Post # 81 – Is It Spring? Ye Must Be Born Again

Dear Family and Friends

Are you all done with the snow storms yet? I know that I am😊 Once during our first bad snow storm, my car was stuck against the curb – frozen in place. It took a few hours to get it loose and away from the curb. I had to miss church that day☹ then the snow was just about melted off the roads so we could drive more safely when the next snow storm hit. I don’t want it to warm up too quick, but it would be good for us to have a couple weeks of nice rain.

A light breeze would not be bed, but this wind that takes a speedometer to keep up with it, is enough! I know that the wind blows out all the stifled air and pollutants that are in the air, air borne diseases and allergies come in with it as well. The wind also blows in bad behavior and misbehavior – even from your best students☹ when the barometric pressure changes, so do a lot of other things – more headaches, allergy attacks, sinus trouble, etc.

When I was a little girl, I remember I wrote a poem about how I hated the wind. Now I really don’t hate it, but it sure isn’t very good for keeping your hair looking nice. That is also a problem I have – keeping my hair looking nice. My hair has grown back in nicely, but it is very thin and is now about shoulder length. My original hair was very long and a dark auburn in color, it was so long I could easily sit on it. It was very straight, would not hold a curl.

Then when it came back in it was curly at first and wiry, I tried pinning it back but then it would break off. I tried leaving it down, but the wind blows it every which way☹ then I try to comb it out and I get a lot in the brush or comb because it is tangled, and it breaks off. I thought about getting it cut short again, but that tales upkeep that I don’t have in my budget. Ah, but what’s a girl to do? Any ideas? I am open for suggestions.

I am here again hooked up to the IV pole and receiving my chemo this morning. I will be able to receive my bone shot again finally – I have been off from it for most part of a year except one shot. I had to go off the bone shot for three months before receiving my dental work. Then for another three months after I had healed up from the extractions. I have to take a large dose of antibiotics one hour prior to having any dental work done – even cleanings.

So, I had to have three teeth pulled during this off time with the shot and today I finally will be able to get back on it. I had the first two teeth pulled and all stitched up and, on their way, to healing when I got my bone shot. It was the very next day when I was eating a piece of chocolate cream pie when my tooth broke off. So next visit with my oncologist and he took my off the shot for another three months before dental work and three more months after the dental work was done.

 

Hopefully the rest of the teeth that I have will stay healthy and not need to be pulled😊 here is a little bit of information about Xgeva that might be helpful if you are either going to take it or have a loved one that may need it. I may have shared some information with you in aa previous post, but I guess it doesn’t hurt to share it again with all of you:

Important Safety Information

Do not take XGEVA^® if you have low blood calcium (hypocalcemia). Your low blood calcium must be treated before you receive XGEVA^®. XGEVA^® can significantly lower the calcium levels in your blood and some deaths have been reported. Take calcium and vitamin D as your doctor tells you to. Tell your doctor right away if you experience spasms, twitches, cramps, or stiffness in your muscles or numbness or tingling in your fingers, toes, or around your mouth.

Do not take XGEVA^® if you are allergic to denosumab or any of the ingredients of XGEVA^®. Serious allergic reactions have happened in people who take XGEVA^®. Call your doctor or go to your nearest emergency room right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including low blood pressure (hypotension); trouble breathing; throat tightness; swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, rash; itching; or hives.

What is the most important information you should know about XGEVA^®?

Do not take XGEVA^® if you take Prolia. XGEVA^® contains the same medicine as Prolia^®(denosumab).

Severe jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis)

Severe jaw bone problems may happen when you take XGEVA^®. Your doctor should examine your mouth before you start, and while you are taking XGEVA^®. Tell your dentist that you are taking XGEVA^®. It is important for you to practice good mouth care during treatment with XGEVA^®. In studies of patients with bone involvement, the rate of severe jaw problems was higher the longer they were being treated with XGEVA^®.

Unusual thigh bone fracture

Unusual thigh bone fracture has been reported. Symptoms of a fracture include new or unusual pain in your hip, groin, or thigh.

Risk of high calcium levels in patients with Giant Cell Tumor of Bone and in patients who are still growing

Patients with a type of cancer called Giant Cell Tumor of Bone and patients with bones that are not fully matured are at a greater risk to develop high blood calcium levels after they stop taking XGEVA^®, that can be serious.

