The other day at mission conference, all of the departing missionaries for December and January were asked to give their departing testimonies. I knew what I was ready to declare, and I declared it with fervor and fire in my eyes. I want to briefly recap. I want to tell you all that the promise of a prophet of God, was fulfilled, to ME. Those promises are stated clearly in the mission call. But first, I want to touch on the fulfilment of promises a little way back.. just before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Mary and Joseph travail in Bethlehem- trials of all kinds increase their struggle to just but find a place to stay;- yet across the world, the believers of this Savior's birth also struggle, for their very lives. Prophets had told of the signs that would come- the signs that would signify and lead to the Savior's birth..specifically, at this time, night staying day.. but the sign wasn't coming in the timing the people expected, and those who doubted began to become angry.. They became so angry that they plotted to murder those who still believed. My whole mission.. even every day- is just that. Working, and pushing, and praying- and waiting for the fulfillment of the promises of Father to me each day- in a contact, in a lesson, in a baptismal commitment, in a couple choosing to be married or sealed, in an answer to a prayer, a restoration of health or optimism, in seeing others' lives come together, in hoping to be a tool to facilitate those wondrous miracles that are truly accomplished by God's hand alone, through this Savior... but there MUST be a struggle first. There is always a struggle- every doubt, and every test that can be placed in our way to prove us, to see if we still believe in the words of the Almighty God, beyond all visual signs showing us that there is no hope. As Nephi rushed off and prayed desperately to the Father, amidst this barron hopelessness and the potential of his people being killed, he heard these words... These still, sweet, precious words from the voice of the lamb, of the prince of peace, of the Savior of the world... so calming.. so endearing..
"Lift up your head.." He said, "and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets." He is My Jesus.. my Savior..My Christ.
I KNOW- I know with every ounce of my being that the words of His prophets are REAL. That sign DID come- the wicked became frustrated, for the sun stayed out all night and REALITY sunk in- the real world, the ultimate world, the ultimate destiny- the whole purpose.. The gospel of Jesus Christ IS THE REAL WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And now, let me tell you briefly, the fulfillment of my mission call to me.. I'm not done yet, oh no- I've got time! But I've passed that 18 month mark and in those 18 monthes for sure, every word, every promise WAS fulfilled through that sacred Atonement of Jesus Christ- through that Savior who was promised to come into the world, to SUFFER, and then redeem his people..to redeem me, and let me experience this privilige.. and be in it, and conquer it, and have it..
I was called to serve as a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I was assigned to labor in the California Santa Rosa Mission. I would serve for a period of 18 (.5) monthes.
I reported to the MTC June 16th, 2010 on Wednesday.
I was recommended as one worthy to represent the Savior as a minister of the Restored gospel. I was an official representative of the church. As such, I was expected to live the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of my loving mission president. My purpose- my VERY purpose IN LIFE- is to INVITE everyone- EVERYONE to the Savior Jesus Christ, by having faith in him- repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost- enduring to the end- enduring beyond the end- and inviting them to receive and make EVERY ordinance and every covenant that God has in store for them!!!! That is my purpose hereon and now out, beyond this field!! To educate, inform, share, lift, strengthen, love, empathize and relate and serve and serve and serve- mourn with and be there for, that is why I'm here on this very Earth!!!!
I devoted my time and efforts and attention to serving the Lord, leaving all personal affairs behind, and when they came up I worked with Father In Heaven to resolve them. As I did these things- the Lord blessed me and I experienced GREAT JOY- GREAT BLESSINGS- GREATER HAPPINESS THAN I HAVE EVER KNOWN IN MY LIFE!!!!!!! I was placed in the first Presidency's confidence, that they knew, as God told me aforehand- that I would become an effective missionary. That I WOULD serve a successful mission, as Father in Heaven promised me the day I was set apart- that I HAVE served a successful mission, and that I am serving a successful mission!!!!!!
I have NEVER felt so good, so accomplished- so at peace. And I know it is because I have learned years worth of trinkets, or treasures- I have seen the inside and outsides of situations I could not ever have imagined and I have taken a step, and crumpled- only but a step towards that awful Gethsemane.. and then the Savior healed me.. and rescued me, and rescued the sons and daughters of God RIGHT before my eyes as I but testified. There is nothing greater than this. There is nothing I could possibly want more than that Eternal life to be with my Father in Heaven and Savior- and that has become my greatest desire.. just to get back home with him.. and to invite all willing to come back home too. I would that all of us come back home. That's why I came out here, and that's why I'm here.
2 Nephi 33:12 "And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day."
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
MTC, week one.
"The shining babies (elders) welcomed with joyful beams, which dramatically became the beams of angels (sisters) as well. Blazing sunlight illuminated the faces, as I descent into the other world.. the Planet MTC, which hovers just below Heaven itself, and gazes down upon Earth. The threshold was passed as I became a part of this magnificent symphony of a land, a place of incomprehensible love which no typical mortal man could have any capacity of expressing. They all said 'Hi Sister' so sweetly, nearly every one of them..
And then it happened.
The glorious badge, the token and jewel and diamond in the rough, the symbol of the authority I WAS GIVEN- to invite God's children to be baptized. As it was placed upon me, powerful rays burst out! I grabbed my badge, squinting as the light threatened to burn my eyes, struggling for oxygen amidst its brightness- wondering if my mortal frame and soul were too weak to bear this great calling as an ambassador of the Lord. The angels and babies watched with careful concern, and spiritually held my hand as I thrashed against the brilliant blaze. Alas, I was not the only one thrashing- for three sisters I roomed with, also preparing for Santa Rosa, squirmed a bit also, against the weight of this call setting in. "Shall we live, oh we might die!" we announced.. but the angels and babies who had been here for some time, kept saying "Sunday" Sunday the light would not burn us, for we shall be it, we shall represent it, we shall love it.
Sunday came.. and the babies and angels could be discerned. We awoke, fire bursting from our eyes, and we smiled, and we declared that we loved this sacred planet- the Missionary Training Center, for the greatest stripling warriors had come and came here to prepare.. Incredible desire for this task overcame my intense shock, and resistance. I yearned to love the way those around me did, with the Eternal hope of having the endearing, longsuffering love that the creator of galaxies, of individuals, so intimately has for us!
I could just build a tent and stay here, I don't ever have to leave...
..though I must take these experiences and learning, and bring them to Santa Rosa, California.. where the REAL test begins, where my faith and desire, will determine success.. and success is providing Heavenly Father's story, inviting others to Christ; it is fulfilling every measure and whit of my purpose to being an instrument in opening the gateway to FULL access to the Atonement of Christ, to the Celestial Kingdom.. through repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It all begins here.. here and now.. the springboard into the Eternities of others, and mine as well."
And then it happened.
The glorious badge, the token and jewel and diamond in the rough, the symbol of the authority I WAS GIVEN- to invite God's children to be baptized. As it was placed upon me, powerful rays burst out! I grabbed my badge, squinting as the light threatened to burn my eyes, struggling for oxygen amidst its brightness- wondering if my mortal frame and soul were too weak to bear this great calling as an ambassador of the Lord. The angels and babies watched with careful concern, and spiritually held my hand as I thrashed against the brilliant blaze. Alas, I was not the only one thrashing- for three sisters I roomed with, also preparing for Santa Rosa, squirmed a bit also, against the weight of this call setting in. "Shall we live, oh we might die!" we announced.. but the angels and babies who had been here for some time, kept saying "Sunday" Sunday the light would not burn us, for we shall be it, we shall represent it, we shall love it.
Sunday came.. and the babies and angels could be discerned. We awoke, fire bursting from our eyes, and we smiled, and we declared that we loved this sacred planet- the Missionary Training Center, for the greatest stripling warriors had come and came here to prepare.. Incredible desire for this task overcame my intense shock, and resistance. I yearned to love the way those around me did, with the Eternal hope of having the endearing, longsuffering love that the creator of galaxies, of individuals, so intimately has for us!
I could just build a tent and stay here, I don't ever have to leave...
..though I must take these experiences and learning, and bring them to Santa Rosa, California.. where the REAL test begins, where my faith and desire, will determine success.. and success is providing Heavenly Father's story, inviting others to Christ; it is fulfilling every measure and whit of my purpose to being an instrument in opening the gateway to FULL access to the Atonement of Christ, to the Celestial Kingdom.. through repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It all begins here.. here and now.. the springboard into the Eternities of others, and mine as well."
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Trunky for the Temple
I hope my mission reaches into the Eternities- I firmly believe it will.
I know every experience had and that I still have, holds treasure chests of knowledge that will be applied to every life circumstance and situation that can face me..
but I know that when chaos hits in life,
My first thoughts aren't, and typically won't be 'oh, this is just a test. I'm ok!" My first reactions may range from shock, to anger, to fear or isolation, paranoia, discouragement, distress- to asking God what I did wrong, to all forms of defeat.
