The music we use in Church meetings, which we refer to as hymns, is a significant and important part of our worship services. The hymn book we use has a preface from the leadership of the Church explaining this importance:
Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.
Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end.
In addition to blessing us as Church and family members, the hymns can greatly benefit us as individuals. Hymns can lift our spirits, give us courage, and move us to righteous action. They can fill our souls with heavenly thoughts and bring us a spirit of peace.
One of my favorite hymns is called "Reverently and Meekly Now." I like it for a couple of reasons, one being that the lyrics are from the perspective of Jesus Christ, so it is like listening to the Savior speak to me. I have included all the text below. Another reason I like it is because it is like listening to the Savior tell me what He has done for me. Look at the last line of each verse. It is very personal. If I was speaking directly with Jesus Christ, these are the things He would tell me.
While we have been living in South Carolina, I started volunteering at an animal shelter. I mostly just go clean cat cages. I have been very impressed with the shelter. It is very clean and they treat the animals well. It is run on donations and volunteers. It seems that new animals get brought in every day.
Lately, we have been working with a feral, or wild, kitten. He had climbed up in a truck and gotten stuck. After a couple days the owner of the truck was able to get him out and bring him in. The first time I reached my hand to pet him and hold him he hissed at me, got in the furthest corner of the kennel, and curled up in a tight ball. Kittens cannot be adopted until they are 8 weeks old and this kitten is estimated to be around 6 weeks. We have two weeks to prepare him to be adopted and not to be afraid of people.
The first day with him, Ben spent about three hours with him. He even named him, Lil Badger. Ben took the time to show him where his food was, feed him by hand, wrap him up in a towel and hold him tight. We were told that wrapping him in a towel or blanket while holding him would make him feel more secure. We were also told it might be a while before he stopped hissing and started purring. Near the end of the first day, while Ben was petting him, he began to purr.
The next day we went to pet him and again, he hissed at us. After 20 minutes he wouldn't hiss but would play with us.
The next day, he hissed again but not as much. After I vacuumed it was like starting at the beginning with him. He hid from us and wanted nothing to do with us.
Now, a week later, he trusts us. Occasionally he will hiss when he gets really scared; otherwise, he meows and purrs. He likes to be around us and wants to play constantly. As I'm typing this he is sitting under my chair.
I've been thinking a lot lately about trust. Trust and faith. They are necessary for us to feel peace. Faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. Trusting that if we rely on the Savior that he will help, guide, and direct us.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has experienced times of having a weak testimony and when my trust is almost nonexistent. Looking back, I realize I would try to comfort myself. I would try to find my own peace. It did not work. Luckily, I realized it didn't work and that I needed to change.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
The Savior will help us find peace and by relying on the Savior through our struggles, he will give us rest. I know this to be true. Just as Lil Badger now feels safe and secure with us; we can experience security and safety in the arms of our Savior.
Having a child has taught me more about myself and my relationship with God than anything I have previously experienced in my life.
For instance, my little girl, Evie, has a stuffed turtle with a shell that projects the stars and moon on her ceiling. Last night, she was holding it in her hands and she started looking through the little star shaped holes directly at the light bulb in the shell. As soon as I told her not to do it, she of course tightened her hold on the turtle and stared more fiercely into the light. I explained to her that staring directly at light bulbs hurts your eyes. Did that stop her from wanting to do it? No. Same thing with walking in the street. I explain to her that it is dangerous to walk out into the street because cars drive on the road and they don't always see people walking. Basically, getting hit by a car would hurt really bad. "Big Bonk" in 2-year old language. Does she still try to spend a lot of time playing in the street. Yes.
So while the whole turtle light bulb situation was happening, I was thinking to myself, "She is so stubborn! Why would she consistently choose to do something that I tell her is not good for her eyes. That can hurt her. And then why, when she does get hurt in these situations (like when I tell her not to stand in her booster seat at the kitchen table because she could fall and hit her head....and then she falls and hits her head), why does she look at me with tears running down her cheeks as if I was the reason she fell?" Those are the thoughts running through my mind.
And then suddenly, I see myself in her. I do the same thing, all the time. Like parking in a place I shouldn't park because it's convenient--thinking this time I won't get a ticket even though I've been ticketed every other time I've parked here. And then when I get the ticket, I curse the guy who gave me the ticket. The same thing is true for me with spiritual principles--with commandments that come from Heavenly Father. And suddenly my relationship and interactions with Evie are juxtaposed with my relationship and interactions with God...except this time I am still the child. And He is telling me things He has always said--things like, "Keep the Sabbath day holy. Make it a day for spiritual things and for serving and helping others (because when you do that, you are serving and helping Me). And on this one day of the week, when you can, refrain from the normal weekday work that you do and the normal weekday recreation. And if you do this, you will be better and brighter and happier." (see Isaiah 58:13-14) And I look down and find myself wanting to tighten my grip on the silly fluff of a book that I am currently reading or wanting to sleep all day rather then put down the book or get out of bed to go do something for someone else or even just to spend quality time with my family. Things like that.
I love this quote from a talk given in a recent church conference:
"God will not act to make us something we do not choose by our actions to become. Truly He loves us, and because He loves us, He neither compels nor abandons us. Rather He helps and guides us. Indeed, the real manifestation of God's love is His commandments."