Increased risk of broken bones in the spine after discontinuing XGEVA^®

After your treatment with XGEVA^® is stopped, your risk for breaking bones in your spine can increase, especially if you have a history of risk factors such as osteoporosis or prior fractures.

Possible harm to your unborn baby

You should not become pregnant while taking XGEVA^®. Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or suspect you are pregnant. XGEVA^® can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you:

Are taking a medicine called Prolia^® (denosumab) because it contains the same medicine as XGEVA^®

Have symptoms of low blood calcium such as muscle stiffness or cramps

Have symptoms of severe jaw bone problems such as pain or numbness

Have ongoing pain or slow healing after dental surgery

Have symptoms of high blood calcium such as nausea, vomiting, headache, and decreased alertness

Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, suspect you are pregnant, or breastfeeding

While taking XGEVA^®, you should:

Take good care of your teeth and gums and visit a dentist as recommended

Tell your dentist that you are taking XGEVA^®

Tell your doctor if you plan to have dental surgery or teeth removed

Talk to your doctor before you stop taking XGEVA^® about your risk for broken bones in your spine

Women of child bearing age should use highly effective contraception while taking XGEVA^® and for at least 5 months after the last dose of XGEVA^®

What are the possible side effects of XGEVA^®?

In patients with bone metastases from solid tumors using XGEVA^®, the most common side effects were tiredness/weakness, low phosphate levels in your blood, and nausea. The most common serious side effect of XGEVA^® was shortness of breath.

In multiple myeloma patients receiving XGEVA^®, the most common side effects were diarrhea, nausea, low red blood cells, low blood platelets and calcium levels, back pain, swelling of the lower legs or hands, upper respiratory tract infection, rash, and headache. The most common serious adverse reaction in multiple myeloma patients was pneumonia.

These are not all the possible side effects of XGEVA^®. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or you can check out the website for Xgeva here: https://www.xgeva.com/how-xgeva-works/

The topic I felt impressed to share with you in this post: Is it spring time – yet? I know that Spring time is just around the corner—so to speak. What happens in the spring time? New life, right? Well, I want you all to know that I have a new grand child and she is beautiful – of course😊 but seriously speaking, when one gets baptized into Christ’s church here on the earth – it is the beginning of a new life. You repent of your sins, you have accepted a date for your baptism.

I have been invited just today to a baptism this Saturday. L love going to baptisms, to watch the person as they come out of the water – washed totally clean. Death and burial of their old sinful self and a new birth of the person they will become as they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and put Him at the very center of their lives. I was wondering how many of you are out there that do not even realize what your baptism into Jesus Christ’s church entails.

I was not raised in the church as so many of the members of my old ward were. This ward that I am in now – the people are simply amazing, I have not met one single person that I didn’t love after a few meetings with them. There are so many good examples here for me. I hope someday I can emulate them. We have people at all levels of spirituality here in this ward as I am sure were in my old ward, but here it doesn’t matter where you are at – they meet you there – just as the Savior does. He meets us wherever we are at spiritually and will lead and guide us – if we will let Him.

In my last post, in the lesson Nicodemus was told that he must be born again. To be born again is to be baptized into Christ’s church. To be spiritually reborn. There are so many scripture references on baptism:

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES	SCRIPTURE STUDY RESOURCES
Matthew 3:13–17 John 3:3–7 Acts 2:37–38 2 Nephi 31:4–13 Alma 7:14–16 3 Nephi 11:18–41 Articles of Faith 1:4	Bible Dictionary, “Baptism” Topical Guide, “Baptism” Guide to the Scriptures, “Baptism, Baptize” Index to the Triple Combination, “Baptism, Baptize”

Baptism in the Lord's Way

The Savior revealed the true method of baptism to the Prophet Joseph Smith, making clear that the ordinance must be performed by one having priesthood authority and that it must be done by immersion:

"The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

"Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water" (D&C 20:73–74).

Immersion is symbolic of the death of a person's sinful life and the rebirth into a spiritual life, dedicated to the service of God and His children. It is also symbolic of death and resurrection. (See Romans 6:3–6.)

You can read more on baptism here: https://www.lds.org/topics/baptism?lang=eng#_

LDS.org is now ChurchofJesusChrist.org, 

Websites: The Church’s official website will become ChurchofJesusChrist.org. This change is effective today, March 5, 2019, when the domain name ChurchofJesusChrist.org begins pointing to the LDS.org home page. In the coming months, the ChurchofJesusChrist.org domain name will replace what were the following:

·         LDS.org (ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

·         MormonNewsroom.org (Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

I wanted to share this with you so that you will be able to find the correct websites as you continue you study of the New Testament this year. You will find lots of resources there for your study.

