Agency

Your Heavenly Father has given you agency, the ability to choose and to act for yourself. Agency is essential in the plan of salvation. Without it, you would not be able to learn or progress or follow the Savior. With it, you are “free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27).
You had the power to choose even before you were born. In the premortal Council in Heaven, Heavenly Father presented His plan, which included the principle of agency. Lucifer rebelled and “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3). As a result, Lucifer and all those who followed him were denied the privilege of receiving a mortal body. Your presence on the earth confirms that you exercised your agency to follow Heavenly Father’s plan.
In mortality, you continue to have agency. Your use of this gift determines your happiness or misery in this life and in the life to come. You are free to choose and act, but you are not free to choose the consequences of your actions. The consequences may not be immediate, but they will always follow. Choices of good and righteousness lead to happiness, peace, and eternal life, while choices of sin and evil eventually lead to heartache and misery.
You are responsible for the decisions you make. You should not blame your circumstances, your family, or your friends if you choose to disobey God’s commandments. You are a child of God with great strength. You have the ability to choose righteousness and happiness, regardless of your circumstances.
You are also responsible for developing the abilities and talents Heavenly Father has given you. You are accountable to Him for what you do with your abilities and how you use your time. Do not idle away your time. Be willing to work hard. Choose to do many good things of your own free will.

Jesus Christ Suffered for Us

http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/#jesus-christ-suffered-for-us

Today was Sabbath Day. I am so grateful to have the chance to go to church every Sunday to renew my covenants with Heavenly Father and to partake of the Sacrament. The sacrament is an ordinance in which Church members partake of bread and water in remembrance of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. When He instituted the sacrament, Jesus Christ said, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. . . . This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:19–20). The broken bread is a reminder of His body and His physical suffering—especially His suffering on the cross. It is also a reminder that through His mercy and grace, all people will be resurrected and given the opportunity for eternal life with God. The water is a reminder that the Savior shed His blood in intense spiritual suffering and anguish, beginning in the Garden of Gethsemane and concluding on the cross. In the garden He said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" (Matthew 26:38). Partaking of the sacrament is a witness to God that the remembrance of His Son will extend beyond the short time of that sacred ordinance. Part of this ordinance is a promise to remember Him always and a witness of individual willingness to take upon oneself the name of Jesus Christ and to keep His commandments.

So today, during the sacrament I was reflecting more on the sacrifice Jesus Christ suffered for us. I really felt the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has for us. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement and I will do my very best to try and live llike He did. It is a comforting feeling to know that Jesus Christ has been through all the trials, challenges, and pains that I have been through or will go through. That only through Him I can overcome them. I am so blessed and thankful to know that and I have a great testimony on partaking the Sacrament every week.

Baptism

Through Christ we can be cleansed from our sins. He has made it possible for us to return to Heavenly Father's presence after this life. How blessed are we?
But we're not perfect and we sometimes sin, make bad choices or mistakes. And only through Jesus Christ and His Atonement we can be forgiven.

The gospel of Jesus Christ can help us return to Heavenly Father. The first principle is to have faith in Jesus Christ by having the firm believe that He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Faith in Christ is also to act on that believe and doing the things He wants us to do. When your faith in Jesus Christ grows, you will have a change of heart and will want to repent of your sins. Which is the second principle of the gospel. When you repent of your sins you ask for forgiveness and promise Heavenly Father that you will try to do your best to keep His commandments.
With these two principles, it prepares you to make the first ordinance of the gospel by making a covenant with Heavenly Father. This ordinance is called the baptism.
Just like Jesus Christ, who was perfect but showed an example to the world by making that covenant to Heavenly Father. Promising Him that He will obey His commandments and to serve Him throughout His whole life. Jesus Christ has showed a great example and has "said unto the children of men: Follow thou me." (2Nephi31:10)

Today, we witnessed another daughter of our Heavenly Father make that covenant with Him and to follow our Saviors example. It was an amazing baptism and the spirit was very strong. I love baptisms, it always reminds me of my baptism two years ago. It brings tears to my eyes...tears of joy and happiness. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and His example and His restored gospel. That He has made it possible for us to return to Heavenly Father after this life. And with the covenant we make, it can always reminds us of the promises that we have made and that we can keep striving to do better. And that Heavenly Father will always be there to help us while we're preparing ourselves to be with Him someday:)

Heavenly Father talks to YOU through the Scriptures!!

