What is Love? Look to Christ!

What is love? This simple phrase only a select few can answer and fewer exhibit. Pop songs over the years have sung of the answer to this question; however, even the greatest chart toppers prove inconclusive. Elder Marvin J. Ashton, a deceased modern day apostle once wrote, "True love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must be continuing to be real." These qualities point only to two individuals, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ: true exemplars of what love really means.

We as individuals need love in our lives. Love is vital to our self confidence, moral, and personal stamina. Love comes in many different forms, yet as Elder Ashton above states it; "true love is a process." Love doesn't just happen, love is built by kind words, thoughts, and most important: action. As we share our love with others our capacities to be loved increase. Love truly never ends: if you allow it. 1 John 4:18 (KJV) reads, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. 

Sometimes love is a firmness in stance or belief, to not let the world alter how we act or parent. As a child my mother would always make sure I minded my "P's and Q's." I being the absent minded seven year old would groan upon  hearing this statement (as all mothers are used to hearing). Yet mom never budged: I sometimes (alright most of the time), did chores and instruction begrudgingly: yet, I thank Mom for being firm in her parenting. It takes true stamina to not be the popular parent, but the one who loves her children enough to say, "no." One needs to stand for truth, righteousness, and morals: knowledge of this originates in the home.

The question arises: "what if I did not come from a loving background?" The more I go door to door preaching of Jesus Christ's restored gospel, I see this problems as a reoccurring commonality. The Savior's love remedies this atrocity. God is our loving Heavenly Father: He always reaches out to everyone with open arms. He recognizes our struggles and will provide an escape route even in the most unfathomable circumstances if we allow Him. He provided a savior: His son Jesus Christ to atone (or pay for), all the mistakes you, I, and the entire world will ever commit. He watched in agony as His only begotten son suffered in the garden of Gethsemane for all the pains and sins of the world. He and Jesus Christ know in entirety what we struggle with, both past and present. Despite what may have occurred, you can always give your heart back to God and let the power of Christ heal you.

True love exhibits itself only in emulating Jesus Christ. Think of your actions and dealings with others, ask yourself: "am I following the example of Jesus Christ in the way that I interact with people and myself?" A "yes" or "no" answer always suffices. When we follow the Son, we become more like the Father, our Father. I think of all that my Savior sacrificed for me: the young Mormon missionary preaching to the lambs of southern Illinois. You can let the light of Christ transform you. How will you serve God and your fellow brethren? These are questions everyone needs to ask in diligent prayer and follow the prompting received. I know as you do this, Christ's light will radiate from you and that others will come unto the truth by your loving action and adhering to God's word. True love is acting in the way of the Father.

 

 

Prayer: A Race of Faith.

As a runner in high school, the race was everything-the race meant everything! Time, course,and coaching. All of these segments led to the end result of the race. Sometimes that would not be enough, help was needed; it on course assistance would have been nice, but would lead to disqualification. Assistance came from individuals cheering and showing support on the sidelines. Could other things in life be compared to this? Of course! Prayer works the same way. Prayer will aid us in even our most difficult trials.

Some people ask, "how could simply praying solve my problems?" The real question should be, "how can praying help me solve my problems?" 1 Corinthians 10:13 states, ... God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. God most of the time will not simply solve our problems. He will if we allow, will give us the wisdom and strength to solve our challenges. Just think about the runner: no one can run with him on the course that he was conditioned to do, yet individuals give support from the sidelines. Our Heavenly Father is constantly at our race cheering us on.

Being a missionary requires an extra loud fan. Opposition always follows truth and light. Imagine going around for two years in the (as my mother phrased it), "rain, sleet, and shine;" knocking on doors and talking to strangers on the streets. I love the work of the Lord; though it exhausts even the best missionary at times. My experiences in both serving Nashvillians and Southern Illinoisans brought me closer to God. I realized even after a day of preaching in the pouring rain that prayer became necessity. My mission companion and I, (we go in twos, see 1 Corinthians 13:1), though sometimes completely soaked felt the warmth of the  Lord encompass us while walking down busy streets.

 You can feel God's love too! Prayer truly connects us to the Father. Some people are masters of prayer, while individuals such as I struggle to find words to address the Heavenly Father at times. The Lord wants us to call on him directly; our Father has given us this template to help us address Him.

How Do I Pray?
• Address your Heavenly
Father.
• Express the feelings of your
heart (gratitude, questions,
requests to confirm the truth of the Book of
Mormon and of what the
missionaries have taught).
• Close (“In the name of
Jesus Christ, amen”).

Knowing that I can directly speak to God the Father gives me much peace. If he could comfort a lowly nineteen year old missionary preaching on the streets of southern Illinois such as I. He can always be there for you. Remember the race: God is your number one fan! What will you do in honor of all of His love? Pray this week to know that your father is there, and he will tell you.

What's different about a Mormon?

Piecing together puzzles during a cold day, one of my favorite activities as a child. I reflected on my memories of putting together Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and realized on other levels the puzzle signifies more than just a pass time. The puzzle to me stands for knowledge: we piece by piece continually add on to what we already know.

People all the time desire to add more pieces to their knowledge of our Heavenly Father. Some peoples' puzzles are more complete than others; some content, while others feel "stuck." With my explorative personality I hate being "stuck." "Stuck" people and curious folk look for an outlet of continued knowledge, they do as Matthew 7:7 (KJV) directs Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.This outlet can come in the form of inspired friends, family, and even those Mormon missionaries☺. 

The message our friends, family, and Mormon missionaries share is neither new, nor foreign. What we share simply adds additional pieces of truth to further complete our puzzle. How cool is that? A lot of people conceptualize Mormonism  as a distanced concept and religion. Mormonism with it's message actually brings us closer to our Lord and Savior, with continued knowledge and revelation. Who wouldn't want this?

In the case of meeting and speaking with missionaries many people wonder; "does this mean I have to change all of my views of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?" The answer remains constant: No. There are precious truths in all denominations. What would you think if you could find all of the precious truths found in a cornucopia of sects and congregations in one place? The amazing thing about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that  people find many of the topics and principles foreknowledge. We as missionaries often hear from newcomers in the congregation: "I knew that;' 'this makes sense;''I finally had my questions answered.'"

The Savior's message and grace has the power to transform all mankind that listen. By finding out more, or continually adding pieces to our puzzle: we will know that we are sons and daughters of the one and only God--true royalty. What would you do if you found out that you were of royal parents? Too late, now you know ☺. May we always keep God in our lives and in our hearts, continually learning from him, adding additional pieces to our puzzle.