3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.
I have an addiction.
I am addicted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I can’t live without it. I want to eat, sleep, and breathe every aspect of it. If I could, I would talk about the Savior to everyone that I meet. In the world that we live in, it would be very weird for me to start every conversation with “Would you like to know more about Jesus Christ?” but man, I wish that I could. Sometimes I wish that I could be more childlike. Kids are fearless; boldly declaring their convictions to whomever they meet. They are unafraid of what people may think or whom they may offend. Yes, I would love to be more like a child. Adults make things way too complicated.
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” -Matthew 18:4
Why am I so addicted to the gospel? What is it about this great plan of salvation that is so appealing that it makes me want to run away from the world and into the arms of my Savior every single minute of the day?
It comes down to these things for me…
- I love how I feel when I am “in the service of my God.” [i]
- The gospel makes me feel safe in a world that is, at times, very unsafe and scary.
- By choosing to follow and have faith in my Savior and God’s plan for me I have been able to do some very hard things in my life. I know that I would not have been as successful in those adventures if I had not allowed my Savior to assist me.
- Plain and simple, the gospel makes me happy. Ecstatic is more like it. Joyous, full of rapture and delight. There are not enough happy words to accurately describe how the gospel of Jesus Christ makes me feel.
Because the gospel does all of these things and more for me, I oftentimes feel great pain when people use their gift of agency to choose a path that does not lead them to the Savior and His goodness. I fully support their right to choose and I know that everyone must choose for themselves which way to go in this life. But I feel like verse 3 hits the nail on the head for me.
…for they could not bear that any human soul should perish…the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.
I cannot bear the thought that because of choices someone might not be able to fully bask in the glorious light of the Savior and His goodness. It causes me to quake, tremble, and sometimes the tears flow freely. Especially when I see people that I love very much making choices that lead them away from the Savior.
Now having said all that, I would like to end by saying this…the Savior knows our hearts. He sees things that we cannot see. So again, I am humbled and willing to put my faith in trust in Him. I know that when all is said and done, it is MY soul that I have control over. It is MY soul that I need to nourish and strengthen so that then I might be able to assist others in nurturing their own souls. Ultimately we have to choose for ourselves, but no one has to walk alone. We are here to help one another, to love one another, and to make sure that every human soul knows and can feel the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
I grew up the oldest of 5 children in the blazing heat of Southern Utah. After high school and some college experience I met and married Mark Ogden and we are the parents of four children. I have owned and operated my own home-based preschool for more than a dozen years, and I consider myself an accidental author as well. When I am not in my minivan transporting children from one activity to the next, I enjoy playing the piano, blogging, speaking about my life’s experiences, and feeding my insatiable crafting disease.
Oh Desirae, how you SHINE!!!!! So beautifully said. Thanks for the glimpse into your amazing heart!! What a joy to be in the company of such a powerful witness of Christ. <3
Thanks Jeni! I love being in the company of these powerful daughters of God. 🙂
I love your energy in this post Desirae! I too am an addict (of the Word of God) 🙂
Thank you Courtney! If you are going to be addicted to something, the Word of God is the best thing to be addicted to. 🙂