Hey friends!
How is everyone doing?
I hope you are well and that you had a wonderful weekend listening to
conference! It is my testimony that as
we heed the counsel given by our prophet and apostles, we will be blessed and
will find greater joy in our lives. What
was your favorite talk or quote? Feel
free to comment below!
***
This week I want to talk about the beatitudes as given by
the Savior in the Sermon on the Mount. First
though, may I pose this question for you: how can we be better disciples? There are many answers to this question, but
one I would suggest is this—apply Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. In class we discussed how it is a circular
path of eight steps. They are as
follows: 1) blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) blessed are those that mourn, 3)
blessed are the meek, 4) blessed are those that hunger and thirst after
righteousness, 5) blessed are the merciful, 6) blessed are the pure in heart, 7)
blessed are the peacemakers, and 8) blessed are those who are persecuted. Notice that the blessings promised for those
that are poor in spirit and those that are persecuted are the same.
This suggests that it truly is a circular cycle, one that spirals upward
and onward, helping us become the best disciples we can possibly be. Is there any question why the Savior gave
this sermon? In fact, it is so
important, that it is listed twice, once in Matthew 5-7 and again in 3 Nephi
12-14. The only major difference is the
addition of two verses in 3 Nephi 12. Take
a look at these verses with me (3 Nephi 12:1-2, with emphasis added in
italics):
“And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these
words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called… behold, he stretched forth
his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are
ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from
among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have
given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are
baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy
Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye
shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I
am.
And again, more
blessed are they who shall believe in
your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know
that I am. Yea, blessed are they who
shall believe in
your words,
and come down
into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire
and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins.”
Notice that Christ gave four additional usages of the word blessed in this chapter. These verses in 3 Nephi 12 are beautiful and
add a greater depth to the sermon that it would not have without them. You may ask, how is this applicable to
us? What principles can we learn from this? For me, I love the phrase, “blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me
and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.” Once we are baptized, we receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost, and we can have this, the third member of the Godhead, with us
as our constant companion! What a
blessing that is—let it sink in—to have a member
of the Godhead to be with us
always. It is my testimony that we can
be blessed and live blessed lives because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves us and has prepared a way for us to
return to the Father again. He is the way. He is
the light and life of the world. He is
our Redeemer and friend. Come unto Him,
be baptized in His name, and be perfected in Him. It is never too later to become a follower of
Christ. It is never too late to come
back to the fold if you have strayed.
God will never give up on you.
Don’t give up on yourself. Stay
strong in the faith, friends.
Love,
Brianna
Image from Google
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