So this week I gained a testimony of how much Heavenly Father answers our prayers through the scriptures. It is so true, even when at times it doesn't seem like your getting anywhere from where your reading.
On Monday, I woke up that morning and started getting ready after my exercises. During my personal study I was really distracted because there was a lot of things going through my mind. I had a lot of stuff to do, to email home, and write to everyone else. So I really couldn't get my mind straight and was off wandering and looking outside while my scriptures were in front of me waiting on me to start reading them. I finally said a prayer that Heavenly Father would help me so I can forget about whatever was distracting me and let me study for my investigators and the people that we were planning on visiting that day. I went on saying, "I want you to talk to me so I am just going to randomly open my Book of Mormon". After my prayer, I randomly opened my scripture and it came to the last chapter of the Book of Ether, Ether chapter 15. I started reading and this was an account of Coriantumr and Shiz's battle.
Towards the middle of the chapter I stopped, and conversed with Heavenly Father. I said, "Heavenly Father, really? How does this apply to me?" I sat there looking out my window when my companion walked by me to grab something by my desk. She came and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a hug:)[She's sweet like that!] And so she said, "I feel like Heavenly Father talks to me everyday." So I said, "What? He is definitely not talking to me." I told her what had just happened and she told me to just be patient and keep reading. I went back to the same chapter and read it again. And as I was reading I was likening the verses to myself. And I came to know what Heavenly Father was saying to me.
The account of Coriantumr and Shiz was they assembled their own army and fought with one another. They would battle with one another until it was dark, retire to bed, and on the next day they would battle again. They kept going for days until all their armies were dead and they were the only ones left. And Coriantumr smote off Shiz and he died.

How does this relate to me?
"Whether the Lord will that i be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kkingdom of God.Amen."(Ether15:34)
That day Heavenly Father told me that everyday I will face distractions, trials, or challenges that will bother me. But I need to battle those distractions by exercising my faith, having patience, and putting my Trust in the Lord having confidence that He is going to help me overcome my weaknesses. And only through Christ I can overcome everything and anything that falls in my path trying to lure me off His path. I know Heavenly Father talks to us whenever we read our scriptures. And He wants each and everyone of us to liken the scripture to ourselves to give us comfort, peace, and answers our questions or whatever we're going through. I am so grateful for the power of the scriptures and how Heavenly Father answers our prayers, concerns, and whatever were going through...through the scriptures. Even if it's something that we don't think it relates to us, but as we continue to have faith and patience, it'll come to us and our minds will be enlightened:)

'hOpE"

Hope is the desire with an expectation of fulfillment. It is one that gives promise for the future; trust, reliance.

Hebrews 11:1

"Now, faith is the substance[assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence[proof] of things not seen."

In the Book of Mormon in Alma 32:21 it says, "...if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." To have hope you have to exercise faith. By having faith on your desire and expecting that you will receive it is HOPE.


Hebrew 11:3

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed[created] by the word of God[Jesus Christ, is the word] so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."

In the gospel, however, HOPE is sure, unwavering, and active. The prophet Moroni taught, "Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" (Ether 12:4).

When we have hope we TRUST in God and His promises. When we have Hope we have the assurance that everything will work out in times of trials. Because we have that confidence that Jesus Christ will help us through the challenges we face.
President James E. Faust taught:
“Hope is the anchor of our souls. . . .
“Hope is trust in God’s promises, faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be
fulfilled in the future. . . .
“The unfailing source of our hope is that we are sons and daughters of God and that
His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved us from death” (“Hope, an Anchor of the Soul,”
Ensign, Nov. 1999, 59–60).

Hope is the anchor of our souls!!! As we gain hope, we will be able to overcome all the challenges we face in this lifetime and in the life to come.



