The Savior Anointed

In reading over our choice options on the assignment, I chose the subject found in Matthew 14:3-9 where woman comes to Christ and anoints Him with very expense oil. It was not a straight forward assignment like the others would have been and I chose this one because it forced me to study it out to find the answers. I am gratitude for opportunities like these that encourage me to stretch beyond the knowledge I already have and to obtain more through Spiritual guidance and words from our modern day prophets and apostles.

In this scriptural account, we learn that the woman anointed Christ with oil that was very expensive. Christ disciples recognize the cost of this oil and thought it was unwise for anointing and would have rather seen the woman sell it and give to the poor. They missed the significance of what this woman was doing in the worship and respect for Jesus. It was through this act, that she showed us that we must give our best efforts as we worship and respect Christ. If we are to give of our substance to those around us, we should give as if we were giving them to Christ Himself because in Matthew 25:40 we are reminded when we give to those around us, we are giving unto God. He knows our hearts and out intentions. If we give of ourselves and of our things, it must be with a pure intent.

In this account, we can also look to Christ for an example as the receiver of the gift this woman gave. In a talk given by President Dieter F. Ucthdorf at the Christmas Devotional for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in December 2012, he reminded us that the Savior knew of the love and devotion that this woman was giving that was symbolized by the anointing of the oil on His head. He accepted her gift, rebuked his disciples for getting after her for what they thought was wasteful, and recognized the gift as love. A gift given to us in love needs to be received as such. Not to be dismissed or set aside. Just as we must give our best to show love and respect to those we give, we must also accept in the same spirit knowing that the giver is giving with love and respect to you.

At Christmas, gifts are being received and given. President Ucthdorf reminds us to be the receiver Christ has shown us to be; and from the scriptures, the woman has shown us the giver Christ wants us to be. As I think about the list of gifts I will be giving this holiday season, I know that none is more important than giving of my love and respect to my Savior to those around me. This is the Spirit of Christ that can be felt not only in the holiday season but every day of the year.

I hope that your Thanksgiving is a blessed day.

Preparing for the Savior's Second Coming

As a little girl, I can remember sitting around, listening to the adults in my family discussing the Savior's Second Coming and all the earth would experience leading up to those final days. I remember being anxious about their conversations and being a little scared. I also remember saying a little prayer, asking Heavenly Father to at least let me get married before all the commotion was to start, thinking I can do anything with my future husband by my side. Now, many years later, with a husband and four children, my prayer is that we, my husband and I, are doing all we can to prepare ourselves and our children so as not be deceived by the many voices trying to call us down a different paths.

In Mark 13, there are several versus that give us at least three things that believers should watch for in order to be prepared for to meet the Lord. On this list, I felt like we were being asked to listen and pay attention to what our living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, and our other church leaders are saying because they are the Lord's mouthpiece for us. I know that what they have to tell us are words of encourage and/or warning to help us in our journey back to Him. As we are committed to listening to our Church leaders, we will be know what Heavenly Father wants of us and we will receive inspiration for ourselves, our families and our needs.

Also in that same chapter, we are taught of some things to watch for, which are as followed:

1. Being deceived - This could be as little or as big as we allow it in our lives. At first, it may not feel like we're doing anything wrong. If we remember from the Book of Mormon, the devil sometimes works in degrees. He knows that if he can get us a little at a time, we might eventually come around where he can snag us completely into his trap.  To keep us from being trapped in his web of deception, we need to stay close to what the Savior and His teachings. We also need to stay worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost who will be there to guide and protect us from the things that will deceive us.

2. Prophesy being fulfilled - Many prophets have given us signs to watch for as the Second Coming gets closer. I will not list them all here for many reasons but there are numerous resources if you'd like to learn more. We are asked to know what those signs are and watch for them. They will strengthen our testimony and our hope as things seem out of control. 

I recently saw a movie clip about pioneers crossing the plains. As the weather turned cold, a group a pioneers became stranded from cold, illnesses, and lack of food. Many died. Even in the bleakness of their situation, I couldn't help but wonder what keep them even trying to move forward, even in the mist of their extreme lack of sufficient supplies. As I thought about how hard it was to go through what they went through, a thought came into my mind that it was the hope of being together with other people who believed and worshiped as they do. To be in an area where they would not be persecuted for what they believed anymore. It was their hope and faith in Jesus Christ that got them through that hard time. It will be our hope and faith in Christ that will get us through our hard times of today. As we watched for and recognize prophesy being fulfilled, are testimony will be strengthen.

