Here's to the End - Al final

Well, with less than a week left of being a full time missionary, I want to share one last thought. I know that God lives. I know He has made a way for us to change because He loves us. Through Him, we can overcome our trials. We can be made whole. We can have hope in a world of darkness. We can have light when in a dark room. We can find answers in dreary places. He lives. He loves us. He knows you personally. Never forget that. That knowledge means everything to me. God speaks to man today. He cares more than we can ever understand. He loves you.

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Con menos que una semana para ser una misionera de tiempo completo quisiera compartir un pensamiento más. Yo sé que Dios vive. Sé que nos ha dado una manera para cambiar porque nos ama. Por medio de él podemos vencer nuestras pruebas. Podemos ser completos. Podemos tener esperanza en un mundo de obscuridad. Podemos tener luz en un cuarto obscuro. Podemos encontrar respuestas en lugares tristes. él vive. Nos ama. Te conoce personalmente. No se le olvide. Este conocimento significa todo para mí. Dios habla con los hombres hoy. Se preocupca por nosotros más que podemos imaginar. Te ama.

"Leave unto [the] Lord the Rest" - "Deja el resto [al] Señor"

As I was reflecting on my life, a thought my daddy had sent to me came to mind. It is quoted from a talk by Thomas S. Monson and is by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He says, "Do [your] duty; that is best; leave unto [the] Lord the rest." This made me ask myself what my "duty" was. What am I supposed to do? The words of the missionary purpose then went through my mind, "My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." The two main words that stuck out were to "invite" and "help." Those are the two actions that I am supposed to do. But how? Reflecting on my own personal strengths, I came up with things I can do to help others. And what is the reward or blessing for doing this? "Leave unto [the] Lord the rest." He will take care of everything for me if I do what I should and focus on His will more than my own. That's what this quote means for me. How can it relate to someone else? "Every member a missionary!" So, maybe it is similar for you or it may be different. All depends on your "duty." Whatever it may be, I know God will take care of His children and always keep His promises.

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Mediante yo estaba reflexionanado de mi vida, una cita que mi padre me envió, vino a la mente. Es una cita de un discurso por Thomas S. Monson y la cita es por Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. El dijo lo siguiente, "Haz [tu] deber; es lo mejor, deja es resto [al] Señor." Esto me hizo pensar en mi "deber." ¿Qué debo hacer? Las palabras del propósito misional vino a la mente, "Mi propósito es invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo al ayudarles a que reciben el evangelio restaurado mediante la fe en Jesucristo y su expiación, el arrpentimiento, el bautismo, la recepción del don del Espíritu Santo, y al perseverar hasta el fin." Las dos palabras que me llamaron la atención, eran "invitar" y "ayudar." Estas palabras son acciones que debo hacer. Pero, ¿cómo? Al reflexionar en mis fuerzas, pensé en algunas cosas que yo pudiera hacer para ayudar a otros. ¿Cuáles son las bendiciones o galardón al hacer esto? "Deja el resto [al] Señor." El me va a cuidar en todo si hubiera hecho todo que pueda y me enfocara en su voluntad más que en la mía. Para mi, esto es lo que significa esta cita. ¿Cómo se puede aplicar a otra persona? "Cada miembro un misionero!" Entonces, tal vez sea lo mismo para usted. Tal vez sea diferente porque su "deber" es diferente que el mío. Lo que sea, yo sé que Dios cuidará a sus hijos y que siempre guardará sus promesas. 

Ogden Temple Open House

Hello World! First off, sorry for being offline for so long. In my last area, I did not have access to a computer that would let me access my blog. So, here we go again! To bring everyone up to speed, the Ogden Temple has opened its doors to the public (meaning until September 6th, anyone can take a tour of the inside). As a sister missionary, I have had the privilege of helping start videos and answer questions in a tent. I also, have been able to work in a new area with a new companion. So, needless to say, many changes have been taking place. As all these changes have been occurring, one constant has been the video they show before the temple tour. And wow! What a powerful video it is! For those who have not seen it, I would encourage you to come and see it! For those who have, I want to share a quote by Jeffrey R. Holland that he shares at the end. Each time I watch this video, the one part that never ceases to touch my heart is this quote:

Holland said, "I don't know how to speak about heaven in the traditional, lovely, paradisaical beauty that we speak of heaven. I wouldn't know how to speak about heaven without my wife, or my children. It would not be heaven for me. Now you can say that's wishful thinking. Or you can say that's just because you love each other and you've gotten cozy here on earth and you like each other's company. It's a lot more than that. There is something eternal in the statement that, 'neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord.' That isn't just good sociology. That is theology. It's eternal."

