Happiness

Where can happiness be found in a world where there is much wickedness? We see it in movies, read it in books, hear it in songs on the radio, find it when we are searching the web for homework and so forth. Well, Nephi and his people are a perfect example. His brethren Laman and Lemuel, were being wicked. So wicked that they had to remove themselves from them. This caused Laman and Lemuel to be angry and seek contention with Nephi and his people. Making wars and contentions. And yet, Nephi cried unto the Lord, saying "why is it that this natural man in me anger against my brethren?" and continues crying just in disgust with how natural he really is. When Nephi did this, he turned his problems over to the Lord, in faith knowing the Lord would answer him. And he and his people "lived after the manner of happiness" (2 Nephi 5:27).

Like Nephi, I can turn my problems over to the Lord, and he will answer my prayers and lift my burdens, take away my anger against others, and help me to have his pure love.

This is my testimony.

Trust in Christ

: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18  I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19  And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
2 Nephi 4:17-19

I like Nephi, get great anxiety over the natural man in me, sometimes feeling like everything is up to me, to save myself. Then I remember that I can trust in Jesus Christ.

The verses continue.

20  My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21  He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
2 Nephi 4:20-21

I have had many afflictions, and each and every time, Christ has lifted me out of them, and brought me to a peak of highness that I never knew, possible. And yet he does this for me again and again. The verse says "he hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh". This is remarkable. Just what the love of Christ can do. The love of Christ can knock out the natural man, who hateth when things don't go as they planned. This is why I want to obtain the pure love of Christ.

The Pure Love Of Christ.

With experiences I've been going through this last month, I have struggled, but have come to know the pure love of Christ. Christ knows us perfectly, and is always knocking, he wants to be our best friend. Whenever we are ready to reach for the door and let him into our lives, he is there. But we have to reach.

How can we obtain the pure love of Christ, if we have not suffered, the pain of everyone, like he has, and felt the joys of everyone, and the trials of everyone.

By coming to know Christ, we can obtain this same pure love. It is through Christ that we are made whole, by coming to know Christ and serving him we can come to have his pure love.

This is why I want to serve a mission for this wonderful church. I want to serve Christ, by serving his people. By doing this, I will come to see others through the Saviors eyes.

In all honesty, I think this is what life is all about, is learning to love, and serve as Jesus loved and served us. There is a quote that hangs in the wall of my sister's room that says I have sent my greatest among you to serve you. Now I am no greatest! This is not what I am saying at all, however, I want to become like him who is the greatest, this is my ultimate goal in life and all eternity. To love as Jesus loved.

I've heard that sister's have a hard time letting go of investigators who are unwilling to commit. This is where trusting in Christ comes in to play. A lot of times I trust in myself, and this is something I'll have tried to learn to do, and will continue. Relying less on myself, but more on Christ. Sometimes, the best thing to do is the hardest, like letting go of someone you have served for a period of time, like an investigator. However, like heavenly Father let us go to earth to make decisions our self, there comes a time when we must also let others go like investigators, and loved one's who make wrong decisions along the way, and turn them over to Christ, leaving them with your love and the understanding that you are there for them, whenever they are ready.

This has bits and pieces to do with a man I loved and had to let go of. I really did love him, but when their decisions, confuse you so badly, that is when it is time to turn them over to Christ, again with the knowledge that when and if they are ready, you are there to be their friend.

This I know to be true, and my testimony on this is only beginning to sprout, and my words are very mumbo jumbled. But here we go.