See You Next Year...

Anyone want to tell me where 2013 went? So many things have happened...I suppose time flies by when your having fun, right?

 

With the closing of a new year, it is great cause for anyone to reflect on their lives. How they spent their time, where they spent it, and how to better use it. Time is the greatest tool God has given us. It's one of the few things we simply cannot get more of. I've felt that more and more as my mission has gone on. I am almost at my sixth month mission birthday, and sometimes it feels like I stepped off that airplane yesterday. What do we need to do to better use this God-given gift of time?
 

Ever heard of a New Year's resolution? It's that thing we make once a year, often as a very general goal, that is a struggle to get done. We think about how we want to better during the last few days of December, and then wake up on January 1st, and it becomes just another day. Now, I know that may not be the case of some of you, but for the most part, that's how it happens for me and many others!

 

Because of the Plan of Salvation that I explained a few posts ago, we have this process called repentance. Repentance means to change. It is the means by which we change our nature to be more like the Savior's. Some may think that repentance, or change, is scary or difficult. Repentance is another most beautiful gift that we have been given. Because of the mercy of our Heavenly Father, when we make the effort to change, we can be forgiven of our sins and mistakes, and never have to return to them. The guilt and shame we feel when we make mistakes can be taken away as we use the Atonement of Jesus Christ to repent and work on becoming who Heavenly Father knows that we can be. We can have the peace we seek in our lives as we include God and Jesus Christ in our journey to change.

 

Our New Year's resolution's are an opportunity to truly become different. The changes that we so desire to make don't have to fade as January 1st rapidly speeds to December 31st. We can become who we have always wanted to be! That can only happen in and through our Savior, Jesus Christ, and his atoning sacrifice. It can only happen as we repent and turn to God to give us support for the changes we want to make.

 

 

My challenge to you for the new year is to make a specific goal. I have never been good at making goals, but I have noticed that as I make very specific goals, I see very specific results in the areas that I wanted to. Make a goal to return to God. I've even found for you a lovely picture with lots of ideas that you can pull from! How helpful, right? =)

 

You CAN change. The atonement and repentance erases the word "can't" from everything. As you rely on and return to the Lord to help you, you can do all things. You can be the person you've always wanted to be through our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ!

The Good, The Better, And The Best!

 

First off, I have to apologize for my lack of posting. A lot has been happening, and we haven't been able to make it to a computer so that I can blog until today! I will try and be better about these things. =)

 

I can honestly say that Christmas day was my favorite day of the year!!! Part of the reason is because all of this holiday has been spent thinking of others; what do I need to do to help someone else be happy? There were so many hours of service that we were blessed to take part in, both facilitated by others and facilitated by my companion and I. To give and give and give, just like the Savior would...there is no better feeling. We also got to Skype with our families, and that is enough to make me float for days on end. My family is amazing...I had a really cute picture of my whole family, but I decided on this one instead. There is rarely a time where Savanna is actually looking at the camera, and it made me so happy to know that that hasn't changed =) I love you, Savanna!

 

 

So in our home, we live with two other Sisters. We decided that we wanted to combine all of our Christmas Eve traditions. In the end, we came up with the idea of doing a talent before you could open a present, opening one present early, and drinking some herbal tea while watching a movie. I tried to include a video of a talent that another Sister and I did together, but it wouldn't let me do the whole thing. So to make up for it, I've put up some bloopers, and a piece of the actual thing!

 

I love traditions, especially around this time of year. It brings families and friends close, and in the times when they are away, it brings them closer to your heart. It certainly helped me to feel near my family during my first Christmas without them actually with me. What kind of talents do you have that you do at any time during the year?

 

I listened to a talk recently, titled "Good, Better, Best". It was by an apostle named Dallin H. Oaks, and he spoke of what we do that is good, better, or best. I loved these words from him,

 

"Some of our most important choices concern family activities. Many breadwinners worry that their occupations leave too little time for their families. There is no easy formula for that contest of priorities. However, I have never known of a man who looked back on his working life and said, “I just didn’t spend enough time with my job."...Some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families."

(http://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/11/good-better-best)

 

 

My most fond memories are of times we spend as a family that bring not only us closer together, but brought us together towards Christ. Reading the Christmas story of Christmas Eve, for instance. It always reminded me, as excited as I was to open the very enticing and very neatly wrapped gifts, that Christ is the true gift of Christmas. What did you do with your family this year that brought you closer to Christ? What are some traditions that you did before that you don't do now, that might help you with that?

 

May we live by a motto told to me in the MTC by my Branch President-

 

 

"There's good, better, best, but don't let it rest till your good becomes better, and your better becomes best!"

