Remembering the [Light]

 (Photo of the Week)

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re·mem·ber

  [ri-mem-ber] 

verb (used with object)

1.

to recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; think of again: I'll try to remember the exact date.

2.

to retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of: Remember your appointment with the dentist.

3.

to have (something) come into the mind again: I just remembered that it's your birthday today.

4.

to bear (a person) in mind as deserving a gift, reward, or fee: The company always remembers us atChristmas.

5.

to give a tip, donation, or gift to: to remember the needy.

"To remember means to keep in memory. In the scriptures, it often means to keep a person in memory, together with associated emotions like love, loyalty, or gratitude. The stronger the emotion, the more vivid and influential the memory." -Dallin H. Oaks
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     My thoughts this week have been turned to the word remember. Especially since taking the sacrament this week. In the scriptures, I think the word remember can in a sense be replaced with “Humble Yourselves”. Because in my eyes, remembering not only takes humility to do, but provides us with so much more humility than we could have on our own. God is so great, and if we would just remember that, we would be all the better. I don’t know about you guys, but I know I wouldn’t have to learn the same lessons over and over if I could just remember what He taught me the first time.

“Oh remember, remember, my sons…” (Heleman 5:9)

So, a word of advice (and personal reminder):

Even when it feels like the light is hidden above the clouds: Remember its always there. 

I remembered a story I want to share….

     I went for a drive a while back to clear my head. As I was having some time with my Heavenly Father, I approached our beautiful temple up on the hill. Or at least where it should be. It was a "yucky weather" kind of day, and the fog had completely enveloped the beautiful sight that was usually there to provide comfort. As I sat at the stop light just in front of the temple, I still couldn't see the lights that I knew where there. As the quiet words entered my heart, so did the Spirit. "You can't always see me, but I am always here." 

     As I pulled into the temple parking lot, I was able to see the lights perfectly again. As we will all be able to someday. Once the fog has lifted, once the storm has passed, we will be able to see the lights again. We will be able to feel that comfort. And no matter how dark, and lonely, and distant it might feel, He is ALWAYS standing in the wings, giving us just enough comfort to get us through. Though His comfort and love are infinite  we just can't always feel it as so. The Son is always there. We are always within its orbit. But sometimes the clouds that stand between us here on earth and Him way up there seem to heavy to cut through. The truth of the matter though? He is always there! ALWAYS! And He is making sure that just enough light gets through, so we can find our way. Because He loves us. He loves you! Loneliness is the antithesis of godliness.

     So when you can’t see the light, do yourself a favor. Remember the Light. Remember  the Light you have had in the past. Because if it was true then, it is JUST AS TRUE right now. The darkness does not change the beauty or the power of the light. 

     “It won’t be easy to remember. Living as we do with a veil over our eyes, we cannot remember what it was like to be with our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in the premortal world; nor can we see with our physical eyes or with reason alone the hand of God in our lives. Seeing such things takes the Holy Ghost’s companionship in a wicked world. This is why forgetting God has been such a persistent problem among His children since the world began.” –Henry B. Eyring

And one more thing: Remember I love you, too. :)

Remember the light, my faith filled friends!

-Jamie

"Remembering the Light" By Kevin Kern

SO BEAUTIFUL! :)

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

 It is our [LIGHT], not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD

 Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing en[LIGHT]ened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God

that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own [LIGHT] shine,

we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

 As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Nelson Mandella 

The Lord is My [Light]

I have had a lot of special experiences this week that have shown me a little extra, the love my Savior has for me. I am so grateful for Him! And I love Him back with ALL my heart! I was talking with my great friend Amanda the other day, and she shared some beautiful insight with me. We are counseled to love the Lord with all our "Heart, might, mind, and strength." (D&C 4:2) and as we do this, as we give Him all of our heart, He will help others feel our love, through His love! Isn't that a beautiful concept? That's what charity is.. possessing the true love of Christ. When that is the love we give other people, how can we go wrong! This song has always been one of my favorites, and it has an even more special meaning with this idea in mind. 

Also, scripture of the day: D&C 127: 2-3... Such a beautiful reminder! I am so grateful that my Savior is such a great lifeguard, because sometimes I find myself in some pretty deep water. But how else am I supposed to become a great swimmer?? 

 "And as for the ^aperils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the ^benvy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ^cordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God ^dknoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in ^etribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.

 Let all the saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceedingly glad; for Israel’s ^aGod is their God, and he will mete out a just recompense of ^breward upon the heads of all their ^coppressors."

Ok... Im sorry.. I know this post is so scatterbrained! But all these things have been weighing on my mind so heavily! One more random point.. 

I listened to this talk today. It was so great. (I count BYUI radio as one of my biggest blessings, by the way!) When I hear the title, "Good, Better, Best" I felt like I knew what the talk was about. Until I listened to it again! There is so much meat in here. Please... Take the time to listen. 

I have realized that so many times in my life, I get so impatient when Heavenly Father has to teach me over and over again what a football is! But if I would just remember the basics, He could be teaching me so much more! Take the time for the basics people. You can't have a spire without a foundation. 

He also tells a story of the ball point pen in space. When they realized the pen wouldnt work up there, they launched into problem solving mode and went a little crazy fixing something that could have been fixed with a simple pencil! 

"Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ³ When we look at the foundational principles of the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, we can recognize and appreciate in its plainness and simplicity the elegance and beauty of our Heavenly Father’s wisdom. Then, turning our ways to His ways is the beginning of our wisdom." -Deiter F Uchtdorf

There are so many other dynamite topics he covers here, but I will let you uncover them for yourself. 

My sweet friends.. The gospel is true. It is rooted in our True Redeemer. Life is good. Simply enjoy it. And as always, embrace His light.

All My Light Hearted Love, 

Jamie