Power to Overcome the Adversary – Peter M. Johnson
You are unique and irreplaceable! You are made of the stars and your spirit is of divine heritage! Never question your worth or what you have to offer! Doing so would question the time and effort He has put into you, and He never makes a mistake!!
“You are wonderful; you are beautiful.” – Peter M. Johnson
We are loved! We are children of Heavenly Parents! We are Heavenly Children! Let’s remember our Heritage and live up to that glorious potential! Not by being perfect, but by trying! In so doing, we’ll be better, make others happy, and make our Heavenly Parents proud!
“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.” – The Family: A Proclamation to the World
Our days are our days, like Esther or Nephi, we were born and put into situation unique to us and through the Lord, we can be made better through our trials. That’s not to say it will be fun or that there won’t be bumps along the way, but if we hold fast, and strive to keep our covenants to do better and be better, He will magnify our efforts! I know it!
“We are ‘choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work.'” – Peter M. Johnson
God didn’t send us here unprepared, but the veil does complicate remembering our training. Fortunately, the Holy Ghost can help remind us what we were taught and what home feels like. Never forget the power of the Holy Ghost in your life and do what you need to, to have the Holy Ghost to be with you!
“You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. That teaching endures within you!” – Russell M. Nelson
God loves you so very much. He loves you so much, He allows you to grow and become better! Can imagine how tough that must be? To see something you love so dearly struggle? Fortunately for each of us, He sends angels to lift us up, because He loves us that much.
“You are elect sons and daughters of God.” – Peter M. Johnson
Like a thick bank of clouds that fog up our view, Satan tries to block our understanding and realization of our divine heritage and potential. He is jealous of our physical bodies and would do anything in his power to stop our progress. Do not let him. Seek the Lord and to have the Holy Spirit present in your life!
“You have the power to overcome the adversary. The adversary, however, is aware of who you are. He knows of your divine heritage and seeks to limit your earthly and heavenly potential.” – Peter M. Johnson
I love that last line, ‘if we do not understand who we are, then it is difficult to recognize who we can become!’ Don’t ever forget who you are, a beloved child of God!
“We are created in God’s own image, and He has a work for us to do. The adversary attempts to deceive by having us forget who we truly are. If we do not understand who we are, then it is difficult to recognize who we can become.” – Peter M. Johnson
Satan has no interest in helping us! He will go out of his way to stop our forward progression. Our Heavenly Father has provided a way for us to learn, to grow, and to progress! But we need to be willing to say no to Satan! Will you say no to Satan?
“The adversary’s design is to distract us from spiritual witnesses, while the Lord’s desire is to enlighten and engage us in His work.” – Ronald A. Rasband
Jesus Christ provides that quiet peace and calming assurance when we are frustrated, upset, distraught or otherwise removed from feeling the Spirit. He can do that for us, if we will but ask. He suffered so we could have it. He loves us that much!
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27
The technological advances I’ve seen in my life is nothing short of amazing. They can be used to do so much good in the world, but they can also be a major source of distraction and interfere with our spiritual growth! Make sure you are using technology reasonably, responsibly and respectfully, for your own sake and for the sake of others!
“In our day, there are many distractions, including Twitter, Facebook, virtual reality games, and much more. These technological advances are amazing, but if we are not careful, they can distract us from fulfilling our divine potential. Using them appropriately can bring forth the power of heaven and allow us to witness miracles.” – Peter M. Johnson
“Let us be careful and not casual in our use of technology.” Peter M. Johnson
“Continually seek for ways that technology can draw us closer to the Savior and allow us to accomplish His work as we prepare for His Second Coming.” – Peter M. Johnson
“We may get discouraged when we compare ourselves to others or feel we are not living up to expectations, including our own.” – Peter M. Johnson
“Please do not let anyone steal your happiness. Do not compare yourself to others.” – Peter M. Johnson
“First, remember that the first and great commandment is to love God with our heart, might, mind, and strength.12 All that we do should be motivated by our love for Him and for His Son. As we develop our love for Them by keeping Their commandments, our capacity to love ourselves and to love others will increase. We will begin to serve family, friends, and neighbors because we will see them as the Savior sees them—as sons and daughters of God.” – Peter M. Johnson
“Pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus Christ every day, every day, every day.” – Peter M. Johnson
Heavenly Father wants to hear from us, He wants to hear it from our mouths and He wants to help us through our trials. But we need to ask. We need to bring ourselves into alignment with God’s plan for us… prayer isn’t a conduit where we convince or persuade Heavenly Father that we are right or justified, it’s an opportunity to seek guidance or peace in our lives! And who couldn’t use some peace in their life?
