#Hallelujah—An Easter Message about Jesus Christ

He can take our sins away
And help us start anew
If we turn to Him and pray
Our spirits are renewed



#PrinceofPeace

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - Israel, Israel, God is Calling

Never check in your Lord
Like a coat at the door
Wear your standards warmly
As a gift you adore

Principles of Peace: God’s Word | #PrinceofPeace

The burden of life
Brings you to your knees
Unto Jesus Christ
Who knows of your needs
He speaks to the Father
Who sends the Holy Ghost
To ease what does bother
With words, you need the most
Then two things happen
You know that prayers are heard
And you are no longer saddened
As peace comes from God's Word
Then speak, with an angel's tongue,
How these things do renew!
As you've consecrated and done
What God manifests for you


2 Nephi 32 1 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?

2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

Time in the Temple

In the holy temple
Stressful time falls away
A peace sweetly gentle
Makes Celestial, the day

Countries With Religious Freedom

Countries with religious freedom
Have an increase of peace.
As more seek for that wisdom
That, through faith, does increase

While still remains contention
There's a striving to be fair
And through love's extension
We listen because we care

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/international-religious-freedom-partner-cause-peace 

"When we think of peace we generally have in mind a region without war, a nation without strife, or a city without violence. But peace is more than the absence of conflict. Peace is the habit of engaging differences, the practice of negotiating disagreements between foes. It’s a culture of fairmindedness. Even the most peaceful societies have contention, but they don’t let it tear them apart."

"Peace has many factors — the history of a people, the structure of government, the economic environment and the level of political inclusion. Freedom of religion is also crucial. Countries that protect the diversity of religious experience tend to have fewer armed conflicts, greater civil and political liberties, greater press and economic freedoms, better health outcomes, higher levels of income, better education and higher overall human development.[3]"

Peace is more than the absence of conflicts
It is the practice of listening and sharing from the heart
It is respecting the words of pastors and prophets
And not letting contention tear you apart

Let religious freedom flow freely its course
So extremists won't win hearts and minds by default
Open the flood channels of public discourse
And look for the goodness in faiths, not the faults

"In the end, religious freedom is not about eliminating rivals and intimidating people into agreeing with the majority. Rather, religious freedom is about achieving peace among differences and reducing fear so everyone can have confidence in their lawful place in society."

Promise​

The end isn't near
If rainbows appear
Hold to this promise
and don't live amiss.

Take the Time

Take the time
To stop a crime
Look out for
Your neighbor

A while ago, I was out for an early morning walk while it was dark. I saw someone with a little flashlight getting ready to climb a fence. He had left the car running with a woman inside. I said don't do it and he casually started walking back. I had nowhere to go except knock on that front door. He must have thought I was crazy, but did call the police. Robbers don't care if you are home or not. But, hopefully they runaway when they are caught. And of course I had my cellphone, Nope!

Shower of Heavenly Blessings

Don't think Heaven's blessings discriminately fall
Only on those who do everything right
God's commandments aren't like that at all
Blessings constantly shower where there is Light

The Will of God

Like a bush grown scraggly and tall
Is unable to produce fruit at all
It may hurt to be cut down low
But that is where corrections grow

Spiritual Whirlwinds

Those whirlwinds will return
And try to pull you away
From all that you have learned-
Your foundation of faith

Eyes to See and Ears to Hear

If/then will be more clear
If you have ears that hear
And eyes that see
You WILL feel the Savior near

How Did President Gordon B Hinckley Emphasize the Importance of the Boo...

Hold onto this text
With unshakable faith
Our souls it perfects
Unto Christ who awaits

The Book of Mormon My Pillow and Friend

The Book of Mormon was my pillow and friend

During my single years

It helped my wounded heart to cleanse and mend

And calmed my daily fears

There wasn't a day that it didn't speak to me, save me from temptation and depression and fill me with love, personally. Thank you, President Monson, for renewing those old feeling of love for the Book of Mormon! I need to get back to it.

"We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church here on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children.
If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far. However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study.
My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore all of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives." #LDSconf

A Heartfelt Man of God Treasuring Each Day as a Gift From God

I watched April 2017 #ldsconference and was overwhelmed with Russell M. Nelson's hands
and his words about the heart.  I was left pondering this once surgeon who
literally has held hearts in his hands.
Who now, through the priesthood, spiritually repairs hearts of all kinds.

From the depths of your heart

Stretch forth to Christ.

Let His healing impart.

He hears your cries.

This morning I shared the biblical story of the woman who suffered for 12 years with a debilitating problem. I’d like to invite you to consider the significance of her reaching to touch the Savior.
She exercised great faith, exclaiming, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” This faithful, focused woman needed to stretch as far as she could to access His power. Her physical stretching was symbolic of her spiritual stretching.
Many of us have cried out from the depths of our hearts a variation of this woman’s words: “If I could spiritually stretch enough to draw the Savior’s power into my life, I would know how to handle my heart-wrenching situation. I would know what to do. And I would have the power to do it.”When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you need to do. #LDSconf https://www.facebook.com/lds.russell.m.nelson/

Here is my journey pondering his role as a surgeon that led to being an apostle.

