Today’s Sunday School lesson followed on perfectly from a
marvellous Sacrament meeting. Easter Sunday blessed us with a musical Sacrament
meeting. The first song was sung by two Primary children with the sweetest
voices and the sweetest spirits. Subsequent items were presented by the
Priesthood, the Relief Society, combined brethren and sisters, and the Ward
Choir. The postlude was three of our beautiful talented, Young Single Adults,
one being my “other daughter” Mia. The spirit was so strong throughout the
meeting. The theme was following the Saviour. The speakers included two
prospective missionaries and the Bishop. What a feast!
The Sunday School lesson centred on Nephi’s teachings
about the importance of feeding on the words of Christ, believing and following
the doctrines of Christ, pressing forward, and enduring to the end. Jesus
Christ is my elder brother, my Saviour, my Redeemer, and I owe him everything.
I spent Sacrament filled with gratitude for His love and His forgiveness, and
then studied the lesson with a passionate desire to learn more of His doctrine,
to try to live a better life by following His example.
In 2 Nephi 31:20,
we are told to: “…press forward with a
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God
and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of
Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have
eternal life”. This is a message meant for me. I need to be steadfast, i.e. faithful,
loyal, constant, firm in adherence to the gospel and the Saviour. I cannot pick
which commandments I will obey, or when I will be obedient. If I am steadfast,
it will be always, in every way.
Hope is one of the most important blessings the gospel brings
to me. President
Dieter Uchtdorf quoted 2 Nephi 31:20,
and then followed it with these wise words:
This is the quality of hope we must cherish
and develop. Such a mature hope comes in and through our Saviour Jesus Christ,
for “every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as [the
Savior] is pure” (1 John 3:3).
The Lord has given us a reassuring message of
hope: “Fear not, little flock” (D&C 6:34)…
And to all who suffer—to all who feel
discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never
give in.
Never surrender.
Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.
Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for
the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens
every heart (Oct. 2008, The
infinite power of hope, Ensign).
If we love God and our
fellow men, we will act on that love. If we love God, we will serve Him. If we
love our fellow men, we will lose ourselves in service. I am a very fortunate
person. I grew up surrounded by love. I, therefore, find it very easy to love
other people. I love my job because I can serve. I need to do more, but I find
this requirement easier than many others.
There are two last things I
need to do. To feast on the words of Christ means I must do more of what I am
doing here: read the scriptures, study the scriptures, and apply what I read.
And, I must endure to the end. I do not want to simply endure; I want to
improve as the time goes on.
I love the gospel, I love my
Saviour. Now I must demonstrate that love in everything I do. As yet, I fall
far short of this goal. But I will try.
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