God is our Loving Heavenly Father

July 23, 2018

God is our Loving Heavenly Father

Me and my Journal!

Hello, my friends!

So, as I mentioned last week, we had transfers! It is always interesting to see what happens. Our companionship is staying the same, me and Elder Larson. Elder Burton replaced Elder Sjökvist, and Elder Shettell replaced Elder Carroll. Elder Jaburek is our district leader. The district seems like it should be fun and enjoyable!

We've recently been getting several pushes or focuses to help move the work forward and one of them I want to highlight, because it has been a highlight to me. We were invited to keep and use a study journal and to bring it to interviews. I've always wanted to use a study journal, but I never really knew how to start or what the best way to write what I was learning. Ultimately I wanted it to be meaningful and productive.

As I sat down to study, I pulled out a partially used Seminary study journal (sadly, very underused, but with some gold notes and doodles!) and prayed to have an effective study and know how to use it. After I did I opened Preach My Gospel and saw a note I made in it during the MTC. This inspired me to through the 43(?) principles, and for each one write 5 things.

1) The doctrinal foundation surrounding that principle

2) Why it is necessary for us to know

3) What we need to do

4) A scripture that teaching the doctrine

5) A conference talk that supports the doctrine.

I've noticed that this approach to study has helped me to delve even deeper into what it is we are teaching and why it is important. I have found that I've been able to learn a lot more from this approach.

Starting at the beginning I studied the principle "God is our Loving Heavenly Father". As I studied that passage and the scriptures associated I came up with my answers.

1) We are God's children. He loves us and provided a way to reach our full potential and live with Him again.

As a missionary I hear all the time, "it makes no sense. Why would God send us away to Earth, just so we have to earn our way back." I admit, I was confused by this question as well. However, if we take into consideration this doctrine, we learn that there is a grander meaning to life. We were not just sent here to make our way back, but we were sent here to provide a way to reach our full potential. God has a perfect plan established for each individual.

2) We need God's plan to reach our full potential

Just as every child needs a teacher and a curriculum to progress through school, God also provided us a plan to follow and a teacher to help us see and follow that plan. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we are given the ability to stretch passed the bonds of our mortal state, and achieve a potential that is only possible through our own salvation and exaltation.

3) We walk this path through Prayer, Obedience to commandments and Repentance

The best teacher that we could ever ask for is God Himself. He knows that we need guidance and help every step of the way. As we pray to Him, He promises to send the Holy Ghost to convey an answer, to grant that help and to bring peace to our hearts. We qualify ourselves for this through our obedience to God's commandments. The commandments are not nit-picky rules to hinder our joy in this life, rather quite the opposite. As we gain a greater understanding of God's commandments we discover that they are truly tools to help us on our path to receive our divine potential. As we repent, we take steps forward on that path, and press forward on our journey of eternal progression.

4) John 3:16-17

"16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Moses 1:39

"39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"

5) "Because of Jesus Christ’s Atonement, which includes the gifts of redemption and resurrection, we are able to repent, change, and progress eternally. Because of the power He gives us as we are obedient, we are able to become more than we ever could on our own. We may not understand completely how, but each of us who has felt faith in Christ increase has also received a greater understanding of our divine identity and purpose, leading us to make choices that are consistent with that knowledge.

"Despite a world that will try to knock us down to the level of “mere animals,” knowing that God is our Father assures us that we have divine potential and royal promise. Despite a world that tells us this life is a dead end, knowing that God’s Only Begotten Son has made it possible for us to be redeemed and resurrected gives us hope for eternal progress." (Jean B. Bingham, October 2017 "That Your Joy Might Be Full")

How can it change your life to know that you are a loved child of God?

I have absolutely loved studying in this way, and I look forward to diving into other ways that I can learn more about Heavenly Father and His plan for us, of Jesus Christ and His great love for us and His Father. I am grateful to be blessed with this unique opportunity, not only to serve fully my Father, but to be able to dedicate time to studying and learning more about Him. Through my mission, I have grown closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost more than ever in my life. It is truly wonderful, even through the hard times.

I invite all who are considering serving a mission to do it!! It is impossible to state in words how much you grow and develop while dedicating this time to the Lord!

I love you all! I keep you in my prayers continually. Have a good week!

Elder Burns

England Manchester Mission
Springwood, Suite G5
Booths Park
Chelford Road
Knutsford
England WA16 8GS
United Kingdom