Why I decided to name my blog; By and Through Grace

I recently returned from an amazing journey of serving a two year mission for my Savior, Jesus Christ by helping build up The Kingdom of God. My mission was The Washington DC South Mission which covers the Northern Virginia area. It was both a difficult and joyous adventure and I am so thankful, daily, for the experiences I had. It was truly the greatest learning experience I have had in my life!

So why did I decide to name my blog; By and Through Grace? Well, first, let me try to explain to you a little about the doctrine (a set of beliefs that are taught and believed to be true) of grace.

Grace: the divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.

Throughout my mission my knowledge, understanding, and love of grace as grown dramatically!

I LOVE GRACE!

In our Church meetings, we don't often talk about grace, but we, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do believe in grace.

One of my all time favorite hymns (which sadly is not currently in our hymnal) is Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
   That saved a wretch like me!
   I once was lost, but now am found;
   Was blind, but now I see.
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
   And grace my fears relieved;
   How precious did that grace appear
   The hour I first believed.
3. Through many dangers, toils and snares,
   I have already come;
   ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
   And grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me,
   His Word my hope secures;
   He will my Shield and Portion be,
   As long as life endures.
5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
   And mortal life shall cease,
   I shall possess, within the veil,
   A life of joy and peace.
6. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
   The sun forbear to shine;
   But God, who called me here below,
   Will be forever mine.
7. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
   Bright shining as the sun,
   We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
   Than when we’d first begun.

John Newton, pub.1779
v. 7 by Anonymous/Unknown, pub.1829

Grace is the power of God  from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

I've learned to divide grace into four powers;

Resurrection

the reuniting of the spirit with the body in an immortal state, no longer subject to disease or death.
Redemption

an act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake, or the state of being redeemed.

Deliverance from sin; salvation

Healing

to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment.

Strengthening

to make stronger; give to strength to.

to gain strength; grow stronger.

Elder David A. Bednar said some really wonderful things about how the Lord's grace affects our lives:

"The Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us - not only to direct us but also to empower us."

"Individual willpower, personal determination and motivation, effective planning and goal setting are necessary but ultimately insufficient for us to triumphantly complete this mortal journey. Truly, we must come to rely upon the 'merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah'."

"The enabling power of the Atonement strengthens us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity."

Brad Wilcox gave one of the most powerful talks on Grace titled; His Grace is Sufficient.
It is a powerful read and I encourage you to read it. 

In all, My life would not be possible without the power of Grace. I could absolutely not have completed a mission without the hand of Grace, and day by day I receive an abundance of grace every second, minute, and hour. Pray for a greater outpouring of grace. You will indeed receive it.

By and Through Grace I am who I am.

This blog is about my life and the journey I have and am currently adventuring!
It is by the grace of Jesus Christ that I embrace it, make it, and love it!

Jordan