Jesus of Nazareth
A piece inspired by Neal A Maxwell's April 1976 message "Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King."
"His relentless receptiveness exceeds my recurring wrongs."
"I thank him for his marvelous management of time, for never misusing a moment, including the moments of mediation. Even his seconds showed his stewardship."
Quick to Forget
Why are we so quick to forget the Lord our God?
"We can be so provincial and so self-concerned. God, who oversees the interlacings of galaxies, stars, and worlds, asks us to confess His hand in our personal lives, too. Have we not been reassured about the fall of one sparrow and that the very hairs of our heads are numbered? God is in the details! Just as the Lord knows all of His vast creations, He also knows and loves each in any crowd -- indeed, He knows and loves each and all of mankind!" -Neal A. Maxwell
All Little Creations
"All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Hymn #62 "All Creatures of Our God and King."
Christ with the Little Ones
There's a child in me still, and she is such easy friends with the Messiah. If I could just get my adult self to fall into such ease.
Mutual Reverence
I have found that a reverence for little children is tied to a reverence for God, perhaps because little children and God hold a mutual reverence.
Worlds and Sparrows
He’s the Creator of worlds and yet He reassures us about the fall of one sparrow and that the very hairs of our heads are numbered. All things are numbered by Him, “for they are [His] and [He] knows them.” Christ said, “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” What more could reassure us of the Lord’s love?
The Diverse Catch of the Gospel Net
Inspired by Neal A. Maxwell's message, "The Net Gathers of Every Kind."
"Whether old-timers, returnees, or recruits, we must all finally make that 'mighty change' in our hearts, and this requires more than a slight change in our schedules (see Mosiah 5:2).
"If there are disappointments, let us not turn away but turn to, remembering Peter's immortal interrogative of the Savior, 'Lord, to whom shall we go?' (John 6:68). There is, my brothers and sisters, no other 'plan of happiness' (see Alma 42:8), only multiple-choice misery."
Hosanna
As Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem, I can't help but think of the children who might have been in the multitude that "spread their garments" upon the ground, "strawed" the way with palm branches for the Lord, and cried "Hosanna." When the city was "moved" and asked the multitude who it was that rode the donkey, I bet there were children and a special donkey who knew.
Matthew 21: 1-11
Lead Me, Guide Me
Within inner pelagic moments, there is still direction to be found, spindles pointing me on in this seeming pathless interim. Such spindles kindle kindly and softly a new peaceful sensation of hope, and it's different from what I've felt lately. And there's a "chink" sounded, and I realize I haven't yawped "Nodus Tollens" all week. And the secret to this business comes back to me: I must learn to love the rivet.
Praise to the Man
Neal A Maxwell said:
"Those who revile Joseph Smith will not change Joseph’s status with the Lord (see 2 Ne. 3:8)—merely their own! Instead—as was promised Joseph in an 1834 father’s blessing:
“Thousands and tens of thousands shall come to a knowledge of the truth, through thy ministry, and thou shalt rejoice with Them in the Celestial Kingdom; [and] thou shalt stand on Mount Zion when the tribes of Jacob come shouting from the north, and with thy brethren, the Sons of Ephraim, crown them in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Some may seek to explain Joseph merely by attaching to him the generous adjective remarkable. Joseph was remarkable, but, much more importantly, he was instrumental!"
Marriage: A Gift to God
Inspired by Elder L. Whitney Clayton's message, "Marriage: Watch and Learn."
"Marriage is a gift from God to us; the quality of our marriage is a gift from us to Him."
Continual Conversion
"Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for the gift of testimony."
Elder David A. Bednar
Ancestral Aid
"Don't underestimate your family on the other side of the veil"
Elder Jeffrey R Holland
As White as Snow
"Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, the shall be as wool."
Bearing the Journeyings
"And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their jouneyings without murmurings."
1 Nephi 17:2
Plan of Salvation
"If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world."
C.S. Lewis
Lord of The Outstretched Arm
"Behold, my arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive" (3 Nephi 9:14).
I Am a Toiling Trout
Inspired by M. Russell Ballard's message "O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One."
Reapers Reaping
"O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him will all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2)
Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly
Inspired by June 2021's week 2 lesson from Come, Follow Me - For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes, "How Can I Resist Pornography?"
Satan's Strategies
Inspired by August 2020's week 2 lesson from Come, Follow Me - For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes, "How Can I Resist Temptations?"
