SECTION FOUR
THE MIRACLE IS THE CHANGE OF HEART
Living the Law of Chastity
We are created in the image of God
With a divine nature and eternal destiny
As beloved spirit children of Heavenly Parents
We accept our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness
We cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day
We are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar
We will stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places
We seek and act upon personal revelation and minister to others in His holy name
We accept the sacred powers of procreation which are divinely appointed moral responsibilities
The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children
We dedicate ourselves to strengthening the family through eternal marriage
We find nobility in parenthood and joy in our testimonies of Jesus Christ
The covenant path allows us to be united as a family for all eternity
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we strive to become like Him
As we stand for truth and righteousness
And rejoice in serving the Lord
With endless charity
And eternal love
*Compiled from the Young Women's Theme, the Relief Society Declaration and the Proclamation to the Family
With a divine nature and eternal destiny
As beloved spirit children of Heavenly Parents
We accept our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness
We cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day
We are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar
We will stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places
We seek and act upon personal revelation and minister to others in His holy name
We accept the sacred powers of procreation which are divinely appointed moral responsibilities
The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children
We dedicate ourselves to strengthening the family through eternal marriage
We find nobility in parenthood and joy in our testimonies of Jesus Christ
The covenant path allows us to be united as a family for all eternity
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we strive to become like Him
As we stand for truth and righteousness
And rejoice in serving the Lord
With endless charity
And eternal love
*Compiled from the Young Women's Theme, the Relief Society Declaration and the Proclamation to the Family
Appraising the Master
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” (D&C, 18:10)
Nothing could convince my heart of my own value as debates echo in my mind contradicting God’s opinion as a generalized persona of value because I’m just a woman with no voice and no authority. In my search to find the truth, I dove into the abyss of my heart and found wisdom in Moses’s story. He was a prince with abundant wealth and rank as his value, but when he gained knowledge of his origin story, he fled Egypt with nothing but a broken heart. Moses was lost and sought the Lord, which became his most treasured possession. Moses learned that he’s nothing without God and in his humility, he dedicated himself as the Lord’s temple to fulfill God’s mission. This is when Moses knew his value, not just because he was valuable to God, but because God was valuable to him. Allowing God into my heart to guide my path and abide in my thoughts, is what I hold as my most cherished possession. Being “spiritually needy” as I call myself might be my strength, not my weakness. I’m not an entitled or forsaken virgin, but a “wise virgin” who cherishes my chastity, with my eye single in my love for God and deeply grateful for His love for me. Now, I’m humble enough to unite with Christ and abide in God’s wisdom as I walk the path of life with my Savior. “The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” (3 Nephi 13:22)
The glorious light of your soul is worth more riches than the whole world doth power to possess. You were formed from the light of the stars and the vibrations of the earth from God’s voice which doth radiate His love. Your soul is that of His pure love meant to shine as a lighthouse guides a ship during the storm. The mission you chose in this life, is to assist all those called to witness the Savior’s return, to bring together all the people on the earth through a shared language of God’s love. You offer unlimited value to God, as your heart is full of compassion, born from the refiner's fire, and can inspire many souls to choose God’s love for one another. Fulfilling your mission is attainable, as perfection is not preliminary. Love is the only path that opens doors and builds kingdoms. Thus, you shall become an instrument in the hands of God to bless all those who have ears to hear. All souls are valuable unto God our Father, “And if it so be that ye should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the Kingdom of my Father!” (D&C 18:15)
Retrospectively, we have failed to support one another in achieving moral purity as we often allow temptation to drown out the still small voice. Unilateral or bilateral consent must adhere to God as the primary consenting party for moral purposes. Practice seeing the beauty of a person beyond the flesh and excluding your own personal gain, but in appreciation for the divine worth of each child of God. Assist each daughter of God as her heart thirsts for love, by cherishing the body God hath offered her. “For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.” (Jacob 2:28) Even your very thoughts must not defile the sacredness of intimacy. The divine worth of each soul is to be reverently cradled to preserve the sacredness of the marital union.
His love for you is not conditional nor transactional; His love is perfect, pure, generous and eternal. God is the highest existing intelligence and there are no other God’s above or beside Him. Existence is endless as an eternal round having no beginning or ending, constantly evolving. God realized the potential within the lesser intelligences and thus began the gathering together of unorganized matter to become greater intelligences. He carefully molded and shaped you as a potter shapes His clay. How incredible is our God who realized our potential and thus formed us in His image to become as God is. Knowing it’s not good for man to be alone, He chose to share in His glory by helping each one of us evolve and become as He is. Everything you have and everything you’ve become, is part of His divine plan to help you reach your potential.
The rocks placed in your path are not meant to be stumbling blocks, but purification tools. The trials in life are not limiting your happiness, they are part of the refinement process to attain the harmonious balance of God’s power. Here’s a few examples of ways you can use the tribulations as opportunities to develop your relationship with God:
The glorious light of your soul is worth more riches than the whole world doth power to possess. You were formed from the light of the stars and the vibrations of the earth from God’s voice which doth radiate His love. Your soul is that of His pure love meant to shine as a lighthouse guides a ship during the storm. The mission you chose in this life, is to assist all those called to witness the Savior’s return, to bring together all the people on the earth through a shared language of God’s love. You offer unlimited value to God, as your heart is full of compassion, born from the refiner's fire, and can inspire many souls to choose God’s love for one another. Fulfilling your mission is attainable, as perfection is not preliminary. Love is the only path that opens doors and builds kingdoms. Thus, you shall become an instrument in the hands of God to bless all those who have ears to hear. All souls are valuable unto God our Father, “And if it so be that ye should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the Kingdom of my Father!” (D&C 18:15)
Retrospectively, we have failed to support one another in achieving moral purity as we often allow temptation to drown out the still small voice. Unilateral or bilateral consent must adhere to God as the primary consenting party for moral purposes. Practice seeing the beauty of a person beyond the flesh and excluding your own personal gain, but in appreciation for the divine worth of each child of God. Assist each daughter of God as her heart thirsts for love, by cherishing the body God hath offered her. “For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.” (Jacob 2:28) Even your very thoughts must not defile the sacredness of intimacy. The divine worth of each soul is to be reverently cradled to preserve the sacredness of the marital union.