"Free Forever, to Act for Themselves" Elder D. Todd Christofferson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
I am finding this to be more and more true in my life. That God's love is manifest in the commandments He gives and in always giving us the choice to obey them or to not obey them. And then He further manifests His love in giving us someone, a Savior, who understands us perfectly and can help us up and heal us when we fall out of the chair that we deliberately climbed despite the countless warnings about the damage it would do. I am trying to love and trust my Heavenly Father the way I hope my daughter can love and trust me.
And here's a video I really like:
-Elin
Who wishes she could become an official namer of streets. How does "turn right on Whistling Wood" and "make a left on Rhododendron Way" sound? I think I have a real aptitude for that kind of work.
Another thought-provoking quote if you are still even reading this....
"To those who believe anything or everything could be true, the declaration of objective, fixed, and universal truth feels like coercion--"I shouldn't be forced to believe something is true that I don't like." But that does not change reality. Resenting the law of gravity won't keep a person from falling if he steps off a cliff. The same is true for eternal law and justice. Freedom comes not from resisting it but from applying it. That is fundamental to God's own power. If it were not for the reality of fixed and immutable truths, the gift of agency would be meaningless since we would never be able to foresee and intend the consequences of our actions. As Lehi [a prophet in the Book of Mormon] expressed it: 'If ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act or to be acted upon..(2 Nephi 2:13).'" "Free Forever, to Act for Themselves" Elder D. Todd Christofferson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Last night as we were taking a walk, I shared some concerns
with Ben about insecurities and weakness I have. He listened patiently, put his
arm around me, and when I was through, he looked at me said, “Well, with the
Lord’s help we can make these strengths.”
I am grateful for Ben’s response to my concerns and it was
just what I needed to hear. I am even more grateful for a loving Savior who
wants us to be strong. He helps us recognize weakness and he helps us change
them into strengths. Jacob 4:7 says,
“Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we
may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the
children of men, that we have power to do these things.”
“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their
weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is
sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble
themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become
strong unto them.
There are countless examples in the scriptures of this
process and I have had many experience in my life where, because of a willing,
faithful heart, I have seen people change and become stronger. I am thankful
for God’s grace and His ability to make us better.
I can’t think of anyone I know who has not been harmed by
another’s actions, myself included. In minor instances, it is not too difficult
to forgive but for major, heartbreaking circumstance it can be quite difficult.
We are commanded to forgive all and putting our faith and trust in the Lord can
help forgiveness com easier. This commandment is in D&C64:10, “I, the
Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive
all men.” How can we expect the Lord to forgive us our trespasses, when we can’t
forgive our fellowmen?
When I am harmed or someone has offended me, before I feel
anger I feel sadness. During those moments of sadness a scripture usually pops
into my head, Matthew 18:21-22, and the following parable of the Unmerciful Servant found in Matthew 18:22-35 (<--- watch the video in the link);
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto
him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but until seventy times seven.”
We are expected to forgive always… not just a couple times
and there is no chart saying which actions we should forgive and which ones we
shouldn’t. I am grateful that this scripture pops into my head when I need to
hear it. Generally, I feel humbled by these words and the anger never comes.
Christ can help heal our wounded hearts for "he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows”. He knows us and he knows what we are
going through. It is only through him that our broken hearts are mended. I know
this to be true.
In closing, I would like to share a quote and a video. They
both give me hope and faith to forgive. Happiness is possible for those who are
hurting due to another’s action. The future is bright.
“When someone has hurt us or those we care about, that pain
can almost be overwhelming. It can feel as if the pain or the injustice is the most
important thing in the world and that we have no choice but to seek vengeance.
But Christ, the Prince of Peace, teaches us a better way. It can be very
difficult to forgive someone the harm they’ve done us, but when we do, we open ourselves
up to a better future. No longer does someone else’s wrongdoing control our
course. When we forgive others, it frees us to choose how we will live our own
lives. Forgiveness means that problems of the past no longer dictate our
destinies, and we can focus on the future with God’s love in our hearts.”
Have you experienced peace? During difficult trials and
trying times?
Where is peace found and how can it be achieved?
I am only 28 years old. I have, like everybody else, experienced a couple tough
trials in my short existence. There have been times when I felt completely surrounded
by darkness, a thick pressing darkness. It felt as if I would never find my way
out.
Then,
Camelight, a small light, but still, a light.
That light was hope, hope found in Christ.
As I realized I had the knowledge to get me through the
darkness, that light grew. My hope grew and eventually,
Peace.
I experienced peace amidst trial. Peace while experiencing
pain.Peace took the place of fear. Did I know what was in my future? No, but I
did know that I could find peace in the Savior. He would be with me on my
journey.
My journey to find peace is, sadly, a repetitive one. Even
when life seems like it couldn’t be better; I need to rely on my Savior to find
peace. Living righteously brings me closer to Christ; being close to Christ
brings me peace and joy.
Elder Quentin L. Cook said,
“We all long for peace. Peace is not just safety or lack of
war, violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior
knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His
commandments, even and especially amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies.”
For those of you in darkness, I know that you can find light
and peace. Christ knows you. He knows what you are experiencing; He has
experienced it all. Take His hand and let Him lead you to peace.
Here are the lyrics to the Hymn, “Where can I Turn For
Peace?” by Emma Lou Thayne, that is always a good reminder for me:
1. Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?
2. Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where
Can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my
Anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.
3. He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and
Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my
Beseeching.
Constant he is and kind,
Love without end.
Two great talks on peace can be found here and here
-Ryanne
Who is craving some peppermint patties at this very moment
