Illuminated by the Light

Dear Family:

A scripture that gives me hope each time I read it:

Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word …

Alma 5:7

May we all be filled with the light that emanates from the only one true source of light and truth, the Savior of the world.

Love,

Dad/Mark

Be Strong. Cleave to the Lord. Choose Him.

Dear Family:

Three passages of scripture that inspired me during Gospel Doctrine class this afternoon:

… Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.  (Joshua 1:9)

… cleave unto the Lord your God (Joshua 23:8)

… choose you this day whom ye will serve; … as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

Love,

Dad/Mark

Delivered to Freedom

Dear Family:

During my personal study his morning, I read the following scripture, concentrating on the phrase “The Lord is … my deliverer.”

Ps. 18: 2, 50

“The Lord is my ^arock, and my ^bfortress, and my deliverer; my God, my ^cstrength, in whom I will ^dtrust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

The definition of “deliver” includes:

• to set free or liberate: The Israelites were delivered from bondage.
• to give birth to: She delivered twins at 4 a.m.
• to surrender (someone or something) to another; hand over: delivered the criminal to the police.

The origin of the word is from ME delivren < OF delivrer < LL dēlīberāre to set free.

Just think – to “deliver” is to “set free.”  This theme is prevalent throughout the scriptures.  Moses led the children of Israel to freedom.  Lehi led his family to freedom. Brigham Young led the early saints to freedom.  They were all empowered by the great deliverer, Jesus Christ.  I think all those examples were put in the scriptures to lead us to Christ and the great acts of delivery he offered - the atonement and resurrection that set us free.

At each stage of our lives, we are delivered to freedom, if we are willing:

• Physical birth is delivery - setting a new baby free to experience earth life after having kept his or her first estate
• Death is delivery - setting a mortal free from the physical pain and limitations of this life
• Resurrection is delivery - setting the entire soul (spirit and body) free to enjoy the benefits of immortality
• Exaltation is delivery - setting the soul free to enjoy the life of God

In order for us to be exalted, we must “deliver” our hearts to Christ.  Through this act of faith, we surrender that which we hold most precious, to him.  In return, he will “deliver” us to a great life of freedom in eternity.

Love,

Dad