A Prophet's Surgeon: Russell M. Nelson - davidvanalstyne.com

www.davidvanalstyne.com/pg-prophetsurgeon.html

Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle ... selective coronary arteriogram and found that President Kimball's heart was being overworked because of severe ...

Before Kimball was ordained

His heart needed to be right

That he'd be disabled pained...

But this burden was made light

Of presidents' of the church, there had been three deaths in three years and President Kimball was next in line to be the prophet.  He did not want to be a burden on the brethren.  Harold B. Lee (the prophet at the time) instilled confidence into President Kimball that the surgery was the right thing!  Russell M. Nelson gave new meaning to the definition of sustaining your leaders.  He did surgery on President Kimball and wrote a letter of his confidence in his abilities to function as he was soon called to be a prophet because Harold B. Lee died of cardiac and lung failure!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQkk6bnHei8

His heart was failing

But not his faith

Each suture was seen

Before my face

Elder Nelson acted on another's faith and added his own through much prayer- and a miraculous new procedure was revealed while looking at the damaged heart in surgery.

Russell M Nelson Teachings

Priesthood power can also calm the minds and heal fractures in the hearts of those ...

dear to the heart, 

heart-changing process of laying down your sins, 

even giving ..your heart, know in your heart, treasure in the heart, 

win the heart, a faithful heart, open your heart, penetrate your heart, 

a good and honest heart, speak to your heart, human heart, 

Joy and Spiritual Survival - By President Russell M. Nelson - LDS.org

Joy and Spiritual Survival - By President Russell M. Nelson. ... When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy ... so there were holes between the logs large enough for a cat to crawl through. .... As this principle is embedded in our hearts, each and every day can be a day of joy and gladness.

“A More Excellent Hope” - Ensign Feb. 1997 - ensign - LDS.org

By Elder Russell M. Nelson ... Hope is part of our religion and is mentioned in one of the Articles of Faith: “We follow the ... “Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts.” ...

A Plea to My Sisters - By President Russell M. Nelson - LDS.org

Sisters, do you realize the breadth and scope of your influence when you speak those things that come to your heart and mind as directed by the Spirit?

The Price of Priesthood Power - By President Russell M. Nelson

In June, I literally knelt in front of Jimmy, now 88 years old, and had a heart-to-heart talk with him. I spoke of his daughters' pleadings and told him I would be ...

Messages of Hope from Russell M. Nelson - Deseret Book

In Hope in Our Hearts, Elder Nelson brings his remarkable grasp of the gospel and his ...

Russell M. Nelson, From Heart to Heart - Truth Will Prevail

Integrity of Heart BYU Speech

President Russell M. Nelson: 'A Plea to My Sisters' | Deseret News

.. He spoke of the heartbreak he felt as a heart surgeon, 58 years ago, when ...

The Creation - Russell M. Nelson - LDS.org

Any manmade creation is possible only because of our divine Creator. .... His prophet today, whom I sustain with all my heart, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Russell M. Nelson: Applying Divine Laws - Ensign June 1984 ...

As a heart surgeon, Dr. Nelson has seen the power of the priesthood at work on ..... has added a special dimension to my faith in God, our Creator,” Elder Nelson ...We Are Children of God - Russell M. Nelson - LDS.orgWe Are Children of God - Russell M. Nelson. ... At the crest of the heart is an electrical generator that transmits energy down special lines, causing myriads of ...Integrity of the Heart - Russell M. Nelson - BYU Speeches

- Just as small problems can compromise the integrity of the physical heart, seemingly small breaches of honor can compromise personal ...

Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them | Mormon Channel

. Elder Russell M. Nelson shares a personal story to give encouragement for when we feel "weak in the heart."

Russell M. Nelson: A Study in Obedience - Ensign Aug. 1982 - ensign

.. Now the dark venous blood entering the heart is intercepted and routed ....

Joy and Spiritual Survival - By President Russell M. Nelson - LDS.org

He is now doing everything his bishop counsels him to do, striving with all his heart to regain the trust of his dear wife.

Sweet Power of Prayer - Russell M. Nelson - LDS.org

Mormon taught his son, Moroni, that we should pray “with all the energy of heart.”

Let Your Faith Show - By Elder Russell M. Nelson - LDS.org

that His eternal truths will be etched on your heart forever.

Thanks Be to God - By Elder Russell M. Nelson - LDS.org

... before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see ...

The Prince of Peace: Find Lasting Peace through Jesus Christ

There can be peace inside the storm
In the troubles that we face
If we turn toward the Lord
All is still, with tender grace

Quiet the dragons of worry and fear
Silence their sneers that circle your head
Call for the Master of peace to appear
And let Him fill you with love instead

Remember the Healer's a physician
And needs you to be still so He can begin
Believe that He has for you a mission
Which He will strengthen you for, even

#PRINCEofPEACE

Finding Faith in Christ

Some things first must be believed
To carry you through
To heal what once had grieved
And cleanse you to do