Wow! Such powerful words! And I know that they are true. Because the temple is a holy place, we do not go into detail about everything that happens inside but, I know that through those things, we come closer to God and families really are bound together forever. I am so greatful for that knowledge and the peace I feel each time I enter a temple, or the house of the Lord. I hope each of you will take the chance to come to Ogden and take advantage of this wonderful experience to enter a temple of God. I know it is something you will remember forever.

"They were still his brethren in the Lord".

Sunday night we had a night of music that the missionaries did for the public. At first, I was nervous things weren't going to go smooth but, as always, God is truly in charge and he knows what people need. Certain songs were just what people needed. Or certain words spoken. For me, it was all of it. It was the music, the words, the spirit I felt, and seeing the faces of so many people I have come to love so dearly. As I stood to sing and saw those faces, I was overwhelmed with so much love as memories flooded my mind and as tears tried to escape the corners of my eyes. Who knew, within a year, I would come to love and care about so many people. I felt as Alma in Alma 17:2 which reads, "[And He] did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren, and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord." That is how I felt. What a joy to see people but what more of a joy to know we are all following God.
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En domingo tuvimos una noche de música que hicieron los misioneros para el público. Al principio, yo estaba tan nerviosa que no iba a salir bien pero, como siempre, Dios sabe lo que las personas necesitan y todo salió bien. Una canciones específicas fueron las que unas personas necesitaban o palabras específicas. Para mi, fue todo. La música, las palabras, el espíritu que sentía, y al ver las caras de muchas personas que yo había venido a amar mucho. Al ponerme de pie para cantar, vi las caras de estas personas y sentí tanto amor con las memroias y las lágrimas trataron de caer. No sabía que en un año, llegaría a amar muchas personas. Me sentía como Alma en Alma 17:2 que dice, "[y él] se alegró muchísimo de ver a sus hermanos; y lo que aumentó más su gozo fue que aún eran sus hermanos en el Señor." Esto es como sentía yo. Que gozo al ver unas personas pero aún más gozo al saber que estamos juntos en el camino de Dios.

I love to see the temple... - Me encanta ver al templo...

Brigham City Temple ~ Templo de Brigham City

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I had the opportunity to go with someone I had taught, and some other missionaries, to the Brigham City Temple to see her do baptisms for the dead. It made me so appreciative for the gospel in my life and for the knowledge I have of families being together forever and the hope there is for people who have passed on without learning about Jesus Christ. The more I see people change and  gain such strong testimonies, I am strengthened and given a new perspective of what I believe. Before my mission, I believed all the things I teach but, as I see others accept it, it becomes more personal and more meaningful. How blessed we, as children of God, are. No matter what, God is always there and will help us find the way back to Him.

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Ayer fue un día tan hermoso. Tuve la oportunidad de ir al templo de Brigham City con alguien que enseñé y otros misioneros para hacer bautismos por los muertos. Me hizo agradecer el evangelio en mi vida y el conocimiento que tengo de que las familias puedan ser eternas y hay esperanza por los que han muerto sin conocer a Jesucristo. Al ver personas cambiar y tener testimonios fuertets, recibo fuerza y una perspectiva nueva de lo que creo. Antes de la misión, creía lo que enseñaba pero ahora es más personal y tiene más significado. Somos muy bendecidas como hijos de Dios. No importa lo que pasa, Dios siempre está con nosotros y nos ayuda encontrar el camino para regresar a él. 

