Day 14 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of

Jesus Christ fulfilled every prophecy concerning Him. If the people had taken time to investigate, they would find their awaited Messiah. This shows how important it is to be a scripture scholar...study the works of God and this will help you find the Messiah.

Day 13 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Crucifixion of

 

What a horrible price of torture to pay in order to redeem us. Totally innocent, Christ was condemned for envy and hatred to such a cruel death. And He knew it, but He kept eternal perspective and offered Himself a ransom willingly to save me, to save you. Do I "remember what was done that the sinner might be won"? (Hymns, 185). Remembering Him more and what He sacrificed makes me complain less, fills my heart with gratitude, and humbles me to repentance. It is wise to remember.

Day 12 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Creator

 

The Lord Created All Things

How powerful to know that all things were created by Jesus Christ. To remember that every bird, every bud, every bug came by His hand...the heart, the lungs, the brain...the stars, moon, and wind. It just instantly humbles, you, and you then desire to bow before Him and worship Him. You gain confidence that He can teach you, so you learn to seek after Him. You want to obey Him. No wonder CREATION is a pillar of the Plan of Salvation.

Day 11: Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, condescension of

The First Christmas

How far Christ descended! Can you call it FALL when he deliberately chose to leave His high station to redeem us? Maybe if Christ had succumbed to Satan's incessant temptations, you could say He fell. However, since He did not succumb, I believe we must ever remember that Christ condescended--He did not fall. That word choice becomes significant to our salvation. He could not have redeemed us fallen ones had He fallen himself.

Day 10 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Birth of

 

The Nativity

The story behind the birth of Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies regarding his birth to a virgin mother, signs in the heavens, and his birthplace of Bethlehem. However, because he dwelt in Nazareth, he became known as Jesus of Nazareth. Thus, it was easy for people to reject him and his ministry--he wasn't called Jesus of Bethlehem, afterall. 

Likewise, did anyone ask when his birthday was? If they had, they might find in the records or even recall the huge star that lit up the night on that date. At the very least, they might recall the slaughter of children in Bethlehem by Herod's jealous raid around that period of time--another prophesied event.

Again, because Mary was married to Joseph the Carpenter, it was an easy assumption that Joseph was the father of Jesus.  Because people made these assumptions, they easily dismissed the Savior's testimony that he was their long-awaited Messiah asking, "Is this not the carpenter's son?" (Matthew 13:55).

Perhaps it would be wise of each of us to not so readily dismiss things that don't fit within our paradigm of how both God and the world work. The simple exercise of exploring claims, asking questions, researching, and discerning may unravel astounding truths to us that we would have otherwise missed without the effort. In the case for Jesus Christ, not exploring His origins and witness led to eternal consequences for his critics. Let's not follow their short-sightededness.

Day 8 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Baptism of

John the Baptist baptizes Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, though sinless, obeyed His Father and set the example for us by getting baptized. He invites all men to follow His example as baptism opens the gate into His eternal kingdom. How merciful is the gift of temple work--specifically the baptism for the dead. This sacred work allows proxies to stand in for those who have died and to receive the ordinance of baptism in their behalf. This makes this commandment possible for every child of God who ever lived or will live upon the earth, if they will accept the proffered gift. Not only does God give commands, He provides an example and the way for those commandments to be fulfilled. Nothing is impossible with God.

Day 7 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Authority of

 

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

The Jews asked, "By what authority doest thou these things?" (Mark 11:28). Jesus Christ's authority came from his Father before the earth was created. He had power to create, redeem, preach, heal, minister, etc. from His Priesthood, the order of The Son of God. Surely He is authorized in every action he takes...especially because He obeys every command from his Father, the author of all authority.

Day 5 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Ascension and Descension of

Christ Appears to the Nephites

Magicians levitate and angels appear, but who ascends? Only one!

That one is Jesus Christ. In mortality, he demonstrated power over water (Matthew 14:25).  In His visit to the Nephites, we have record of His power over fire (Helaman 5:23, 3 Nephi 17). By His power, His servants moved mountains showcasing His power over earth (Moses 7:13). In His ascension and descension to earth (3 Nephi 10:18, 3 Nephi 11:8), He demonstrates His power over air.