Ye Must Be Born Again                 David A. Bednar                 Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Through faith in Christ, we can be spiritually prepared and cleansed from sin, immersed in and saturated with His gospel, and purified and sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.

My boyhood home in California was located relatively close to large orchards of apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, and other delicious fruits. We also lived near fields of cucumbers, tomatoes, and a variety of vegetables.

As a boy I always looked forward to canning season. I did not like scrubbing the canning jars or working in our hot kitchen. But I did like working with my mom and dad. And I loved eating my work! I am sure I ate more fruit than ever made it into any of our canning jars.

My memories of time spent in the kitchen with Mom and Dad are stirred every time I see a bottle of home-canned cherries or peaches. The basic lessons I learned about temporal self-reliance and provident living while picking and canning produce have blessed me throughout my life. Interestingly, simple and ordinary experiences often provide the most important learning opportunities we ever have.

As an adult I have reflected upon the things I observed in our kitchen during canning season. This morning I want to discuss some of the spiritual lessons we can learn from the process by which a cucumber becomes a pickle. I invite the Holy Ghost to be with us as we consider the significance of those lessons for me and for you as we come unto Christ and are spiritually reborn.

Cucumbers and Pickles

A pickle is a cucumber that has been transformed according to a specific recipe and series of steps. The first steps in the process of changing a cucumber into a pickle are preparing and cleaning. I remember many hours spent on the back porch of my home removing stems from and scrubbing dirt off of the cucumbers we had picked. My mom was very particular about the preparing and cleaning of the cucumbers. She had high standards of cleanliness and always inspected my work to make sure this important task was properly completed.

The next steps in this process of change are immersing and saturating the cucumbers in salt brine for an extended period of time. To prepare the brine, my mom always used a recipe she learned from her mother—a recipe with special ingredients and precise procedures. Cucumbers can only become pickles if they are totally and completely immersed in the brine for the prescribed time period. The curing process gradually alters the composition of the cucumber and produces the transparent appearance and distinctive taste of a pickle. An occasional sprinkle of or dip in the brine cannot produce the necessary transformation. Rather, steady, sustained, and complete immersion is required for the desired change to occur.

The final step in the process requires the sealing of the cured pickles in jars that have been sterilized and purified. The pickles are packed in canning jars, covered with boiling hot brine, and processed in a boiling-water-bath canner. All impurities must be removed from both the pickles and the bottles so the finished product can be protected and preserved. As this procedure is properly followed, the pickles can be stored and enjoyed for a long period of time.

To summarize, a cucumber becomes a pickle as it is prepared and cleaned, immersed in and saturated with salt brine, and sealed in a sterilized container. This procedure requires time and cannot be hurried, and none of the essential steps can be ignored or avoided.

A Mighty Change

The Lord’s authorized servants repeatedly teach that one of the principal purposes of our mortal existence is to be spiritually changed and transformed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Alma declared:

“Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

“And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 27:25–26).

We are instructed to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness” (Moroni 10:32), to become “new creature[s]” in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), to put off “the natural man” (Mosiah 3:19), and to experience “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). Please note that the conversion described in these verses is mighty, not minor—a spiritual rebirth and fundamental change of what we feel and desire, what we think and do, and what we are. Indeed, the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through our reliance upon “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8). As we choose to follow the Master, we choose to be changed—to be spiritually reborn.

Preparing and Cleaning

Just as a cucumber must be prepared and cleaned before it can be changed into a pickle, so you and I can be prepared with “the words of faith and of good doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6) and initially cleansed through the ordinances and covenants administered by the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood.

“And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;

“Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins” (D&C 84:26–27).

And the Lord has established a high standard of cleanliness.

“Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence” (Moses 6:57).

Proper preparing and cleaning are the first basic steps in the process of being born again.

Immersing and Saturating

Just as a cucumber is transformed into a pickle as it is immersed in and saturated with salt brine, so you and I are born again as we are absorbed by and in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we honor and “observe the covenants” (D&C 42:13) into which we have entered, as we “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3), as we “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart” (Moroni 7:48), and as we “serve [God] with all [of our] heart, might, mind and strength” (D&C 4:2), then:

“Because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters” (Mosiah 5:7).

