If God has all power, why do we need a Savior?

I've heard people question why the Savior had to die. They reason that if God has all power, then he could just bring us back into His presence. 

Envision that happening. Can you see yourself happily being in God's presence as you are now? I can't. A prophet in The Book of Mormon explains what would really happen to us:
"the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord" Mosiah 2:38

I've heard of a mall that was having trouble with gangs frightening away their customers. They asked a professional for help. His solution -- play classical music. It worked! Why? Evil is not comfortable around what is beautiful and good. Knowing this, we fill our streets with light, because we know that violence and crime thrive in darkness.

How Can I Become Perfect?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-08-014-daily-bread-change?category=topics/repentance-and-forgiveness&lang=eng

If you work hard enough, can you become perfect? Of course not!  Being perfect is being like our Heavenly Father and our Savior -- finished, complete, whole. It is a very long term goal that we can desire and work at in this life, and which we might reach sometime in the eternities, but only if we allow our Savior to help us. 

Why can't we become perfect on our own? The fact is that we learn by making mistakes. We do something; experience the consequences, then make a judgement on whether what we did was good or bad. Did it make us happy and bring us peace, or did it make us miserable, and fearful? This is what we are here to do: to learn and grow. Well, we certainly have  making mistakes down pat, and we can even determine if we want to continue that behavior or never do it again, but how can we grow? 

Another Birthday!

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-07-001-have-i-done-any-good-in-the-world-today?category=mormon-channel-music-videos&lang=eng

My gift to you. You can download the video here. 

In a few days I'll have another birthday. I'm excited to turn 68. I know most people try and hide their age, especially women. I don't. First of all, I so grateful to have made it this far, and second, I don't think anyone would really believe me if I said I was younger.  Let's face it, no older person really looks very young if you come within twenty feet of them.

Mainly, I'm excited about another birthday, because life keeps getting better.  Yes, I have health problems which restrict the things I can do, but I find that I'm happier now than when I was younger.  Though I admit, that I was prettier back then, I worried about everything. I compared myself to other women and saw them as more attractive and talented.  I went into a deep depression if I gained a pound, or hid in shame if I had a blemish. I listed all that others could do and neglected my own unique abilities. I worried if I was being a good wife, mother and homemaker. I worried constantly over my children's health, safety, and happiness. I made a long list of other women's strengths and expected myself to perform up to those standards, and I always felt that I was not measuring up to society's expectations. In other words, I sucked the joy out of life.

He Is My Example

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-025-he-is-risen?category=final-events&lang=eng

This video reminds me of not only that we can live forever because of the Savior's sacrifice, but reminds me how to live now.  I am so impressed by the Savior's great love and willingness to suffer the consequences of our mistakes, so that we can learn and grow. He does not waver from what He knows must be done to help us, even when socially persecuted and threatened with death.  He is the perfect example. He is who I desire to become like.

Here are links to videos of the Savior's last week. They help me experience the last week of the Savior's life on this earth.
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-025-he-is-risen?category=final-events&lang=eng

Easter Thoughts of My Savior

For God So Loved the World
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-042-for-god-so-loved-the-world?category=topics/easter&lang=eng

Our Savior brings hope and peace to my life. He is my example and through his power I can grow.

Why Do I Celebrate Easter?

                              

Because of Him

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1420-because-of-him?category=topics/easter&lang=eng

To many Easter is just a traditional holiday; a day when they celebrate spring; a day of bunnies, chicks, chocolate, and Easter egg hunts. Of course I'm ready for a celebration when spring finally comes, but this is not why I celebrate Easter. Like me, some remember that the bunnies, chicks, and eggs are to remind us of new life. They represent the hope for the future that we have through the atonement of our Savior.

Some people claim that when a person dies, life is over.  They are right that we do not have the power to refuse to die, or to bring someone back to life. Though we do not have such power, our God, our creator, surely does. Through the exercise of His power, the Savior made it so that all men's spirit and body can be eternally reunited.  We will then be a complete soul; not just a spirit.

New Year - New Start

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-12-21-new-years-look-not-behind-thee?lang=eng

Here are some New Yorkers thoughts on beginning a New Year. They talk about the mistake Lot's wife made of looking back instead of moving forward.

This year I too am poised to either move on, or live in the past. Last New Year's day, my life was miserable, but very settled. After desperately praying for help, I felt impressed to go to St George, a town three hours south of where we lived. Surprised, I found myself on my feet, and knew we needed to move there if I wanted better health. We did, and my health has greatly improved.

My question now is, will I look back? Will I allow the fears of returning to poor health hobble my efforts to regain my strength? Will I reach out and make new friendships, or long to return to the comfort of my old community? Will I reach out in love to those around me, or moan that my children live far away? Will I sulk over all I can't do, or share what I can do? Will I sit dejectedly in my home, or be out as much as I can? Will I look to the future with hope and energy, or fear and depression? Will I retreat into the past, or move into the future?

Will this be a good new year? The choice is mine. Though my efforts are feeble, if I allow the Lord to help me, this will be the best year ever!

Wexford Carol by Mormon Tabernacle Choir

This music video makes me think about why Christmas is so important to me. Christ gives us hope - hope that we can change, be with our families always, and return and live with our Heavenly Father. 

This video refers to many of our Savior's parables. See this page for explanation and see if you can find them.

https://mormontabernaclechoir.org/articles/wexford-carol-video-reflects-jesus-christs-parables-from-luke-15.html

Here are some of my favorite Christmas Resources.

http://learningabouttheldswebsites.blogspot.com/2016/12/my-favorite-christmas-resources.html

Here are other wonderful Christmas stories, videos, pictures, and music.

http://learningabouttheldswebsites.blogspot.com/2016/12/christmas-resources.html

Here are some of my Christmas poems.

http://sherryannestories.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas

On this blog you can click on the "Christmas" label on the right side of the page or go here:

http://meditationsofamormonmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas

Hope you enjoy them. Merry Christmas!

