Decisions Decisions

For a year and a half, I spent my time out in California, living on a strict schedule, studying everyday for a couple of hours preparing to teach and then spending the rest of my day teaching at every moment I could. I met countless people everyday on the street and in their homes and I learned a lot about their individual lives. It was an incredibly eye opening experience and it made me think about what goals I wanted to make and how I wanted to live my own life.

            I saw people wasting away money in their homes worth over a million dollars and I saw people struggling to survive on welfare. I saw families who appeared to have everything together but who were completely falling apart at a closer look and I also saw families working with their whole souls to piece their lives back together. It was an experience that I would never take back and it rooted itself in the depths of my soul.

            It was a stark contrast coming back to school in Provo, Utah where life is very different from the culture of northern California. In a college town everyone’s life is just beginning, including my own. I had so many questions running through my head. What was most important to me? What was the most beneficial way that I could use my knowledge and skills that I had acquired on my mission and beforehand? Where was my time most wisely spent and how should I shape my life? Those are big questions with a life laid out in front of you: spotless, untouched and waiting to be molded.

I was overwhelmed with the choices I had to make and doubting which steps to take. I wondered if my career choice as an artist was the wisest option, or if it would be a waste of my contribution to the world.

As I was worrying about all of these thoughts, I had an experience that helped me to be more confident in making my decisions. I happened to be at the Provo City Library, which I’ve only been to a few times for school projects, other than that I rarely find a reason to go there. On that particular day, my schedule had gotten all switched around and I found myself with some extra time after printing out some map directions. I was walking around and wound up in a room with an art exhibit. It was a show of portraits of influential people who had helped shape the United States. People like Jackie Robinson and Abraham Lincoln. Underneath each portrait there was a quote from that person and as I came to Henry Ford, I stopped dead in my tracks. “There is no man living that can not do more than he thinks he can.” And again as I looked at the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

            I felt peace in my heart that at that moment, for my situation, those words were advice not only spoken by two influential people trying to help their fellow men, but it was advice from my Heavenly Father straight to me. I realized that all of the doubt and discouragement I had been feeling was blocking out my faith. The gifts and opportunities I had been given hadn’t been a waste of time or energy, but through cultivating them I could provide something worthwhile and I didn’t need to be scared about moving forward.

The really cool thing about life, is that everyone is different and we each have so much potential in our various abilities. I don’t know the answer to every single concern or questions for myself, let alone everyone else in the world, but I do know though that as we each have our own questions, whatever they are, we can find the direction we need because Heavenly Father cares about us and the worries that seem and are so important to us in our little worlds.

P.S. that painting isn't finished but will be shortly for my art show coming up in a month! 

Joy to the World

Homecoming Talk!

I wrote this and read it in our church congregation today! I hope you know how much I have loved being a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how much I still hope to strive to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. I love you, thanks for reading:

I feel like it is just impossible to relay this message, of all the faces and the hearts of the people that I came to feel such a deep love for. I couldn’t forget them and I never ever would want to. These people taught me how to live the Gospel and what the principles of the Doctrine of Christ really meant. I wanted to share just a tiny portion of the monumental experiences that I’ve just had on my adventure of sharing the Gospel.

            Faith in Jesus Christ is the first step of the Gospel. Faith is an incredible thing and the faith of a child can move mountains. Jordan was 9 years old. He knew that the Gospel was true with his whole heart and his greatest desire was to be baptized. The entire year that he was 8, he begged his parents to allow him to be baptized. His parents kept waiting til they were in the right place and in right time in their lives, but they kept pushing it off. Jordan hoped that he could get baptized on his birthday, and then he hoped that he would be able to get baptized on Christmas. The date kept changing but, his faith never ever wavered.

            As we taught their family the lessons, the Spirit burned through each of our hearts. We taught Jordan the ten commandments and he was able to repeat them back to us faster then my companion and I could. When his parents hesitated at the idea of paying tithing and fast offerings, Jordan and his sister took the heads of their parents and shook them up and down saying, “Yes, we will pay our tithing.”

            Jordan’s faith taught that family how to follow the example of the Savior. He was baptized and I’ve never seen another child so aware of His covenant with Heavenly Father. Since he was baptized last year he has continued to be the strength in his immediate and extended family and they have been slowly but surely changing and coming into and back into the church.

