Second Week of the Second Semester

Hey everyone! I hope your week was a good one! Now we get to enjoy a three day weekend! 

I have finished my second week of the second semester now and I am still loving school! It's been amazing how well this has gone. Having the Lord on your side while going through school is the best way to go. 

I wanted to share a few things that I have learned this week. Every week we get to watch some videos about our book of scriptures we are studying that week. They are called Digging Deeper. I love these videos. It is usually someone from either of the Quorum's or the first presidency. Here are a few of my favorites:

President Ezra Taft Benson says that The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. There are two reasons why he says this. 1.) It tells in plain manner of Christ and bears witness of the fall and Atonement. 2.) It exposes the enemies of Christ. False prophets and false witnesses. 

President Boyd K. Packer says that in Alma the Younger's day, the word of God was more powerful than the sword! He said that when true doctrine is understood, attitudes and behaviors will change.

President Deiter F. Uchtdorf asks us how do we receive a personal testimony? He then gives us some suggestions. We must have the desire to believe. If we desire it, God promises divine power! If we search the scriptures, study them and have questions, He will give us the knowledge through personal testimony. We must do the will of God to gain the testimony we are wanting. If we keep the commandments, do more than casual study, learn and actually DO God's will, He will testify to us personally.

Elder Russel M. Nelson and President Boyd K. Packer both spoke about the Atonement. Oh, the Atonement! How thankful I am of the Atonement! Where would I be without the Atonement of Christ? Where would any of us be? Ok, back to the Elder's words. Elder Nelson says that the Atonement is Infinite! All humans can be saved! Jesus was the only one that could do this. Because he had a mortal mother and an immortal father. President Packer says that the Atonement is the redemption from spiritual death and suffering caused by sin. The Atonement is not only for the end of physical life, it is an ever present power that we can use daily! The gospel plan is the Plan of Happiness. The spiritual pain we feel from guilt can be calmed by the spirit! Like Alma the Younger felt when he was "in the darkest abyss" at his lowest, but now holds the light of God! We all make mistakes and because of this we suffer, we feel guilt but this is when the healing power of the Atonement can help! We must repent and look to the Atonement to lift us up. 

In Alma 31 there are two prayers in this chapter. One of them is given by the Zoramites. It is a recited prayer. There is no feelings in the prayer, no requests to help them become better people. Nothing personal. While Alma's prayer is very personal. He makes it specific and asks for help with the people. He prays for comfort, strength, power, wisdom and success. He asks that he and his brothers have the strength to bear any afflictions that the Zoramites might cause them. Two very different prayers in two very different ways. I think I know how I would like my children to talk to me! 

So, you can see that a lot can be learned in just this small section of Alma in the Book of Mormon. I really enjoyed reading through Alma chapter 34 because of all the insights that Amulek has. He shares with the people ways to pray. I love how detailed he gets when talking to them. He tells them to pray here and there, when and why and for who! Even your enemies! He then says that this is not all! You must Live this way! Do not turn away the poor and the needy but reach out to them and love them as Heavenly Father loves you. I love how this chapter tells us how to live. We can choose to be happy, pray all day, give love to those around us and feel His love for us at anytime and anywhere.

I am thankful for my Heavenly Father and the love that He has for me. I am thankful that I have the knowledge of the gospel and that I can choose to live like Jesus Christ. I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I know that Jesus Christ lives! I know that He died for us so that we can live with Heavenly Father again. I will live to be a disciple of Christ. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am a Mormon.