Hope in His Words

For these past couple of days, this particular attribute has been popping into my mind a lot. It has been through reading, studying, listening and other people that this word has been repeated numerous times. It is times like these where I am grateful because I feel like Heavenly Father wants me to expand my knowledge and learn of Him. I finally came to a conclusion that I must study about this particular Christ like attribute—Hope. As I pondered about this, a scripture came to mind. The Apostle Paul taught, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:14) I have come to love and appreciate the scriptures more and more each day. I do find a lot of comfort and hope from these Holy Scriptures! Elder Richard G. Scott this last General Conference assured us that, “Because scriptures are generated from inspired communication through the Holy Ghost, they are pure truth. We need not be concerned about the validity of concepts contained in the standard works since the Holy Ghost has been the instrument which has motivated and inspired those individuals who have recorded the scriptures… The scriptures provide strength. And they are always available when needed.” I am grateful for the scriptures and the understanding that I gain as I study, search, and ponder about the messages that I read. It has answered a lot of my questions, has given me great hope, and has definitely strengthened my testimony about my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Spencer W. Kimball once said, “There are blessings that come from immersing ourselves in the scriptures. The ‘Distance’ narrows between our Father in Heaven and ourselves. Our spirituality shines brighter.” I have seen this in my own life as I have studied my scriptures diligently. The scriptures has given me great guidance and direction of where, when, what, why, and how to live my life. We have been taught by the Lord, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God. (D&C 14:7) This is the great hope that I want to talk about! There are many great examples, stories, and accounts in the Book of Mormon of people gaining a sure and an unwavering trust in the Lord because of His words and teachings. They expounded, heeded, likened, and studied the scriptures diligently. Their hope grew as they relied on the Lord, Jesus Christ, 'the greatest hope,' that through Him, we can gain eternal life. Obtaining this great attribute of hope starts with learning about our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ, through these great tools that have been provided for us. As I pondered about this, I thought of the Nephites who 'knew of Christ and had hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming'. (Jacob 4:4) We too can have hope and look forward to His Second Coming by preparing ourselves to accept and live His gospel. I often think of Nephi when he admonishes the people to 'press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope...feasting upon the words of Christ--to gain eternal life.' (2 Nephi 31:20) The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ—faith that They exist; faith in the Father's plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know 'the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent' (John 17:3).
I am grateful for the scriptures and the love of my Heavenly Father that is found in His Holy Words. I rejoice and exalt in the hope that the scriptures bring, knowing that according to the promises of the Lord, I can dwell with him in a state of happiness--the greatest gift of eternal life. Because Christ walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, I am not alone. His solitary journey brings great company to my life and my own little journey. The merciful care of my Father in heaven, the unfailing companionship of His Beloved Son, the crowning gift of the Holy Ghost, the sacred scriptures that His provided for us--I can find great hope and assurance that I will never be left comfortless. And through the Savior’s selfless act of compassion and love, I can return back home to my Father in heaven.

His Infinite Love

I have not posted for a while but a lot has happened since the last time I blogged. I have been transferred to Cordelia, where it's windy and beautiful. I have been here for about 8 weeks. I have learned a lot about the Lord, His work and glory, and especially a lot about myself. The scriptures have taught me, have given me comfort, and answered a lot of my questions as I have searched them diligently. The mysteries of God will be unfolded unto us as we heed His words with an open heart. There are so many experiences and thoughts I want to share, but I have narrowed it down to one, the Savior.

I was reading this morning about the Savior's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and His arrest. I was moved into tears as I pondered about His great love and compassion towards all men whether good or bad. In His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed earnestly to the Father saying, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John 17:4-5) He continues pleading with the Father on our behalf, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:15-22) Though He suffered beyond comprehension--so much that He bled from every pore and asked whether it was possible that his burden be lifted from Him--He submitted to the Father's will in a supreme expression of love for His Father and us.

His love and His great gift of the Atonement will wash away our sins, lift our burdens, and bring great peace and comfort into our heart. There are times we may ask why, and wonder why things are too hard to handle, but with the Savior's great gift of Atonement--we can be freed. Elder Holland has taught us, "Some gifts coming from the Atonement are universal, infinite, and unconditional. Other aspects of Christ’s atoning gift are conditional. They depend on one’s diligence in keeping God’s commandments. For example, while all members of the human family are freely given a reprieve from Adam’s sin through no effort of their own, they are not given a reprieve from their own sins unless they pledge faith in Christ, repent of those sins, are baptized in His name, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and confirmation into Christ’s Church, and press forward in faithful endurance the remainder of life’s journey. Of this personal challenge, Christ said, ‘For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I.'”

The grace of Christ is sufficient—sufficient to cover our debt, sufficient to transform us, and sufficient to help us as long as that transformation process takes. Because of the Atonement, the Savior understands my fears, and He comforts me through the Holy Ghost. He knows my weaknesses, and He helps me to overcome them. He has never left me alone, but He has strengthened me and expanded my heart. The Lord held out His hand to me three years ago, and the gospel changed my life. Thanks to His Atonement, I was redeemed from the choices of the past and was able to feel in my heart the miracle of forgiveness. Jesus Christ accompanies and strengthens us each day if we are worthy. Not only are our sins erased and forgotten, but His light radiates in our personal and professional lives. He is our Savior, the Son of God. His love is infinite. If we live as He would have us live, we will share His love and have the hope of returning to live with Him and our Heavenly Father forever.

~Taking His Name UPON ME~

I read an article this week from the Ensign about taking the name of Christ upon us. It reminded me of President Uchdorft's talk this last General Conference, "Waiting on the Road to Damascus." It was an amazing talk that helped me to re-evaluate myself and to re-commit myself daily by taking the name of Christ upon me. There are a few points President Uchdorft shares with us to help us to continue to rely on our Savior and being the example He wants us to be! He says, "Those who diligently seek to learn of Christ eventually will come to know Him. They will personally receive a divine portrait of the Master, although it most often comes in the form of a puzzle—one piece at a time. Each individual piece may not be easily recognizable by itself; it may not be clear how it relates to the whole. Each piece helps us to see the big picture a little more clearly. Eventually, after enough pieces have been put together, we recognize the grand beauty of it all. Then, looking back on our experience, we see that the Savior had indeed come to be with us—not all at once but quietly, gently, almost unnoticed."

The more we learn of Christ, the more we come to know of Him personally and to know how we can take His name upon us. So "What does it mean to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ?" Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles helps answer this question:

1. As we take the sacrament, we can willingly renew the covenant we made at baptism--to remember the Lord and keep His commandments.
   


