"...her borders must be enlarged..." D&C 82:14

Continuing the scripture study of  "expanding the soul".

Here's another scripture to ponder as a visual of "expanding the soul" (see Alma 5:2).

"For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments" (D&C 82:14). 

Let's imagine that we are Zion, even the "pure in heart" (Zion). In order for Zion to increase in beauty we must not focus on what the world thinks is beautiful. Our focus must be on the "beauty of the Lord" (Psalms 27:4), which is the "beauty of holiness" (Psalms 29:2, see also 1 Chronicles 16:29).

As Zion, our borders must be enlarged. Our desire to follow God and keep His commandments increases as we seek to know and love Him more through obedience. He blesses us, in that we "have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2). From my own experience I can say that our "stakes", those elements which hold us steady and strong when the winds come, are strengthened when I have turned my heart to God. He helps me "arise" and put on the beautiful garments of Zion. The "beautiful garments" are symbols of  covenants. When we make and keep sacred covenants He expands our abilities to do good, to be diligent, to do all that the Father asks us to do (see 1 Nephi 3:7).

I have to share this thought from Elder Richard G. Scott. I love his honesty about being enlarged. It is not easy, yet it will be worth all the pain and effort that comes from such soul expanding experiences:

"To exercise faith is to trust that the Lord knows what He is doing with you and that He can accomplish it for your eternal good even though you cannot understand how He can possibly do it. We are like infants in our understanding of eternal matters and their impact on us here in mortality. Yet at times we act as if we knew it all. When you pass through trials for His purposes, as you trust Him, exercise faith in Him, He will help you. That support will generally come step by step, a portion at a time. While you are passing through each phase, the pain and difficulty that comes from being enlarged will continue. If all matters were immediately resolved at your petition, you could not grow. Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love" (Trust in the Lord italics added). 

I know that trusting in the Lord is another way that God expands our souls, and enlarges the borders of Zion, even our borders. True beauty comes as we "worship the Lord in the beauty of  holiness" (1 Chronicles 16:29 see also Exodus 28:36). This I testify.

I love going to the temple. For me, it is a soul expanding experience

Trusting in the Lord and growth come when we enter in and keep sacred covenants

Let the beauty of holiness increase and expand your soul

"...apply the atoning blood of Christ " Mosiah 4:2

So, on my long ride this past weekend I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs. Don't ask me how I forgot my entire legs...but I pretty much did. Since I have been riding there always seems to be some spot or little place that I miss applying sunscreen. I really do not like the pain of sunburn. As I have pondered how to remember or make sure I put it all over I have come up with a few ideas of how this applies to life.

This is really simple. Apply "Son-screen" and you won't get burned. How does one apply "Son-screen" you might ask? We must first view ourselves in our "carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth". This means that we have the honest view of ourselves that we all need help, divine help. We all sin, or "miss spots" and get burned. Therefore, we must ask for help, and seek for forgiveness of our sins just as the people of King Benjamin did. They "cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God..." (Mosiah 4:2). Their desire was to have their hearts purified, and this was done by applying the atoning blood of Christ by having faith in Him, living the gospel, and relying upon grace that changes all of us as we repent and turn to Christ. This is applying "Son-screen".

To "apply the atoning blood of Christ" protects us and keeps us safe from the burns of life. Through applying "Son-screen" we repent of our sins, learn and follow truth, and as the Spirit becomes stronger in our lives through the application of "Son-screen" we are changed, even a "mighty change...that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2).

For me, the best and most effective ways of applying "Son-screen" daily is to "search the scriptures" (see John 5:9; Jacob 7:3; Acts 17:11; 3 Nephi 10:14), pray always (see 3 Nephi 18:15; D&C 88:126; Luke 21:36), and to "live the gospel". Pres. Hinckley said, "Live the gospel. That is the greatest challenge we face. It is a simple declaration, but encompassed in those few words is a mandate applicable to each of us. It concerns our home and family life. It concerns our daily work. It concerns our activities and responsibilities as men and women, brothers and sisters, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...Let us resolve within our hearts to more fully live the gospel" (Live the Gospel).

