Please do not be discouraged by my mistakes when you read our blog! It was so late when I wrote the last one that I did not read it over again and I found several mistakes the next morning! Please, when you get the email, just click on the page somewhere and go to the web version where I have corrected the errors I have found. They will not correct on the emailed version but do on the web page.
I love the Lord! I love the Church! I love the prophets and servants of the Lord! I have listened to two Conference talks today! They are already available on line and will soon be ready to download into our Gospel Library App on smart phone or iPad! That is amazing! Each Conference the technology improves and things get to us faster!
One of the talks I listened to was Elder Causse's talk about how there is always something to learn in the scriptures.
As I was praying aloud before my study the other day I heard myself saying things I had not thought of before. I was asking for things my heart desired greatly! I opened the New Testament to read about the last week of the Savior's life. My eyes fell first upon these words in Matt. 21:22:
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
To me, it was a confirmation from a loving Heavenly Father, that my prayer had been heard and the blessings I desired granted to me.
Later I found this verse in D&C 20:14-15
"And those who receive it in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life;
But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation."
The Bible Dictionary says:
The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of blessings.
I have the assurance that I will see those blessings that are now mine as I develop "eyes to see, and a heart to understand." I will grow into those blessings! Now I must move forward in confidence and as the 2nd scripture says, "work righteousness."
The blessings are mine in the same way a lovely dress may be given to a young girl that is a trifle too big right now but will fit her perfectly soon. She will look forward to the promised day and keep herself pure and beautiful so that she may wear it as soon as she grows just a little. She knows she will look as beautiful as she imagines. That is the desire of the person who purchased or designed the dress for her. They knew that in a few more months she will have reached the perfect age and stature to wear it well.
But what if the beautiful dress is purchased that is perfect for the certain lovely occasion of the future, and the girl is too cross and impatient to wait for her growth and decides instead in her anxiousness to wear it, to change the style of the dress, or to use the dress only for a Halloween costume! That would be like rejecting the blessing and turning it to our condemnation. (Perhaps you can think of a better comparison!)
I remember another time in my life that I was given a great blessing--and I understood that I must grow into that blessing to be able to keep it! Perhaps that is also how it is with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we have to learn how to invite and use the gift that is given to us and "work righteousness" to have access to it!
I know that Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth in its fulness.I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.
I know that they love us and that every promised blessing is ours!
As we pray, study and serve, we will grow into those blessings without even being aware of it until we look back sometime and realize that the lack in us is gone, and the blessings we desired and prayed for are in us and all around us!
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