I love my ward. I don't know what it is, but student wards in the BYU community are absolutely amazing. The spirit that is felt in every sacrament meeting is second to none.
Today, while the sacrament was being passed, and the "chapel" was completely silent I decided to open up my scriptures and read in John chapter 17. This chapter is the great intercessory prayer.
I have read this passage of scripture a couple times and never really thought that is was extraordinary or profound. But today, I found out that I was sadly mistaken.
This prayer is absolutley profound, and has now profoundly changed the way I think about every day things. In the
intercessory prayer, Jesus says, (in verses 6-11),
"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me, that they may be one, as we are."
When I read those words, I felt a great sense of peace and joy come flooding over me. In reading those words, I felt as though Christ had prayed for me, when he offered up that prayer.
He cares enough about me to not only suffer and die for my sins, but to also pray to His father for me.
Now that, is profound.
After reading this passage of scripture, I have been able to see more clearly the Lord's hand in my life. I am so grateful that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me so much.
And I am so grateful for the scriptures that allow me to become closer to my Heavenly Father. I love the scriptures. The words that are contained in them radiate love from our Heavenly Father. They bring peace and happiness in times of confusion and doubt. I am so grateful for the people years and years ago who sacrificed so much so that I can have the scriptures, and receive my own personal revelation.