            Another woman who touched my life so profoundly was Sis. Fernandes. She was one of the most Christlike, humble people I had ever met. She was an example to me of returning and repenting. She had grown up in the church, but drifted away when she was older. She ended up raising her children in the Catholic church because it was easiest at the time, but last year as her husband was going through cancer, she realized that she needed to come back to the Gospel. She called the Branch President and asked him if there was anything that she needed to do or if she was allowed to even go back to church. In his cheery warmth, President Chandler replied, “Well of course you can!”

Sis. Fernandes has become strong and immovable. With all of her challenges she reaches out to others first. She came with us to lessons with another family that was working to come back and she was recently called to be the 2^ndcounselor in the Relief Society Presidency.

            The third and fourth principles of the Gospel are baptism and confirmation. It is such an incredible experience to see someone follow Christ step by step and conversion really is a miracle. It is all in the Lord’s hands and being able to witness that is an amazing experience, which has strengthened me over and over again.

            One of the most influential people in my life was from the first place that I served in California. She had grown up with Jewish heritage, but celebrating Christmas every year . She was unsure about where to find the truth, but innately she was incredibly Spiritual. The Spirit guided her so much throughout her life and somehow she always found herself surrounded by these mormons. As she learned a little here and there she would apply what she felt was right to her life. When she was finally invited to take the lessons she had already quit drinking wine and coffee and she even would only eat dark chocolate, because she felt that that was what was right. As she was studying with us, she was also studying with the Catholics and for her it really just came right down to her personal prayer. She prayed and with each religion that she prayed about she felt something different; some she didn’t feel so good about and others just left her feeling hollow, but as she prayed about The “mormons” she knew in her heart it was what God wanted her to do. As she continued in her journey; her baptism and confirmation became incredibly important to her. It’s so inspiring to see that reverence and acknowledgement for the Eternal significance that baptism and confirmation really have.

I can never forget the power that flooded the room the moment that Priesthood holder put his hands on her head and told her to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. That experience has been a gift and a blessing to me and has reminded me of the anchor that baptism is in our lives. Looking back on those moments strengthens my faith.

            I learned a lot about endurance on my mission. I learned so much from one of the most precious families I met. The Hamiltons came from a very tough background. With the help of church members, they had been able to get their feet on the ground and to finally have security with a nice home, in a good town, with good jobs and even a boat. But, they quickly drifted away in their comfortable life. They started boating on weekends instead of going to sacrament meeting, which led to other poor decisions and poorer decisions, which eventually led to their family being torn apart. They passed through trials that most people don’t really go through in life. They had made some wrong turns, which led them down a dark road hard and fast.

            By the time that I met them, they had been quite humbled by their circumstances. They recognized the hand of the Lord in their lives and as they went through everything they learned that when they go to church things are good. Last testimony Sunday, Bro. Hamilton stood and bore his testimony that he didn’t know everything, but he knew some things and he knew he was where he needed to be.

            That’s what the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ really is; it is feeling and witnessing true conversion throughout our lives and in the lives of those whom the Lord leads us to. That conversion leads to a knowledge that the Gospel is true and it has been amazing to me. I know that the Lord loves us and He wants to bless us and all those around us, no matter our circumstances. He knows us all and none of us are ever lost to Him. He teaches us and He enables us to do things beyond our own strength. I know that He lives and loves us.

If I would share a secret with you, it would be that I wasn’t ever a huge fan of missionary work. I always felt that that was someone else’s job and so the idea of rising to this call that I felt in my heart was pretty terrifying to me. I remember thinking to myself, “how could the Lord have called me?” I pleaded with Him and I know that He truly did lead and guide me.

            It’s an incredible what Christ can do for us. I know that when we turn to the Lord and just have even that small hope; that’s enough for Him to take our hearts and mold us and to help us do things beyond our own capabilities.

            Henry Ford said, “There is no man living that can not do more than he thinks he can.”  But it is only because of the Savior.

            The Lord taught me this very clearly in so many instances, but there is one that really illustrated the point for me. The day I receive my mission call, I was hit with the reality of serving a mission and I was scared. That night I flew out to see my dad in Virginia. As I sat down on the plane, the woman next to me tried to teach me the Gospel and explained how she was on an assignment to teach some primary children. “Do you know what primary is?” She asked. I said, “Yes, in fact I just got my mission call today.” She was almost disappointed as she congratulated me with her missed opportunity to teach someone. Her example, however, helped me to have the courage to ask the person I sat next to why he was traveling to the D.C. area. He told me he was traveling for business and then he asked me about the book that I had on my tray table. We were able to talk about the Gospel for the next two hours on that plane ride as I explained to Him what the Book of Mormon was.