2. We can proclaim our belief in Him to others.
   


3. We can serve Him by doing the work of His kingdom.
   

As we diligently seek to know of Christ, the Spirit of the Lord will reveal to us what things we can do to be more Christ like. When we follow the promptings of the Spirit and respond, as Saul did on his road to Damascus, "Lord what wilt thou have me do?" we can obtain the knowledge and wisdom that we need to fulfill our purpose as sons and daughters of Heavenly Father. This experience of a missionary has touched me in so many ways and has motivated me to do better and recommit each day to take the name of Christ upon me.

"A few weeks into my mission, I began to feel lonely and a bit homesick. I loved being a missionary, but the work was much harder than I had anticipated. I missed my friends, my family, and all the familiar things I'd left back home. During my personal study one morning, I sat quietly, turning my missionary name tag over and over in my hands, thinking about how I longed for familiarity. I wished I could just hear somebody call me by my first name. As I looked at my name tag, I noticed that although my first name was absent from the tag, I saw my family name, the name of the Church, and the name of the Savior printed on it. Suddenly I recognized something that changed both my outlook and my attitude. I realized that as a missionary I wasn't there to represent myself. Instead I was serving to represent my family back home and, most important, I was representing my Savior and His Church."

A name tag or not, we are all disciples of Christ when we accept Him and His gospel. The promises that we make at our baptism and the temple are real and most important. Taking the name of Christ upon us we will feel more of His love, our testimony will be strengthened, and you will find peace and joy in your lives. I know that Christ lives and He is my Savior. He loves you and me. He is the great exemplar and as we take His name upon us, we will be filled with His great love. As King Benjamin taught, "I would that Christ...Whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ." (Mosiah 5:8-9) Finally, our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ affirms our commitment to do all that we can to be counted among those whom he will choose to stand at his right hand and be called by his name at the last day. In this sacred sense, our witness that we are willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ constitutes our declaration of candidacy for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Exaltation is eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D&C 14:7.)

"Change Is Inevitable"

Each one of us has been given the power to change his or her life. As part of the Lord’s great plan of happiness, we have individual agency to make decisions. We can decide to do better and to be better. In some ways all of us need to change; that is, some of us need to be more kind at home, less selfish, better listeners, and more considerate in the way we treat others. Some of us have habits that need to be changed, habits that harm us and others around us. Sometimes we may need a jolt to propel us into changing.

Our journey through life involves a series of changes - some major and many minor. Even though change has always been a part of life it seems that change is happening faster than ever before. This is especially evident in missionary work. As missionaries, change is hard and could be challenging at times. How we respond to change is a funny thing. There are times when we go out of our way to initiate change in our missionary work. For example, we may have to learn how to adjust to meet the need of our new companion. Although we may be apprehensive about such changes, we are stimulated by the possibilities and opportunities that will emerge. When we initiate the change, we are likely to define the experience as exciting. On the other hand, these same changes might be imposed on us by circumstance, or the design of another person or our work. When change is imposed on us, our experience of the change is likely to be quite different. In these situations, we may feel threatened and fearful about the change, and focus heavily on negative outcomes. We may want little to do with the change and find ourselves resisting it fiercely.

There are three types of changes that I have seen in my missionary work: moving from resistance to acceptance, embarking in a new direction, and the loss of a companion.
Someone once said, “Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.” No matter what change we are faced with in life or missionary work, it will be much easier to cope with and adapt to if we hold a positive attitude about change in general. This doesn't mean that we necessarily have to agree with the circumstances or details of the change. In fact we may disagree with it, but can still adapt to it in a constructive manner. The Lord is the cure to all things. As we put our trust in Him, relying on Him wholly we can overcome the fear of change. Joseph Walker wrote an article in the church magazine and said, “The possibility of change is always there, with its hidden promise of peace, happiness, and a better way of life.”

I know that the Lord gives us change for us to grow. I see change as challenges too, because change is hard and could be rough at times. But as I put my trust in the Lord, He will lift me up from my burdens. I believe in this promise declared by President Thomas S. Monson, “Our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.” Just as when we choose Christ we choose change. The gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect and as we live it we can make the changes in our lives to become better!

~Blessings of Keeping the Commandments~

This week I have been studying a lot about the commandments. Why do we have commandments? Why do we need to obey commandments? And a response to these two great questions is simply, "Because we are loved." God is our father in heaven. He loves us and He cares about us. He wants us to be happy in this life and even in the life to come. But in order to have that eternal life, we need to make right choices here in this life. And the only way for us to find that true joy in this life is to follow His commandments and do the things He has asked us to do. Simple, huh?

It may sound easy but these small and simple principles to follow can be hard at times. There has always been an opposition even before the world began. We are all familiar with the war that went on in Heaven before the world was created. Because of this, Satan was cast out and many followed him. When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they disobeyed God's commandment. But it was necessary for this great plan to be fulfilled. In the Book of Mormon, Lehi counsels his son Jacob in the need of opposition in all things. He says, "...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness or misery, neither good or bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life nor death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense or insensibility." (2 Nephi 2: 11) We can't measure happiness with out sadness or success with out failure! And that's why we have commandments as guidelines to help us in this mortal life. To reach our grand goal, which is to be with our Father in Heaven again for all eternity.

I read in the Bible this week about a certain commandment that was given to Jesus Christ from the Father. Even Jesus Christ obeyed the commandments. A great commandment that only Jesus Christ was able to accomplish for the whole world. It reads, "Therefore, doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:17-18) A magnificent commandment given to Jesus Christ compared to these small and simple commandments that the Lord has given us. His Atonement, which consists of these three immeasurable conditions: His Suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, His Crucifixion and Death on the Cross, and His Resurrection are huge beyond our own comprehension. But Christ fulfilled this great commandment so we can overcome all things and return back to that home that awaits us.

I have come to appreciate the commandments more as I have read this account about the Savior and this huge commandment, the Atonement that was given to Him. Every commandment that our Father in Heaven has given us is for our own good and will help us. These commandments can be guides to us in our lives, and if we obey them we will be happy. And it is all because of the love He has for us. I know that as we obey these simple commandments, the Lord will bless us in all aspects of our lives. Our Father in Heaven is a 'God of Promise' and when He asks us to do certain things, He promises us blessings. As we earnestly try to obey our Father in Heaven’s commandments, it is important to remember that we can do it only with the help of Jesus. We should also remember that when we disobey, our Father in Heaven will forgive us when we place our faith in Jesus Christ and repent. Since we all have sinned, we should be very grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of His Atonement, our Father in Heaven can forgive and bless us and help us become obedient. We would never be worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings by ourselves. Sister Barbara McConochie was so impressed by the commandments she wrote the song "Keep the Commandments" for the Primary children. She then said, “Keeping the commandments is the anchor for our safety amidst the storm. True peace will come to each individual, family, and nation only as we learn obedience to the laws of our Heavenly Father.” I know that our Father in Heaven loves each and everyone of us. And as we obey His commandments relying on our Savior's great Atonement, we will find true joy and happiness in this life! I am grateful for the commandments and it has truly blessed me in my life.

