Our ability to Change

One of God's greatest gifts to His children is the ability to make choices for ourselves. In 2 Nephi chapter 2 from the Book of Mormon it explains that because Christ came and Atoned for the children of men we have a clean slate to work with. We have the freedom to make choices and react to their consequences.

 26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

We are free to change. We are free to act for ourselves and we are not forced into any set mindset or circumstance. We can change our position, change our outlook and soften our hearts.

The consequences of allowing the Atonement to work in our lives will change us for the better.

I know that the power of the Atonement is designed to bring our families closer together. We have the choice to listen to the whisperings of heaven and allow the love of Christ to touch our lives. But we have to chose it.
Let us decide today to allow the Gospel of Jesus Christ to change us.

His Grace is Sufficient

 There are so many advantages about being on a mission (and I'll probably write about this topic often) but one of my favorite moments are the study hours we have in the mornings. So many mysteries of the gospel open up to us when we crack open our eyelids and open up the scriptures! Well this morning Sister Hudson handed me a talk that her trainer gave her when she just came out on her mission. Brad Wilcox gave a speech at BYU on the balance of grace and works and the example he uses of practicing a piano makes the Atonement so applicable.

He says "Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher... Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child’s practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child’s practice repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is how the child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice...In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19), “Keep my commandments” (John 14:15)...
Let’s put that in terms of our analogy: The child must practice the piano, but this practice has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change."


Christ has paid for everything and we can apply his gift in our lives by practicing being better every day.
Being obedient is hard. Thinking about others before ourselves is often inconvenient, but these investments get us so much farther in life. We become something more. That's the balance between grace and works. He has already paid for it so what are you going to do about it?

Please read the whole talk at
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1966

The very first thing I want to say on this blog is how much I love my Savior Jesus Christ! We all have a different backgrounds and levels of understanding when it comes to the role Christ plays in our lives but everything He did, does or will do is for our benefit. I want to add my testimony to the millions of Christians around the world that I know my Redeemer lives and that He is an active part in our lives. I was so grateful for the opportunity we had this last Sunday to remember the sacrifice He made for us and to rejoice in His glorious resurrection.

This last April General Conference Elder D. Todd Christofferson stated, "Because He was resurrected, Jesus cannot have been only a carpenter, a teacher, a rabbi or a prophet. Because He was resurrected, Jesus had to have been a God, even the Only Begotten Son of the Father.
Therefore, what He taught was true; God cannot lie.
Therefore, He was the Creator of the earth, as He said.
Therefore, heaven and hell are real, as He taught.
Therefore, there is a world of spirits, which He visited after His death.
Therefore, He will come again, as the angels said, and 'reign personally upon the earth."
Therefore, there is a resurrection and a final judgement for all.

Given the reality of the Resurrection of Christ, doubts about the omnipotence, omniscience, and benevolence of God the Father-who gave His Only Begotten Son for the redemption of the world-are groundless. Doubts about the meaning and purpose of life are unfounded. Jesus Christ is in fact the only name or way by which salvation can come to mankind."

No matter who we are or what our background is, we can come unto Christ. Jesus Christ offers what no man can, and that is eternal life.