It Is Possible to Change, Really Change

Charity is not an emotion or an action. It is not something we feel or do. Charity is who the Savior is. It is His most defining and dominant attribute. it is the greatest of all the gifts of the spirit. Charity defines who and what we are seeking to become. Without Chairty, we cannot enter into the Celestial Kingdom. For Charity changes us, it transforms us, it is a healing balm. Charity is a bestowal from the Father to true followers of His son and he and only He can change our hearts and our natures. the Lord needs every one of us, and we need each other. A distinguishing feature of the Gospel of Christ is that it makes His followers one. No matter what course we may take so long as it is in righteousness, if we are united, we can stand against the world. For unity is strength. We each have to walk through life on our own, but no one should have to do it alone. We are to bear each others burdens, even to absorb each others burdens. But not to cause each others burdens. We can do it, I know we can.

The Truth Sets Us Free

In John 8:32-59- The Truth Sets Us Free:

In verse 32 is one of the most profound verses in all the scriptures. It is a simple and powerful fact. The truth sets us free. For example, if people believe that a baby who dies without baptism is forever damned from returning to heaven, "And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven."(D&C 137:10) sets them free from anguish and lingering guilt of having neglected this rite for the child. If one has lived a life of serious sin, and upon repenting and changing lifestule still believe that he or she will forever be a 'second class' citizen in the church, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."(Isaiah 1:18)-will set him or her free from feelings of being permanently limited by past lifestyle. Elder Richard G Scott said "If you have repented from serious transgression and mistakenly believe that you will always be a second class citizen in the kingdom of God, that is not true"
As we continue on from verse 33 we learn that those who sin are slaves to sin, and the only way to be free of sin, is with Christ.
In verse 39, that True followers of Abraham, would do the works of Abraham. Christ says to the Jews that if they were true followers of Abraham they wouldn't desire to kill him. They reply that they are loyal to God and not born of fornification. (We learn that the words "fornication and adultery" are often used in the Bible to refer, symbolically, to complete disloyalty to God.
In verse 43, it teaches us that there are some people who, because of their beliefs or lifestyle, simply can't stand the truth. In verse 44, the Savior gives us a brief but concentrated description of the devil.  In verse, 48, we learn is a major message for us. As learners, we have the obligation to actively receive the gospel when we hear it, rather than simply hearing it.
In verse 48, the phrase "thou art a Samaritan" is saying, that Jesus is 'illegitimate' and God is not his father. The Samaritans came from remnants of the ten northern tribes of Israel, who intermarried with non-covenant people, mainly Assyrian occupational armies, beginning in about 722 BC., and apostatized. Thus, Samaritans were considered  by the Jews to be former members of the House of Israel who had "stepped out on God" by marrying non-members and thereby had polluted the race. They were "illegitimate"children, therefore, were despised by the Jews.
Finally in verse 58, the Savior tells the Jews, that He is the Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, and that the reason He has seen Abraham is the he is the god of Abraham and appeared to Him.

The Creation and Us

The creation shows why we are here and where we come from.
1. Why?
2. What and How it was done?
Jesus Christ created the world which was done for God's purpose- which is in Moses1:39 "And this is my work and glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" Everything that he does is to bring us back home to live with Him again, and to also become as He is. He is teaching us, in the accounts of the creation, the patterns of creations since we will be creators just as He is. The creations testify of a creator. "But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God?  Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets?  The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."(Alma 30:44) There is so many of God's creations which prove how much God cares. All of His creations testify of God's purpose. For example, as a institute teacher explained once, that for example when we usually see rainbows they are in a half circle, but it reality they are a whole circle, but we cant see the whole circle, unless something was in front of it. And that the rainbow symbolizes turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Which is a testament to one of God's purposes for us. So when we look at rainbows we will remember what they stand for. All creation is preceded by a spiritual creation. Its so important to master the techniques of accomplishing our goals.
1. They need to be measurable
2. Write them down, so we will see them around us and remember
3. Set time periods- moniter your progress
4. Make a commitment to accomplish that goal and invite  the Lord in our goals because He wants us to succeed.
5. Always keep going and set a realistic goal that is within reach of accomplishing.
Most importantly we need to have spiritual goals, to work out way toward being with our Heavenly Father again and also to become like Him.

