Thanks For the Holy Ghost

Church was amazing today.  We talked about faith, spiritual power, keeping the Sabbath day holy, prayer, and fasting which all help you to gain that power, and the atonement,  And I am so grateful for the gift that helps me do all things things: the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In The Infinite Atonement, it quotes Elder Parley P. Pratt who says one of my favorite things ever said about the Holy Ghost that I've ever read.  I'm going to split it up into sections because it is pretty jam-packed with delicious stuff:

"The gift of the Holy Ghost...quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use."

Phew, this sentence packs a punch.  Let me break it down.  

#1: The gift of the Holy Ghost quickens all the intellectual faculties.  

According to the dictionary, intellect includes man's faculty of reasoning, understanding objectively, especially with abstract or academic matters, and man's mental powers.

To me this means the Holy Ghost can help us anywhere from homework assignments, to thinking through personal problems, family problems, nation-wide problems, world problems, to understanding principles (spiritual doctrine or mathematics...), and helps us have greater power to think through things.  

#2:  The gift of the Holy Ghost increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use.

We are natural men.  We have passions that can overtake use.  And think about the laws of God.  Law of Chastity--curves passion.  Law of the fast--curves hunger.  Law of tithing.  Word of Wisdom.  All of these laws help us to put off the natural man.  BUT we wouldn't be able to learn how to put our natural passions to our lawful use without the Holy Ghost.  We are completely dependent on God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost in our process to adapt and change our natural man.  

#3: The gift of the Holy Ghost "inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of out nature."

Emotions are crucial to our experience here in this life as well as our preparation to become like God's.  Christ felt deeply.  He wept for joy and for sadness.  God has mastered his own emotional faculties.  We must do the same, and with the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we can.  

#4:  The gift of the Holy Ghost "inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity."

Every good feeling comes from God.  All of these words connect to the qualities of God that we want.  To become like God, to develop these qualities, we need the Holy Ghost.    

#5:  The gift of the Holy Ghost "develops beauty of person, form and features."

I've talked to you about this before how I can tell within my own countenance and that of others how I am/they are doing spiritually.  People who are spiritually full and healthy radiate light.  They shine their light and look beautiful.  The Holy Ghost enables this.  

#6:  The gift of the Holy Ghost "tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feelings.  It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man.  It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves."

The professionals always place the idea of health into categories: physical, mental, spiritual, social, and emotional.  This part of the quote states that not only will we be healthy intellectually or emotionally, but we will also be healthy physically and socially.  The Holy Ghost gives us the energy to work to fulfill all of these categories of health and develop into a whole, unique individual.       

#7:  "In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being."   

This quote sums it all up well.  The Holy Ghost is MARROW, JOY, LIGHT, MUSIC, LIFE!  The Holy Ghost enables us to truly live our lives to the fullest capacity that we can.  And it enables that capacity within us to grow, grace by grace, grace for grace, as we learn to become like Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. 

I don't know about you, but this quote blew my mind.  I feel so full of gratitude for the Holy Ghost in my life and the Atonement that makes it possible for me to develop and learn how to live within the law that helps me live freely.

Enjoy your Sabbath!

Rachel  

Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole

I read the story of Enos last night-and man oh man- I know I've read his story more times than I can count- but I definitely learned a couple of news things this time around. And that's something I loved about life- and especially about the scriptures- there is always an opportunity to find something new. It's just up to me to want to find it. Isn't that just the best?

Anywho, Enos is a regular guy who finally comes to the conclusion that he is not where he wants to be in relation to God. He recognizes his lifestyle will not permit him to be reunited with God, as he reflects on the words of his father concerning eternal life, as well as joy. What would make you hunger after eternal life and joy? I feel you really only desire those types of things when you truly experience the opposite. Maybe he was just passively living his life and came to the realization that it wasn't enough. Maybe he made some terrible and heavy mistakes that he wanted to be relieved of. I have no idea. I like that whatever it is, it's not included in the story. What is included is that his "soul hungered"- he wanted it. Not just to impress people around him. Not to fulfill a calling. He actually desired it for himself and he recognized the only way to be filled was going straight to the source- God.