Water, fire, earth, and air--the classical elements upon which ancient cultures built their philosophies, science, and medicines--are subdued by One.

Surely, this IS the Christ!

Day 4 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Appearances, Postmortal

 

Mary Magdalene speaks with Christ after His Resurrection. 

In a court of law, how many witnesses does it take to corroborate a claim?  God's law states that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall all my words be established" (see Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Cor 13:1). He often gives more witnesses than two or three, however. In the case for Jesus Christ,  there are thousands of witnesses that confirm that 1) He lives, 2) He has a physical body, and that 3) He visits and speaks with mankind.

1) He lives: The New Testament confirms that though crucified, pronounced dead by Pilate, and laid in a tomb, the resurrected Christ visited Mary, his 11 apostles, 2 men on the road to Emmaus, over 500 people at one time, Stephen, Saul, and Ananias. He visited and taught His closest associates for 40 days. The Book of Mormon testifies of His visit to over 2500 men, women, and children after His resurrection. In the Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price (two volumes of modern scripture), we have the account of His appearances and instruction to Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery.  The Doctrine and Covenants further  confirms that in our modern era, Jesus Christ continues to visit and teach individuals who qualify themselves (see D&C 67:10). Many witnesses, including modern-day apostles continue to testify of the Living Christ and His continued visitations and teaching. 

2) Most of the witnesses listed above were invited to both see and feel the nailprints in Christ's hands and feet and the wound in his side. They testify of the reality of  His physical, resurrected body. Their testimonies corroborate each other's. As an added witness, Jesus Christ ate fish and honeycomb with his apostles to prove to them that He was not a spirit but that He had a physical body.

3) Paul and other prophets teach that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:37). If Christ appeared to men and women in days of yesteryear, then will He not continue to visit His righteous servants today and in the future? I testify that He does and that He will continue to do so. But, you don't have to take my word for it. Here are His words: Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am (D&C 93:1).

To summarize my case for the reality of Jesus Christ, I use the words of Peter:  "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty"  (2 Peter 1:16).

Day 3 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Appearances, Antemortal

 

Three Men in the Fiery Furnace by William Maughan 

Many prophetic men share their witness in the scriptures that they spoke with Jesus Christ thousands of years before his birth. Some familiar prophets who spoke with the Redeemer face to face include Enoch, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Isaiah--to name a few. These scriptural witnesses of the pre-mortal Savior teach us truths that cut through the creeds and false traditions regarding God that have been passed down through the centuries.

From Abraham, we learn that Christ speaks in verbal language (Genesis 12:7). Jacob teaches us that God has a face. Moses, Aaron, and 72 other elders witness that the Lord stands and has feet (Exodus 24:10). Isaiah testifies that the Lord sits (Isaiah 6:1). Ezekiel witnesses that the Lord's likeness is that of a man (Ezekiel 1:26). Enoch walked and talked with God (D&C 107:49).

The scriptures are clear from eye-witness accounts that Jesus Christ is a glorious being with a body. He is not, as stated in the 2nd London Confession of Faith, chapter 2:1, "without body, parts, or passions…”. Does not God tell us this in the very first chapter of the Bible? "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Genesis 1: 26)

Multiple eye-witness accounts--now that is valid evidence that would stand up in any court of law! How did the Christian world view of God get so off track?  Maybe we could all benefit from a thorough study of OUR scriptures.

Day 2 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Advocate

 

Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

Imagine that you committed a serious crime and had to go before a judge to determine your sentence. Imagine that  you were truly sorry you'd done such a thing and wished desperately that you could turn back time and change the actions that led you to this day of reckoning. In your desire to make amends, you did all in your power to apologize and restore what you could to the victims. Unfortunately, the law was the law. You'd broken it, and now you must be sentenced to the decreed punishment. No amount of tears, pleading for mercy, or retribution to the victims eliminated the pending punishment. Your guilt demanded justice.

