Seeing is Believing

In honor of today's invitation to help others see, I wanted to share some thoughts from a recent scripture study.

In Alma 36, Alma is talking to his son Helaman about his experience with an angel.

• Alma went about to destroy the church with the sons of Mosiah
• Angel appeared and commanded him to stop
• Alma was harrowed up by pain and guilt for 3 days
• Alma cries for mercy from Jesus Christ

This is what Alma says about receiving the joy of a remission of sins, "And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold. . ."

Alma SAW. 

His eyes were opened. He saw God on his throne surrounded by angels

Then comes the cool part in verse 26

For because of the word which he as imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen. . .

If we want to help someone see, if we want to help ourselves see eye to eye with someone else, or if we want to help ourselves see, the best way to do that is be born of God. 

Sometimes,

We look at the differences between ourselves and someone else.

We look at the weaknesses in ourselves or someone else.

We see someone looking at the difficulties and weaknesses in their own lives.

We wish our relationship with someone else was closer or stronger.

I would like to invite everyone to think of how seeing might benefit their lives. Then, I invite you to reach out to God, so that you might see.

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/in-25-ways-over-25-days/jesus-helped-others-to-see

Lydia's Baptism Weekend

So now to write the words...  Lydia's baptism was amazing .  She had mentioned to me a little more year ago that she wanted to have her baptism at Martin's Cove.  We had gone there to see a friend get baptized  and it was pretty amazing.  I didn't know if it was possible since her birthday was so late in the season.  When I scheduled it for October 8th, even later than her birthday, I was a bit worried. The day was beautiful. Martin's Cove is a pioneer Latter Day Saint Church Site.  Martin's Handcart Company sought refuge in the cove between the mountains while they waited to be rescue in the cold month of November.  Many lost there lives due to cold and hunger. Many others sacrificed to help others.  It is an amazing spiritual site. There is a little spot on the river that they have designated for baptisms.  The wind was blowing but the temperature was fair and the sun was shining.  Lydia absolutely glowed while Papa Dalton talked about  baptism and the importance of keeping that covenant and what it meant to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He mention how he had a little boy and then asked, " Do you know who that is?" and she grinned and pointed to her dad.  He said that as his little boy as moved all over, and the church has been there when his family was far away.  Then Grandpa Erickson got up and spoke about the Holy Ghost. He related two experiences.  One when he was a teenager and 

She entered the water. It was a little cold. But then when she went all the way under she really felt the cold. It took her a while to warm up. Even after she was dressed.  She then was confirmed and given the power of the Holy Ghost.   After that the Mission President of the Martin's cove spoke. He talked to Lydia about how the place she got baptized was similar to the Jorda river where Christ was baptized. He said that he had been to the Jordan River.  He held up a picture of Jesus at the Jordan river and showed us the similarities.  Th spirit was strong to testify that she was baptized like Christ was baptized , by immersion, and with the priesthood power.  It was just extra special to see the similarities in geography.  The Mission Presidents wife then spoke and gave Lydia a special necklaces of a hand cart. She gave her a little story about a young women who carried many people through the cold ice water so that they could cross to the other side.  That necklace can always reminder her of her baptism and the special place she was baptized.

We then had a wonderful little lunch.