 

 

Remembering this has blessed me to think of what I am doing that is good, but could always be better, and what is better that can be pushed to become my best. As we think about what we do to spend time as a family, never forget that it is the little things that mean most. Read scriptures together, eat dinner as a family and talk about what miracles you saw that day, or spend some time with each individual just taking the time to truly talk with them. It meant the world to me when my family would do that. Let's all be a little better about strengthening our family relationships through traditions that strengthen our faith in each other and in our Savior!

 

To Forgive Is To Forget.

One word to sum up the past few days. Happy =)

 

We've done so much service this week; it has been fantastic! Earlier in the week, we got to help dip cute little coconut candies in chocolate. The chocolate was probably more on us than it was on the actual candy! We had a blast jamming to classic Christmas songs, and wiping chocolate on each other's elbows (because it's the only place you can't lick it off...).

 

Then today, we helped another family wash their windows while a bunch of young men did cooking for a scout badge. We even ate the food...and didn't die. So we would say it was pretty good =) Great job, boys! Afterwards, we threw a football around, and as we drove away, we made the boys work off all that food by pushing our car. Free service, free ride, and free food...does life get much better than being a missionary! I say, no sir!

 

Christmas lights every night will never get boring. We see miracles every night, both big and small ones. If I could pause everything and just spend every single night talking to people about Jesus Christ under the shadow of the temple, I would. This has been something that has really brought me a fullness of joy.

 

What does Christmas mean to you? The more time I spend here, the more I realize how central Christ is to the plan our Father in Heaven has for us. Without him, we wouldn't have anything. There would be no point coming to earth because, without a Savior, we would fail. We would have no way to cleanse ourselves of mistakes and sin to make it back to God's presence. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father, for blessing us with the greatest gift anyone could ever give, the powerful gift of forgiveness.

 

Are we forgiving others? Are we even forgiving ourselves? Today, I encourage you to start the process of forgiving yourself. As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said,

 

"...many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself...Our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in that journey."

(http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2011/09/forget-me-not)

 

It's not easy, I know. But I also know that as we use the gift of the Atonement in our lives, by applying forgiveness to ourselves, we will feel more love and respect for ourselves. We will feel how much God loves and respects us. I know that forgiveness is a gift that comes from the sacrifice of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful for this time of year to focus on Him and the wondrous gift that is given to us!

 

 

I Love The Little Things!

 Just a few days ago, a lovely member came by and gave us a Christmas tree so that my companion, the two other sisters we live with, and I could enjoy our first Christmas away from home. We put it up during our lunch hour yesterday =) Doesn't it just look amazing? I think the best part about it is the love that came with it. It glows with the love that comes from service. After all, when we serve other people, aren't we serving God?

 

I am loving working at the Christmas lights.  We see so many miracles every night. Seeing Christmas lights in general always make me happy. They mean more in the month of December than at any time of the year. They are there to remind us of the light that Christ is in our lives. He himself has said-

 

 

"...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

(John 8:12)

 

How has Christ been a light in your life? How has following his example and striving after his teachings blessed you with light? For me, I know that without the light of Christ in my life, I would be lost with no direction. I would encourage you to think about your relationship with your Savior, and what you could do to strengthen it even more. Whether it be praying more often or being more dedicated in your studying, I know that we can never be too close to Him. May we each strive to have the blessing of the light of Christ more in our lives!

 

 



"Suffer The Little Children"

We had our first shift for Christmas lights last night, and all I have to say is WOW. What an amazing experience. My companion and I covered the area around the shepherds camp, and there were so many people. Some were anxious to talk to us, and others weren't interested in the least. There were a ton of families that we met visiting from several different places. I was in awe the whole night of the spirit of Christmas and the power it has already to bring people together.

 

I really enjoyed talking to the kids. I spent a lot of time on my knees next to them, pointing at the sheep and explaining why the shepherds were important. At one point, I had about 5 kids all around me, asking me questions about whether or not the sheep could walk, or explaining why Christmas was important to them. I told them that the shepherds were the first person to know about Christ's birth, and as I finished explaining, one of the kids popped his head up from the back and asked, "Is that why Christmas is so important?!"

 

Without hesitation, I agreed. A few minutes later, after the other kids had gone to be with their parents, one of the girls stayed behind to keep talking with me. She asked me about my Book of Mormon, and I explained to her what the Book of Mormon and the Bible were. She went on to tell me all about losing her teeth (random, but kids can only pay so much attention), and then told me that her favorite part of Christmas was the candy and getting presents. The rest of our conversation went something like this...

 

Me- "Did you know that God gave you a gift?"

