What Lack I Yet?

For the past 8 weeks I have been taking a New Testament class at BYU-Idaho. I signed up for this course because I needed another religion course to complete my credentials for religion and wanted to take it while taking a Science Foundations course I’m required to take a well. Every other week I’m required to share what I’ve learned in some form, so occasionally I share here to fulfill that assignment. I’m hoping there is much to be gained by doing so, if not just for journaling purposes.

The readings in my course have been very meaningful each week, I love the four gospels, but I wanted to share something that struck me more powerfully this last week. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to to take this class. I love studying about the Savior and His ministry. There is so much in each chapter that is full of insight, that it’s truly hard to choose what to give the most attention to. This week, I decided to focus on the rich man found in chapter 19. If you aren’t familiar, he starts by asking Jesus what he can do to gain eternal life. After the Savior recites the 10 commandments, he poses a new  question:

 (Matthew 19:20-22)

            The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

             Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

             But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

As I’ve pondered on this passage, I’ve thought about how we individually receive what the Savior said. Do we feel sorry for the rich man? Do we relate to the rich man? Are we the rich man? Are we so focused on something that we can’t let it go and perhaps see letting go as something we can’t do? Where is our heart?

The Savior then talks to the disciples about how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven:   

           

            And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:24)

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The disciples are taken back by this because they have given up everything to follow the Savior. Then follows a response from the Savior that is full of promise to everyone that forsakes all that might hold them back from receiving eternal life:

(Matthew 19:28-30)

             And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

            And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

             But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

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While reading this story again, I reflected and re-read a talk that I remember hearing in general Conference years ago called, “What Lack I Yet” ( You can watch or read it here)by Elder Lawrence of the seventy.  

The reason this talk has stayed with me, is that  Elder Lawrence poses the same question to everyone listening, asking them to go to Heavenly Father in prayer and ask what we individually lack. I have watched as my friends have gone and followed this counsel and received inspiration, I have done it too. But don't we need to be doing this regularly? I have experience in knowing that as we ask for guidance, we will receive it from a loving Father in Heaven.

Thank you for sharing with me today.

What are your thoughts? 

My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light

          We studied many wonderful lessons about the miracles Christ performed this past week in my New Testament class. Many of them are my favorites and have really blessed me with insight to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's always difficult to pick a topic or principle to relate because of my love for each of them. The one I feel impressed to share today though, is one that has carried me through my trials. I shared it on my message boards in class this week as well. 

Justin, daughter in law Callie, and I waiting at the Lion House for lunch

          In Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Lunch at the Lion House between Saturday sessions of General Conference

          Do you see in the picture below how the two oxen are yoked together? They help share the load and the burden of the weight they pull is distributed. This is what is meant by taking Christ's yoke on us. As we do so, that burden is easier to pull. He shares the weight of our burdens, often carrying much more than we do.

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         When I was a young mom, there was a a phrase I saw in a store that said, "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it." It was posted next to a picture of the Savior. 

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I was sharing this with my Father-in-law one day and he pointed out that if I were to look all through the scriptures I would never be able to find it anywhere, because it directly contradicted what the Savior really taught, which was that He did say it could be easy, and that our burdens could be made light. (Apparently it was Mae West who they were really quoting)? 

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Upon reflection, I found this truth to be much more comforting. It was shortly after that when I was having a personal struggle as a young mother of two children. I asked my husband to give me a priesthood blessing. As he laid his hands on my head and gave me that blessing, I could feel the Savior's profound love and empathy for my situation. I knew he was familiar with my grief and sorrow. I could feel it. It was at that time, and many times since, that I've really felt the words Jesus spoke to take His yoke on me that He would make them light. 

All our beautiful children in front of the Jordan River Temple in Utah

This is the part that isn't always easy to do, but as we work at doing that, He does make those burdens way lighter and easier to bare. What a beautiful blessing! A piece of the atonement that made His suffering so necessary in order to truly empathize with me and my situation, as well as you with yours. A truly heavenly, divine, plan.

The Savior's Early Ministry on Earth

             About ten years ago we read the New Testament as a family for the first time. The funny thing is, I tried to read it when I was ten years old, but only made it through the first couple of books...if that far. The important thing is, the desire was there, right? Thinking about it, I suppose it was because of my love for the New Testament that, when I was a child, I really wanted to name my first born son Peter. But fast forward to ten years ago when I truly fell in love with the NewTestament. Since then, we've read it another or maybe even two more times as a family and, as always, I've gained new insights and my testimony of, and relationship with my Savior has increased. This must be why I was so excited to sign up for the New Testament class at BYU-Idaho where I am taking online courses to get my degree. This past week we studied the beginning of the 4 gospels where we learn about the Savior's baptism and the importance for all who desire to enter the kingdom of God to make those saving covenants and receive that sacred ordinance. Through studying this story, I also recognized how important being baptized by one who truly holds the proper priesthood keys is, and how powerful that power is from one who keeps the commandments and honors their covenants. One of my classmates pointed out this powerful insight and helped me to recognize how the strength of that power varies according to how worthy an individual is.

Jesus is Baptized by John the Baptist: Picture Source

           We also studied how Jesus fasted for 40 days and was tempted by Satan when He would have been at His most vulnerable state, but was able to recognize the influence of Satan because of the blessings of the fast, as well as resist that influence. As any story of the scriptures, there are many lessons to be learned and much inspiration to be gained through relating the events that occurred. We are taught how to respond to Satan by the way Jesus responded to him. How to recognize that he does have power and does exist, and that the spiritual veil is not there for him, he remembers us and knows our weaknesses, but that we have the ability to overcome those weaknesses through obedience to the Lord's commandments and our diligence to stay in tune with the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is Tempted By Satan: Picture Source

         It was after this experience of temptation that Jesus began His ministry, an interesting point another one of my classmates pointed out in remarks to a post I submitted about the power of the priesthood and the strength gained through obedience. He said that he found it interesting that it wasn't until after the Savior's fasting and temptation that He began His ministry. A key point was that through overcoming temptation, He was given greater power and ability to exercise His priesthood power. This power was what gave Him the ability to heal and bless so many, casting out devils and healing the lepers, giving sight to the blind, and so forth.

Jesus Heals the Leper: Picture Source

           One of my very favorite stories is that of casting out devils.The greatest reason for this is that those evil spirits who possessed the bodies recognized the Savior, they knew who he was and begged Him to leave them alone. I was struck by the realization that as we learn in the scriptures that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ, that for those who are close to the spirit and for those whom the veil is not drawn, do know Him, even those that followed Satan and will never have a body. When the presence of the Lord is near, evil cannot stay because they know who He is and cannot stay in His presence. How powerful!

New Testament: Picture Source

         Through my studies and discoveries this past week, my excitement for learning in this class has only grown. I have a great love for the Savior, the scriptures, and the power of the priesthood. How grateful I am for the knowledge of a loving God who gave us such a perfect example of obedience and the protection of keeping His commandments to  lead us back to Him one day. I look forward to sharing more as I learn.

Michael holding the Alder baby, Sunday October 1, 2018

          In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy this picture of Michael with Ramona, a sweet baby who is a triplet. We hold her through our three hour meeting block to help her parents. They have a toddler and the triplets, so it can be helpful to hold one of them and give them an extra hand. She has been a great blessing to our family. The children look forward to holding her each week, and I won't lie, I have found great joy in it myself. Michael is always asking to hold her and she is very content with him. How precious!