His love for you is not conditional nor transactional; His love is perfect, pure, generous and eternal. God is the highest existing intelligence and there are no other God’s above or beside Him. Existence is endless as an eternal round having no beginning or ending, constantly evolving. God realized the potential within the lesser intelligences and thus began the gathering together of unorganized matter to become greater intelligences. He carefully molded and shaped you as a potter shapes His clay. How incredible is our God who realized our potential and thus formed us in His image to become as God is. Knowing it’s not good for man to be alone, He chose to share in His glory by helping each one of us evolve and become as He is. Everything you have and everything you’ve become, is part of His divine plan to help you reach your potential.
The rocks placed in your path are not meant to be stumbling blocks, but purification tools. The trials in life are not limiting your happiness, they are part of the refinement process to attain the harmonious balance of God’s power. Here’s a few examples of ways you can use the tribulations as opportunities to develop your relationship with God:
- Loss of possessions: embrace this challenge with a willingness to sacrifice all you have. Even though you worked hard for your possessions, they are still blessings God has bestowed upon you. Everything you have belongs to God and you are the steward of your possessions. Maybe God is helping you realign your focus with your mission in life or reminding you what really matters so you can avoid pride and remain humble. Job handled a similar situation gracefully, use this as an opportunity to fill your mind with God’s wisdom in the book of Job. Use your spiritual gifts to relate to Job during his suffering and learn WITH him until your heart has been converted in harmony to God.
- Illness: embrace this as an opportunity to slow down. God is nurturing your needs and carving time out of your schedule to work on your relationship with Him. When you’re in pain, too weak and unable to function; read your scriptures and fill your mind with light from knowledge. Shift your focus onto your relationship with God, but don’t council Him, receive council from Him. Maybe God is calling you home and preparing you to transition to the spirit world. Maybe your body is developing antibodies to fight off a future infirmity. Accept that which you can’t control and attune with God’s purpose. Suffering is a small sacrifice in exchange for a relationship with the Master healer.
- Storms: The earth reflects the heavens and the heavens reflect the earth. If there is turmoil within, the storm will intensify. If you are at peace within, the storm will calm so refocus on the tree of life. Maybe you’ve been too busy to prioritize your relationship with God so refocus and sing praises to your King. Additionally, there is a purpose for every storm so trust in God’s wisdom and focus on gratitude for the storm. Open your heart and appreciate the power and majesty of God within this storm.
- Use your spiritual gifts to relate to the people in the city of Enoch and how their sacrifice will build New Jerusalem, aka the City of Light. Once you see the masterpiece God is designing, you’ll no longer fear the transformation.
- Conflict: Only God knows how to gently guide His children without offending them or being offended by them. Turn your cheek away from the battle and refocus on God before opening your mouth and you’ll avoid accidental pride or furthering conflict. If your heart was hurt, share the loaves and fishes as an act of forgiveness and part the sea to divide the tension so your heart can open. Then realign your focus back onto the tree of life. The solution resides within you, not in the convincing of others to change. If you’re focusing on God and they are focusing on you, both can be blessed by God’s light and love.
- Intentionally nourish your mind with evidence of God’s goodness from the scriptures or hymns of worship. Your focus will change you from the inside out and peaceful results will naturally follow in your life. One day, conflict won’t be a temptation and you’ll see God in every person you meet.
- Use your spiritual gifts to relate to a scripture story such as Nephi when his brothers were acting in opposition to God’s authority and learn how he was able to remain stable in his faith. Learn from Daniel or Joseph or Jonah or Jacob or Noah or anyone else in the scriptures at a point in time when you can relate to them. They struggled, but responded in such a way that miracles resulted.
- Rumors of War: conflict regarding politics brews heavily in the world. Do not trouble your hearts over the evil deeds of men, for there is only one who can reign and rule over the earth with perfection. There is only one true King who will bring peace. All shall be divided unto the builders of the Kingdom or the destroyers of the world. Your thoughts and deeds reflect your devotion to God or your condemnation. Use this time to strengthen your devotion and spiritually prepare for Christ to return. Remember the importance of ministering to others and share the blessings God offers you. You’ll be judged based on how you handle extreme situations so prepare your mind with a plan of action. See different events in your mind’s eye and ask God how to best represent Him. If someone threatens you with a gun, focus on God and follow the direction you receive:
- Maybe you’ll see the person behind the desperation and your heart will open with generosity. Maybe their child is on the brink of death and they’re desperate for food. If you’re blessed with food storage, share your food and God will multiply it so you have enough. Go the extra mile if that’s the direction God offers.
- Maybe he’s mentally compromised; schizophrenic, addicted and going through withdrawal or ran out of meds to manage their condition. They are still God’s children, but they might be dangerous so turn to God and create a game plan.
- Maybe he’s autistic and needs direction from a parental figure. Maybe he’s just scared and lacks problem solving skills or communication skills. When people are hungry and scared, they make poor choices. Serve the person and replace fear with love.
- Maybe they will shoot you or your loved one. However, when you choose love and God abides in you, then harmful acts won’t have power to kill you. Always glorify God’s name and invite them to turn back towards God.
Attuning to Grace
The eagle flies into a storm, to rise above the storm.
The mighty eagle doesn’t fear the storm, the eagle flies into the storm and uses the pressure above the wings to rise above the storm. There is a parable of Ezra’s Eagle in the apocrypha. In this parable, the eagle begins to pluck out its own feathers and the three heads destroy one another. There are layers of symbolism yet revealed: the three heads represent the spirit, mind and body. The feathers represent your traumatized memories that are often misunderstood to be causing your suffering. If there were two eagles facing each other; one is destroying itself, but the other has a choice to turn around and fly away so it can rise above the worldly ways of the destroying eagle.