 

Girl-"...God gave me a gift? What is it?!"

 

Me- "He gave you your family!"

 

Girl- (in wonder) "...God gave me my family?"

 

Me- "Yeah, He did! And did you know he gave you another gift, too?

 

Girl- "He gave me something else? What is it?!"

 

Me- "He gave all of us Jesus Christ!"

 

Girl- (again in wonder) "He gave Jesus Christ...to me?"

 

Me- (by this time, I'm choking back my tears) "Yes, He gave you his son so that you could come back to him someday!"

 

After that, she had to run to catch up to her family. I'm not sure she'll ever know how much she touched my heart. I love children. They are so close to heaven, and for good reason. They were there not to long ago. I've posted a video here about Christ and his love for children. As you watch this, look for how happy it makes Christ to be around the children. Think of ways that you can help your own children understand why Christmas truly is important. God has given us the greatest gift of all, and I am so grateful for the chance to be reminded of it every single day!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Happy post-thanksgiving! Did everyone have a good time? I know we did! Thank you to all the lovely families who had us over for food, games, and more food. I feel so blessed to be serving you!

 

 

I think one of the greatest blessings of serving in the mission that I am, is that Christmas time starts over a month in advance for us. =D The Mesa temple has a tradition going on 34 years now of a Christmas lights display during the end of November and all the way through December. All the sister missionaries will be on the grounds during the whole duration of the lights. We begin our first official shift tonight!!! I am so excited. This has been something that we have been preparing for for a while now, and I am really excited to be taking part in something that will touch so many lives.

 

This morning, I was reading Luke, chapter two. I love the story of my Savior's birth! The one thing that really stuck out to me as I read this account was the shepherds. How special they are! I know that in one point in my life, I wondered why, of all people, the shepherds were almost the first people to hear of the birth of the Savior. As I have thought more about that, I am struck by their humble circumstances. I am sure that being a shepherd was not the cleanest job, and probably not the employment that was most sought after. They traveled a lot, and lived out of simple tents and lowly camps. During Jesus Christ's ministry, he taught us over and over again that we needed to be humble. He himself is even compared to being a shepherd, watching over his tender sheep (or followers). I believe that the shepherds in that field were first because they were humble, and were willing to listen. After hearing the message, they made no hesitation to seek this Jesus. Even after witnessing him themselves, they labored immediately to go and tell others of the news. We can learn from those humble, simple workers the importance of being humble and willing to listen to the Lord.

 

Being humble is not easy, but I know that as we continually pray to our Heavenly Father for help to accept His will, He will bless us in our efforts to obtain the gift of humility. Today, think about what it would take for you to be willing and ready to accept such news of Christ. I promise that as we become a more humble people, and work to do everything that the Father would have us do, we will be more prepared to accept and act upon the teachings of Jesus Christ.

You're Only A Day Away...

Thanksgiving is just around the corner!!! Who's excited!? ME! It also means that Christmas is coming up super quick. The other day, I decided to wear red, white, and black, and I felt all festive...a few weeks early, but one can have fun =)
 

I've been thinking a lot lately about how important it is to be grateful. We know that even Christ himself expressed gratitude to his Heavenly Father. I love the gratitude He felt just before raising Lazarus from the dead-

 

 "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me."

(St John 11:41. Click the link to read the full story. http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/11.1?lang=eng#1)

 

There are so many things that I am grateful for, but the number one thing on my gratitude list is my Savior. I am in awe that the love Heavenly Father has for me is so great, that he would send his only son here to give everything, including his own life, to provide a way to come to live in the presence of God again. I am grateful to know that in the moments where I don't think anyone would understand me, someone does. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I have been so blessed to have this knowledge in my life!

 

What if all you had tomorrow is what you were thankful for today? Thanksgiving is a holiday that we only have once a year, but gratitude is a universal concept that transcends normal holidays. Be grateful year round! Tell people how grateful you are for them! Tell your Heavenly Father what your grateful for! My challenge to you today is to just say a prayer of gratitude tonight. Tell Him what you are thankful for. Tell Him what makes you happy, and thank Him for those things. It's something I have been trying to apply more, and I have seen my eyes be open to so many more blessings as I have been thankful to my God. I know that the same can happen for you! =)

Long Time, No See...

I feel awful for not posting in a while...life is so crazy! I'm just starting my fourth transfer, and I'm really thinking it is going by too fast. Not a moment to lose!

We've only got about one more week until Thanksgiving. Where has this year gone?! I am so grateful for time. It is one of the most precious tools the Lord has given us. When a moment is gone, it truly is gone. Being on my mission has really taught me how precious time is. Use it wisely!

