Names of Christ

In Don't Miss This, Emily Freeman shared that one Sunday while partaking of the sacrament, she was going through a hard time.  As she thought of the words of the sacrament prayer, the thought came to her "Which name will you take?"  She was puzzled but the thought came again, "Which name will you take?" She went to the scriptures and looked up names of Christ and found one she had never heard before...Shiloh.  All week she thought about that name and it gave comfort and strength.  So that is something she has done since then. 

During all of the pandemic and all the craziness of the past couple of months, I decided about a month in that if I couldn't partake of the sacrament, then this would be a good way to focus on the Savior and remember Him.  While I am so grateful to have the opportunity to partake of the sacrament again...and to begin attending church again in 2 weeks...I have continued to draw strength from selecting and pondering a name of Christ each week.  It is especially powerful if I can not only select a name but also a mental image to go with it.

The first week I selected Rock. 

Deuteronomy 32:4...He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Whenever I began to feel weak...to feel like the foolish man who built his house on a sandy foundation, I would literally picture a giant boulder that was strong and sturdy.  I would picture leaning against this rock...and then remember that the rock was my Savior.   It gave me strength when I didn't think I had any.

The next week I selected a name I had never heard before...it comes from Hebrews 1:3, the only wise God our Savior.  

I didn't really have a mental image for this one...but when I started to feel doubts or fear creeping in, I would picture the Savior in my head.  I would remind myself that He is the only wise God, our Savior.  That He knows all.  That He has all wisdom and therefore I can trust Him.  He is my Savior so I don't have to save myself...just turn to Him.

The next week I selected "fountain of all righteousness".   Ether 8:26.  "Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved."

1 Nephi 2: 9 "O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!"

I kept picturing the Savior sending all that was good into my life...all good things flowing from Him to me.

A couple of weeks ago I chose the name "Counselor."  I would picture a big cozy chair and sitting next to someone I trusted...whether a friend or an actual counselor and telling them how I was feeling and what I was thinking and then listening for their wise counsel.  And you know, I felt some wise counsel nestle into my mind and heart.  I'd been preparing for worth week for the young women but just wasn't sure exactly what to share with them or even what to make for one of the items.  And the answers came.  And comfort that I was heading in the right direction.

Last week I chose the name "Good Shepherd."  We were reading and studying Alma 5-7 in Come Follow Me and Alma 5 teaches a bit about the Good Shepherd:

37 O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice!

38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.

39 And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil.

I want to be one of his sheep.  I want to hearken to his voice...to hear Him and to know Him.  I am striving to come to Hear Him better.  But I know that even when I may struggle to hear Him, He knows me.  I know that He goes after the one.  That He knows His sheep and calls to them...even when they foolishly go astray.

This week I am pondering His role as the  "Founder of Peace".   Mosiah 15: 18 teaches us, "And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the ^afeet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of ^bpeace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people;"

John 14 promises:

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

And Isaiah 9 prophecies:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The last couple of months have lacked peace a lot of the time.  I haven't felt much calm in the midst of the storm.  And the storm continues to rage.  But as someone once said, "Sometimes the Lord calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child."  The storm is still raging, but I feel Him calming this child.  And I am so grateful.

I have come to see so clearly the past couple of months that I can do very little without Christ.  But "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."   I have not liked the past nearly three months and I long to return to "normal" and to my beautiful, beautiful life.  BUT I am so grateful that I have come to lean on Him more and recognize the many roles He plays in my life.  Truly "I Stand all Amazed".

 

Worth Week: Day 2

One thing we are doing a little differently this year is that we are having daily devotionals, Tuesday-Friday evening.  Just short messages about divine nature and individual worth.  But because I don't want to interfere with Family Home Evening, we aren't doing one today.  However, I have been sending "Monday Morning Messages" for the past several weeks as a way to just share a little spiritual thought with them and hopefully help start their week out well and remind them of my love.

Here's today's Monday Morning Message:

Have you ever noticed how much variety there is in trees, flowers, birds, fish and even insects? Our Heavenly Father and Savior were so precise and careful as they created this beautiful world for us. I absolutely believe that if they took such care with plants and animals, then they took even more care with us. They created us with the talents, gifts, and even weaknesses that will help us fulfill our unique mission in life. My talents and gifts are different than Esther’s or Mary’s or Emma Smith’s...or yours. But they are what I need so I can learn and grow and bless the lives of others around me.

“Woman is God’s supreme creation. Only after the earth had been formed, after the day had been separated from the night, after the waters had been divided from the land, after vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man had been placed on the earth, was woman created; and only then was the work pronounced complete and good.”—President Hinckley

When I am in nature and notice the incredible variety of plants and animals...as well as things like rivers and lakes and waterfalls, sunrises and sunsets, rainbows, and so much more...how much beauty there is to see, hear, taste, smell and feel...I feel certain that Heavenly Father and the Savior are very careful Creators. Alma 30:44 says, "The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."  But none more so than the diversity I see in my fellow brothers and sisters.   I think He created us different on purpose...so we can learn and grow from one another.  So we can learn to look beyond surface differences and overcome differences of opinion or background and learn to love others.   Learning to live and love despite differences makes me a better person.  And just as having a diversity of plants and animals makes this world a better, more beautiful, more enriching experience, being surrounded  by a diversity of people makes this world a better, more beautiful, more joyful experience.

Today's gift was a bookmark with a small note and a couple of candies:

The front of the bookmark says, "You are Beloved!"   