A Year of Change

Wow! It has been a long time since I have written on here! Mission life just gets way too crazy! Well, today, I hit a year on my mission and all I can think is "where did the time go?" because really, "time flies when you're having fun!" and "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are in the service of your God." Today, we did some service of cleaning up/painting a parking garage. As we cleaned up the dust and garbage, it made me think of repentance. [I know- missionary thoughts. haha] It can be really hard at times and you may not feel your little sweeping is really making much of a difference but, with the help of God, and others when necessary, all is possible and things can change. When we are forced to change, we usually are not very happy about it but, when we change because we want to be what God wants us to, miracles can happen. The longer I am out, the more I realize how we all have things to improve on and some take more time than others. Whether those things be repenting of sins or just becoming better or a combination of the two, we all need our Savior, Jesus Christ, to help us become that better person. I know I still have a long way to go to be who God wants me to but, little by little, sweep by sweep, and with His love, I can change and so can you.

Blessings Come

Today, after our District Meeting, I came to the realization that I only have about 6 months left as a full-time missionary. I have very few transfers and one of those will be helping at the Ogden Temple open house. In conclusion, I am running out of time. Before my mission, I had all these plans and ideas but, a lot I am still working on and realizing I have a long ways to go.

Upon reflecting on this, I went into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. I felt like a new person was looking back. Not the same young girl from a year or two ago. As I reflected on that thought, I realized how many blessings have come into my life. For example, I feel I finally have the kind of relationship I wanted with my parents and siblings, I feel I finally have started to get to know one of my uncles, and I have heard so many wonderful things that have happened to other family members. Yes, a mission is really hard but, I would not give it up for anything. A quote I once heard comes to mind, "A mission isn't the best time of your life but, the best for your life." I feel so blessed and cannot wait to see what the next six months hold for me.

For people going through struggles, look upon the progress that has been made and remember there is still time to go. We will not become perfect over night but, little by little we can become the person God wants us to be. We just need to trust in Him and His timing.

Peace will Come

Everyone has trials and problems. They are a part of life we usually do not choose. How we respond to those problems, however, is our choice.

Recently, I have been having my own personal problems and just could not figure out how to overcome them. I would pray but, I felt the parts about my struggles were hitting the ceiling and coming back to me. But, I kept praying to find peace. This morning, that peace finally came.

I have been reading a talk from General Conference almost every day so, during my personal study, I opened up to the next talk, "Grateful in Any Circumstance," by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. As I began to read, I knew the answer had finally come.

Uchtdorf says, "Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges. This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind."

Some times it can be hard to be grateful when things do not go the way we wish but, as Uchtdorf said, "How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?"

I know I am guilty of that. When I am in the midst of a trial, I focus on the problem, rather than thanking God for the chance to become better or stronger. What would happen if we had an "attitude of gratitude?" I think it would help so much in overcoming our problems and focusing on the blessings we do have before becoming depressed because of what we do not.

This thought process led me to think about what I am grateful for- being able to receive answers to prayer, a loving God who cares about me personally, my family and their support, opportunity to be a missionary, good health, music that brings peace, opportunity to meet new people, charity, letters on a cloudy day, the beauty around me, and so much more but, I do not have time to write it all.

Try thinking of what you can be grateful for or how to find gratitude during times of trial. I know it will help because it has helped me.

Gratitude in the Rainstorm

This morning I was reading a talk by Jon Bytheway entitled "Five Scriptures that will Help You Get Through Almost Anything." As I was reading, a quote stood out to me that I would like to share. He said,

"How many times has someone prayed that 'we might get home in safety,' and we actually did? How many traffic accidents has He [God] helped you avoid? How many times has He inspired you to do something that saved someone from injury? We will never know in this life." 

This quote  made me reflect  on my own life as of right now. Yesterday, I got bit by a dog as we were walking. It began to bleed so we went to visit a home of a member (who happened to be home) and then, I had to go to the clinic to get some antibiotics. In the moment, I was pretty annoyed and upset at this dog and how we were not able to do anything else until my finger was taken care of. As I thought about this quote with that situation I realized things were probably way better than they could have been. I only received two little punctures rather than losing a finger. The member was home and able to take care of cleaning it well. And I was first in line at the clinic so I was able to be taken care of quickly. At first glance, I could have lost the chance to learn and be grateful for the blessings I did receive and the safety I did have.

How often do we quickly judge a situation without taking a second look at it? Or, as Dieter F. Uchtdorf said in General Conference,

"How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?" (for whole talk see here) 

What would happen if we looked at things differently and were grateful for the blessings and trials we do have?

