Danger Ahead!!!

Danger ahead!

43 And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.
(D&C 84:43)

Something funny about being a missionary is that you get this mindset to turn everything you see into a gospel centered lesson. I did that yesterday as we walked around the beautiful area of Great falls. It was Magnificent and stunning. Just what an outdoors girl like me needed. The sun was shining the snakes were out (I do so love snakes) and the trees and critters were alive and thriving after a long cold winter.

When we first got there we walked the wrong way and ended up walking up the Potomac river (instead of strait down to the falls). The small hike was pleasant and peaceful and the river was calm and beautiful. I noticed many signs along the way indicating the dangers down river. All the "fun" things; swimming, boating, drinking, wading... PROHIBITED! Not just cautioned, PROHIBITED! 

From sitting up river and looking in it seems peaceful as the geese and ducks play around and the water glistens in the sun. It seems calm and welcoming and completely safe. Things change when you walk down river a little ways and see the great falls and hear the thunder of the water smashing into sharp deep rocks. It's an amazing sight but indeed a deadly one. 

What does this have to do with the gospel? Well let's think of the calm river upstream. That can be the world, it beckons and calls for us to come in and to enjoy the "fun." All the river shows is the crisp cool water on a hot day, and a seemingly calm surface. Just underneath the calm surface is a quick strong current waiting to pull anything in its way down to certain destruction. 

The signs along the way I liken to the scriptures, words of modern day prophets and apostles and those who have gone before and who have seen the dangers ahead. In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we have the bible and the Book of Mormon which adds another warning of the danger ahead. We also have a living prophet and apostles that speak to us and receive the warnings from our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and he wants us to be safe. Places those signs, people, warnings and rules because knows what is down stream and the death and danger ahead. 

There will be a time when we all will get to see the incredible falls from a safe and secure place. But for right now beware the seemingly calm river. No matter how tempting and wonderful it may seem it's not worth the price we have to pay later. Watch for the signs and the warnings Heavenly Father places for you and heed their loving voices. I am so grateful that just a couple weeks ago we got to hear general conference and hear the words of modern day apostles and a modern day prophet. I encourage all to go see what they have said to help you return to your Heavenly Father in safety. They stand at the banks, they see the danger ahead. Please be careful my friends! If you find yourself in the river being swept away, remember it's not too late for the rescue team to come and offer assistance. 

Hope you enjoyed and I hope you hop out of that river. Love you all so much and hope you have a magical day!

Watch out... It'll get ya...

Ivy.... Awwwww...

Hey there friends here is a little parable for your day... Well a parable thing... 

Once there was a little missionary that did a lot of awesome service... (The missionary is me... in case you didn't know) 
One thing I have done quite a bit is yard work. I have pulled quite a bit of ivy in my days here as a missionary. Oh boy is ivy fun and I have not seen it quite like I have here on the east coast. There is so much and it never wants to leave.

Ivy is a tricky thing and in my opinion very pretty but it's a pain in the rear too. Ivy is a vine and it likes to wrap and intertwine with everything in its path. Not only that but it takes over other forms of plant life. Wrapping around and slowly chocking them out of existence. It also loves to come back. I don't know how but it always comes creeping back and before you know it the ivy is all over once again.

So what does this silly plant have to do with the gospel? As I have sat pulling and thinking. I have thought how ivy is like unto sin. In so many instances sin is subtle and slow. It creeps up on you and slowly starts to wrap around your roots. It starts to intertwine with your branches and it takes away your nourishment. Before you know it, the ivy has taken over and you find yourself dying out.

Sin does the same thing. It comes in quietly and subtly and it slowly intertwines with your roots then around your trunk. It takes away from your spirit and it subtly leads us to a spiritual and sometimes physical death. I like this scripture in 2 Nephi 28:21 

21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. (2 Nephi 28:21)

That scripture reminds me of the ivy and how it slowly takes over and before you know it BAM, you are in trouble and you have been lead away carefully. Satan works the same way. He starts out small and slow and carefully leads you far from the path home. He slowly chokes out you roots and your spirit... 