This transfer is going to be amazing. While it is not only Thanksgiving next week, and the skyping with family at the end of December (wahoo!), there is also Christmas lights coming up! My companion and I, along with all the other Sister Missionaries in the field went to the Mesa Temple Visitor Center this morning to finish our training for the Christmas lights. We are privileged to be able to be on the grounds during the whole duration of the Christmas Lights! I cannot even begin to tell ya'll how excited I am!!! We will be there every night to talk to people and share the joy of Christ's birth. What could be better?

After we were done with training, we got to see all the nativities from around the world that are displayed inside the Visitor Center. There was a nativity from Scotland, and I thought for sure that the wise men would be wearing kilts =) Another one was from Ireland, and it made me feel fairly close to my family (my dad served his own mission there).

There was a painting there that really stood out to me. It depicted the Hark Angels singing the joyful news of Christ's birth. All of them are women. All my life, I have always wondered where I was when Christ was born. Was I rejoicing in heaven? Was I one of the angels spoken of in the Bible that sang the news to the world? Might I have even been in a group like the painting showed? As I looked at that painting and pondered that question, I began to feel such a sweet, peaceful feeling that moved me to tears. I felt how important a moment Christ's birth was to the world, and how important it still is to us today. I have never understood the importance of Christmas like I do right now. It is all about the Savior finally coming after years and years of prophecies from ancient prophets. He had finally made it! Not only was He born that night, but the hope for a brighter future, or returning to live with our Heavenly Father, was born as well.

I know that my Savior lives. He was born in such humble circumstances, and lived a life that was pure and clean. I love this time of year so much! As we approach Thanksgiving, I encourage you to combine the two holidays together just a little bit. As you prepare that Thanksgiving meal that is such a special tradition, be thinking of why you are grateful for Jesus Christ. Why is having a personal relationship with him important to you? As you begin with Christ and are thankful for Him first, your gratitude for everything else around you will increase. You will grow a greater desire to grow closer to Him. As you are grateful for Christ and his coming, I promise that you will be able to feel his appreciation for you, too!

Gratitude Attitude!

You know how you just have those days were you wake up and just feel like it's going to be a good day? Today is definitely one of those days for me!

 

I didn't realize until just a few days ago that everyone on Facebook has been posting about the things that they are grateful for! So I figured that I would just talk about a few things that I am so grateful for. My list is long, so I'll have to spread this out over the next few days...

I am so grateful for my family.

 If you haven't gathered from some of my last posts, my family is the best thing in my life. I love each of them so much. We may not have gotten along all the time, but no matter what menial bickering we've had, I have and will always love them. They come first in my life. We always have so much fun together, from Friday night pizzas, speaking fluent movie quotes, and random nerf gun wars. I know that we were sent to earth to have a family, and that if it is treated with the right love and respect, our families can become our greatest source of joy. It's sure where I have found my joy! In The Family: A Proclamation To the World, we read that,


"The family is ordained of God...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."
(http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation)


My challenge for you today would be when you sit down to have dinner, or any time where you are around someone in your family, just tell them one reason why you are grateful for them. If you don't live close to family, give them a phone call! It will still make them feel good! I promise that if you do that, you will find it easier to love one another and your whole family will grow in unity.

 

Slow And Steady!

I have an update on my Forget Me Not's! They are finally tall enough to see over the rim of the pot =)

 

I like to say that my kids are turning into teenagers =) Not going to lie though, I haven't been very patient in this whole process. I've learned that a watched plant doesn't grow...which is unfortunate when you are so excited for them to really start going!

 

I imagine that's how a lot of us feel about ourselves. We want to be perfect NOW. Why can't we be good at this one thing NOW? I am really hard on myself, and not very patient when I don't do something perfectly every time. But I've learned from helping my little flowers that all good things come with time. If we want Heavenly Father to help us, then we need to be patient with ourselves so that our frustration doesn't stop us from hearing the Holy Spirit. He wants to help us be better, and we need to understand that perfection takes time. If we were all perfect right NOW, what fun would that be? There wouldn't be any diversity between us, and no progression because we could already do everything. If everyone were perfect right NOW, then that would be rather boring! The Lord promises us that He will make out weaknesses strengths. We need to have faith in that promise as we take our own timely steps on the road to perfection.

 

 

This is something I need to work on. Oh, I have an idea! How about I promise to be more patient with myself, and you promise the same thing, and we work on it together!? Sound like a plan? =) Things like this are so much easier to work on when you don't do it alone. Make goals for yourself every week so that you can keep track of your progress, and don't stress if you aren't perfect at it by the end of the week. You've made progress, and that's all that matters! I know that as we do this together, we will be happier and more content in what we are doing now to become better in the future. Slow and steady will be what helps us win the race of life!