The Lord hath said: “You are as an eagle, your wings produce feathers, each representing parts of your life. The feathers must remain a part of the eagle for the wings to offer flight. Thus, your thoughts are not simply to be tossed to the sea. You lack the ability to see the eagle when you focus on each feather or pluck out those that remain filthy. The filth is not restricting flight until you reject the feather, filth can be cleansed and the wing can take flight. You can be rescued by the Shepherd as you have been lost from God’s presence. Don’t you know the price has been paid? Death has been overcome and you can live! Your eyes have been closed and you cannot comprehend your own freedom. You are as a caged animal who has already been set free, yet the limitations of the mind keep you bound in a cage that once was, but is no more. The deceptive forces of the mind have kept you cursing the feathers in your own wings. Seeking to pluck out the very existence of your struggles, believing the lies that the existence of burdened feathers is keeping you bound to the seas like a fish in the water. When I say unto you, those feathers are beautiful before Me. Allow Me to cleanse your weaknesses so you may fly once more.”
God sees you as a whole person so He’s used your tribulations to exercise your wings. You develop the heart of Christ when you seek growth from tribulations, “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) Healing your wounds takes courage, compassion and commitment, but it also strengthens your wings to fly. Your strength is forged from trials and the person you choose to be. You may be bruised or clouds may block your light, but no part of you is broken or needs to be thrown away. Your “brokenness” is beautiful unto God and He can take all of your experiences and turn them into something good. “If the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:7) Your brokenness can be a vessel for God's beauty to shine through you. “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…for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)
The Lord hath said: “Quiet your thoughts to hear my voice speaking unto you as a father tenderly embraces his infant child. All that I reveal unto you shall magnify beyond your vain imaginations unto peace and equality with the children of God.” We are strong when we stand together, suffer together, and love one another. You are already whole and complete; light and love is already part of you as you are part of God. Honor God by trusting in His wisdom; obey His authority and reflect His attributes. Embrace tribulations with love, then the shadows of resistance have no power to restrict the Lord’s omnipotent hand of mercy. Harmonize with the moment of truth and mercy is yours for it shall all be overcome through the power of an all knowing God. Christ’s hand of mercy is extended to you and through His divine power and wisdom, all will be well. “Thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.” (Moses 4:2) All of creation is attuned with God and invites you to join this harmonious dance.
- Christ has scars that he could heal, yet he does not, nor does he suffer from the memory. Visualize standing outside the tomb and witness the resurrected Savior. Witness the marks in His hands and feet, these scars represent strength and hope and life. Touch His scars and feel the testament of the healing love of God. Surrender the pain you’ve been carrying at the Savior’s feet and embrace the feathers in your wings exactly as they are.
- Labels: The trials from your past have burdened your feathers by breaking or bending or collecting filth. This may manifest as a label, but it’s actually just a misunderstood scar. Allow the Savior to witness your burdened feathers just as He allowed you to witness His scars. Ask the Lord to touch your scars so His love may pass through them, shining light where there was once pain. Your scars allow His light to shine through you and that is true beauty!
- God’s light shines through your scars: Consecrate your traumas to God, to be used according to His will. Your scars can become symbols of hope to bless others. Thank God for your beautiful wings and know you’re the exact person you’re meant to be. Your scars are beautiful testaments of the plan of salvation and a reminder that you can withstand any storm with God. You are perfect exactly as you are, God loves you perfectly WITH your imperfections!
- Spread forth your wings and trust in the Lord thy God to be the wind beneath your wings: Do not fear the storms ahead; sacrifice complacency and embrace tribulations as they draw you nearer to God. The Lord hath said, “you have chosen to follow me, that is enough, I shall fulfill my mission and bring about my people through the storm and into the light of day, for its beauty shall fill thy light all the remaining days of mortality until you have become my masterpiece and shall transform before me.”
Appreciating the Shepherd
The Lord hath said: “I have given thee life and that is reason to celebrate.”
When gratitude is near impossible to bear, when dark skies are upon you, and when you are on the brink of death; know that gratitude is born within those humble enough to know they need God’s mercy and grace. You cannot appreciate God’s love unless you have lived one moment in the truth of your imprisonment. One who has suffered, can appreciate the joy of God’s goodness and feel compassion for others. God awaits those who are humble enough to receive His help.
My world changed the day I learned of my son’s Down Syndrome, little did I know this was the beginning of an amazing journey that would show me how to live. Down Syndrome is not a path we chose, it’s a gift we’ve been given. In God’s infinite wisdom, He offered us an angel whose mind is protected from evil and incapable of sin. In the few short years I’ve had with him, I’ve matured a hundred fold. I wake up every day grateful to hear him breathe, knowing I get to keep him one more day. He’s taught me how to love and laugh and enjoy every minute of life. He struggles with all the things we take for granted and we share tears over the frustrations inflicted on his innocent little body. We celebrate and rejoice when he overcomes challenges. His perfect innocence and joy is the light leading the way for our family.
In this world we cannot see God in His physical form, but we can feel God in His spiritual form. God’s spirit resides within all you behold, from your body to the earth and all of existence. Each component is carefully designed to sustain one another. You cannot see the air, but you can feel the wind move upon your skin. You cannot touch the sun, but you can feel warmth and see light from the sun. You cannot hold a rainbow, but you can enjoy the covenant God made with the artistic dance of colors. You cannot see God, but He is in the love you share with others. See God in your reflection, feel God in the wind, the earth and the waters. The creation of man is a testimony of God’s love and desire to share His glorious light, His fountain of living water and the breath of life! God’s light structures the living water within your body so the intelligence of living minerals can heal itself. The living waters and movement of energy combines with light to form a sacred geometry dynamic. The existence of life is divinely balanced, God created the magnificent self-sustaining cycle shared among the earth and its inhabitants. The sun is the center of creation, offering light unto the earth as a source of energy, gravity, light and heat. The friction of growth is the gravitational pull towards God’s light as the center of balance to sustain your life. The sun, earth, moon and stars: “all these are kingdoms and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.” (D&C 88:47) Nature is God’s handiwork for everybody to see Him everyday, even when they have no energy left to seek God.