So, this may be simply said, but it is totally worth the time and effort: apply sunscreen daily. As we apply the "real stuff", the "Son-screen", we will be protected and find comfort in knowing that we won't have to endure the pain that comes from getting burned. And then you can really enjoy the ride!

Here are my legs after my long ride...yup I forgot to apply sunscreen on pretty much all my legs. 

"...The tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He hath chosen, because of their faith..." ( 1 Nephi 1:20)

Sometimes as a parent, or even as a human being, I feel like I am walking around in the wilderness. I know I am suppose to be a parent to the children I have, but there are times that it is so challenging and so frustrating and I really feel I have no idea what I am doing. There are also times when all I seem to do is murmur, murmur, murmur, or maybe I am just hitting my head against a brick wall, so to speak. That's not so good. So how can I handle it better? Don't know if I really handle it better, but at least I can feel like I am not wandering. Here are my thoughts.

Nephi talks about being in the wilderness (see 1 Nephi 17:1-2). Laman and Lemuel also talk about being in the wilderness (1 Nephi 17:20) and boy are their attitudes extremely different about the exact same experiences. I know that sometimes I murmur as I feel like I have "wandered in the wilderness these many years" (1 Nephi 17:20) of parenting and living...but in reality, I haven't been wandering. "I was [and continue to be] led by the Spirit, not knowing before hand the things which I should do" (1 Nephi 4:6). There is an element of faith in parenting and in living, even becoming a parent takes faith, especially in these days of not knowing before hand what to expect with all that is going to happen. Faith is in incredible power and we get to teach faith to our children and as we do so, we are lifted and strengthened. Elder Russel M. Nelson said, "Let [your children] feel your faith, even when sore trials come upon you. Let your faith be focused on our loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach that faith with deep conviction. Teach each precious boy or girl that he or she is a child of God, created in His image, with a sacred purpose and potential. Each is born with challenges to overcome and faith to be developed" (Face the Future with Faith).

Trials or afflictions come in all shapes and sizes. Nephi, a prophet, said this about afflictions, "...[I have] seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless,  [I have] been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea,  [I have] had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God" (1 Nephi 1:1 italics added). Note the "nevertheless". He didn't focus on the afflictions. He had them, but, he saw them as blessings, not just as trials. He also said, "I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance" (1 Nephi 1:20). The tender mercies are over all of us when we seek the Lord. He is standing by to guide us and lead us through our "wilderness". We don't need to just wander about aimlessly wondering if we are doing any good or stay in pain or continue to do the same things and expect different results. When  there is a "mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2) we will have a remarkable change take place. This change comes as we let our faith grow, and deepen in our Savior who is "mighty to save" (Isaiah 63:1, 2 Nephi 31:19, Alma 34:18).

Nephi's trials weren't trials of pain to him, but they became blessings. He recognized "the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He hath chosen, because of their faith" ( 1 Nephi 1:20). The Lord's tender mercies are over all, not just parents. But all His children who choose to exercise faith in Him. Christ wants, in fact, He is waiting to bless us. He says, "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you" (Moroni 7:26). And about our trials and afflictions He says, "...All things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good" (D&C 98:3). He's not going to let our challenges go to waste, but we might...we might if we turn away from God and murmur and complain and whine and become bitter.

But we don't need to become bitter. The joy is real. The joy is that there really is a Savior. We don't have to wander in the "wilderness" for nothing. "Have faith, have hope, live like His Son, help others on their way" (He Sent His Son, #34). The wilderness is but a testing ground for us to learn to listen to His voice, to recognize when He is calling to us (see D&C 88:66). He is calling us, "Come, follow me" (Luke 18:22) because He is the Light in the wilderness. He will lead us along. We need not fear or stay stuck where we are, or even keep murmuring, because those trials really are blessings in disguise. This I testify.