"I don't wanna grow up, I wanna be a Toys 'R' Us kid..."

Today I'm here to talk about how and why we should be like little children. Matthew 18: 3-4 says, "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." So how do we become the children that the Lord wants us to be and that will be welcomed into His kingdom? What characteristics of a child are required? As I turned to the scriptures I found a few answers. Children are "lacking in understanding." They have a limited knowledge of the things around them and this can create a hunger for learning. Each of us should be quick to observe and learn from our environment. Someone named, James A. Baldwin, once said this, "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." Along with this lack of understanding can come humility because they know they don't know everything. They have to turn to someone for answers to questions they may have and they're not afraid to ask. In Doctrine and Covenants 78:18 it says, "nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along." Christ is there to take us by the hand if we let him. We don't want to be the kid that has to be picked up and carried across the street while kicking and scream but to be the one who will gladly take His hand and follow along.

Mosiah 3:19 lists several ways as well in which we are to become as a child. We should be submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, and willing to submit to all things by the Father. It's been a humbling experience for me as I've thought about the children being the teachers and how far I still have to go to truly becoming like one. I know that we are part of an enormous heavenly family and that each one of us is loved and has a divine role to play here on this earth. I know that I am a child of God and that He knows and loves me as He does each and every person.

Walking on the Sea

1. Review Matthew 14:22-33. Identify in writing the reaction of the Apostles was when they first saw the Savior walking on the water toward them.

In verse 26 it says, “they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.” I would consider that to be a natural reaction because there isn’t really any other way you could really explain a figure coming towards you on top of water. You also have to remember that this is “in the fourth watch of the night’’ which would be between 3-6am and I’m sure each man was exhausted. Before I had kind of always thought of their reaction negatively and wondered why they didn’t recognize the Savior but they were normal men themselves and bodies are only so capable.  What would you have done in their place?

2. What did Peter’s reponse indicate about him?

Peter responded, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” I’m not entirely sure what all this says about him but I think you see his desire and willingness to follow Christ. He wanted to be like him and literally follow in his footsteps. Not only that but I think it personally shows a little fearlessness. The sea was already being tossed by the wind and the waves but Peter forgot all that and was only focused on the Savior.

3. According to Matthew 14:30, why did Peter begin to sink?

In verse 30 it says, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid.” We always hear that fear and faith cannot be together. We all have fears but I know this is true. If we have a perfect faith or knowledge of something why would we have any fear towards it?  This is an extreme example, but say there are two people about to die, one has faith and believes there is life after this while the other person does not. Wouldn’t it make sense that the first is as not afraid of death as the second? I also like to look at the fact that in order to see the wind and waves he probably took his eyes off of the Savior. We are told so often to make Christ the focus and center of our lives and I know as we do that things in our life will go so much smoother or at least seem to.

4. What did Peter do when he began to sink? What word in the verses desvribes the expediency or the timing when Jesus responded to Peter’s request?

When Peter began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me.” I think this is a very good lesson for each of us to learn is to call out to the Lord as soon as we have any stuggles. Too often and for too long we put it off thinking we can figure it out ourselves but trials are meant for us to build that relationship between ourselves and Jesus Christ. This is my favorite part of the story, in verse 31, “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Christ was immediately there to catch him and lift him up out of the water. It doesn’t say and Jesus ran over to pull him up but instead that he was already there and ready to catch him. I know it is the same for us in each of our lives as long as we are willing to ask for his help.

5. Read D&C 88:67. Write a paragraph describing what principle from this verse relates to what Peter did to successfully walk on the water. How can this same principle be applied to your life to assist you in walking over the storms of life?

The scripture in D&C talks about having an eye single to the glory of God. I think this goes right along with what I was saying about how Peter was afraid and started to sink because he took his eyes off Christ and began to focus on the wind and the waves. This principle can really help each of us as we try walking over the storms of life because when we have our eyes on Christ we can almost forget about the storm and we have no reason to fear because we know if we stumble, He will be right there to lift us up. Verse 67 also mentions as we keep our eye single to that glory, our “whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you.” That’s amazing and I know that as we are filled with light Satan has less power over us and our burdens will become lighter and easier to bear. With Christ we can weather any storm. 