God is love if you need Him to be love, because He is love, but He is not only love. The Creator is part of His Creations, but for those who seek the giver of the gift, not just the gift, He is also separate from His creations. God is the sun, He is the earth, He is the Moon, He is the stars, He is the rainbow and He is within you… He is more than you can comprehend or put into a box with a simple explanation. Our loving Father and Creator exists within all of His creations, but God is not just His creations anymore than you are just the children you bore. Your children are part of you as they are the embodiment of life, created from love. Their lives are intermingled with your life; their success is your purpose and a source of joy in your life. Our Creator is and always will be, our loving Father. God is the energy in the universe and the life within creation, but He is more than the energy and life sustaining His creations. Each is complete and enough, but they are just pieces of a whole. Together they form the magnificence of God that is too powerful for any one to conceive all together. You cannot behold His glory, but as you become one with Him, He joyfully shares what you can handle by manifesting unto thy spirit prior to the flesh as everything begins in the spirit prior to natural occurrence. “For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy. The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God.” (D&C 93:33-35)
His spirit is in all that He’s created, for this reason we rejoice in His creations as they reflect our Father and the power of His love! Stand in awe and marvel at the glorious works of God’s goodness. Thank the Lord for all His goodness and you’ll feel respect and reverence for the glory in which we behold God while in this world. This awareness creates appreciation and “knowing” with surety of God’s redeeming love for you. When you marvel at His goodness, you’ll also fear dishonoring God with mortal corruption and thus willing to sacrifice anything that interferes with the companionship of God’s Holy Spirit. This is what it means to fear God, born through respect for God’s wisdom and acting in harmony with God’s will.
This step is meant to help you feel the blessings of God, not just worldly blessings, but the ultimate gift of God’s love being offered through the Savior. Prayerfully express appreciation for all manner of blessings, in the way that feels best to you:
My world changed the day I learned of my son’s Down Syndrome, little did I know this was the beginning of an amazing journey that would show me how to live. Down Syndrome is not a path we chose, it’s a gift we’ve been given. In God’s infinite wisdom, He offered us an angel whose mind is protected from evil and incapable of sin. In the few short years I’ve had with him, I’ve matured a hundred fold. I wake up every day grateful to hear him breathe, knowing I get to keep him one more day. He’s taught me how to love and laugh and enjoy every minute of life. He struggles with all the things we take for granted and we share tears over the frustrations inflicted on his innocent little body. We celebrate and rejoice when he overcomes challenges. His perfect innocence and joy is the light leading the way for our family.
In this world we cannot see God in His physical form, but we can feel God in His spiritual form. God’s spirit resides within all you behold, from your body to the earth and all of existence. Each component is carefully designed to sustain one another. You cannot see the air, but you can feel the wind move upon your skin. You cannot touch the sun, but you can feel warmth and see light from the sun. You cannot hold a rainbow, but you can enjoy the covenant God made with the artistic dance of colors. You cannot see God, but He is in the love you share with others. See God in your reflection, feel God in the wind, the earth and the waters. The creation of man is a testimony of God’s love and desire to share His glorious light, His fountain of living water and the breath of life! God’s light structures the living water within your body so the intelligence of living minerals can heal itself. The living waters and movement of energy combines with light to form a sacred geometry dynamic. The existence of life is divinely balanced, God created the magnificent self-sustaining cycle shared among the earth and its inhabitants. The sun is the center of creation, offering light unto the earth as a source of energy, gravity, light and heat. The friction of growth is the gravitational pull towards God’s light as the center of balance to sustain your life. The sun, earth, moon and stars: “all these are kingdoms and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.” (D&C 88:47) Nature is God’s handiwork for everybody to see Him everyday, even when they have no energy left to seek God.
God is love if you need Him to be love, because He is love, but He is not only love. The Creator is part of His Creations, but for those who seek the giver of the gift, not just the gift, He is also separate from His creations. God is the sun, He is the earth, He is the Moon, He is the stars, He is the rainbow and He is within you… He is more than you can comprehend or put into a box with a simple explanation. Our loving Father and Creator exists within all of His creations, but God is not just His creations anymore than you are just the children you bore. Your children are part of you as they are the embodiment of life, created from love. Their lives are intermingled with your life; their success is your purpose and a source of joy in your life. Our Creator is and always will be, our loving Father. God is the energy in the universe and the life within creation, but He is more than the energy and life sustaining His creations. Each is complete and enough, but they are just pieces of a whole. Together they form the magnificence of God that is too powerful for any one to conceive all together. You cannot behold His glory, but as you become one with Him, He joyfully shares what you can handle by manifesting unto thy spirit prior to the flesh as everything begins in the spirit prior to natural occurrence. “For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy. The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God.” (D&C 93:33-35)
His spirit is in all that He’s created, for this reason we rejoice in His creations as they reflect our Father and the power of His love! Stand in awe and marvel at the glorious works of God’s goodness. Thank the Lord for all His goodness and you’ll feel respect and reverence for the glory in which we behold God while in this world. This awareness creates appreciation and “knowing” with surety of God’s redeeming love for you. When you marvel at His goodness, you’ll also fear dishonoring God with mortal corruption and thus willing to sacrifice anything that interferes with the companionship of God’s Holy Spirit. This is what it means to fear God, born through respect for God’s wisdom and acting in harmony with God’s will.