As you stand there--alone, friendless, all eyes on you--in walks a powerful lawyer--a long time friend of yours. He offers to plead your case before the jury. Suddenly, where there was despair, embarrassment, and forsakenness, now there is HOPE. Your lawyer brings new evidence to light that helps the jury understand your motives. He brings witnesses who speak of your diligence in making amends and evidence of your efforts, though meager, to repay the victims for their losses. Lastly, he produces a receipt showing how he personally repaired ALL the damage committed by your crime.  He pleads for leniency and mercy in your behalf. The jury and judge agree that all has been amended. The punishment is waived. Because you accepted the services of your Advocate, you are now free.  

This day is coming for each of us. Will you accept the services of your Advocate? 

"Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life" (D&C  45:3-5).

Day 1 Learn of Christ

Early in April 2017, President Nelson invited the youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to study “everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the [scriptures].”  I decided that I would accept that invitation. While it took President Nelson only 6 weeks to complete, it has taken me three years!  Slow though I am, this study has strengthened my faith in Jesus Christ. I want to share with you some of what I’ve learned by posting my notes on each topic related to Christ.  I hope that in these posts, you will find meaningful insight that will increase your belief and faith in our Savior. In the tumultuous days ahead of this nation, our individual and collective faith in Jesus Christ will be the anchor that holds us steady and helps us persevere to fulfill the mission(s) He has given us. I testify, as they hymn states, that Jesus Christ “is my one sure rock of faith, the one bright hope of men on earth, the beacon to a better way, the light beyond the veil of death” (My Reedemer Lives, Hymns, 135). Come, Learn of Christ.

A Crown of Thorns

Two weeks before Addie was born, as I finished singing the Sacrament hymn at church, a thought popped into my head: "If you were to write a sacrament hymn, what would you sing about?"  The first line came to me that day: "A crown of thorns upon Thy head".

Over the next 4-1/2 months as I drove to and from the hospital to attend to my critical care baby, I kept working at finding the answer to that question. Singing and composing in the car or on TRAX (I only sang in my head on the train) made the commute very short!  Best of all, by focusing on the Savior and transforming my testimony into words, my brain enjoyed a wonderful distraction from worry, anxiety, and stress. Truly I can testify that focusing on Christ carried me through that tough time (and continues to do so), blessed me with perspective, and made my burden very light.  I look back now and feel so grateful for the inspired prompting that asked me just at the right moment, "What would you sing about?"

So, in commemoration of His merciful and redemptive Atonement and Resurrection, I share with you my witness and testimony of The One True King through this offering of song lyrics and images from churchofjesuschrist.org! Happy Easter!

A Crown of Thorns

Verse 1

A crown of thorns upon Thy head,

A borrowed robe 'cross Thy shoulders spread,

Thy scepter a reed of grief, of scorn--

O, Anointed One, unto this wert thou born?

From worlds of light to a darkened earth,

From King of Kings to a peasant birth--

Though angels rang out Thy heralds on high,

Mankind slept as their Deliverer drew nigh.

(Chorus)

But I worshiped Thee then; I worship Thee now. 

Before Thy Grace, I humbly bow.

I pledge my heart to sing Thy praise.

I will build up Thy kingdom all my days.

Verse 2

Five thousand fed with a few loaves of bread.

Raising the lifeless from the dead,

A birdsong carried to the deaf child's ear--

Both wisdom and light to the blind appear.

On a sacred night in a garden still,

Thou, Creator of Worlds, bowed to our Father's will.

In agony, Thy blood dripped like rain,

W

And in sweetest mercy, Thou purged man's stain.

(Chorus)

And I worshiped Thee then; I worship Thee now. 

Before Thy Grace, I humbly bow.

I pledge my heart to sing Thy praise.

I will build up Thy kingdom all my days.

Verse 3

Thy hands outstretched upon a tree,

Lifted up for all men to see

And hear Thy voice, "Come unto me--

That I, Thy King, may ransom thee."

On a springtime morn, a stone rolled away.

Thou, Prince of Peace stepped forth from the grave. 

Conqueror of death and hell alone,

Now ascending Thy glorious throne.

(Chorus)

And I worshiped Thee then; I worship Thee now. 

 Before Thy Grace, I humbly bow.

I pledge my heart to sing Thy praise.

                                                        I will build up Thy kingdom all my days.

