This morning, I was studying my scriptures, when I came across the story of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors in the Book of Mormon. This story is about 2,000 young men who made a covenant to protect their families and their religion even if it meant death. They're courage has always been an example to me but, today, something new stood out. In Alma 57:21, it says,
"Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them."
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They were obedient and this is why they were blessed. Alma 58:39 says,
"And those sons of the people of Ammon,... and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain."
How amazing it that? Because of their exact obedience, they were blessed. There is a saying that says,
"Obedience brings blessings but, exact obedience brings miracles."
I hope one day the same about them can be said for me as is said in Alma 53:20 it says,
"And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all - they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted."
God has entrusted us to do His will. Many say how there are so many rules and how it is restricting but, I know that when we keep the commandments, we will be blessed. God promises to bless us and He always keeps His promises.
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Esta mañana, yo estaba estudiando mis escrituras cuando leí de los dos mil jóvenes en el Libro de Mormón. Esta cuenta es de dos mil jóvenes que hicieron un convenio con Dios para proteger sus families y religion. Su valor me influía mucho pero, hoy descubrí una cosa nueva. En Alma 57:21 dice,
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| lds.org |
"Sí, y obedecieron y procuraron cumplir con exactitud toda orden; sí, y les fue hecho según su fe; y me acordé de las palabras que, según me dijeron, sus madres les habían enseñado."
Ellos fueron obedientes exactas y esta es la razón porque ellos fueron bendecidos. Alma 58:39 dice,
"Y estos hijos del pueblo de Ammón,... y el Señor los ha sostenido, sí, y los ha librado de caer por la espada, a tal grado que ni uno solo de ellos ha muerto."
Que marvillosa! Porque de su obediencia exacta, fueron bendecidos. Hay una frase que dice,
"La obediencia trae bendiciones pero obediencia exacta trae milagros."
Espero que un día personas puedan decir lo mismo por mi como dice in Alma 53:20,
"Y todos ellos eran jóvenes, y sumamente valientes en cuanto a intrepidez, y también en cuanto a vigor y actividad; mas he aquí, esto no era todo; eran hombres que en todo momento se mantenían fieles a cualquier cosa que les fuera confiada."
Dios ha confiado en nosotros a hacer su voluntad. Muchas personas dicen que hay muchas reglas que son malas pero yo sé que cuando guardemos los mandamientos, Dios va a bendecirnos. Dios ha prometido a bendecirnos y siempre él guarda a sus promesas.
Nauvoo is a place of peace. It is filled with a spirit that is particularly special to this place. As you walk the streets of old Nauvoo, you can almost feel like you are back in time walking with the saints of the past. As I walk the streets the saints of old have walked, I am able to reflect on my own trials and see how different life is but, how we still need to be strong in our own faith. Two of my favorite spots in Nauvoo are the bank of the Mississippi and the temple. The bank because I can look west and think of how, in my own life, I need to keep looking forward during trials. The temple because it is a reminder of continually keeping my eye on things that are most important: following God's will. There's a statue in front of the temple of Joseph Smith, the prophet, and his brother, Hyrum, as they were leaving Nauvoo. This statue, with the temple in the background, is one of my favorite pictures because it encompasses all of Nauvoo in one moment. Life was hard and the saints gave up a lot to follow Christ and live what they believed but, they were blessed with so many blessings that we do not even know all about.
La fin de la semana pasada fue Conferencia General de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los últimos días. Yo estaba escuchando a las mensajes inspiradas de los apóstoles del Señor, sentí mejor y encontré respuestas a mis preguntas. Estoy agradecida por un profeta viviendo quien recibe revelación de Dios para nosotros. Me encantan las escrituras pero también me encantan las revelaciones que nos ayuda en este mundo. A veces es fácil a sentir triste o perdido pero mediante Dios podemos sentir mejor. Para los que no miramos a conferencia, me gustaría invitarles a ir a lds.org para mirar or leer las mensajes cuando están allá en español. 
I am grateful for my mother, or "mommy," because she has always been there for me. When I was in high school, she would stop what she was doing just to listen to me talk about my day as we both ate a bowl of ice cream. Even though we both hated it, we would go shopping together when I needed new clothes or something for school. When she says she will do something, she does it. At church, when she is asked to serve in some capacity, she always says yes and tries her best to do it the best she can. She does service for the family in little ways, well, they're actually pretty big: she cooks, cleans, does laundry, helps with homework, and teaches us how to do those things as well. When I went to college, I was so grateful for my mom making me learn how to do all sorts of chores because I was able to take care of myself and I knew how to have a clean apartment. I am grateful for my mom's testimony. When she shares what she believes to be true, you can feel it and see it in her face that she means it. She is not afraid to be herself. She is fun and loves to make everyone laugh by dancing around the kitchen as she sings and cleans or by making faces that look like animals. Whatever it is, she brings light and happiness to the room she is in. 
