Just Nails and a Cross?

    Last night I was privileged to be at someone's home for dinner with some of her friends and I can say for all of us that it was a great time. We laughed and listened to each other's stories from their childhood, talking about career's, and getting to know each other better. Then, one of the ladies asked my friend, Sister Savage, and myself and our host if we would be able to help her on a lesson that she is teaching in February and of course myself being so eager to have a better understanding of the Gospel in general I said yes. Because she wanted 6 different friends to help her out, us being the first people she had asked we got to choose first. As I was looking at the different topic's that she needed help on one title screamed at me that I needed to just look at this paper. This is what grabbed my attention...

 "… No man could do what he did for us. He did not have to die, he could have refused. He did it voluntarily. He did it because it was a commandment from his Father. He knew what the suffering was going to be; and yet, because of his love for us, he was willing to do it. …

The driving of the nails into his hands and into the Savior’s feet was the least part of his suffering. We get into the habit, I think, of feeling, or thinking that his great suffering was being nailed to the cross and left to hang there. Well, that was a period in the world’s history when thousands of men suffered that way. So his suffering, so far as that is concerned, was not any more than the suffering of other men who have been so crucified. What, then, was his great suffering? I wish we could impress this fact upon the minds of every member of this Church: His great suffering occurred before he ever went to the cross. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane" - Joseph Fielding Smith

    I know that for myself it really struck me, because I know that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins. I know He did that because He loves all of us, and He made it possible for us to have our sins forgiven, to have the ability to have our families together forever, that one day we will be able to reunite with our Heavenly Father. So whenever I thought of Jesus Christ some pictures would pop in my mind of Him doing service, teaching people about the Gospel, raising the dead, healing the sick, Him being hanged on the cross.. And not enough do I imagine Him being in the Garden of Gethsemane.. for me. He bled from every pore (Luke 22:44) in agony, praying to the Father that "the bitter cup might pass, nevertheless it not be my will but thy will be done."  He did this understanding more then we can comprehend. He did it knowing who we will become. That is the reason for sacrament (taking the bread and water in remembrance of Jesus Christ: Matthew 26:26-28) that for 1 hour, we will remember what He did for us. 

    I am so grateful for the knowledge I have, to be able to know there is a purpose as to why I am here on Earth, and knowing I am a Daughter of God. That someone, loved us so much that He did that for us

   

Prayer

    I've been inspired to start sharing with the world what my thoughts are and pray that someone will be effected by my personal experiences, inspirations, study time, and personal revelation. I'm a missionary right now serving in the Oregon Eugene Mission for 18 months, representing Jesus Christ and really strengthening my relationship with him and Heavenly Father.

    As a missionary we go and teach people about Jesus Christ and how we can strengthen our relationship with him and Heavenly Father. And a key to this is prayer. There are many reason's as to why people don't pray; they don't understand the meaning of prayer, they don't have a belief in God, or they don't know how too.

    For me, prayer is something that I truly rely on, something that I look forward to saying because it's the ability to communicate with my Heavenly Father. I was reading in the Bible Dictionary on prayer and it said, " As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God, then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." As I start my prayers I begin by saying... "Dear Heavenly Father" "Heavenly Father" which ever one that I feel to say at the moment, then I will ask him a specific question because I need help all the time and need that guidance, I'll tell him what's going on in my life (even though He already knows) and tell Him how I feel about it. I ask Him to give me the strength I need to carry on my days, to bless my family, and loved ones. I'll ask Him to bless them that need specific things in their life. And I ask Him always to put a special blessing for me, because I need it. I always thank Him for the blessings that He has given me, even the ones I don't notice right away. And I close in Jesus Christ's name, Amen. 

     I know that prayer is very real, and has helped me out so much in my life. Prayer is an act of faith and by my actions I know that Heavenly Father knows that I love Him. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that I have to be able to understand prayer and how powerful of a tool it is for me to grow and strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I encourage, you as the reader, to take the time to pray so that you can strengthen your relationship with our loving Heavenly Father.