A Mother's Musings: TEKEL

When Addie, at 18 months, weighed less than she had at 9 months, I felt sick.  As I waited for the doctor to come lecture me, I felt such a pit of dread in my stomach.  As detailed in the previous update, my mind ran through several scenarios and tried to run, hide, excuse, rationalize, or negate the scale's results.  Now, of course, my wonderful doctor did not lecture me.  She loves little Addie and she loves me.  She simply said, "We need to get this baby some calories."

As I pondered upon that experience, I thought of King Belshazzar in the book of Daniel.  While feasting with thousands of his nobles, wives, and concubines, he calls for the gold and silver vessels robbed from the Lord's temple in Jerusalem.  The guests proceed to drink wine from the sacred vessels. Suddenly, the king sees a man's hand materialize and write a message on the far wall:  MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. The frightened king calls for all his magicians and wise men to interpret the message.  His fear increases to frenzy when they cannot do it.  Finally, his queen recommends they call the prophet Daniel.  And, of course, Daniel, interprets the writing handily.

TEKEL: "Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting." (See Daniel 5 for the rest of the interpretation).

At her 18 month appointment, TEKEL described Addie.  And, as the responsible party, I felt a little like King Belshazzar--my knees shaking at the realization of how much TEKEL described me! 

I projected this tiny experience of stark accountability to my future.  Someday, I will stand before my maker to give accounting.  At that moment, all the stories, the rationalizations, the good intentions, the excuses, and the blame will melt away.  I will see things as they really are and know exactly what I did and did not do. Like King Belshaazr, will I have spent a lifetime feasting from the Lord's vessels only to find that I'd filled them with the frivolity of Babylon instead of the Living Water? 

At that day, I will certainly be weighed . . . by myself!  And, just like my sweet doctor, the Lord will love me regardless of my lack, or in spite of it. However, I will judge myself against His  perfect, redemptive mercy, and I , of course, will be found wanting. But . . . is there anything I can change now in order to be less "wanting"? 

Adding oil consistently to Addie's milk is such a simple step to take, but it makes a monumental difference in getting her the calories she needs to battle her seizures.  When I'm hit-n-miss with this step, its as if I never did anything at all! What is the "oil" in my life that I'm not being consistent about?  What are those small frequent activities that add up to monumental spiritual weight gain, especially as they lead to ever clearer receptivity to the Holy Ghost? 

President Russel M. Nelson answers:  "Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work."

Such simple things!  The over-arching theme in the lack of Addie's weight gain was my inconsistency.  I had such good intentions!  I'd studied how to specifically help her with epilepsy through dietary changes, but I did not apply that knowledge consistently.  Likewise, I often have such good intentions when it comes to my spiritual life.  I know what I need to do to grow, but studying and applying are quite two different things.  And so, my inconsistent half-hearted efforts will lead to minimal spiritual weight gain. 

Well--thank goodness for repentance! I'm in process of daily consistent nourishment for Miss Addie.  And. . . right away, we see progress! No more scrawny, skeletal legs for her. And yes, those little, kissable cheeks really are pinch-able now!  Results come and they come fast when I'm consistent in my spiritual nourishment as well.  I hear promptings of the Holy Ghost faster. I'm more enabled to be disciplined, and I'm increasingly edified by the things of holiness.  For now, Judgement Day is pending, but the preparation to get there begins consistently TODAY! 

  

Addie Update: The Road Less Traveled

In December, Addie struggled.  We'd just finished weaning, and to our dismay, for about 2-3 weeks her seizures worsened*.  Chris asked, "Isn't there anyone who can help us?

The previous May a friend told me about the Neuro Clinic.  The doctor there assisted her son in overcoming a concussion after a car accident, enabling him to get out on his mission on time. In answer to Chris' question, I researched their website and wrote an email to the doctor telling him about Addie to see if he had anything "her size" to offer.  I pushed send and then sent a prayer heavenward: "Please let him have something to help us. This is my last hope."

With apprehension, I opened my email later that day--not really expecting an answer--but hoping. (I'd learned from working with the Primary's  Neurology Department  that these things take time. . . I shouldn't expect to hear back until I'd called a couple times and a week had gone by.)  So imagine my delight to get a return email the very day I sent mine: "Yes!  I would love to meet your daughter Addie.  Most of the therapies I use are sensory.  There is always something we can do." I scheduled an appointment right away.

