Teach Me to Walk in the Light

Okay, so I guess it would have made more sense if this was my first post, but the second will have to work.  I can not sing or hear this song and not cry.  This song will forever and always make me think of my Dad.  This is the song he has sung to me as a lullaby my whole life.  I love that I was raised in a gospel centered home where I learned how to walk in the light of my Savior.  Now, I am learning to walk in that light in a different place on the other side of the country where I can't just call my dad.  I am grateful for the truths that I learned in my home and from this song as I serve here in Apex.

Teach me to walk in the light of his love; Teach me to pray to my Father above; Teach me to know of the things that are right; Teach me, teach me to walk in the light.

I love being able to talk to my Heavenly Father.  Prayer is the often the only way I get through the day.  I pray from the minute I wake up in the morning until I go to sleep at night.  I pray as I go talk to people.  I pray as I search my scriptures for answers, I pray seriously all day.  And the best part, He always answers me.  Often, He answers me in ways I was not expecting (like the fact that I am on a mission) or I am learning that often the answer to a prayer is a "no" which always leads to a better answer then mine.  I am so grateful for prayer and that I was taught to pray! I love knowing that He loves me and I do know that!  I am grateful that I was raised to know what is right and that I have the gift of the Holy Ghost to continue to show me and tell me what is right. 

Come, little child, and together we'll learn, Of his commandments, that we may return,  Home to his presence, to live in his sight--Always, always to walk in the light.

My parents were wonderful and I am grateful to them on so many levels for teaching me how to return my Heavenly home.  As a missionary, I feel like this verse is also my Heavenly Father singing to me and those I am teaching and surrounded by.  He invites all of us to come unto Him through Jesus Christ and to keep the commandments.  His greatest desire is to have all of us return to His presence, where we can always walk in His light.  How wonderful will that be?  To always be in the light of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? I know I can not wait for that opportunity.  That knowledge gives me so much hope and that is the hope we all have the responsibility to share.  He wants all of His children to know how they can return to Him.

Father in Heaven, we thank thee this day, For loving guidance to show us the way.  Grateful, we praise thee with songs of delight! Gladly, gladly we'll walk in the light.

 What a wonderful promise this is! I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father.  I am so so blessed and so grateful to Him.  He does lovingly guide as we let Him, and doing it His way is the best way.  I am grateful to my Heavenly Father.  I am grateful to walk in His light even when everything should be dark, He is the light.  He is my light and I do praise Him.  I know His way is the best way, and that through prayer and obedience we are able to walk in His light.  I love my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.  I love knowing of them and I am grateful for the power of the Holy Ghost in my life.  I know that as we walk in His light, all things will work out. I will gladly walk in His light here on earth until that day when I will be able to always walk in His light!

Here is the link to watch the Mormon Tabernacle choir sing this
song!
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/music/2012/04?lang=eng&session=4&song=3&media=video

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

This last week I have gotten to bike all over beautiful Apex, North Carolina.  It really is beautiful and I often feel like I should be in a movie because I didn't know they actually painted houses bright colors! I love it!  I have done lots of thinking on my bike and often the hymn, I Know That My Redeemer Lives is playing in my head as angels push me up hills.  I love this song! I do know that my Redeemer lives and want to share with you some of the things this song has helped me realize this week.

"I know that my Redeemer Lives, what comfort this sweet sentence gives!"

This sentence really does give me so much comfort!  Comfort in knowing that I will live with my loved ones again as perfect, resurrected beings, comfort in knowing that I am never alone, comfort in knowing that when I am at my lowest, He has been there right beside me, comfort in knowing that because of His wondrous sacrifice, returning to live with my Heavenly Father is possible!  Mostly comfort in knowing that because He overcame all things, no matter what trials come in my life, I can find such joy and happiness now, and I do, through my Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

"He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears"

One of my very favorite scriptures is Mark 5:36, "Be not afraid, only believe."  I am scared of lots of things.  I am scared of some of these new things I am being asked to do, as well as fear as to what is going to come next in my life, but through Jesus Christ, these are all silenced, many of these have been silenced as I biked this week.  He has dried my tears and He will continue to do so.

"He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend; He lives and loves me to the end."

He is my friend.  He is my best friend.  Because He knows exactly what I am feeling He knows exactly how to comfort me and that makes Him the perfect friend.  He does live and He does love me.  He knows all of my mistakes and imperfections and He loves me anyway.  How wonderful it is to know that someone loves you so much that He was willing to do anything, including suffer and die for you.

"Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I Know that My Redeemer Lives!"

This is ultimate joy.  I do know this.  I know with everything that I am that Jesus Christ lives.  I know He is my redeemer as well as the redeemer of the world.  I know that that He is the son of God and the only way by which salvation is possible.  I know that He loves me.  I know He understands me and I know that I can allow Him to heal me.  I know through Him I can repent and feel relief.  I know that He will always comfort me.  I know He created the earth under the direction of His father.  I know that He walked on earth and taught and performed miracles, in Jerusalem as well as in the Americas.  I know He appeared to Joseph Smith.  I know that through the Book of Mormon I come to know Him, not just know of Him, but know Him.   I know that He is my older brother.  I know that He is the only perfect person to ever live, and as we follow His example and repent daily we become more like Him.  I know that He lives and this gives me so much joy.  Jesus Christ lives. I know it.

I Know that My Redeemer Lives!

Here is the link to listen to this beautiful song!
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/i-know-that-my-redeemer-lives