The Infinite Power of Hope
When we're weighed down and are given to worry
We can lose focus and know not where to hurry
Oh, ye who are overburdened unto despair
Come, rest and sit beside me as I have much to share:

Just like this stool you sit on needs three legs to stand
We need three bright guideposts to be always at hand
Hope is the first, it is trust in God's goodness
When we lean unto Him, we hold to His good news

Hope arises out of gratitude and need for the atonement
Then faith in Jesus Christ our next post before us does glint
Hope is like a beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon
For when we awake unto Christ, He's a brilliant dawn to envision...

We see the path of hope step by step as we grow
And the things that we hope in sustain us as we go
So that when we're in darkness we are still upheld
Until we walk in the Light and find our hope has not failed

The things we hope in lead us unto charity
And with this third post we learn of Christ with clarity
As we put faith and hope into action and we move forward
We discover the joy of being Christ- like as we serve outward

From life experience, I testify this is true
I have been a refugee and felt discouragement, too
It is through our membership we find brightened hope,
And strengthened faith, then charity to help us to cope

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The Infinite Power of Hope
Ensign, November 2008, 21

Testimony of the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is just another Testament of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith with the power of God. We can know if the Book of Mormon is true if we sincerely pray with a real intent of heart asking Heavenly Father specifically; "If the Book of Mormon is true?"
In the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10:3-5;

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true! I have prayed about it and I received my answer through the power of the Holy Ghost. And I like to invite everyone to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. Because I can promise you that you will know if it is true. That is the only way you can receive spiritual truth: through prayer and reading!

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

I really love this picture:)
John 4:3–30, 39–42
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. John 4:14

As Jesus and His disciples were traveling from Judea to Galilee, they went through Samaria, a place that Jews usually avoided. When they came to Jacob’s Well, the disciples went into the nearby city to buy food while Jesus sat down to rest. (See John 4:3–6, 8.)

When a Samaritan woman came to the well to get water, Jesus asked her for a drink (see John 4:7). The woman was surprised, asking, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans” (John 4:9).

Jesus answered, “If thou knewest … who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (John 4:10).

The woman, not understanding what Jesus had said, asked how He could give her living water when He had no bucket to draw water up from the deep well (see John 4:11). She did not know that Jesus was the Savior and could give her the living water of eternal life.

Jesus explained that whoever drank the water from Jacob’s Well would get thirsty again. But whoever would drink of the water He gives would receive everlasting life. (See John 4:13–14.)

The Samaritan woman said, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not” (John 4:15). Jesus told her to bring her husband to the well, but the woman said she had no husband (see John 4:16). “Thou hast well said, I have no husband,” Jesus answered, “for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband” (John 4:17–18).

The woman, realizing that Jesus knew her as only God or one of His prophets could, said she knew that He was a prophet. Then Jesus told her that Heavenly Father was seeking good, honest people to worship Him. The woman said she knew that the Messiah was coming and that He would tell them all things. (See John 4:19–25.) Jesus answered, “I that speak unto thee am he” (John 4:26).

Just then the disciples returned, and the woman left her waterpot, hurrying to the city to tell the Samaritans about Jesus. They came to the well to see this man whom the woman had called the Christ. (See John 4:27–30.)

Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of what the woman had told them. They asked Him to stay in their city, so He remained and taught them for two days. (See John 4:39–41.) Those who heard Him and believed said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42).


The living water is the the gospel of Jesus Christ! His words and His teachings. That if we accept His gospel (His words or teachings) we will have eternal life. That we can have blessings, joy, and an ever ending happiness in our lives. That is the LOVE Jesus has for us.

Come What May & Love It

Sometimes in life things don't go the way we want them to be. But if we do these four principles that the Apostle of Jesus Christ has told us to do, we will be able to overcome the challenges we face.

1.Learn to Laugh
2.Seek for the Eternal
3.Principle of Compensation
4.Trust The Lord

The Lord will always be there to lif us up of our burdens, heart aches, trials, and afflictions. If we put our trust in Him we will gain the strength to overcome the adversity. If we build our foundation with Jesus Christ in the center of our life, He will help us through all that we stand in need of. "Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it." -Elder Wirthlin

"Rainy Day Here in Napa"

It has been raining here in Napa. How blessed we are to have all these beautiful things Heavenly Father has given us with. It is so beautiful to see all the different scenery!