That first appointment? AMAZING!  Dr. Oliver spent two hours consulting with us. He found out all about Addie by just letting us talk and asking us questions. He actually examined my baby!!  He watched her eye movements, her lip movements, the way her limbs stiffen during a seizure.  He looked at her posture and her skin.  He assessed her reflexes, her abilities, her cognitive and nutritional status. Then, he went to work. He educated us about seizures (oh, how we wished we'd known that a year ago!). He told us what to worry about and what not to.  He told us what area of her brain is impacted as indicated by the the different movements of her body.  He gave us homework to help stimulate the troubled areas of  her brain, which would help Addie create new brain pathways to cope with stress and raise the seizure threshold. Next he prescribed a protocol of nutritional supplements and in-office treatments for the next six weeks--12 treatments of the RPPS (Repetitive Somatosensory Peripheral Stimulator) and 6 visits with him.

He answered my questions as well.  I showed him some of the things I do to try to help Addie through seizures and asked, "Does this have any effect . . . am I just fooling myself by trying?"

"You know," Dr. Oliver began, "there is something to the placebo effect.  Whether it scientifically works or not doesn't matter.  You are her mother and you love her.  Therefore, whatever you do with the intention of healing your baby is going to help her.  You keep doing whatever you think to do." I about wept right there in his office. (How many times at Primary's had I asked similar questions only to be shot down with a placating smile behind the verbal, "No--that will not help.")

Lastly before we left, Dr. Oliver asked, "Does Addie always lean to the left?"  Her little body, for months, contorted stiffly to one side, nearly in the shape of a C, which pushed her left rib outward. With a simple adjustment in her neck area, and before our eyes, she moved her head from the left to the center and then, with another tweak of her neck, to the right.  Dr. Oliver taught us how important it is to exercise the nerves that run up and down the right side of her neck.  He emphasized that without stimulation, the nerves would lose their ability to communicate with the brain.  He tweaked her a few more times as her head turned back to the left, and he taught us how to do the adjustment as well.  By the time we left, Addie looked more relaxed and naturally posed than we'd seen her in months.  She slept peacefully all the way home.

We've been going twice a week for the RPSS treatments.  Dr. Oliver always pops in to see how Addie is doing. Whether or not we're scheduled to meet with him that day, he will ALWAYS take time to answer any questions we have.  In our weekly visits with him, he continues to assess Addie's progress, assign us more homework therapy for her and educate us.  He's so full of knowledge that I marvel that any brain can hold that much information about the brain.  Dr. Oliver is also full of hope and his optimism is contagious.

What a difference--to go from Primary's where we are told, "We don't know a lot about the brain, but Addie's seizures are intractable . She'll die within 2-5 years when her brain just burns out.  Just keep her comfortable on the drugs--there is nothing you can do" to Dr. Oliver, "We don't know a lot about the brain, but we do know that there is plasticity there.  You can always do something to help the brain work better.  There's always hope."

And boy does it show!  Prior to seeing Dr. Oliver, Addie's heart rate beat above 140 bpm.  After the RPSS treatments, her heart beats in the 120s or lower.  She's sleeping better and her seizures are decreasing dramatically as she learns to use her "rest & digest" (parasympathetic) system instead of her "flight and fight" (sympathetic) nervous system.

Last time, I wrote about Heaven's silence.  As I look back, I stand in awe because I now see that we were led.  Weaning Addie from her seizure meds was scary--a true step down an unknown path. We acted against the medical advice we'd received from her neurologist, and it took much courage to push through the self-doubt and her attendant increasing seizures.  Holding our ground and walking that road of weaning, however, brought us to an exquisite vista--The Neuro Clinic.  Addie would never have benefited from The Neuro Clinic if she'd still been sedated by drugs. Only by choosing "the road less traveled" could this new view open to us. I'm exceedingly humbled and feel to praise my Maker all day long for His tremendous guidance, even when I felt like I walked alone. Truly He guides our steps.  It takes risk and courage on our part, but to move, to act--it's the only way to get new paths to open to us. Don't be discouraged if you feel you walk in the dark.  Wait and continue onward--the light will come!