            The Lord has given us a promise that in our weaknesses, He will qualify us for His work.

            There have been many people in my life who have prepared me for my mission and who have since helped me along the way, but the most important and influential person in my life is Heavenly Father. I found my greatest comfort and solace as I turned to Him in prayer. I was able to call on Him and I know that He heard me every time because He answered me so every time! I cannot even begin to count the revelations and tender mercies that helped me. I found those answers as I searched my scriptures. It is that personal relationship that has blessed my life most. The joy that I receive by having a personal testimony of His love for me, is invaluable and I cherish it so much.

             I know that He lives and loves us and it is through this Gospel that He shows us that. I know it, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Scripture Study!!!!!!

Hey! So exciting post for an exciting event! Woo hoo! Yeah! We are having a scripture study tomorrow at 3:30 pm at the Chapel in Rio Vista located at 1050 Flores Way! Everyone is invited; make sure ya'll come out! We will have extra copies of the Book of Mormon, but bring a copy if you have one and bring your King James Bible as well (If you don't have one there will be copies that you can borrow)! We'll be starting with a brief overview and read a little from the Book of Mormon! If you have any questions let me, Sister-Normandie Luscher or Sister-Jasmine Kimzey, know on facebook! Hope to see you there!
We hope to have a study class every wednesday at 3:30 pm unless noted otherwise!

"The Morning Breaks, The Shadows Flee..."

So a few weeks ago, my companion and I were running through the streets of Benicia. It's so beautiful there. Running through the old victorian style houses downtown, the sun was rising and I started to think about the effect of the light through the town. As I was watching it, the light transoformed the sky and the colors of the hills start to change. They turned a mutsy purple and the sky was a soft fuzz peach. The tops of the trees began to glow and as the sun slowly kept stretching out from the it's eastern hemisphere trip, the leaves and the flowers started burning with their brilliant neon hues.
A tree with dark green brush and a plain neutral trunk can appear as vibrant as fire. A mountain of dirt heaps can become majestic and bold as the evening sun yawns against the backdrop of its mighty stage.
We, likewise, are made of the dust of the earth, but with the light of the Son, we can be transformed.
Jesus Christ has invited us to become like Him so that we can have His light to be constantly with us. He says, "Follow Thou Me...repent ye, repent ye and be baptized in My name...And He that is baptized in My name, he it is that shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost like unto me."
When we follow Christ and are baptized in His name by someone who holds that power of God, that person who is baptized can receive the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost, or the Spirit, leads and guides. He testifies of truth, comforts us and reassures us of God's love for us. He also fills us with light.
The Spirit, to me, feels like rays of sunshine falling from Heaven. It touches my heart and that brilliant light and peace from God changes me. In the last October General Conference, Keith B. McMullin used this quote, "President Joseph F. Smith described his experience with this mighty change: 'The feeling that came upon me was that of pure peace, of love and of light. I felt in my soul that if I had sinned … it had been forgiven me; that I was indeed cleansed from sin; my heart was touched and I felt that I would not injure the smallest insect beneath my feet. I felt as though I wanted to do good everywhere to everybody and to everything. I felt a newness of life, a newness of desire to do that which was right. There was not one particle of desire for evil left in my soul. I was but a little boy, it is true, … but this was the influence that came upon me, and I know that it was from God, and was and ever has been a living witness to me of my acceptance of the Lord.'"
The dawn of morning brings a new day. It's always a clean slate with spotless opportunity and it is bright! Thats what repentance is. Repentance is changing from the dark clouds of night to seeing the world in a new perspective, seeing yourself in a new perspective and seeing God in a new perspective. Its letting go of bitterness and focusing on all that is good and being washed clean of past mistakes. Baptism is the next step that sanctifies and opens the gate to a path of hope and peace and light.

We've also been given a new chance as a whole society. Throughout history, people have been given the chance to feel that peace and enter that gate of a new life filled with light and joy! But the people would turn away from it and reject it because they had their own ideas of what happiness was. That left the world in darkness and confusion, and those who looked for light couldn't always find it. There was a pattern of darkness and light, much like the turning of the earth. From day to night and back again, just as the world revolves, the pattern of history has repeated itself.
However through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the world now stand still in the light of day. As he sought after the pure truth, He was able to experience that light of the Gospel. In his own story (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng) he talks about his experience of seeking after truth. After searching and pondering and heeding the words of the scriptures, he knelt down and offered of a prayer with all of his heart, sincerely and simply wanting to know. In his own words he said, "I saw a pillar of ^clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the ^dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

...When the light rested upon me I ^bsaw two ^cPersonages, whose brightness and ^dglory defy all description, ^estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My ^fBeloved ^gSon. Hear Him!"

