Gifts of God

We got to attend the baptism of a great 8-yr.-old friend this morning! It was wonderful!



It got me thinking about the many gifts Heavenly Father gives to His children. I know He delights to bless us! He gave us the gift of His Son Jesus Christ so we could come to earth to learn from our experiences, repent when we make mistakes, and be resurrected and return to live with Him after this life. He gave us the gift of agency so we could choose for ourselves whether to follow Him or turn away.  He gave us the gift of prayer, of families, of the gospel. He gives us gifts every day--that's what this blog is all about!



Today I'm especially grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I always feel the Holy Ghost when I attend a baptism. I love how Alma explains the covenant of baptism in the Book of Mormon:

"And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts." ~Mosiah 18:8-11

 

I also want to clap my hands for joy! This is the desire of my heart! I'm so happy I could be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I'm thankful I get to go to church tomorrow and renew my baptismal covenant as I take the sacrament. I know I will feel the Holy Ghost testify to my heart that Jesus and Heavenly Father love me. I can feel the Holy Ghost even now.

"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." ~Alma 26:16

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." ~2 Cor. 9:15