And that is why home is here on Earth.
Home in a finite castle-like masterpiece, in many! Therein power and Holiness from on High reach within and shelter the attendants with peace, with collection... with the true reminder, of the truest realities, amidst a turbulent world.
It is the Mountain of the Lord, the Garners, the House of God- this is the temple. This is the why for baptism- that opening covenant is SO important to make with Heavenly Father for it is the gateway leading into MORE- to the temple, to GREATER covenants, greater protection and love. And in time I will have the exceedingly glorious privilige of living within sight of it, within sight of home.. I will race there as much as my beating heart desires!!!! Even now though, I have the exceedingly glorious privilige to invite my brothers and sisters on this Earth to have what I'm about to have on a constant basis- to achieve access to these temples, to these Houses of the Most High!!!
I yearn for the temple- I crave it; I can put off my desires for all else BUT the temple. Nowhere on Earth have such grand feelings been captured for me, but there. Nowhere has my worth and divinity been shown to me, like there. And what an instrument in God's hands we each are in that Holy place! I am starving, famished, prepped to feast for the temple. Truly, I desire more passionately than the first day I arrived in the mission field, to get everybody into the temple, I will ALWAYS desire that- And I still get to see the Savior's hand performing miracles, leading people we teach there...but MAN will I be SO stoked when I live RIGHT NEXT TO IT!!!!!!!!!!
This IS joy. The temple is better than the best gets. It all comes down to the temple.. renewal, strengthening, empowering, promising, all encompassing, blessing, consoling, and rewarding.. My greatest dreams, and epiphanies, feelings of wholesomeness even while I am NOT at all whole.. springs from the temple... Where Father in Heaven and Our sweet precious Savior are most closely located to us.
*Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in His temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.. For the lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes..*` Revelations 7:15/17
*Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people* Isaiah 56:6-7
I know every experience had and that I still have, holds treasure chests of knowledge that will be applied to every life circumstance and situation that can face me..
but I know that when chaos hits in life,
My first thoughts aren't, and typically won't be 'oh, this is just a test. I'm ok!" My first reactions may range from shock, to anger, to fear or isolation, paranoia, discouragement, distress- to asking God what I did wrong, to all forms of defeat.
And that is why home is here on Earth.
Home in a finite castle-like masterpiece, in many! Therein power and Holiness from on High reach within and shelter the attendants with peace, with collection... with the true reminder, of the truest realities, amidst a turbulent world.
It is the Mountain of the Lord, the Garners, the House of God- this is the temple. This is the why for baptism- that opening covenant is SO important to make with Heavenly Father for it is the gateway leading into MORE- to the temple, to GREATER covenants, greater protection and love. And in time I will have the exceedingly glorious privilige of living within sight of it, within sight of home.. I will race there as much as my beating heart desires!!!! Even now though, I have the exceedingly glorious privilige to invite my brothers and sisters on this Earth to have what I'm about to have on a constant basis- to achieve access to these temples, to these Houses of the Most High!!!
I yearn for the temple- I crave it; I can put off my desires for all else BUT the temple. Nowhere on Earth have such grand feelings been captured for me, but there. Nowhere has my worth and divinity been shown to me, like there. And what an instrument in God's hands we each are in that Holy place! I am starving, famished, prepped to feast for the temple. Truly, I desire more passionately than the first day I arrived in the mission field, to get everybody into the temple, I will ALWAYS desire that- And I still get to see the Savior's hand performing miracles, leading people we teach there...but MAN will I be SO stoked when I live RIGHT NEXT TO IT!!!!!!!!!!
This IS joy. The temple is better than the best gets. It all comes down to the temple.. renewal, strengthening, empowering, promising, all encompassing, blessing, consoling, and rewarding.. My greatest dreams, and epiphanies, feelings of wholesomeness even while I am NOT at all whole.. springs from the temple... Where Father in Heaven and Our sweet precious Savior are most closely located to us.
*Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in His temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.. For the lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes..*` Revelations 7:15/17
*Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people* Isaiah 56:6-7
Monday, December 5, 2011
This is.. Gethsemane.
I can imagine it was a still night. I wonder if the presence of His disciples could even ease that awful stress that began to rest upon the purest of all minds. He asks for them to wait for Him. I don't know that it is 'imperfect' to feel afraid; to feel the need for love- yearning for someone to say "It is going to be ok.. I won't leave you" It must have hurt to hear that from His dear friends, and yet KNOW He'll still be alone soon.
He begins to step away... He begins to feel it. That excrutiating sorrow, mounting within Him.. And here.. I wonder if He knew what he would face, for He knew us, yet He had not fully experienced us..until this point. By now He had organized His perfect church under Heavenly Father's direction, as it had been on the Earth since Adam- since a prophet of God lived, despite having it fall apart time and time again because of ignorance of the world. This perfect church by and of Him would heal the body, the mind, the heart, the soul.. for time, and for Eternity.
He had led the way His whole life.
I wonder if He hoped Peter could be there for Him.. for Peter couldn't be there for Him. The Savior was willing to die 1000 times over for each of us, for each one of us- so GREAT was His incomprehensible compassion.. and then He DID! Yet right before, right as it began to start.. He felt inadequete- He, the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD- the Son Of God..
He went a little further, and in His unrelenting agony, bowed to the only one left to turn to.
"O My Father..." Abba, Daddy.. This grown, beautiful Son Of God.. this absolute epitome of the kindest sweetheart, the dearest friend, the most patient teacher, this jovial and cheery, powerful man.. began to cry. To sob. And like an innocent child, He asks if Father was willing to make the pain go away.. but as a perfectly matured man, reemphasizes that He will do whatever He needs to.. to get us home.
He was left totally alone. Not even the presence of an angel could rescue Him from OUR hurt. OUR suffering, and the whole Earth's; from the beginning to the end of the world! He gave ALL he had, which was more than we'll EVER mortally have. He experienced US. Abandoned, disgraced, cast beneath the darkest of Hell, disowned.. so that we don't have to be.
Who could know us when every corner rejects or misunderstands?! Who could support us with hope while IN our failures?? Because to some degree, every one of us has taken a step or two, towards Gethsemane, and sometimes five.. but the Savior was the only who went the whole way. To rescue me, and many so that we can help Him rescue others. To rescue His others to show us all that never are we permanently cast into unending torment, left alone.. BECAUSE the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ LIVES. He now in almighty power holds the keys to freeing us from spiritual and physical death!
Mary held that precious child, who would redeem her, who would give HER Eternal Life.. and she was told a sword would pierce through her own soul. In time she would watch her own Son crucified; abandoned even of Heaven to suffer that final, AWFUL blow of spiritual death on the cross..and then, when it was finished- when evil was conquered FOREVER then and there- He would physically die before her eyes.
..and none of us would ever have to be spiritually abandoned again.
All of us would be resurrected.
Father in Heaven, so loving US perfectly, allowed his most intelligent and righteous child to go in our place when we fell short in ANY way, to make sure- that through the commandments, through Eternal channels and ordinances in our life.. we could, through HIS Son who was sacrificed, return Home to Him.. and even then, find joy in this life through the fulness of His gospel.
I testify with every ounce of my soul and physical being.. that He lives. I know it more than anything I've ever known. He is the source of every good thing that does or can happen to us. He is the light and the life of the world.
3 Nephi 17:17 3 Nephi 20:25-27
He begins to step away... He begins to feel it. That excrutiating sorrow, mounting within Him.. And here.. I wonder if He knew what he would face, for He knew us, yet He had not fully experienced us..until this point. By now He had organized His perfect church under Heavenly Father's direction, as it had been on the Earth since Adam- since a prophet of God lived, despite having it fall apart time and time again because of ignorance of the world. This perfect church by and of Him would heal the body, the mind, the heart, the soul.. for time, and for Eternity.
He had led the way His whole life.
I wonder if He hoped Peter could be there for Him.. for Peter couldn't be there for Him. The Savior was willing to die 1000 times over for each of us, for each one of us- so GREAT was His incomprehensible compassion.. and then He DID! Yet right before, right as it began to start.. He felt inadequete- He, the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD- the Son Of God..
He went a little further, and in His unrelenting agony, bowed to the only one left to turn to.
"O My Father..." Abba, Daddy.. This grown, beautiful Son Of God.. this absolute epitome of the kindest sweetheart, the dearest friend, the most patient teacher, this jovial and cheery, powerful man.. began to cry. To sob. And like an innocent child, He asks if Father was willing to make the pain go away.. but as a perfectly matured man, reemphasizes that He will do whatever He needs to.. to get us home.
