"Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them."

Throughout this week's study of 3 Nephi 12-17, the passages that stuck out to me most came from chapter 14, especially verses 3 Nephi 14:16-23[1] where the Savior teaches about how we will be judged by the fruits of our labors. He warns about those who profess to do His will, but really they are far from Him and he will know them not.

As I studied these verses, I couldn't help but think of the parable of the sheep and the goats. In that lesson the Savior taught that when we serve others we are serving the Lord. It will be because of our good works in the service of others, or the fruits of our labors, that we will be like the sheep in the parable who will be able to stand on His right side. We must be working to do His will; to serve others; to bear one another's burdens; to mourn with those that mourn; to feed the hungry, give drink to those that thirst, to clothe the naked, take in the stranger, and visit the sick and imprisoned. Then, if we bear these good fruits, He will say to us, "Come ye blessed of my father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you." [2]

Because I desire to be on the right side of the Lord, and am striving to do His will, I am working to develop service as my attribute of Christ. And not just service, but service with a cheerful heart. Service without murmuring. Service that radiates the pure love of Christ. This is the desire of my heart. I still have a long way to go. Sometimes my attitude is less than perfect when it's time to feed the missionaries or clean the church building, but I am trying to remember that when I am doing these things, I am doing them for the Lord.

Of all the videos that the church has produced, this video is my #1 favorite. [3] I love this representation of the Savior. I love the Spirit that I feel when I watch this video. My prayer is that the Savior will know me, because of my works; the fruits; the service, that I give to my fellow man.

[1] 3 Nephi 14:16-23
[2] Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Matthew 25
[3] Ye Have Done It Unto Me, video

Remember Him Always

Every Knee Shall Bow - Oil on Canvas, by J. Kirk Richards [1]

This week and last week we have been studying the Helaman chapters, which have become new favorites of mine. As I read these Helaman chapters, I recognize myself in the verses detailing the wicked who have forsaken all that the Lord has done for them. I need to work harder at remembering the Lord each day, after all, I covenant each Sunday as I take the sacrament to "always remember Him." I don't want to treat that sacred ordinance as rote, but more as the sanctifying blessing it is. As I have studied the Lord's rebuke in Helaman 12, [2] I have written down some resolutions that I can personally practice that will help me remember Him and my daily hourly need for His guidance:

• Expressing gratitude: when I am diligent in expressing gratitude to my Father in Heaven and all He has blessed me with, I am much more aware of His hand and power in my life. If I strive to express more gratitude it will help me remember that all of the good in my life comes from Him. 
• Be more intentional in recognizing my reliance on Him and showing humility in realizing how much I need His guidance, this will come through prayer especially, but also in taking time each day to acknowledge my dependence on the Lord.
• Serving others and being willing to do all that the Lord asks of me. This will manifest as magnifying my calling, sharing my talents, doing my responsibilities in sharing the gospel, visiting teaching, caring for my fellow man in need, feeding the missionaries, attending the temple, etc. There are countless ways each day that we can do the Lord's work, but I tend to fill my days with things that only serve myself. I think if I can focus more on waking up each day and asking the Lord what I might do that day to serve Him, my day will instead fill with remembering Him always. 
•  Reading the scriptures daily really does help me remember Him. If I can strive to read even just a little bit each day of my life, it will help me feel closer to Him and the words I read will be influential reminders of the great power I receive from Him.

I am so grateful for my loving Heavenly Father and for my Savior Jesus Christ, who bore my sins, my griefs, my heartaches so that when I fall, I can repent and lean on Him for strength. I want to live my life in a way that glorifies Him so that at that last day I can be counted on his right side.

[1] Every Knee Shall Bow by J.Kirk Richards
[2] Helaman 12

Mothers Who Know

Back in 2007, Sister Julie B. Beck, then the Relief Society General President, gave a powerful talk titled "Mothers Who Know" [I]  in which she spoke about the eternal and powerful influence of motherhood. This talk has greatly influenced me as a mother because it impressed upon me the importance of my role as a mother to teach and instruct my children in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sister Beck referenced the 2000 Stripling Warriors, from the Book of Mormon, who were valiant, courageous, and strong. In Alma 53:21 [II] it reads, “Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.” These faithful young men paid tribute to their mothers. In Alma 56:48 [III] they said, “Our mothers knew it.”

One of my favorite quotes from Sister Beck's talk emphasizes the strength our youth need in this world filled with temptations of every kind:

"The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. Children are being born into a world where they “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). However, mothers need not fear. When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children."

I know that there is so much more I must do to prepare my children to withstand the evil forces of this world. I can do better, and I must do better. I want my children to know that I know, so that I can influence them for good.


I. "Mothers Who Know" by Sister Julie B. Beck, October 2007 General Conference 
II. Alma 53:21
III. Alma 56:48