3. Christ coming. I don't think this needs any explanation. I know that Christ will come to the Earth again. We have been told in the scriptures and by many living prophets. It is our responsibility to prepare ourselves for when He does come. We will not know when He will come so we must spend time every day preparing. We are told by our church leaders to "treasure" the word of God. As we make this a priority in our lives, we will be prepared for His coming.

As frightening as the last days were to me as a little girl,  I now look to them with anticipation. I know it will be hard to see and go through what we must face but I also know that with each passing day, we are one day closer to Christ coming and peace being felt everywhere. I am committed to learning, preparing, and watching for those days. I am adding one drop of oil in my lamp everyday. With every drop I add, the greater my faith and testimony to get me through the hard times and and the greater my strength to keep one foot in front of the other when the world would tell me to stop.

“The Widow’s Mite” Mark 12:41-44

Christ said of the widow as she gave all that she had, “…this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury…” In His remarks, he was not talking about the amount of money she put in compared to the rich contributors but about the sincerity of her heart. She truly gave of her heart, mind, and strength with her two mites and Christ knew of desire to serve God in all that she did. In giving of all that she had, she truly showed God that she loved Him more than anything money could buy.

In 2 Nephi 25:23 we are told that “…it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” When we give all that we have to Heavenly Father and Christ, they will make up the rest. They will help us meet our need as we give our own “two mites” in serving those around us and in our own tithes and offering. When we dedicate all our heart, mind, and strength to building up the Kingdom of God, Heavenly Father will help us meet the needs of our families and open the windows of Heaven on our behalf.

I recently read a modern day account of the widow’s mite on LDS.org in an article entitled, “The Muchacho’s Mite” by Natalie Ross. In the story, Sister Ross talks about teaching a family while on her mission. While teaching them, she and her companion became keenly aware of how financially desperate this family was but their desire to learn that gospel was strong. They hesitated to teach them about the law of tithing and fast offerings, wanting the family to have a firm foundation of faith in Christ before they taught this family who so desperately needed any amount of money they had. As the family progressed and continued to read the Book of Mormon, they children began asking questions.

One day, one of the sons asked about fasting. As the sisters taught this family about the importance of fasting and all that it entails, they prayed the family would accept this principal and its commandment. Later, the son shared with them of his own testimony of fasting and paying an offering. His mother had given him a small amount to buy candy. As he walked to the store, he remembered the lessons and decided he wanted to try. His mother tried to discourage him from paying because it was such a small amount. Despite her attempts, the son fasted and paid the money he was given for candy as his offering. A few weeks later, this young man and two of his siblings were baptized. His parent joined the church a year later.

When we give all that we have, we truly are blessed. Sometimes giving all isn't about money; it may be our time and talents. Sometimes it’s in a calling or an assignment we have been asked to fulfill that we think may be beyond our abilities. As we dedicate our might, mind, and strength to the assignment, we will find Heavenly Father giving us what we feel we lack. I felt this very strength as I served many years ago as a young woman’s president. I never saw myself in that type of leadership position. I could name numerous other women who, to me, we much more spiritually grounded for such a role in this group of young women’s lives. I could not see myself for what Heavenly Father needed me to be when I was first called. As the months turned into years and I learned to rely on His strength as I did all that I could do, I saw blessings that will forever touch my heart in the ways Heavenly Father made my best efforts even better.

I know that Heavenly Father sees our heart and knows our intent. As we give all that we have, it is not about the amount we give but about sincerity of our offering. When we give as the widow, we too will feel of God’s love for us. 

Earthly and Heavenly Rewards

Our blessings, everything we receive is a gift from our Heavenly Father. Nothing we have is just a coincidence. This is one lesson that has rung true through all my life. I am reminded of it every day and I know that moment I forget to acknowledge Heavenly Father's hand in all that I am and have, is the moment I start down a dangerous path.

In the scriptures, we learn the story of a rich man who came to the Savior and asked him, after observing all the commandments all his life, could he do to earn his way into the Kingdom of God. Christ's response to the young man was to sell all his possessions and follow Him. The young man was sadden by the response and walked away.