He was left totally alone. Not even the presence of an angel could rescue Him from OUR hurt. OUR suffering, and the whole Earth's; from the beginning to the end of the world! He gave ALL he had, which was more than we'll EVER mortally have. He experienced US. Abandoned, disgraced, cast beneath the darkest of Hell, disowned.. so that we don't have to be.
Who could know us when every corner rejects or misunderstands?! Who could support us with hope while IN our failures?? Because to some degree, every one of us has taken a step or two, towards Gethsemane, and sometimes five.. but the Savior was the only who went the whole way. To rescue me, and many so that we can help Him rescue others. To rescue His others to show us all that never are we permanently cast into unending torment, left alone.. BECAUSE the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ LIVES. He now in almighty power holds the keys to freeing us from spiritual and physical death!
Mary held that precious child, who would redeem her, who would give HER Eternal Life.. and she was told a sword would pierce through her own soul. In time she would watch her own Son crucified; abandoned even of Heaven to suffer that final, AWFUL blow of spiritual death on the cross..and then, when it was finished- when evil was conquered FOREVER then and there- He would physically die before her eyes.
..and none of us would ever have to be spiritually abandoned again.
All of us would be resurrected.
Father in Heaven, so loving US perfectly, allowed his most intelligent and righteous child to go in our place when we fell short in ANY way, to make sure- that through the commandments, through Eternal channels and ordinances in our life.. we could, through HIS Son who was sacrificed, return Home to Him.. and even then, find joy in this life through the fulness of His gospel.
I testify with every ounce of my soul and physical being.. that He lives. I know it more than anything I've ever known. He is the source of every good thing that does or can happen to us. He is the light and the life of the world.
3 Nephi 17:17 3 Nephi 20:25-27
Monday, November 28, 2011
Barbie's tour guide for the trees
"O Lord" Nephi implores on behalf of his trees, "Do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee"
Mechanism here: chastizement. Why? Well, just look at how wonderful, precious, how much worth ONE tree all on its own has- Father in Heaven LOVES the tree! He does NOT want to lose one. He does not want to lose many. Only we can choose, to lose. Oh the JOY this single tree could bring to SO many if it only could see its gleam in Father's eyes! Behold, snowman tree.But really, Behold each other.
Children of the same King.
All unique.. all divine.
"Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?" Father in Heaven asks Jonah tenderly, and after Jonah's despairing response, Father says "Should not I spare Ninevah, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?"
We see, that together these trees make BRILLIANT magic and light- we see that in united foundation in Christ, springs true growth and ever increasing, unimagineable happiness. If you are a safe tree, rooted and at home- go out and help our Eternal Family! (We want our Eternal Family to be ALL THE TREES!
As many trees/children of God as we can possibly get!!! For YOU by covenant making and keeping, are held by the Eternal roots of Heavenly Parents and the Lord Jesus Christ! You are surrounded by angels with the Power Of the Holy Ghost! Find lost trees!! The trees who do not yet know that they are a child of an Almighty God in Heaven. A Celestially developing royalty. A uniquely intricate, extraordinary princess or prince. "How oft have I gathered you.. How oft would I have gathered you.. How oft will I gather you." -Jesus Christ. He will gather EVERY tree that desires. He does and will do everything, WITH respect to our agency, to turn us to Him- whether through invitation, chastizement, suffering, or enlightment. He will see that it is performed for OUR ultimate Happiness.. with the goal..
..To bring us home. No matter what the circumstances, habits, weaknesses.. Our Creator is our true family, our source of an Eternal Family that can't be counted by man. Our Savior is our MOST loving brother of all to live. They know us perfectly and intimately. They love us.
"Who is a God like unto thee! That pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us, he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.." -Micah 7:18-19
Monday, November 21, 2011
His blood on my hands.
There was a day, a long time ago....I was 19..
..and I fell asleep in an attic, and woke up within a dream. I stood in the most brilliant white light, with pure and shimmering walls, detail oriented floors and intricate sculptings all around me.. in the temple of My Father.. in the House of my Savior.. and there was a man in white, standing before me. He told me Jesus Christ would be here in a moment.. to speak with me.
Hardly in life have I captured such a feeling..
My breath caught up in my chest.. my anticipation overwhelmed any acknowledgement of all else..
But..
There was a guy next to me, who did not have the covenants I did, who stood in jeans within this temple. Who stood ignorant of who or where he was. The man in white watched me for a few seconds.
I said nothing.
The man's eyes saddened as he said, "The time has passed." The Savior would not be coming. I had not fulfilled my purpose. The guy in jeans ran out of the temple. I had missed my chance. I had EVERYTHING in place for me, I had him standing by me, curious as to what was happening- MORE than ready to hear the gospel.. and I denied him the oppurtunity to partake in the knowledge of the restored gospel, when all I had to do was open my mouth.
That dream haunted me for years.
I refuse to let that happen on my mission. In fact, that dream in itself, as I have prayed and studied and tried to understand it, was a call long beforehand to this very mission.. at this VERY time. And if so far ahead God so urgently planned for me to be here.. then he CERTAINLY planned ahead, prior to my mortal existence, for me to serve him as a missionary.. For in the first place, we were ALL on the same standing in the premortal life (Alma 13).
God HAS a purpose for us..with specific directions, and specific blessings.. That glorious Plan of Salvation goes intricately and PERSONALLY into the threads of our souls, saturating every microfiber until there can be no doubt that God's plan IS the happiest plan.. He will teach us, he will show us the way, he will invite us to trust Him and take care of us as his own children, all our lives.. but the POWER that allows him to do so, is OUR covenant keeping. Our reaching out to Him.
Only then can the windows of Heaven burst open. Only then can light, life and treasures of great knowledge instil upon every inch of us.
In my dream, that man had the perfect set up- he was ready, he was able, he was willing. He could have had what I HAVE! And in it, I chose to turn down MY blessings, by turning down his chance to be blessed.
Yes there are times where fear, awkwardness, approaching people can be difficult- but WHEN someone is ready, when they WANT to know- and are RIGHT THERE, to THEN deny them those spiritual nutrients.. THAT is wherein the blood stains ME. That is where I deny my Savior by denying their Savior, through silence.
I will never let that dream take place in reality. Never. Not on my mission. Not in this life. Not in the next life. Never. And because of that real and true Atonement of Jesus Christ, the time has NOT passed.. in fact, the time has been well spent.. and it is because of my covenants, that I can say so, and make it so, the rest of my mission, the rest of my life.
..and I fell asleep in an attic, and woke up within a dream. I stood in the most brilliant white light, with pure and shimmering walls, detail oriented floors and intricate sculptings all around me.. in the temple of My Father.. in the House of my Savior.. and there was a man in white, standing before me. He told me Jesus Christ would be here in a moment.. to speak with me.
Hardly in life have I captured such a feeling..
My breath caught up in my chest.. my anticipation overwhelmed any acknowledgement of all else..
But..
There was a guy next to me, who did not have the covenants I did, who stood in jeans within this temple. Who stood ignorant of who or where he was. The man in white watched me for a few seconds.
I said nothing.
The man's eyes saddened as he said, "The time has passed." The Savior would not be coming. I had not fulfilled my purpose. The guy in jeans ran out of the temple. I had missed my chance. I had EVERYTHING in place for me, I had him standing by me, curious as to what was happening- MORE than ready to hear the gospel.. and I denied him the oppurtunity to partake in the knowledge of the restored gospel, when all I had to do was open my mouth.
That dream haunted me for years.
I refuse to let that happen on my mission. In fact, that dream in itself, as I have prayed and studied and tried to understand it, was a call long beforehand to this very mission.. at this VERY time. And if so far ahead God so urgently planned for me to be here.. then he CERTAINLY planned ahead, prior to my mortal existence, for me to serve him as a missionary.. For in the first place, we were ALL on the same standing in the premortal life (Alma 13).
God HAS a purpose for us..with specific directions, and specific blessings.. That glorious Plan of Salvation goes intricately and PERSONALLY into the threads of our souls, saturating every microfiber until there can be no doubt that God's plan IS the happiest plan.. He will teach us, he will show us the way, he will invite us to trust Him and take care of us as his own children, all our lives.. but the POWER that allows him to do so, is OUR covenant keeping. Our reaching out to Him.
Only then can the windows of Heaven burst open. Only then can light, life and treasures of great knowledge instil upon every inch of us.
In my dream, that man had the perfect set up- he was ready, he was able, he was willing. He could have had what I HAVE! And in it, I chose to turn down MY blessings, by turning down his chance to be blessed.
