I Believe in Christ, He is My King!

This is a beloved hymn of mine:

"I Believe in Christ"

I Believe in Christ; He is my King!
With all my heart to him I'll sing;

I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,

In grand amens my tongue employ.

I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.

On earth to dwell his soul did come.

He healed the sick; the dead he raised.

Good works were his; his name be praised.

He is the Source of Light

The light of the gospel illuminates the path of life to eternity 

that otherwise would be dark and nondirecting.

We can be like a mirror and direct light even into dark places. 

We are not the sources of light; nevertheless, 

through us light can be reflected to others.

Light Persuades us to Do Good!

Light persuades us to do good; it leads us to Christ. 

It led my family as it has led yours, and it can and will lead all to him.

... trusting only upon the Holy Spirit, who is ever the same, shining forever and testifying to the individual and the priesthood, who live in harmony with the laws of the gospel, of the glory and the will of the Father. 

They will then have light everlasting which cannot be obscured. By its shining in their lives, they shall cause others to glorify God; and by their well-doing put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.”   - Light

How Do We Receive More Light?

How does light enter into us? How do we receive it? 

“But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. 

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:23.)

Commenting on this passage, Elder Bruce R. McConkie states: 

“Christ is the light; the gospel is the light; the plan of salvation is the light; 

‘that which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; 

and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.’ 

As the light of the sun enters the body through our natural eyes, so the light of heaven—the light of the Spirit which illuminates our souls—enters through our spiritual eyes.”  - Light

Whatsoever is Truth is Light

“For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, 

and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

“And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; 

and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, 

that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.” (D&C 84:45–46.)

Light Comes from God

The Light which is in All Things…..

My brethren and sisters, on this bright and beautiful day, I should like to address the subject of light. The dictionary defines light as something that makes vision possible or something that enlightens or informs.

Two types of light are physical light and spiritual light.

Physical light, especially natural light, affects the moods of people. When summer’s light begins to fade, days grow shorter, and the winter season looms darkly ahead, natural light becomes a more precious commodity, especially to people who live in extreme northern climates. There, where darkness reigns for up to three months a year and then summer blooms into three months of constant daylight, moods swing with the seasons.

Light does have a profound effect on human mood and behavior. Mounting evidence indicates that people who are feeling a little down and need a lift can get it by going outside in daylight. Walking in the light is a natural mood booster. Many who simply walk for half an hour or more during the daylight hours receive a distinct benefit. (See The Walking Magazine, Jan./Feb. 1989, pp. 28–30.) . . .

The Light of Christ

The Light of Christ is the divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things. The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost. One manifestation of the Light of Christ is what we call a conscience.

The Light of Christ “proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space.” It is “the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed” (D&C 88:12-13; see also D&C 88:6-11). This power is an influence for good in the lives of all people (see John 1:9; D&C 93:2). In the scriptures, the Light of Christ is sometimes called the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Life.  Light of Christ

Be Near Me, Lord Jesus

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

Away in a Manger

Lead Kindly Light

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom;  

1. Lead thou me on!
   The night is dark, and I am far from home;
   Lead thou me on!
   Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
   The distant scene--one step enough for me.
   Lead Kindly Light #97
   HIstory of this Hymn

Be Healed

He Heals Us

May we have full trust and confidence in the Redeemer’s power to heal us. The Savior implores us today, just as He implored the inhabitants of the American continent shortly after His Crucifixion, “Will ye … now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi 9:13). Let us return to Him, for truly He lives and loves us. 

“The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can be earned through repentance. Save for those few who defect to perdition … , there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. …

“Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ.”… “[Christ] doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him.  -That I May Heal You

The Healing Waters of the Temple

The Healing Waters of the Temple:

Temple; Laie, Hawaii

Ezekiel 47 gives Ezekiel’s vision of how water will yet flow from underneath the temple in Jerusalem and flow to the east, becoming larger and larger until it becomes a river of water. The river will flow into the Dead Sea and make it “alive” again with fish and vegetation. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, … and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 286).This event is also symbolic of the spiritual renewal and rebirth that comes to individuals and families as they participate in the sacred, uplifting, and empowering ordinances of the temple that come from the source of “living waters,” even Jesus Christ.

Bloom Where Planted

Bloom Where Planted

"Heavenly Father plants us where we can grow, which must mean that there is nourishment where He keeps us."

We can bloom wherever we're planted in the vineyard!

That Which is of God is LIGHT; Sharing God's Love Online

"That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brigher and brighter until the perfect day."  D&C 50:24

I can attest to this truth in my own life and am very grateful to know it.  My desire is to share with others' so that they, too, may' come unto Christ and be perfected in Him."

As a blogger and social media person I'm online a lot.  I have come to feel that it is part of my life's calling at present, and I approach it seriously and with reverence.  Along with this understanding comes the fact that many of the top-ranked sites are those that stimulate conversation, often that of a contentious nature, or that of 'movie stars' or sports icons.

May I pose a rhetorical question to this audience of 'what was social media created for?' and....why?  Perhaps a variety of reasons will be shared and not all in harmony with one another.

Will We Put God First in Our Lives?

Women of God; Women of Light - who truly desire to put the Lord first in their lives - will receive comfort and guidance from these Prophetic words. We wish blessings to all who are sincerely striving to serve the Lord and give Him their ALL. "Happy New Year"

Mary and Martha Learning from Christ

Christ’s great gift to us was His life and sacrifice. Should that not then be our small gift to Him—our lives and sacrifices, not only now but in the future? A few years ago my colleague Elder Boyd K. Packer said this: “I’m not ashamed to say that … I want to be good. And I’ve found in my life that it has been critically important [to establish this intention] between me and the Lord so that I knew that he knew which way I committed my agency. I went before Him and said, ‘I’m not neutral, and you can do with me what you want. If you need my vote, it’s there. I don’t care what you do with me, and you don’t have to take anything from me because I give it to you—everything, all I own, all I am—,’ and that makes the difference.” 

Ezra Taft Benson:  Jesus Christ - Gifts and Expectations