God has truly brought that light and pure truth back to the earth again. Its clear and it has offered us a chance to live with the greatest joy and greatest understanding and peace in our lives. We don't have to live in the shadow of doubt or confusion. The power of prayer unlocks that misunderstanding for each of us and I know that. Its a promise from God and if you sincerely want to know if its true, you can!

This is the promise:

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

 Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah."

If you want to have light pour into your heart from Heaven and to feel the truth of the Gospel, pray. Ask Him, ask me, just ask!
I know these things are true and I hope you let that light flood in, just like the dawn.

Pages

Hey! So I got this great idea a few weeks ago. Being somewhat technology challenged, I just figured out that you can make pages. :)
So the 1st page that I just made, is the FAQ page. I was reading on the mormon newsroom page and I found this great page that answers really simply alot of questions that many people have about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So check it out! And look forward to new pages to come!

The Plan

I was thinking today about that feeling, when the last thing you want to do is get out of bed. Facing the world seems like the worst thing ever and running from it is what our soul's desire is at that moment. Just sinking into the floor would really be the greatest ideal.
I think we all face those days, and honestly, it stinks. It's the worst and sometimes I wonder how each person deals with that situation. I mean, what do you do?
Then there is the other side, where all is well and it's cheerful and life is wonderful! But there's is still someone else, somewhere else, who wakes up with that knot in their stomach. How can so much happen, everywhere all at one time. And really, why on earth are we here! Why so much pain, why so much joy? WHY?
Is there even a purpose?


On those days, those days where I'm stopped in my blissful carefree tracks and I see something awful, or hear of someone else's utter heartache, I become full of compassion. My body feels too small to do all that I wish I could do. In my little girl heart and mind, I tried to come up with so many different ideas on how I as one person, could organize or solve or triumph against the horrors in life.
I've realized since then, that it's not my job, and I can really hardly do anything at all. All the programs, genius and strength in the world can't heal a broken heart or a scarred soul.


I can't save anyone. But I know there is one who can. The answer isn't to stop life and wallow in the disasters of life. The answer is to be of good cheer, turn to the one that can heal and bind the broken hearted. Lift up the hands which hang helplessly down and serve those around you. We can only do so much, but leading others who are in despair to the Savior and finding that strength to seek Him ourselves, is truly the anti-dote to life's troubles. I know that is true. It may sound trite, but Christ overcame the world, and I've felt that myself.


I've compiled a few videos of people who have over come the world in some small sense in their own lives. Choose a couple. People are so phenomenal in what they can do; so I hope it helps.
It's something I was thinking about, and I've come to know that it is real!


http://mormon.org/patrice/


http://mormon.org/paora/


http://mormon.org/lori/


http://mormon.org/frank/


http://mormon.org/deborah/


http://mormon.org/helmut/

The Joseph Smith Papers

Well this blog post is for my new friend Michael, the pastor, whom my companion and I met today when we were out knocking on doors. Of course, anyone who is interested in learning more about Joseph Smith is definitely free to check it out. 

I offer my testimony that I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. With a sincere heart, he reached out to our Father in Heaven with the intent to find truth. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ did appear to him in answer to his heartfelt question of which church is right? They replied that none on the earth had all of the truth, but through him They restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in its fulness to the earth. The Spirit has witnessed that many times to my heart and I invite everyone to find out for themselves. The Savior and His Gospel are the source of true happiness!

http://josephsmithpapers.org/

Also another Favorite, which I definitely encourage:

Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration movie

http://www.mormonchannel.org/joseph 

"No monster of the sea could break them"

You now stand on the shore of a vast expanse. There is nothing but the deep ocean before you. Can you imagine traveling hundreds of miles from home, deserting the society you knew and the life you had? Can you imagine being broken down from the wilderness and lawlessness of the forest and desert wastelands? Now the time has come for you to embark on a journey along the merciless waves and the crushing tides of the sea. Your small band emerges into the wide open.

 "...they got aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God. And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.

And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.

And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry into the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.

And it came to pass that the wind never did cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind.

And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.

And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water."

 I've been so moved by this exciting tale of this family on the waves of the treacherous waters. I've seen people around me, who are seemingly in their own sea storm, with the crashing ocean and monsters threatening to wreck their sails. I've also been in a few of my own, but I know that what this story teaches us is true. I know that the each of us are being guided by the Lord, whether we recognize His hand or not. He won't stop the journey because without it we would have no progression. We would never reach the promised land, we would never have the greatest joy of overcoming trials and becoming our greatest potential. The journey can be difficult and more trying then we would like, but our choice is truly to be stagnant and safe, or to brave the ocean storms with courage and faith and to reach for a greater prize.

There is that familiar phrase that says something to the effect that God doesn't always calm the storm, sometimes He lets it rage on and He calms the child. Such is the nature of life that the storm rages on and we are left to wade through it on our own or to cry to Him that He may bring us to the surface again. 

I don't know what the exact outcome of every trial may be, but I do know that whether He will part the sea or calm it, or simply console our hearts, I know that He will be there. The same Lord that brought this family across the ocean, will take us across the ocean of our lives, and If we trust Him, all will be well. We will be able to do as this family did, "And they did land upon the shore of the Promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of tender mercies over them." So cheer up your hearts!

*Taken from Ether 6:4-12

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/6?lang=eng

Dirty Windows

Sometimes, especially in this culture, we try to pin the blame on others. Why did they do such a bad parking job, don't they know how to keep their kids quiet, what is their problem?!?!

But I guess the tougher question is, what is our problem?

One of my favorite President Bunker quotes is this, "When Christ was at the 'Last Supper' with the 12 apostles and He told them that one of them would betray him, what did they say? Was Peter thinking, 'I bet it's Judas, he is such a jerk.' No! They responded by saying, 'Lord, is it I?'"

When faced with a difficult circumstance, it can be natural to take the approach of satisfying our pride and ego to say, it's their fault. But it takes true humility to realize our own inadequacies.

http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#looking-through-windows

Every Crazy Color

"I think that a misconception that I had, that a lot of people have is that God is boring. It's through skateboarding and remaining prayerful that I found out the complete opposite; I realized, He's given us everything we love. Every crazy color, feelings, emotions, rushes of adrenaline, everything that inspires you, gets you pumped and excited is directly from Him."

-Kevin Fedderson

Best Quote! I totally agree. Did you ever think that our joy and God's joy is connected? Did you ever think that a snowboarder could be a spiritual man or that a skateboarder would have morning scripture study and actually like it?

Well I wanted to put these videos together in one place. The Gospel isn't just for the little old lady crossing the street, or the raving enthusiasts or the holy rollers. It's for all of us! It's for the "straight-edge" and the rebel, the class clown and those who fall under the radar. It's for the brilliant and the uneducated, Donald Trump and the average joe.

It takes all of us together, and it's what helps us tick. Whether or not you think its your cup of tea (or hot chocolate), it's the only pure truth there is; all that's up to us is whether or not we'll drink it. So bottom's up!

http://mormon.org/kevin/

http://mormon.org/jeremy/

http://mormon.org/brandon/

http://mormon.org/joy/

When I see the stars

Last night, as we were out and about, I had a small moment to pause and look up into the deep blue sky and to see the sweet stars hanging in the crisp cool air. I've had many different opportunities and moments to look up and see just a few of the wondrous creations in the sky. I like to see them twinkle and shine and to look at each one and then to see the whole expanse; it's truly remarkable! Over Christmas, I thought more about the stars and the one star that meant so much and has remained a significant symbol of the Savior.

I was inspired by Elder Carl B Cook's Conference address this last October. He told a story about one day when he was feeling overwhelmed by his many responsibilties and as he was riding the elevator he stared at the floor reflecting on his difficulties, 'The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.

I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)

But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!”

For me, seeing the "big picture" is one of the most refreshing things in life. There are two options we have each day, to make it the best day ever! Or to get caught up in the routine, the motions and the seemingly mundane tasks we do over and over. But seeing the 'why' of what we do and seeking for the good in each moment can break us free and give life to the dark miserable chains that we place ourselves in.

When I look up, I feel free and light and there is excitement and meaning in each task. Whether literally or figuratively, when we see all that we have been given and all that is good in the world, there is little room for selfishness and pride. But when we are focused on ourselves, our burdens and our cares, our load is so heavy and weighs us down. There is then no time to help and love and give charity, not only to those that we want to serve, but to all who are in need.