Yes there are times where fear, awkwardness, approaching people can be difficult- but WHEN someone is ready, when they WANT to know- and are RIGHT THERE, to THEN deny them those spiritual nutrients.. THAT is wherein the blood stains ME. That is where I deny my Savior by denying their Savior, through silence.
I will never let that dream take place in reality. Never. Not on my mission. Not in this life. Not in the next life. Never. And because of that real and true Atonement of Jesus Christ, the time has NOT passed.. in fact, the time has been well spent.. and it is because of my covenants, that I can say so, and make it so, the rest of my mission, the rest of my life.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Love Lockdown.
*lights* *camera* *beats*
Action.
♫We've been teaching you, like we've been wanting to
You have felt the truth- you felt it burning in you
Now the chains need to break loose
A choice only you can do
You choose
You choose
So beat Satan out of town- and covenant with your Father
Get ready, get worthy, read the doctrines and drink the living water
Through Christ He can change your life
You'll have power over strife
you choose, you choose
Now the road is hard, and the rocks ain't dumb
but you've got the strength and the armor to bust out and overcome,
oh you've gotta move- you must act on that fire in you
you choose, you choose
Put your natural man down, and your agency up
Put your natural man down, and your agency up
It might be a little rough, but it's worth it when it's tough-
freedom is worth more than enough,
you choose, you choose. ♫
****
How many people will be with Father in Heaven again?
Revelations 7:9 = you can't even count.
And how will we get there?
Revelations 7:14 = ONLY through Christ
So how do we do that? Where do we start?
Ephesians 4:5, 3 Nephi 11= HIS truth, and ordinances.. and our choices.
Action.
♫We've been teaching you, like we've been wanting to
You have felt the truth- you felt it burning in you
Now the chains need to break loose
A choice only you can do
You choose
You choose
So beat Satan out of town- and covenant with your Father
Get ready, get worthy, read the doctrines and drink the living water
Through Christ He can change your life
You'll have power over strife
you choose, you choose
Now the road is hard, and the rocks ain't dumb
but you've got the strength and the armor to bust out and overcome,
oh you've gotta move- you must act on that fire in you
you choose, you choose
Put your natural man down, and your agency up
Put your natural man down, and your agency up
It might be a little rough, but it's worth it when it's tough-
freedom is worth more than enough,
you choose, you choose. ♫
****
How many people will be with Father in Heaven again?
Revelations 7:9 = you can't even count.
And how will we get there?
Revelations 7:14 = ONLY through Christ
So how do we do that? Where do we start?
Ephesians 4:5, 3 Nephi 11= HIS truth, and ordinances.. and our choices.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Father's secrets
So
If you want more from Heaven
More reality on the Eternities, on every wonder, more light on your life..
More answers
I'm talking deeper revelation than you can handle, the closest most personal relationship with YOUR creator, so close that it blows your mind- a relationship that you can ONLY handle, if you really want it..
You've got to show Heavenly Father you can keep a secret- between you and Him
Because Father in Heaven HAS given us a LOT to eat up now.. and yet there is more. There is ALWAYS more. The Prophet of God on this Earth, Thomas S Monson, and the Prophets throughout all time- have been excellent at this. Pretty darn good secret keepers.
AND
The Lord is no respector of persons.
Anybody can be pretty darn good at it.. if we desire to be. If we work to be. *And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that ALL the Lord's people were prophets, and the Lord WOULD put his Spirit upon them!*
*It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a STRICT command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, ACCORDING to the heed and diligence which they give unto him*
Am I telling you that the scriptures, that a modern day prophet and apostles, that the Holy Spirit via church meetings, the temple, your faith in righteous commandment keeping, and through your prayers- that you WILL be taught HOW to get more answers from God? About your life? About His life? About anything?
Yes. Yes I am. Why would Heavenly Father put it all there? Because he wants us to know. Because revelation is here. Because His gospel, His church, His priesthood- it is here. Right here. Right now. Because he is ready to give it all to us as fast as we are ready to receive it.. and through his commandments, he has taught us how to begin to receive it. And because of the Savior Jesus Christ, we CAN receive it. ALL OF IT!!!! Piece by piece..step by step.. more and more..
*Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him.. To whom he grants this privilige of seeing and knowing for themselves.*
references: Numbers 11:29, Alma 12:9, D&C 76:116-117
If you want more from Heaven
More reality on the Eternities, on every wonder, more light on your life..
More answers
I'm talking deeper revelation than you can handle, the closest most personal relationship with YOUR creator, so close that it blows your mind- a relationship that you can ONLY handle, if you really want it..
You've got to show Heavenly Father you can keep a secret- between you and Him
Because Father in Heaven HAS given us a LOT to eat up now.. and yet there is more. There is ALWAYS more. The Prophet of God on this Earth, Thomas S Monson, and the Prophets throughout all time- have been excellent at this. Pretty darn good secret keepers.
AND
The Lord is no respector of persons.
Anybody can be pretty darn good at it.. if we desire to be. If we work to be. *And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that ALL the Lord's people were prophets, and the Lord WOULD put his Spirit upon them!*
*It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a STRICT command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, ACCORDING to the heed and diligence which they give unto him*
Am I telling you that the scriptures, that a modern day prophet and apostles, that the Holy Spirit via church meetings, the temple, your faith in righteous commandment keeping, and through your prayers- that you WILL be taught HOW to get more answers from God? About your life? About His life? About anything?
Yes. Yes I am. Why would Heavenly Father put it all there? Because he wants us to know. Because revelation is here. Because His gospel, His church, His priesthood- it is here. Right here. Right now. Because he is ready to give it all to us as fast as we are ready to receive it.. and through his commandments, he has taught us how to begin to receive it. And because of the Savior Jesus Christ, we CAN receive it. ALL OF IT!!!! Piece by piece..step by step.. more and more..
*Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him.. To whom he grants this privilige of seeing and knowing for themselves.*
references: Numbers 11:29, Alma 12:9, D&C 76:116-117
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Life is short.
I woke up
and
there was this weird feeling in my chest
and it was difficult to acquire oxygen
I believe this would be, hyperventilation.
My mind began running into itself.
8 weeks.
8 weeks..
8 weeks?!?!?!?
But- but- but- what? Only a second ago I had entered a land lifted far beyond Earth, called the Missionary Training Center, where the angels there greeted me, and I learned, heard and experienced marvelous things- and I testified with POWER with my roommates and district!! The wind blew back my hair and ruffled my skirt as we declared to groups of missionaries that Jesus IS the Christ- and then I was on an airplane, and then I stood before an army of the most powerful ambassadors who were in the field, overflowing with auras of dignity and strength and I thought 'wow- I am one of them!'
Then I ran and stumbled and watched as the Savior himself truly took life after life, day after day and made it a beautiful flower, and magnificent artwork for me- and people were baptized for ME to see his glory, and blessings and oppurtunities and joys I cannot even DESCRIBE entered into my life faster and faster, accelerating ever upward as every downward cycle of stress was wiped out with greater wonder- and then.. and then-
I blinked a few times.
I...I am a greenie, I thought to myself- a new missionary, with a whole year and a half to go. This will be long. Wait-wait no it won't, because it is almost over, the semi-rational aspect of my mind said. The mission is about to end. I.. I was a missionary? I wondered- yes, yes I am a missionary..this is my final shot, my last sweeping streaks! I have been a missionary- and I did what? How did I do all that?!? How did I even SURVIVE that!?!? I mean- I couldn't get up by myself, I never remember anything, I'm easily distracted, I am not coordinated enough to figure out maps, names, people, nor organized enough, with tons of obsessions and limitations and too often I felt and feel never ever good enough- how did I make it this far?!?!? What- WOW- WHOAH! How? How did I do it? How am I even doing this!?!?
Oh.. Oh yes..
I didn't do anything. Jesus Christ did it all for me.. he paved it for me, he planted it all ahead of me, and I gave my 2 cents, which was all I had, which is all I have- and he blasted me with a gazillion million billion stars, which even one constellation, I must say, is far too expensive for any amount of money this Earth can produce, to pay for. That's how much he loves me. That's how much he loves me!??! WHY!?!? Why? How? That My Father in Heaven sent MY perfect, beautiful and pure Savior and older brother, to SUFFER for ME, to make ME happy, so that when I pushed, he opened FIVE doors instead of one, and when I tried and failed, it ALWAYS turned into success!
I came on a mission. And I learned love, to really, TRULY love, and be loved. What is better? WHAT IS BETTER?!?! THERE IS NOTHING BETTER!!! NOTHING!!! THERE IS NOTHING that can outweigh the power and all consuming joy of the love of God, of seeing it in the lives of his children, of each other!! Of feeling it and knowing it for myself. Nothing. NOTHING!!!!!
Dang. I guess I'm not a greenie anymore.
and
there was this weird feeling in my chest
and it was difficult to acquire oxygen
I believe this would be, hyperventilation.
My mind began running into itself.
8 weeks.
8 weeks..
8 weeks?!?!?!?
But- but- but- what? Only a second ago I had entered a land lifted far beyond Earth, called the Missionary Training Center, where the angels there greeted me, and I learned, heard and experienced marvelous things- and I testified with POWER with my roommates and district!! The wind blew back my hair and ruffled my skirt as we declared to groups of missionaries that Jesus IS the Christ- and then I was on an airplane, and then I stood before an army of the most powerful ambassadors who were in the field, overflowing with auras of dignity and strength and I thought 'wow- I am one of them!'
Then I ran and stumbled and watched as the Savior himself truly took life after life, day after day and made it a beautiful flower, and magnificent artwork for me- and people were baptized for ME to see his glory, and blessings and oppurtunities and joys I cannot even DESCRIBE entered into my life faster and faster, accelerating ever upward as every downward cycle of stress was wiped out with greater wonder- and then.. and then-
I blinked a few times.
I...I am a greenie, I thought to myself- a new missionary, with a whole year and a half to go. This will be long. Wait-wait no it won't, because it is almost over, the semi-rational aspect of my mind said. The mission is about to end. I.. I was a missionary? I wondered- yes, yes I am a missionary..this is my final shot, my last sweeping streaks! I have been a missionary- and I did what? How did I do all that?!? How did I even SURVIVE that!?!? I mean- I couldn't get up by myself, I never remember anything, I'm easily distracted, I am not coordinated enough to figure out maps, names, people, nor organized enough, with tons of obsessions and limitations and too often I felt and feel never ever good enough- how did I make it this far?!?!? What- WOW- WHOAH! How? How did I do it? How am I even doing this!?!?
Oh.. Oh yes..
I didn't do anything. Jesus Christ did it all for me.. he paved it for me, he planted it all ahead of me, and I gave my 2 cents, which was all I had, which is all I have- and he blasted me with a gazillion million billion stars, which even one constellation, I must say, is far too expensive for any amount of money this Earth can produce, to pay for. That's how much he loves me. That's how much he loves me!??! WHY!?!? Why? How? That My Father in Heaven sent MY perfect, beautiful and pure Savior and older brother, to SUFFER for ME, to make ME happy, so that when I pushed, he opened FIVE doors instead of one, and when I tried and failed, it ALWAYS turned into success!
I came on a mission. And I learned love, to really, TRULY love, and be loved. What is better? WHAT IS BETTER?!?! THERE IS NOTHING BETTER!!! NOTHING!!! THERE IS NOTHING that can outweigh the power and all consuming joy of the love of God, of seeing it in the lives of his children, of each other!! Of feeling it and knowing it for myself. Nothing. NOTHING!!!!!
Dang. I guess I'm not a greenie anymore.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Luke Skywalker and Frodo
Frodo stood at the top of the cliff. The ring was in his hand. He had come SO far, past the point of exhaustion.. it was all now.. ALL here..
After facing ongoing action and tradgedy, Luke stood before Darth Vader..
Both experienced every hit, climbed every rock...Show down time. Destroy Darth Vader. Chuck the ring.
But Frodo holds the ring.. and Luke hesitates to destroy Darth Vader. Can it be, that even when we've accomplished so much- when we are on the verge of a finale in our lives, a grand decision- and we've done EVERYTHING we need to do to get there- that the TEST is still on? At the last minute?
Yep.
A misconception I developed was that the end of the mission would get easier. This is false. I feel greater peace, but the fight doesn't stop here. It only intensifies. And so what happens when we crack- when Frodo decides to take the ring for himself, when Luke truly contemplates joining the dark side?
You FALL to your knees in prayer, as I do more and more often, and pray your soul out!!! If you are in such awful pressure and agony that you have to cry, beg, or shriek in your silent places to Heavenly Father, do it. Because IN the despair that is allotted to you, through whatever form it may come, however crushing it may be- the Savior WILL heal you enough to bear it. You have to ask. Job hit LOW.. and recovered. The Savior hit the LOWEST.. and DEFINITELY recovered. Father in Heaven will tell you what to do, who to talk to, where to find his consoling words in the scriptures when you turn to him- and IN your weakness, your power will return to you sufficient for survival.
Frodo and Luke had one other thing going for them. The commission to destroy the ring and the Force- or in other words, their temple covenants : ) My covenants are key to having the strength to lift others when I can no longer lift myself. It is the key to never quitting.
So Golom attacks weary Frodo.
And Evil Sith electrifies writhing Luke.
but then..
The ring is cast into the lava..
Darth Vader destroys Sith and his heart changes.
You know the end.. and the joy they both get, is greater than they could have hoped for.
How did this happen, metaphorically? Because Luke and Frodo KEPT their temple covenants. It rescued hundreds. Baptized. Brought to the temple. Loved. Because of enduring to the end, even in the end. No matter how beaten down, how long, how dark it gets...when we keep our covenants we have access to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know this. I know it with my whole heart and I see it every day. Every. single. hour.
"For the Eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled." Mormon 8:22
After facing ongoing action and tradgedy, Luke stood before Darth Vader..
Both experienced every hit, climbed every rock...Show down time. Destroy Darth Vader. Chuck the ring.
But Frodo holds the ring.. and Luke hesitates to destroy Darth Vader. Can it be, that even when we've accomplished so much- when we are on the verge of a finale in our lives, a grand decision- and we've done EVERYTHING we need to do to get there- that the TEST is still on? At the last minute?
Yep.
A misconception I developed was that the end of the mission would get easier. This is false. I feel greater peace, but the fight doesn't stop here. It only intensifies. And so what happens when we crack- when Frodo decides to take the ring for himself, when Luke truly contemplates joining the dark side?
You FALL to your knees in prayer, as I do more and more often, and pray your soul out!!! If you are in such awful pressure and agony that you have to cry, beg, or shriek in your silent places to Heavenly Father, do it. Because IN the despair that is allotted to you, through whatever form it may come, however crushing it may be- the Savior WILL heal you enough to bear it. You have to ask. Job hit LOW.. and recovered. The Savior hit the LOWEST.. and DEFINITELY recovered. Father in Heaven will tell you what to do, who to talk to, where to find his consoling words in the scriptures when you turn to him- and IN your weakness, your power will return to you sufficient for survival.
Frodo and Luke had one other thing going for them. The commission to destroy the ring and the Force- or in other words, their temple covenants : ) My covenants are key to having the strength to lift others when I can no longer lift myself. It is the key to never quitting.
So Golom attacks weary Frodo.
And Evil Sith electrifies writhing Luke.
but then..
The ring is cast into the lava..
Darth Vader destroys Sith and his heart changes.
You know the end.. and the joy they both get, is greater than they could have hoped for.
How did this happen, metaphorically? Because Luke and Frodo KEPT their temple covenants. It rescued hundreds. Baptized. Brought to the temple. Loved. Because of enduring to the end, even in the end. No matter how beaten down, how long, how dark it gets...when we keep our covenants we have access to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know this. I know it with my whole heart and I see it every day. Every. single. hour.
"For the Eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled." Mormon 8:22
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
You want this.
The fulness of the earth, the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air,
the herb, the good things- for food, raiment, housing, barns, orchards, gardens, vineyards!
strengthening your body.. enlivening your soul..
Finding pleasure and exacting your labors, loosing the bands of wickedness- heavy burdens undone!
Oppressed going free, yokes broken
Your light breaking forth like morning, your health speedily springing forth..
calling secretly into the silent air, the name of Heavenly Father
and then
being answered by Him.
Your waste places built up, foundations of generations to come built because of YOU, repairing and restoring, riding upon the highest places of Earth, fed with the heritage of Jacob himself..
All this, spoken by the mouth of the Lord, PROMISED.. if we take Fast Sunday seriously. The one day of the month to bring in the bacon with faith. The BEST day of the month. I have seen it. I love it. I am spoiled beyond reason with the rich and unending rewards and fulfilment, of these very blessings.
Fast with a purpose, write those purposes down, pray for your answers- and love it. Love that God loves to spoil you and those you love, for your love towards him. Love it because you love God, and thereby love his children. See that you can be made for and through Jesus Christ, far more than you ever, ever hoped you could make yourself out to be. It is worth every fast offering and fasting, every prayer, and every ounce of faith you've got. : )
the herb, the good things- for food, raiment, housing, barns, orchards, gardens, vineyards!
strengthening your body.. enlivening your soul..
Finding pleasure and exacting your labors, loosing the bands of wickedness- heavy burdens undone!
Oppressed going free, yokes broken
Your light breaking forth like morning, your health speedily springing forth..
calling secretly into the silent air, the name of Heavenly Father
and then
being answered by Him.