This step is meant to help you feel the blessings of God, not just worldly blessings, but the ultimate gift of God’s love being offered through the Savior. Prayerfully express appreciation for all manner of blessings, in the way that feels best to you:
- I’m grateful God loves me: Christ inspires with His light and love to remind you of who you are in the eyes of God. As you focus on Christ, His light and love is reflected to shine through you. “Thank you for loving me, suffering with me and helping me find my way back home. Thank you for understanding me when nobody else does. I’m so grateful for all I have, all that I have learned, all I have overcome, all the strength I have acquired, and the compassion I have developed. Thank you for your patience with me. Lord, I will follow thee.”
- Count Your Blessings: Focus on the beauty of creation, rather than the evils of the world. Life is a blessing from God; step outside and feel the wind kiss your face with God’s love. Hear the birds singing of God’s love as they soar through the heavens. Feel the warmth of the sun in the sky, shining God’s glorious light. Rejoice in seeing blossoming flowers sustained by their faith in God and sharing His breath of life. Feel the breath as it enters your lungs and your heart fills with love for God. Heaven is all around you. Prayerfully submit your heart and feel His love offered to you everyday as you stand in awe for God’s love is worth surrendering everything to receive. Rejoice, for His will is to offer you eternal life. Fall to your knees and appreciate all these gifts and thank the Lord. Celebrate for He has given you life!
- Feel His Peace: Offer Christ the burdens you are carrying. Honor Him by letting Him suffer with you and for you. Offer gratitude for the Savior’s sacrifice and you will feel safety opening your heart to receive His LOVE! His love is perfect and unconditional, creating a sense of safety; there is no force, His love is simply being offered.
- God’s will: You’re formed from the dust of the earth and the breath of life, both of which obey God’s command. Seek God’s will and attune with His will, then trust that He will provide and direct your paths. Allow the evidence of God’s miracles to strengthen your faith in God.
Aligning in Wisdom
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” (C.S. Lewis)
Throughout scripture, many people misunderstood the kingdom of God, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 18:20-21) This means that you don’t just observe and reflect God’s goodness, but you change from within to become God’s temple. Your transformation is not a series of steps you must take perfectly, it’s a reflection of your inward focus. One who is aligning with God’s wisdom shall behold all that is of God within thyself as thine eyes look towards the Glory of God. Therefore, inner light reflects outward to transform your external reality to reflect your internal reality. So don’t just sit around and wait for the second coming because you must first awaken from your slumbers as a conscious participant in the co-creation of the Kingdom within you first. The Kingdom will manifest naturally upon the earth AFTER it resides naturally within you. Be steady in your efforts and over time you’ll see that God is quickening your transformation so you can reside in His Kingdom on earth.
The blindness of greed is a quick pitfall for those who seek results, rather than those who create a lifestyle transformation. “Blindness came by looking beyond the mark.” (Jacob 4:14) A seed grows steadily each day, not all at once. So shall you when you trust the Gardener to do His job. Excitement can motivate, but it can also blind. Blindness is a term coined to inhibit light by omission. Do not expect more than is offered or run faster than you have strength and you will reach the finish line. Let’s learn how to avoid tripping in ignorant blindness and align with God’s wisdom so we can succeed together.
God sanctified the 7th day of creation therein all His creations are prepared to inherit celestial glory. The world is currently transitioning into a terrestrial degree of glory. The Kingdoms of Glory can be likened to a shopping mall. The basement is outer darkness and absent of God’s light. The first floor is telestial glory, where we currently reside with the misleading promises of temporal glory which casts a shadow of forgetfulness over the remembrance of God’s glory. The second floor is terrestrial glory, where Jesus Christ resides. The third floor is celestial glory, where God the Father resides and His light cascades through the whole mall. Living the gospel is the stairway, but reaching the second floor and residing there requires obedience to the governing laws within both the telestial and terrestrial degrees of glory. Rise above the darkness by following the covenant path and no more will the darkness have power to tempt you.
D&C 88, explains how we receive a higher degree of glory by living the higher law upon that degree. Therefore, if we seek reunification with Christ in His Kingdom on the earth, we must live the governing laws of the terrestrial degree of glory. Our bodies reflect the mind, therefore the degree of glory we maintain within our thoughts is the degree of glory we reside within, here on earth. “They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened.” (D&C 88:28) We elevate with knowledge of God’s light and truth. Here’s the pattern in D&C 93: Christ received grace when He offered grace, but He didn’t receive the fullness right away; light must grow and multiply. Christ continued this climb with one grace exchange to the next grace exchange, until He received the fullness of the glory of the Father, which is truth and light. “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come. He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.” (D&C 93:36, 24, 28)
We are promised the same fullness when we follow the path Christ laid and live the gospel. The stepping stones of commandments offer a surety of passageway through the strait gate. The covenantal promise is that if we obey His laws, He is able to bless us. The 5 guidelines to begin this transformation are the 5 sections of this manual: have faith in God’s will and live the law of obedience, repent and live the law of sacrifice, come unto Christ and live the gospel of Jesus Christ, keep the commandments and live within the chastity of that restored purity, lastly, consecrate yourself in unification with Christ to become His temple and follow the direction of the spirit to fulfill the Father’s will. The Lord hath said: “My children, know of my love for it shall become your guide as my mercy is upon thee and my way is that of everlasting life, for I shall lead the way through your dark paths and into my light paths. My justice is swift and my mercy is tender, for you shall overcome the nature of your suffering and quickly become acquainted with eternal joy.” Christ has laid the pathway, every step building on the last, until complete salvation is brought to pass.
In this sacred garden of life, all are part of one divine family; nurturing, uplifting, and growing together by grace. We each have a very important role to fulfill in order to reach the measure of our creation. We didn’t get here alone, nor will we succeed alone. You’re completely capable of reaching your potential if you let go of control, accept growth, cooperate and align with God’s plan. Your calling is not a challenge you still need to figure out, nor is it a riddle. It’s much more attainable than you realize. The Lord’s sheep serve one another as they wait for Christ to return. The person you’ve become is the exact person God needs you to be because your sacred calling draws upon your individual experiences in life. God seeks out the lost and He ministers to the wounded. Consecrate your wounds to be used as a symbol of hope to help others find their way back to God. We are preparing for a glorious time in history, God desires all His children to love one another and rebuild His Kingdom on earth. In order to fulfill your calling, you need to develop your relationship with God and attune your ears to hear Him. Offer grace and you’ll receive grace to climb onward and upward towards God.