The Lord's Mercy

I am so blessed to be here and for the many tender mercies of the Lord that He continues to pour upon me. I have lived a great life full of countless blessings, numerous miracles, and never ending opportunities. And my heart is full of gratitude because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and for the love that my Heavenly Father has for me. Elder Bednar shares a scripture in the Book of Mormon and it reads, "But behold, I Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20) I have reflected back to this verse several times and thought, 'there's none other way we can receive these tender mercies without having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.' Elder Bednar would agree with me on that. He continues to say, "...the Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits 'his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.'" (D&C 46:15)
I have had so many experiences where I've recognized these tender mercies of the Lord and one of them happened yesterday. Hearing the voice of a wonderful mother brought tears to my eyes as we rejoiced together with gratitude and praises to the Lord. Because of her faithful prayers, she was able to hear the voice of her daughter, whom she has never heard from in a couple of months. And the concerns and heart-ache of the daughter brought peace and assurance to her heart as they both cried in joy. They expressed their love for one another and the spirit of the Lord was upon them. They shared their testimonies of Christ, a few scriptures, and the hand of the Lord that they have seen in their lives. The reassuring promise from the Lord when He said, "Daughter, be of good comfort" (Matthew 9:22) filled their hearts and their hope for the future was pure and unwavering.
The Lord is mindful of His children and His tender mercies are available to each and everyone of us! He lives and He cares about you and me. Each of us can see and hear of these tender mercies of the Lord in these latter days. It is my prayer that our hearts be filled with gratitude and appreciation for His abundant and tender mercies.

Creation

Wouldn’t it be great if life came with a map, showing us where we’ve been and where to go? Thankfully, life does have a map. Our Father in Heaven has a plan for us and wants us to know where we came from and where He wants us to go.

Before we were born, we lived with God in heaven as spirits. All of our spirit brothers and sisters were there, too—everyone who has lived or will live on earth including Jesus Christ. In this “pre-earth life,” each of us was an individual with a divine nature and destiny. God gave all of us the gift of agency, or the right to choose for ourselves. Because He is the Father of our spirits, we call Him our Heavenly Father.

We can look up at the sky at night and see a never-ending universe. There are millions of stars and planets, all in perfect order. They did not get there by chance. We can see the work of God in the heavens and on the earth. The beautiful plants, the variety of animals, the mountains, the rivers, the clouds that bring us rain and snow—all these testify to us that there is a God. In the Book of Mormon, an ancient prophet named Alma wrote, “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.”(Alma 30:44) President Thomas S. Monson, a modern prophet said: “If there is a design in this world in which we live, there must be a Designer. Who can behold the many wonders of the universe without believing that there is a design for all mankind? Who can doubt that there is a Designer?”

There is a God and He is the Almighty Ruler of the universe. He made the moon, the stars, and the sun. He organized this world and gave it form, motion, and life. He filled the air and the water with living things. He covered the hills and plains with all kinds of animal life. He gave us day and night, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest. God is the Supreme Being in whom we believe and whom we worship. He is all-powerful and all-knowing, and He is full of love, mercy, charity, and compassion. He is the Author of the plan for our happiness.

True Desire

I came across this inspirational story by Elder Dallin H. Oaks about the importance of desire. "How do we develop desires? Few will have the kind of crisis that motivated Aron Ralston, but his experience provides a valuable lesson about developing desires."


-While Aron Ralston was hiking in a remote canyon in southern Utah, an 800-pound (360 kg) rock shifted suddenly and trapped his right arm. For five lonely days he struggled to free himself. When he was about to give up and accept death, he had a vision of a three-year-old boy running toward him and being scooped up with his left arm. Understanding this as a vision of his future son and an assurance that he could still live, Ralston summoned the courage and took drastic action to save his life before his strength ran out. He broke the two bones in his trapped right arm and then used the knife in his multi-tool to cut off that arm. He then summoned the strength to hike five miles (8 km) for help.

A great example of an overwhelming desire!

Courage & Strength

Courage is a virtue that calls us to move ever forward in crossing whatever mountains or deserts loom in our lives. One of my favorite scripture is found in the Bible and it reads, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”(Joshua 1:9) As I have reflected back on this scripture numerous times, I have come to a conclusion that this is one of the hardest virtues to obtain without faith. In this life, we will be given trials, challenges, or even struggles that may seem to hard for us to endure. But God knows each and everyone of us individually and He will never give us challenges and trials that we cannot bear. [The] guides from the book of Joshua will combine to provide the most powerful source of courage and strength there is: faith in our Heavenly Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ.

I love the story of Ammon and his brother Aaron in the Book of Mormon. As they were out serving the Lord they faced so many challenges. But they knew that if they didn't put their trust in the Lord, they would never have the strength to accomplish whatever they were sent out to do. Ammon says something very powerful that we can all apply it to ourselves: "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things." (Alma 26:12) We are nothing without God!
We have come to this earth at a glorious time. The opportunities before us are limitless. It is a remarkable period when opportunities abound, but we also face challenges that are unique to us at this time. President Monson in his April 2009 General Conference talk said, "As I contemplate all that you face in the world today, one word comes to my mind. It describes an attribute needed by all of us but one which you—at this time of your life and in this world—will need particularly. That attribute is courage." He continues by sharing three aspects that we need in our lives to be courageous: to have the courage required to refrain from judging others, the courage to be chaste and virtuous, and the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness. The one that I would want to talk about is the third one, 'the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness.'
When President Monson addressed his concern on this last principle he said it powerfully and with love.
"My final plea tonight is that you have the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness. Because the trend in society today is away from the values and principles the Lord has given us, you will almost certainly be called upon to defend that which you believe. Unless the roots of your testimony are firmly planted, it will be difficult for you to withstand the ridicule of those who challenge your faith. When firmly planted, your testimony of the gospel, of the Savior, and of our Heavenly Father will influence all that you do throughout your life. The adversary would like nothing better than for you to allow derisive comments and criticism of the Church to cause you to question and doubt. Your testimony, when constantly nourished, will keep you safe."
With the courage of our convictions, may we declare with the Apostle Paul, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.” (Romans 1:16) As we nourish our faith by immersing ourselves in the scriptures daily, praying with a sincere heart, and trusting in the Lord we will have the strength and courage to overcome all obstacles that come our way. I know that Satan lives, that he is a powerful personage of spirit, the archenemy of God, of man, and of righteousness. And he will try his very best to ensnare, to deceive, and put thoughts in our minds that will lead us to destruction. But as we continue to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, our faith will overpower the enemy.
I know that the challenges I go through are for my own growth. As I have put my trust in the Lord and strive to be worthy of the Spirit, I have been given the courage and strength to overcome the enemy. I am still overcoming my trials, but I know that God loves me and everything will work out if I continue to endure through these challenging times.