Your waste places built up, foundations of generations to come built because of YOU, repairing and restoring, riding upon the highest places of Earth, fed with the heritage of Jacob himself..
All this, spoken by the mouth of the Lord, PROMISED.. if we take Fast Sunday seriously. The one day of the month to bring in the bacon with faith. The BEST day of the month. I have seen it. I love it. I am spoiled beyond reason with the rich and unending rewards and fulfilment, of these very blessings.
Fast with a purpose, write those purposes down, pray for your answers- and love it. Love that God loves to spoil you and those you love, for your love towards him. Love it because you love God, and thereby love his children. See that you can be made for and through Jesus Christ, far more than you ever, ever hoped you could make yourself out to be. It is worth every fast offering and fasting, every prayer, and every ounce of faith you've got. : )
Monday, October 3, 2011
How I feel about my mission
*Who could have supposed that my God.. would have been so merciful as to have snatched me out from my awful, sinful polluted state? ..Why did he not consign me to an awful destruction? Why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon me, and doom me to Eternal despair? Oh, my soul as it were, fleeth at the thought.. Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon me, but in his great mercy has brought me over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of my soul..
Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing- unto such it is given to know the MYSTERIES of GOD! yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring many souls unto repentance, even as it has been given to me..
I came into the California Santa Rosa Mission, not with the intent to destroy my brethren, but with the intent that perhaps I could be the means of saving some soul.. And when my heart was depressed, and when I've been about to turn back, behold the Lord God has comforted me, saying: Go amongst thy brethren.. bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success...
They were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light! Yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and I have been an instrument in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work! Behold, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel!
And behold, I say unto you, have I ever seen so great love in all the land?! Behold, I say unto you, nay! Now have I not great reason to rejoice? Yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto the boasting of my God, for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name. Now if this is boasting - even so will I boast! For this is MY LIFE, and my LIGHT, and my JOY, and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo...This is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; and I will give thanks unto my God forever..
..And they shall be gathered into the garners, the temple, that they are not wasted.. Behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day*
-Alma 26, more or less : )
Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing- unto such it is given to know the MYSTERIES of GOD! yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring many souls unto repentance, even as it has been given to me..
I came into the California Santa Rosa Mission, not with the intent to destroy my brethren, but with the intent that perhaps I could be the means of saving some soul.. And when my heart was depressed, and when I've been about to turn back, behold the Lord God has comforted me, saying: Go amongst thy brethren.. bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success...
They were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light! Yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and I have been an instrument in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work! Behold, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel!
And behold, I say unto you, have I ever seen so great love in all the land?! Behold, I say unto you, nay! Now have I not great reason to rejoice? Yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto the boasting of my God, for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name. Now if this is boasting - even so will I boast! For this is MY LIFE, and my LIGHT, and my JOY, and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo...This is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; and I will give thanks unto my God forever..
..And they shall be gathered into the garners, the temple, that they are not wasted.. Behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day*
-Alma 26, more or less : )
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Are you ready for this?!?
Did it turn out like you planned- this ride you are on? Or no? Did you plan for every crevice and creek and edge and prepare sufficiently? OH! You did? Wait- if I am hearing correctly- What!?!? You mean there were still curveballs you had not even anticipated? Your new experiences brought understanding for repeat and similar cycles, you say..Why of course! Did you know that this would change your life in the way it did? Could you have ever even imagined?
I don't think you could. You could not have imagined, had you not experienced this...
So tell me, what happened when you didn't prepare, when you didn't seek.....
what.
It crumpled you!?!
You forgot how to use it to empower you...You forgot that it would end and you did what?!?!? How could you forget how temporary that part would be, no matter how many times, in how many ways, it hits! So direly, direly temporary.. But it kept beating you down? Perhaps this is but an extended lesson plan to better empower you..to empower you to impact lives without number and escalate the joy you are near to receive- unless you let it beat you down.
Don't tell me that. Think clearer now, you CAN escape- why, don't you know that you can escape everyday through Jesus Christ, to your Creator- to the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth, of galaxies without number. He knows you very, very, VERY, very well (VERY!!!!). You just need to do everything within your capacity to exercise faith in his power.. you WILL see the beauty of this life unfold for you. I do every day.
That's how you got here, where you are. That's how you ended up with more than you thought you bargained for, and yet WAY more than you hoped for also. Always remember that.
I don't think you could. You could not have imagined, had you not experienced this...
So tell me, what happened when you didn't prepare, when you didn't seek.....
what.
It crumpled you!?!
You forgot how to use it to empower you...You forgot that it would end and you did what?!?!? How could you forget how temporary that part would be, no matter how many times, in how many ways, it hits! So direly, direly temporary.. But it kept beating you down? Perhaps this is but an extended lesson plan to better empower you..to empower you to impact lives without number and escalate the joy you are near to receive- unless you let it beat you down.
Don't tell me that. Think clearer now, you CAN escape- why, don't you know that you can escape everyday through Jesus Christ, to your Creator- to the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth, of galaxies without number. He knows you very, very, VERY, very well (VERY!!!!). You just need to do everything within your capacity to exercise faith in his power.. you WILL see the beauty of this life unfold for you. I do every day.
That's how you got here, where you are. That's how you ended up with more than you thought you bargained for, and yet WAY more than you hoped for also. Always remember that.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
A shoe and best friends.
Well, let me tell you.
This shoe..
Oh man.
This shoe.
Lets took a look quick, at why best friends are one of the most expensive gifts we've got going for us. A best friend falls into the qualification of 'best' because they see your potential and your beautiful nature. They are those who find glee, in you! Best friends are aware of your quirks, your ill behaviors and your imperfections- and yet, somehow, are consumed in neverending adoration of you! When conflict arises, the goal is always to return to peace, to unity- greater forgiveness, and love. Their desire is to make you happy, and help you with tiny matters in life that seem insignificant to all else, and maybe even to yourself. They rejoice when you rejoice, and they hurt for you when you hurt.
Therefore.. wanting to be like, and be with the Savior Jesus Christ- is EXTRAORDINARY!!! This Lord of Lord, and King of Kings is here to open every locked doorway, to add a blossomed rose to every stem, and to rescue YOU, every day. "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." St John 10:14-15 He is PERFECT because he is the best. When you cry- he is in absolute agony. When you rejoice, he is far happier than you can know happiness. When you are worried over a trivial matter- he is anxious, and he is planning ahead, plotting out every possible path to make it better, and helping you grow through your difficulties in the meantime. He, the perfect friend, exceeds all definitions of greatness. He is a testimony of Heavenly Father's love for you.
I know he loves me well. If I am devestated because someone I taught, died on me.. even if that someone is totally ok, thoroughly living it up on the other side.. he is aching to hold me. If I am grateful because I got to eat Indian food, he is eccentrically delighted for me. He is anticipating to bless me with other little trinkets and personal joys that only he knows will bring me excitement. My off key notes sung, are wonderful music to his ears, for my heart beats for him, and he craves it. My slow running pace means more to him than any degree of lightning speed. He knows me intimately, personally and that's how well he knows you. It is through him that you will conquer and succeed! He will provide your sweetest friends, your dearest relationships, your deepest joys.
When we don't come crawling to this ever loving God- we can't have this. We won't be as happy as we were meant to be, and become.
Allow me to tie this in to shoes. Yesterday, I lost my shoe. I was like 'what.' I had to exercise in the morning on bare feet. No. I did not like it. I can lose food, I've been ok losing my ID and keys and blankets- but NOT A SHOE!!!! I workout on shoes. I need the shoe.
Anyhow, Heavenly Father understood this. I looked EVERYWHERE!!! BAHH!!! My companion and I searched my bedsheets, our whole room, up and down!! I prayed in every prayer, all day, to find this shoe. I could feel the Savior laughing lovingly at me- he knew that I KNEW by now, that my shoe would be found. (Heavenly Father and I have a relationship with losing things and finding them that goes fairly.. eh.. daily.) (However he LOVES it- because it lets him show me how mighty he is in every issue, and it gives him oppurtunity to show me how much he loves me, on top of everything else he already does for me all the time)
So by the end of the day, I THREW my bedsheets off (which I had ALREADY done that morning) and all of the sudden- my shoe popped into the air- and fell onto the floor.
My companion and I stood gawking at it.
These incidences have happened far more than once.. eh, weekly at least. So I took this picture, and wrote this blog, and tell you today.. keep the commandments. Get answers to your prayers. Keep your covenants, and become best friends with the Savior, and Heavenly Father NOW- if you want to live with them later. Learn why you want to live with them HERE.