He shares that God tells him his sins are forgiven and that because of this assurance from God, his guilt is swept away. Sometimes I feel like it's easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves. Why was he able to believe that God had forgiven him? Why did he refuse to beat himself up for whatever lifestyle choices or mistakes he may have made? What caused him to believe he was worthy of forgiveness? Enos even asks, Lord, how is it done? To which Heavenly Father shares with him,

"Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard or seen...wherefore go to, thy faith hath made thee whole." Enos 1:8

So was it simply because Enos believed in Christ? I feel it's a starting point. But I think what God means is that because Enos believed in the words of his dad about Christ (forgiveness and redemption through Christ), he was motivated to change his behavior. Enos did not simply say, ok, I believe in christ, so I'm good to go. He wrestled (put forth all of his effort) into communicating with God. He showed God that he was sorry for his previous behavior- HE ACTED ACCORDING TO HIS BELIEF. So it was Enos's willingness to change his behavior to align with his belief. And that is faith at it's finest, folks; a belief that will motivate you to action (faith without works is dead James 2:26). Enos exercised faith unto repentance, which led to a remission of his sins.

True change comes on an individual basis. His dad couldn't do it for him. His siblings, friends, and other family couldn't do it for him. Even God couldn't it for him. But when Enos decided it was what he wanted, God was ready to help him with those changes and become his best self. What an incredible story. And I love that as soon as he experiencing the redeeming power of the atonement of Christ for himself, he wants to share it with others. And God reminds him that it will be according to the faith and individual actions of those he is praying for as to whether or not they will experience the same forgiveness he has just had.
We are all imperfect. We are all fallen, and each of us needs the mercy and atonement of Christ. We all have the opportunity to be completely forgiven through his love, mercy, and sacrifice. It is completely up to us whether we choose to embrace his gift and his forgiveness. I hope you are having a wonderful trip and am excited to hear all about it!

Much love,
Emily

Trust in the Lord

Holy stinking cow. It has been a jam packed last couple of weeks- a lot has happened, so I apologize for not being more consistent in my posts. I shall try to get back on track.

Lately, it seems like a lot of people are going through a really rough time. And I think that's true of most of life-there's always going to be something going on- but somehow it's become normal to just push it all away and not let anyone know that we're struggling. Honestly, I do that more often than I'd like to admit. But why do we push others away when we need them most? I don't think there is just one reason, but speaking from my own personal experience, it may be fear of rejection, fear of being a burden, fear of dragging others down, of feeling too broken to be loved or fixed, or of trying to do it all on my own before going to others for help. I know there are a plethora of reasons we may hide the trials we are experiencing, and all the emotions that go along with them- but in the end, I am learning over and over- we really aren't meant to do this on our own. (Of course it's crucial to understand our own boundaries, as well as the boundaries of others, respectfully giving and receiving help, and some times leaving others to themselves until they are ready and comfortable to accept help)
Bottom line- we are all struggling with something to one degree or another. And if not, then I conclude they are a robot (just my opinion). We are human. We have emotions. We are not always going to be able to handle them well- especially when there are multiple external sources that may be dragging us in all sorts of directions, to the point where we feel we just may be torn into thousands of pieces. Regardless of what it is we may be experiencing, however, we can obtain hope (which I think is one of the most important qualities in life), peace, and direction during any trial as we choose to focus our hearts on Christ.

Today I read a talk by Mindy Ann Leavitt called, "Trusting in the Lord." It was phenomenal- I'd definitely recommend reading it if you have the time. Some thoughts that stuck out most to me as I read were:

• Centering on the atonement brings peace, strength, and the capacity to make it through trials
• Be humble
• Everyone is going through something, therefore:
• Be patient with others
• Be kind- you never know how bad someone else may have it
• Remain accountable for my actions, thoughts and feelings
• Recognize I am not responsible or in control of how others feel, just me
• Give others the space they need 
• Admit when I need to readjust my life to align with God

God will not always take the trial away. Actually, from my own experience, it's quite rare that he'll just remove the trial altogether. Rather, he allows us to rely on the enabling power of Christ to become someone even more incredible, compassionate and capable because of the suffering we may experience through a specific trial:

• Mosiah 24: 13-14: the Lord strengthens the people, eases their burdens, and once they are changed, then they are delivered 
• D&C 121:7-8: "Peace be unto thy soul, thine afflictions shall be but a small moment"
• D&C 58: 2-4: "Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes...the design of your God...for after much tribulation come the blessings"
• Alma 58:10-11: "Lord did visit us with assurances he would deliver us...he did speak peace to our souls..."
• 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10: "There was given me a thorn in the flesh...for this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses...for when I am weak, I am strong."

