Justice, Grace, Mercy, and possibly Nemo.

Hello!!!

So I'm trying to get back into the swing of posting more often again.... haha :) Thankfully when its to cold to go out and work it gives me lots of time to think about what I can post! :)

I had another brilliant thought in the midst of my Atonement study this morning. I find it funny how one can know and have a understanding of something through out a life time, but until one takes the time to ponder, pray, and seek deeper understanding does it really hit home.

So that's kind of what happened this morning.

I read Mosiah 13:28 which says, 

 "28 And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."

This scripture blew me away this morning. I have thought a lot about the laws of Justice, Grace, and Mercy throughout my mission and have really tried to obtain a better understanding of them. This verse pulled everything together for me. 

Without a law with a fixed punishment, we cannot have the law of justice. If there was no justice or no law it would be following closer to Satan's plan, we wouldn't have any choices to make. 

By the laws of justice we cannot make it to live with our Heavenly Father again. This is because of the fallen world that we live in. It is impossible for us, on our own to earn  or work our way back. "You just can't Nemo!" (haha sorry) 

BUT thankfully because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we have not only the possibility, but the ability as well to receive forgiveness and strength; the affects of both mercy and grace. 

If it was not for the Atonement there would be NO way for us to overcome the affects of our fallen state. 

I am SOOO incredibly grateful for the Atonement and for everything that we are able to obtain because of it. There is nothing that we have or can receive, excepting through it. 

I know the power of the Atonement is real. We are blessed to be able to access it through prayers of faith. 

The Plan

Hi-ya!!

So I had a different post that I was going to do..... but then it wasn't working out. So now yous get this one... haha :)

So the Canada Winnipeg Mission has been doing a fairly intense and in depth study of the Atonement of Jesus Christ lately. I have LOOOOVVVEDD it! It has been so so so so wonderful to learn more about the differing aspects of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

One of my favourite talks that we've read with it is The Master Healer by Carole M. Stephens. I especially enjoyed the connection she drew between the Doctrine of Christ and the Atonement. 

She said, "As we increase our understanding of the doctrine of Christ, we soon discover that we are developing a deeper understanding of “the great plan of happiness.” We also recognize that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is at the very heart of the plan.

When we learn how to apply the doctrine of Christ to our individual circumstances, our love for our Savior grows." 

It is so amazing to see how much LOVE can grow within ourselves when we strive to live the gospel and follow the example that Christ set for us. 

A few months back Elder Keetch, of the Seventy, came and visited the mission. It was glorious!! One of the things he talked about was drawing nearer to our Heavenly Father and to Christ.
He mentioned how we draw nearer to God by praying and literally speaking with Him. While we draw nearer to Christ by being like Him. 

I have really been able to find that by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ I have come  nearer to my Savior. I have learned how to use the Atonement and have truly felt the love that Christ has for each and every one of us. 

It is true that the center of God's great and eternal plan for us is Jesus Christ. He should not just be the center of the plan but the center of our lives and WHO we become.