I testify that Jesus IS the Christ. He will hear your every yearning. He will run to you and your Heavenly Father will burst with joy for and over you. Always, and forever.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
His power will never fail
We enter life. We pursue things. We fall. We get back up. We fall. Does it matter then, that there IS one who cannot fail, this Jesus, this Savior of the world? Who overcame EVERYTHING (everything.), and cannot ever let anyone down? Ever? At all!?!?! OF COURSE IT DOES!! If he can do it, WE CAN, and because he did it- it allows for us to have that chance as well. He gave his all- opening the door for us to give our all, and yet, to fall again and again, until we finally get it- and then grow even more, cycling ever upward in this life of spiritual, mental, physical and emotional interval training. We learn by scripture study of others' experience and day to day observations, or through our own suffering by our own experience, the route necessary to have happiness. One of the most instrumental factors to this comes down to not only allowing the Savior to enhance our personal abilities, our ambitions, and relieve us of our downfalls- but to enhance our very character, our very thoughts, and our very soul. It is in enhancing that part of us, that we can more wonderfully experience joy.
It may surprise you to know (actually, in my case, it probably won't surprise you that much ;) that we missionaries are quite human. Sometimes we don't want to do or be, sometimes we don't feel good enough- we are subject to the same temptations and stresses of life that every mortal that comes here, is subject to. So how do we stay so strong? How can we press forward with unflinching dedication? Because of the Savior. His power CANNOT fail, he cannot let us down when we ask Heavenly Father, THROUGH HIM, for what he WANTS to empower us with. He can't deny us progress. It is impossible. He came here for us to progress. His purpose is for us to progress. You. Me. Everybody.
When I tell God my bitter thoughts or wearinesses and plea for relief, I never, never feel cynicism, scoffing, constraint or compulsive need for control or condemnation, or derision. Never, not even in the hours of my life where such behavior deserved such correction.
I feel love. Pure, unconditional love, and peace, understanding and empathy. I remember the desires I have from the Lord from my mission- to learn to rely on him first, and I see that in many moments he is the only one to turn to. He tells me and begs me just to stay and press on. He emphasizes the promised blessings if I just but continue forward. He calms rage or discouragement with gentle care, soothes irritation with understanding, satiates loneliness with warmth and fills senses of worthlessness with a recognition of my identity and divinity; he washes my hopelessness with windows to a gleaming future I could not have even imagined, and lifts my sorrows by teaching me that everything I even experience now is preparatory to the next suffering man or woman I meet on the street. He subdues panic with peace, and slows rebellious emotion with open arms. Consequently- I become stronger, my inner being is stricken to greater life, greater perspective, greater utter and total bliss. My external actions follow.
I know he will do the same for YOU. I know it with every fiber of my being and that is why I am here. But we have to ask. We have to seek to know him.
God cares, and knowing he cares changes everything. Because we can fall, we WILL fall- but he never will. And because he never will, he will never leave us. This is the most precious, most grand reality that can be and I yearn with my soul, heart and mind for the world to have it. Learn of the Savior. Love him. For how dearly, how intimately, how deeply does he love you. He aches to bless you. Find out for yourself.
It may surprise you to know (actually, in my case, it probably won't surprise you that much ;) that we missionaries are quite human. Sometimes we don't want to do or be, sometimes we don't feel good enough- we are subject to the same temptations and stresses of life that every mortal that comes here, is subject to. So how do we stay so strong? How can we press forward with unflinching dedication? Because of the Savior. His power CANNOT fail, he cannot let us down when we ask Heavenly Father, THROUGH HIM, for what he WANTS to empower us with. He can't deny us progress. It is impossible. He came here for us to progress. His purpose is for us to progress. You. Me. Everybody.
When I tell God my bitter thoughts or wearinesses and plea for relief, I never, never feel cynicism, scoffing, constraint or compulsive need for control or condemnation, or derision. Never, not even in the hours of my life where such behavior deserved such correction.
I feel love. Pure, unconditional love, and peace, understanding and empathy. I remember the desires I have from the Lord from my mission- to learn to rely on him first, and I see that in many moments he is the only one to turn to. He tells me and begs me just to stay and press on. He emphasizes the promised blessings if I just but continue forward. He calms rage or discouragement with gentle care, soothes irritation with understanding, satiates loneliness with warmth and fills senses of worthlessness with a recognition of my identity and divinity; he washes my hopelessness with windows to a gleaming future I could not have even imagined, and lifts my sorrows by teaching me that everything I even experience now is preparatory to the next suffering man or woman I meet on the street. He subdues panic with peace, and slows rebellious emotion with open arms. Consequently- I become stronger, my inner being is stricken to greater life, greater perspective, greater utter and total bliss. My external actions follow.
I know he will do the same for YOU. I know it with every fiber of my being and that is why I am here. But we have to ask. We have to seek to know him.
God cares, and knowing he cares changes everything. Because we can fall, we WILL fall- but he never will. And because he never will, he will never leave us. This is the most precious, most grand reality that can be and I yearn with my soul, heart and mind for the world to have it. Learn of the Savior. Love him. For how dearly, how intimately, how deeply does he love you. He aches to bless you. Find out for yourself.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
What is love?
As soon as we realize we are four years olds in God's eyes, then we can grow. Whether we be ten years old or ninety nine, the disease that tricks us in to believing that we know it all, and deprives us of real life- is pride. It actually puts us at a two year old standing- but usually, we don't know that. We either end up feeling superiority pride- power hungry, the need to be better and higher than all else, or inferiority pride- rebellion and retaliation, decided ignorance, and isolation.
Either way, we climb over, or away from people.
If God wanted us to be tested alone, there would be one human on this Earth at a time. Is that the case? NO! It is through these people around us, that we find the experiences and the progress that God wants us to have.
The other day my favorite group of angels- four senior missionaries, came to check up on our car. (For those of you who don't know, senior missionaries can be found in the form of a lovely husband and wife, whose children are grown) The most adorable phenomenon took place. The two senior-Elders gruffly discussed cars. The two Sisters expressively discussed hair dye. How fascinating- true to their gender roles all the way through, and still so happy!! A returned Senior-Elder once told me "The best part of a senior mission- is I get to kiss my companion!" Such simplicity, such everlasting youth, even the manner of flirtation amongst so many Elderly in the church, is as if they had just met- and found love at first sight! So what defines a senior couples' maturity, their power, their beauty, their prominence? HOW are they so young, so ALIVE?
Love.
Not just any love.
Real love.
Read on.
Their love and endearing nurturing of us youngster missionaries, of the people, of the mission, of each other, and especially of our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Mission President once said, "Your power is in your love." Why did wicked spirits cripple at the Savior's presence, why would a sinful man shirk and hide in the sight of his God, and just how DOES good conquer bad? Because the love of God is infinitely more powerful than any crude, obscene, or destructive evil that can be thrown at us. This love confounds the hateful and empowers righteous desire. It gives life because Christ, and his commandments, are its very definition. It fuels members of Jesus Christ's church who choose to seek him, to feast upon a simple, ever growing, ever peace-enhanced existence amidst utter turmoil. It allows the realities of the Eternities to dawn upon our souls and it answers every yearning and need we could possibly have.
Heavenly Father's gift and sacrifice for US, Jesus Christ, was and is the ULTIMATE act of love. *He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?* Romans 8:32
The covenants we make in this church, teach us how to love.
The covenants we then keep, give us the gift of love... and we become spoiled, overflowing with power and rejoicing in, through, and out of opposition's neverending beatings. The greatest walk our frame has ever known in life only grows greater, and greater...with love. "And THIS is love, that we walk after HIS commandments"
You can know it if you show it : )
Either way, we climb over, or away from people.
If God wanted us to be tested alone, there would be one human on this Earth at a time. Is that the case? NO! It is through these people around us, that we find the experiences and the progress that God wants us to have.
The other day my favorite group of angels- four senior missionaries, came to check up on our car. (For those of you who don't know, senior missionaries can be found in the form of a lovely husband and wife, whose children are grown) The most adorable phenomenon took place. The two senior-Elders gruffly discussed cars. The two Sisters expressively discussed hair dye. How fascinating- true to their gender roles all the way through, and still so happy!! A returned Senior-Elder once told me "The best part of a senior mission- is I get to kiss my companion!" Such simplicity, such everlasting youth, even the manner of flirtation amongst so many Elderly in the church, is as if they had just met- and found love at first sight! So what defines a senior couples' maturity, their power, their beauty, their prominence? HOW are they so young, so ALIVE?
Love.
Not just any love.
Real love.
Read on.
