sunday singing

I am going to start a new tradition... hopefully I will keep it up. Music has a sort of power to it, as many of you can attest to, I am sure. I love hymns and I adore primary songs (except for the article of faith songs, but that is a story for another time). I feel so blessed that I get to teach in primary and am able to hear the children sing with their faithful voices, it is the sweetest thing. They know these things so matter-of-factly. Today was a great day at church, my lesson went well and the kids participated wonderfully and you could tell the spirit was there. Moving on to my original point in writing this. The opening song in primary today was I'm Trying to be Like Jesus. It's so simple, yet so profound. Christ is my Savior and friend. I can't find the words right now to describe how much I love Him. I love Him so much that I can't even begin to think about how much He loves me.

Several weeks ago, or even months ago, Dan and I were participating in his family's FHE and the lesson was on "Jesus Christ is my Example" and even though it was slighty chaotic with all the kids (much as it was in primary today), I still could feel the spirit as though I was meant to hear the things we were discussing that night, although more directed at the younger children. Christ is my example, I know I am nowhere near to being like Him, but I still try and know that I don't have to be perfect for Him to love me and for me to return to Him and my Heavenly Father.

“In the Greek from which it was translated, the term perfect in Matthew 5:48 … means ‘fully developed,’ to become ‘finished’ as to our individual potential and to have ‘completed’ the course God has set forth for us to follow.” (Men and Women of Christ [1991], 21–22).

I am so grateful and moved by His sacrifice for me and for the world.

I'm trying to be like Jesus;
I'm following in His ways.
I'm trying to love as He did,
In all that I do and say.

At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

"Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught."

I'm trying to love my neighbor,
I'm learning to serve my friends.
I watch for the day of gladness
When Jesus will come again.

I try to remember the lessons he taught.
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying


"Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things I'm taught."
Janice Kapp Perry