Happily Ever After.

Today is going to be a little difficult for me to put into words, because of how special it has and will forever be for me. First off, I know that God is really looking out for me. I got to go to the temple this morning. Today also happens to be my little brother's birthday! Happy birthday, little man =) It was such a blessing because the temple is where my family all got started. And, because of the temple, I know it never has to end.

One thing I really want to touch on is the plan God has for all of us. Throughout the Bible, we read about prophets (men called of God to lead his people here on earth through the Priesthood, or the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ) who taught about the plan God has given us. It is referred to as the Plan of Salvation, or my personal favorite, the Plan of Happiness.

It all starts before this life. We lived in heaven as spirit children of our Heavenly Father. We lived with him, and grew and learned until we couldn't grow and learn anymore. We had progressed as far as we could while we lived in heaven with Him. Heavenly Father is a perfect father, and because He loves us perfectly, he wants us to have everything that He has. That couldn't happen if we just continued to live in his presence as spirits. So, He created a plan for us to become greater than we already were. It involved coming to a special place that he would create for us (this earth) and gaining a body. We would be able to have our own families, and go through trials and tests that would make us a better version of ourselves. We would come here to have joy! We would be spiritual beings sent to have a mortal experience. He gave us the choice to either accept this plan or not. We know that we accepted this plan, because we are here now!

Adam and Eve were the first people on the earth. They were commanded by God to multiply and replenish the earth- to have families. They were also told not to eat the fruit of a certain tree, but given the ability to choose if they would eat it or not.

"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

-Moses 3:17 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/3.17?lang=eng#16)

 Lots of people think that Eve made a mistake by partaking of the fruit of the Tree Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil. In reality, if she hadn't of made that choice, we wouldn't be here! A prophet in the Book of Mormon, Nephi, explained it this way- 

 "And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was inticed by the one or the other...and now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end...and they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin...Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy."

(http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2?lang=eng)

We are here to be happy! We have the ability to make choices, and by the choices we make, we show God how much we love him. He blesses us on earth with guidance from people like the prophet and our parents to help us make the right choices.

After Adam and Eve had made the first mistake, we needed a way to return to God. Since sin cannot be in the presence of God, we needed a way to be washed from it. That is where Jesus Christ comes in. He is the Son of God, and the only person capable to take upon our sins and make it possible to be clean. While he was on the earth, he performed the Atonement. The Atonement defines his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, right before Judas betrayed him. He took upon himself not only our sins and faults, but anything we have ever felt in our lives. Any pain, any guilt, any sickness, any sorrows...anything. Having a knowledge of this has blessed my life so much because it means that someone understands me perfectly. Jesus Christ did that so that when I knelt to pray, he would know perfectly how to help me, because he has already overcome it. Another act that Christ performed was the Resurrection, where he rose again after laying in his tomb for three
days. This act makes it possible for us too to live again.

An essential part of the Plan of Salvation is death. Without it, we could not return to God's presence. It is not something easy to deal with. A year ago today, a friend of mine passed away. It has been tough, but because of this plan, I know that he is in a place of resting. Alma, another Book of Mormon prophet, spoke about what takes place between death and the Resurrection-

"Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." 

(http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/40?lang=eng)

We will rest from all of our mortal cares in a place called the Spirit World until the time of judgment. We will then be judged according to what we did in this life, and what choices we made in accordance with God's commandments. After we are judged, we will be rewarded according to our works and desires. One of those rewards is living with God forever, with our families in eternal happiness.

I have such a testimony of this plan. It has brought me such peace to know where I come from, why I'm here, and where I am going. In order to receive the highest blessings, we need to keep God's commandments. Happiness can't be found outside the Plan of Happiness. I know that God loves us and won't ask us to do anything unless He provides a possible way to do it. I love my Savior and my God, and I know that someday I will live with Him and my family forever. Life doesn't end here. And it can only get better =) I testify that this plan is real, and that it gives us all we need to make it back to live with God.

Has Anyone Told You That You Are Amazing?

Has anyone told you today that you are great!? Well, if not, I would love to! You are fantastic! Don't ever forget that God loves you and thinks that you are wonderful, too =)

I love nature. Before my mission, I loved to take pictures of the little things. The beauty in flowers is something I especially love. I would sketch them, take pictures of them, paint them, use pastels...you name it!

