Week 7: Recipe for Miracles

“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

“And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” (Matthew 8:2-4)

                This story of the leper contains the simple recipe for miracles. He first came to Christ, worshipping Him. Then he was submissive by saying, “Lord if thou wilt…” And finally, He exercised great faith in Jesus Christ and His power. Miracles are just as real today as they were back then. Sometimes we feel like we aren’t being heard or things aren’t going our way. But Heavenly Father is just waiting for us to do our little part so He can work miracles in our lives. When we come worshipping by living the gospel, reading our scriptures, praying and keeping the commandments, we are doing our part. We become submissive, and trust in Heavenly Father’s will for our lives. And finally, we exercise faith. In other words, we act. We seek, knock and find. Miracles have and always will be a part of The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Week 6: Process of Perfection

Matthew 5:48 reads, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” We are here to work towards perfection, to become like Heavenly Father. Sometimes that concept is a bit overwhelming for me. How will I ever reach perfection?

I have read the Sermon on the Mount and the beatitudes hundreds of times over the years. But today my perspective was changed as we discussed the sermon in class. The beatitudes is a process that allows us to repent, change and become perfected. It starts with being ‘poor in spirit’, recognizing we lack in areas. We then mourn, or have the desire to change and become better. We become meek, turning to our Savior who is the only one who can truly change our hearts. We then ‘hunger and thirst after righteousness.” In other words, we act! We don’t just sit and wait for God to answer us, but we seek and look for guidance. As we do, we become merciful. We see others through the eyes of God. We forgive. We let go. We move forward and don’t look back. We allow the power of the Atonement in our life. As we do, we become ‘pure in heart.’ Our desires become pure, clean. Our hearts truly change. Then we become peacemakers. We find peace through Christ and share that peace with others. And finally, we are ‘persecuted for rightesouness’ sake.’ This process is how we will reach perfection. And it is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Week 5: Worth of One Soul

This past week I was on my way to work, and I saw a man sitting on the corner of the road. He was holding a sign that said “Homeless and hungry. Please help.” As I sat at the stop light, I started thinking about how I had nothing to give him. I am only a poor college student with nothing to offer. Then I was reminded of a granola bar I had in my back pack. So I grabbed it, rolled down my window and gave it to the man. What I gave him was really nothing to me. It was a simple granola bar. I may never know the impact it had on him that day. And who knows? Maybe he just ate it and didn’t think much of it after. But I was reminded of a beautiful truth. “Remember the worth of souls is great in the eyes of God.” That man is a beloved son of God. Jesus Christ is His Savior just as He is mine. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love him just as much as they love me. I know that the value of one soul is great in the eyes of God. No matter who we are, where we are going or where we’ve been, we can always count on the eternal truth that God loves us.

Week 4: The Savior's Footsteps

What would it have been like to follow the Savior? What would it have been like to see Him heal the sick? Feed the hungry? Clothe the naked? Perform the work of the Father? I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to walk with the Savior. As I sat pondering these questions, I realized that we are able to walk with the Savior every day. We may not be physically following Him as He walked the earth. But we are walking in His footsteps as we try to live as He would each day. When we hold the door for someone, talk to someone who is having a bad day, share the joyful message of the gospel, or simply share a smile, we are walking with the Savior. Jesus Christ extends an invitation to each of us. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Christ walked the earth so we would never have to walk alone. When we accept and act upon His invitation, He will always be by our side. And we indeed will be able to follow the Saviors footsteps.