 

Are our possessions greater than anything our Heavenly Father can give us? For me, no. I made a covenant with my Heavenly Father in the temple, promising everything I am and have to the building of the Kingdom of God. I have not always felt like this, nor I am not perfect now. I know as I continue to see the things around me as gifts from God, I see them as gifts my Heavenly Father has given to not only bless me and my family but can also bless the lives of others.

In the scriptures, Christ also teaches the parable of the Lord and his vineyard. He goes out multiple times during the day, seeking anyone who will work in his vineyard. As the day comes to the end, all the workers are called together and given their wages. No matter the time of day they were called, each are given the same wage. Some of the workers that had been there all day long were angry because they had sweated and worker hard in the heat of the day. They asked why they weren't paid more because they had been there longer and thought they deserved more than the ones that had been there less time.

 

In thinking about this, we were asked to apply that to life today. The Lord has called everyone to work in the vineyard, to share the gospel and it's blessings to those around us. Some of us are life long members while others joined later in life. Regardless of when we become part of the gospel, we are receive the same blessings regardless of how long we have participated in the Church. I think to my friends how are converts and I see how hard they work at their testimony and then turn around and share it with those they love. They have taken the gift they have been given and continue to share it. I think of my own life long membership. Do I share the gift of the gospel with the same enthusiasm that my convert friends do? Brent and I talked about this and I feel like I fall completely short of my convert friends when it comes to sharing. They work with all their strength and might in the short amount of time they have been members. As a life long member, I don't know what it's like not to have the gospel in my life. I have been sheltered a little bit and in my own mind, feel that I have gotten a little lazy in my efforts. My convert friends may actually be more deserving of that full days wage than I.

My saving grace is that Heavenly Father sees us all with equality. He is no respecter of persons. I work hard at my own testimony and teaching those within my stewardship but I know I need to work harder at reaching out to those around me. As I commit to this righteous desire and pray for those opportunities, I know Heavenly Father will put them in my path and I can feel more deserving of all that He has and will bless me with.

To Be a Disciple of Christ

Do you know what it means to be a disciple of Christ? When you think of a disciple, do you think of people who dress like people from the bible and dedicate their every second to talking and teaching about Christ? I may not dress like a bible person or spend every second talking and teaching of Christ, but I would like to think of myself as a disciple of Christ. Someone who believes in Christ, follows His ways and try's to be like Him in all I do and say. Though I am not perfect and am a work in progress, my hope is that as someone sees me, they will see Christ through me.

In the scriptures, we read what it is to be a disciple. It is someone who is choosing the "better" part. There are so many good things in this world but there are many more great things. By following Christ and His teachings, we know that we have chosen the better path in which where we will find peace and happiness in this life and be able to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father in the next life.

A disciple of Christ knows how to pray and to acknowledge, with gratitude, all that Heavenly Father has done for them. Coming to Him in prayer, we can express our sorrow and seek forgiveness for our mistakes. We also can get protection against whatever temptation we face and the strength we need to change ourselves. As we come to know Heavenly Father, through our prayers and He us, we will have our righteous desires.

In today's world of having everything in an instant, it's hard to see something and not want it now, especially when credit cards make it so easy. We are told, as a disciple of Christ, we should avoid covetousness. Everything we have is a gift from God. They are blessings in which to enrich our lives. We can use these blessings, and should, seek opportunities to share with others. This is a form of showing gratitude for all He has giving us and being a disciple by following His example.

As a disciple of Christ, one must always be watchful. We must avoid things the distract us on our path to eternal joy and happiness. We must be ever watchful for the traps that would snare us and impede our progress. We must also be watchful for the day when Christ will rule on the earth again. Though it may not happen in our day but we should watch for and prepare as if it might happen any minute.

As I try to become more of a disciple, there are things I need to work on. I can't honestly say right now if someone asked me to give up everything I have, I would. I would like to think I would for the greater gift of eternal life but it's always easy to say without the requirement of action. I know as I take each step in my progression to become a better disciple, I know that one day, I will be willing to leave all that I have behind to follow Christ. Right now, it's line upon line, precept upon precept. By learning, pondering, and applying the gospel principles, I become closer to being a better disciple of Christ.