How Should I Love Thee As He Does?

Elder Holland used a great line from Elizabeth Browning’s poems: “How do I love thee?” A great question that we should all ask ourselves in every relationship that we have. How do we love a friend, a sibling, a co-worker, or even a spouse? Not when do I love thee? Nor where do I love thee? Nor why do I love thee? Nor why don’t you love me? But rather, HOW? How do I demonstrate it? How do I reveal true love for you? There are many qualities you want to look for in a friend or a serious date to say nothing of a spouse, an eternal companion. But surely among the very first and most basic of these qualities will be that of care and sensitivity.
Love is a feeling of deep devotion, concern, and affection. We manifest our love for Heavenly Father by keeping His commandments and serving His children. Our expressions of love for others may include being kind to them, listening to them, mourning with them, comforting them, and being their friend. Our love for those around us increases when we remember that we are all children of God--that we are spirit brothers and sisters. The love that results from this realization has the power to transcend all boundaries of nation, creed and color. (True to the Faith, pp. 96-97)
Elder Ballard this last general conference gave a profound message on how to find joy through loving service. He says: “When this pure love of Christ--or charity--envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like unto that of the Savior...It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service--the way that the Savior would love and serve all of us if He were among us today.” Christ shared this desire with His Apostles on the eve of His Crucifixion. He said: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have love you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).
“Think the best of each other, especially to those you say you LOVE. Assume the good, and doubt the bad. 'True love 'beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.' So Christ loves us, and that is how...that is how He hopes we would love each other." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

Become A Child...

For these past couple of days I have come across this same phrase in the scripture. First I came across it in the seventh chapter of the book of Alma. "And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive." And this morning I read it again but in the book of Mosiah, which says; "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, for ever and ever, unless he yields to the enticing of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, and willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." Couple things stood out to me and were made very clear of how much we need to be like little children because they are the most Christlike, pure, and innocent in the eyes of God.

The first point that I want to talk about is the attributes mentioned in these two verses. It made me think of the great examples that I have seen in children through out my life. And one that I will never forget is an experience that I had in Fairfield. It was about eight o'clock at night and I was driving to the church to do my online proselyting work. I was stopped at a red light, and to my left side there was a mini-van next to me. I noticed a child in the back seat of the car staring at me. We both looked at each other, she then gave me the most beautiful smile and waved at me. She was so happy she was bouncing around and wiggling in her car seat. That small and simple act of kindness made my night! I didn't know the child or her parents, but her countenance, her purity, and her love taught me a lesson that night. Sister Jean A. Stevens this last general conference shared with us how we need to become like little children and look up to them for the examples they are. She said, "If we have a heart to learn and a willingness to follow the example of children, their divine attributes can hold a key to unlocking our own spiritual growth." I know that the examples of children has been a great influence to me. Children are a blessing are are precious gifts with a divine nature and destiny. "These precious children of God come to us with believing hearts. They are full of faith and receptive to feelings of the Spirit. They exemplify humility, obedience, and love. They are often the first to love and the first to forgive." We can all strive to be like a little child. Christ has taught us in the New Testament very clearly what we need to do to inherit the kingdom of God. He said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. " (Matthew 18:3-4) I am grateful for the examples I have seen in the many children that have influenced me in my life.

The second point I want to talk about in these two verses were the "need to trust in God, become a child, and to thank Him always." We all have the natural man in us and we are not perfect. But when we come unto the Lord with humility, He will convert our weaknesses to become our strengths. (Helaman 12:27) And children are the best examples! Sister Stevens goes on saying, "These precious children of God come to us with believing hearts. They are full of faith and receptive to feelings of the Spirit. They exemplify humility, obedience, and love. They are often the first to love and the first to forgive." They are closest to God and our Savior and we should look up to them more. She shared some experiences of how children can bless our lives with their innocent yet powerful examples of Christlike attributes. Here's one of my favorite: "Todd, a little boy just two years old, recently went with his mother to an art museum that was showing a special exhibit of beautiful paintings of the Savior. As they walked past these sacred images, she heard her little boy reverently saying the name 'Jesus.' She looked down to see him folding his arms and bowing his head as he viewed the paintings. Could we learn from Todd something about an attitude of humility, of reverence, and of love for the Lord?" What a great example this little Todd showed that we can all learn from.

I am grateful for the many great example that children have showed and expressed to me. It is a great blessing that these precious children are sent to us to remind us daily of what we need to become....to become a little child! I received an email from my cousin announcing the birth of a baby girl. I rejoice in the new birth of little Vicky. I am overwhelmed with joy knowing that this precious little child will be a great example to her parents, her families, friends, and those around her. And my heart is exclaiming with gratitude knowing that she will be a great influence to everyone that come in contact with her. I will always be grateful for the blessing of the many children that has taught me the lessons I need. They have helped me to change for the better. I bear my testimony that Christ is the perfect Son of God that has all these attributes that little children has. He is the Great Exemplar, He is my Savior and Redeemer, and wants each and everyone to come unto Him as a little child so we can all return to our Heavenly home.

Obedience is the Path to Freedom

I have been thinking a lot about obedience and what it truly means. Why do we need to be obedient? Why do we need to follow a certain rule that doesn't even make sense? We all come up with these questions every now and then. I read a talk by James E. Faust titled, "Obedience: The Path to Freedom" and it answered those questions that I have had once before and still struggling with sometimes. But we need to be obedient to be freed from the struggles and challenges that we face. Our obedience to the commandments is an expression of our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He later declared: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10).

In the premortal existence, Heavenly Father presided over a great Council in Heaven. There we learned of His plan for our salvation, which included a time of testing on the earth: “We will make an earth whereon these may dwell; and we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:24-25). One reason we are here on the earth is to show our willingness to obey Heavenly Father's commandments.
Many people feel that the commandments are burdensome and that they limit freedom and personal growth. But the Savior taught that true freedom comes only from following Him: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31–32). God gives commandments for our benefit. They are loving instructions for our happiness and for our physical and spiritual well-being. I love the commandments and the mission rules. It has changed me to who I am today.