The blindness of greed is a quick pitfall for those who seek results, rather than those who create a lifestyle transformation. “Blindness came by looking beyond the mark.” (Jacob 4:14) A seed grows steadily each day, not all at once. So shall you when you trust the Gardener to do His job. Excitement can motivate, but it can also blind. Blindness is a term coined to inhibit light by omission. Do not expect more than is offered or run faster than you have strength and you will reach the finish line. Let’s learn how to avoid tripping in ignorant blindness and align with God’s wisdom so we can succeed together.
God sanctified the 7th day of creation therein all His creations are prepared to inherit celestial glory. The world is currently transitioning into a terrestrial degree of glory. The Kingdoms of Glory can be likened to a shopping mall. The basement is outer darkness and absent of God’s light. The first floor is telestial glory, where we currently reside with the misleading promises of temporal glory which casts a shadow of forgetfulness over the remembrance of God’s glory. The second floor is terrestrial glory, where Jesus Christ resides. The third floor is celestial glory, where God the Father resides and His light cascades through the whole mall. Living the gospel is the stairway, but reaching the second floor and residing there requires obedience to the governing laws within both the telestial and terrestrial degrees of glory. Rise above the darkness by following the covenant path and no more will the darkness have power to tempt you.
D&C 88, explains how we receive a higher degree of glory by living the higher law upon that degree. Therefore, if we seek reunification with Christ in His Kingdom on the earth, we must live the governing laws of the terrestrial degree of glory. Our bodies reflect the mind, therefore the degree of glory we maintain within our thoughts is the degree of glory we reside within, here on earth. “They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened.” (D&C 88:28) We elevate with knowledge of God’s light and truth. Here’s the pattern in D&C 93: Christ received grace when He offered grace, but He didn’t receive the fullness right away; light must grow and multiply. Christ continued this climb with one grace exchange to the next grace exchange, until He received the fullness of the glory of the Father, which is truth and light. “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come. He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.” (D&C 93:36, 24, 28)
We are promised the same fullness when we follow the path Christ laid and live the gospel. The stepping stones of commandments offer a surety of passageway through the strait gate. The covenantal promise is that if we obey His laws, He is able to bless us. The 5 guidelines to begin this transformation are the 5 sections of this manual: have faith in God’s will and live the law of obedience, repent and live the law of sacrifice, come unto Christ and live the gospel of Jesus Christ, keep the commandments and live within the chastity of that restored purity, lastly, consecrate yourself in unification with Christ to become His temple and follow the direction of the spirit to fulfill the Father’s will. The Lord hath said: “My children, know of my love for it shall become your guide as my mercy is upon thee and my way is that of everlasting life, for I shall lead the way through your dark paths and into my light paths. My justice is swift and my mercy is tender, for you shall overcome the nature of your suffering and quickly become acquainted with eternal joy.” Christ has laid the pathway, every step building on the last, until complete salvation is brought to pass.
In this sacred garden of life, all are part of one divine family; nurturing, uplifting, and growing together by grace. We each have a very important role to fulfill in order to reach the measure of our creation. We didn’t get here alone, nor will we succeed alone. You’re completely capable of reaching your potential if you let go of control, accept growth, cooperate and align with God’s plan. Your calling is not a challenge you still need to figure out, nor is it a riddle. It’s much more attainable than you realize. The Lord’s sheep serve one another as they wait for Christ to return. The person you’ve become is the exact person God needs you to be because your sacred calling draws upon your individual experiences in life. God seeks out the lost and He ministers to the wounded. Consecrate your wounds to be used as a symbol of hope to help others find their way back to God. We are preparing for a glorious time in history, God desires all His children to love one another and rebuild His Kingdom on earth. In order to fulfill your calling, you need to develop your relationship with God and attune your ears to hear Him. Offer grace and you’ll receive grace to climb onward and upward towards God.
- Grace for grace: you have an opportunity to respond immediately to adversity with love and grace. Every time you are faced with adversity, look for ways to increase the power of love and forgiveness within your heart. Offer grace and continue offering grace unceasingly. God will offer you grace as you offer others grace. With each experience your heart will expand and your soul will continue transforming until your countenance reflects the Savior.
- When the wine press of life intensifies your afflictions, offer grace through prayer on behalf of your enemies. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
- Repent with purpose: It’s easy to run too fast, walk too slow, become distracted or lose hope. Every time you lose your way, quickly regain your footing through repentance, prayer and scripture study. Christ suffered for you. He bore all your sins and infirmities so His life could blossom within you. If you believe He loves you and can do this for you, then let Him. Gently surrender to the Lord’s omnipotent power:
- Surrender your doubt at the altar and offer your devotion to the Lord.
- Surrender your fear at the altar and offer your faith to the Lord by walking the covenant path.
- Surrender your anxiety at the altar and receive His peace through His word.
- Surrender your suffering at the altar and receive His healing through justice and mercy.
- Surrender your sins at the altar and receive His forgiveness through the atonement.
- Surrender your shortcomings at the altar and receive His name upon your forehead as you’re His.
- Purity: Christ wears a robe of red so you may wear His robes of white. Close your eyes and accept this gift through prayer. You are as clean as snow because His love for you is perfect. He will walk with you and fulfill His promises if you will walk the path onward and upward with His light as your guide. God designed your journey to strengthen your roots so that your transformation will bear the natural fruit of the tree of life.
- Surrender to His wisdom and follow His ways.
- Surrender to His love and share His light.
- Surrender to His image and receive His purity.
- Surrender to His power and receive His life.