“It is through prayer that we can feel of God and show our love for Him.” – Peter M. Johnson
Prayer is one of the most important yet under utilized tools God has given us. We literally have the ability to talk to the creator of the universe and be answered by the creator of the universe! Talk to Him! Listen for Him! Trust in Him!
“Through prayer we express gratitude and ask for the strength and the courage to submit our will to God’s and be guided and directed in all things.” – Peter M. Johnson
The Book of Mormon was written for our day. It was meticulously and with guidance of the Holy Ghost put together for the benefit of man in these latter-days. Don’t waste the gift, make it part of your day, every day!
“Read the Book of Mormon every day, every day, every day.” – Peter M. Johnson
If you are needing to receive revelation, pray about it, then study! As you study, your prayer will be answered, maybe not in ways you wanted or expected, but they will be answered!
“Book of Mormon studies tend to go better when I read with a question in mind.” – Peter. M. Johnson
@elkvalleylatterdaysaint
The Book of Mormon testifies repeatedly of Jesus Christ. It’s written in the fabric of the book. Whenever you read it, you can sense divinity within its pages! It reminds us of our heritage and God’s plan for us!
“The Book of Mormon contains the words of Christ and helps us remember who we are.” – Peter M. Johnson
I love that quote, “it is through covenants and priesthood ordinances… that the power of godliness is manifest in our lives!’ Can you afford to not have that power in your life? Do what is needed to have that power present, and that includes making the sacrament an important part of your week, every week!
“Prayerfully partake of the sacrament every week, every week, every week. It is through covenants and priesthood ordinances, including the sacrament, that the power of godliness is manifest in our lives.” – Peter M. Johnson
The ordinance of the sacrament is the most important part of our week. We need to make sure we aren’t complacent with the gift that it is. Through the Sacrament, we are renewing our baptismal covenants and reminding ourselves that we are taking upon ourselves the name of Christ! It’s huge! It’s important! We need it!
“The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated invitation to repent sincerely and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself, does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us.” – David A. Bednar
If we can remember why we partake of the sacrament each week, it would become significantly more meaningful. Don’t let it become just another part of your week, but instead, have it become the most important part of your week!
“As we humbly partake of the sacrament, we remember Jesus’s suffering in that sacred garden called Gethsemane and His sacrifice on the cross. We express gratitude to the Father for sending His Only Begotten Son, our Redeemer, and show our willingness to keep His commandments and to always remember Him.” – Peter M. Johnson
We need to be better. Doing so on our own would be an impossible task. The plan of Salvation has accounted for this and Jesus atoned so we could repent, having a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We would ask forgiveness, make amends and promise to be better. The final step is to partake of the sacrament to have the stain of sin removed from our soul. For each of us, the sacrament is personal, it is powerful and it is needed!
“There is a spiritual enlightenment associated with the sacrament—it is personal, it is powerful, and it is needed.” – Peter M. Johnson
Such a great talk and a great way to sum it up! We simply need to be found doing the right things so the Lord can help us to better and defend against the adversary. We can do better and be better, but only if we strive and do the right things!
“As we strive to love God with all our heart, pray in the name of Jesus Christ, study the Book of Mormon, and prayerfully partake of the sacrament, we will have the ability, with the strength of the Lord, to overcome the deceptive practices of the adversary, to minimize distractions that limit our divine potential, and to resist the discouragement that diminishes our capacity to feel the love of our Heavenly Father and His Son. We will come to fully understand who we are as sons and daughters of God.” – Peter M. Johnson
~ Todd Bruce
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