James E. Faust shares a great lesson he learned on his mission. He says, "Obedience leads to true freedom. The more we obey revealed truth, the more we become liberated...Being bridled, or yielding obediently to restraint, is necessary for our personal growth and progression. Now, brethren, another element of freedom is trust. Almost 60 years ago, when I was going on my first mission, President McKay taught us missionaries a great truth. Without a word, he walked over to the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote, “It is better to be trusted than to be loved.” I have pondered that statement and have seen some fine examples of it." Trust is to rely upon or place confidence in someone or something. In spiritual matters, trust includes relying on God and his Spirit. Elder Faust continues to share a great example from the scriptures. "Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, was sold into slavery in Egypt. Because of treachery in the house of Potiphar, Joseph went to prison. Pharaoh had two troubling dreams. Hearing of Joseph’s discernment from the captain of the prison guard, he sent for him to interpret the dreams. Joseph told him, through inspiration, that seven years of plenty would be followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh not only recognized this true interpretation, but he trusted Joseph and appointed him to be second only to Pharaoh in power. The years passed and the famine came. In time Joseph rescued all of his brothers and his father from starvation. (Gen. 37; Gen. 39–42) Because he earned the implicit trust of those who were over him, Joseph enjoyed a great amount of freedom. Like Joseph, you too can be trusted by others, but trust must be earned."
In our own finite way, we too can learn obedience even as Christ did. As young children we learn respect for authority as we obey our parents, thus earning their trust. When obedience becomes our goal, it is no longer an irritation; instead of a stumbling block, it becomes a building block. Obedience brings peace in decision making. If we have firmly made up our minds to follow the commandments, we will not have to re-decide which path to take when temptation comes our way. That is how obedience brings spiritual safety. Elder Boyd K. Packer once said:

"Obedience to God can be the very highest expression of independence. Just think of giving to him the one thing, the one gift that he would never take. Think of giving him that one thing that he would never wrest from you...
Obedience--that which God will never take by force--he will accept when freely given. And he will then return to you freedom that you can hardly dream of-- the freedom to feel and to know, the freedom to do, and the freedom to be; at least a thousand-fold more than we offer him. Strangely enough, the key to freedom is obedience...
We should put ourselves in a position before our Father in heaven and say, individually, "I do not want to do what I want to do. I want to do what thou wouldst have me do." Suddenly, like any father, the Lord could say, "Well, there is one more of my children almost free from the need of constant supervision."

I know that freedom and liberty are precious gifts that come to us when we are obedient to the laws of God and the whisperings of the Spirit. The fences which we must stay within are the principles of revealed truth. Obedience to them makes us truly free to reach the potential and the glory which our Heavenly Father has in store for us. I know that as we strive to be more obedient we can become free and be the person our Heavenly Father wants us to be. Louis Nizer a Jewish-American lawyer once said, "What we are is God's gift to us; what we become is our gift to God." It is my prayer that we will continue to be obedient unto our Father in Heaven. And through our obedience we can become His precious gift. I know that through the gospel of Jesus Christ and by being obedient to the Lord, we are freed from all the obstacles, challenges, and even the traps of our enemy!

"The Fellowship of the Unashamed"

I was on exchanges the other day and during my personal study, I read this message that was on the wall by Sister Cottle's desk and I really loved it. It reminded me so much of this verse from the Bible:

"So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at [California] also.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..." (Roman 1:15-16)

I am part of the Fellowship if the Unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision have been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarf goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, and my GOAL is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of SACRIFICE, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.
MY BANNER WILL BE CLEAR.

My calling is great! I love being a missionary. I am grateful to be here and for this great opportunity I have to share the gospel with my many brothers and sisters!!!I am called of God. My authority is above that of kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my master and He has chosen me to represent Him--to stand in His place, to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts; my doctrine is His doctrine. My Commission is to do what He wants done; To say what He wants said; to be a living modern witness in word and in deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous Latter-day work. How great is my calling! (My Missionary Commission by Elder Bruce R. McConkie)

Through the Grace of the Lord

These past few days I have been studying a lot about the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ. In the Bible dictionary, grace is defined: 'a divine means of help or strength given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.' Perhaps some of us have not received or known how to use the great gift of grace the Father has given to us through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ.

How many of us, at times, try to resolve life’s challenges ourselves, without seeking the intervention of the Lord in our lives? We try to carry the burden alone. As some are faced with trials and afflictions, they say, “Why won’t God help me?” Some have even struggled with doubts about their prayers and their personal worthiness and say, “Perhaps prayer doesn’t work.” Others who have suffered with sickness, discouragement, financial crisis, rejection, disappointment, and even loss of loved ones may say, “Why won’t the Lord heal me or help me with my son? Why didn’t He prevent her death? Does life have to be this unhappy?” Yes, one might even cry out, “O God, where art thou? … How long shall thy hand be stayed?” (D&C 121:1–2.) I have felt this way at times, but as I have been learning about my Savior and His Atonement I have been filled with peace, comfort, and joy. Brothers and Sisters, I testify that the Lord, through His grace, can continually assist us in our daily lives and in our physical and mental sickness, pain, transgressions, and even in all of our infirmities.

However, to overcome all the trials that we face we must keep our eyes and hearts centered on Jesus Christ. As we build our foundation on Christ, the Son of God, we cannot fall. (Helaman 5:12) I read a talk by Elder Gene R. Cook and I am going to be using his talk a lot. But there are a few principles that he shares with us that will help us obtain that divine help in our own lives and assist in the lives of others as well.

1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
How clear Christ’s statement after Peter had walked on the water and then sank: “O, thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt. 14:31). The moment Peter doubted, he severed himself from the power that had sustained him as he walked on the water. How many times as we pray for assistance do we cut ourselves off from the power of God because of doubt or fear? But how clear and positive the result of faith is: being justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Humility with a repentant heart.
The Lord teaches another great principle in another scripture: “If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27; italics added). By effectively humbling ourselves and repenting of our sins, we invite Christ to enter our lives, to buoy us up and help us with life’s difficulties. We also must learn how to submit to the will of God in all things. We must repent to have the enabling power of grace, and there can be no question that all of us must repent on a continual basis.

3. Sacrifice, doing all in our power.
A person must do all in his own power. Then the grace of God can come into play in his life.
“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23). What a glorious principle to understand, that the Lord’s assistance to us—whether man, woman, or child, of strong or weak faith—is not so much based on what we know, nor even on what we can offer the Lord, but more clearly upon our giving all that we can give in our present circumstances.

4. Obedience to the commandments.
There are many scriptures that say we must keep the commandments. A man does not have to be perfect right now to receive an answer to his prayers, but he has to be humble in his heart and trying his best to fulfill the commandments. Then the Lord will assist him.
“For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fullness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace. …
“He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things” (D&C 93:20, 28; italics added).

What a great counsel given to us by one of God's chosen servants. I know this to be true. That it is only through the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ where we can receive that divine help to overcome all things! "God sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, into the world so that all of God’s children would have the possibility of returning to live in His presence after they die. Only through the Savior’s grace and mercy can we become clean from sin so that we can live in our Heavenly Father’s presence. Becoming clean from sin is being healed spiritually." (Preach My Gospel, pp. 60) What a great blessing this is! I know that I need grace for my ultimate salvation and I need its enabling power every day of my life. As I draw near to my Heavenly Father in diligence, humility, and meekness, He will uplift and strengthen me through His grace. His grace will enable me to build God's kingdom, a service I cannot give through my strength or means alone. Just like the apostle Paul, so valiant in proclaiming the gospel, suffered weakness and was plagued by its effects on him. Nevertheless, when he prayed to have the weakness removed, the Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then went on to exclaim, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). I know that God loves me. I know that my Savior lives. He will lift me up from my burdens if I put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, humble myself and repent daily, sacrifice all that I have, and keep His commandments. And through His grace, I can continue to progress and grow in righteousness:)

Are We Doing All We Can?