The back says:

Definition of beloved: dearly loved: dear to the heart 

 Synonyms for beloved:  cherished, dear, favored, favorite, fond, precious,special The word beloved in scripture comes from the Greek agapetos...it can be a title for the Savior.  It means loved by God and Christ and one another.  It denotes being divinely loved.  Being very dear, a favorite.  1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  Deuteronomy 33: 12 “... The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.” 1 John 4: 7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 

I often begin messages to the young women with "Beloved young women". And the word beloved has been ringing in my head for months. This year, President Nelson has asked us Hear Him (Christ). As I studied the First Vision and the restoration in preparation for General Conference, I was so touched by reading "This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him." I've read and heard those words many times before so I'm not sure why they have echoed in my head and heart for months now. But they have. Because when I hear the word Beloved...I immediately think of my Savior...but I also remember that the Father would also refer to me as His beloved daughter as well. And reading the definition and synonyms for beloved remind me how He feels about me. And about YOU!

I encouraged them to listen to the song O My Father today. It's one of my favorites, especially these words:

1. In the heav’ns are parents single?
   No, the thought makes reason stare!
   Truth is reason; truth eternal
   Tells me I’ve a mother there.
2.  When I leave this frail existence
3. When I lay this mortal by,
4. Father, Mother, may I meet you
   In your royal courts on high?
   Then, at length, when I’ve completed
   All you sent me forth to do,
   With your mutual approbation
   Let me come and dwell with you.

Worth Week Part 1

We have an annual tradition in our ward of holding "worth week" each year for our young women. I believe this is our 5th year in a row doing worth week. Each year we spend a week giving the young women small gifts and items that help them remember that they are beloved daughters of Heavenly Parents. Even though I know this is true, I find that it still brings such a special spirit to my life as I spend the week remembering who I am and pondering my identity and worth. Usually we do worth week right before school starts, but this year, we decided it would be beneficial to do it now as the last couple of months have been so challenging and weird and we can all use a boost to our spirits.

Today worth week began. Each young woman received a cookie that said Daughter of God. I also encouraged them to find a few minutes today to listen to the song, "I Am His Daughter" by Nicole Sheahan.

We began worth week with a beautiful meeting over zoom today. Michelle played "Walk Tall" on her violin. We stood and recited the young woman theme...and though it wasn't completely in sync, I felt something special as we united in reciting those words. Then I shared a message. I began with this quote from President Nelson: "Each daughter of God is of infinite worth because of her divine mission. Important lessons about her divine mission may be learned from women of the scriptures. Mother Eve was a great example. She labored beside her husband as a partner. They both knew the plan of salvation. They both heeded commandments of obedience to God. Likewise, she prayed for divine guidance. She bore children. She taught the gospel to them." Then we talked about several women from the scriptures and from church history and the lessons we can learn from them...I'd asked several young women to talk about a righteous woman and what we learn from them about our worth and being a daughter of God. Each young woman that shared did such a beautiful job. They discussed Emma Smith, Eliza R. Snow, Deborah, Esther, the mothers of the stripling warriors, and Mary (mother of our Savior). I talked about Mary and Martha and the woman taken in adultery. We discussed how having faith in the Savior can give us strength and power to overcome difficulties and challenges. The young women bore testimony that just as these women were strong and courageous and faithful, we can be too. That learning of their faith strengthens ours. That reading that the stripling warriors "did not doubt our mothers knew it" and hearing our own moms bear testimony and recognizing that they know it is true strengthens our commitment to live the gospel and do our best. Now I know the woman taken in adultery might seem an odd choice...but I felt strongly that we needed to talk about her for a few minutes. Because she made some mistakes--just as we all do and all will. She had need of repentance--just as we all do. But the Savior didn't condemn her...He treated her with compassion and love and value...Her sins did NOT change or limit her value or worth. Now, that doesn't mean she should continue in her sins...but I emphasized that our worth is different than our worthiness (you might enjoy reading Value Beyond Measure by Joy D. Jones to learn more about worth versus worthiness Value Beyond Measure). We are like these valiant women of old! Like Esther, we were born "for such a time as this." We have been given the gifts, talents, and attributes to fulfill our unique mission. I also talked a little about my mom. She is quiet and she will never be famous. She won't be written about in the scriptures or be famous on social media. Sometimes we think that if we live quiet lives, they are somehow of less value of those who are famous or in the public eye. But my mom is the most patient person I know. She taught us to value learning and to love the scriptures. She has had a quiet but profound impact on all who know her. Her life has such value and she has valiantly lived the gospel and worked to fulfill her unique mission. Then Bishop Carlson reminded each of us that we do more good in this world than we realize. Our kindness, love, compassion, service and example impact more lives than we know. He reminded us to not only pray to know who we are but then reach out to share with others their own worth. He said there are many around us that need to know who they are and that often we come to recognize our own value as we notice the worth of the souls around us. "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." He also reminded us that each week as we partake of the sacrament, that emblem is one that should remind us of our worth. As we partake, we should remember that Christ suffered and died for each of us, because He loves us and we are of value!

I also issued two challenges to the young women...two challenges that will make a difference to any who take them. The first challenge was to kneel down each day and pray that you may know and feel that you are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents. Pray that the Holy Ghost can help you know that this is true--not just in general--but specifically for YOU. In Romans 8:16 we read, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" If you pray to know that you are a daughter of God and that you have an eternal destiny, the Spirit can bear witness that this is true. Second, I challenged them to take a few minutes each day to write down (in a journal or somewhere) the thoughts and feelings they have as they ponder their worth and the things they receive each day. I know that when we really, truly know who we are it changes everything. It gives us greater strength and purpose and power and faith. I'm so grateful for how worth week blesses my life!

CHURCHOFJESUSCHRIST.ORG

Value beyond Measure

Value beyond Measure