Fall, so amazing!

What a beautiful time to be in Nauvoo!  Fall is amazing.  I love the varied colors.  Unfortunately there was a small winter storm that knocked a lot of leaves off of the trees so things are beginning to look a little barren.  But that's ok.  There are still plenty of beautiful colors.  

This week I've had a bit of time to do some more studying.  I have thought a lot about my relationship with the Savior, what I know about him and how I feel about him.  Among other things, I listened to an MTC devotional from a couple of years ago.  Elder David A. Bednar discussed Alma 26:11 - 13...where Ammon talked about the thousands of Lamanites which were brought to a knowledge of the truth and "they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us." He asked, "What is the power of the word? And how do we have that power in us?"  In essence he taught that "the word to be planted in our hearts is the life, mission, and doctrine of Jesus Christ" and it can spring up in us unto everlasting life.

"Is The Word, the Lord, increasingly in us? Are we gradually coming unto, and becoming more like the Savior? Is the tree of Christ growing in us?"  When a spiritual knowledge and understanding penetrate deep into our own souls we are blessed to have the power of his word in us and come to know The Word, the Savior.  We need to diligently plant within our hearts, and in our minds, the fundamental doctrine and principles of the restored gospel.  When we pay the price to know The Word, and have the power of The Word in us, we will receive his image in our countenances.  What a blessing!

I had another experience this morning that added upon my testimony of answered prayers.  My Sunday morning prayer was pretty simple, I just asked my Heavenly Father if I could feel. Feel his love. Feel the spirit testify of truth. That was it.  Very basic.  I went downstairs to do my morning scripture study.  I’m reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish and am in 1 Nephi chapter 11 where Nephi is describing how the angel is helping him understand his father Lehi's dream.  The seventh verse I read was this…

1 Nephi 11:22...

…Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. V. 23…the most joyous to the soul.

Spanish: derrama ampliamente = sheddeth itself abroad.  

                  derrama ampliamente = spills widely…washes over me.

I could feel His love and I immediately thought of the song written by Elder Faust…

"This is the Christ"

Lyrics written by President James E. Faust.

They heard His voice, a voice so mild;

It pierced them through and made their souls to quake;

They saw Him come, a man in white,

The Savior who had suffered for their sake.

They felt the wounds in hands and side,

And each could testify; This is the Christ;

This is the Christ, the holy Son of God,

Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.

This is the Christ, the healer of our souls

Who ransomed us with love divine.

I read His words, the words He prayed

While bearing sorrow in Gethsemane;

I feel His love, the price He paid.

How many drops of blood were spilled for me?

With saints of old in joyful cry

I too can testify; This is the Christ;

This is the Christ, the holy Son of God,

Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.

This is the Christ, the healer of our souls

Who ransomed us with purest love divine!

I obviously haven’t had the same experiences that Elder Faust has had, but I can use his words, I too can testify that This is The Christ.  I read his words (the Book of Mormon), the words he prayed (3Nephi 17). The words he prayed while bearing sorrow (my sorrow) in Gethsemane. I feel His love, the price He paid.

I know that God and Christ know us and love us.  They know what we need.  They answer our prayers. My heart is full of gratitude for this knowledge.

Enjoy the pictures from this week.

Along "Morman Rd." north of Nauvoo.

At Ralston Park in Warsaw.  This week was even more beautiful than last week!

Then a little snowstorm blew through :0)

On the corner of Main & Munson.

Browning Gun

I love the colors of the drying cornfields.

Scott was serving in the Print Shop when these folks walked in,
Troy & Bessie Wakefield and Mary & Matt Russons.  After a game
of "20 Questions" they finally figured out how they knew Scott. 
They all were neighbors of our new daughter-in-law Shannon Jensen
and recognized Scott from the wedding day.  Super small world!