I read a general conference talk by Elder Bruce C. Hafen this morning titled, "The Atonement: All for All." He talks a lot about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for all of God's children. And through the restoration of His gospel, the fulness of truths has been revealed for our own happiness. We will all face challenges, trials, struggles, and opposition, but it's through Jesus Christ and His Atonement where we can overcome all things! Elder Hafen says, "If you have problems in your life, don't assume there is something wrong with you. Struggling with those problems is at the very core of life's purpose. As we draw close to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser, stronger. (Ether 12:27) If you're seeing more of your weaknesses, that just might mean you're moving nearer to God, not father away." I have never thought of it that way. That just tells me that Satan is real and really strong in trying to stir up our hearts and minds. So when we do recognize our weaknesses, we often think that we are not good enough, we are not worthy, or even good enough. Satan makes us feel miserable and doesn't want us to be happy. He wants to destroy God's plan and lead God's children to the gulf of misery. This powerful message has given me a different perspective when I recognize my weaknesses now. Heavenly Father wants you to recognize your weaknesses so you can become a better person. But when you start feeling and thinking that you are not good enough, it is not of God.

We grow in two ways--by removing negative weeds(thoughts) and cultivating positive flowers (attitudes). "The Savior's grace blesses both parts--if we do our part. We must repeatedly uproot the weeds of sin and bad choices. It isn't enough just to mow the weeds. Yank them out by the roots, repenting fully to satisfy the conditions of mercy...And once we have cleared out our heartland, we must continually plant, weed, and nourish the seeds of divine qualities. And then as our sweat and discipline stretch us tot meet His gifts, the 'flow'rs of grace appear', like hope and meekness." We need the Savior's grace to overcome sin and to grow to be divine sons and daughters of Heavenly Father. Grace is not cheap and we should never take advantage of it. There is no cost for grace, but all God asks us to do, is to give all that we have. His plan of happiness with Him can help us overcome all opposition and bring us "incomprehensible joy." Christ's Atonement is central to His plan. Without His scarfice "there would be no way home, no way to be together, no way to be like Him."

I know that the fulness of God's gospel has been restored again here on earth. That through His gospel and our Savior Jesus Christ we can find true joy and happiness in this life and the life after.We are not perfect, but through Christ's mercy and grace, we can overcome all things! "If we must give all that we have, then our giving only almost everything is not enough. If we almost keep the commandments, we almost receive the blessings." We can not procrasinate or wait around and expect full blessings from our Heavenly Father. "So we must willingly give everything, because God Himself can't make us grow against our will and without our full participation." I know that as I have given my all to the will of God, I have received the many blessings that God wants me to have. If I am caring, if I am charitable, if I am obedient to God and follow His prophets, my sacrifices will bring forth the blessings of heaven. I pray that we will all become Saints willing to sacrifice and become eligible for the Lord’s special blessings.

GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST=CHANGE

I haven't blogged for a while now and a lot has happened since. I don't even know where to start. I am now here at Santa Rosa and I am with Sister Gorder, AGAIN!!! Yes, I have served with her before at Napa. How weird is that? It has been great the last couple weeks. We have been complementing each other a lot on how we've changed and grown. My last blog post was about "A Change for the Better". We all want to become better, but sometimes we don't even know where to start. There is a way and none other way where we can change to be the person God wants us to be. And it is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ where that change is possible! When we choose Christ we choose to change.

We all know that Christ was the one and only perfect Son of God. He came to earth to teach God's children, perform many miracles, and set an example for us. And our Heavenly Father wants us to follow Him and to keep His commandments. But how can we reach that goal and continue to live it throughout the rest of our lives? You can by accepting the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. First by having faith in Him and His Atonement, repenting of our transgressions, and accepting the ordinances performed by someone holding that priesthood authority of God that has been restored here on earth: baptism by immersion and receiving the gift of the holy ghost.

It has been hard for me these couple of weeks, but it has been great having my companion complement me about the change I have made. It was even better to hear it from a loving mother this past Sunday. I am glad she recognized the change that I have made and the person that I have become. I know I still have things I need to work on. But I know as I continue to have faith and to live the gospel of Jesus Christ the best I can, I can become the person my Heavenly Father wants me to be. I still struggle, I still have challenges, I am still imperfect, but I know it's through the gospel of Jesus Christ where I can become better. President Faust said, "The power to change is very real, and it is a great spiritual gift from God." He continues on to say, "Each one of us has been given the power to change his or her life. As part of the Lord’s great plan of happiness, we have individual agency to make decisions. We can decide to do better and to be better. In some ways all of us need to change; that is, some of us need to be more kind at home, less selfish, better listeners, and more considerate in the way we treat others. Some of us have habits that need to be changed, habits that harm us and others around us. Sometimes we may need a jolt to propel us into changing." If we continue to change and live the simple principles of the gospel, we can find true joy and happiness in this life. I know that God loves each and everyone of us. And He will help us in anyway he can so we can be what He wants us to become. Jesus Christ lives and through His Atonement everything is made possible. I love the gospel and I am grateful of how it has changed my life!!!

"A Change for the Better"

A Journey of a Lifetime...I love this phrase. We all have a story. We all started somewhere. Mine started May 25, 1989, almost 22 years ago. I was born into a wonderful family, with a Mom and Dad who loved and helped throughout all my life. I grew up with wonderful siblings who were wonderful examples to me, who I looked up to so much. When we were younger we all had a 'role model', ya know the older brother who you wanted to be just like, or the neighbor next door who was an amazing basketball player..whoever or whatever we all had them. But we all have to decide who we want to become, who we will become. I had a very normal childhood. Went to school, played with friends, loved playing with my dog, loved to be outside, went to church, ya know the usual. I had my life planned, don't we all? I would graduate from high school, go on to college, get married, have kids, and live happily ever after. But little did I know, my Heavenly Father had a lot different plan for me, a better plan.

After I graduated I went to BYU Hawaii, I know right? It was amazing! It was just like living a dream there! But after a couple of semesters I felt like I needed to come home. I was dating, working, having fun being 20, not really sure what I was going to do, just enjoying life. Well things in my life took an interesting turn and what I thought was going to be..turned out not to be. Just like a lot of us at this age, there is so much to do, we just don't know what to do. Ever since high school, I always told everyone I am not going to go on a mission, it's not 'for me', I have other plans. A little over a year ago I was driving down the road and I had the strongest feeling come over me that I needed to serve a mission. I laughed. I laughed for a while. The thought kept coming to my head that whole week. And when I finally realized that it wasn't just a thought, but that it was an answer to my prayers, it was something that my Heavenly Father wanted me to do, I was angry. I had never wanted to serve a mission, it wasn't in 'my plans.' I put it in the back of my mind, and decided to go back to BYU Hawaii, so I re-applied and got accepted, but it didn't feel right. And I knew that I need to serve a mission. I was terrified. I didn't really have a strong testimony of the church, and I didn't think I could do it.

