Tender Mercies

This past week, answers to prayers have been pouring down on me like refreshing rain. One of the miracles is something I've been praying for a very long time.

I feel like shouting hallelujah!!

In a recent post, I shared a story about a neighbor of mine that had been treating me very rudely for well over a year. Just last week I decided to do a neighborhood BBQ and I made a special invitation to her. I sincerely wanted her to come but didn't expect her to show up because she hadn't shown up to any previous invitations. But to my surprise she came.... not only did she come but we had a friendly conversation too! I felt so relieved. I don't know what exactly softened her heart towards me and I still don't know why she was so rude to me in the first place. I'm just so thankful that things are better now! I am so thankful for the healing that is taking place between us.

"I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us."- Elder David A. Bednar Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

He never gives up on us.

I was listening to some talks from last conference today and I really like this part. This is very comforting for me when I have had a day or days where I feel like such a crappy mom.

"There are some who believe that because they have made mistakes, they can no longer fully partake of the blessings of the gospel. How little they understand the purposes of the Lord. One of the great blessings of living the gospel is that it refines us and helps us learn from our mistakes. We “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,”11 yet the Atonement of Jesus Christ has the power to make us whole when we repent."
- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency

“Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.

“We [might] see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. . . .

“The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities.”- Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Watch Out!!

On memorial day my two little boys discovered that the cars driving around the grounds of the cemetery were driving extremely slow. Traffic was almost at a standstill, mostly because of the crowds there that day.

My two boys began to play a game of holding up their hands, signaling for the slow moving cars to stop and then cross to the other side. They were amused at their strength to "stop them".

At first I thought it was cute but soon my protective instinct set in. "You guys.. this really isn't a good game to play, you could get hurt... I know the cars are going very, very slowly but please just stay on the grass."......

Later that day, we went up to the canyons with a group of friends for lunch. I had forgotten about the game my boys were playing with the cars. The traffic along the canyon road was critically faster than that at the cemetery and there were blinding curves coupled with steep slopes. Most cars were going about 50 mph. It was a beautiful day, and the weather was perfect. We were sitting in the shade enjoying our lunch when I looked up....

To my horror... there was my little 4yr. old boy standing in the middle of the canyon road with his hands in the air waiting for the cars to come so he could "stop them." I had only a split second to rescue him. If a car came at that moment it would certainly be going fast enough to kill him and if the driver saw him they certainly wouldn't have been able to stop in time because of the steep, blinding curves. I yelled out his name as I ran to him and pulled him out of the road just in time... for only seconds later there passed a speeding car. He was angry at me because he couldn't see the danger. To him, I had spoiled his fun and ruined his game.



.... I have thought about this situation with the cars many times since and have thought how God must feel sometimes when his children insist on having dangerous "fun" and how we as His children get angry at Him because His commandments are too "restricting."



This little experience helped to solidify that God gives us commandments because He loves us and to protect us, they are there to prevent unnecessary hurt and spiritual death to our souls.

Someone once said, "God made us free and He gives us commandments to keep us free." I testify that this is true! He sees the bigger picture. I know He loves us and wants so much for us to be happy, to be free... but we must understand that "His ways are not our ways." I testify that it is only His way that sets us free.

I am thankful for the experience I had that Memorial day... for it taught me a valuable lesson.

God bless you,
Alicia

"Do you pray to Allah?"

I help watch my friend Meher's little girl almost every day. Every time before we eat we always say a prayer. One day my little friend, Lamis said, "I don't pray like you, I pray to Allah." (Her family practices Islam.) I said, "It's ok Lamis you don't have to pray with us." I could see the question in her eyes..."Who do you pray to?" .......I answered, "Lamis I know we don't pray in the exact same way but we do pray to the same God, so I guess you could say we pray to Allah too."

That was pretty much all I said to her but I have since thought about that situation....

Allah means "One true God." God is the Father of all our spirits, He is also the Father Who Jesus Christ prayed to. Now when we pray we don't address Him as "Allah", we say "Father in Heaven". And we close our prayers "in the name of Jesus Christ," His Son. But we pray to our Father, the one true Father of us all.

Our first article of faith is, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost."

Jesus prayed to our Father in Heaven: "O Father, glorify thou me… with the glory which I had with thee before the world was… That the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me… For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:5, 23–24.

He prayed:

“O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these [the disciples] have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25–26. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” John 17:24.

As He took upon Himself the sins and sorrows of this world Christ prayed:

“Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Elder Robert D. Hales said of this sacred moment, "He was not talking to Himself or relying on His own strength. He was calling upon His Father, God Omnipotent, to sustain Him and allow Him to do His Father’s will; and His Father sent an angel “from heaven, strengthening him.”Luke 22:43.

Jesus testified all throughout His mission that He was about His "Father's business". Upon the cross when He was crucified, He said, "It is finished,”John 19:30 and “cried with a loud voice, … Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:46

After Christ rose again from the grave and appeared to Mary Magdalene He said "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." John 20:10–18 Later Jesus appeared to Stephen standing next to Heavenly Father. He also appeared to Joseph Smith standing next to His Father.

Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are one in purpose, one in heart and one in mind, as we should be with them.... But they are separate, distinct and individual beings.

I know that we have an Eternal Heavenly Father. He is the Father of all of us. He is loving, He is powerful, He is merciful, He is Omnipotent, He is Eternal and it is to Him that we pray. Jesus Christ is His Son. Our Heavenly Father so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son. I know that it is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we are made free from sin and death and able to return to God.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3: 14-16

As sure as I know we have a loving Heavenly Father Who hears and answers our prayers. I know we have a Savior, the Son of God. Who willingly submitted to the Father and "laid Himself on the alter" for our sakes, to pay our price. And because of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, we can return to God. What a wonderful message, it gives me so much hope. I know this to be true!!

"They do much good"

I was just listening to some conference talks from this most recent conference. And I really liked this part from Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, entitled, "Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children"

"Notwithstanding the significance of our doctrinal differences with other faiths, our attitude toward other churches has been to refrain from criticism. They do much good. They bless mankind. Many help their members learn of the Savior and His teachings.

A reporter for the Washington Post visited one of our Church meetings in Nigeria. The reporter interviewed one new member and told of his conversion. The reporter states:

“[He] said . . . he jumped off a city bus and walked into the [LDS Church building]. . . . He immediately liked what he heard inside [the chapel], especially that no one preached that people of other faiths were going to hell.” This echoes the feeling of numerous converts to the Church since its organization.

Our leaders have consistently counseled us “to live with respect and appreciation for those not of our faith. There is so great a need for civility and mutual respect among those of differing beliefs and philosophies.”

It is equally important that we be loving and kind to members of our own faith, regardless of their level of commitment or activity. The Savior has made it clear that we are not to judge each other. This is especially true of members of our own families. Our obligation is to love and teach and never give up. The Lord has made salvation “free for all men” but has “commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.”- Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Life's Ironies

Go read this post today. It's very thought provoking. This post is so good!!

The Irony in Life
Paul is waiting for a heart transplant and he inspires me so much!! Pray for him.

Thanks Unto God

These are some verses from the Book of Alma found in the Book of Mormon that have been on my mind today. I love these verses! Alma 26:16, 35-37

"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel....

...Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us....

... Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

-Alma 26:16, 35-37