It Is Well

"When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul.

 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin, not in part but the whole

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul.

 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend.

Even so, it is well with my soul.

 

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul."

This hymn, written by businessman Horatio G. Spafford and composed by hymnist and evangelist Phillip P. Bliss, was written in dark times. Spafford had just lost his daughters to a shipwreck while he was at home for work. Before this, he had lost money and property to the Chicago Fire of 1871. Spafford wrote these words while en route to England to join his wife, passing by the place where the Ville du Havre had sunk and his daughters had drowned. While in England, Spafford and his wife met up with their evangelist-friend, Phillip P. Bliss, and his wife, and Bliss came up with a tune to accompany the word that Spafford had written. Dark clouds hadn't cleared, however, for just a few short years after penning the words and music of "It Is Well with My Soul," the Blisses tragically lost their lives in a train wreck, and a few years following that, after beginning another family of their own, the Spaffords lost a young son to scarlet fever.
(For more on the story behind the hymn, click here.)

I was around eight or nine when I first heard the story behind this beautiful hymn, and it surprised me. At that young age, I couldn't imagine going through such devastating loss and yet being able to maintain such a positive attitude.
I am still young, and I have not--thankfully--had to endure any of the losses that Spafford did. However, I--as all of us have--have had to endure difficult times. I have experienced the stormy days as well as sunny days. No life is lived free of trials, but what would life be without the contrast that trials and joys bring to our lives?
"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. ...And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And there be no righteousness nor happiness there can be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. ...[but] there is a God, and he hath created all things...both things to act and to be acted upon. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, an could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.
And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
"But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:11, 13-14, 16, 22-25).* **
We were created to experience joy, but without misery, we wouldn't recognize nor appreciate that joy. Trials definitely aren't fun, but what wonderful opportunities to learn and grow. That's my challenge to you as well as to myself: next time you experience a hiccup in your path, ask the Lord what you can learn from it. And then take notes! :) ***



*For a definition of the Fall of Adam, click here.
**To read the rest of the chapter (Nephi 2), click here.
***Okay, I don't mean literally pull out paper and a pencil. Just pay attention to what you learn.

Grace (Part 2)

Last week I began a 2-part post on the topic of grace (to see Part 1, click here), talking about how grace can be divine help and how being "saved by grace" (Galatians 2:8) isn't based on passive belief, but active faith. This week I would like to touch on how grace is also divine strength.
Here again is the definition of faith as described in True to the Faith: "The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to the divine help and strength we receive through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter taught that we should 'grow in grace, and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ' (1 Peter 3:18)" (p. 77, emphasis in original).
Now let's discuss divine strength.
When I think of divine strength, I don't necessarily think of physical strength (though Samson in the Old Testament sure had a good amount of physical strength beyond human capability, thanks to the Lord's grace--see Judges 13-16), but of emotional, mental, and spiritual strength. I think of a strong testimony, able to withstand anything that tries to tear it down. I think of full-time missionaries who sacrifice 18-24 months, leaving their families, their home, and oftentimes putting their education on hold, to serve the Lord through serving fellowmen. I think of those who did not grow up with religion and choose to follow the Savior, sometimes leaving the "norm" of the family circle. I think of those who serve in all capacities, even in their weaknesses.
We all have weaknesses. We can't handle them on their own; we need divine help, we need divine strength from God to make up for our weakness.
And why do we have weaknesses? I think of a couple of people who share with us this answer:

• Paul (in the New Testament): "...there was given to me a thorn in the flesh...lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasures in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when  I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
• Moroni (in the Book of Mormon): "...the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness; and if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith" (Ether 12:26-27, 29).

So, what can we learn from this? Why do we have weaknesses (besides the fact that we were born into an imperfect world)?

• So that we can humble ourselves. Weaknesses are a wonderful way to learn to exercise humility. If we didn't have any weaknesses, then we would have more of a tendency to think too highly of ourselves and become hot-headed.
• So that we can exercise our faith. What a great opportunity! Exercising faith strengthens testimony, which means that we become more steadfast in the gospel, and that is a wonderful thing.

