I BELIEVE IN CHRIST

In a day and age that standards are questioned at every blink of the eye, where do you stand?  Do you take the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to heart and live your convictions and beliefs? Or do you simply take that knowledge and store it away in your heart and pull that knowledge up when you feel the most stressed and abandoned?

There is a country song that comes to mind, and as many songs do, it tells a story or maybe it’s teaching us a lesson…..

The song is by Aaron Tippon, released in 1991, “You’ve Got To Stand For Something”

Now Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right 

Now we might have been better off or owned a bigger house
If Daddy had done more givin' in or a little more backing down
But we always had plenty just living his advice
Whatever you do today you'll have to sleep with tonight

He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

Now I know that things are different than they were in Daddy's days
But I still believe what makes a man really hasn't changed

You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

Where do your convictions lay? Do you live the teachings of our Savior as we receive them through the prophets of yesterday and today? How firm is your foundation? 

When faith is properly understood and used, it has dramatically far-reaching effects. Such faith can transform an individual’s life from common everyday activities to a symphony of joy and happiness.  The exercise of faith is vital to our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness.  True faith, faith unto salvation, is centered on the Lord Jesus Christ, faith in His doctrines and teachings, faith in the prophetic guidance of the Lord’s anointed, faith in the capacity to discover hidden characteristics and traits that can transform life.  Truly, faith in the Savior is a principal of action and power.  And with power comes responsibility.  Faith is just one of the building blocks of a firm foundation.

Faith is shown when you are baptized.  When you are baptized, you are covenanting with God to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, to always remember Him, to keep His commandments, and to serve Him to the end.  We renew this covenant with Him each time we partake of the sacrament.  This covenant is not to be taken lightly.  We are not covenanting to “obey the commandments that are the easiest” or to “obey the commandments that support us in the lifestyle we WANT.” We are covenanting to obey all of His commandments.  It isn’t always easy. Or pretty. Or convenient. But, when that final day comes and we are standing before the Judges, it will then be worth every pain, frustration, heartache, and tear.  Knowledge requires action.  We cannot enter into our Father’s presence simply knowing.  We must act upon the knowledge and use the power the knowledge gives us.

Our experiences in life may seem very similar to somebody else’s. They may have many of the same hurts, frustrations, physical ailments, milestones, etc. But as similar as they are they are vastly different.  As Tanner explained just a few moments ago, we may all be given the exact same thing, but our personal-individual-understandings of the experience are completely different.  Therefore we must listen and learn from each other to grow and fulfill our knowledge and to continue growing our own testimonies. 

One experience I’ve had, that I know others have had, is death of a family member.  My experience with this has strengthened my testimony in the sealing powers of families.  On November 23, 2011, there was a small airplane crash into the Superstition Mountains that was caught on a backyard security camera. That short video clip suddenly went viral. We had family living in Australia who called to verify that it wasn’t one of us.  But it was.  In that crash were 6 people. One of them was my youngest brother Joseph then aged 22. Let me tell you a little about my brother. He was a surprise package to our family.  He was born 7 years after my youngest sister, and he came with an entrance! We knew without a doubt he was supposed to be with our family.  He was full of inquiry, energy, and pushed my parents’ buttons and limits. Emotionally and physically.  He was my oldest brother’s shadow. Everything Stephen did, Joseph did. By the age of 3 he was pretty much addicted to a Dr. Pepper & candy bar daily. And Big Red gum. Once he started going to school, he tested his teachers’ patience, too.  He was known to always have a pocket knife in his pocket & regularly picked the locks of the school buildings.  He had his own fashion sense that he would wear his bike chain around as a belt & used a padlock as the buckle. Heaven help if he didn’t get to the bathroom fast enough! He and I had a lot of fun cutting and bleaching his hair and different styles when I was home from school. He loved homemade cheesecake for his birthdays.  He would intentionally blow spit when he blew out his candles just so he could have the entire cheesecake to himself. He enjoyed computers and electronics and he loved fixing, maintaining, and riding quads with his friends and had the road rash to show it.  He enjoyed his guns.  He and his friends would ride the quads or whichever bike or truck they were working on at the time out to the wash to practice shooting.  He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Eugene, Oregon.  He loved the area, not just because it was the same name as our grandfather, but because he took the opportunity to get to know the people.  After returning home, he returned to Oregon to live and work for a bit.  He had met a girl ;-) But he missed his brothers and sisters and soon returned to Arizona with his girl to work with his brother John as an Avionic Technician.  He loved getting his hands dirty.  On the 23^rd of November, his boss and good friend Russ and another friend and coworker Shawn, were making a quick trip up to Mesa to grab Shawn’s kiddos for the Thanksgiving holiday. They had done this many times, and Joe jumped at the chance for a quick visit to Stephen up here in Mesa.  We don’t know exactly why the plane was flying so low, but it was. And it flew straight into the Flat Iron of the Superstition Mountains.  Grieving is different for everybody.  That first day or two that followed was full of tears and shock. For me there was this moment when I was watching the news the first night that I knew.  I just KNEW.  I knew exactly where Joseph was and why.  I knew that the sealing that my parents covenanted to and have obeyed made it possible for us to be tighter again, and that I WILL see Joseph again.  I knew that my Heavenly Father needed him more than we did.  I knew that he was with our Heavenly Father and that there were many, many angels holding our families through this experience. From that moment on, I haven’t felt of the need to question and it didn’t hurt so much.  Which made it easier to help support my family members who were struggling more.  I know that those angels still reach out as we remember and try not to question.  But mostly I KNOW without a doubt that families can and will be together again in our Heavenly Father’s presence.

This is just one experience of mine where learning about our Savior’s teachings and obeying and following Him has helped me to grow and learn.  I also know with a firm belief and knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Gospel teachings I have the opportunity to continue growing and learning. And I will be with my family eternally.

During the April 1972 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, former Apostle Bruce R. McConkie shared a stirring, personal talk titled "The Testimony of Jesus." In his address, he revealed his personal witness of Christ and shared a poem he wrote, titled “I Believe in Christ.”

I believe in Christ, he is my king;

With all my heart to him I'll sing;

I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,

In grand amens my tongue employ.

I believe in Christ, he is God's Son;

On earth to dwell his soul did come;

He healed the sick, the dead he raised,

Good works were his, his name be praised

I believe in Christ, O blessed name,

As Mary's Son he came to reign

'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,

To save them from the woes of sin.

I believe in Christ, who marked the path,

Who did gain all his Father hath,

Who said to men: "Come, follow me,

That ye, my friends, with God may be."

I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God—

My feet he plants on gospel sod;

I'll worship him with all my might;

He is the source of truth and light.

I believe in Christ, he ransoms me;

From Satan's grasp he sets me free,

And I shall live with joy and love

In his eternal courts above.

I believe in Christ, he stands supreme;

From him I'll gain my fondest dream;

And while I strive through grief and pain,

His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."

I believe in Christ; so come what may,

With him I'll stand in that great day

When on this earth he comes again,

To rule among the sons of men.

I learned at Joseph’s services that this was the only hymn that Joseph would actually sing to.  It has always been a favorite of mine, but since Joseph’s passing, it has even more meaning and strength to me.

I choose to stand with Christ.  I strive to obey His commandments and live in a way that will allow me the opportunity to live with my family and my brother again.  It isn’t always easy. It isn’t always quietly done. But I believe it is worth it.