1 Nephi 17:36
"Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his choldren that they should posses it".


A poem by:
Maureen C. Meadows, “Rainy Day,” Friend, Apr 1994, 47

I wore my yellow waterproof,
And rain boots on my feet.
The traffic lights made rainbows shine
In puddles on the street.
The rain hung little silver drops
In green boughs overhead.
Umbrellas bounced like big balloons
Of orange, blue, and red.
And even though the sky was gray,
It really was a pretty day.

Continue-in-Patience

Continue-in-Patience


Patience is one of the Christlike attribute. In Preach My Gospel it says, "Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God's will and accept His timing....Patience is related to hope and faith-you must wait for the Lord's promised blessings to be fulfilled." In Alma 32:42-43 it says: "And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you." Sometimes it's hard to be patient and wait for our prayers to be answered. Especially in times of sorrow, hard times, in sickness, or just the challenges we are facing at the moment. And on those times, we forget about the love Heavenly Father has for us. He loves and trust us so much that He gives us trials because He knows we can overcome them, through His son Jesus Christ. That with these trials we can learn to be patient. (Romans 5:3) As we are patient, Heavenly Father will bless us with the things we need and want. (Hebrews 6:12-15) I know that I am very impatient and I often want things to go as I plan. But since I came on my mission, I have learned a lot about patience and with prayers and putting my trust in Heavenly Father, I have come to overcome that challenge that I onced had.

Prayer

My soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication. Enos 1:4


Enos was Jacob's son. One day Enos went into the forest to hunt animals. He began thinking about the teachings of his father. He had often heard his father talk about eternal life and the joy of those who keep God's commandments. (See Enos 1:1, Enos 1:3.)

Enos wanted to have that joy. He knelt down and prayed to Heavenly Father to forgive him of his sins. Enos prayed all day and into the night. (See Enos 1:4.)

While Enos was praying, he heard the voice of the Lord say to him, "Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed" (Enos 1:5).

Enos knew his sins were forgiven (see Enos 1:6). He was very grateful and asked, "Lord, how is it done?" (Enos 1:7).

The Lord answered, "Because of thy faith in Christ" (Enos 1:8).

I know that when we put our trust in the Lord and pray to Him mightily He will help us through whatever we stand in need of!

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20




Jesus wants everyone to believe in Him and receive the blessings that come to His righteous followers. He is ready and waiting to help everyone. He gives people the opportunity to learn about Him and accept His teachings. Those who have faith in Jesus can open the door to Him by repenting, being baptized, and living righteously. These faithful followers will receive the great blessing of eternal life with Jesus and Heavenly Father.


I know that Jesus stands at the door ready to help us, but we need to invite Him into our lives. By having faith in Him, repenting, being baptized, and following His commandments, we open the door to the great blessing of eternal life with Him and Heavenly Father.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15

How does the Lord feel about His children?

Jacob 5:11-13

"And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this thing.
Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish it, according to my words.
And these will I place in the nethermost part of my vineyard, whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I do it that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree; and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof against the season, unto myself; for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree and the fruit thereof."

Heavenly Father grieves for His children when they are not on the right path. But He has sent His servants (the missionaries) to nourish (teach) them so they can be happy and prepare themselves to return to His presence. Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of His children and He weeps when they are sad. I am so grateful to be here as a missionary in Napa, where there's vineyards everywhere :) And to be entrusted by Heavenly Father to be His servant and to serve Him with all my heart, might, mind and strength!

Charity-the pure love of Christ

Charity is a gift from God. The prophet Mormon said that we should “pray unto the
Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48).

I have been studying a lot about Charity this week. And it is definitely something that I want to work on. Through sincere prayers I have been blessed with an abundance of charity and I am so grateful for that. Isn't that great? So awesome.

In the Book of Mormon, Alma 13:29;
"Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life;having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest."

If we put our trust in the Lord and to love Him with all our hearts, He will bless us with more charity. I believe that to be true:)