time flies

So I realized that it has almost been a month since I decided to do this Personal Progress Challenge and I have just barely finished my first experience.
These past few weeks have been CRAZY!

So my experience was Virtue #3.

I read Alma chapter 5 while I was in the temple one day and thought about some of the things that Alma asks.

 13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

 14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

 15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption braised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

I'll be honest, I don't think I am perfect at these things. I'm human and I lose myself in the world. My struggle is to find myself once again and return to the Savior who set the perfect example for me.

I went into my Joseph Smith and the Restoration class one day and my professor commented on how happy I always look and how that really lifted his spirits before class. WOW! I have been told that I am an optimistic person, but to be told that your happiness is lifting another, that is the light of Christ. THAT is having His image in your countenances.

16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

 17 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?

 18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?

 19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

This is intense. I would never think that I could get away with "tricking" my Father in Heaven. I know that He knows all things. When I go to the temple, I especially take note of the fact that I am an imperfect person seeking the blessings of the Atonement and how I can learn to be better.
Perfect in Greek means to be complete or whole and although I can't say that I am perfect according to the world's standards, I can be complete and whole again.

 26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

 27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?

 28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.

I love what it says about "sing the song of redeeming love". For me, I rejoice and praise my Lord and Savior through music and song. I love to read hymns during the Sacrament and I will always think back to my mission where I praised the Lord EVERY DAY by playing music that helped people be happy and think of the Savior.

 33 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.

I will receive you.

What a beautiful promise. In the temple, He receives us. We learn and grow and draw closer to Him, remembering all of the promises in store for us when we are obedient and worthy.

Whenever I go to the temple, I want to be able to ask myself:
Is your attitude positive and uplifting?
Have you been humble and meek with all your dealings with your fellow man?
Have you made right the wrongs that you have done?
Have you prayed with a sincere heart, seeking forgiveness for the mistakes you have made?

These are deep questions, but if you think about it, it is the Lord's house. Wouldn't you want to be clean and whole and prepared to enter into the temple?
I do.