AMAZING....AMAZED!

Yesterday, at church we sang, "I Stand All Amazed" for the sacrament hymn.  It is one of my favorite hymns.

I pondered how amazing the blessings that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with because He love us....we are His children.  I think of the beauties of the earth, the air we breathe, all the comforts we enjoy, beautiful music, our families and friends, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Think of the Old Testament.  The scriptures written by prophets of old, their lives and the world they lived in, and most importantly, a record of God's revelations to them and His children both living and yet to be born. One of my favorites in the Old Testament is Psalms.
Psalm 8:3-9
3  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7  All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8  The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas,
9  O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

And how beautiful is the New Testament.  Therein we learn about the birth, life and atoning sacrifice of the promised Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Gospel of faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.  In these scriptures we learn by word and example of Christ's many attributes, and are challenged to become like Him by being more loving, more charitable, more patient and forgiving, more obedient, and rendering more service to others.  He set the example of how we should live, and He taught these same principles through parables.  Through His works He taught love and compassion.
I Corinthians 13:1-13
1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a thinking cymbal.
2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Please turn to your own scriptures for the remaining verses.  They are beautiful...

How do we show love to our Father in Heaven?  Simply by following His commandments.  Through following His commandments we will find joy beyond measure.  And it can and should be so easy.  But, we are human. Because we are not perfect, we make wrong choices.  We transgress the law.  Does this mean we are doomed?   Is it too late?  Never!  Our savior became our advocate to the Father and through His grace satisfied justice by suffering for our sins if we will but repent and have faith.  His atonement not only save us from our sins, but assures us that He understands our sorrows and pains and we are comforted thereby.  What a blessing!

My favorite scriptures are found in the Book of Mormon.  The writings of the Book of Mormon were specifically written for us!  They teach us about Lehi and his sons as they travel from Jerusalem to the promised land...America.  We learn of their blessings, trials, and wars.  These scriptures teach us when we follow the commandments and remain faithful we will be blessed.  We learn when we have trials and sorrows, our Heavenly Father will be with us and comfort us.

I love how the plan of salvation is explained in 2 Nephi 2 and the atonement and judgement in 2 Nephi 9.  I marvel at the faith of the brother of Jared, the wisdom of King Benjamin, the strength of Alma, the testimony of his son and the sons of Mosiah, the leadership and bravery of Helaman and his 2,000 stripling warriors, Mormon and his son Moroni watching the destruction and end of their people.  I could go on and on.

How blessed we are to live in this dispensation when the Book of Mormon came forth through the hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  He was the latter day prophet who was visited by  the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  He was chosen to transcribe the Book of Mormon so that we could have these valuable scriptures today.  He was commissioned to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people living in these the latter days.

We are so blessed and loved by our Father in Heaven.  We are His children and He wants us to return to Him.  He has made it so easy and asks so little of us. Follow His commandments and the example of His son, Jesus Christ. In return we are promised the richest of blessings....eternal life with our Father.