~by Michelle

I can’t even remember now how I found out about The Chosen. Have you heard of it? If not, I highly recommend it.

I have been a Christian my entire life. I love the scriptures. I love learning about Jesus.

But I haven’t always understood how, as the scripture say, to let Him carry my burdens or lighten my load. I think this has bee complicated by the fact that I have dealt with dysthymia (low-level depression) and some degree of anxiety for most of my life. I’ve struggled with perfectionism. I have understood about Jesus in my head, but haven’t always known how to access and feel and surrender to His love and help.

This is an ongoing journey for me, and God is continually helping me discover more about what it means to let Jesus into my life more fully.

The Chosen is one of the ways He is helping me.

I just re-watched what may be my favorite episode of the series so far, if it’s possible to have a favorite. Just yesterday, I was having one of those days where heaven felt far away. I have lived long enough now to know that these kinds of days come for me, and they go. As I keep showing up for my days the best I can on any given day, God always has a way of showing up, in His time and way.

Yesterday, He broke through the clouds and let me know I was seen. This sweet experience came through a conversation with a fellow traveler on the road of faith who is also seeking to understand more how to lean on God for healing help. She doesn’t practice a religion, but believes strongly in the Bible and in God. In our conversation, patterns emerged, mostly about having eyes to see — eyes to see ourselves with more love, eyes to see (and ears to listen to) others, and eyes to see how God can turn all things for our good.

So to finish my day, to let that feeling of being seen settle a little more in my heart, I watched “I Saw You” (Season 2, Episode 2). As has been the case throughout the series, I felt things beyond words, and was taught and nurtured by God’s Spirit. I’d forgotten some of what was in this episode (it’s been several months since I last watched it). It felt good to remember.

I’m grateful to those who use their talents to share their faith, to bring art like The Chosen to the world. I’m especially grateful for how this unique show helps me see and feel and experience more of what it could have been like to walk with Jesus when He was on earth — and to understand more what it can feel like to let Him walk with me in my life now.

p.s. While I was looking up the video to embed, I discovered that tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (1:00 a.m. on Monday, GMT) there will be an update on The Chosen‘s holiday plans. Last year’s Christmas special was incredible, and this year, from what I have heard, they have more gifts to share. I won’t be able to attend the special in-theater experience for health reasons (please be sure to mask up if you go), but I look forward to see how and when they will, as they always do, bring what they have created, to their app and YouTube channel.

Note: I receive nothing for posting about The Chosen. It’s just something I want to share.

The post What’s your favorite episode from The Chosen? appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Some people who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share some of their thoughts in response to this question.

This video from Latter-day Saints in Canada includes several people’s thoughts, including youth and children.

What brings you peace? Missionaries in Australia share some of their thoughts and invite people to do the same.

“Before I decided to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I had faith, but it wasn’t very strong. My life was not as happy. I had happy moments, but didn’t have that lasting peace that faith in Jesus Christ brings. I remember the day that I decided I was going to start growing that faith.I was going through a rough time in my life, and wanted a change. I started by praying every day. It was difficult at first, remembering to pray in the morning, but I found that as I continued to pray my faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, was strengthened. I then wanted more so I started reading the scriptures, both the Bible and the Book of Mormon….I am [a] different person than I was five years ago, and I would never go back to who I was. I know that it’s all because of my faith in Jesus Christ.” Sister C

Krista shares how a reminder about trusting in God when struggling when family members have made hurtful decisions has allowed her to show more love to her family, and brings her peace regardless of the choices others make. “Putting trust in God, that’s having faith….I’m so thankful to know about Jesus Christ, about God. I’m so thankful for my faith, because that’s what makes life beautiful.” [Krista’s thoughts start at about 2:30 in the video]

A family from Canada shares this: “The gospel [of Jesus Christ] has brought direction and guidance to our family during these difficult times. The song, “there is peace in Christ” is one that our children really enjoy singing. The gospel and our Savior have brought peace to our family. In our everyday, we often face little challenges and family prayer has helped us spiritually and brought peace into our home. We are especially grateful for the plan of salvation which allows all families to be together forever.”

Other young missionaries share experiences that have strengthened their faith here.

A family from Australia shares this: “When the world is full of discontent and strife. I am grateful for my little family, and our home where the cares of the world disappear and we can enjoy our times together. We find peace reading from the holy scriptures each day and and discussing our eternal natures. We especially love watching the Tv series, The Chosen together. The life of Jesus is brought to life with his teachings and miracles put into real life scenarios. One of the greatest teachings that gives us peace and hope for the future is knowing that we can live together eternally. The Son of God conquered death and offers eternal life to his true disciples. If I can teach my children anything I hope they can learn that they have a Father in heaven who they can rely on. And that by following the Lord Jesus Christ and his teachings they can find true joy in living this life and eternal life in the world to come.”

