Live The Gospel

Over the last month I have really gone crazy with my Book of Mormon reading. No, it's not even close to a bad thing. I have felt so much closer to my Savior, and I really do feel like I have gained substantial amounts of knowledge from that book. Man, it's amazing.

 

I can honestly tell you that I have never read a more true book. Ever. And I can tell you that I believe in its words and that it comes from God. I love the Book of Mormon, and I truly do love reading it. It has brought me indescribable joy! I'm not just saying that, I mean it. It's made my life improve tremendously. If you haven't read it yet, PLEASE do. If you read it with an open heart and really read it, you'll see the change in yourself. If you want a copy and don't know where to get one, let me know.

Do you know what I've noticed? In mostly every story, the reason why the Nephites, Jaredites, Anti-Nephi-Lehis, and yes, even the Lamanites are blessed and "prosper in the land" is because of one thing.

"I am aware that life presents many challenges, but with the help of the Lord,
we need not fear. If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ
and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong."
-Howard W Hunter

They live the gospel.


A few examples:
1 Nephi 2:1 "...Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done."
1 Nephi 8:12 "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy."
Jarom 1:9 "...Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land."
Mosiah 2:31 "...if ye shall keep the commandments... ye shall prosper in the land, and your enemies shall have no power over you."
Alma 32:15 "Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed..."

That's just from the first half. And I just found those scriptures by flipping through pages. Not digging and searching. It's repeated time and time again that the Lord blesses his people who live the gospel. It's amazing, isn't it?

Also, remember that living the gospel doesn't mean that you are perfect. The only perfect person on the Earth was Jesus Christ! I'm nowhere near perfect, but really glad that as long as I do my best to live His gospel and keep his teachings in my heart, I'm blessed for my efforts.

Last fall, I realized that although my life was great, but not where I wanted to be, and my testimony was not where I wanted it to be. I changed some habits, read the scriptures more, prayed more, and decided to live closer to the Savior. And I stand here as your witness today that living the gospel WILL improve your life. Tremendously. Because I focus on Jesus Christ, his atoning sacrifice, and his gospel, life is so so SO much better. It improves my attitude and my relationships. It gives me more reason to smile. I cannot even think of where my life would be and how I would handle being a teenager with cancer with the Lord in my life. Every day.

Live the gospel, really live it. Strive to become closer to our Savior through prayer, scripture study, and those quiet moments of thought, and you will not regret it. I promise.

Until next week, keep running.