Reunion at the Marriage Feast
God is orchestrating the restoration of your relationship with Him.
We began this life as inexperienced virgins, but we are completing this life as wise and redeemed virgins. Those who are “wise” with obedience to God's wisdom can be redeemed through the atonement to behold Christ who is the anointed one. Immanuel is the restored light of purity leading the way for those seeking His light. Rejoice when you receive the anointed oil within your vessel as the light of God shines freely on the mountaintops and within your home, offering light to the whole house while singing praises of God’s divine love. The spirit of God is like a flame that burns away iniquity to restore purity so you may become as pure as a virgin. The wise virgins value their restored purity because they know Christ takes their place on the cross when they sin. Therefore, they seek to remain chaste in their purity so Christ can LIVE within them. This purity has been likened unto a wise virgin who is free of worldly corruption and ready to unite with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, as the Bridegroom.
The wise virgin is pure of heart and doesn’t slumber while waiting to be united with Christ, but actively multiplies the fruits of their labors by serving one another. The wise virgins know they must be transformed through acts of charity to bear the heart and mind of Christ. They also know we represent the body of Christ when we unite with one another, excluding all dividing lines. The wise virgins are the Shepherd’s sheep and they are patiently waiting to hear the angels sound the trumpets in celebration of the marriage union with Christ as the Bridegroom. As she waits, she is the Lord’s vessel to do good unto all mankind.
We are counseled as the Lord’s sheep to minister to the widows and fatherless in their affliction: those without the companionship of Christ as the Bridegroom or the light of the Father as a guide. To abide the day of the Lord’s return; follow God’s wisdom and actively prepare to unify with the Savior. The angels will open your eyes when you’re ready to become the Lord’s temple, then God’s light can shine within your vessel. God’s light burns eternally as a song testifying of God’s love unto all the earth. Shine your light on the mountaintop for all to see and testify of His redeeming love. The purity of God’s light cleaveth unto light and multiplies until that exceedingly BRIGHT day of the Lord’s return. The Lord will return unto all the earth and those already unified in marriage with Christ, shall also behold His coming here on the earth to dwell as our King.
The Lamb’s book of life contains the name of every person who has received the Lord, as a bride receives her husband. The Lord forgives each of us and remembers our sins no more IF we can forget the sins of one another. Your marriage is foreordained in preparation for receiving all the Father hath to bestow upon you. Show your love for God in your marriage bonds. Open your heart and mind to the Lord so you can see your spouse through God’s eyes. Focus your thoughts on the Lord and your companion will feel safe in opening their heart to you. Serve the Lord by sharing love with your spouse and patiently support them in the same manner the Lord has supported you. Open your mouth and share your renewed testimony both verbally and spiritually. Allow the Lord to work through you to soften your companion’s heart to receive the Lord’s message. You can become a bridge for the Lord to enter your home through your marriage to bless your entire family. All the joy you feel can be shared with your spouse when you open your heart and choose love. Partners sealed in the sacred bonds of marriage may assist one another to improve rather than criticizing obvious imperfections. Allow progression to release your spouse from the past so they may progress and then you may unite without interference. Your love will renew for your companion and for the Lord as your book of life is cleansed and dedicated to Immanuel.
The Lord’s timing is perfect and He will prepare you for the marriage feast for the Savior’s return if you are willing to take each step at the pace He provides. Offer the Lord your effort; repent, keep the commandments and commit your whole self to God. Consecrate your life to the Lord, allowing yourself to be used as a vessel for God to bless His children and gather Israel, then the Lord may abide within you to work mighty miracles.
The wise virgin is pure of heart and doesn’t slumber while waiting to be united with Christ, but actively multiplies the fruits of their labors by serving one another. The wise virgins know they must be transformed through acts of charity to bear the heart and mind of Christ. They also know we represent the body of Christ when we unite with one another, excluding all dividing lines. The wise virgins are the Shepherd’s sheep and they are patiently waiting to hear the angels sound the trumpets in celebration of the marriage union with Christ as the Bridegroom. As she waits, she is the Lord’s vessel to do good unto all mankind.
We are counseled as the Lord’s sheep to minister to the widows and fatherless in their affliction: those without the companionship of Christ as the Bridegroom or the light of the Father as a guide. To abide the day of the Lord’s return; follow God’s wisdom and actively prepare to unify with the Savior. The angels will open your eyes when you’re ready to become the Lord’s temple, then God’s light can shine within your vessel. God’s light burns eternally as a song testifying of God’s love unto all the earth. Shine your light on the mountaintop for all to see and testify of His redeeming love. The purity of God’s light cleaveth unto light and multiplies until that exceedingly BRIGHT day of the Lord’s return. The Lord will return unto all the earth and those already unified in marriage with Christ, shall also behold His coming here on the earth to dwell as our King.
The Lamb’s book of life contains the name of every person who has received the Lord, as a bride receives her husband. The Lord forgives each of us and remembers our sins no more IF we can forget the sins of one another. Your marriage is foreordained in preparation for receiving all the Father hath to bestow upon you. Show your love for God in your marriage bonds. Open your heart and mind to the Lord so you can see your spouse through God’s eyes. Focus your thoughts on the Lord and your companion will feel safe in opening their heart to you. Serve the Lord by sharing love with your spouse and patiently support them in the same manner the Lord has supported you. Open your mouth and share your renewed testimony both verbally and spiritually. Allow the Lord to work through you to soften your companion’s heart to receive the Lord’s message. You can become a bridge for the Lord to enter your home through your marriage to bless your entire family. All the joy you feel can be shared with your spouse when you open your heart and choose love. Partners sealed in the sacred bonds of marriage may assist one another to improve rather than criticizing obvious imperfections. Allow progression to release your spouse from the past so they may progress and then you may unite without interference. Your love will renew for your companion and for the Lord as your book of life is cleansed and dedicated to Immanuel.
