The "Vision"

In seminary we are studying the Doctrine and Covenants section 76. Most people think that the "vision" is talking about the first vision in reality it isn't. Section 76 was actually not just one vision but multiple visions. In this section, it is talking about what happens after death. Is it the "Traditionalist" version or the "Univeralist" version? Turns out is neither. We have the three degrees of glory. 

Read Each Set of Scriptures with This in Mind:

D&C 76:1-5  Which of these description of the Savior means the most to you? Why?

D&C 76:6-10 Which of the promises do you want to receive? What do you need to do to receive it?

D&C 76:15-19 How did they get the relation? What were they doing to make them able to receive this revelation?

D&C 76:19-24 What truths do we learn about Jesus Christ in this revelation? Which of these things can you testify to? How do you know they are true? 

Today I learned what I know about Jesus Christ is not as strong as I might like it but I will truly try to learn more by studying the scriptures. 

D&C 76:22-24 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him this is the testimony last of all which we give of him: That he lives. For we saw him even on the right hand of god and we heard the voice bearing recorded that he is the only begotten of the father. That by him and of him the world are and were created and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. 

Thanks so much for all of the other inspirational post.

Grace

Does The World Need Villains?

    For the curriculum that McKenna and I are doing for school, we have an online discussion group where we can talk to other youth who are doing the curriculum with us. One of the boys posted a question that made me want to find the answer. His question was, "Does the world need villains?"
    I posted an answer that I had, or that I thought of, but I was confused about his question. I had never thought about if we need villains or not. Today, while I was looking over what I had said and what others had said I decided to think a little bit harder to come up with the answer.
    This is what I posted:

    "God created a plan for His children that included evil. There is opposition in all things, and since there is a God who can affect the hearts of men, there must also be a devil who can affect the hearts of men. God's plan includes the devil, it includes our agency to choose to follow God or the devil. For His plan to work there needed to be evil, there needed to be a devil. For us to become like God (which is what we were born to become), there has to be evil. There needs to be evil for us to choose right.
There are villains, there is evil, and they are here because we need to become like God."

This is something I think we all need to understand.

                                             

                                      Charity

“But charity is the Pure Love Of Christ and it endureth forever and who's so  possessed of it at the last day it shall be well with him.”

The love of Christ is one of the most important things in this world and in the next.  Christ wants us to all be kind and nice.

I read a book about the favorite verses from the the Book Of Mormon and this was in it I think that this is a great book and that you can get lots of good things out of this book

willie

Making Commitments To The Lord

      Commit thy way to the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.
                       ~ Psalm 37:5

      O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, in thy youth learn to keep the keep the commandments of God.
      Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be unto the Lord; yea, let thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
       Counsel with the Lord in all doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy hear the full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
            ~Alma 37:35-37

        Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.
            ~Jacob 4:10


Ideas To Help Keep Your Commitments To The Lord
-Pray every morning and night recommitting yourself to the Lord
-Create a love for the gospel e.g. Jesus, God, the prophet, the Book of Mormon, the Holy Ghost, etc.
-Search for and record the tender mercies from God from the day
-Think of the goals, end results or blessings you want to achieve and would lose, or make it harder to get if you don't keep the commitment. (Eternal life, returning to Heavenly Father, peace, etc.)

On October fourth I realized something about Jesus' Atonement. Satan tries to make us feel miserable and awful like him, but the Savior, to help us become like Him, came and felt like us. 

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
2 Nephi 2:27

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 Peter 2:21

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Peter 3:18

Atone

   To atone means, to cover.
   In 2 Nephi 9:14 it says, Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.

   In Genesis 3:21 it says, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 

  In Isaiah 61:10 it says, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the rode of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. 

   In 2 Nephi 4:33 it says, O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape from mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy. 

   In Doctrine and Covenants 29:12 it says, And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, and it hath gone forth in a firm decree, by the will of the Father, that mine apostles, the Twelve which were with me in my ministry at Jerusalem, shall stand at my right hand at the day of my coming in a pillar of fire, being clothed with robes of righteousness, with crowns upon their heads, in glory even as I am, to judge the whole house of Israel, even as many as have loved me and kept my commandments, and none else.

   In Doctrine and Covenants 109:76 it says, That our garments may be pure that we may be clothed upon with robes of righteousness, with palms in our hands, and crowns of glory upon our heads and reap eternal joy for all our sufferings. 

