Thou Shalt Love the Lord

Lately I've been thinking about the Lord’s command that we love him.  I suddenly find this so sweet!  He is not asking for us to fear him, or have a distant relationship based on courtesy or respect.  He is inviting us to enjoy with him the intimate and tender relationship that in our fondest dreams we yearn for!  This is what the gospel is all about.  And we do love him - as he truly love us!  

In counseling his son, Helaman, Alma teaches us as well, “Let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.”  I love the thought of an affectionate relationship with Jesus!  He said unto the Nephites, “behold, my bowels are filled with compassion toward you.”  Then he stayed and blessed each one of them because they yearned to be with him longer.   At the time of Jesus, the bowels were considered the center of one’s being.  I think when he expressed that his bowels were filled with compassion he meant that he had great stirring feelings, unto physical yearnings of love for his people that motivated him to serve them in any way that he could.    

As I experience it, to feel this kind of love for our Savior is to experience a swelling of happy joy and delight that causes our souls to rejoice and seek ever more diligently to be near him and to do his will.  Loving the Lord is more than just acting out of obedience to keep his commandments.  We obey because we love him, and completely trust in his love for us.  We obey because when we do, we feel the joy of having him near. We obey because we know that his purpose is for us to have more light and knowledge through our experiences.  As we take advantage of these opportunities to grow, the Spirit fills our souls - our hearts are one with his!  

“He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit for the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his life that he may draw all men unto him.”  

Everything that we love and cherish and need comes from our Lord.  He is the light and life of our world, the bread of life, the living waters, the way, the truth and the life!  

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

“Come unto me, all ye ends of the earth.”   “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you...” “...come unto me [and] ye shall have eternal life.  Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive.,,”  

How I love this invitation!  To do so is my greatest desire...

"...That ye may stand as witnesses..."

I was reading in Mosiah 24 this morning and thinking about trials and covenants. We often wonder why those followers of Christ are made to pass through trials when they seem "undeserved."  Mosiah 24:13-14 opened my view a little bit.  It says,

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying:  Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."

Sometimes we are allowed to experience trying things so that we may gain testimony of God's covenants, giving us an unshakeable testimony of God's watchful care in the future. We experience trial in part so that we may see God's promises in action, coming to our aid when we desperately need it. This is an active gospel that requires application, trust, humility and faith. I know that the Lord is watching over our small family and I'm grateful for the temple that allows us to make sacred, saving covenants.

Temple Blessings by Elder Featherstone

I love the blessings and promises made by Elder Vaughn J Featherstone in this "temple statement for Utah South Area" - given in the Manti Temple April 1987.  (Liz and David were tiny newborns)


"The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has unleashed every evil, every scheme, every blatant, vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this is the dispensation of the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world, wealth cannot
provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership in this Church alone cannot bring it.

As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us. There are hosts of unseen sentinels watching over us and guarding our Temples. Angels attend every door. As it was in the days of Elisha so it will be for us: 'Those that be with us are more than they that be against us.' Before the Savior comes the world will darken. There will come a period of time where even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure within these walls. The Saints will come here not only to do vicarious work, but to find a haven of peace. They will long to bring their children here for safety sake.

I believe we may well have living on the earth now or very soon, the boy or babe who will be the prophet of the Church when the Savior comes. Those who will sit in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are here. There are many in our homes and communities who will have apostolic callings. We must keep them clean, sweet, and pure in an oh-so-wicked world. There will be greater hosts of unseen beings in the temple. Prophets of old as well as those in this dispensation will visit the temples. Those who attend will feel their strength and their companionship. We will not be alone in our temples.

Our garments worn as instructed will clothe us in a manner as protective as temple walls. The covenants and ordinances will fill us with faith as living fire. In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren waste, sickening plagues, disease, destruction and death, we as a people will rest in the shade of trees, we will drink from the cooling fountains. We will abide in places of refuge from the storm, we will mount up as on eagles wings, we will be lifted out of an insane and evil world. We will be as fair as the sun and as clear as the moon.

The Savior will come and will honor His people. Those who are spared and prepared will be a temple loving people. They will know him. They will cry out, 'blessed be the name of He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Thou art my God and I will bless thee, Thou art my God and I will exalt thee.'

Our children will bow down at his feet and worship Him as the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. They will bathe His feet with their tears and He will weep and bless them for having suffered through the greatest trials ever known to man. His bowels will be filled with compassion and His heart will swell as wide as eternity and He will love them. He will bring peace that will last a thousand years and they will receive their reward to dwell with Him.

Let us prepare them with the faith to surmount every trial and every condition. We will do it in these holy, sacred temples. Come, come, come up to the temples of the Lord and abide in His presence.

God bless the Utah South Area. The Lord has planted and is planting giants in the land. Apostles and Prophets are being born in your homes. Some of your youth will walk in the highest places in this kingdom. Your sons who are on missions will return and fill the most sacred callings. You do not know who your children are.

As we faithfully commit and follow through with a great missionary thrust, God will bless us. Our children will see visions, our leaders will dream sacred dreams. Angelic and unseen beings will watch over and protect you and your children. Employers hearts will be softened, bounteous blessings will flow. Satanic influences will be thwarted. Our people will walk in holiness protected and blessed as the "Children of Light." Homes will be protected from evil and destroying powers will pass us by. You will come to the shade of trees, to the cooling fountains, to the haven of rest. Peace, love and hope will be y ours.

This Utah South Area will be the fountain head of blessings that flow to every people on this earth. Let us fulfill our divine destiny to prepare for these promises."

Easter Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven,     

                                                            

Sunday morning is here!  This is the very day in history we have anxiously awaited!  The day of our dear Savior’s return from the grave!  Death has been overcome!  The consequences of sin will no longer be!   Because of this great day, we will receive a resurrection and a restoration of all things.  Because of this happy day peace will return to our earth and the lamb and the lion will lie together in peace. 

 

There will be healing and a great hope for all of thy injured children.  Because of this day, light and life will again be in and through all things.  Anger and hatred will have place no longer.  Love in the hearts of thy tender children will increase. 

   

Brother and sister, father and mother – all will be gathered in from wherever they’re wandered; restored to hope in the bonds of eternal families.  Endowed with power, they’ll go forth from holy temples, their lives consecrated and given unto thee. 

Jesus Christ is the Lord of our salvation.  He is our Savior, our Holy King!  He is the Creator and our great Redeemer; our Exemplar, the Life and Light of all things! 

 For one exquisite moment – he bore the crushing weight of all our burdens!  All heaven and earth wept and groaned in disbelief.  Yet he overcame and rose into thy presence, with great power and healing in his wings!

Great God of heaven, thou art our loving Father.  Thou hast offered that which was most precious unto thee!  Thou art the one whose worthy Son was given.  Like Abraham of old, who gave his son to thee.

Dear Father, thy presence is now before us!  The whole plan was for us to return home to thee.  For this privilege, sacred ordinances are preformed in holy temples.  For this, the Savior gave his life and set us free!  

Together, the Gods of heaven have descended, to effectuate the great rescue of mankind!  Surely the Fathers have saved the generations, with the collective love and power of eternity! 

How great is the goodness of our God!!  How great our amazement and thanksgiving!  We will sing praises and love unto thee forever!   We give our whole souls as offerings unto thee!!