Take a look at these flowers for a second. Look at the detail that went into this plant. Everything from the color blend, to the veins in the petals, the strength of the stalk, and the seeds in the center must have taken time to imagine and make. We know that God created everything that is on this earth. That, my friends, includes us! If He took an incredible amount of time and energy creating a single flower petal, think of how much consideration went into you! I don't know about you, but thinking of it that way makes me feel pretty special...

 

 

I want you all to understand how important you are. Heavenly Father had you in mind before this life, and He has you in mind now. I know that God created everything on this earth, and that he created you and I! He loves you just the way you are. If He didn't, He would have made you different. =) He puts us through tests and trials not to change us, but to create us into a better version of ourselves. He sees us as a blossoming Lily or stunning, simple Daisy. He wants us to see ourselves that way, too.

 

I promise you that he loves you. He knows you by name because He made you. I know we lived with him before this life, and that we are here now to prepare to see Him again. Do all you can to know the potential that God sees in you, and strive to do your best to live up to it every day! We are blessed as we work on becoming who God knows we can be.

Movin' Right Along!

Ok, so the title of my rant today is a quote from The Muppet Movie (the older one, not the newer one). Fozzie and Kermit are drivin' along and singin' a song about fulfilling their dreams. What I love about the song is that it is all about moving forward!

 

Today, or mission did some movin' right along of our own. We have just become the seventh mission to receive materials for online proselyting! The use of iPads and Facebook for the spreading of the word of God online has just been made mission wide. This is such a hastening of the Lord's work in these days. This makes it possible to touch the hearts of people around the world, and to be telling them about how much God loves them without having to be there in person to knock on their door. This is a fulfilling of the Lord's dream to tell the entire world of the love He has for them!

This is the link to a broadcast that was made about the use of technology in our missionary efforts (http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast). I am so grateful to be part of this work of God. I know that He has had a hand in everything this whole time, and I feel honored to be a missionary at a time of such incredible miracles. I know that this use of technology for the better is inspired of God, and that it will help people everywhere to know Heavenly Father and their Savior, Jesus Christ!

I would encourage everyone who reads this to look at the way you are using the blessing of technology. On your own Facebook or blog, make it a goal to post something inspirational each week. It doesn't even have to be "churchy", just something that will uplift another who might read it. God has blessed us with this gift, and we need to be using it to help those around us. I know that if you make this a goal, you will be happier, because you are serving others. You may not be physically telling someone "hey, don't forget to smile today!", but through a simple post, you can inspire whoever reads it. You never know who's day it might brighten! =)

Fear and Faith

This week, I've decided that I really want to study faith. I was reading all the scriptures that had anything to do with faith, and I read the story of the apostles at sea with Christ (Mark 4 :36-41..... http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/4?lang=eng)  Think about what it must have been like being in a boat with everything going crazy & flooding. It would have been scary, right? Well, the apostles thought the same thing! I can imagine them just being frightened out of their minds! One of them even asks the napping Christ if he cares that they are going to drown.

I love what Jesus does next. He commands the winds and the waves to be still, and then turns to his apostles and asks where their faith is. In a way, he is also commanding them to be still. From his two simple questions, we learn that fear and faith cannot coexist. They are total opposites, and you can't have both at the same time. It is like having a candle in a dark room. The light from the candle will always prevail over the blackness surrounding it. Faith is and always will be stronger than fear.

As a missionary, I have a lot of things I can be afraid of. At the beginning of my mission, I was super worried about what to say to people when they opened their doors. I thought about the rejection and scorn that might come from talking to random people. At one point, I just had to be still just like those waves and remember that God is in control.  As I have learned to trust my Heavenly Father and really rely on my Savior, my faith has increased. I don't fear what might happen, but look forward to what will happen if I continue to depend on Jesus Christ for strength. I know that the Lord loves me, and there are so many blessings in store for us as we show our dedication to him. Increase your own faith by praying often and asking Heavenly Father for help. He wants to help us trust him, and sometimes he is just waiting for us to ask. As you apply the principle of prayer for faith into your life, you will see a change. You will learn to trust God, and you will have the blessing of strong and sure faith in the Savior!

Service Day

Today has been such a good day already! Sister Clark and I got to go do service for the community this morning, and it has done miracles for my mood. Lately I have struggled keeping a positive attitude all the time. I think it's because I have forgotten the reason why I am here in the first place. I am here to serve, and in serving others, I am happy! In The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a prophet names Benjamin talks about service. He wisely says-

 "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2: 17, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/2?lang=eng)

When we serve the people around us, we are serving our Heavenly Father because we are doing what He would do if He were there. He blesses us with happiness as we serve. All He wants is for us to be happy! That is the reason we are here on this earth. We are here to experience joy! =)

That is why I am here. That is why I gave up everything for the next year and a half to be a missionary. I did it because I want to serve just like my Savior did, and continues to do. I am here to help lift others, to comfort those that need it, and to help them find eternal happiness. I am here to be happy through service =) I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for that little hole to heaven that I needed. He knows me better than I know myself, and I am grateful that he opened my eyes to that again today.