The Lord’s timing is perfect and He will prepare you for the marriage feast for the Savior’s return if you are willing to take each step at the pace He provides. Offer the Lord your effort; repent, keep the commandments and commit your whole self to God. Consecrate your life to the Lord, allowing yourself to be used as a vessel for God to bless His children and gather Israel, then the Lord may abide within you to work mighty miracles.
- Book of Life review: The book of your life contains multitudes where every event and every person you’ve met, is contained in the recesses of your mind. Many are held like still freeze frames that have yet to receive progression, as though your life is stuck on pause in multiple moments throughout time. God offers a life review as a merciful judge seeking to be the peacemaker within your mind. As your mind begins to review memories, allow each memory to be awakened with the Savior as your host.
- Wisdom: is received through dedicated scripture study and personal revelation. Fill your mind with prayer and scripture. See yourself as a virgin who is no longer ignorant, but wise from experience. Always focus on the Lord as He is the tree of life. You reflect whatever has your focus so His countenance can become your image. Manifest your commitment to God by sharing the fruit from the tree of life through your daily labors and feed the Lord’s lost sheep.
- Light: God abides by law and offers mercy to those walking the path in faith. When you abide by His law, then His blessings are assured. The light of Christ will grow within you as you seek to increase your knowledge of God. Help those around you with gentle encouragement received through the Spirit’s direction and shine your light for others. Follow God’s light and your light will increase. Once your light shines brightly for all to see, then you will no longer abide in the dark night of the 6th day, but the light of the 7th day of rest with the Lord.
- The fruits of your labors: A good man doesn’t produce rotten fruit and likewise a deceived man cannot produce good fruit. Your deeds reflect your heart’s true desire and the will of the Father as you are His work and glory. The Lord hath said, “For love thou art and love is complete joy within thy soul. Ye shall awake and arise when love is found within and all around.”
- Marriage: Offer love to thy spouse, but contend not when they contend against thee. The keeper of your heart is the creator of your deeds. The change happens not without thy being, but within. Thou art made in the heavens, know ye not that the heavens are within ye? Thy home is built upon the rock of your foundation with the Lord. Therefore, thy family shall become thy greatest joy when God hath thy heart. Peace be within you and peace shall abound throughout thy family until the great day of your eternal salvation as a family of God. Teach these things to thy children and thy spouse and ye shall be redeemed as an eternal family unit. Study the words of the Lord together and ye shall feel His Spirit purify the home as His holy temple.
- Neighbors: Follow the admonition of Paul and allow His love to flow from your hands as you offer good deeds unto thy neighbors, both thine accusers and thy friends. Feed the hungry and offer tender mercy to the sick or otherwise afflicted. Keep thy hands clean and thy virtue harmonious unto God’s good grace as thy heart shall dwell within thy deeds and soften the afflicted. Charity has its place to oppose thy enemy and quench distrust by the power of the Holy Ghost. Allow not thy fear to interfere with the workmanship of the Lord thy God as all are His merciful truths. How much do thou love thy child and desire good tidings upon their heads? This same shall the Father desire for all His children as He doth bestow His children unto you for safekeeping. Doth thou doubt that He hath love for thy children and thy neighbors alike? Doth hate reside for thy brother and still ye desire to hath the love of God within thy heart? Nay, ye shall only hath love as God the Father hath only love for His children, hate hath no place in His heart, but only chastisement for wickedness. The sinner is not the sin, but a separate entity from the workmanship of His hands. Clean thy hands and offer the same to thy enemy and this shall ye find is good in His sight.
- Marriage: Offer love to thy spouse, but contend not when they contend against thee. The keeper of your heart is the creator of your deeds. The change happens not without thy being, but within. Thou art made in the heavens, know ye not that the heavens are within ye? Thy home is built upon the rock of your foundation with the Lord. Therefore, thy family shall become thy greatest joy when God hath thy heart. Peace be within you and peace shall abound throughout thy family until the great day of your eternal salvation as a family of God. Teach these things to thy children and thy spouse and ye shall be redeemed as an eternal family unit. Study the words of the Lord together and ye shall feel His Spirit purify the home as His holy temple.
Rejoice in your Chastity with the Savior
God is the light, you are the lantern and holy is the temple that beholds the Spirit of God.
The Lord hath said, “The end draweth nigh, the clock has rung its last chime. Awake and rise, for this is the time to come forth from the shadows and walk once again. Come forth all ye who are ready, to witness the Lord thy God upon the fallen hearts of man, to preach repentance and lead all ye into an eternal land. All ye that behold my glory, have inherited a promise eternal, that ye shall not fail, nor shall ye falter when the time has come to bring forth my Lamb. I shall bless thee forevermore as thy heart has turned towards Me and thus seeks to bring forth all those willing to hear the voice of thy Creator. My voice shall boom within the quaking of the earth. My voice shall ring among the stars in the sky. My voice shall cause deep rumblings upon the sinful hearts to bear witness, that it is he who shall hear my voice and quake forevermore. Know, ye are my child and I have led you by the hand unto the great and terrible day for mankind to bear witness of My coming. Bring forth your knowledge of His love and come unto me, I shall lead the way and prepare you for that day. Sinful ways shall pass away and light and truth shall be the only presence within thee. This day is upon us all and I am the almighty who can overcome the world. This too shall bring glory, as glory beheld my righteousness, and righteousness shall behold my glory. And unto this I leave my departing words; truth shall see for the blind, honesty shall walk for the crippled, death shall bring cleanliness to the departed, and for those called to prepare the earth; I shall walk with thee and guide the way. For my way, is the only way that shall bring forth the Resurrected Savior to guide the world into salvation and a new era that is destined for those who believe in Him. For thy world shall become the Kingdom of God and the earth shall be glorified. Ye shall become like unto her and she shall become like unto you and both these shall become like unto me, for I am He. Know ye not this is true. Truth is my light on the path as you find your strength that ye shall never be lost again. This I promise you and this I leave with you. In His holy name amen.”