Whether our trials our caused through our own weaknesses, mistakes, or things out of our control, like the actions of others- we are promised by the Lord that we will be given the ability to make it through the storms of life as we rely on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through his atonement, we are given the peace we need to make it through each day, no matter how dark or heavy the trial may be. I know that there have been times in my life where I have completely lost hope for any type of deliverance. I know that it is a terrifying, dark, and terrible place to be when it feels like the trial(s) will never end. I know that it has been through relying on the Lord and his enabling power that I have been able to regain the hope I felt like would never be obtained again, and through his sacrifice that I am able to keep progressing every day. I know the Lord is always with us, no matter how far we've fallen, no matter how broken we feel, no matter how many times we've messed up- if we are willing to get back up again, he will help us along the way. I know that He loves you, is rooting for you, and will guide you with whatever it is you are experiencing.

I love you and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love, Emmaline

Created In His Image

So for the next little while, I'm going to be deepening my understanding of my identity as a daughter of God. I want to better understand what my role is as a woman both in this life and the life to come. I want to better understand what it means to be a daughter, a sister, a friend, and potentially, a future mother. I'm starting to see in the studies that I've had thus far on this subject, that as I come to better understand who my Heavenly Father is, I will better understand my eternal identity. Pretty fun stuff.

What is the character of God, my Heavenly Father?

• God is the Father of my spirit 
• (Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee.") 
• He spiritually created everything before he physically created it 
• (Moses 3:5&7, "For I, the Lord God, created all things...spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth...And I, the Lord, God, had created all the children of men...for in heaven created I them...All things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word.")
• Everything God speaks MUST be fulfilled 
• Everything He says has a purpose- no room for fluff
• All powerful, all knowing, honest, full of integrity
• Patient, diligent, able to set goals and actually fulfill them
• Artist- look at the world! Stunning!
• He knows what it's like to be imperfect, but he cannot understand my personal experiences
• That's why he chose a savior- Christ has the capacity to completely understand our hearts, motivation, and every feeling we experience while here
• Still has feelings and emotions: anger, sadness, despair, love, joy, pain
• Enoch saw him weeping for the wicked
• These emotions don't go away when we are made whole (resurrected)- I think we just learn how to handle them in a more healthy and productive way than here in mortality

So our Father in Heaven is a pretty dang awesome guy, to say the least. He is perfect, loving, merciful, just, and dedicated to helping us reach our highest potential. What an incredible, compassionate, selfless, and inspiring Father. How can I be more like Him?
Moving on in Moses, chapter 2, I really enjoyed breaking down the following verse:

"And I God created man in mine own image*, in the image of Mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them." 
(Moses 2:27)

*Image= stem:imago= a copy likeness, equivalent

• Noun: physical likeness, representation of a person or thing
• Appearance of object in mirror, reflection
• Idea, concept

"I, God, created man in mine own image..." How are we like Him? How do we become like Him?

• Mankind= we are his offspring, spiritual sons and daughters
• Made to physically resemble him
• We have the capacity to become like Him
• A parent (father or mother) both on earth and eternally
• Perfected, resurrected, complete, ability to acquire his characteristics

"In the image of Mine Only Begotten created I him..." How are we like Christ?

• Christ was our perfect example
• "I am the way the truth and the light"
• We are both children of God the Father
• Image of Christ= obedient the will of God
• Follow Christ and we become like our Heavenly Father 
• Doesn't hold himself above God, doesn't think he knows better
• Willing to submit to all that was asked of him
• Respectful to both earthly and Heavenly parents

"Male and female created I them."

• Two distinct sexes
• Equal, but not the same (1 Corinthians 11:11)
• Both were commanded to multiply and replenish the earth
• Not- "Hey Adam, go to town on this chick" or "Hey Eve, you better get started on  making those babies"- they are equal partners in creating life
• "I God blessed them and said unto them: be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth" (28)
• He wants them to model His own life and become parents (earthly)
• He wants them to become like Him 
• Eternally both as parents and their individual character 
• Wants His other children the opportunity to live in the world He's created and eventually make it back to Him. That circle of life though
• We, men and women, have equal worth-don't have to tear each other down to feel valid. 
• I kind of see it like an equation: 5+7=6+6
• Both sides have a value of 12. But they are two different formulas or methods to get that value. Similarly, men and women are equally valued as children of God, but may have different roles, characteristics, and other qualities that make them who they are. It makes sense to me. Hopefully I'm not loosing my marbles

I'm really enjoying learning more about my eternal family- and who I am as a result of that. I know that as I come to better understand where I came from, who my Heavenly Father is, and who I am as His daughter, I will better incorporate other aspects of the gospel more fully in my own life. I'm excited to keep learning and developing my testimony of the gospel and I am grateful for all you are sharing with me! Thanks again so much for your wonderful insights and epiphanies!