There's a lot of things we can learn from this about exercising humility and faith. How can we exercise humility and faith? Let me know in the comments!

Grace (Part 1)

Grace seems to be a word thrown around often without really knowing what it means. All sorts of people define grace differently, especially as how it relates to salvation or works. Or how it doesn't relate to either topic.
As a Latter-day Saint, I'd like to add my own understanding of what grace is and how it applies to us.
There's a wonderful definition of grace in True to the Faith, a small glossary-like publication by the LDS Church. It states: "The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to the divine help and strength we receive through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter taught that we should 'grow in grace, and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ' (1 Peter 3:18)" (p. 77, emphasis in original). Notice that grace is defined as divine help and strength. I will be focusing on those aspects.
First, divine help.
Several months ago I was riding in the car with a close friend, about to pull out of a parking lot, when the car wouldn't move. We could hear the engine, but the vehicle itself would not move forward nor backward. The engine wasn't catching properly, and we were stuck. Luckily, there were still people where we had just been, and we were at the edge of the parking lot, so I pulled out my cell phone and called one friend who was inside, briefly explaining the situation and asking for help getting the car into a safe place in the parking lot. That friend brought a couple other guys with him, and we sat as they pushed the car back in enough that I could get out of the car. Then I stood out of the way, as directed, while my friend steered the car, thus making it easier to move the car into the nearest parking spot.
Divine help works similarly. We couldn't have gotten out and pushed the car into a parking spot without help; we needed help. Similarly, we cannot return to God on our own, no matter how much good we do. At the same time, we cannot just sit on the sidelines and expect God to make things better for us, nor can we expect God to grant us eternal life without taking action on our part. Some people believe that all we must do to receive eternal life is to believe in God, but that's not all, folks. Can someone say that they believe a chair will support their weight, and then just stand back and stare at it? Or would true belief that the chair will support them be manifest through them actually sitting in the chair?
Yes, I am aware of what the Bible says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). And that is right: it is by grace that we are saved through faith, but faith isn't passive; it's active. As written later in the New Testament:
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. ... Was not Abraham...justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believe God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:18, 21-24, emphasis added).
If we have true faith in God, it should show in what we do, say, and take part in. Let us all strive to be examples of our faith--in every aspect of our lives.


*Next week I will focus on the second part: divine strength.

Face Fear

Ok...not really...but I thought it was amusing.

About three and a half years ago, on my 17th birthday, I decided I was going to face my fear of heights and do something that scared me. I was at a camp, and there was this giant swing. Basically, you get hoisted up 30 feet in the air, and then you go free-falling/swinging down 20 feet, until you're about 10 feet in the air, at which you are brought down. The worst part: you have to pull the chord that starts your free fall.
The giant swing was closed on my birthday, but we were informed that it would be open the next day, so that's what I did the next afternoon: I did the giant swing. It was so incredible, and it felt so good, that I wound up doing it twice in a row. Even though it freaked me out, if I had the opportunity to do it again, I would do it.

Facing and overcoming fears--it's so important. So with a new year, I challenge YOU to join me in one of my New Years resolutions, and that's to face a fear of yours. What do you fear? What will you do to face it, to overcome it? And when I say overcome a fear, I don't mean that you no longer have any fear, but that you face it and do something about it and not let it control you. Like if you're me and you fear heights, maybe you'll try climbing a rock wall. If your fear is water, perhaps you'll get yourself to swim, or to go to a waterpark like Wild Waves and not just sit on the sidelines, but actually partake in the amenities. If you're terrified of rollercoasters, ride one the next time you're at a theme park. Just face a fear this year, and trust me, it'll feel good.

To A New Year

If you had told me on the first of the year where I'd be at the end of 2014, I would've said you were probably crazy. The last place I expected to find myself on this day was at home in Washington; I had planned to serve a mission and figured that I'd be somewhere else in the country, having been on my mission for several months at this point. But that goes to show that our Heavenly Father's plan sometimes differs from our own, and He will make sure that we are exactly where ...we need to be. And now I know that right here is exactly where I need to be.
And it's been a good year. I've visited a new place this year (South Carolina), a new favorite (Utah), and an old favorite (Disneyland). I've enjoyed plays and musicals, making new friends, and making new memories. I've had some much-looked-forward-to reunions this year. There have been rough times and good times all throughout. 2014, I won't ever forget you.
Thank you to all the wonderful friends and family with whom I have shared memories this year. It's been a blast.
2015, bring it on!