But one of my favorite verse in the scripture is, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverb 3:5-6) I decided to do just that. I knew that my Father in Heaven loved me, and I knew that he would bless me. And although I was not sure how or when or even why, I started filling out my mission papers. I was scared, and I'm going to be honest I doubted a lot. But I had faith, and through that faith, my foundation, my testimony grew and became strengthened. Miracles in my life started happening. I'm here on my mission, it's been 8 months now. And I love it! It's been an amazing journey for me, I've been challenged, tried, and tested many times. It hasn't been peaches and roses everyday. But it's been worth it. I've met amazing people, who have impacted my life for the better. Our Heavenly Father knows each of us, He loves us, and most of all He wants us to be happy. He knows what we need, He knows where we need to go, it is up to us to 'trust in him.' And when we do, we will find greater joy and happiness then we ever thought we could... "Wherefore, 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) We must have hope, we must have faith. Heavenly Father has a plan for me and for you. Trust in him, follow him, and listen to him. He loves you!

Posted by: Sister Cottle

God Knows You More Than You Know Yourself

I am a daughter of God. And he knows me too well. He answers my prayers, helps me through my concerns, and gives me comfort when I need it. What a great blessing! A way I can communicate with my Father in Heaven is through sincere prayer. And when I come unto Him and express the feelings of my heart, He will grant unto me the things I stand in need of.
I was reading in the ensign this morning and came to a talk written by President Monson titled, "Come unto Him in Prayer and Faith." As I pondered on this message, it brought me so much peace and comfort. It reminded me of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, declared, "Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith." (Jacob 3:1) I was reflecting back to my prayers and my faith. And Jacob’s advice has truly helped me as I go through the challenging times in my life.
President Monson says, "As we offer unto the Lord our family prayers and our personal prayers, let us do so with faith and trust in Him. Let us remember the injunction of Paul to the Hebrews: 'For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.'" (Hebrews 11:1) When we diligently seek God and come unto Him through sincere prayer and having great faith, we will be rewarded with many great blessings. Sometimes we may not want the answer to our prayers. And as much as we have prayed with faith, God knows what is best for us and will reward us with it. Elder Richard G. Scott gave a great counsel which answers that concern that we all have.

"With even your strongest faith, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you, when it will yield the greatest advantage. Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow."

Wherever we may be, our Heavenly Father can hear and answer the prayer offered in faith. During those darkest moments of our lives, we often lose faith. And instead of praying for help in dealing with the situation, we pray for solutions to our problems. This past couple weeks I have been feeling just indifferent about some things. And this week I was encountered by a challenge that I never thought I would face. And through sincere prayers and putting my faith in the Lord, my prayers were answered. And even though the answer I received was not something I wanted, I know that God knows what is best for me. All I need to do is to continue in nourishing my faith by doing the small and simple things He has commanded me to do. He has poured His spirit upon me to give me peace and comfort. I know that God hears and answers prayers. He loves and cares for each and every one of us. And through our Savior, Jesus Christ we can be healed because He knows us more than we know yourselves!

He Is Risen...He LIVES!!!

President Monson gave a great Easter message on April 2010 General Conference. He talked about Job and how he had this question in his mind that we may all have pondered about some time in our lives. "If a man die, shall he live again?" (Job 4:14) A question that I have once asked myself before. Heavenly Father has a great plan for each and everyone of us and central to that plan is our Savior, Jesus Christ. And through Him we can live again. Jesus Christ came and accomplished the great Atonement. He laid down His life for our transgressions, iniquities, and even "breaketh the bands of death." (Mosiah 15:8)

"No words in Christendom mean more to me than those spoken by the angel to the weeping Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when, on the first day of the week, they approached the tomb to care for the body of their Lord. Spoke the angel:
“Why seek ye the living among the dead?
“He is not here, but is risen.” 12
Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place—the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed." (President Monson)

"That empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job's question, "'If a man die, shall he live again?'" After Christ was crucified and killed, his body was taken by Joseph wrapped with linen and laid in a sepulchre. Three days, later Christ was risen from the death and was a resurrected glorified being. His spirit and body were once reunited again and perfected. And through Him we can all live again. Loosing a loved one is challenging. I have had a personal experience of loosing someone very special and dear to me, my father. A year and a half ago my dad was really ill and had to fly to Hawaii for medical care. They came to find out that half of his organs had failed and he had only six months to live. With this heart breaking news, I had to fly there to visit him. I got my trip all situated and was all set and ready to see my father, whom I hadn't seen for about two years. A day before my trip, I received the most devastating news of my entire life. My dad was taken back home to where he belonged. And that his last dying words were, "I want all my kids to seek God and come closer to Him so we could all be together again" is a great testimony that motivated me to be where I am today. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and because he lives all of us, including my father, will live again. A verse that brought me peace and comfort is found in Revelations 21:4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." I know this to be true. Christ did His part and if I come unto Him and obey His commandments, I can live with Him and my family again and forever. In the hour of our deepest sorrow, we can find hope from these two verses found in the Bible, "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be mad alive." (1Corinthian 15:21-22) Christ lives, He is Risen!

Unshakable Faith

I had a great experience yesterday with one of our Single Branch members that we were visiting. He is an awesome kid with a great desire to follow Christ and keep His commandments. I just finished the Book of Mormon a few weeks ago. But yesterday, we read the first chapter of the first Book of Nephi together and a lot of things stood out to me. As we were discussing what we read with one another we both pointed out the same verse, where it says: "And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them." (1Nephi 1:19) When Lehi prayed with all his heart to the Lord, he beheld a vision where he read a book concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. When he received this vision he went to his people and prophesied of the things that he saw and heard . The people mocked him and even sought to kill him. This particular verse can relate to us in these days. When we do the things that we know to be right and good, others will judge, criticize, or try to make us look bad. And sometimes we even get disowned or rejected by our loved ones. I was reading a story in the Ensign magazine about a lady with unshakable faith and a great testimony who set a great example by staying strong in what she believed to be true. Her name was Rebecca Swain Williams from Pennsylvania, the youngest of 10 children. In the fall of 1830 the first missionaries arrived in Kirtland and started teaching her. After many meetings with the missionaries she was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of her hopes was that her family would accept the gospel and receive the many blessings that it offers. However, her conversion infuriated her father. She did not turn back or give up. "Despite her family's hostility toward the Church, this early convert remained faithful and devoted to the work." Because of her great acts of service for those around her and her love for the gospel, her testimony and faith were unshakable. She continued to share the gospel with her family no matter what and strove to fulfill the promises that she had made with Heavenly Father. And those promises are being "willing to mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, stand as witnesses of God at all times, all places, all things, serve him, and keep His commandments." (Mosiah 18:9-10) Bishop Richard C. Edgley, First Counselor in the presiding Bishopric stated in his last October General Conference: "Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today's world, I wish to suggest a single choice--a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism." It is my prayer that we will "be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works"(Mosiah 5:15) that we will grow in faith and love for the gospel.