I leave you with two favorites to summarize:

Josuah 1:9 

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 *I've learned in my studies that after your body adjusts to a mind-altering drug, like Addie's seizure meds, it evolves to a new state of living with the drug. Even after you've weaned from a drug and it has all worked out of your body, you will still see residual stress for a short period. The intensity will make you think, "Oh no--I'm broken! I must need this drug to be normal. I better go back on it."  Just hold on.  Give your body time to adapt to a new state of living without the drug. Addie's seizures intensified after the drug was out of her body.  I cried, "Oh--she really did need the drugs."  It took about three weeks for her to adapt to her new state; but she did learn to cope.  We would NOT go back to her drugged state.  

A Mother's Musings: When the Heavens Weep

Okay--I admit it: I cry everyday.  How could you not? When you watch your baby seize over and
over, it hurts. It hurts because you are helpless to stop it. It hurts because you see the confusion in
her eyes as they plead, “What’s happening to me?  Make it stop.” But more than anything, it hurts
because I see this beautiful child before me--so perfect in proportion with her wild, naturally frosted
hair, her petite nose, her beautiful pink lips, her tiny fingers and toes, her little legs and arms, her sweet
feet and clenched fists, her smooth skin, her slender shoulders and neck, that beating heart, and of
course those gorgeous deep-set eyes.

How, I ask, can such a beautiful little girl be so crippled and delayed in her development by this terrible
disease? I guess I think the seizing would make more sense if she at least looked deformed.  But when
she is so perfectly beautiful and yet the seizures roll across her body, draining and maiming her, a
heart-wrenching paradox and illusion fills my thoughts. The mirage of potential surrounds my sweet
Addie; yet the drought of her epileptic reality desiccates it.  Thus, in the great Sahara of my mind,
the only raindrops present fall from my eyes.

Do the heavens weep for us? How could they not? I imagine our Heavenly parents look down upon us
in much the way I look down upon my Addie.  Our heavenly family knows very well our eternal beauty,
our potential, and our pre-mortal power. To watch us shake, convulse, faint, stall, or blank out as we face
mortal challenges is akin to spiritual epilepsy. I’m sure they sorrow for us as they watch us seize in our
mortal journey and especially as we cry out, “What’s happening to me?  Make it stop.”

Blessedly, our Heavenly parents know (and we could know if we acknowledged it) the the cause
behind our spiritual epilepsy.

Have you ever been . . .

seized by fear?

seized by lack of confidence?

seized by pride?

seized by anger?

seized by ignorance?

seized by envy?

seized by apathy?

seized by enmity?

seized by darkness?

seized by addiction?

The hopeful thing about spiritual epilepsy is that it is not incurable. The Savior of the world
walked into the Garden of Gethsemane and hung upon Calvary’s cross, willingly taking upon Himself
our spiritual seizures. They pressed upon Him and in His own words:

 “ . . . caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to
bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not  drink the
bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my
preparations unto the children of men” (my emphasis added) (Doctrine & Covenants 19:18-19).

He convulsed and contracted and bled for us that we might be cured.  How do we find access to

this cure? Jesus Christ answered that as well:

“Wherefore, I command you to repent, and keep the commandments . . . .  Therefore I
command you to repent—repent, lest . . . your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not,
how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. For behold, I, God, have
suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I . . . .Wherefore, I command you
again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins,
lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even
in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit”
(Doctrine & Covenants 19:15, 16, 17, 20).

Yes--the heavens weep for us . . . but only when we choose to willfully suffer spiritually epilepsy instead of turning to the Great Physician to be healed. Our Heavenly parents are not helpless to help us; but in respect of our agency, they will not intercede unless we ask for help.  (You should hear the pitter-patter of feet that come to Addie, on the rare occasions when she cries out. The entire family races to her bedside, hovering, “Is she okay? What does she need?”) How anxious, how ready, how willing our watchful Parents await to bring us healing.

My sweet Addie’s battle with physical epilepsy stands in stark parallel to our very real battle with
spiritual epilepsy. Her lost potential bears a tragic witness to our own lost potential if we fail to
call out to God in repentance.  Her incurable seizures serve as an incessant and contrasting
reminder of our curable ones. Let not her suffering be for naught. Let her help you and I
remember that we, with Christ, are never permanently disabled.