Joy and Peace in Christ

President Nelson said "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives."  A friend of mine posted this on Facebook, and they got a comment that said something to the effect of "That's probably true, but a lot of people suffer." My friend replied "Good point.  It's hard to focus on Him all the time, so it's something we have to work on and hopefully we'll find joy along the way."  The other person replied back "People suffer at the hands of others.  They can't focus on Christ when they are starving and abused." That got me thinking.  What does it mean to have joy?  I thought of something someone said in church several weeks ago "You don't have to be euphoric all the time to be a happy person."  I thought of a scripture we read in Sunday School today "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."  Then, as I was typing the previou...

A redeemer is one who buys a slave back from slavery.  I never realized the significance of Christ performing the Atonement on Passover weekend.  It wasn't some random day, it wasn't the Day of Atonement.  It was the day Israel celebrated deliverance from slavery.  On the day of Atonement, they were pardoned from their sins.  Because of Christ's Atonement, we are freed from the slavery of sin and death.   They were justified.  Now we are sanctified.  We have a chance to become different, to change, to no longer desire to sin. 

The talks that really stood out to me this Conference were about building faith and family.  I've waited to post about it until now so I could read the talks again and be sure what the speakers said, and what I was told by the Spirit. First, from Elder Andersen: "For those desiring to please God, faith, patience and diligence are surely needed."  This reminds me of many places in the Book of Mormon that talk about a "mighty change of heart".  I noted that a mighty change is not always a quick change.  For some, like Alma the Younger, it was.  For most people though, it is a long process of faith, patience and diligence. Second, from Elder Holland's address on the Lamb of God.  As he indulged in a little history and told of the Israelites on the Day of Atonement and the sacrifice that took place on that day, I had the thought "The Jews would not arrive at the temple on the Day of Atonement without a lamb to sacrifice.  I should also arrive at the sa...