Much love,

Emily

Righteous Suffering Brings About Spiritual Change

The Infinite Atonement states that one of the things we receive from the Atonement is the blessing of motivation.  This concept has my mind spinning.

I understand that the fact that Christ died for us motivates us to assure that his suffering was not in vain.  It also motivates us to change after we have already committed a sin, because we know someone has already walked the path.

But then Callister explains how its motivational power works...and this is what is hard for me to grasp.

He says that what creates this motivational power is the "compelling power that flows from righteous suffering--not indiscriminate suffering, not needless suffering, but righteous, voluntary suffering for another.  Such suffering for another is the highest and purest form of motivation we can offer to those we love."  

Wait...what?  Suffering is what causes motivation?  Doesn't this seem a little self-destructive?

But THEN he goes even further and says that fasting works by this same principle.  We deny ourselves of something, we suffer, which creates a redemptive opportunity or motivational power for someone else as well as ourselves.  Suffering with a purpose.  Isn't that interesting?!

He refers to the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, who when the wicked came to kill all of them, bowed themselves to the ground in submission to God's will.  They suffered.  Many died.  But because of their suffering, "more than a thousand [were] brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people" (Alma 24:24-27).

Sometimes suffering is necessary in order to bring about salvation.

This principle reminds me of the mission.  Missionaries go through so much in order to help that "one soul" come unto God.  I felt sometimes that we had bad days because in a strange way, we were suffering FOR the people.  We were experiencing hardship and exercising faith so that the people around us would receive the spiritual boost they needed or opportunities to repent.

I had never read anything that connected with that feeling I had walking in the streets of Argentina until now.  This is a huge principle...and it is a little hard to grasp for me.  I get the idea, but it doesn't feel like that "click" moment yet,

But maybe this is part of the reason why we are prone to self destruction.  Part of us knows that sometimes suffering brings about change.  Sometimes we have to be brought low to have the necessary power to rise above.  But as mortals, we can take this to far.  Life is all about balance.  I feel like this definitely is a step in the right direction to figure out why we are self-destructive.  Maybe sometimes we need to be...but we must stay in the area of righteous suffering, suffering for a purpose, rather than unnecessary and destructive suffering.  Balance is hard for us.

Anyways, I'm sure you'll have some cool thoughts about this. My mind feels a bit numb, because this feels like a pretty deep topic.

Hope you are doing well and I love you!

Rachel

How Christ Became Christ

As you can tell, my studies are highly focused around the Atonement.  It is because I really need that hope and power right now.  I also need to learn how to use the Atonement in my life, because sometimes I'm not so good at that.

As I was reading The Infinite Atonement today, I came across a passage that related to my ponderings about self-destruction in relation to the Atonement:

"Though our life seems empty or pointless, perhaps reduced to nothing more than the scattered ashes of a course bent on self-destruction, there is a miraculous rebirth, a spiritual phoenix that emerges with our acceptance of the Savior and his Atonement."

This is why I have been guided to read this book.  This is why I must study and ponder the Atonement in my life.  Because I am on my way to more fully accepting the Savior and his Atonement in my life.  Which will help me overcome self-destructive tendencies and thus my natural man.

Throughout my studies, I find myself wondering, "How did Christ become Christ?  Why is Christ so darn empathetic?  How can he live that way without just exploding?  Why does he choose to live that way when it is so painful?"

I found some cool answers that I would like to share.

First, Christ experiencing mortality was essential for him to be able to develop the characteristics of his Father.

"The refiner's fire of human experience confirmed in his godly nature the tenderness of heart, the softness of soul, that made the Savior not only just but merciful, not only omnipotent but compassionate."

Second, mortal experience as well as the act of the Atonement enabled Christ to reach his full potential of perfection.

