Brigham Young University (BYU) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.
Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.
Mormonism: The Love of Christ
Letter to Friend Kelsea
Kelsea,
I wanted to write you again because this last week in New Testament we covered Romans 8. To be honest, I had never really read this chapter really focusing on what it said, but this week it really hit me strong and I think you should go and read it. It’s amazing! Two different parts stuck out to me. The first is verse 26. This past semester when I was going through a hard time, I distinctly remember a couple of times when I would kneel on my knees to pray at night and I didn’t even have words to say. I would just sit there and cry. I don’t know if I ever came up with words to speak to my Father in Heaven. I love this verse! It says “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” When life is tough, and you don’t even know what to say to Heavenly Father, other than to just cry, He knows what we are saying. He knows the thoughts of our mind and the feelings of our heart. The Spirit will carry those feelings.
God and Jesus Christ loves us and are always aware of what we are going through.
The next part I love is at the end of the chapter. Verse 35-39. It starts with “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” It then goes on to name things that could potentially separate us from God’s love for us, and then in verse 37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” I love verse 39, “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I know there are things in my life that get in the way of me seeing how much God loves me. It is easy to get caught up in life, school, work, dating, finances, trials, etc, where we forget to take a step back and realize God’s tremendous love for us.
Kelsea, I know that Heavenly Father loves you more than you can comprehend. Through everything you have gone through in the past couple of years, He is aware of you. He knows how it feels, and Christ suffered for you. He knows you and He loves you. There is nothing that He doesn’t understand, so please turn to Him. Pray to Him, even if you just kneel down and cry. He will understand and He will comfort you.
Thank you for your example and for being the amazing woman that you are. You really strengthen my testimony. I love you!!
Love,
Alexis
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