Easter Countdown

Yes, I am a day late but, better late than never! Right? I hope so... Anyway, I was reading the Liahona [church magazine] and came across an AWESOME Easter activity for families here! It has a cute cut-out Easter count down (page found here) and scriptures/songs to count down this wonderful holiday of celebrating Christ's resurrection. I'd love to invite you all to try it out! I started this morning (doing day 1 & 2) and I am really excited. It's just a short, simple way to remember the reason for this season. Because of Christ, we are able to be cleansed and return to live with God again. Why not take some time to honor Him?

When I Was Baptized

While reading the talk by Henry B. Eyring from the General Woman's Meeting, a quote stuck out and made me start thinking. He said,

"A number of you were baptized recently... Others were baptized long ago,... No two of us will have the same memories of the day when we made that sacred baptismal covenant." 

Now, I was baptized at 8 years old, which feels like a long time ago to me. Sometimes I struggle to remember the details of that day. However, upon reading that quote, I reflected on what I do remember and felt impressed to record it here:

October 21st, 2000-
I remember going to fill the font at this stake center with my daddy. We got hungry so we took a trip to Wendy's to eat. I think I got chicken nuggets and a frosty but, that may just be what I want right now. I don't remember what we talked about but, I remember feeling special having time alone with Daddy and how he bought me food at Wendy's.

Then, upon returning to the church, we found my family gathered and ready to take pictures. So, I put on my white pants/shirt (the same my mom had worn at her baptism). Then, we took pictures. I remember feeling very privileged to be wearing what my mom wore in the same place my dad was baptized. 

I do not remember the talks or even being baptized but, I do remember when I got confirmed [received the Gift of the Holy Ghost]. My dad, uncles, and grandpas gathered around as I sat on a metal chair. I do not remember what was said but, I remember how heavy all those hands were and trying really hard to sit still so they could not tell I was struggling to sit up straight. I also remember feeling so loved and important by my family. I knew I was doing the right thing. 

My next memory is back at my old house on Cresent Lane. I was opening my birthday gifts and I had just opened the one from my parents- my very own set of scriptures with notes on the inside. I felt like I had been given a great treasure. I wanted to guard them (and the notes from my parents) forever.

Even though I do not remember everything, I know my baptism was an important event and an act of faith. I am so grateful for the memories I do have and the blessings I have received since. They mean more than the world to me.

We Have Our Differences But, We are a Family - Tenemos nuestros diferencias pero somos una familia

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to listen/watch the General Women's Broadcast in a chapel with women from the area. (If you missed it, you can watch it here!)

lds.org

Before it started, I was super excited but, I had no idea what to expect. As it began, I began to reflect on women in the church that I know and then, I thought about my sisters and mom. That was when it really hit me and I realized how amazing this conference was. Women from all over the world were crossing barriers of differences to all learn more about Christ and how to be better. The spirit was so strong as I, time and time again, felt so strongly the importance of this meeting.

I feel so blessed as a woman of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to have such wonderful leaders and to be able to use my talents to help others come closer unto God. No matter what our differences are, we can all come closer to God.
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El Domingo, tuve la oportunidad de escuchar y mirar la Conferencia General de las mujeres en una capilla con otras mujeres del área. (Si no pudo verlo, podría verlo aquí!)

lds.org

Antes de que empezara yo estaba muy emocionada pero no sabía lo que iba a pasar. Cuando empezó, yo empecé a pensar en las mujeres de la iglesia quienes conozco y depués, pensé en mis hermanas y mi mamá. Al pensar en eso, me di cuenta de la importancía de esta conferencia. Mujeres de todo el mundo estaban cruzando barreras y diferencias para aprender más de Cristo y ser mejores. El Espíritu estaba muy fuerte y siempre sentí la importancía de esta reunión.

Me siento muy bendecida de ser una mujer de La iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los últimos días y tener líderes maravillosas y poder usar mis talentos para ayudar a otras personas acercarse a Dios. No importa las diferencias, todos nosotros podemos acercarnos a Dios.

The Potential You are Meant to Live

Recently I have been thinking of a few friends of mine who have been making a few changes in the lives. At first, the changes made me so happy because they were coming closer to God and making their lives better. Then, something switched and I feel I'm losing my friends again. It is so hard to watch people struggle and not be able to help them or change their lives for them.

As I was reflecting on how God, no matter what we do, loves us so much. I was led to a quote by Jeffrey R. Holland that says, "If something is buried in the past, leave it buried...Such dwelling on past lives, including past mistakes, is just not right!" (for whole talk go here)

Change is hard. I will not deny that. I have my own things I am trying to change. But, I know that they are possible through the Atonement [when Christ suffered, died and was resurrected for our us] of Jesus Christ.

There is a Mormon Message I love entitled, Your Potential, Your Privileges, that talks about a man who lives below his privileges. When, we let Christ help us, we can fully take advantage of what life has to offer and return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven again. I know that to be true and I hope you can come to realize that too.

General Conference Again - Conferencia General otra vez

It's here!!!! General Conference is once again here. After six months of waiting, it's time to hear the words of a modern day prophet! lds.org says, "All members of the Church are invited to participate in the 184th Annual General Conference of the Church, which will convene in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, 2014, with general sessions each day at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. mountain daylight time (MDT), and the general priesthood meeting on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. MDT."

lds.org

Please come and join in listening to the words of God given to a living prophet! You won't be disappointed!

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Está aquí!!! Conferencia General está aquí otra vez. Después de seis meses de espera, es tiempo para escuchar las palabras de un profeta moderno! lds.org dice, "Todos los miembros de la Iglesia están invitados a participar en la Conferencia General Semestral N   184 de la Iglesia, que tendrá lugar en el Centro de Conferencias en Salt Lake City, Utah, el sábado 5 y el domingo 6 de abril de 2014, con sesiones generales cada día a las 10:00  y las 14:00 h, hora de Salt Lake City, Utah. La reunión general del sacerdocio se llevará a cabo en el Centro de Conferencias el sábado 5 de abril de 2014, a las 18:00 h." 

Por favor, vengan y reúnanse con nosotros al escuchar las palabras de Dios que son dados por un profeta viviente! No se decepcionarán!

A Recipe for Forgiveness

Yesterday I received an email from an awesome Institute [church class] teacher I had before my mission. In it, he included a talk by Madison U. Sowell to BYU entitled, "On Measuring Flour and Forgiveness." I decided to print it out so I could read it this morning and WOW! It was a really great talk! It made me want to be better and forgive quicker and more fully. Near the end of his speech, he included a poem by Marguerite Stewart, entitled, "Forgiveness Flour." This poem hit me the most out of the talk so I would like to share it with all of you. Here it is:

When I went to the door, at the whisper of knocking,

I saw Simeon Gantner's daughter, Kathleen, standing

There, in her shawl and her shame, sent to ask

"Forgiveness Flour" for her bread. "Forgiveness Flour," 

We call it in our corner. If one has erred, one 

Is sent to ask for flour of his neighbors. If they loan it

To him, that means he can stay, but if they refuse, he had 

Best take himself off. I look at Kathleen...

What a jewel of a daughter, though not much like her

Father, more's the pity. "I'll give you flour," I

Said, and went to measure it. Measuring was the rub.

If I gave too much, neighbors would think I made sin

Easy, but if I gave too little, they would label me 

"Close." While I stood measuring, Joel, my husband

Came in from the mill, a great bag of flour on his 

Shoulder, and seeing her there, shrinking in the 

Doorway, he tossed the bag at her feet. "Here, take

All of it." And so she had flour for many loaves,

While I stood measuring.

lds.org

How often do we think more than we should about forgiveness? Of course, consequences must be taken care of but, we can not be fully forgiven if we will not forgive. I know when I fully forgive, I feel better. I feel at peace and that I am not weighed down by that grudge. When we forgive, we let it go so that the person who we are upset with, and even more so, we are made to feel lifted up. 

I'd love to invite you all to read that talk. It is a little long but, every word was worth it. It really makes you think of if you have fully forgiven those around you, and also, if you have forgiven yourself. Because God will always be ready to forgive us. 

General Women's Meeting!!!! - Reunión General de mujeres!

