The Gospel

You know, I just wanted to say how thankful I am for the gospel in my life. It has molded and shaped my life and is so much of who I am today. When I look at my life, and those close to me I can see how the gospel has brought so many blessings. Those who have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel, Heavenly Father's plan for us, and the atonement of Jesus Christ have an inner strength and peace.
The gospel of Jesus Christ provides a solid foundation for us to stand on when the storms in our life are raging. It is so amazing to be standing in a moment where things are crumbling all around you and just when you are about to lose hope a light will break through those clouds and you know you're not alone and that "this too shall pass". One of my favorite stories in the scriptures is at the end of the Book of Mormon with the Brother of Jared. I love that story, and have turned to it so many times in my life.
I love the Book of Mormon. I love the insights we gain when we read and study the writing of the prophets. I'll be the first to admit that I don't read my scriptures as much as I should, but it's something that I'm working on. When I puck up my scriptures it's like reuniting with an old friend. There are so many things that we can learn about the gospel through those inspired words. It's amazing to me the peace that can come into our lives from five minutes of reading everyday.
I love the plan that Heavenly Father has set out for us. It's so simple to understand. It breaks my heart when people refuse to accept or even learn about that plan. It's amazing to think that our Heavenly Father knew us before we cam to this life. He loved us, and he desired that we could experience all the Happiness that He had. He created this earth for us so that we could acquire physical bodies. Here on earth we have the blessing of experiencing good and bad, happiness and pain. He gave us apostles, scriptures and prophets to help us to know what we needed to do in order to get back to him. One of the greatest gifts He has given us is agency. We have the ability to choose between right and wrong, good and bad, and whether or not we will follow what He has asked us to do. He knew that not all of us would make the right choices, and because not one of us are even close to perfect, He sent His son.
The atonement is the most incredible act of mercy, charity, and love in the history of the world. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, came and did everything that his Father asked him to do. He set the example, taught a higher law, called apostles and gave them the priesthood. He established a church, but most importantly he willingly sacrificed his own life for me, for each one of us.
I would like to say a few more things about this life before I move on. Since the church has been established people have been asked to sacrifice. Sacrifice is something that is so important in the gospel. Christ sacrificed his life, many of his apostles and followers did the same. Christians were slaughtered for their beliefs. Fast forward to Joseph Smith and the early saints of the restored gospel I could spend pages talking about the sacrifices they made so that this gospel could move forward. Their faith was amazing. Today we are required to make different sacrifices. It is amazingly easy to get caught up in the things that the world says are good. Who doesn't want a nice house, a nice car, and the "freedom" to do whatever you want. It condenms marriage and children and makes those things seem restricting and would like to make it seem like those who are married and who have children are unhappy. You see people who get caught up in money, alcohol, and other things that can end up destroying their lives.
These may be more extreme examples but it's amazing how Satan will sneak them into our lives. We accept one little thing then another, then another, and after some time passes we may find ourselves on a completely different path. When we tolerate even the tiniest sin and make excuses for ourselves it is so much easier to ignore those promptings of the spirit on bigger and bigger things.
Heavenly Father has surrounded us with things to help us in this life. He constantly has His hand stretch out toward us no matter how much we are or have rejected him. He asks us to make covenants with him throughout our lives, and to obey a few simple things. I know that when we keep the promises we make with God, and we do what He asks us to do, He will pour out blessing on us.
I have a few people who I love very dearly who have made these covenants and promises with our Heavenly Father, but who are choosing not to keep them. If it breaks my heart to think of the promises the are breaking and the things that they are missing out on I can hardly imagine what our Heavenly Father thinks. Some of these friends read this blog, and others do not. I wish they could see what they are missing out on...but because they have so much they don't feel like they are missing anything. I wish I could help them to understand how the gospel can bless not only their life, but everybody around them. I hope and pray that one day they will understand.
After this life we will be judged. We will have to look our Heavenly Father in the eye and talk with him about our life. I imagine He will give us a very in depth kind of interview. He will know the intents of our hearts, and when we come up short...because we inevitably will...our Savior will step in. If we have repented and applied that atonement in our lives and are completely sincere we will be forgiven of those sins. We will be perfectly clean and pure and ready to live with our Father in Heaven again.
I know this isn't the most eloquent of explanations of the gospel, nor is it the most detailed. It's also probably just a jumble of thoughts and words but I needed to say it. I don't get to say these things as much as I would like to, but I just felt like I needed to get it off of my chest today.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints contains a fullness of the gospel, even the very gospel that Christ taught to his apostles, and that has been taught from the very beginning. I know that God is in the very fabric of our lives. He knows us, and loves us. He has given us everything we need in this life to return and live with Him. We have Families, priesthood leaders, scriptures, apostles, prophets, and so much more. I know that the atonement can be a very powerful thing, and that if there is something that you need to take care of, just talk with your bishop. If you do, I promise that a weight can be lifted off of your shoulders. Heavenly Father wants so much to be apart of our lives, and is just waiting for us to reach out to Him. I know that even though there may be times where it seems like too much to live the gospel and be obedient to the commandments, it is so worth it. If you incorporate into your life the standards of the gospel you will feel a renewing energy, and peace enter your life. You will be grateful, and your posterity for generations to come will be grateful. It is so easy to forget and to seek happiness from the world, but the happiness that you will find is only temporary...things of this world are only ever temporary. Things of God, however, are eternal. When we seek for those eternal things, and live by eternal principals, separating ourselves from the world, we will find eternal blessings and happiness.

If you have read this far, thanks for letting me get on my soap box. I hope that I didn't offend anybody with this post, but I felt like I needed to put it out there. The majority of the people who I was thinking of while writing this most likely won't read my blog, but there are a few who will. For those people, I love you. That's why I said these things. I'm here if you need somebody to talk to, or even if you just need a friend. I hope you have a great sunday!