P.S. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to be more consistent about posting. :)

South Carolina (March)

 

Disneyland (June)

 

Utah (October)

General Conference Thoughts: October 2014: "Come and See"

This is my first in a series of posts in which I will be sharing thoughts on counsel given at the most recent General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. General Conference is my favorite time of year, so I love that it occurs twice a year; I love rereading and pondering the messages given each time from our beloved Church leaders.

One of my favorite talks from this Conference was one of the very final ones given, entitled "Come and See" by Elder David A. Bednar. (I invite you to read the entire talk here, or scroll below and watch it.) First of all, I was just excited to hear from Elder Bednar; I have met him in person before, and he happens to be one of my favorite speakers of all time because he speaks in simple terms.
In this talk, Elder Bednar focuses solely on one question: "Why are Latter-day Saints so eager to tell [people] about what they believe and to invite [people] to learn about their church?"
He goes on to say, "When we invite you to attend church with us or to learn with the full-time missionaries, we are not trying to sell you a product. ... Our invitations...are not an attempt to diminish your religious tradition or life experience. Bring all that you know is true, good, and praiseworthy--and test our message. Just as Jesus beckoned two of His disciples to 'come and see' (John 1:39), so we urge you to come and see if the restored gospel of Jesus Christ enlarges and enriches that which you already believe to be true."
He also talks about how our desire to share comes as a result of how important these things are to us and how they have changed our lives for the better. We only want others to experience that same change and that same joy that we have.
When I was learning more about the Church, I met with missionaries. Like what was shared above, I did not feel coerced into being baptized and becoming a Mormon. I was not presented a product to buy into; I was only presented the simple, honest, and humble testimonies of four 20-year-old men, and the testimonies of many of my friends. I wanted to make that change because the restored gospel of Jesus Christ had already made such a great change in me for the better, a change that I didn't ever want to put an end to, and so I was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
And now I pass along this invitation to you: come, see, and test our message. See what we are really like, what we really believe, and ponder and pray about it for yourself. "Ask of God" (James 1:5) with a sincere heart, like I did and like so many others have.
I know that these things are true, that this gospel is true, and I will not ever deny it.

I Follow Him

I follow Him--Jesus Christ--for many reasons. There is a hymn that sums up those reasons beautifully:

I believe in Christ; he is my King!

With all my heart to him I'll sing;

I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,

In grand amens my tongue employ.

I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.

On earth to dwell his soul did come.

He healed the sick; the dead he raised.

Good works were his; his name be praised.

 

I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!

As Mary's Son he came to reign

'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,

To save them from the woes of sin.

I believe in Christ, who marked the path,

Who did gain all his Father hath,

Who said to men: "Come, follow me,

That ye, my friends, with God may be."

 

I believe in Christ--my Lord, my God!

My feet he plants on gospel sod.

I'll worship him with all my might;

He is the source of truth and light.

I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.

From Satan's grasp he sets me free,

And I shall live with joy and love

In his eternal courts above.

 

I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!

From him I'll gain my fondest dream;

And while I strive through grief and pain,

His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."

I believe in Christ; so come what may,

With him I'll stand in that great day

When on this earth he comes again

To rule among the sons of men.

 

Or, in other terms, as another song by the same title goes:

I believe in Christ
No other before Him
And though I may fail

I'll never leave Him.

 

 

I follow Jesus Christ; He invites me to, as He invites all of us to, to follow Him. I follow Him because I love Him. I know that He is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that He atoned for each of us so that we live with God again.

 

 

 

*The photo at the top of this post was taken at the Christus (statue of Christ) in the North Visitors Center at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, UT, on October 6, 2013.

The bottom photo is an edit of a photo that I took at the Seattle (Washington) LDS Temple on July 26, 2014.