You Will Be Freed...There is Hope

I was reading a General Conference talk titled "O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One" by Elder Ballard and it is something that we can all relate to. He talks a lot about addiction, but it really could be everything and anything that we go through in life. As I was pondering about this message, I gained more hope that only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be healed. The analogy that he uses with the fly fishing is very true. He says, "Lucifer knows our hunger, or weaknesses, and tempts us with counterfeit lures which, if taken, can cause us to be yanked from the stream of life into his unmerciful influence. And unlike a fly fisherman who catches and releases the fish unharmed back into the water, Lucifer will not voluntarily let go. His goal is to make his victims as miserable as he is." On the other hand, Heavenly Father has provided us with His gospel, His son Jesus Christ, and many opportunities where we can find true joy and happiness. True happiness comes from the small and simple things that we do to prevent us from being caught by Lucifer's lies and cunning intelligence. Some of those small and simple things are reading the scriptures, praying, going to church, serving the Lord, and keeping His commandments. I know that as we follow the counsel of Alma to his son Helaman "that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass,"(Alma 37:6) we will never be led astray by Lucifer and his lies. God knew we will sin and make mistakes, but He has provided a way for us to be spiritually clean and reunited to Him through our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Savior taught, "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I." (D&C 19:16-17) Elder Ballard states, "there is a way to spiritual freedom--a way to escape from bondage--a way that is proven. It begins with prayer--sincere, fervent, and constant communication with the Creator of our spirits and bodies, Our Heavenly Father. It is the same principle in breaking a bad habit or repenting from sin of any kind." Jesus Christ, who willingly atoned for our sins said: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) If we put our trust in the Atonement of our Savior, there is hope because God loves us. I know that there is power in prayer and God answers prayers. I have seen many miracles and blessings as I have put my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement. I am not perfect, but through Him I can be made whole. It is my prayer that we will continue to do the small and simple things by relying on our Savior. And when "the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, his shafts in the whirlwind, all his hail and mighty storm shall beat upon [us], it shall have no power over [us] to drag [us] down to the gulf of misery." (Helaman 5:12)

Helping Hands

I read an article in the Ensign this morning that really helped answered some of my concerns and struggles that I have been going through. I love to help people in any way I can, especially helping them to receive the gospel. And it has been a problem to me because I want to help them so much, but sometimes they just don't want the help. But as I read this article, I began to ponder about how I can relate this story to me and what I am going through. I like to help and see others change because it makes me happy. And when I don't see a change or things don't go the way I want it to be or expect it to be I get sad, discouraged, or frustrated. And sometimes I feel like I am not doing the very best I can or I have failed. But as I was pondering about this, a verse from the scriptures came to mind, "...for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength." (Mosiah 4:27) We all can choose for ourselves and that is something I need to instill in my mind. That as much as I want to help others, they have their own free will to choose. But what I can do is love them despite their weaknesses, struggles, or choices that they make. God is the father of our souls and He knows each and everyone of us personally. He also has a specific plan for everyone. And is preparing a way for each and everyone of His children to come unto Him. Just like how He has prepared me to be who I am today. It is through the Savior's Atonement where we can be healed and that is His role, not mine. I know that the Lord wants me to believe and trust in Him and to not give up on Him, His timing, or His ways.

The Great Healer

I was reading a talk this morning by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy titled, "Come unto Me with Full Purpose of Heart, and I Shall Heal You." This was a talk he gave this last General Conference. I have been reading a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I do not plan on it, but for some really odd reason I end up reading about Christ and His Atonement. Elder Kearon shared an experience during his childhood years where he was told by his parents to always wear shoes to protect his feet from threats that were found in the desert. One day he rebelled against this simple principle and went out with just flip-flops. He got bit by a scorpion that caused him a lot of pain and put his own life on a threat. He related this experience to our lives as we live the gospel. Sometimes we try and take short cuts because of our laziness and rebellious behavior. He says, "...we know the commandments and standards we have covenanted to uphold. When we choose another path from the one we know to be right, as taught by our parents and leaders and as confirmed to our own hearts by the Holy Ghost, it is like stepping onto the desert sand in flip-flops instead of shoes." But the Lord knows us more than we know ourselves and is anxious to help us. He has given us commandments for our own benefit. He also has given us the agency to choose because He loves and wants us to choose for ourselves. But to make right choices so we can return to Him again.

We can try to lay down our weapons of rebellion and not fight against God. When we do so, "we qualify ourselves for the Lord's healing and peace." I am grateful for the healing power of the Savior's Atonement. We are not perfect, but the Savior can help us through our weaknesses and or shortcomings. But all He asks for us to do is to "[come] unto Him with a full purpose of heart." (3 Nephi 10:6) Elder Kearon ends with a powerful message, "Our Savior is the Prince of Peace, the Great Healer, the only One who can truly cleanse us from the sting of sin and the poison of pride and change our rebellious hearts into converted, covenant hearts." The Atonement is real and only through Jesus Christ we can be healed. I know this to be true and I so testify in His holy name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Follow Thou Me

Another beautiful daughter of our Heavenly Father made a great decision to follow her Savior, Jesus Christ and be baptized today. It has been a spiritually uplifting day for me and I am grateful I was part of her special day. She made that decision to "fulfill all righteousness," just like Jesus Christ did. A beautiful ordinance made to testify of the truthfulness of the priesthood that has been restored again here on earth.

She has made that great step in her life and will continue to fulfill those covenants that she has made with her Father in Heaven. I am proud of her and for her great example! What a great blessing to witness a great ceremony that has strengthened my testimony. God lives and He loves each and everyone of His children. I know He is overwhelmed with joy and says, "my beloved Daughter, I am well pleased."

I am grateful for the priesthood and for the many great blessings it brings. The priesthood has definitely blessed my life and has brought me where I am today. I know with all the assurity of my heart that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Christ here on earth.

Come Unto Me...

I was reading this morning in Luke 13 and the last two verses really stood out to me. It says:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not.

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."

The Lord has been trying to gather all of His children just like a hen would. He loves each and everyone of us so much and yearns for us to return to Him again. Through His gospel and Jesus Christ we can be with Him again. His love is infinite and only through Him we can find true joy and happiness. He says come unto me and "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)