Find a way to serve this week. Look for chances, pray for opportunities, and I promise you will be lead to them. If you are sad or feeling overwhelmed, go do something for someone else today. Go and serve, and allow the Lord to bless you with full and complete happiness in your life!

Forget Me Not!

A few weeks ago, a member gave us a hand out from a meeting that she didn't want. It was a kit to grow little Forget-me-not flowers all by yourself! I planted them a few days ago, and they just started to sprout!

 

Needless to say, I'm just a tad bit excited. =) The hand out was based on a talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a modern day apostle of God. In his talk, titled Forget Me Not, he starts by introducing this small flower.

"It does not attract immediate attention; it is easy to overlook among larger and more vibrant flowers; yet it is just as beautiful, with its rich color that mirrors that of the bluest skies—perhaps this is one reason why I like it so much. And there is the haunting plea of its name. There is a German legend that just as God had finished naming all the plants, one was left unnamed. A tiny voice spoke out, “Forget me not, O Lord!” And God replied that this would be its name."

 

He then goes on to compare the five petals of the flower to five things we always need to remember.

 

1. Forget not to be patient with yourself.

2. Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.

3. Forget not to be happy now.

4. Forget not the "why" of the gospel (or why we live the lives we do as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

5. Forget not that the Lord loves you.

 

 

I love this talk! It defiantly reminds me of all the little holes of heaven that I can't afford to forget to see. I would encourage you to listen to this talk! And please forget not how much you are loved from on high =) Keep looking for your individual holes to heaven each day. I promise that as you do, you will be happier and more positive! It's worked in my life, and I promise it will work in yours =) Have a fantastic day!

 



Temple Announcment!

Just a few days ago, a new announcement was made for the Gilbert, Arizona temple open house! It is the largest temple to be built in 17 years. It just goes to show how the Lord is hastening his work for everyone!

I love the temple!!! Temples are sacred buildings, dedicated to the Lord as his house here on the earth. Inside, we receive beautiful blessings from God, and are strengthened and uplifted by his Spirit. The temple ordinances are not secret, but sacred. The open house is such a great time to be able to go inside and see the special rooms, and get a taste for the Holy Spirit that is already there. Here is the official announcement with dates and such. Please visit this website and make plans to attend this special occasion! =)
 

(http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/public-invited-tour-gilbert-arizona-temple)

One of the many things I love about the temple (and trust me, there are so many) is the sealing of families for time and all eternity. Families don't have to end here! We can be with the people we love the most forever! This is possible through the power of the Priesthood. The Priesthood is the authority given to man to use God's power here on earth. Through the power of God, we have been blessed with the ability to bind on earth that which is bound in heaven. Because God loves us and has given us this power today, we can be with our families after this life. Because my parents were sealed in the temple, I know that I will get to be with my family through the eternities.

The Planning Day Crazies...

So, every Friday, we devote the whole day for planning for the upcoming week. In my opinion, this is one of the best days of the week! We get a chance to pray for everyone we are seeing individually, and then setting up plans for them based on the direction of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, we don't even recognize when we are being prompted to put in a name in a specific time until later in the week. I can't tell you how many times we put someone in, and it ends up being the only time they can see us that week. Planning day is such a miracle =)

At times, it can also become one of the funnier days in the week. We all get something I like to call the "planning day crazies". It comes from spending hours indoors with lots of strenuous thinking. Well, this Friday, my companion Sister Clark and I had the crazies pretty bad. We decided to take a break by taking random pictures.

 We really are crazy =)

 

Today we are going on something called exchanges. It is where another missionary from another area gets to come out with us for the day. I love exchanges, because it helps me to get advice from an outside source. I am hoping that our exchanges will help me come up with better ideas of how I can be a better trainer and example to the other missionaries around me. People will always remember what we do. While I am here, I am wearing the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, on my chest. I want to do everything I can to represent Him in the best way that I can. I am growing so much every day, and I know that it is because I am making more of an effort to become more like Him. I know that true happiness can come as we strive to live a higher standard of living that is taught to us by Jesus Christ. I have never been happier in my life than I have been while on my mission. All of the hardships and trials we face are so worth it, if it means my Heavenly Father is making me into a better version of myself. Planning day crazies and all =)

 

John 14:27

My dad's birthday was just a few days ago! Happy birthday, dad! My family means the world to me. Oddly enough, I would say that being here on my mission has brought me closer to them than I have ever been before. I only get to talk to them over email on Mondays, but my experiences out here have made me really appreciate my family more, and helped me to develop a greater love for them.