President Uchtdorf said, "Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy."

I know that when we "look up", we find the guidance of a loving Heavenly Father; we find joy!

"Wherefore, men are ^afree according to the ^bflesh; and ^call things are ^dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to ^echoose ^fliberty and eternal ^glife, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be ^hmiserable like unto himself. (2 Nephi 2:27)." 

So if we are free to choose, choose to be happy! It sounds too simple, but I know from experience that it is true. Christ overcame all of our weaknesses to help us learn how we can overcome them. Be of good cheer; He is our guiding star!

Sweet!

I love these videos. I love when there are new ones! I love it when they are artists who live on a farm! That's my secret dream, shh, don't tell!

http://mormon.org/me/32CB/

Where am I going?

'In Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds herself coming to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire Cat, of whom she asks, “Which path shall I take?”

The cat answers: “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t really matter which path you take!”

Unlike Alice, each of you knows where you want to go. It does matter which way you go, for the path you follow in this life leads to the path you will follow in the next.' 

That's a quote from an address given by the Prophet, President Monson in 2002 at the General Young Women Conference.


In a world revolving more and more around tolerance than good will towards men and philosophies that focus on going with "the flow", there is more than a possibility that the views and ways of the world could take us any number of ways and the question is, where do you want to go?


Think about it.
I'll give you a second.
...
...
...
...
...
Wait, did you really think about it?
...
...
...
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Ok, so where did you see yourself? Do want to be successful? What kind of success do you want to have? Do you want to have lots of money? Do you want to be kind and giving or selfish? Do you want to help others or do you want personal advancement and gain?

It's really our choice, but if we don't plan, we could end up somewhere we never intended to be. Life has twists and turns, and we must be actively involved in deciding what we want to do and more specifically where we want to go.


 Ok this quote is kind of long, but its so true, and I think it's entertaining so focus and see what you get out of it...

"I recently read in the Wall Street Journal an article by Jonathan Sacks, Britain’s chief rabbi. Among other things, he writes: “In virtually every Western society in the 1960s there was a moral revolution, an abandonment of its entire traditional ethic of self-restraint. All you need, sang the Beatles, is love. The Judeo-Christian moral code was jettisoned. In its place came [the adage]: [Do] whatever works for you. The Ten Commandments were rewritten as the Ten Creative Suggestions.”

Rabbi Sacks goes on to lament:

“We have been spending our moral capital with the same reckless abandon that we have been spending our financial capital. …

“There are large parts of [the world] where religion is a thing of the past and there is no counter-voice to the culture of buy it, spend it, wear it, flaunt it, because you’re worth it. The message is that morality is passé, conscience is for wimps, and the single overriding command is ‘Thou shalt not be found out.’”

That was President Monson again, can you tell that I'm a fan?

Well I guess what I'm trying to say is, we have a choice. Our future is what we make it to be with goals, planning and faith. Especially in terms of faith, if you want to know where you stand with God or if He is there, you can't wait for Him to show up at your doorstep and introduce Himself. That would be missing the point of our time here on earth to walk by faith and not by sight.

Heavenly Father tells us, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For everyone that asketh recieveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Heavenly Father promises us that. We have to seek first; not because Heavenly Father is cruel and doesn't care to give us the time of day, but because He loves us. He invites us to come to Him and never turns us away, but its up to us to make the choice if we want to follow Him, then He reveals truth to us one step at a time. 

Much like a child; set on one side of a room, the parents on the other side try to beckon the child to come to help them learn how to walk. They tell the child to walk to them, which may be difficult at first, but as we know from first hand experience, it works! Many of us can walk because our parents let us fall a few times, but just as our parents are always there to pick us up, Heavenly Father wants us to learn how to walk Spiritually, and He calls to us in many ways to walk to Him. He allows us to fall down sometimes, but if we want Him to be there, He is, always. He is there to pick us up through the love of His Son, Jesus Christ. I know from first hand experience that it works!

You are His child. He calls you to follow Him. He asks us to follow Him in a certain way, but I promise that if you trust Him, He will help you find your way to a place that it better than what we can even comprehend. It's not a fantasy. Is that what you want? Do you want to know if He is there? Then take your first baby step. Ask and ye shall recieve.

I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.



 http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/stand-in-holy-places?lang=eng&query=flaunt