My ever progressing Testimony

I think that the Lord uses showers to flood our minds with inspiration and reflection because we are in a relaxed meditative state, naked before Him and washing ourselves clean.

As I was in the shower this morning, I was reflecting on my beliefs and why I believe them. I do this often, and review my testimony often, but it is something that I keep to myself. I am learning that these are things that are to be borne to other people, shared and expressed so that I may be that light on a hill and not hidden under a bushel. So that I may be a conduit for people to come to God, as others have been that for myself.

My sister posted on Facebook her feelings about commercializing another Holiday and how she struggles with encouraging her children to believe in fantasy people and traditions. This is something that my husband has expressed to me, and I understand it, but I love the game and the make believe, so I defend this practice and tradition. I was pondering the things she said, the things my husband said and internalizing it for myself. Why do I participate in these things and encourage my children to believe in something that doesn't really exist?

The answer was, because it is a fun game to play - and nothing else. Then it began to be revealed to me what kind of ripple effects can be caused by creating a hope in something that really isn't there. It can cause doubts and a discontinued belief in something that really is there - like Christ.

I want my children to grow having a complete Hope and Faith in Christ. I want them to always know He is real and loves us. I want them to know that the things I tell them are true and that they won't be let down someday finding out that He doesn't exist. I want them to trust in me as their keeper on this earth and to keep them free of false hopes and traditions.

In doing this I have decided that if I want to play a game, everyone needs to know that it is one and we can still have fun with it. When I found out that Santa Claus and the Easter bunny didn't really exist, I was ok with it and still pretended and had fun with the make-believe. I can still do this with my children and teach them valuable lessons. St. Nick was a a real man, and his life is a beautiful message of Charity. St. Patrick  and St. Valentine were the same. The Easter bunny however is a commercialized version of a religious belief in a God of fertility. So there will be changes to develop along with fun and family traditions that instill a wholeness and Faith in Christ.

As I was pondering these things, I moved to reflecting over events that happened this weekend, and where my testimony is with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -Day saints, and again, why I believe what I believe.

My focus was on prophets, apostles and what their role in my life is. It became very clear to me; I listen to our latter-day leaders, and all those who served in those callings from Joseph to present day because I know they were called to be there.

President Monson is a prophet. He has the spirit of prophecy given to him by the Holy Ghost just as any man does when the Lord gives it to him and he acts upon it. He has been set apart to receive those things for the church, where not all men are. He speaks words and lives his life in truth and points to Christ.

The apostles have also all been called to those positions also directing me to Christ and increasing my relationship with Him.

The same is with them as with the Apostles the Prophet Joseph Smith called to serve with him. They were called to be an Apostle, and then were commissioned by Oliver Cowdery to fulfill that ordaining by having visitation with the Lord Jesus Christ. I quote -

"You have been indebted to other men, in the first instance, for evidence; on that you have acted; but it is necessary that you receive a testimony from heaven for yourselves; so that you can bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you have seen the face of God. That is more than the testimony of an angel. When the proper time arrives, you shall be able to bear this testimony to the world. When you bear testimony that you have seen God, this testimony God will never suffer to fall, but will bear you out; although many will not give heed, but others will. You will therefore see the necessity of getting this testimony from heaven.
Never cease striving until you have seen God face to face. Strengthen your faith; cast off your doubts, your sins, and all your unbelief; and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. Your ordination is not full and complete 'til God has laid His hand upon you. We require as much to qualify us as did those who have gone before us; God is the same. If the Savior in former days laid His hands upon His disciples, why not in latter days?" (DHC 2:195-196 emphasis added)

These men were called before they had seen and received Christ, if they did see Him face to face and had Him lay his hands upon them, then the ordination and calling was fulfilled. The same is today!

Even though I don't know if any of them have fulfilled that ordination, they have still been called to serve there and guide this church. I sustain them in that calling and pray that they DO fulfill their obligation, just as I pray that I fulfill mine, and that they bear testimony of it loud and clear so that all will hear and there will be no room for mistaking what they are saying and making assumptions.

It is important to me to know they have been called by God and have the spirit of prophecy because by knowing that, I know I will be lifted and edified in listening to their testimonies and directed to Christ. That even though they be imperfect, they are who God has placed there for me to receive added strength and guidance and that they can be a conduit to come closer to God.