The spiritual rebirth described in this verse typically does not occur quickly or all at once; it is an ongoing process—not a single event. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. This phase of the transformation process requires time, persistence, and patience.

A cucumber only becomes a pickle through steady, sustained, and complete immersion in salt brine. Significantly, salt is the key ingredient in the recipe. Salt frequently is used in the scriptures as a symbol both of a covenant and of a covenant people. And just as salt is essential in transforming a cucumber into a pickle, so covenants are central to our spiritual rebirth.

We begin the process of being born again through exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, and being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins by one having priesthood authority.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

And after we come out of the waters of baptism, our souls need to be continuously immersed in and saturated with the truth and the light of the Savior’s gospel. Sporadic and shallow dipping in the doctrine of Christ and partial participation in His restored Church cannot produce the spiritual transformation that enables us to walk in a newness of life. Rather, fidelity to covenants, constancy of commitment, and offering our whole soul unto God are required if we are to receive the blessings of eternity.

“I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved” (Omni 1:26).

Total immersion in and saturation with the Savior’s gospel are essential steps in the process of being born again.

Purifying and Sealing

Cured cucumbers are packed into sterilized jars and heat processed in order to remove impurities and to seal the containers from external contaminants. The boiling-water-bath procedure enables the pickles to be both protected and preserved over a long period of time. In a similar way, we progressively become purified and sanctified as you and I are washed in the blood of the Lamb, are born again, and receive the ordinances and honor the covenants that are administered by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

“Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35).

The word sealing in my message today does not refer exclusively to the ordinance of eternal marriage performed in the house of the Lord. Rather, I am using this particular word as explained in the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants:

“This is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—

“They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—

“That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;

“And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true” (vv. 50–53).

The Holy Spirit of Promise is the ratifying power of the Holy Ghost. When sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, an ordinance, vow, or covenant is binding on earth and in heaven. (See D&C 132:7.) Receiving this “stamp of approval” from the Holy Ghost is the result of faithfulness, integrity, and steadfastness in honoring gospel covenants “in [the] process of time” (Moses 7:21). However, this sealing can be forfeited through unrighteousness and transgression.

Purifying and sealing by the Holy Spirit of Promise constitute the culminating steps in the process of being born again.

“In the Energy of My Soul”

My beloved brothers and sisters, I pray this parable of the pickle may help us to evaluate our lives and to better understand the eternal importance of spiritual rebirth. With Alma, “I speak in the energy of my soul” (Alma 5:43).

“I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again” (Alma 5:49).

I witness the reality and divinity of a living Savior who invites us to come unto Him and be transformed. I testify His Church and priesthood authority have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Through faith in Christ, we can be spiritually prepared and cleansed from sin, immersed in and saturated with His gospel, and purified and sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise—even born again. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I have totally enjoyed rereading and sharing this talk on being born again. I think Elder Bednar’s pickle parable is quite appropriate and a very good visual. I am all about good visuals, it helps me to remember things. I hope that it helps you as well.  So, is it Spring? … Yet? Is it time for you to consider your time to be born again? Your spiritual rebirth? Are you ready to give away your sins and repent so that you can take the next step?

If you are like me and already a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and need to do some things in your life a little better. Spring time it a great time to make changes in our life – especially for the better! We can always make improvements in our life, can’t we? I know I sure can, and remember what Elder Bednar said about the changes not happening overnight – it takes a lifetime – it’s a process not a single event😊

I think Spring is a great time to look over our lives and to see where we need to make improvements and develop a plan to make those changes. Please forgive me if I am being too presumptuous. It was just something that was on my mind so I wanted to share it with you. Being reborn – baptized was one of the greatest decisions of my life. Being spiritually born has benefited not only my life, but the lives of each of my children as well.

Even though they are all inactive members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I believe my baptism and hopefully my example of my membership in Christ’s church has been a good example for them. I hope and pray that someday they will each return to full activity in the Church. I guess I have rambled a bit too much for this post, so I will draw it to a close.

As always, I hope and pray that something, I have shared here with you today has been a benefit to some of you out there. Remember who you are – you are each a child of God. You Have a Heavenly Father who loves each one of you more than you probably realize. He loves us so much that He gave His only Begotten Son, so that we have the opportunity to return to live with Them again after our mortal journey is over. Until my next post, make it a great week!! Keep praying, hold on to your faith, and keep 
studying the scriptures.