Ever wonder how much GOD LOVES US?!!!

I really enjoy reading John 17 while the sacrament is being passed.  That and I really enjoy during the Sacrament pondering what the Savior has done for me and the rest of humanity.  I find it a great time to contemplate and as Alcoholics Anonymous put it in the 4th step to recovery, take a "fearless and searching inventory" of how I made mistakes over the week and how I might try to do better the next week.  I always feel the presence of the Holy Ghost during this 15 minutes or so of peace. 
       Recently as I was reading that 17th chapter (also known as the intercessory prayer) verse 23 stuck out to me and I read it over, and over, and over! "That the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me"  Read that over and over until you memorize it!  Now the real question is not how much does God love us, but rather how much does he love Christ?!  Well...how much do YOU think God the Father loved his sinless Son?  I think it is infinite, he loved him enough to give him all power and glory (John 3:35; 16:15)  So if God loves his perfect son that much, how much does he love us even though we are imperfect?  "That the world may know that thou (God) hast sent me (Christ), and hast loved them (us), as thou (God) hast loved me (Christ)"  This may be my new favorite scripture in the New Testament.  If God loves us as he loves his Son no wonder he "So loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son"  John 3:16 
       May we all try our best to emulate the Savior in everything we do.  To know him is to love him.  To love him is to keep his commandments.  "We love him because he first loved us"  1 John 4:19 and remember what the Savior said about loving him "If ye love me, keep my commandments"  John 14:15.

Where Were We?

I just saw this video today and I really felt the spirit testify to me of its truthfulness.  I really love the Plan of Salvation. This is only the beginning of the plan. To learn the rest of it you can go to Mormon.org. I know that we are ALL children of a loving and forgiving Heavenly Father.  He is aware of each one of us, his children. 
     I realize this video is directed more for teaching children, but that is why I like it so much because it is so basic.  I know we all lived with our Father in Heaven before we came here and we have the opportunity to return to live with him after this life.  I declare these things in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and God amen!

Identity Theft

One thing that I have learned from this passage is our relationship to God when he says "Moses, my son" (Moses 1:4).  By and large most people do not realize their eternal identity.  That each of us truly is a son or daughter of God.  Understanding our relationship with Him it is no wonder why He would love us so much that He would go through all of this work to give us happiness.

A Superficial Knowledge

"Now, the atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths. Many of us have a superficial knowledge and rely upon the Lord and his goodness to see us through the trials and perils of life."  -Bruce R. McConkie

As I have often pondered these words through out course of my trials and triumphs (mostly during the trials).  I am ever more humbled at the sober realization of what Jesus of Nazareth did for me and for all the world.  I recently heard a song from a musical called "The Garden" by Michael McLean, in it described the pain that the Savior must have gone through in the Garden of Gethsemane.  I have heard songs before that brought a sense of the spirit of Gethsemane but nothing like this.