Hey, did you hear me?..."and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand" (Matthew 13:13)

Do you ever hear someone talking but as soon as they finish you say "what?" because you didn't really hear what they said? Matthew 13 is about a lot of the parables Christ taught during his ministry and even why he taught that way. What is a parable? After reading the definition in the Bible Dictionary the definition I would give for it is a story told in comparison to something else in order to enhance teaching and understanding. For example the question, "Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?" can be made a comparison with the parable of the treasure and pearl of great price. In this parable Christ tells of a man who found a treasure in a field. He then after hiding it back up sells all that he has to buy the field. Jesus then tells of another man, a merchant, who is searching for "goodly pearls." One day he finds a pearl of great price and then sells all the he has to buy it. There are actually a few things we can take from these parables to answer the previous question. Why are some members so willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church? Well, they are willing because in the gospel they have found something so much greater. When you see the blessings and have an eternal perspective the things of this world like wealth and recognition aren't important. Another thing I learned just today out of this comparison is the both men were looking and searching for something. I think there are so many people looking for happiness and peace in this life and what they need to find is the gospel. Doctrine and Covenants 123:12 says, " For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it--" This Church is absolutely priceless and to be a member of it is worth everything we have. This is what I'm going to give 18 months of my life to go teach. It seems like such a small sacrifice compared to what I've been given. Parables are made for us to learn deeper meaning if we are prepared and willing to listen. We have to look for those truths inside the stories. They make us stretch, grow, and ultimately rely on the Lord to grant us the knowledge we are searching for. I know this is the true Church and I can't express how grateful I am to have it in my life.

Today's topic? The Beatitudes!

We hear about the Beatitudes so often. The LDS Institute Manual, "The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles," says that the Beatitudes have been referred to by Bible commentators as, "the preparation necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven." Clearly they are something important as well as something we should be paying to. I had never really studied them much and I really enjoyed this experience. The first thing I was supposed to do as part of my assignment was to make a definition of the word "blessed" or "blessedness" after reading some footnotes and a section for the institute manual commentary. I concluded that it's a state of internal happiness and joy that comes from heaven.

Since the Beatitudes essentially hold characteristics of Christ of what we should be in order to become perfect, I chose three of my favorites and want to talk about how living them can increase your happiness and improve your life.

1. "Blessed are the poor in spirit."
I was enlightened as I read the commentary for this verse. To be poor in spirit doesn't necessarily mean to be down-trodden and depressed or to have a lack of faith. Being poor in spirit means you rely on the Lord in all things. You look to him for the things you need. This also makes you grateful for every single thing you do receive. We need to be humble in our everyday lives and constantly rely on the Lord. I know that when Christ is the center of our lives we are happier and he is all the more willing to bless us. If we are focused on Christ we lose our desire to sin and have a desire to always to good.

2. "Blessed are the meek."
This goes right along with being poor in spirit. What I like about the characteristic of meekness is that it's basically a quiet strength. The institute commentary had this to say about meekness; "A meek man is defined as one who in not easily provoked or irritated and forbearing under injury or annoyance. Meekness is not synonymous with weakness. The meek man is the strong, the mighty, the man of complete self-mastery. He is the one who has the courage of his moral convictions, despite the pressure of the gang or the club." We are commanded to endure to the end and I think being meek is a quality that goes with that teaching hand-in-hand. The meek are not easily provoked or irritated but are calm and collected. Attitude is everything when it comes to happiness and I think meekness is a big step toward it.

3. "Blessed are they which are persecuted."
Although I haven't had much persecution in my own life to draw experience from, I love this concept. To quote Winston Churchill, "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." What better to be persecuted for than the church and righteousness? Something my mom has always taught me is that the reason this church is so persecuted is because it's true. Satan is trying everything he possibly can to prevent the works of the Lord from progressing. I know of churches that take time teaching it's members how to hate and confound LDS members instead of the scriptures and things that a church should have. I love in Matthew 5:12 that it says, "for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." How amazing would it feel to be put along side the prophets as someone who stood up for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know I have been blessed by living the gospel no matter what others have thought of me. It can be a powerful missionary tool and as I bear my testimony of what I believe it grows even more and is strengthened.

I encourage each one of you that reads this post, which probably isn't very many, to study more in depth the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount and how you can apply the teachings to your own life. I know that you will blessed and if you live them you will receive that internal and eternal happiness that the world can't diminish. These things are true and I know it. I hope that you will gain that same testimony for yourself.