It's that time again! General Conference is coming up and that mean's so does Women's Meeting! Usually, it is just relief society but, this time, it's all women and girls ages 8 and above!!! So excited!!!!

lds.org says, "All women, young women, and girls eight years of age and older are invited to participate in the general women's meeting on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. mountain daylight time."

SAVE THE DATE!!! 

Here is a video that summarized what I think is the purpose of this meeting:

It's going to be great. As women of the church, we can have such a huge impact and here we can all learn together how to be better!

Hope to see you there!

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Conferencia General otra vez! Y también la Reunión General de mujeres! Usualmente es sólo por la sociedad de socorro pero, esta vez, va a ser por todas las mujeres, a las mujeres jóvenes, y a las niñas de 8 años en adelante. Estoy muy emocionada!!!!!!! 

lds.org dice, "Se invita a todas las mujeres, a las mujeres jóvenes, y a las niñas de 8 años en adelante a participar en la Reunión General de Mujeres el sábado 29 de marzo de 2014 a las 18:00 h, hora de Salt Lake City." 

RESERVE LA FECHA!!!!

Hay un video que dice lo que yo piense de esta reunión: 

A Hidden Answer

Today, while studying, I remembered a letter from my mother where she felt she needed to share a talk with me on baptism. (Spiritual Power of our Baptism by Carol B. Thomas) At first, I was confused. I know what baptism means and the covenants (two way promises with God) associated with it. I teach it to complete strangers daily! Why did Mommy feel I needed this talk? I continued reading with that question but, nothing came to mind. It was a great talk but, I didn't feel it applied to me and my needs.

lds.org

Then, I got to a part about a girl from Chicago. That caught my attention. But, as I continued reading about short shorts and miniskirts, I once again began to question why I was reading this. After reading the end of her story,

I got my answer.

I had had to read almost the entire talk to find what I needed. Sometimes we have to go through times of patience to find the answers.

The answer for me was, "When we have to give up something that is a part of us, the blessings will pour in more than you can imagine."

How often are we asked to sacrifice something when we choose to follow God? It might be a habit, a way of life, friends, something that is bad for our health, whatever it is, when we give those things up, we are blessed.

As I reflected on this point, I was reminded of times in my life when I had to change to be better. It was always hard but, now, I see the blessings of those challenges. There are still things I personally need to work on but, I know, with God, I can be better.

You Can Change

Today, I was reading an old talk by Richard G. Scott, entitled, "Finding the Way Back." It talks about how we can come back unto God for help. I have heard many people say that "it's too late" or "God does not love me that much" when referring to problems they have. Scott says, "I need not define your specific problem to help you overcome it. It doesn't matter what it is. If it violates the commandments of the Lord, it comes from Satan, and the Lord can overcome all of Satan's influence through your application of righteous principles." We will all fall at times. We are not perfect. We are here to learn and be tested but, there is always a way back. If we are willing to try, we can be forgiven of our wrong doings.

my edited photo

Now, some may be saying "I've gone through too much and it is too hard" but, this is not true. Scott said, "Satan wants you to think that it is impossible. That is not true. The Savior gave His life so that you can completely overcome the challenges you face." Jesus Christ paid the price so we can be healed.

I have a friend that felt this way. I will not go into any sort of detail but, they felt they had fallen too far, too many times. It was hard to watch them suffer and struggle. I did not know what to tell them other than to just turn to God and keep having faith. After a lot of struggles, they finally had overcome this trial. From watching this friend struggle, I learned that God really never does give up on us. He will always love us, no matter what. If we are willing to try and be better and do what He asks, He will bless us.

Later, Scott said the following, "As you pray for help, the Lord will place in your path priesthood leaders who will counsel and friends who will give support if you'll let them. But remember, they can only help by your following the rules that Christ has set out for the journey. Any lasting improvement must come from your own determination to change."

I know God helps us change and helps us be better, no matter how small or large it is. Ether 12:27 teaches us, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness... for all men that humble themselves before me... and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I know that scripture to be true. I have seen it in my life and in the life of my friends and family. God answers prayers. He helps us change. He will make us better.

