Remembering the Beginning with the End in Mind
Merry Christmas to All!
What a fitting week it has been. We been pondering the miraculous birth of our Savior Jesus Christ over the past several days. How fitting it is for me today to share some of my pondering and the amazing testimonies that have been shared with me.
Alma 34:9-10
"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made."
"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice."
As we think of the birth and life of Jesus Christ, we cannot and should not overlook the infinite sacrifice he came into mortality to make. Like us, I am not sure he fully understood the magnitude of what he was committing to do, but he never backed down from it. What an amazing testimony of keeping and living covenants.
Today in sacrament meeting a personal experience was shared. It was a simple, but powerful testimony of how much the Lord cares about each and everyone of us in our lives, even in the simple and mundane routines of our lives. She spoke of tin foil. After weeks of planning, list making, shopping, and preparing for a youth camp, this sister felt impressed to change the menu. Instead of making tin foil dinners, she felt impressed to just make a mega meal and combine all the ingredients. It was an odd impression. She resisted it several times, but in the end submitted and followed her impression. Later in the week there was some issues with insects and the need to cover and protect prepared food. The only thing that they had was tin foil. Lots of tin foil. As she was covering one plate of food, she realized that if she had not followed that impression, they would not have had tin foil to protect the food later in the week.
She bore her powerful testimony, that I echo here today, that our Heavenly Father knows us, individually. He is aware of what we do, where we do it, and how we do it. He not only knows, but cares.
These verses magnify her testimony for me today. Jesus Christ knows us. He knows our names. He made that individual sacrifice for each of us individually. It was not a cumulative sacrifice. It was an individual sacrifice for each of our individual mistakes, weaknesses, infirmities, longings, pains, and sufferings.
Each week we have the opportunity to individually covenant to do better. To ask his forgiveness by power of the individual atoning sacrifice that he made for each of us. In return, he asks us to pay it forward, living and keeping his commandments, loving and caring for his sheep, making and keeping covenants that will allow us to return home to him one day.
The promise and blessings are real. Another testimony was shared with me today from 1 Nephi 17:13. "And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."
He will lead us individually. He is waiting on us individually. The rest is up to us.
Our week:
It has been kind of quiet. The Queen had three days off this week that were granted to her at the last minute. She did her best to stay busy and not over extend herself. I think she was burning candles on both ends. I can never keep up with her.
The Professor wrapped up the final days of class before Christmas Recess. She is now doing what she can to burn candles.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been quiet. Well from our perspective. I am sure they have been busy as the rest of us this bustling season. I know that Tall Man has jury duty, but I have not heard the results. Lego saw the Temple Lights for the first time.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins have been just as quiet and busy. I was able to catch them briefly between work and events. I am happy they are all doing well. We keep our fingers crossed.
SnackPack is learning to juggle all the new routine of long days and short nights. He is hoping for a consistent schedule soon, but does not mind the benefits.
What a fitting week it has been. We been pondering the miraculous birth of our Savior Jesus Christ over the past several days. How fitting it is for me today to share some of my pondering and the amazing testimonies that have been shared with me.
Alma 34:9-10
"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made."
"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice."
As we think of the birth and life of Jesus Christ, we cannot and should not overlook the infinite sacrifice he came into mortality to make. Like us, I am not sure he fully understood the magnitude of what he was committing to do, but he never backed down from it. What an amazing testimony of keeping and living covenants.
Today in sacrament meeting a personal experience was shared. It was a simple, but powerful testimony of how much the Lord cares about each and everyone of us in our lives, even in the simple and mundane routines of our lives. She spoke of tin foil. After weeks of planning, list making, shopping, and preparing for a youth camp, this sister felt impressed to change the menu. Instead of making tin foil dinners, she felt impressed to just make a mega meal and combine all the ingredients. It was an odd impression. She resisted it several times, but in the end submitted and followed her impression. Later in the week there was some issues with insects and the need to cover and protect prepared food. The only thing that they had was tin foil. Lots of tin foil. As she was covering one plate of food, she realized that if she had not followed that impression, they would not have had tin foil to protect the food later in the week.
She bore her powerful testimony, that I echo here today, that our Heavenly Father knows us, individually. He is aware of what we do, where we do it, and how we do it. He not only knows, but cares.
These verses magnify her testimony for me today. Jesus Christ knows us. He knows our names. He made that individual sacrifice for each of us individually. It was not a cumulative sacrifice. It was an individual sacrifice for each of our individual mistakes, weaknesses, infirmities, longings, pains, and sufferings.
Each week we have the opportunity to individually covenant to do better. To ask his forgiveness by power of the individual atoning sacrifice that he made for each of us. In return, he asks us to pay it forward, living and keeping his commandments, loving and caring for his sheep, making and keeping covenants that will allow us to return home to him one day.
The promise and blessings are real. Another testimony was shared with me today from 1 Nephi 17:13. "And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."
He will lead us individually. He is waiting on us individually. The rest is up to us.
Our week:
It has been kind of quiet. The Queen had three days off this week that were granted to her at the last minute. She did her best to stay busy and not over extend herself. I think she was burning candles on both ends. I can never keep up with her.
The Professor wrapped up the final days of class before Christmas Recess. She is now doing what she can to burn candles.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been quiet. Well from our perspective. I am sure they have been busy as the rest of us this bustling season. I know that Tall Man has jury duty, but I have not heard the results. Lego saw the Temple Lights for the first time.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins have been just as quiet and busy. I was able to catch them briefly between work and events. I am happy they are all doing well. We keep our fingers crossed.
SnackPack is learning to juggle all the new routine of long days and short nights. He is hoping for a consistent schedule soon, but does not mind the benefits.
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