Therefore They Hushed Their Fears

 The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Perfect love casteth out all fear.

               -- Moroni 8:16

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     But can we hush the fears that so easily and frequently beset us in our contemporary world? The answer to this question is an unequivocal yes. Three basic principles are central to receiving this blessing in our lives: 

          (1) look to Christ, 

          (2) build upon the foundation of Christ, and 

          (3) press forward with faith in Christ.

Come and See

We are inviting you to hear the restored truths of the 

gospel of Jesus Christ so you can study, ponder, pray, and 

come to know for yourself if the things we are sharing with you are true.

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Spirit of Revelation

Patterns of Light, Part III

Based on a talk entitled "The Spirit of Revelation"

Sister CHERYL A. ESPLIN taught the following in Teaching Our Children to Understand:

     In a latter-day revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord instructs parents to teach their children to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Notice the Lord doesn’t just say we are to “teach the doctrine”; His instructions are to teach our children to “understand the doctrine.” (See D&C 68:25, 28; emphasis added.)

     In Psalms we read, “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:34).

     Teaching our children to understand is more than just imparting information. It’s helping our children get the doctrine into their hearts in a way that it becomes part of their very being and is reflected in their attitudes and behavior throughout their lives.

     Nephi taught that the role of the Holy Ghost is to carry the truth “unto the hearts of the children of men” (2 Nephi 33:1). Our role as parents is to do all we can to create an atmosphere where our children can feel the influence of the Spirit and then help them recognize what they are feeling.

     President Harold B. Lee taught, “Without experiencing a gospel principle in action, it is … more difficult to believe in that principle” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 121).

     I first learned to pray by kneeling with my family in family prayer. I was taught the language of prayer as I listened to my parents pray and as they helped me say my first prayers. I learned that I could talk to Heavenly Father and ask for guidance.

     Every morning without fail, my mother and father gathered us around the kitchen table before breakfast, and we knelt in family prayer. We prayed at every meal. In the evening before bed, we knelt together in the living room and closed the day with family prayer.

     Although there was much I didn’t understand about prayer as a child, it became such a part of my life that it stayed with me. I still continue to learn, and my understanding of the power of prayer still continues to grow.

     Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “We all understand that the success of the gospel message depends upon its being taught and then understood and then lived in such a way that its promise of happiness and salvation can be realized” (“Teaching and Learning in the Church” [worldwide leadership training meeting, Feb. 10, 2007], Liahona, June 2007, 57;Ensign, June 2007, 89).

     Learning to fully understand the doctrines of the gospel is a process of a lifetime and comes “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30). 

Discerning Light

Patterns of Light, Part II

     As a teenager, I loved winter.  My time was spent in downhill skiing.  Friends and I would always search for the drop-off or mogul where we could catch the most air.  We thrilled to be up in the air.

      I was hit by a car while riding my bike home from work last October.  The impact broke several ribs and ruptured vertebral discs.  As I was catapulting over the speeding car, the old familiar sense of “catching air” came to me and I marveled, “I caught a lot of air!” 

     I feel this was the comfort given to me from on high so I could bear what was happening.  The recollection of a happy time helped me survive the moment.  I bear testimony that God loves us and watches over us.  He communicates with us as appropriate.

     My wife was listening to the following song the other night:

"You Raise Me Up"

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

The Light of Christ

Patterns of Light, Part I

     

     I love patterns.  They help me see things in a better perspective and assist me in putting my life in order.  I read the following pattern this morning on Connie Firmin's blog: 

      "One promise I stumbled upon this morning is found in James 4:8 (the first part):  “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”  If you don’t eat, you get hungry, right?  Same way with our spiritual lives.  When we do not take the time to “come close to God”, emptiness sets in, hunger takes over, and we begin to look for anything to fill up on.  We start trying to satisfy our emptiness with junk instead of healthy options.  This is where trouble can come right in the front door of our lives.

So in summary, if you are hungry, go eat!  Share your journey with other trustworthy friends in your life so they can pray for you and walk with you.  Sometimes just being honest with those around you can help.  Dig in and load up on God’s Word.  It’s full of promises that will fill the bare places inside.  Lastly, but most importantly, if you find yourself empty, talk with God about it.  As you draw near to Him, you will begin to hear His soothing whisper, and you’ll be full in no time."

Allegory of the Intense and the Gradual Light

Consider two experiences most of us have had with light.

The first experience occurred as we entered a dark room and turned on a light switch. Remember how in an instant a bright flood of illumination filled the room and caused the darkness to disappear. What previously had been unseen and uncertain became clear and recognizable. This experience was characterized by immediate and intense recognition of light.

The second experience took place as we watched night turn into morning. Do you recall the slow and almost imperceptible increase in light on the horizon? In contrast to turning on a light in a dark room, the light from the rising sun did not immediately burst forth. Rather, gradually and steadily the intensity of the light increased, and the darkness of night was replaced by the radiance of morning. Eventually, the sun did dawn over the skyline. But the visual evidence of the sun’s impending arrival was apparent hours before the sun actually appeared over the horizon. This experience was characterized by subtle and gradual discernment of light.

From these two ordinary experiences with light, we can learn much about ... the spirit of revelation and basic patterns whereby revelation is received...

Some revelations are received immediately and intensely; some are recognized gradually and subtly. The two experiences with light I described help us to better understand these two basic patterns of revelation.

A light turned on in a dark room is like receiving a message from God quickly, completely, and all at once. Many of us have experienced this pattern of revelation as we have been given answers to sincere prayers or been provided with needed direction or protection, according to God’s will and timing. Descriptions of such immediate and intense manifestations are found in the scriptures, recounted in Church history, and evidenced in our own lives. Indeed, these mighty miracles do occur. However, this pattern of revelation tends to be more rare than common.

The gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God “line upon line, precept upon precept." Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation...

Another common experience with light helps us learn an additional truth about the “line upon line, precept upon precept” pattern of revelation. Sometimes the sun rises on a morning that is cloudy or foggy. Because of the overcast conditions, perceiving the light is more difficult, and identifying the precise moment when the sun rises over the horizon is not possible. But on such a morning we nonetheless have sufficient light to recognize a new day and to conduct our affairs.

In a similar way, we many times receive revelation without recognizing precisely how or when we are receiving revelation...

As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will “walk in the light of the Lord." Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding, and direct and protect you and your family.  -- David A. Bednar

Link to full talk: http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng