Spiritual Musical Messages

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Hnszg-ZLU   "A Believer's Prayer" by Sally DeFord   As much of the scriptures and commandments from the Lord say, "preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth."  We are called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though sometimes, it may be hard to know how, or feel courage, or feel we have the ability to. God has given us all gifts and talents. We are all different and unique. We have our own, unique ways we can reach out to others and share the light of Christ.  I feel like this song can be for each of us; our prayer to know what to say, or to have the strengths needed to be a light to others around us who need Christ in their lives.  I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings it brings into my life.   With love and prayers,   Jillene Smith

"The Lord is my Shepherd"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gL6IkzevLo   As I read, these are the verses that stood out to me.  I felt relief as I read D&C 49:36. It applies to each of us directly. Jesus said, "And behold, verily I say unto you, blessed are you who are now hearing these words from the mouth of my servant, for your sins are forgiven you."  I feel encouraged in my strife for growth from D&C 50:40: "Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth."   I feel protected with the words in verses 41-42: "Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; (These have been my favorite verses for a long time!) "And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost."   I feel guided from Jesus' counsel in D&C 50:43-44. "And the Father and I are one. I am in the F...

"I Need Thee Every Hour/Señor Te Necesito   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXoK9ZkLovc   (Or a more formal version :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X )  We need Christ EVERY hour! Leaning on last week's thoughts, regarding how there is so much going on in the world around us; in Doctrine & Covenants 46:8-9, Jesus counsels us saying, "Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given.   "For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts." (emphasis added). The following several verses list many wonderful gifts God has given to His children. But these aren't all the gifts. I think it would be impossible to list all the gifts He's given t...

"Drop by drop"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w2TZV5OSCk   "Stand in holy places" and be not moved!  There's so much going on in the world right now. D&C 45:31 says, "...they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land."  Whether or not Covid is what that's referring to, it sounds like what's going on, right?   All of us have obstacles, challenges, difficulties and sorrows in our lives. So what do we do about it? You can choose.  As verse 32 says, "But my disciples shall stand in holy places; and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die."   I want to take a different view on this statement: "Stand in holy places".  In Relief Society today, Sis. Whitaker shared an example of some friends of hers who were each going through hard challenges. Some of them chose to be angry about it all. Yet some chose to be strengthened by it all an...

I love to see the temple   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk2LpdF_7_4  In D&C 33, I was really pulled into verse 17 which says, "Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom."   For a long time, I've really loved the parable of the ten virgins that Jesus shared with His disciples (See Matt. 25: 1-13) I had a new question come to mind this time though. What would it mean for me to have my "lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with [me], that [I] may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ)"?   4 Words to think about and define here: lamps, trimmed, burning, and oil.   1) Lamps: Our lamps are our hearts which carry our flame, or our testimonies; our faith.  2) trimmed: keeping our lamps (testimonies) trimmed means to be consciously, actively aware of them, taking care of our testimonies, not leaving them unattended ...

I want to be a missionary now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3c1CXFy-sM&authuser=4 Ok, a bit long today, but I couldn't shorten all I really wanted to say! Those are my words! I want to be a missionary now! Yesterday while running errands, my kids and I drove past the Ogden Temple. Rebekah asked if we could please go there after our next errand and just walk around. First off, I was so pleased that she wants to go to the temple! That is so filling in my heart! I love going to the temple, personally. It just fills me! Once we were on the temple grounds, the kids were so excited and felt so happy, they were running around everywhere! (I know that's not quite the activity we should have at the temple, but I'm glad they felt so happy inside by being there. Running around was the only thing they could think to do with all their excitement :) ) Second, as I was walking around the temple, observing and interacting briefly with others there, I couldn't help myself f...

Please enjoy this song,Let Us All Press Onhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e594BDNHL5c I considered not sending a message this week since we've been so filled with the messages from our dear prophet, apostles, and other divinely inspired church leaders. However, I decided that I couldn't skip this opportunity to join in my own testimony with theirs! I know Jesus Christ lives. I know Heavenly Father knows and loves me, my husband, my children, and each person in the world INDIVIDUALLY--not collectively as a general population--but individually. He knows your thoughts and feelings and everythings you're experiencing. He knows where you've been and where you're going. He knows what's ahead. He knows your fears, your hopes, desires, worries, strengths and weaknesses. He also knows what you can become and how to help you get there. We can open our hearts and exercise faith in his plan for us. Let God prevail. Let Him lead you. Follow President Nelson's council t...

“Improve the Shining Moments” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da0H2Pw3TFE (Look up lyrics here-- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/library/hymns/improve-the-shining-moments?lang=eng ) How can I “improve the shining moments” in my life? As disciples of Jesus Christ, and members of His church, we are called and instructed by Him “to strengthen the church”. It seems common nowadays that our schedules are overloaded with work, errands, chores, appointments, kids' school and recreational activities. In my personal life, I have found a pattern in the relation of my spiritual life and my temporal affairs. I've found that when I feel overwhelmed in temporal pursuits and daily matters, these are usually the times I'm also slacking my commitment to spiritual matters (i.e. prayers, personal and family scripture study). On the other hand, I've also found that when I am consciously dedicating time, thoughts, and my pursuits first to God and Christ's work in myself, m...

Learn of Me and Listen to My Words" by Janice Kapp Perry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9ZyRsTBxMY Repentance is the most wonderful gift and opportunity God has given us through the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Doctrine & Covenants sections 18 and 19, the Lord says "repent", or "repentance" 18 times. "For all men must repent and be baptized, and not only men, but women and children who have arrived at the years of accountability. "And now, after that you have received this, you must keep my commandments in all things: "And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they many come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father. "Wherefore, the blessings which I give unto you are above all things." (D&C 18: 41-45) Following this, Jesus gives another command which I feel shares a gentle, compassionate light on ...

Called to Serve Him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAJO3UcUwog Bringing souls unto Christ is of great worth. Doctrine & Covenants 14:4 says, "whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God". Verse seven, "If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God". Verse nine: "I am Jesus Christ...who created the heavens and the earth, a light which cannot be hid in darkness." Wow! I don't know how to create heavens and an earth. I barely know how to create a decent casserole! If He knows how to do that, I can guarantee He knows how to help us share His light with others. Have you ever accomplished a big task? Or achieved a big goal that took a lot of time, effort, and dedication? Didn't it feel fulfilling? Wasn't that an amazing feeling? Didn't all that work you put in feel so worthwhile? Now, I just imagine: Within my lifetime, if...

We can find our own personal revelation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFwMFWKxN9g&list=RDRbKNp55yyUU&start_radio=1 As I read through D&C 12-13, and Joseph Smith-History, I realized the simple point, and that is this: All of the gospel is revelation; truths revealed to those who sought wisdom from God. We can learn from the example of Joseph Smith as well as all other prophets throughout time, that God; the God of all this world and this universe, "and all things that in them are"; wants very much to share this knowledge and wisdom with each of us as we strive to become like Him. In almost every chapter of the Doctrine and Covenants I can find the theme: "If you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you." (D&C 12:3) Ask our questions to Heavenly Father, no matter the topic. Jesus said, "all things unto me are spiritual" (see D&C 29:34). Everything in our lives is important to Him because WE ar...

Oh Say What is Truth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtDU6FlkLok&t=64s "That you may come off conqueror" D&C 10:5 How can we come off conqueror? D&C 11:7 says "Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich." "Seek wisdom". What are we searching for in this world? The Lord commands us to "seek wisdom, cry repentance, trust in the Spirit...so simple really. Yet these action steps can bring peace, guidance, and greater understanding to us in our personal lives than anything in the world. (See D&C 11:7-14.) Google has resources, an overload of information, and even services that can at times be helpful to some degree or other. But God has ALL wisdom, ALL knowledge, and He knows you better than you know yourself. He will guide you as you seek. Study these chapters. Ask questions. Open your heart and you will ...

Be still my soul, sung by David Archuleta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6xHdlLIMEk All this week I've been studying Doctrine & Covenants ch. 6-9. The first thing I noticed was how, over and over, it says, "Ask and ye shall receive" (See D&C 6:5, 8, 22-23; 7:1; 8:1-2, 9,10). Jesus Christ spoke those words to Joseph Smith many times: "Ask, and ye shall receive; Seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you." To help us better understand how to really receive from Christ, we can look at how Jesus corrected Oliver Cowdry by saying he'd done no more than to ask. Jesus said, "study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right, you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong..." (D&C 9:8-9). ...

A Marvelous Work and Wonder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T9CjxFSWkk I learned a new lesson from these chapters in D&C this week. As it says in Come, Follow Me, Doctrine & Covenants chapter 4 is usually applied to full-time missionaries, though it was originally written towards Joseph Smith Sr. who was not being called on a mission, but had a "desire to serve" (D&C 4:3). In light of that, this verse is applicable to each of us in our various situations and circumstances. D&C 4;5-6 list the qualities and attributes to strive for as servants of God. Verse seven then says, "Ask and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I've read this before in an application to general questions regarding faith. But today I see it also as an opportunity to ask Heavenly Father for these qualities needed to do His work. We all have a "calling" or special place in our individual lives where we can shine the light of Christ to H...

Love At Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=798jWz6vsbw (a touch more upbeat than a sacrament meeting version ;) ) I wanted to focus on Family History and temple covenants. In Joseph Smith--History 1:39, we read of the Angel Moroni's message to Joseph Smith, where he quoted the past prophet, Malachi, saying; "And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." In a 2015 BYU Women's Conference, Sister Wendy Nelson, wife of President Nelson, gave a talk called, Delighting in Our Covenants. She said, "When we really think about it, our covenants are a gift! A gift from God to get us safely back home to Him! What a gift that is!" ALL of God's children are important to Him and play an important part in His plan. A sister shared with Wendy Nelson how personally connected she felt with Heav...