So, September was a very crazy month as well. But I am going to do better.  I hope to hear more from all of you as well 😉😉😉 Last week I was reading in Alma, the war chapters, about how Moroni had the people working hard to prepare and protect there cities.  As I thought about this I thought, we don't really have to face physical battles, but we do face spiritual battles every day.  There are those who oppose and criticize our beliefs, who may mock us or even threaten us. As I pondered this I asked myself how can we prepare and protect ourselves and our families spiritually. I know the standard answers,  - prayer, scripture study, attend meetings, FHE, temple and family history work, etc - but how can we make those things more meaningful in our lives, so that they truly do strengthen, prepare, and protect us and our families, so we are not just "going through the motions".  I am aware of a number of people who for many, many years have been "active in the Church" but not active in the gospel.  And I pondered on what we, as a whole family, can do to help each other.  So, I'm asking for your thoughts and ideas.  We do not live close together, but I think we are still a close family and can help in strengthening and protecting each other.  Let me know your thoughts. 
💖💖💖LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOU ALL💖💖💖

It has been a LONG time since I have written or checked the blog! I apologize! Summer has been so crazy, but it was so much fun being with all of you!  I love you SOOOOO much and am so very thankful that WE ARE FAMILY!!! I promise to do better with blogging! Have a GREAT week and remember that you are loved so much by so many people, most especially by our Heavenly Father and elder brother, Jesus Christ.

This a a quote from a section of the book, The Infinite Atonement.

"A PHYSICAL SYMBOL OF THE ATONEMENT
   This reconciliation between God and man is figuratively and literally symbolized be an embrace. Lehi alluded to this in his dying sermons to his sons: "The Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love" (2 Nephi 1:15). The Doctrine and Covenants suggests the same imagery: "Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love" (D&C 6:20). Amulek preached in like fashion: "Mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety" (Alma 34:16). What a beautiful metaphor. What child doesn't feel safe in the arms of his kind and loving father? What peace, warmth, what reassurance, to know that in his arms he is safe from crime, anger rejection, loneliness, and all the ills of this world.
   Isaiah spoke of those tender moments when the Lord would "gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom" (Isaiah 40:11). Elder Orson F. Whitney experienced such a glorious moment when he saw a marvelous manifestation of the Savior. In his dream, he said, "I ran to meet Him. . . ,  fell at His feet, clasped Him around the knees, and begged Him to take me with Him. I shall never forget the kind and gentle manner in which He stooped, raised me up, and embraced me. It was so vivid, so real.I felt the warmth of His body, as He held me in His arms." Who would not long for tat warmth, that embrace?
...Contemplate for a moment the magnetic pull when a little child sees her father on bended knee with arms extended. The invitation is irresistible. The reaction to return is automatic. There is no intellectual analysis. It is like reaching for a blanket in cold weather, turning on a light in a dark room. Some things are not mind-driven, but heart prompted. These are natural yearnings of the soul, the need for warmth, light, and love. Likewise, our Father in Heaven is extending His arms with the intent to entice us home. How irresistible those arms are to those who seek His warmth, His light, and His love. He invites us to the day of reconciliation, the return to our true home, the day of reunification with our primeval family; He invites us to run to His arms and bask in His embrace. This was the Lord's promise to the children of Israel: "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm. . . . And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to a God" (Exodus 6:6-7). "

I really love the imagery that this shows, and the feeling it gives. I love thinking about what it's like for the Savior and Heavenly Father to embrace me.

June 3rd, 2018

1.Seven day fast from Social Media
2.Weekly sacrifice of time to the lord. (3 weeks)
3.Stay and the covenant path and do a life assessment.
4.Pray daily for all to receive blessing of the gospel.
5.Stand out.

Those are five things that Nelson asked us to do and I wanted to add one more.

6.Read and study the BOM daily and find out what you need to know.

Everyone that wants do in this challenge comment below.

By the way, What is your favorite scriptures?

 McKenna had this idea a few weeks ago and instead of doing a movie play we could do scripture skit. Once we took everything into perspective we decided that this was THE BEST idea. We ask for you to tell everyone in your family about this and tell them they are free to put as many or as few as possible suggestions ( scripture skits ) on THIS PAGE. So then we need each family as a family to choose 1 idea or suggestion and figure out how to act it out. Then we need you to practice, practice, practice. But even before you practice we need you to post your choice. Pretend you chose the story of esther, you would put ---bevans choice is -esther-. We need this info before June 20th. Thank you for any and all effort. Here are a few ideas.

Nephi

Australia temple

    * Esther
*The Good Samaritan
*Noah's Ark
*Nephi builds the boat
*Nephi gets the plates from Laban
*The 2,000 stripling warriors

Esther

Strong as the 2,000 sons

In Young Woman last week we were talking about the 2000 Stripling Warriors and how it was their mothers that had taught them to "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them."  Later that week we read that story in our early morning devotional. So this week I have been think about it. How what we feel if Dallin, Willie, Neal,& Luke had to go to battle? What would we do? In my history class we are currently in the begging battles of the Civil War. Two battles that both had a good turn out. I think that the we need to be prepared for that and that anything can happen. It can be physical or spiritual. We need to remember what we have been taught and apply it to our everyday lives to be prepared.
Just something to think about. 

Never Know What Curve Balls Live is going to send at you.

-Grace



                                                                             

HEY EVERYBODY!!!!!