Sometimes we think that it's not very big and can't possibly hurt us but if we do not repent and allow the gardener (Jesus Christ) to come and pull we will slowly be chocked out. So we have to repent and allow the sin to be pulled away. We have to use the Atoning sacrifice everyday! Do it now and don't wait, we are asked to not prolong the day of repentance, but to do it right now and I know it will bless your life. The Gardner is longing to pull the sin and cast it away forever but we have to allow him the opportunity. It won't be easy and sometimes it will take time because we have allowed it to grow so much but the freedom and energy we feel after is so worth the pain of change. Sometimes it even feels like it has become part of us, but it needs to go. So let him take it away! Let the weeds be cleared and feel the freedom that comes through the Atonement.

I hope that you have enjoyed my lil parable for the day and I hope that you will "not put off the day of your repentance." I know that Jesus Christ loves us and wants to take away our sin. He has atoned and payed the price so we don't have to. We just have to come to him with repentant hearts and he will cast the painful destructive sin away. I know he lives and I know he loves us. I know from my own experience. You know what else I know? I know it's not easy to let go of sin. It's not easy to change and cast those things that have become so much a part of you away but I know the freedom that comes when you do. I love this wonderful week and I know it is because of Jesus Christ that I am made free! No more choking sin and ivy! 

Hope you have a magical day! 

Love Sister-Michayla Egbert 

Part #3 The end... Or is it the beginning?...

The end... or is it really the beginning?...

Now we come to the close of the plan of salvation best part is that it isn't a closing but a beginning. The beginning of eternity starts right here with the the death of our mortal bodies. Our body stays here on earth and our spirit goes to a place that is called the spirit world.

The Spirit World:

The spirit world is a place broken down for those who have and have not received Jesus Christ and the commandments of Heavenly Father in their life. One part of spirit world is spirit prison, and one part is spirit paradise. The best part about spirit world is that we continue to learn and grow 

6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
(1 Peter 4:6)

Heavenly Father loves us so much that we get more chances to accept Jesus Christ and his gospel and return home. Jesus Christ himself went and taught to those in spirit prison:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (1 Peter 3:19)

For those who chose right while on this earth and chose to receive Jesus Christ through covenants or promises like baptism, and chose to use the atonement in their lives will help teach those in the spirit prison. No matter what all will receive the chance to learn and the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ in their lives.

Resurrection:

So is that it? Do we just chill here and learn forever? Nope we continue to learn and grow until Jesus Christ returns to the earth. When he comes again we will all be resurrected. Alma 40:23 says it best:

23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

How cool is that? We will be restored to a perfect form, all aches, pains, sickness, mental illness, deformities, etc. All will be restored to perfection. Who receives this wonderful gift of resurrection? No matter who you are or what you did we will all be resurrected, that is our gift given for choosing to come to this earth. That is part of our promise when Jesus Christ atoned and opened the door through his own resurrection. By grace we will all be resurrected and be brought forth to stand in the presence of Heavenly Father to be judged according to their works... 

The Judgement:

Revelations 20:12:

 12 And I saw the ^adead, small and great, ^bstand before God; and the ^cbooks were opened: and another book was opened, which isthe ^dbook of life: and the dead were ^ejudged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their ^fworks.


I know that Heavenly Father is a perfect judge and he has a perfect plan where we all will be judged perfectly. We will be judged according to how we lived in this mortal life and how we accepted the Atonement of Jesus Christ and his gospel in our lives. When it says according to their works, we believe that faith and works are important. Not that only works will save you but when you are truly converted to Jesus Christ and his gospel you automatically have good works."By their fruits ye shall know them," so it's by works which are brought by faith that we will be held accountable. 

Kingdoms of glory:

We know that God loves us so much he didn't just make one heaven for us to go to, he made three!!! Yup we believe in three heavens or degrees of glory. The Celestial kingdom, the Terrestrial Kingdom and Telestial Kingdom.






Celestial kingdom:

The Celestial kingdom is the greatest of all! It is compared to the glory of the Sun! That is where we live with our Heavenly Father for time and all eternity. Not just alone but with our families! We believe that families can truly be together forever! Those who inherit the Celestial kingdom are those who chose to use the Atonement in their lives and have chosen to make special promises with God like baptism. The Celestial Kingdom is where we all aim to be! It is beyond what anyone can image in greatness and wonder! I will do all in my power to go here! 





Terrestrial Kingdom:

This kingdom is lower than the Celestial Kingdom, it is comparable to the glory of the moon. This is for those who are good people and love and accept Jesus Christ but chose not to fully use his Atonement, those who also chose not to make those promises with God. It is still beautiful and wonderful but not quite as good as it could be! 