I imagine that is how God feels about us. We know that God is more than just some all powerful being who watches what we do. He is the father of our spirits! That makes us his children. How cool is that?! The greatest being in existence who created everything around us is our Father! And, because He is perfect, his love for us is perfect. I can think of no better way to put it than how our modern-day prophet, Thomas S. Monson puts it. He said-

 "...your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there."

(http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2013/09/we-never-walk-alone?lang=eng)

I had an experience with this some years ago. At one point during my sophomore or junior year of high school (it's all a blur to me), nothing was going right. I felt really upset, but tried really hard to make everyone else think I was ok. Well, one night I went to hang out with some friends, and I was just struggling. I eventually walked out, and sat in my car and cried. My friend noticed I was missing, and came out and sat with me. I told her about everything that was going wrong, and how alone I felt. She then gave me some advice about being a child of God that I have never forgotten.

1. You will always have somewhere to go. Whether it be crying out in prayer, visiting a church building, or walking around temple grounds, we will always have somewhere to go to be with him. He truly hears us as we pray, and He wants to pour out such rich blessings on us. Our Heavenly Father will never leave us here to wander by ourselves.

2. You will never be alone. We were not put here on this earth to be alone. Heavenly Father's greatest joy comes from us, his family. He wants us to be just as happy as He is, so He has blessed us with our very own families. If your family isn't a source of joy for you in one way or another, than He places other people in our life to help us along the way. Best of all, our Savior, Jesus Christ, has already traveled the path we must walk here on earth. He knows how to overcome anything. In our moments of greatest struggle, our Savior and Redeemer is the closest person to us. continually offering support and encouragement. No matter how alone we feel, we will never truly be left to struggle by ourselves.

3. You will always be loved. Think about this for a minute. The most powerful being in all the universe, who made the stars and heavens, knows you. The God of all, the creator of everything that is beautiful, knows you. How? Because you are his child. He knows each of us because we lived and grew at his feet in heaven. He sees us as beautiful sons and daughters, destined for a glorious future he has prepared for us. I promise you that He loves you. He loves you enough to give his Son, our brother Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice so that we could return to him. He wants us to come home!

No matter where you are, what you are doing, and where you are headed now, you can feel of your Heavenly Father's love for you. Pray to him, and ask to feel it in your life. I promise you that you can trust him, and that He is always there for you. You can go to Him in prayer. You don't have to do things alone. And, most importantly, you are loved!

The Power of Our Prayers

So I had a really cool experience yesterday. It is always amazing to me how much God knows me more than I know myself. We received a call yesterday making some changes to our area that threw my companion and I for a loop. I struggled most of the day, because it changed all of our previous plans, and I had been pretty set on those plans. I thought I knew what we were supposed to do. Well, when we had some personal time, I got down on my knees and just started to pray out loud. I just talked to my father in heaven, and told him why I was struggling and how conflicted I was. I told him I was confused, and a little scared, and that I needed His help to accept what he was asking us to do. As soon as I was done, I just continued to sit on my knees for a minute. I didn't feel right away that everything was going to be ok, but as I got up and started to act, I felt a sense of peace at the end of the day.

In a talk given by Richard G. Scott, an apostle of God, he talks about prayer and how important it is to us. He says;

 "Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires you to exercise faith in our Father’s capacity to respond. While sometimes it’s very hard, it results in significant personal growth. He will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer them. However, His answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence, you should find periods of quiet time to recognize when you are being instructed and strengthened. His pattern causes you to grow."

(http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/using-the-supernal-gift-of-prayer?lang=eng)

I know that prayer works. It is a hole to heaven that is always open to everyone at all times. No matter how we feel, or what we are going through, we really can talk to our creator in prayer. He hears us! He is listening, and wants to answer you! I would encourage you to get down on your knees and ask him if He is there. Tell him how you feel, and what you need. It may feel a little awkward at first, but the whole point is that you talk to Him. He is pleased and overjoyed as we include Him in our lives. Sometimes, all He is waiting for is for us to ask. I know that if you start to include prayer in your life more, you will feel a difference. You will feel happier, and more confidence in the choices you are making. Please include Him in your life. He will bless you for it in more ways than you can ever imagine! =)

Please take the time to read/listen to it! It is to simply explained about what prayer is, and how to recognize answers. Feel free to comment and ask me questions if you have any! Have a beautiful day!