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8 Points to Consider: The Authenticity of the Bible is a Patheos podcast (I Believe) hosted by Karen Trifiletti. She is hosting has an upcoming series on the authenticity of the Bible, with insights from author, amateur scholar, and Bible enthusiast, DM Johnson.

Here are some text snippets from the podcast. You can listen to the entire overview/intro podcast here:

DM Johnson: “I tend to be a guy that goes off of evidence. I believe that faith isn’t believing where there’s no evidence; I think it’s believing where there is evidence and putting our trust in that direction. I’ve always thought it’s interesting that generations ago we only had a few sources from which to get our information. But now, in the internet age, anybody can publish anything. So it’s really hard for somebody to sift through evidence for different matters. You have all of these different conspiracies and different things. When you start getting into issues around something like the historicity of Jesus Christ or the Bible, I just thought it would be fun to actually weigh that evidence and go through it.”

In this overview podcast, DM Johnson sets the stage for eight different types of evidence for the veracity of the Bible.

1. Extra-biblical evidence
2. Manuscript evidence
3. Archaeology
4. The historical method
5. Gospels are based on eyewitnesses
6. Evidence pointing to the resurrection
7. Undesigned coincidences of the Bible
8. Prophecies about Jesus

Image by Raul 654 from Wikimedia Commons used under the following license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

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The Truth from Girl with a Curl on Vimeo.

Read or listen to other stories from people who have found recovery and healing from addiction here. We also have a list of stories about overcoming pornography addiction in our personal stories index. See also this Hope and Healing blog for those who struggle with sexual addictions, and those who know/love them.

The post The power of honesty and truth in the process of overcoming addiction appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Answer:
by Brenda*

President Gordon B. Hinckley answered this very question in the April, 2005 issue of the Ensign. He relates the following.

“Following the renovation of the Mesa Arizona Temple some years ago, clergy of other religions were invited to tour it on the first day of the open house period. Hundreds responded. In speaking to them, I said we would be pleased to answer any queries they might have. Among these was one from a Protestant minister.

Said he: “I’ve been all through this building, this temple which carries on its face the name of Jesus Christ, but nowhere have I seen any representation of the cross, the symbol of Christianity. I have noted your buildings elsewhere and likewise find an absence of the cross. Why is this when you say you believe in Jesus Christ?”

I responded: “I do not wish to give offense to any of my Christian colleagues who use the cross on the steeples of their cathedrals and at the altars of their chapels, who wear it on their vestments, and imprint it on their books and other literature. But for us, the cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the Living Christ.”

“If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion?”

I replied that the lives of our people must become the most meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship.”

When I read this article in the Ensign, President Hinckley’s answer to the question of the symbol of our religion hit me so profoundly. The symbol of our religion is the lives of our members. What a responsibility! I have pondered this article for several years and have tried to live up to this standard. I ask myself “If someone inspected my habits, my home, my life would they see my devotion to Christ?” I hope so, but after reading this article I have also seen many examples of discipleship to Jesus Christ in the lives of the members around me.

Prior to working on this website I had wanted to start a blog that highlighted the women of my ward (congregation). I wanted to interview a woman each week in my ward to show through words and pictures her devotion to Jesus Christ. I thought, “If I could just show the world these women, their goodness, and their faith they would know that we love the Lord, that we are Christians.” The Lord has answered my prayer by helping me find this venue to highlight not just the women in my ward, but Mormon Women from around the world.

I have lived in the same congregation all of my life. The women of my ward have been my tutors in discipleship. I have watched them intently and have seen their wet eyes and bowed heads as they partook of the sacrament. I have watched them make and serve hundreds of meals for the sick or afflicted. I have seen my friend continue to serve in her callings and community service projects while battling breast cancer. I have seen friends come to the aid of a mother whose daughter fell into a coma and did not return with full capacity –they served this daughter daughter by providing weekly cooking lessons, movie dates, and dinner appointments for over 30 years. These activities not only nourished the life of the daughter, but also brought needed relief to the parents who are still providing full time care to their daughter even though they are well their 70’s. The women of my ward taught my Primary and Youth classes, taught me early morning seminary classes and threw my bridal and baby showers. They showed their love for me with their time and talents. Their hands have cradled me, fed me, wiped my tears, wrote me letters of encouragement and hugged me.

Jesus Christ taught,

“By this shall man know, ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.”

and

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

The women in my ward have done their best to teach me to love and to keep the commandments. We are all imperfect, including myself and the women of my congregation. But, I have heard their voices and seen their actions and I know my Savior better because they acted as He would act, loved as He would love. To me, there could have been no greater symbol of their devotion to Jesus Christ than their very lives.

To read President Hinckley’s entire article on this topic please read, “The Symbol of Our Faith.” by Gordon B. Hinckley.

*Please note: The answers in “Ask a Mormon Woman” reflect the thoughts and perspectives of the administrators at Mormon Women. Although we strive to have our content consistent with the Church’s doctrine and teachings, we do not speak officially for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For official information about or from the Church, please visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.

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