he brought into the room, and to have my testimony strengthened! What a blessing it was!