Neal A. Maxwell: "The marvelous atonement brought about not only immortality but also the final perfection of Jesus' empathetic and helping capacity."

Third, Christ's experiences enabled him to know how to succor us.

"The Savior is a God whose miracles were driven by compassion, a God who befriended mortals, a God who wept at human sorrow, a God who lived a life of intimacy, not 'distancy,' from his mortal counterparts.  Our Lord is a personal, loving, caring God who is our friend, our brother, our advocate, and our Savior.  What mercy and compassion fill his soul!"

Thus, Christ became who he is precisely because of his trials and how he chose to respond to his trials.  Isn't this true for us?  He chose to live a life of intimacy.  Isn't that the harder choice?  It takes courage to place yourself in positions of pain.  Opening up to people that way also comes with the danger of rejection, loss, pain caused by empathy, pain caused by watching others suffer, fear, etc.  But a life of intimacy is worth all of it.  And it is essential for us to be able to reach our full potentials!  We don't have the capacity of Christ, but we each have our capacity to love and to experience and to choose.  We must start where we are in order to become who we want to be.

Christ really is our best example. I learn a lot from him.

Love ya,

Rachel

For All Us Imperfect People Out There. That's Everyone

John 3

In this episode of Christ's life, he meets up with Nicodemus, a well known religious leader of the Jews at this time. Nicodemus acknowledges that Christ is a wise instructor of the gospel and admits that the only way he is able to perform these miracles is through the help of God. Christ responds to these observations by stating "except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (5). If you were meeting up with Christ and he said that to you, what would your reaction be? I'd probably go with something along the lines of what Nicodemus says, which is, yeah and how exactly? Am I supposed to get back in the womb like a kangaroo?...Because that's impossible, my fine fellow. Not really understanding the spiritual nature of what Jesus is trying to say, Christ breaks it down for him. He then further expands the truth to Nicodemus, reminding him that as a master of Israel, he should already know these things for himself, through personal revelation.
As their conversation progresses, Christ tells Nicodemus:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (16)

"For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (17)

I absolutely love verse 17. God's purpose, to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life, is a purpose of joy, love, and eternal commitment. Everything He does aligns Him with that distinct purpose. Because He wants us all the opportunity to live with Him again, he selected Christ as our savior- guaranteeing each one of us an opportunity to return and live in God's presence (hence the MIGHT be saved- we have to choose to accept Christ and his teachings in order to live with God). I love that God's purpose of sending Christ was to HELP us, not condemn us as fallen beings.

Each one of us needs Christ. We are all fallen. We all make mistakes, are imperfect, and have weaknesses that we can't overcome on our own. I definitely know I've got my share of all of the above. And sometimes it is exhausting to keep being reminded over and over and over and over again of just how human we are, through the mistakes we make on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. Sometimes it feels completely hopeless to make the changes we want to see- or to feel like when we mess up, God will be furious or disappointed and not want us to come back to him. But verse 17 gives me so much hope: "God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but ....that the world through him might be saved."  He didn't send Christ to perform the atonement to make us feel bad about being imperfect. He sent Christ here to help us through this life.

That is the gospel of Christ right there- all of the commandments, ordinances- every single aspect of the gospel isn't meant to remind us of how "bad" we are. It's not meant to drive us into the ground, with no hope for change or the chance to start over after a fall. The gospel, the commandments-everything given to us by God is meant for our spiritual growth, and ultimately, meant as preparation for each of us to live in the presence of God.
What do the commandments do for us as individuals?
- Help our hearts and minds turn to Christ, better understand his doctrine
-Live a life that will strengthen our character here on earth and prepare to live with God

This plan, this gospel, does not guarantee an easy or trial free life. In fact, I can promise you that you and everyone else will be "tried by fire" time and time again, even when you are doing everything God asks of you. What the gospel does guarantee for you is the ability to grow as an individual, recognize who you are as a child of God, and allow you the chance to live with Him again. I gotta say, that is quite the deal right there. I am grateful for the incredible opportunity to start over every day. I know that I am imperfect. I know I make mistakes. And I know that as I continue to put my faith in Christ and align my heart with him, I will be able to do whatever it is I put my mind to. Of course, much easier said that done, but that doesn't mean I can't keep doing my best one day at a time.

Thanks so much for all you do, I sure do love you!
Emily