Monday, April 10, 2017

Week 87 - Perth, Western Australia - April 10, 2017 - GC



General Conference on the mission is like the ultimate Recharge! I feel so ready to continue this battle for my own soul and for the souls of men! Some talks that stood out to me were Russell M. Nelson's, Elder Sabin's, and 2 of my favorites were Presdient Uchtdorf's and President Eyring's in Priesthood session...Straight up power!!!

I was particularly enlightened by this teaching by President Nelson: "It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as “the Atonement” or “the enabling power of the Atonement” or “applying the Atonement” or “being strengthened by the Atonement.” These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Under the Father’s great eternal plan, it is the Savior who suffered. It is the Savior who broke the bands of death. It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance. It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death.There is no amorphous entity called “the Atonement” upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source. Sacred terms such as Atonement and Resurrection describe what the Savior did, according to the Father’s plan, so that we may live with hope in this life and gain eternal life in the world to come. The Savior’s atoning sacrifice—the central act of all human history—is best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him."

I am so grateful for the blessing of modern day Apostles and Prophets. I do not doubt their statements of Testimony or their special witness. I believe them with my whole heart. 

Something I have been learning a lot about is Learning and Exercising our Faith as a Principle of Power. This is something that is not easily understood and much harder to learn how to enact. Faith in Jesus Christ is developed as we Hear the word of God, Hear the Testimony of Others, Study the scriptures, Labor in fervent Prayer, take upon ourselves Covenants, and follow his example of selfless service. 

We as members of the Church are here to Labor with God. We are here to act not simply to be acted upon. Once we have developed Faith in Christ God wishes to teach us More about how He exercises His power, to help us to continue to walk to path that will lead us to become like our Eternal Parents. 

This Power of Faith in Christ can Cause things to be that otherwise would not have been. It is not changing the will of God. It is acting as Agents in his Glorious work of Salvation! God works among His children according to their Faith and if you think he isn't limited in his involvement in our lives and the lives of others by the Faith we have in Him and His Son you have not understood the scriptures.  
Alma 12:30 Enos 1:18  3 Nephi 5:14 Alma 37:40 Alma 14:28  Jarom 1:4 Alma 57:21  Mormon 9:37 Ether 12:29 
Mosiah 27:14

Any phrase stand out to you in those? God's work and His glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life....this work would be frustrated and our spirits would be crippled if he Blessed us and worked in our lives NOT according to our Faith in Him and His son. 

It requires a complete Submission of our will to His. It is the key to success in missionary work not only in bringing souls unto him but in Changing and becoming exactly who your Father wants you to become. This kind of Faith cannot be achieved on our own. It is a divine bestowal after our wills become aligned with the Father's...Not all at once. If God gave us everything to work on at once we would be overwhelmed and discouraged but as we learn how to discern for ourselves the will of God and to continually ask ourselves the question "what lack I yet"? and "what am I holding Back that I need to give up"? He will answer that prayer... It's usually something he has told us over and over again:) 

I love you all! Hope you have a good week:) I testify of Christ and his living Reality. I have Faith in Him and hope to be able to bless the lives of many with that faith.

Elder Cordner 



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