Day 14 -What is the pure love of Christ?

These past 14 days have I felt a greater love for my Savior? Have I felt his loveCan I commit to live each day as he would?

Scriptures to read: Moroni: 7:40-48

His Hands

His hands... Tools of creation... Stronger than nations Power without end.... And yet through them... We find our truest friend.
His hands... Sermons of kindness...Healing men's blindness Halting years of pain... Children waiting... To be held again. His hands would serve His whole life through Showing man what hands might do Giving, ever giving endlessly
Each day was filled with selflessness And I'll not rest ... Til I make of my hands what they could be Like the ones from Galilee.
His hands...Warming a beggar... Lifting a leper Calling back the dead... Breaking bread... Five thousand fed. His hands... Hushing contention... Pointing to Heaven Ever free of sin... Then bidding man to follow Him
They take his hands... His mighty hands... Those gentle hands And then they pierce them... They pierce them He lets them because of love From birth to death... Was selflessness
And clearly now... I see Him with His hands calling to me And though I'm not yet how I could be I will make my hands like those from Galilee.
(Words take n from the song "His Hands")

Day 14 -What is the pure love of Christ?

These past 14 days have I felt a greater love for my Savior? Have I felt his loveCan I commit to live each day as he would?

Scriptures to read: Moroni: 7:40-48

His Hands

His hands... Tools of creation... Stronger than nations Power without end.... And yet through them... We find our truest friend.
His hands... Sermons of kindness...Healing men's blindness Halting years of pain... Children waiting... To be held again. His hands would serve His whole life through Showing man what hands might do Giving, ever giving endlessly
Each day was filled with selflessness And I'll not rest ... Til I make of my hands what they could be Like the ones from Galilee.
His hands...Warming a beggar... Lifting a leper Calling back the dead... Breaking bread... Five thousand fed. His hands... Hushing contention... Pointing to Heaven Ever free of sin... Then bidding man to follow Him
They take his hands... His mighty hands... Those gentle hands And then they pierce them... They pierce them He lets them because of love From birth to death... Was selflessness
And clearly now... I see Him with His hands calling to me And though I'm not yet how I could be I will make my hands like those from Galilee.
(Words take n from the song "His Hands")

Day 13 - Obtain Knowledge-Seek learning even by study and also by faith.

How can the Holy Ghost help me to know the truth?

D&C 88:118

And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
How can I gain a knowledge of Jesus Christ? Do I take the time to read my scriptures each day? Do I take the time to pray AND listen for the answers? In all my decisions today will I ask, "What would Christ do?"


I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;

And by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive (D&C 11:11-14; emphasis added).

Partial talk: Richard G. Scott, Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86

President Ezra Taft Benson emphasized the importance of spiritual knowledge, saying:

We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit. The most important [thing] you can do is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. Learn the doctrine. Master the principles.
You must see that searching the scriptures is not a burden laid upon [us] by the Lord, but a marvelous blessing and opportunity (Ensign, Nov. 1986, p. 47).

President Spencer W. Kimball commented:

Spiritual learning takes precedence. The secular without the foundation of the spiritual is like the foam upon the milk, the fleeting shadow. One need not choose between the two for there is opportunity to get both simultaneous (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 390).

As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles. Carefully separate them from the detail used to explain them. Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances. A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and compelling circumstances. It is worth great effort to organize the truth we gather to simple statements of principle. I have tried to do that with gaining spiritual knowledge. The result is now shared in hope that it will be a beginning place for your study. That statement of principle is:

To acquire spiritual knowledge and to obey it with wisdom, one must:
In humility, seek divine light.
Exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
Hearken to His counsel.
Keep His commandments.
As spiritual knowledge unfolds, it must be understood, valued, obeyed, remembered, and expanded.

The following scriptures teach why we should seek divine light.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105; emphasis added).
I, the Lord, will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words (2 Ne. 10:14; emphasis added).
It is I that speak; I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee.
Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good, yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

Analogies with physical light help us understand the power of spiritual light. A bulb ignited in a dark room overpowers darkness. Yet if the darkness is too intense, it can overpower light, as with a bulb plunged into a bucket of black ink. Spiritual light overcomes the darkness of ignorance and disbelief. When transgression severely clouds a life, the focused spiritual truths of repentance cut the blackness as a laser penetrates the darkest ink.

Day 12 - A Great Attitude- Look for the Positive in all Things

Do I see myself and others as Heavenly Father sees us? Do my thoughts and actions affect my attitude? Am I living my life so that those who know me but don't know the Savior will want to know Him? Will I be touched by the Master's Hand as I live my life?

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The Touch of the Master's Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while To waste his time on the old violin, But he held it up with a smile. "What am I bid, good friends?" He cried. "Who'll start the bidding for me? One dollar! Only one? And who will make it two? Two dollars, once. And Three! Three dollars, once. And three dollars, twice. And going, and going," but no...

From the back of the room a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow. And wiping the dust from the old violin, And tightening the loose strings, He played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angels sing. The music ceased, and the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and low, Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?" As he held up the bow. "One thousand dollars, and who'll make it two. Two thousand dollars, and three! Three thousand, once. And three thousand, twice. And going, and going, and gone!" said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We don't quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply. "Twas the touch of the master's hand." And many a man with life out of tune and battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like this old violin. A mess of pottage, a glass of wine. A game and he travels on. He's going once, and going twice. And going, and almost gone. But the Master comes, and the thoughtless crowd never can quite understand The worth of a soul, and the change that is wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

Day 11 - Good Works

Alma 41:3 - And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.

Do I possess Christ-like qualities of patience, brotherly kindness, and charity? What can I do to better develop those qualities within myself? Am I willing to give up things of the world in order to receive His good gifts?

Do something to lift another today.

Margaret D. Nadauld, “The Joy of Womanhood,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 14–16

I am inspired by the lives of good and faithful women. From the beginning of time the Lord has placed significant trust in them. He has sent us to earth for such a time as this to perform a grand and glorious mission. The Doctrine and Covenants teaches, “Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men” (D&C 138:56). What a wonderful vision that gives us of our purpose on earth.
Where much is given, much is required. Our Heavenly Father asks His daughters to walk in virtue, to live in righteousness so that we can fulfill our life’s mission and His purposes. He wants us to be successful, and He will help us as we seek His help.

That women were born into this earth female was determined long before mortal birth, as were the divine differences of male and female. I love the clarity of the teachings of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve in the proclamation on the family, where they state, “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” 1 From that statement we are taught that every girl was feminine and female in spirit long before her mortal birth.

God sent women to earth with some qualities in extra capacity. In speaking to young women, President Faust observed that femininity “is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your … capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each … possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.”

Our outward appearance is a reflection of what we are on the inside. Our lives reflect that for which we seek. And if with all our hearts we truly seek to know the Savior and to be more like Him, we shall be, for He is our divine, eternal Brother. But He is more than that. He is our precious Savior, our dear Redeemer. We ask with Alma of old, “Have ye received his image in your countenances?” (Alma 5:14).

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their outward appearance. These women understand their stewardship over their bodies and treat them with dignity. They care for their bodies as they would a holy temple, for they understand the Lord’s teaching:

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16).

Women who love God would never abuse or deface a temple with graffiti. Nor would they throw open the doors of that holy, dedicated edifice and invite the world to look on. How even more sacred is the body, for it was not made by man. It was formed by God. We are the stewards, the keepers of the cleanliness and purity with which it came from heaven. “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor. 3:17).

Grateful daughters of God guard their bodies carefully, for they know they are the wellspring of life and they reverence life. They don’t uncover their bodies to find favor with the world. They walk in modesty to be in favor with their Father in Heaven. For they know He loves them dearly.
You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their attitude. They know that the errand of angels is given to women, and they desire to be on God’s errand to love His children and minister to them, to teach them the doctrines of salvation, to call them to repentance, to save them in perilous circumstances, to guide them in the performance of His work, to deliver His messages. 3 They understand that they can bless their Father’s children in their homes and neighborhoods and beyond. Women who are grateful to be daughters of God bring glory to His name.

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their abilities. They fulfill their divine potential and magnify their God-given gifts. They are capable, strong women who bless families, serve others, and understand that “the glory of God is intelligence” (D&C 93:36). They are women who embrace enduring virtues in order to be all that our Father needs them to be. The prophet Jacob spoke of some of those virtues when he said their “feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God” (Jacob 2:7).

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their reverence for motherhood, even when that blessing has been withheld from them for a time. In those circumstances, their righteous influence can be a blessing in the lives of children they love. Their exemplary teachings can echo the voice of a faithful home and resonate truth in the hearts of children who need another witness.

Grateful daughters of God love Him and teach their children to love Him without reservation and without resentment. They are like the mothers of Helaman’s youthful army, who had such great faith and “had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them” (Alma 56:47).

When you observe kind and gentle mothers in action, you see women of great strength. Their families can feel a spirit of love and respect and safety when they are near her as she seeks the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the guidance of His Spirit. They are blessed by her wisdom and good judgment. The husbands and children, whose lives they bless, will contribute to the stability of societies all over this world. Grateful daughters of God learn truths from their mothers and grandmothers and aunts. They teach their daughters the joyful art of creating a home. They seek fine educations for their children and have a thirst for knowledge themselves. They help their children develop skills that they can use in serving others. They know that the way they have chosen is not the easy way, but they know it is absolutely worth their finest efforts.
They understand what Elder Neal A. Maxwell meant when he said: “When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?” 4

Daughters of God know that it is the nurturing nature of women that can bring everlasting blessings, and they live to cultivate this divine attribute. Surely when a woman reverences motherhood, her children will arise up and call her blessed (see Prov. 31:28).

Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.