Telestial Kingdom:

The Telestial Kingdom is compared to the glory of the stars. It is still a glory but it is the lowest of the three and it is for those who don't repent and don't choose to follow the example of Jesus Christ.





I know that this was kind of brief and a lot of information but it is my favorite thing in the whole world to share. This plan gives me so much purpose and so much happiness! It shows to me the mercy our Heavenly Father has for us. He loves us so much he created a perfect plan to help us to return home. He sent his Son Jesus Christ to Atone for our sins and he gives us so many chances to repent and come unto him. I have experienced the pains of loss, I have felt the depression and stress if life and it it through this wonderful plan that I find peace and the desire to "keep moving forward." I invite you all to ask questions about Heavenly Father's plan for you and I invite you to pray and ask if it is true! I know with every part of me that this is true. I know my Heavenly Father knows me perfectly, I know that this is a small moment of time and there is so much to look forward to. Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you will ask questions! Love you all and have a magical day!! 

 14 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth oursouls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the ^bplan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations. Alma 24:14

Part #2 The Atonement...

Part two of the Plan of Salvation consists to the very center of the plan of salvation. The event that allows us to repent and allows us to fulfill our purpose, "to prepare to live with God" thus fulfilling the purpose of our Heavenly Father, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) this event makes it all fit together into a truly perfect plan.

This event was discussed in the premortal, back when we lived with Heavenly Father before we came. When Heavenly Father created the plan of salvation he knew we would fall, he knew we would sin and make mistakes and he knew we would die. So he provided us a Savior. His only begotten son Jesus Christ who said yes to the job because of his love for us and his love for his father. 

This event is The atonement. The atonement is key because it satisfies those demands for justice upon those of us who make mistakes. I love the atonement with all my heart. When I decided to serve a mission I decided one of my goals was to understand the atonement more. Well my friends asked and received, I know I can never fully understand the atonement and I still have yet a long way to go, everyday I feel one step closer to understanding and closer to my Savior. 

So what is the Atonement? The atonement is the sacrifice given by Jesus Christ. The atonement does not just include his dying on the cross but also his suffering in the garden if Gethsemane, his sacrifice was sealed when we was resurrected and broke the bands of death. Let's first go to the garden I want to share three accounts in the gospels of this sometimes forgotten but oh so powerful moment. While Christ prayed in the garden that is where he experienced and took upon himself everything you and I have ever felt... 

Matthew:

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:38-39)

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Matthew 26:42-44)

Mark

35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.Mark 14:35-36)

Luke

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:41-44)

I think sometimes we forget the what happened in the garden of Gethsemane. That time in the garden was pivotal to the whole life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is said that he bled from every poor at the pain he felt. That is where the true atonement lies, not just in his death. The events of the garden, the death and the resurrection provided a perfect atonement whereby the demands of justice would be satisfied and the bands of death broken.

I think a lot of times I have forgotten that the Atonement was made for more than just sin, sometimes I forget that he does know it all, that he looked into each one of our eyes and into our lives and saw everything we would go through, he felt it all. He knows what it feels like to be in physical and mental pain, he knows the guilt when we have sinned, he knows the loss when someone passes on or leaves... He knows...

He pleads that we come to him, the thing is he made this infinite Atonement it's all there and it's all waiting for us, we just have to receive. Receive, now that is a cool word... Hey and it's an action word too... Like another that I am thinking of.... Oh yah, faith! Both action words when combined with repentance and submission make an awesome act of receiving. It is through faith that we desire to repent and submit to The Lord... Through repentance and submission we receive the blessings of the atonement. 

The atonement is there for us to receive and the more we put our faith into action the more we become like the savior. So I want you to ask yourself if you are using the atonement in your life as much as you should? Are you allowing it to truly change you and heal you? Are you following the example that our wonderful Savior set forth? Are you fulfilling your purpose to prepare to live with God again? 

I testify to you that it does bring healing for all situations. I have felt and seen it. No matter what you are going through right now, no matter how bad it hurts, no matter how guilty you feel. There is someone out there who knows your pain. He knows you perfectly and he knows the comfort you desire. So please turn to him and receive this precious gift, this gift that will lead you to eternal happiness and eternal peace. Receive the atonement of our savior Jesus Christ and I promise you that you will find the joy and peace you desire. 

To be continued...