Broken Things To Mend Part Two

Following these most basic teachings, a splendor of connection to Christ opens up to us in multitudinous ways: prayer, fasting and meditating on his purposes, savoring the scriptures, giving service to others, Above all, loving with "the pure love of Christ". We all need to have a more straightforward personal experience with the Savior's example. What is most important is personal experience, true discipleship , and the strength that comes from experiencing firsthand the majesty of His touch.
Whatever struggles or trials we are going through, we need to first come to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven's promises. "I  do know, that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions"(Alma 36:3)
The Savior's atonement lifts from us not only the burdens of our sins but also the burden of disappointments and sorrows, heartaches, and our despair. From the beginning, trust in such helpo was to give us both a reason and a way to improve, an incentive to lay down our burdens and take up our salvation. There can and will be plenty of difficulties in life. Nevertheless the soul that comes unto Christ, who knows His voice and strives to do as He did, finds a strength. He is not going to turn His back on us now. He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows the way because He is the way.
If you are lonely, know you can find comfort. If you are discouraged, please know that you can find hope. If you are in poor in spirit, know you can be strengthened. If you feel you are broken, please know that you can be mended. May we all, especially the poor in spirit, come unto Him and be made whole

Broken Things To Mend- Part One

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 5:3) Many people are facing personal trials and family struggles, enduring conflicts fought in the lonely foxholes of the heart, trying to hold back floodwaters of despair that sometimes wash over us like a tsunami of the soul. What follows is especially for those who feel their lives are broken, seemingly beyond repair. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give thee rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls"(Matthew 11:28-29) This is the key to the peace and rest that we seek. It seems clear that the essence of our duty, the fundamental requirements of our mortal life, is captures in these brief phrases from any number of scenes in the Savior's mortal ministry. He could have said this to us " Trust me, learn of me, do what I do. Then, when you walk where I am going" He says " We can talk about where you are going, and the problems you face and troubles you have. If you follow me, I will lead you out of darness," He promises " I will give you answers to your prayer and I will give you rest to your souls" Just believing, just having a molecule of faith-simply hoping for things which are not seen in our lives, but which are nevertheless truly there to be bestowed--that simple step, when focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, has ever been and always will be the first principle of His eternal gospel, the first step out of despair.
Second, we must change anything we can change that may be part of the problem. We must repent, perhaps the most hopefull and encouraging word in the Christan vocabulary. We thank our Father in Heaven we are allowed to change, we thank Jesus we can change, and ultimately we do so only with their divine assistance. Often our trials result from the actions of others or just the mortal events of life.
Third, in as many ways as possible we try to take upon us His identity, and we begin by taking upon us His name. that name is formally bestowed by covenant in the saving ordinances of the gospel. these start with baptism and conclude with temple covenants, with many others, such as partaking of the sacrament, laced throughout our lives as additional blessings and reminders.

Aligning Our Wills With The Lord's

1. Through the scriptures-we come to know Him and His will through the Spirit.Which speaks to us through the feelings that come to our hearts while reading the scriptures where we are given peace, hope, joy, comfort, strength, and courage. The scriptures are a tool for us because they invite us to come unto Him. Its also a way for us to come to know our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, to apply His atonement into our daily lives.
2. Prayer-to know the will of God we need to live it. Christ is a source of light. The more light we have, the better choices we will be able to make. whatever decision we make directs us toward God or to satan. Satan can only be in our lives if we allow Him to be. We also need to understand our relationship with our Heavenly Father to understand His will, and the ways that He speaks to us. There are 3 ways: 1. Pray 2. Scriptures 3. Other people around us. we also need to have faith, also to wait for His answer, and then act upon it! "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."(2 Nephi 28:30)  Also the choices of others will affect us whether its positive or negative. Prayer is the passport to peace, the answer of miracle are wrought through prayer. If we have God on our side we cannot fail.
3. Communication- Communication with the Lord in Holy Places- to understand the will of the Lord our homes should be dedicated to holy things. we came here to learn and grow. there needs to be a good atmosphere in our homes. Which applies to temples and our homes as well. we need to make our homes a continually holy place by scripture study, prayer, kind words, cleanliness and a place of order, wholesome literature and media. to have a positive influence in our lives, in our homes. By praying we allow the Lord to come into our lives, to comfort and help us.

Extending God's Love To Others

' I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in the commandment of God blameless in thanksgiving, forever and ever'-Doctrine and Covenants 88:133
When we help others feel God's love; when we are: supportive, encouraging, inspiring, nourishing, nurturing, comforting, compassionate, understanding, patient, long suffering, good humored, willing to cut him/her some slack and extend the benefit of the doubt, willing to talk and listen openly and honestly, trusting and accepting non judgmentally. When we counsel, guide, teach, mentor, pray and fast with  empower, validate, acknowledge, withhold judgement. "And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;  Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—"(Mosiah 18:8-9) Our ability to worship God, to reaffirm our covenants and receive the healing power of the Holy Ghost, to receive the instruction we need in order to make personal progress-all of these things are greatly affected by how secure and safe we feel in our church environment during the three hour block of time on Sundays. When we truly pay attention to others-with open hearts, hearts filled with His validating, acknowledging, and accepting love. We work miracles when we simply pass it on. One of the great wonders of God's love is that it expresses itself uniquely through each person's personality.