     Summer break is coming up quickly!!! Now that seminary is almost over, hopefully you have finished the Book of Mormon (personally, I still have some reading to do...), and now that summer break is almost here (!?), you can start thinking about some summer scripture study goals. My goals are to study (not just read) everyday, and to use an idea I got from one of the missionaries here, I'm going to start a study journal, where I have different pages for different topics. I LOVE that idea, and it's something I'm super excited to get started on! 

     Right now I'm reading in 3 Nephi, and right now is where Jesus is visiting the Nephites. One thing I found was that almost each chapter compares to a chapter from the New Testament. The things Jesus taught the Nephites were the same things He taught to the people in Jerusalem. 

     I also got to thinking about how wherever we go around the world, the same gospel is being taught. The church is the same around the world, and I am actually really glad for that.  It's reliable. The gospel is unchanging, just like Heavenly Father. "For He is the same yesterday. today and forever." (1 Nephi 10:18) 

PS-What are your guys's scripture study goals for the summer? 

In General Conference when President Russel M. Nelson spoke he said something close to this. 

As you continue in obedience, express gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and honor the timetable of the Lord, you will receive the knowledge and understanding you seek. 

When he said this it had a big impact on me because I've been trying to find answers to questions, and he laid down a way that we can receive answers and understanding.

     So, I've learned this week that prayer really helps me get more out of my scripture study. I also can receive answers and revelation when I pray and read scriptures.      Today I said a prayer before  reading, and then I decided to look for principles in the chapter that I read (Helaman 4). Here's what I learned and found during my scripture study.

• Pride can lead to great loss (Helaman 4:11-12)
• If we are wicked, boast in our own strength, and stop thanking Heavenly Father for strengthening us, we will lose that strength from God, and be left "to [our] own strength" (Helaman 4:13)
• When we repent, the Lord will prosper us (Helaman 4:15)
• "The Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples" (Helaman 4:24)

     Prayer is a really powerful tool that the Lord has given us. We can use it to communicate with Heavenly Father! Think about that! If you wanted to talk to the President of the USA, how long would it take to actually get to talk to him, if you actually got to? But Heavenly Father, who is so more important than the President, who would actually listen, and then give you an answer back.
     I know that prayer really is a way to communicate with our Father in Heaven. I know that we can recieve answers to our prayers, because I have. I know that Heavenly Father sometimes communicates back to us through scripture study. And I say this is the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


***Guys, if you feel comfortable, can you share some stories of times when you recieved answers to you prayers?

I LOVE the BOOK OF MORMON!!!  I cannot imagine what my life would be without it! It is another testament of Jesus Christ. Throughout its pages we can see His hand in the lives of those who follow Him.  We also see how He reaches out to those who do not believe or who have turned against Him.  In the war chapters, Moroni sends a letter to Ammoron concerning "that awful hell that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been, except ye repent..." Even as wicked as Ammoron and his brother were, the Lord was still reaching out to them.  He loved them and wanted them to return to Him so He could heal them and help them.  Throughout the Book of Mormon we see His love, His mercy, His grace.  I love Him and our Father! I am so thankful They have given us this record so that we can draw closer to our Savior and receive the blessings of the Atonement in our lives.  I love you all!!! And, I LOVE reading your posts!

Easter and General Conference

Easter and General Conference are right around the corner. 

Jesus talking to Mary.

'Tis my challenge to you that every one will post something that they may learn about during any session.

~ Grace

In my personal scripture study, I have just got to the war chapters in Alma. That's also where we are in seminary, and so for seminary homework (Hannah and I were sick last week) we watched Righteous Warriors, a talk by John Bytheway on what we can learn from the war chapeters. It was really cool. Here's a link to the video, and here are some things I learned:

-We need to stand firm on what we believe in. Satan will try to tempt us, using a method I call "just a little bit," where he tempts us to drop our standards just a little bit, or just for a little bit, saying it's okay to swear with words that aren't too bad, or to wear this immodest dress just this once, since it's a special occasion. We need to stay on the rock that is our Savior.

-The prophet is like a man on a watch tower. He can see farther than we can, and can see things we can't. Just like a wathcman, the prophet has and will continue to warn us of things to come, as well as tell us how to prepare.

-Life is a battle for the destiny of your spirit. So prepare that way!

-To prepare for battle, Moroni had the people prepare spiritually first, repenting, studying the word of God, etc. and then they made physical preporation for war. We need to prioritize, and make sure that the gospel, and our relationship with the Savior comes first in our life.


McKenna

TITLE OF LIBERTY

I read recently in the book of mormon  about mormon and the title of liberty and it reads
In memory of God, our Religion, 
and Freedom, and our Peace, and our Wives and our Children.
I really think that this very inspiring          Dallin

reading the book of mormon

I am so glad to have the book of mormon in my life 

I have noticed that if I don't read 1 day 

the day doesn't go as well