I also believe and know that we are each called to individually receive that same testimony for ourselves, to be Priests and Priestesses, Kings and Queens, Prophets and Prophetesses and Gods and Godesses. My husband is my King and a Prophet to our family. I am a Queen and Prophetess to our family. I have seen Christ in dreams and know He lives. I am striving to have Him join me and lay His hands on my head and anoint me and seal me His before I depart from this life.

You can have this too, and will be greatly blessed as I have been by making this your life's purpose.

This is why I am who I am and believe what I believe.

And some shall have Faith to Heal......... part 1

I really enjoy reading and studying the words of the prophet Joseph Smith. I was looking through the book "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" for what he taught about healing. I came across this most amazing and powerful example when he was talking to the Relief Society about the women healing by the laying on of hands. I will quote from the book the most important parts that stuck out to me that sum it up -

"Some little foolish things were circulating in the society , against some sisters not doing right in laying hands on the sick. Said that if the people had common sympathies they would rejoice that the sick could be healed;...............President Smith continued the subject by quoting the commission given to the ancient Apostles in Mark, 16th ch, 15th, 15th, 17th, 18th verses, ' Go ye into all the world, preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.' No matter who believeth, these signs.....should follow all that believe, whether male or female. He asked the Society if they could not see by this sweeping promise, that wherein they are ordained, if it is the privilege of those set apart to administer in that authority, which is conferred on them; and if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their tongues, and let everything roll on..................Respecting females administering for the healing of the sick he further remarked, there could be no evil in it, if God gave His sanction by healing; that there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on and praying for the sick, than in wetting the face with water; it is no sin for anybody to administer that has faith, or if the sick have faith to be healed by their administration."

I think that is pretty self explanatory, and VERY powerful. We as women, and all children of God live far below our potential. And if we would believe, imagine the great miracles that God would do through us!

Save Jesus Only

One of the biggest components to healing, in any form is Jesus Christ. It is by Him and through Him ONLY that we are able to be redeemed and healed of our infirmities.

Our lesson in Sunday School sparked quite a bit of conversation of what it means to "feast on the words of Christ" and I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings concerning this and how it pertains to our healing.

The lesson begins  with Nephi teaching us about baptism, that Christ was baptized and why, and then receiving the Holy Ghost. We are told that when we receive the Holy Ghost and our baptism by fire, we can then speak the tongue of Angels.

2 Nephi 32:1-3 restates and sums up chapter 31 by saying; when you are baptized, you receive the Holy Ghost. When you receive the Holy Ghost you can speak with the tongue of Angels. Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost and Angels speak the words of Christ. We are then directed to feast on the words of Christ.

Well then, what are the words of Christ? The standard answer and what we are taught consistently is scripture. That is correct because scripture is given by the power of the Holy Ghost, I believe and feel that it goes beyond that as well. God does not want us limiting ourselves, for He is limitless and wants us to be as He is.

When we speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, we speak the words of Christ - that is what it means to speak the tongue of Angels. The words of Christ tell us all things we must do, and the Holy ghost shows us all things we must do. Everything we receive by the Holy Ghost is the words of Christ, for he testifies of Christ. My main thought to narrow it down and discuss healing is that our personal revelation is the words of Christ, and we are to feast on it.

How does it look to feast on personal revelation?

To me that looks like we are seeking for it continually. Nephi goes on right after to discuss prayer, because the "inhabitants of the earth" still don't get what he means. We are taught to pray, to receive answers to our questions, which is direction from God, revelation, The words of Christ. Then once we receive it, we keep it in our hearts, minds and souls. Continuing to repeat the words and to show faith in what has been given to us. And ACTING on what has been given, Nephi tells us that the words of Christ will tell us all things we should do, and the Holy Ghost will show us all things we should do.

I liken it to Priesthood blessings as well. The words spoken, when done in integrity of following the Spirit, are the words of Christ to and for us personally.

Nephi also goes on to say, as he ends his book and prepares to pass it to his brother Jacob, "And if ye shall ^cbelieve in Christ ye will believe in these ^dwords, for they are the ^ewords of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they ^fteach all men that they should do good."

