His Hands

A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

How many times in life do we have the opportunity to be the saviors hands. How many times can we lift those that fall. Now the question is do we? Or do we just sit and watch as others are falling down for, who knows how many times that day. When we are baptised we promise to do just this;

9Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.

God loves us. that is why he sent us here to live. Now lets not let him down but not doing what he asks of us. Jesus Christ is our savior. the Redeemer of the world.

What can we thank the lord for?

Gratitude

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf. Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind. Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden. Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely. Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry. Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job. Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life!

by unknown How many more can we add? There are many things in life that we sometimes pass for granted and maybe not gratitude. This person only went through the first hour of the morning routine. I know there are times of despair if I would only think of the positive things in life.

Return

Recently my companion and I have been struggling with a flu. Because of it, it has given us some time to do some extra studying. I for some reason found alot of talks and articles on the atonement of Christ. It has really brought to the front of my mind just how great it is to repent and feel that burden lifted from our load. Many times in life we try to cover up our mistakes or sins with other things, that for a moment really might help, but in the long run it just disappears and leaves us feeling our guilt and shame. We all know we are going to stumble and fall. If we do not we can not learn. By doing things on our own, and using our agency we are able to learn. 

It is just as a father teaching a child how to ride a bike. If the father holds on and walks the child in circles, the child does not learn to do it on his own. Where as when the father lets go and lets the pain of wrecking or tipping over happen. The child then learns to do it on his own. Heavenly Father lets us fall so we can learn. We just have to take our agency and do what He would have us do. And when the time happens that we do fall or "tip over" He provided a way for us to heal. When we repent. We have a way back.

President Thomas S. Monson said the following,
If any has stumbled in his journey, there is a way back. The process is called repentance. Our Savior died to provide you and me that blessed gift. Though the path is difficult, the promise is real: 'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow' (Isaiah 1:18)."
Through sincere repentance we align our works with Gods will. And promise to follow his comandments. I know that when we repent God forgives us. We no longer feel that pain and guilt that comes from our mistakes. We become free, and we can return to live in Gods presence knowing that we are worthy to live there.

"My Words...Never Cease" - Jeffrey R. Holland

TheBook of Mormon“And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, ... and they teach all men that they should do good.”
2 Nephi 33:10

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and when we follow the teachings therein, we become closer to our selves, our families and loved ones, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father. When we follow Gods comands we feel his love in a stronger way.

Push a little harder.

Saturday night my companion and I stoped into our ward mission leaders home. We talked with him about a few things and got talking about their holidays. When he mentioned that the last weekend when their daughter and grandkids were there the sewer backed up. He went on and said that he was able to get it to go down and drain. He had rented a snake to try and get it out, He had someone come pump his tank. After a few hundred dollars he said that the water went down and they thought the had it. We then went downstairs to see the damage, and what do you know. Eariler that day when his wife had done a load of laundry it backed up again. So instead of leaving we helped him move some furniture around and get the carpet pulled back.

Well it turned out that the very next day we were eating dinner there. While there the weekend Roter Rooter came. The guy ran all of the cable on his snake out. 130 feet down the pipe and still nothing. We noticed that he could have pushed his machine up just two more feet closer to the hole. We sugested that to him and he said well I have had it happen before. So we slid his machine up and almost the last six inches he got it. All of a sudden the small pool of water was gone.

After we had helped him get on his way we were sitting there talking about it. Almost all at the same time my companion, our ward mission leader and I had the simular thought. How many times in life do we put all we think we have into something and we still fall short. Where as if we would have just pushed a little harder. Gone a little more. Just maybe gave it our all for once, been just a little kinder, said hi to someone in need. What could we have done to help our Heavenly Fathers plan either for us or someone else.

I found a scripture pertaining to endurance. In 1st Nephi chapter 13 verse 37 it says, "And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautifull upon the mountains shall they be."

We never can tell what is in store for ourselves. All I know is that those times that I have been pushing for something, when I push all the way to the end, that is when I recieve the blessings, that I can see. If I would have quite before had I might have had joy and some peace. Not untill I go all the way do I recieve the Greatest joy and happiness. I know that God loves us all and wants us all to be happy. When we follow his comandments, that is when we can recieve those blessings he has in store for us.