Once again it has been forever since I updated here.
But I am speaking in church on Sunday and wanted to share my talk.
Please be kind and do not rip my talk to shreds :) I recognize I am NOT in anyway shape or form a professional writer nor do I clam to know all things about this topic.
If anyone has any questions or just wants to talk kindly and respectfully about religion I would love the opportunity :)
Good
afternoon everyone. I’ve been asked to
start by introducing myself and my family.
My name is Melanie Bush. My
husband Jeff and I have lived in Wylie for 8 years now. We met at in college at
BYU. When we first met it was at what we
called snack an’ mack. It was where a
guys and a girls apartment were paired up to get to know each other and share a
snack. Jeff was in charge of the treats
for the night so I like to tease him that when we first met he was more
interested in the cookies than me. But in
his defense I was more interested in his roommate at the time so the teasing
goes both ways. We have five
children. Ages 10, 7, 3 and two almost 2
year olds. It’s a very busy and exciting life.
The
topic I have been asked to speak on today is The life of Jesus Christ: Savior
and Redeemer.
As I
have been studying to give this talk I kept postponing writing anything down on
paper. I had lots of thoughts and
feelings bouncing around in my mind and heart but I felt anxiety over my
topic. It was really starting to bother
me that I couldn’t get anything narrowed down.
Then as
I was praying for guidance I realized why I had been struggling. This topic is so important! I dare say the most important topic we can
learn about. So how could anything I say
today ever do it justice? Well, I
realized I can not do it justice.
Elder Richard G. Scott said “I realize that no mortal mind
can adequately conceive, nor can human tongue appropriately express, the full
significance of all that Jesus Christ has done for our Heavenly Father’s
children through His Atonement. Yet it is vital that we each learn what we can
about it. The Atonement is that essential ingredient of our Father in Heaven’s
plan of happiness.” (1)
So as I
speak today please listen beyond me and try and hear the things the Holy Ghost
whispers to your heart.
2 Nephi 33:1 “for when a man speaketh by the power of the
Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the
children of men.” (4)
My goal
in speaking is that each of us will use the atonement more fully in our life.
I was
using my husband’s scripture’s to study and I came across a sticky note from
years ago. It was in Matthew chapter 15.
On it was written a very applicable question. “Who is Christ to me?” I
learned a lot from the answer that came next.
“He is my Savior, and example of what and who I can BECOME.” I love that word become. What are we BECOMING? The Savior taught in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” We are becoming perfected. To me just hearing the word becoming relieves
pressure I place on myself to be perfect right NOW. It is a process, having many ups and downs.
The
Savior provided the way, in John 14:6 we read “Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can
become more like Him. Using the
atonement is not a onetime event. It is
meant for continuous use.
I used
to think of the Atonement as being literally two events. First when Christ suffered in Gethsemane and
then second when he was crucified on the cross.
But in the bible dictionary under “Atonement” it says
“By His sinless life, the shedding of His blood in the
garden of Gethsemane, His death on the cross and…. resurrection from the grave,
He made a perfect atonement for all mankind.”
The
Atonement was not just one or two moments of the Saviors life but rather, WAS
his life. His entire life was lived for each and every one of us.
The word
atonement can be defined as reconciliation, unity, agreement, or accord with
God. We can take the word atonement and
break it in to three words “AT ONE MENT”.
The purpose of the atonement is to make us at one with God.
In John
4:16 we learn God is Love.
And in John 3:16 we read “For God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.”
The life
of Jesus Christ can be summed up in one word ‘LOVE’.
When
Jesus Christ was asked “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:36-39)
The
Savior loves us. If the atonement is to
make us one with God, and God is love, then the atonement is to make us one
with love. The atonement gives us power
to love, and by loving we will use the atonement more fully in our life.
When
Christ was on the earth he was found among the poor, sick, widowed, and
sinners. Because of this I learn Christ’s love and redemption is for all. Every person on this earth no matter what
they have done, can feel the redeeming love of the Savior.
As we
learn and grow we do not do this alone…
In Matthew
11:29 the Savior said “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.”
We can
have Christ with us all of our life. He
has already paid the price for us when he lived his perfect life, suffered in
Gethsemane, died on the cross, and then was resurrected three days later.
Will we
do the things he has asked us to do so that we can become all we have the
divine potential within ourselves to become?
I have
the opportunity to teach music in primary.
I am always telling the children that we sing primary hymns because the
words in them, strengthen our testimonies.
I would like to share one, it is called “He sent his son”.
“How
could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
He sent
his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
How
could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent
his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
How
could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent
his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
What
does the Father ask of us?
What do
the scriptures say?
Have
faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
What
does he ask? Live like his Son.”
I
challenge each of us to take a second to think of something you will do to
learn more about the Savior this week.
I know
our father in heaven loves us. I know he
has a plan for our lives. I know that
learning from his perfect son Jesus Christ is the only way we will have the
desire to follow that plan.
In
closing I would like to bare you my testimony that Christ lives. He lived his perfect life and suffered for
you and for me. He loves us and wants us
to be happy. I am grateful for his
guiding hand in my life. I say these
things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
References:
3. King James version of
the Holy Bible
4. The Book of Mormon
Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