The scriptures are the Words of Christ because they are given by Christ and through the Holy Ghost. Anything given through the power of the Holy Ghost is of Christ, and are His words.

If we can feast on ALL things of and by the Spirit, how much greater our faith will be, how much quicker we will heal by that faith and knowing what it is we are to do in all things.

We tend to limit things, and not only is it limiting ourselves, but it puts limits on God, and we don't allow Him to be God in our life.

If we can allow Him to be who he is, then by His word and power and our faith, all things will be healed and all of our infirmities will be now more.

Blessings come after the trial of our Faith

My reason for my learning's this week has been made manifest this weekend. I love how the Lord will send us on a path preparing us for what lies ahead. As we accept what we are being taught, then it makes it's reasons easier to understand and apply.

As I mentioned before, I received a blessing from my husband this week that encouraged me to continue in my study of healing, and how to heal. What I received from there as I was reading the scriptures, is physical healing coming from spiritual healing. Everything we need to know is in the scriptures, even how to take care of our physical bodies.

So I went to the scriptures to begin my study. The first scripture I was led to pierced my soul to a depth I am unable to describe. It is D&C 42:43-44,48. 

" And whosoever is among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy. And the elders of the church, two or more, shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me. And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed."

So all you need is faith to be healed and a blessing. If you lack the faith, but are believing then herbs and mild food. I don't think it could be more plainly put than that. I have been coming to an understanding of the power of the mind and faith, but this puts it into an even stronger perspective to me, that even in our physical existance, we still only need to depend on the Lord for EVERYTHING and not man, and not even the physical things he has provided us with all the time. I don't know how often one can be found that has this kind of faith, but we know that if we even desire to have it, then it will grow. And our faith can be increased by using what God has provided instead of man.

Joseph Smith also taught " I preached to a large congregation at the stand, on the science and practice of medicine, desiring to persuade the Saints to trust in God when sick, and not in the arm of flesh, and live by faith and not medicine, or poison; and when they were sick, and had called for the Elders to pray for them, and they were not healed, to use herbs and mild food." DHC 4:414

So how this has applied to me so quickly.

I am 8 weeks pregnant today. Last night I started hemorrhaging. With any of my other 4 pregnancies I hadn't ever experienced that, even when I miscarried the first. It frightened me, and then the scripture passages I read earlier this week kept repeating in my mind, as if someone was reading them to me. I immediatly asked my husband for a blessing. It provided comfort and strength, gave me more faith, but I was still scared. I pulled up my Natural Healing material from my school, and began to remind myself of things to do. The herbs I needed I did not have, False Unicorn and Lobelia, nor was there a place to get any at 9:30 at night, or even in the area that I know of.

I was nervous, and then was reminded again, that healing can take place without the herbs and foods, if I could have the faith. I mustered everything I had, and then felt like the father asking Christ to heal his son. Christ said all things are possible if we can believe and asked the father if he believed. He said, I believe Lord..... help thou my unbelief. I went to bed praying the Lord would help my unbelief and went to sleep.

Upon awaking today, I was nervous of what I might find. I had put myself on bedrest, so the only time I would get up was to go to the bathroom. To my delight I had stopped bleeding and haven't since. I am still on bed rest today, and going to take it super easy until I can get in to a place to know where things are standing. I am comforted by the feeling that this pregnancy will last, so I hold on to that.

If anything, the Lord prepared my mind to be able to be at peace and ease, by not having the things I would have liked to and that would prevent a miscarriage, but He let me know that this can be taken care of without those things. But I believe, it was a test and that the evidence this morning was enough to say that the Lord healed me.

New Phase

I received a blessing from my sweet husband a couple nights ago, and was told to focus on learning about healing.


 So I am beginning this blog to track my thoughts and learning's. To share and maybe inspire others to seek out their own healing.

I have studied natural remedies and nutrition for almost 8 years now. I have another website and blog that focuses more on these things, recipes and more. I will reference to them from here as well. This is dedicated more to my spiritual learning of healing, and how these two things correlate. You can learn more about my history and what started me on this path in the first place at http://kerissataylor.com/blog/2011/09/14/death-sentence/