Guest Post From Jan...

Hi, this is Jan. I have thought from time to time that I should start a blog to let people know what is going on with me, but I haven’t ever done it because 1. I have a hard time getting around to non-essential things and 2. I am so busy I don’t know how often I would post 3. Jen and I do a lot of stuff together so I figure people know what is going on anyway 4. Most of what happens at work I can’t post about because of patient privacy… Is that enough excuses yet?

So a few weeks ago, I came up with the idea of just using Jen’s blog occasionally. Jen, being the nice twin that she is, said that I was welcome to post on her blog anytime I want, and even showed me how to do it. Isn’t she great?

So, I thought for my first official guest post, I would share some scriptures and thoughts I had while I was studying last night after I got back from the Temple. So here goes…

One of the many things I love about working in the Temple is getting the opportunity to hear from the Temple Presidency. Last night, President Brown gave a wonderful thought about the power of the Temple in our lives. He shared many scriptures as part of his talk. I went home and looked up those scriptures and found a few more and had some thoughts from studying that I wanted to share. (So these are my thoughts, not President Brown’s.)

The first scripture I want to share is D&C 109:22 “That thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power…” Think about what that really means! That we go to the Temple to be endowed with power, but then we leave the Temple armed with that power to help us face a world full of trouble and temptation.

Now this next scripture is interesting. I have never really thought of it in this way, but it is from Genesis, after Adam and Eve have partaken of the fruit, and then the Lord comes and asks them to account for what happens. This is what the Lord says to the serpent, or Satan, in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” If you look at the footnote says, “crush, or grind.” So, Satan will have power to bruise His (meaning Christ’s) heel, but He will have power to crush his (meaning Satan’s) head.

I think the reason that struck me so much is because it seems sometimes like Satan is winning in the world today, but I need to remember that Christ has power to crush the influence of Satan! So of course I want to be standing with Christ.

Look at the cross-reference I found in Romans 16:20, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” Again the footnote says, “break the power of, crush.” I love how the footnote says, “break the power of.” Even though it may seem at times that Satan is winning, Christ is able to break his power.

I really liked this scripture in D&C 62:1, “Behold, and hearken, O ye elders of my church, saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, your advocate, who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted.” So, not only is Christ able to crush Satan’s power, but He knows how to succor each of us who are tempted by that power. Think of the word “succor” and how much love and compassion that implies. I know Christ cares very much about each one of us individually and wants to help us succeed!

This next scripture is perfect for me since sometimes I have struggled with fear of the future. It is in D&C 3:7, given to Joseph after he gave the plates to Martin Harris, “For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God.” I was thinking of that scripture in context of what I had just been studying. Do I trust God more than man, or more than the power of Satan? Do I trust that He can help me through any trial or through anything that Satan can send?

OK, I promise this is the last scripture. It is from D&C 27:15-18 where it talks about putting on the armor of God. President Brown read it last night and as I listened, I was struck again with what a shield and protection the Gospel is in our lives:

“Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.

Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;

Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come.”

President Brown talked about the shield of faith. He said that often people talk about whether we have enough faith. He asked, “How much is enough faith.” He then said it is not the quantity of our faith that really matters, but if that faith is focused on Christ. I loved that! What I really need to work on is making sure that my faith is focused more fully on Christ; to believe that He will succor me, no matter the trial or temptation; that He will always be there to help me. To believe that He is stronger than Satan or anything that can happen to me. I am so grateful for the protection of the Gospel and especially for Christ who is the author of the Gospel, and for His suffering that made that protection possible.

So, that ended up being a long first post. Sorry if it was too long. After I finished studying last night, I just really felt like I should share what I had been studying. Hence, my first guest post. Maybe one of my nice, crafty (crafty as far as coming up with cute things, not in personality...) sisters will someday help me get around to doing a post of my own…

Well, I am off to work. Happy Friday!

Jan