Sunday, January 11, 2009

My Sunday Sermon on the Blog

I work every other Sunday and since we are closed to out patients on Sundays, this has become my day for quiet and reflection. How many moms get that chance? The other Sundays I work in the nursery (teaching/watching the 18 months-3year olds) so I have little chance for spiritual nourishment. So I try to fill the void by reading and pondering during my quiet Sundays at work. Today I enjoyed the January Home Teaching lesson (we have only had 2 home teaching visits in the last 1.5 years in our new ward, so I always just read it myself) and felt prompted to speak about it here.
The majority of my blog readers of members of the same faith as I am, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or the "Mormon" church. We are sometimes viewed as a peculiar people and I wouldn't say that is so far off, I enjoy being peculiar though and am fervent in my beliefs. I would say pretty much everyone else who reads this is strong and committed to their own faiths and I think that is awesome. I fully support every faith that brings men and women closer to our God. I truly believe there is a great good that will be done in this world as Christians unite their faiths. While completely supporting and honoring other faiths, I would still like to share that there is something more. I feel as though I would have failed you as a friend if I did not tell you of the great truths of God that I know. One of the greatest gifts of God on this Earth is eternal families. All across this great nation and world there are beautiful LDS temples. Houses dedicated to God and beautiful beyond comprehension (especially on the inside!). These may seem like just another church building, but I assure you they are not. In these temples sacred convenants are made with God whereby men and women can be sealed as husband and wife forever. Our marriage ceremony does not include, "'til death do us part" because we have the sealing power to indeed say, "for time and all eternity". I know this to be true. The opportunity to be with my husband and my children forever is a magnificent gift and provides such a peace to my soul. This is possible because our church is truly led by Jesus Christ himself. Many view our prophet as the head of our church, and while he is an extraordinary and great man--he is only acting under the direction of God the Father and his son. They restored the church to the Earth and with it brought the priesthood power present in the Bible. This priesthood power gives the holders the power to work in the name of God and to bind things on Earth that will also be bound in Heaven. I know this to be true. Divine revelation is not dead, it continues--I have received it myself. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow--why would he stop speaking to men, especially in our time when it is so desperately needed? I just want you all to know that I know that God lives, as does his son and that they love us so much. We are God's children and He is so mindful of us individually in our lives.
I felt I would be lacking as a friend if I kept this knowledge to myself. If you would like to know more, please let me know. I can tell you for a certainty that you don't have to take my word for it. If you have felt a peace as you have read this, pray about it. God will tell you for yourself of the truth of all things.

2 comments:

Scott and Jillian said...

Very beautifully written, Heidi. I completely agree with you!

Lyndsie said...

Thanks for your testimony. Often I don't get much out of my church lessons because of the kids. Yesterday being on of those days. So thank you for that. It just helped me to remember what the gospel is really all about.