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