The Tabernacle Choir -- Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-12-0050-infant-holy-infant-lowly-music-video-mormon-tabernacle-choir?category=christmas-songs&lang=eng

I was very touched by this 2015  Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square video.  It shows the hope the Savior gives to us. Though I've never been in a physical prison, I feel that wrong choices can confine us in mental prisons even more limiting. I am so grateful to be able to learn form my mistakes, to apologize, to start over. I don't think I could continue if I felt I could not improve. After a day of saying and doing the wrong things, my life is a tangled mess. The discouraging thing is that I really am trying. This is the best I can do. I am trying to learn from my experience, but I don't know how to straighten out all my learning mistakes. I don't have the power to give myself a new start. Our Savior's love, strength, and sacrifice makes it so that I can look forward each day with hope -- the hope that I can become a better person.

Paid in Full

Many years ago (2000) when I appeared for jury duty in our small town, I never expected to learn a lesson on the Atonement. It was just a small traffic court and our case was a woman who had received a ticket for speeding. Though the woman claimed she had stayed within the limit, she also expressed her opinion that the speed limits in town were too low. The policeman reported that he had clocked her going ten miles an hour over the speed limit, and that he had just had his radar gun calibrated the week before.

After listening to the evidence, the six of us on the jury were escorted to another room where we were to make a decision. We sat around a table, then, looking each other in the eye, five of us declared, “Guilty”, but one older woman didn’t agree. We told the police chief who was standing guard at the door. He touched the gun on his belt and informed us that we would not leave that room until we came to a unanimous decision, no matter how long it took. Sobered, we all returned to the table. We asked the older woman why she didn’t think this woman was guilty. She replied that she thought it would be mean to have the woman pay a fine. I felt a rising sense of panic. How long would I be here?  I had a school program to attend that evening for one of my children, and it was now late afternoon. I looked at the police chief again and knew that he really would keep us in that room until we agreed.

Cycle Breaker

We left the Oakland Temple, two converts filled with optimism and determination to make a celestial family. A few years later, I was in tears. Where was the loving, unified couple we had hoped to be?  Our two fussy children hardly made us a happy family. What were we doing wrong?

As I saw us repeating old family traditions, I felt trapped. Neither of us had any idea  how to do better. It was then that we began to realize that we couldn’t change by ourselves. No matter how hard we tried, we would simply go in circles and never be free from the mistakes of the past.

We began to see that the power to change came through the atonement. This thought brought us comfort and hope, but we still didn’t know what to do. I know I prayed for my husband and children to change, everyone but myself, and suspect that my husband had similar prayers. I asked for help and nothing happened. I was discouraged.

Grace and Works

I wrote this to answer a friend's question in 2011.

I have been thinking about when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talk about grace and works, and I agree that it can be confusing. On one hand they stress the necessity of ordinances and good works, but when you ask whether they believe they can be saved on their own merits, they are shocked.

I think what is happening here is a lack of common background. Most Christians have centuries of shared struggle as great, good men have wrestled with interpreting the scriptures. There have been many councils and reformations. Though the resulting sects do not agree on all things, there is a shared awareness of difficult issues and defining terms.

Why We Need a Savior

This video really makes give a lot to think about. We have so much to thank our Savior for. Without Him life would have no purpose and there could be no change and growth. I am so grateful for His love and help.

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/infographic

this Infographic summarizes this video.

Healing with God's Help

I was very touched by the healing of a family in this video.
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-06-1240-a-test-of-faith?lang=eng

July 2015

My adrenal glands have healed! I've had Addison's disease for 12 years. Since my adrenal glands did not produce any detectable level of cortisone, I have been on hydrocortisone all this time just to keep me alive. Did the doctors cure me? No. Then what happened?

At the beginning of April I was resigned to just working on my computer the rest of my life, at least until I couldn't see anymore. My eyesight was failing, and though I had cataracts, it didn't account for my inability to focus. Things were looking bleak.

He "Only" Died

A Jewish friend of mine told me that Jesus Christ can't be the Savior, the Messiah, because all he did was die. After a long history of oppression, the Jews were desperately looking for the true Messiah who would free them. But, as the Savior declared to Pilate when asked if he was trying to set up a political government, "My kingdom is not of this world".

He Is Risen: John the Beloved's Witness of the Resurrection

I was very touched by this video. John the Beloved, one of Jesus Christ's twelve disciples, shares his memories and the meaning of  the final days of the Savior's ministry.

Coming to Know Him

by Cheryl Merrick
The depth of His love and sacrifice
I can not comprehend,
but I feel it strengthening my soul.

Easter Thoughts

by Cheryl Merrick
In submission to His Father’s will,
He, who possesses the power to create worlds,
allows nails to be driven into his flesh
that He might save His friends.

He Lives!

by Cheryl Anne Merrick
I have felt Him beside me,
when in desperate exhaustion,
I could go no further.

I have felt His calming presence
in interminable nights
when fear and loneliness
have gripped my soul.

What do Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe about Justice, Mercy, and Grace?

I love this video. It explains how we need a mediator in our lives, and how our Savior meets both the demands of justice and our need for mercy.

A woman said recently that she didn't think she could walk with Christ when she died. Are any of us worthy to do so?  Can any of us grow and change on our own? I know I've tried, but like a person lost, I repeatedly end up back where started. If we try to become Christlike by ourselves, we will fail. We make mistakes everyday (almost every moment). Only through the power, the grace, which our Savior gives us, can we change. He can do anything. He has paid for all our mistakes. He has the power to help us change. All we need to do is try.