My Lifeline

Yesterday we had stake conference [several congregations gathered for church] and someone brought up a talk from an old apostle, James E. Faust. The talk is entitled "The Lifeline of Prayer." This morning, I read this talk and was blown away by several  quotes that I would like to share with all of you.

lds.org

The first is comparing prayer to things around us- "There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. There is no limit on the number of times or how long we can pray each day. There is no quota of how many needs we wish to pray for in each prayer. We do not need to go through secretaries or make an appointment to reach the throne of grace. He is reachable at any time and any place."

This reminds me that prayer is not something limited. We can always pray or have a prayer in our heart to talk with God. He wants to hear from us. All we need to do is talk to Him. It's like with a parent. A parent wants to hear from their children. So does God want to hear from us. "God knows our needs better than we can state them, but He wants us to approach Him in faith to ask for blessings, safety, and comfort."

Later, Faust shares a story of a little boy who was asked if he prayed. He said yes. When asked if he prayed in the morning, he said, "No...I ain't scared in the daytime." Faust went on to say, "Fear of the dark should not be our only motivation to pray- morning or night." How often do we think, "oh, I'm ok. I don't need to pray right now,"? We always need to be praying. In the scriptures, we are encouraged to pray always.

I hope all of us can remember that our Father in Heaven loves us so much and simply wants to hear from us. When we pray from our heart, we can feel the Holy Ghost and feel peace. In a world where things are super crazy, I know this is a way to find peace when it is hard to do so. I know it is how I have found peace and felt closer to God than any other way.

Time Sure Does Fly When We Try

Today... kind of... I hit the half way mark of my mission. As I reflect on all that happened in the past nine months, it is hard to believe how much I have grown and changed. Sure, I still have a long way to go but, it is great to look back and see the progress. In the Book of Mormon there is a book called Ether. In Ether chapter 12, verse 27, is a verse that has always meant a lot to me. It says...

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. 

I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; 

and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; 

for if they humble themselves before me, 

and have faith in me, 

then will I make things become strong unto them." 

(emphasis added)

As a summary, it is saying, if we come unto God, He will show us our weaknesses and if we are humble and have faith, God will make our weaknesses strong. 

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I know this to be true. I have mentioned before how I have a fear of speaking with people I do not know but, through having faith and trying, I have seen that become easier. I obviously have a long way to go but, little by little. When we trust in God, we can see miracles. And this can apply to anything. Any struggle we have, God can help us if we are willing to do it in His way and His timing. I love a quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell that says, 

"But our faith in God includes faith in God's timing, enough to be able to say, in effect, 'Thy timing  be done.'" 

How many more blessings we can receive when we turn everything over to the Lord and let Him help us. That is when life is for the best. It may not be easy but, it is always worth it. 

Got Confidence?

Alright- I have hinted this a little bit but, today I am going to talk a little bit about something I really struggle with-

I am extremely shy.

There you have it. I might be able to type a lot online but, it has always been extremely hard for me to talk to people, especially strangers. Obviously, that makes mission life difficult when you mostly only talk to people that are strangers. 

"Confidence" from my brother

Recently, however, I was re-reading a letter I received from my brother (who is now on a mission) from a few months ago. At the end of the letter he brought up one of his favorite topics (as many of his friends from high school would agree to) and that is-

confidence.

After sharing Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 that says, "Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven," my brother said that truly confident people:

1. Take a stand not because they think they are always right but because they are not afraid to be wrong

2. They listen 10x more than they speak

3. They freely ask for help

4. They don't put down other people

5. They only seek approval from the people who really matter. They only seek the Lord's approval, that's all that matters. 

As I was reading those points, it made me realize that I do not have to be super outgoing to be a super successful missionary but, just try my best to have confidence and rely on the Holy Ghost to lead and guide me. 

Everyone can have strength from God as long as you are willing  to try a little more to be a little better. 

Victory... Miracle of the Day

Awhile ago, I had a friend suggest looking for your "Victory of the Day" or something you accomplished every day. It is a great way to feel accomplished when sometimes things do not go the way we wanted. Maybe you did not get the laundry done, or did not finish that book you wanted to, or any number of things but, we can look for what we did do. Maybe we washed all the dishes in the sink or we took out some huge bush out of the yard, or maybe we simply sorted that laundry. I know when I look for the positive I feel better about my day and know, maybe I did not finish what I wanted to but, I did get done something else.

