Category: Jesus Christ

Joy, December 20

“…O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.” And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come…

Mosiah 4:3-4

When I was very young, I remember putting this exact scripture to the test. I had done something wrong and I had confessed and tried to make things right. Then I prayed in my room and asked if I might feel this kind of joy, too. And I did.

I didn’t understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ very well back then, but I surely felt its effects. I think we’re all immature in our understanding of the Atonement of Christ, but we aren’t asked to comprehend it, but to have faith in it. This is the path to joy.

Happy 17th to our awesome Timothy!

Joy, December 18

And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me.

D&C 18:13-16

I am not aware of a single person who has come unto God because of something I taught. But I like this scripture passage because it reminds me it’s not about the tally. It’s about the value God places on each child. When we are talking about souls, we are talking about infinitely valuable children of God. There is no adding infinity plus infinity. So one soul or a hundred souls, it’s still infinitely valuable work.

I like to picture what the joy of our Father in Heaven looks like because one of his children chose to come to Him. It might look a little like those parents at the airport welcoming their children home from missions. I weep when I see that kind of joy. I believe our abundant and generous Heavenly Father’s joy is contagious. It will be a joyful, joyful reunion someday.

Joy, December 17

And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.

1 Nephi 13:37

One day on Instagram, I decided to “follow” each living Apostle. What a satisfying exercise! President Russell M Nelson: Follow; President Dallin H. Oaks: Follow….Elder Jeffrey R Holland: Follow…

In a world full of people publishing things, I have learned that reading blogs, social media, commentaries, and listening to podcasts are of much less value than studying the gospel of peace from the scriptures and living prophets. The words of the prophets have sometimes been hard for me to take, but as I follow their direction, I have found joy where I didn’t expect it. I have learned that I can’t always trust my feelings or first thoughts about what they teach, but I have come to know that I can trust that God works through them.

Joy, December 16

…a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people…

Alma 48:11-12

My neighbors showed their “souls’ joy” in their brethren being free “from bondage and slavery” by giving to local refugees this week for Tim’s Eagle service project. It was an overwhelming experience to witness so much generosity.

Joy, December 14

Behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Alma 26:11-12

I like these words of Ammon, “In his strength I can do all things.” This phrase is actually an echo of the words of Ammon’s convert, Lamoni. In Alma 20:4, Lamoni tells Ammon, “I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things.”

We think we go about doing good, but really, it is the Lord working in us, and we come off as beneficiaries. Sometimes the Lord blesses us through the people we serve. In this case, Ammon’s friend Lamoni gave him a phrase full of truth that Ammon remembered years later as he reflected on his missionary work.

Today I praise God for the strength to face difficult things alongside my friends. I rejoice in the things I have learned about myself, what’s important in life, and the power of God.

Joy, December 9

“And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.”

Alma 36:17-21

One of my favorite lines in the new Young Women theme is, “I cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day.” YES! To repent is to be reintroduced to Jesus Christ. How joyful is that?

Joy, December 7

Wherefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.”

2 Nephi 10:23

Is it just me, or do you get the idea that Nephi’s brother Jacob in the Book of Mormon was a little depressed? He was definitely a little down on the day he engraved on the plates that they were wanderers, mourning out their days (Jacob 7:26). So, when somebody like Jacob who has felt quite low tells us to cheer up our hearts, I think he knows something of what he speaks. He knows the power of mindset.

Hey, I can cheer up my heart when someone is thoughtless towards me because I have power to choose my reaction. Hooray for agency! And I can cheer up my heart because I can pray silently anywhere, anytime. I am never alone! I can cheer up my heart because the path to eternal life isn’t closed when I mess up. The Savior can help me with every step.

Joy, December 6

Illustration by Paige, @paigerossart

“Wherefore do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and  let your soul delight in fatness. Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.”

2 Nephi 9:51-52

I think this message is about overdoing things, or living in excess. There are bad examples of excess, such as overspending, overwork, or chasing the selfish life.

In contrast, the Lord offers a “feast” so filling, so delightful, and so like Him. He invites us to attend so he can shower us in his excessive love and compassion. We don’t always feel like we are at a feast as we walk away from friends or activities, or choose worship over entertainment, but that fits our Father in Heaven’s personality: I think he likes to surprise us with joy.

What? It’s possible to feel joy at exactly the same time we feel great loss? Incredible! We feel cherished, or carried.

Pow! All it took this time was the sunrise to fill me with a taste of how He feels for me.

Oh, wow, we didn’t expect that visit to the elderly to affect our spirits like that. We don’t want to forget this feeling.

When those moments of joy come, unexpected and generous, I am learning to open my heart and allow the feelings to rush in. I am learning to let my heart rejoice.

So, do we just make good choices and sit around and wait for joy to happen? I don’t think so. Jacob also teaches us that our conversations with God need to happen all day, and gratitude should be part of those conversations. This opens our eyes to all he does for us so we aren’t deceived into thinking that if we just do or buy more things, we will be happy. With prayers of gratitude, we learn that we have everything we need to be happy.

Joy, December 5

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King…Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.”

Psalms 98:4-6, 8

I’m pretty sure as we sing in church as this little boy is singing, with eyebrows raised and the words coming from deeper than just our throats, we grow in joy. As I play my violin this season, I give thanks that the Lord has given me a means to express how I really feel, and allow others to experience deep emotion together.