Faith, Love and Charity

Welcome back! Sorry I've been gone so long, I promise I will upload some videos and some photos. A lot has happened in the past two weeks, this has been the best month of unemployment ever. : D A few weeks ago Jake and I packed up and lived out of my sister in law's house in Santaquin and we attended the Edwards Family Reunion. Lots of stuff happened, pig wrastlin', game playing, laughing, talking and eating, lots of eating. I didn't go on any of the hikes but it sounds like they had lots of fun. Then, last week Machiel came to town (Jacob's Mother for those who aren't following) and we have been shopping and gone to st.george and it has been all sorts of crazy.(Bentley is currently lying on his side, trying his hardest to grab the computer while screaming in a very high pitched voice. :D I love him.)

This week alone has been full of insights, so let me take you on my journey of self improvement and self discovery.

The first encounter with myself happened on a walk with Machiel. We were discussing events in our life and past experiences and our thoughts when we stumbled across a conversation about forgiveness. God expects us to forgive everyone. Bar NONE. We must forgive all people no matter what they have done to us or what we have PERCEIVED that they have done to us. Even if they really have done something it doesn't matter. Machiel said something to the effect that She won't let anyone keep her out of the Celestial Kingdom and, what a smart thing to say. We have to forgive everyone of all things or we cannot enter into the kingdom of God and far be it from me to allow someone to hold me back because of something petty that I think they did. We were also discussing friends and fellowshipping in our ward and neighbor hoods. We came to the conclusion that friendship is work. And perhaps, in my area one of our difficulties is that we are all nice, but only as far as we need to be. We don't put work into our relationships, we are content with what we already have and we are expected to be nice, which perhaps makes us seem insincere. Either way, Love your neighbor is the second of God's commandments and It probably WILL be the commandment that keeps many of us out of heaven. I mean, really, how well do you really love your neighbor as yourself? Your family? Strangers? People on the street? Your next door neighbor? That girl in the ward whom you don't get along with? I'm not saying it's easy, just saying it's necessary.

Two; In Corinthians 13 Paul was talking about Charity, the pure love of Christ, which of course fits perfectly with what I am learning this week. In order to love your neighbor you have to have charity. Paul says that not only is Charity the most important of the FHC trifecta but you must have charity. What is it to have charity? I quote Moroni when I say:

"45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

If I am going to be one who has charity then I need to start working on these things. This is a long laundry list of things that I am not entirely sure I possess.


The last is Faith. Having faith in God, having faith in others and in yourself. Having Faith in God is primary. You have to not only believe in him but believe him when he speaks or when he commands you. You must have faith that He put you on this earth with a purpose and that he believes in you and that He loves you. When you come to the point where you have low self esteem or you are afraid to accomplish something you must have faith that you are capable, and that you have an endless potential. And you must have faith in others, faith in you spouse, your friends, your family that they have good innately in them, that they won't let you down. And sometimes they will, but that's okay. Don't be offended, don't be afraid. Just be believing. God will take care of everything in the End. Just be full of love, charity and faith.

Courtney