Temple Monday

Monday

Jesus saw people buying and selling things in the temple. Because He wanted the temple to be a “house of prayer,” He made them leave. Then He healed people who were lame or blind. The jealous priests were angry with Him.
See Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19

The Temple is a House of the Lord, a House of Prayer, and a House of peace. On all our temples around the world there are words at the top which read, House of the Lord; Holiness to the Lord. When people were buying and selling things in the temple it was a mockery to God. In the early days of the church before Joseph Smith was killed in Carthage they were commanded to build a temple in Nauvoo. When the saints left Nauvoo those who hated the church burned the temple, and thus it being desecrated the Lord put forth a tornado tumbling it to the ground. His temple was not the same any more. When I was in high school President Gordon B. Hinckley announced that the Nauvoo temple was to finally be rebuilt. It is one of my favorite temples! It not only has the spirit of the Saints that were driven out and all the hard work they put forth on the city on the river, but shows that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His church and is here to stay. We are growing every day, and getting stronger with every passing day. I love the Lord, and all that He does for me, and I love that I can go to His House and learn of Him and what He wants me to do to not only help myself, but help others as well. May we always remember that the Lord's Houses are a place of peace... not a place of the world. We leave the world behind when we go inside! 


Now, for those of my friends who aren't members... this can also apply to you. When you go to church remember to leave the world behind. Remember that HE loves you and wants you to worship Him in all that you do, and also to remember Him always.

Palm Sunday

Sunday

Jesus walked from Bethany to Jerusalem. He rode into the city on a donkey, as a verse in the Old Testament said He would. People recognized Him as their King, shouting, “Hosanna,” and laying down palm leaves in front of the donkey to keep dust from getting on the Savior. Jesus visited the temple and then returned to Bethany.
See Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11.

As a young child growing up and passing by the catholic church on our way to our own church I would see Palms on Palm Sunday used for their service. My mom grew up as catholic so she sometimes would tell us of the significance these and other symbols had. The part that sticks out to me the most is that they used Palms to signify his greatness. He entered on a white ass (donkey) signifying his greatness and power. John 12 : 13-16 states, "

13Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

14And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy ^aKing cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

16These things ^aunderstood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him."

 For me all of this signifies how great He was and that He was/is the Master of all things. In school we were always taught about the Master Teacher and learned how to take lessons from him and use them in our own lessons or lives. 

Today at church we sang one of my favorite songs... 
LDS HYMNS #2
The Spirit of God
go here to listen 

One of my most favorite parts of this song is The chorus... We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven, Hosana, Hosana to God and the Lamb! Let Glory to them in the highest be given, Hence-forth and forever Amen and Amen.

He taught us how to live and how to be who we are. I thank Him for all that He does and I sing and shout unto Him HOSANA HOSANA TO GOD AND THE LAMB! 

May each of you find blessings this Palm Sunday and every one after. Especially this week of Easter as we Remember Him. 

The Saturday before Easter weekend.

 Now begins my journey on the Easter week...

Saturday

An important holiday called Passover was only six days away. Many people were coming to Jerusalem so they could offer sacrifices in the temple on that day. Jesus walked to Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. He would stay there for five nights with His friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Mary anointed His feet with oil.
See John 12:1–3.


This story is one of my favorites in the scriptures because when you think about it it's not every day that someone has their feet anointed with oil. However, Mary took the time to anoint the Lord's feet with oil to show of her love for Him. It may help to think about why Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are so important during this time. Well, you may recall that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead proving that He could do all things by the power His Father gave Him. What does this show me? Well, This same Power is something my father, brothers, and best guy friends hold (they know who they are). It is called the Power of the Holy Priesthood. Lately, my oldest brother and I have been talking tons about the power that is in the priesthood. The most interesting aspect of the Priesthood is that it in some ways forces the men to serve. Christ was/is the ultimate symbol of service, love, and sacrifice. A young man who hold the Priesthood cannot give himself a blessing for the sick, or any other kind of blessing... as with any of the rest of us. In my church we have what we call consecrated oil. It is set aside for the healing of the sick and afflicted, and many Melchizedek Priesthood holders have this oil with them, but they cannot use it on themselves. Because a person cannot bless themself. If you think about it when you pray it is the Lord blessing you, not you blessing yourself. Even in other churches they have some of the significance of being "healed" by the power of some higher being. But they have to go to a priest or reverent. I'm proud that my brothers, my father, and my closest friends have this power from God. Throughout the years I have received many blessing given by them, but from God. So, I may not have been resurrected from the dead, but I have been strengthened from the blessing and healed of illnesses over the years. 

This is why I love the story of Lazarus it shows that Christ and God can overcome many things... and help others to overcome things too.  

Easter Preparation

So, over the next week... probably starting Saturday I will be posting things about what happened on that day that signifies Easter. Passover begins on Sundown Saturday so that will be my first topic. Also, Sunday is Palm Sunday so I'm pretty excited about that too. More to come later... Also, I'm going to try and get the house looking nice for Easter! :D And just a look into some of the pictures I will post in the upcoming week! :D I LOVE EASTER!!!!!

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration