Face to Face with God

June 2  "face"

Prophets, notably Abraham, Moses, the brother of Jared, and Joseph Smith, have seen God face to face.
 Abraham was taught face to face about the power and intelligence and creations of God, about His plan and love for His children.
 Moses was so enlightened by being in the presence of God, he was able to say to Satan, who afterward came tempting him,

"Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory that I should worship thee?"

 The brother of Jared saw not only the finger of the Lord, but talked with Him, and was shown all things by Him. And this, because of his extreme faith in the Lord.
 Joseph Smith saw both the Father and the Son, when they answered his simple question 'which church is right?'
 These are a few of the many who have seen God face to face, but out of billions of people on this earth, they are still a very small crowd. Is there any hope for the rest of us, for me? Well, yes! Because God is no respecter of persons. Joseph Smith revealed, in D & C 93:1

Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am.

Through the Melchizedek Priesthood administering the gospel and the ordinances thereof, we are prepared to know the mysteries of the kingdom, and have a knowledge of God.

"...without the ordinanaces thereof, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh: For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live." D&C 84:21-22)

What a blessing to have the knowledge of these things! To know that we are created in the image of  God, and have a face (and body) like His. To know that He has provided a Savior to redeem us from our sins so we can see God's face again.

Nephi's bottom line

June 1  "THE BOTTOM LINE"

Everyone else in his family, including his prophet-father, murmured occasionally (or frequently in some cases.) But Nephi's reply was always 'show me how to do what You ask, Lord'

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."  

If his father was 'visionary' and Nephi had any questions about it, he would go and inquire himself, to get the details.

"...having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father;"

When at first they were not successful retrieving the brass plates, and even had their lives threatened, Nephi told his brothers

"Wherefore can ye doubt? The Lord is able to deliver us"

and he went forth, trusting completely that the Lord would guide him:

"led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." 

Kill Laban? Make a new bow? Keep two sets of records? Build a ship? No problem! If the Lord commands it, He'll help make it happen. Even if the Lord's purposes were not known to Nephi.

"...for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen"

And thus it is. Amen.  Nephi's bottom line.  This is the note to I wrote myself in the margin as I read these chapters of Nephi's story:  'I want to know, like Nephi, of God's power to provide a way. STOP MURMURING!'

Serve as Relief Society President? Keep in touch with all my kids and gkids? Face Lexi's moodiness every day? Every day? Watch the world falling apart? More wrinkles and white hair? As I name the things I murmur about, they seem ridiculously small and easily bearable. Here's to making Nephi's bottom line mine!  

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I just ran across some notes from a fireside where Mary Dewsnip

spoke about how to be happy (find joy). She radiated a peaceful, cheerful, confident spirit;

She must practice what she preaches. 

It's a simple formula:

1. Keep the commandments.

2. Submit to the Lord's will.

It sounds remarkably like Nephi's bottom line.

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Another bottom line thought I remember and love:

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, and they are in charge of this world.

•

They know me.

•

They love me.

•

They have a plan for my future.

•

I will obey the commandments, work hard, and trust in their plan.

Sooner or later, everything will be okay.

                                                                                                                  Virginia Pearce, Pres. Kimball's daughter 

New Heart Awakenings

New Heart Awakenings

As I did the Photo Challenge for May

in my other blog, Lyrical Notes,

I discovered that having a word to focus on each day 

helped me notice more,

 pay attention,

see things I normally wouldn't see.

 My friend Marlene discovered the same thing,

and suggested we make a

spiritual list for June.

We're hoping it will help us be more spiritually aware,

through photos, scriptures, quotes,

or other observations.

We're looking to awaken a New Heart,

one of consecration,

of being more, Savior, like Thee.