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Today, however, I would like to take that one step further. I would like to talk about looking for a "Miracle of the Day." Maybe there was a rainbow when we felt like no one was there to help. Maybe we found a scripture that answered our question. Maybe we heard from a friend that we thought we would never hear from again. Whatever it may be, it can help us see the hand of God in our life and help us draw closer to Him.

Around Christmas, we, as missionaries, were encouraged to do this. I decided "why not?" So, each night, I would write one miracle I had seen in my life and it made me really appreciate what I had. It helped me see, more clearly, that God loves me individually. I also was able to see how much he loved those around me one by one.

I can promise you, if you look for a "Miracle of the Day," you will see God's hand in your life and be more grateful for what you have. You will have more peace and feel the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, more, leading you through your path. God loves us so much and wants the best for us but, we need to show Him we want to follow His will. Just try it. Start tonight and reflect on when you saw God's hand in your life today.

The Answer Key

Today I would like to talk about one of my favorite books. It is, oddly enough, a nonfiction book. Usually my favorite books deal with fairies and dragons and adventure in a land far, far, away but, this one is different. It takes place in the America's many years ago. It begins in 600 B.C. and ends about 1000 years later. It tells the stories of war heroes and people who completely change their life around. It tells of families that leave their homes and enter ships without light because of a dream. It can be related to our day by the struggles people have with their families and friends, being picked on for their beliefs, or when people tell lies about another person.

What is this book you ask? I will tell you. It is...

The Book of Mormon:

Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Like the Bible, it has the words of prophets that testify of Jesus Christ and tell of their lives in a way we can relate to. It begins with a family in Jerusalem that, during the reign of Zedekiah (a king during the time that the Jews were carried into Babylon), leaves because the father, Lehi, has a dream of Jerusalem being destroyed for their wickedness. They travel in the wilderness with a set of scriptures and build a boat to carry them across the seas to the American Continent. There, they experience lots of hardships within their family which leads to two separate groups: the Nephites and the Lamanites. These two groups constantly switch sides of who is righteous (or the "good guys") and who is wicked (the "bad guys"). Much later, after Christ's death in Jerusalem, He comes to visit the Americas and teaches them His gospel and how they can be saved. These same teachings were taught while Christ was ministering among the Jews. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. However, like the Jews, there comes a time when people reject the teaching of Christ and many things are lost or corrupted but, prophets continued to write the truth that make up the pages of this book. And I won't spoil the ending. You will have to read it yourself and find out if you believe it is true!

Each time I read this book, it has a different story to tell. Before my mission, it was all about my family and related to that. Now, as a missionary, it is all about missionary work and the people I am teaching. The words do not change but, the meaning, and how you read them, changes every time. This book has touched my life numberless times and has helped me become who I am. I'd love to invite all of you to read it and look for how it can apply to you and how you can increase your relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. You can get a free copy here! 

Questions? Go above to my facebook page and shoot me a message or, you can comment below and I will try to help answer any questions the best I can. You can also go to mormon.org or lds.org for more answers. 

Family: A Forever Concept

What does your family mean to you? What is so great about families? Today, as a zone [area of the mission], we talked about The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Each time I read this document, something else stands out. There are so many answers to questions about hot topics in today's world. It tells us about where we came from, the role of the family, gender roles, and how we can find happiness in this life. It's not a super long document so, I would like to invite you all to read it and, to make it easier, here it is:

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WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of t he Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Chrsit of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

ALL HUMAN BEINGS- male and female- are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

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IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.


THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

WE DECLARE that means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and its importance in God's eternal plan.

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives- mothers and fathers- will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of live and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, father and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

my family

WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

-First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, read September 23rd, 1995

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I am so grateful for this document and the knowledge it gives me that my family is eternal. Even though I am in Ogden, Utah and my brother will soon be in Brazil, we will be united with our family again. There is a saying that says that missionaries are people who leave their family for a short time so that other families can be together forever. I know that families can be forever and that they are ordained of God. I know this document, although read in 1995, is applicable today. It was written by a prophet of God as revelation to help us. God does speak to His children today, through personal revelation and through prophets. If we heed their council, we will be blessed.