Be Prepared

     The first weekend in August in Glasgow, our Church had an Emergency Preparedness Day Open House for the community to come and see. Some members of our church set up booths to show of ways that we can prepare for tough times and emergencies that may come upon us. Some of those ways include, 72 hour kits, emergency kits, financial, dry pack canning and recipe's to use from their commodities. 

     Most of us know that unexpected disasters or freak emergencies can happen at any time. Therefore, it is important that we armor ourselves with some, if not all of these necessities that will help us get through hard times that happen to us. Everyone is prone to emergencies and tough times in their lives, for that is a part of our mortal life. However, when we are prepared with these necessities, we are able to get by until times get better. 

     Looking at the world today, we obviously see many natural disasters that are causing emergency evacuations and heart aches to many people around the globe. Earthquakes, tsunami's, hurricanes, forest fires, and many other disasters are so prevalent in our world today. We never know when we are going to be hit with an emergency, that is why we always need to be prepared with these emergency kits so we won't be all chaotic and put at risk ours and our families lives. All of these recent disasters are most definitely signs of Jesus Christ's Second Coming. The scriptures say so themselves. "And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the seas heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all things shall be in commotion;...And angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice...saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come..." (D&C 88:90-92). 

When speaking of the Second Coming and being prepared, I am reminded of the Parable of the Ten Virgins in the book of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 1-13 in the Bible. To say it short in writing, Jesus relates the kingdom of Heaven to ten virgins who were awaiting the time of the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ). Five of the virgins were prepared and wise with extra oil for their lamps in case they needed more. The other five virgins were foolish and did not have any oil with them. Of course when the cry that the Bridegroom was coming, the foolish virgins asked for some oil from the wise virgins but the wise virgins didn't have enough oil for both, so the foolish virgins went out to go buy some more oil and during that time the Bridegroom came and the wise virgins were ready to go to the wedding and when the foolish virgins came, they were too late and not allowed in. The Savior gives us some wise counsel and the end of the parable. He says, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 25:13).

We can learn a lot from this parable and all throughout the scriptures on how we need to always be ready for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. No man knows when He is going to come again, only our Father in Heaven knows. Therefore, we need to prepare ourselves so we can be ready to greet Him. I know that if we are doing what we are supposed to, observing to keep the commandments, saying our prayers and studying our scriptures daily, and doing all the little things that draw us closer to God, then we will be prepared and will be happy and ready to meet our Savior Jesus Christ.

Obedience

     The last Christlike attribute I would like to talk about is one that we've all heard countless time in our lives. This one is Obedience. I don't know about everyone else but I heard this one constantly growing up, mainly my parents telling me to be obedient. Which I needed to hear.  Today I still hear that term as a missionary and from the Lord through the scriptures which is talked about A LOT! But obedience must be something we need a constant reminder of or else it probably wouldn't be brought up so much.

      Obedience was preached from before the world was created. It is the first law of heaven. The Lord gave Adam and Eve commandments right from the beginning. After they were cast out of the Garden of Eden Adam offered sacrifices to the Lord. An angel came to Adam and asked him why he was offering sacrifices. Adam said that he didn't know why, he just knew that God commanded him to. We can apply this example to our lives. There are commandments out there that we may not understand the whole reason behind them. But we should be willing to obey those commandments because the did come from God and God knows all things so he obviously has a reason behind every commandment. God wouldn't give us commandments if they weren't for our good. So, its important to remember that although we may not understand all the reason for commandments, we just need to follow them and we will be blessed. I am reminded of a scripture in the Doctrine & Covenants section 82 verse 10 which says, "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." When we keep the commandments, we are promised blessings no matter what, but when we don't obey, God can't promise us any blessings. What a wonderful thing to remember.
     Our Savior and Exemplar Jesus Christ was the most obedient person to ever walk this earth. He came and did all that His Father asked Him to do, even being baptized. Now, if we are baptized for the remission of sins, and Christ had no sins, why then was He baptized? Well, let me tell you, Jesus Christ was baptized, "to fulfill all righteousness", and to show "the children of men that according, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments" (see 2 Nephi 31:5,7 italics added). Christ didn't need to be baptized, but being baptized was a commandment to God and Christ wanted to keep all of God's commandments and so He got baptized, not just by anyone, by John the Baptist who had the proper priesthood authority to baptize. What a wonderful example Jesus Christ set for us in being obedient to the commandments.
      Now, I know being obedient can be difficult, especially when the norm is on the opposite end. But I do know that when we are obedient and choose the right even when it is hard, that God will bless us more that we can imagine. He loves us so much, and if we show our love for Him by being obedient to Hid commandments, He will see our actions and will reward us accordingly. I have seen this countless times in my life and the more we are obedient the easier it will become to resist those temptations our there our lives will be beyond happy!

Knowledge

     The next Christlike attribute we need to develop is Knowledge. Jesus Christ was had all knowledge and wisdom. He knew the scriptures and He knew all He needed to know in this life to fulfill His purpose on earth. He grew up seeking, searching, pondering and applying what He learned from the scriptures and from His Heavenly and earthly parents to gain the wisdom and perfect knowledge that He had. Likewise, we are to obtain knowledge so we can be successful in this life.
     We have been commanded by the Lord to gain knowledge. In the scriptures we are told to "Seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118). We need to seek knowledge, specifically spiritual knowledge. We are to study from the scriptures and the words of the Apostles and Prophets everyday. When we study in faith, with prayer, we will find answers to questions, and find help to any challenges we may be facing in life. We should do all we can to gain the knowledge we need to be eternally happy in this life and forever. By so doing we will live our lives as our Savior would have us live.
     Now, we must remember that when we are seeking knowledge, we will not know everything all at once. Knowledge comes over time. We learn little by little every day, line upon line, precept upon precept. We have the scriptures and living prophets to helps us gain the knowledge we need to know so we know how to worship, what to worship, and what we need to do to find success in this life.  Knowledge is one of the gifts of the Spirit and if we do all we can to seek and obtain the knowledge God wants us to obtain, then we will have "the advantage in the world to come" (D&C 130:18-19).
     I know that my spiritual knowledge is very small compared to others. But I do know that if we don't obtain knowledge, then we won't know how to get back to our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the scriptures and the words of the Apostles and Prophets that help me to learn and grow in my knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love reading the scriptures and hearing the knowledge others have of the gospel and I hope that one day I can become more knowledgeable in the ways of the Lord so I can help others obtain the knowledge they need to find true happiness and success in this life. 

Virtue

     "Virtue originates in your innermost thoughts and desires. It is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. Since the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unclean tabernacles, virtue is prerequisite to receiving the Spirit's guidance. What you choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong measure of your virtue.
     "Virtuous people are clean and pure spiritually. They focus on righteous, uplifting thoughts and put unworthy thoughts that lead to inappropriate actions out of their minds. They obey God's commandments and follow the counsel of Church leaders. They pray for the strength to resist temptation and do what is right. They pray for the strength to resist temptation and do what is right. They quickly repent of any sins or wrongdoings. They live worthy of a temple recommend.
     "Your mind is like a stage in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only one actor can be on stage at a time. If the stage is left bare, thoughts of darkness and sin often enter the stage to tempt. But these thoughts have no power if the stage of your mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a memorized hymn or verse of scripture that you can call upon in a moment of temptation. By controlling the stage of your mind, you can successfully resist persistent urges to yield to temptation and indulge in sin. You can become pure and virtuous" (Preach My Gospel pg. 18-19).
     Jesus Christ never at any moment even considered thinking about thinking unwholesome thoughts. He always resisted the temptations of the devil and He conquered all. I know that if we strive to keep our thoughts and desires clean and pure and virtuous, then we will live a true happy and productive life. Even in eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

 What does it mean to be virtuous?
 D&C 4:6        D&C 46:33                  2 Peter 1:3-8
D&C 25:2       D&C 121:45-46
D&C 38:24     Articles of Faith 1:13