Sisters, regardless of your age, please understand all that you are and must be, all that you were prepared to be in royal courts on high by God Himself. May we use with gratitude the priceless gifts we have been given for the lifting of mankind to higher thinking and nobler aspirations, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Day 10 – Pause to Help and Lift Another

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another”

We need to walk more resolutely and more charitably the path that Jesus has shown. We need to “pause to help and lift another” and surely we will find “strength beyond [our] own.”
If we would do more to learn “the healer’s art,” there would be untold chances to use it, to touch the “wounded and the weary” and show to all “a gentle[r] heart.” Yes, Lord, we should follow thee.

“A new commandment I give unto you,” he said, “That ye love one another; … By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35.) This love that we should have for our brothers and sisters in the human family, and that Christ has for every one of us, is called charity or “the pure love of Christ.” (Moro. 7:47.) It is the love that prompted the suffering and sacrifice of Christ’s atonement. It is the highest pinnacle the human soul can reach and the deepest expression of the human heart. Howard W. Hunter, “A More Excellent Way,” Ensign, May 1992, 61

Do something to lift another today.

My ancestors’ experiences as handcart pioneers on Rocky Ridge in 1856 reminded me that we are not alone in our struggles.

My second great-grandmother Julia Hill and her sister Emily were baptized as teens in England, and then their parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Hill, disowned them. Nevertheless, Julia and Emily earned their own passage to America and sailed from Liverpool on the ship Thornton. Also on board this ship was Captain James G. Willey, who led the fourth handcart company west.

Once 23-year-old Julia and 20-year-old Emily arrived in Iowa, they joined the Willey handcart company. Early winter snowstorms caused everyone to suffer from hunger and exposure. On Rocky Ridge in Wyoming, many starved or froze to death. Those who survived were comforted in their suffering by their testimonies of Jesus Christ. But I believe what saved Julia and Emily, in addition to their testimonies, was their love for each other as sisters.

Drawing Strength

During one particularly difficult time for me, I prayed for understanding and had a dream about Julia and Emily. Their example of sisterhood lifted and encouraged me. Whether what I saw in my dream really happened exactly as I imagined does not matter to me. What does matter is the lesson I learned. I came to see clearly the parallel between it and my own struggle.

In my dream, I could see Julia and Emily stranded in the snow on the windy summit of Rocky Ridge with the rest of the Willey handcart company. They had no heavy clothing to keep them warm. Julia was sitting in the snow, shaking. She could not carry on. Emily, who was freezing as well, knew that if she did not help Julia stand up, Julia would die. As Emily wrapped her arms around her sister to help her up, Julia began to cry—but no tears came, only soft whimpering sounds. Together they walked slowly to their handcart. Thirteen died that terrible night. Julia and Emily survived.

We all have trials, but like Julia and Emily we needn’t perish on the windswept summit alone. Though we may feel abandoned, we are not. The Savior is near, and our brothers and sisters in the gospel are near as well. Perhaps we can even do as Emily did and lift another, even though we ourselves are suffering. When we do this, our brothers and sisters become as important as ourselves. We become sanctified—made clean and holy through our service. We become more like our Savior.

Julia and Emily understood this.

Day 9 - Making Righteous Choices

Do I strive to make my weaknesses become strengths? Do I think about the Savior when I have a choice to make? Will my decisions cause the Savior to suffer?
"you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Joshua 14:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Ezra Taft Benson, “In His Steps,” Ensign, Sep 1988, 2

In all ages prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it—this is a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time than there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been so well organized. Now is the great day of the devil’s power. But now is also the great day of the Lord’s power, with the greatest number of priesthood holders on the earth.
Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?

Great battles can make great heroes and heroines. We will never have a better opportunity to be valiant in a more crucial cause than in the battle we face today and in the immediate future. Some of the greatest battles we will face will be fought within the silent chambers of our own souls. David’s battles in the field against the foe were not as critical as David’s battles in the palace against a lustful eye.

Each of us has his or her own battlefield. The tactics which the enemy will use against us will vary from time to time. He will seek to exploit our weak spots, so we must be alert to the devil’s devious designs—the subtle sins and clever compromises as well as the obvious offenses.
We must remember that the devil seeks to make all men miserable like unto himself. We must also remember that the Lord loves us and seeks for us the fulness of joy which He enjoys. We must choose whom we will serve.

Christ lived on earth and was subject to all manner of temptation, but He won every battle. He is the most successful warrior that ever walked the earth, and He wants to help us win every battle, be it personal or public. When we fall short, His atonement will compensate for us on condition of our repentance.

Jesus knows His kingdom will triumph, and He wants us to triumph with it. He knows in advance every strategy the enemy will use against us and the kingdom. He knows our weaknesses and He knows our strengths. By personal revelation, we may discover some of our strengths through careful and prayerful study of our patriarchal blessing. In prayer we can ask Him to reveal to us our weaknesses so that we can amend our lives. The Lord has promised:
“If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. … if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27.)