Joy to the World

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine posted a video on Facebook entitled "The Christmas Scale." It was about a man whose mother taught him that the greatest news in all the world was contained in a single scale. What was she talking about? I continued watching. The man played an eight-note scale on the piano. His mother told him to play it backwards. He still didn't understand. Then she told him to add pauses on the first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh, and last notes.

It was then that he realized what she meant. 

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come." 

This is the greatest news that the world has ever known.

 Christmas isn't about the presents. It's about giving to others in honor of what Christ gave to us. He gave us life and resurrection. He gave us the ability to return to live with Him again.Along with giving, we should also receive. I don't mean gifts--although that's included in Christmas. I'm talking about Christ. :We should receive Him, and allow Him to change us and make us better people.

"But perhaps most of all, let it be a season of seeking the Lamb of God, the King of Glory, the Everlasting Light of the World, the Great Hope of Mankind, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls."

-Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"How to See the Christ in Christmas"

Dec. 2013 New Era

Christmas Tree in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Salt Lake Temple

The Spirit of Thanksgiving

"In all things give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I just want to express my gratitude for everything that I have and love.

• My Family--Without them, I would have nothing, and I'd be nothing. I'm grateful that I have parents who teach me the gospel by word and by deed. I'm grateful for my siblings, and that I'm so close to them. I'm also grateful for my grandparents, and all they do for me.
• Friends--I'm a bit of an introvert. I don't always like to spend time with my friends. But I'm glad that when I want to, they're there for me. I can talk to them about anything, and they'll listen.
• Education--I'm so grateful that I have the ability and the means to learn. School is taken for granted, and teachers are under-appreciated.
• Myself--I'm just grateful that I am who I am. I'm glad that I was born into this family, with these friends, in this home. I wouldn't want to be anyone but me.
• Chocolate and Ice Cream--For the bad days.
• The Atonement--Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I know that I am not alone. I will never be left to suffer by myself. I can turn to the Savior for the big things and the little things. If I ask for forgiveness, it will be given to me.
• America--Sometimes, I look at pictures of third world countries from National Geographic or other sources. I look at their worn out and weathered faces, and my heart goes out to them. I'm grateful that I have the freedom that I do, and that I have everything that I need to live a successful, healthy life that I choose to live.
• The Gospel--I can't even imagine a world where the Gospel of Jesus Christ isn't a part of my life. I don't want to know the person I'd be if that were the case. I'm thankful that I was born into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love this gospel, and as Sister Dibb said, "I know it, I live it, I love it!" I'm so glad that I have opportunities to be a light and to share my happiness with others.
• The Scriptures--Where would I be without The Book of Mormon? There are countless times when I've opened up the scriptures after praying, and my prayer has been answered. There are many times when I've had a bad day, or just need to feel the Spirit, and Heavenly Father leads me to the right verse. He knows which one will help me at the time, which I'm so thankful for.
• Technology--In our day, technology is taken for granted by the younger generations. There are so many things that are available to us, and we have access right at home. Sometimes right in your pocket. It's amazing.
• Seminary--Having the opportunity to attend seminary every other day during school has really helped me. I've learned so much, and it's strengthened my testimony so much. I'm grateful for the wonderful teachers I've had, and the people I've met through seminary.

• The Temple--I cannot express how grateful I am that I have so many temples close to home. I can always just drive a few miles and go to the temple. I can take a break from the world, and feel the Holy Ghost.

Alma 26: 35, 37 " Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

 37 Now my brethren, we see that God is ^amindful of every ^bpeople, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

Be Not Afraid, Only Believe (Mark 5:36)

One of my favorite scriptures is Doctrine and Covenants 50:41-42. It says, "Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost."

Fear is a hard thing to overcome. It's a weakness that everyone has at some time or another, and it makes us avoid having to do something at all costs. When we are supposed to do something, fear has the power to stop us from doing that. But it shouldn't.

We have to believe that Heavenly Father will provide the way for us to accomplish the thing which He commanded us. "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7

We cannot let fear stop us from doing what is right. It is hard to stand up to someone who is asking you to do something that you don't believe. But you have to stand up. Faith is what gives us the courage and power to stand up for what's right, or to do what we've always been too scared to do. "Faith and fear cannot coexist" (Elder Kevin W. Pearson). Faith pushes fears away, and gives us the power to succeed and to overcome the world as Christ did. In D&C 50:41-42, Christ promises that none of them that His Father has given Him will be lost. If we follow Christ, we can in no way, shape, or form be lost. If we don't let our fears stop us from obeying, then we won't be lost in this mortal life.

Another scripture that talks about fear is Moroni 8:16: "Perfect love casteth out all fear."

I know that faith is what pushes our fears away. It is what makes us courageous and powerful. The Spirit tells us what we need to do, and having faith instead of fear is what allows us to do the things that we are most afraid of.

Out With the Bad

In the movie The Other Side of Heaven, there is a part where John Groberg is trying to get a young boy to breathe again. He says, as he gives him CPR, "In with the good air, out with the bad..." He repeats this over and over. This part of the movie has always hit me hard.

One day, my Dad was taking out some trash from the church. It was raining, so he didn't walk to the dumpster, he drove. He held the garbage out of the car. I just had to take a picture. I found it funny at the time, but looking back at the picture, it has deeper meaning. We each need to get rid of the "bad air" inside, and take in all the good around us.

One of my absolute favorite quotes is, "When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." At times, it seems like I'm struggling just to breathe. I have times of doubt, and times of sorrow. I need my Savior always, and He knows that. He never leaves my side. In the Saturday session of General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk touched
me. He said, "Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend."

A few years ago, at EFY, I remember a talk that one of the counselors gave. I don't remember what it was about, but I do remember one story from it. It was about a girl who had low self-esteem. Every day, she woke up, looked in the mirror, and told herself, "Jesus loves me, and that's all that matters."

And it's true. He does love me, and that is all that matters. When it seems as if all hope is lost, and there is nothing left that could possibly fix your problem, that is the time to hold on. That is when Heavenly Father will send angels to help. That's the time when miracles happen.

On a camera, the viewfinder is the little square one looks through to take a picture. A beautiful picture cannot be composed accurately without first looking through the viewfinder. In order to set up a good looking photograph, one must look through the viewfinder to see where the subject will fall in the photo, and to see how it will be framed, so that the photograph will turn out pleasing to the eye.

In my life, I've found that the same is true to find the beautiful things in life. When one hikes to a great height to overlook an area, the view can be overwhelming. It may seem like there's not a main focus. It's chaotic, and all over the place. But when one takes a closer look, the results are fascinating. Instead of viewing the whole area together, observing parts of it little by little make it easier to see how it comes together as a whole.

When a tragedy hits, it's hard to see the good that can come from it. People find it easier to focus on the negatives, and have a pessimistic perspective. But changing the view that one takes can shift their focus, and make them see the good and beautiful things that do come from tragedies. Gratitude, happiness, love, and many other blessings can come from a sorrow in one's life.

Smile by Nat King Cole talks about this. "If you smile through your fear and sorrow, smile and maybe tomorrow you'll see the sun come shining through for you."