Look and Live

As I was reading today from the Book of Mormon, I was really touched by the counsel given from a Father to his Son.  Alma gives much counsel to his son Helaman first to Trust in God, that he can save us from the "chains of death."  He teaches him to Repent, and "be diligent in keeping the commandments."  And my favorite part of this chapter came at the very end.  Alma says, "O my son, do not be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look  they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever...See that ye look to God and live."  I know that we hear it over and over again, that if we will but keep the commandments and live righteously, we will be blessed with Eternal Life.  I guess this message is so important that we need to hear it every day, sometimes multiple times each day, so we can fully understand what it really means.  I am grateful for the Gospel, and for the prophets of old, and the prophets today, thier counsel is of great worth.  Look to God and Live, He will bless you!

The Small and Simple Things...

I have been thinking alot about, "The Small and Simple Things..." What are they, and why are they so important.  We have all been taught to not judge or criticize others.  To be a friend the new kid in town.  To smile and say Hello to the people that we might not know.  To lend a helping hand to someone who is need.  Yet how often can we say that we do these things.  We have been promised that by doing "The Small and Simple Things that great Things are brought to pass."  King Benjamin said, "...all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments...and he will proser you."  Moroni taught us how to be Charitable.  "Wherefore, pray unto the Father that ye may be filled with this love...that we may have this hope, that we may be purified, even as he is pure."  I think that we need to do as counseled by the Leaders of the Church and focus on the Important things in life, and worry less about things that don't matter.  I think we will find that it is the small things in life that bring us the most Joy, because after all, "...men are that they might have joy."  I hope that we will all be Spiritually Minded, and put off that Natural Man, and yield ourselves to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.

“Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations." That light comes from the Lord, and as you radiate that light, it will bless you as well as many others" (President Faust).  Our Heavenly Father loves us, and he has given us this light that we may look towards it, and follow His path.  The path may be long, with bumps along the way, but if we will trust in the Lord and endure with patience, He will help us.  The Savior said, “I will also be your light … ; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; … ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.”  I hope that we will remember the Savior always, not just in our times of trial and despair, because we are never alone. "I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” I know that this promise is true, and that we are blessed in keeping the commandments of the Lord.