Their love and endearing nurturing of us youngster missionaries, of the people, of the mission, of each other, and especially of our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Mission President once said, "Your power is in your love." Why did wicked spirits cripple at the Savior's presence, why would a sinful man shirk and hide in the sight of his God, and just how DOES good conquer bad? Because the love of God is infinitely more powerful than any crude, obscene, or destructive evil that can be thrown at us. This love confounds the hateful and empowers righteous desire. It gives life because Christ, and his commandments, are its very definition. It fuels members of Jesus Christ's church who choose to seek him, to feast upon a simple, ever growing, ever peace-enhanced existence amidst utter turmoil. It allows the realities of the Eternities to dawn upon our souls and it answers every yearning and need we could possibly have.
Heavenly Father's gift and sacrifice for US, Jesus Christ, was and is the ULTIMATE act of love. *He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?* Romans 8:32
The covenants we make in this church, teach us how to love.
The covenants we then keep, give us the gift of love... and we become spoiled, overflowing with power and rejoicing in, through, and out of opposition's neverending beatings. The greatest walk our frame has ever known in life only grows greater, and greater...with love. "And THIS is love, that we walk after HIS commandments"
You can know it if you show it : )
Thursday, August 18, 2011
We trusted the Savior in the premortal life. Trust him here.
I remember sitting outside, over-anxiously waiting for my mission call. I prayed, "Heavenly Father, if it doesn't come today, please tell me now, just cut me loose before I break.. "
"If the mailman comes soon, it will be here" was my answer
"My soon, or thy soon?" I asked.
"Your soon." God responded. About 60 seconds later the mailman came around the corner. (Haha) I got my mission call. It arrived after weeks of kinks and opposition, when I was past craving, and inwardly writhing in agony.
Which leads into a poetic flashback to my running of the Teton Dam Marathon:
...At mile 20, there were 6.2 more miles to go. 6.2 more miles- no arch, no people, no hope. Visualization failed. My heart was sore in ache. My legs were led, faith on the down, and emotions quite irate. I couldn't see the end, nor believed it had begun. Was I here to run forever? Would it ever be won?"Why are we here?" another runner asked me, "Why did we even come?"
"Not my will" the Savior said to God, "but thine be done." Through him every failure was conquered, good forever prevailed, and it is through this Atonement wherein a glorious future dwells.
The last two miles totally killed, but the finish line was there- for real! The people- the arch- I did it- because I stayed! The joy I felt, I still cannot describe to you this day.. It's out here in the mission, in so many many ways. A great deal of love grows from excrutiating pain.
When things seem the worst, we must not quit, for without patience we cannot please God. *Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend...And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. Mosiah 4:9,12* What a promise!! The Savior will always be there. Actively endure, press forward, and know that if you don't have enough- Jesus Christ does. : ) Only through him can EVERY trial in your life- emotional, mental, financial, spiritual, physical- be taken care of. I have experienced and experience it. I know it.
Anyone can march into Hell and die, but Hell cannot contain you with the Savior by your side. And as he lifts you out, you'll look back and you'll say "I cannot see the pain anymore.. I only see incredible strength gained."
"If the mailman comes soon, it will be here" was my answer
"My soon, or thy soon?" I asked.
"Your soon." God responded. About 60 seconds later the mailman came around the corner. (Haha) I got my mission call. It arrived after weeks of kinks and opposition, when I was past craving, and inwardly writhing in agony.
Which leads into a poetic flashback to my running of the Teton Dam Marathon:
...At mile 20, there were 6.2 more miles to go. 6.2 more miles- no arch, no people, no hope. Visualization failed. My heart was sore in ache. My legs were led, faith on the down, and emotions quite irate. I couldn't see the end, nor believed it had begun. Was I here to run forever? Would it ever be won?"Why are we here?" another runner asked me, "Why did we even come?"
"Not my will" the Savior said to God, "but thine be done." Through him every failure was conquered, good forever prevailed, and it is through this Atonement wherein a glorious future dwells.
The last two miles totally killed, but the finish line was there- for real! The people- the arch- I did it- because I stayed! The joy I felt, I still cannot describe to you this day.. It's out here in the mission, in so many many ways. A great deal of love grows from excrutiating pain.
When things seem the worst, we must not quit, for without patience we cannot please God. *Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend...And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. Mosiah 4:9,12* What a promise!! The Savior will always be there. Actively endure, press forward, and know that if you don't have enough- Jesus Christ does. : ) Only through him can EVERY trial in your life- emotional, mental, financial, spiritual, physical- be taken care of. I have experienced and experience it. I know it.
Anyone can march into Hell and die, but Hell cannot contain you with the Savior by your side. And as he lifts you out, you'll look back and you'll say "I cannot see the pain anymore.. I only see incredible strength gained."
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Commandments kept=Prayers answered.
My prayers are answered. Thoroughly. This means more to me than ANYTHING. Nothing can compare. I want everyone to have it. Even if I don't like the answer, I eventually end up understanding, and I learn. Throughout my mission, people have often communicated an inability to receive answers to their prayers. So, when you pray, do you KNOW God will answer? You may believe he will, you may hope he will- but do you KNOW he will- can you KNOW he will?
A grand factor in understanding the nature of our Father in Heaven, includes the devotion to his laws and ordinances such as tithing, scripture study, fasting, service, keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, and attending the temple because through keeping these commandments, we nurture branches to sprout delicious fruits of freedom. The motive is that love-based relationship with God, and the relationship gets DEEPER. Answers are clearer. The root of the tree which springs these bountiful, fruit filled branches, is here:
'Master, which is the great commandment in the law?'
'Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
'The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already WILLING to grant, but that are made CONDITIONAL on our ASKING for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means of obtaining the HIGHEST BLESSINGS' -Bible Dictionary 'prayer'
I KNOW God will answer every one of your prayers, as he does my prayers- thus I fear praying for certain things, while incesstantly pursuing others. I know he will do that for each and every of his children who ACTIVELY choose to come closer to him. This active choice is through keeping his commandments, or in other words, showing him that we love him, and his sons and daughters. : )
"And ye see that I have commanded that NONE of you should go away, but rather commanded that ye should COME UNTO ME, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world" -Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 18:25
A grand factor in understanding the nature of our Father in Heaven, includes the devotion to his laws and ordinances such as tithing, scripture study, fasting, service, keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, and attending the temple because through keeping these commandments, we nurture branches to sprout delicious fruits of freedom. The motive is that love-based relationship with God, and the relationship gets DEEPER. Answers are clearer. The root of the tree which springs these bountiful, fruit filled branches, is here:
'Master, which is the great commandment in the law?'
'Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 22: 36-40'The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already WILLING to grant, but that are made CONDITIONAL on our ASKING for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means of obtaining the HIGHEST BLESSINGS' -Bible Dictionary 'prayer'
I KNOW God will answer every one of your prayers, as he does my prayers- thus I fear praying for certain things, while incesstantly pursuing others. I know he will do that for each and every of his children who ACTIVELY choose to come closer to him. This active choice is through keeping his commandments, or in other words, showing him that we love him, and his sons and daughters. : )
"And ye see that I have commanded that NONE of you should go away, but rather commanded that ye should COME UNTO ME, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world" -Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 18:25
Thursday, August 4, 2011
The simple way up
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him," Of Jesus Christ, "this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.. That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God..
And again we bear record-- for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just--
They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial..That by keeping the commandments, they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins..who overcome by faith..
They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things-- Wherefore all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs, and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's..
And they shall overcome all things."
-Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24,51-61
Keep the commandments given through prophets of old, and a living prophet today, Thomas S Monson. BY keeping the commandments, Christ's sacrifice WILL bring us back home. I know this is true. Heavenly Father loves us. One being is as precious in his sight as the other.. (Jacob 2:21) The formula for the return is written plainly, and preciously through His holy records.
The way is straight.
The gate is open.
Be there every Sunday to renew those sacred promises you have made or can make with him, for baptism is just the beginning, the entry. Your Father and your Savior are more intimately and personally aware of your every feeling than you can know. There is so much more in store. Experiencing Heaven does not have to start at death. It can start now.
For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.. That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God..
And again we bear record-- for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just--
They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial..That by keeping the commandments, they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins..who overcome by faith..
They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things-- Wherefore all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs, and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's..
And they shall overcome all things."
-Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24,51-61
Keep the commandments given through prophets of old, and a living prophet today, Thomas S Monson. BY keeping the commandments, Christ's sacrifice WILL bring us back home. I know this is true. Heavenly Father loves us. One being is as precious in his sight as the other.. (Jacob 2:21) The formula for the return is written plainly, and preciously through His holy records.
The way is straight.
The gate is open.
Be there every Sunday to renew those sacred promises you have made or can make with him, for baptism is just the beginning, the entry. Your Father and your Savior are more intimately and personally aware of your every feeling than you can know. There is so much more in store. Experiencing Heaven does not have to start at death. It can start now.
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