"Ask, And Ye Shall Find"

So, my little brother has this thing about Calvin and Hobbes. It's pretty adorable...I found this a few weeks ago, and I could not resist putting it up here! Love you, little man!

 

How many of you, both members of the church and not yet members, have ever passed a set of young men in suits, sweating it out on bikes? Or seen two girls in skirts walking down your street? How many of you have either run back inside your homes, or gone out to speak with us?

 

I love questions. I love asking them, and I love being asked them. As a missionary, I spend all of my time, talents, and interests on helping others find answers to their questions through the teachings of Jesus Christ, namely through the Book of Mormon. That book is something that I have mentioned here before, and I want to take a minute to explain a little more about what it is.

 

Many claim that we, as "Mormon's", use the Book of Mormon as our own Bible. However, by taking a peek at the introduction, we read that-

 

"The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel."

- Book of Mormon Introduction, paragraph 1

 

The Book of Mormon is another volume of scripture, preserved by the hand of God to be a second witness to the Bible. It is not meant to replace the Bible in any way. If we didn't have the Bible, we wouldn't have all of those incredible stories of Jesus Christ. Those accounts of the Savior are so precious, and are taken from eye witnesses of His earthly ministry. The job of the Book of Mormon is not to replace the Bible, but to testify of Christ right along side it. Again from the introduction, we read,

 

"The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the [American people] soon after His resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come."
- Book of Mormon Introduction, paragraph 3

 

In my current study, I am boxing how many times the names of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are mentioned. I've included a picture of some of those pages here. See all those boxes? Those are all the times it talks about our Redeemer, or God. How can I say now that this Book does not testify of Christ? How can I read it and not rejoice in he who is mighty to save? Reading the Book of Mormon, and then cross-referencing to the Bible, has increased my testimony of the divinity of Christ, and the reality of His ministry. It truly is a book that explains in plainness the teaching of Christ!

While I could tell you all day long (or in this case, you would have to read several pages...) how amazing the Book of Mormon is, you have to know for yourself. And you can. At the end of the Book of Mormon, we read a promise given by the last prophet, named Moroni. He implores that-

"...when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them...ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
- Moroni 10: 3-5 (Book of Mormon, page 529)
(http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng)

This book is a book with a promise. Moroni is saying that if we read this, and honestly desire to know of its truthfullness, we will recieve an answer. There is no if, ands, or buts about it. We are guarenteed the promise of an answer from God, and that immense promise was made from the lips and a true prophet. Moroni's promise will never fail us, but we may fail it if we do not earnestly ask for a witness of the Book of Mormon from our Heavenly Father. I know that this is true, because I have done it, and I cannot deny the feelings that I have as I read and as I talk to the father of my spirit. I promise you that if you have never asked, you can get an answer now. If you once knew and have forgotten, you can get an answer now. If you have strong faith and haven't thought to ask in a while, then ask for reassurance. It will be given to you, and it will become an anchor for your soul when hard times come. It has been a source of strength to me, and as I read, I feel the love of God in my heart. I plead with you to gain that witness for yourself! It will only bless and strengthen your life and testimony of the Savior of the world, the Son of the true and living God, even Jesus Christ.

The Great Identity Crisis!

Have you ever asked your mom or dad a question, and they call you every name in the book (including your dog's name), except for yours? That is a common occurrence in my house! Wouldn't it be nice to be remembered by someone all the time?

In the world today, it is easy to get lost in ourselves, and the world. There are so many ads, commercials, shows, magazines, and people of influence telling us that if we don't have something, we are nothing. The latest and greatest possessions become your identity. As a girl, I can definitely attest to the fact that the pressure is everywhere to conform to society in the way that one dresses, acts, speaks, and the things we possess. It can be hard to figure out who we really are, without those things.

Take a minute to think about these questions, posed in a talk given by Lawrence E. Corbridge in June of 2002,

  

"What kind of person will you become? By this I do not mean what role in life will you take. I don't mean will you be a cowboy, lawyer, surfer, homemaker, engineer, computer programmer, accountant or the like. I do not refer to what kind of car you will drive; what kind of clothes you will wear; what kind of house you will live in; what kind of spouse you will marry or what kind of family will you raise. I mean, when all of that is removed and there you stand alone, who will you be? I mean, you.What personality will you have; what strengths; what knowledge; what character; what emotional state; what presence; what qualities; what virtues? What will you look like? What will you sound like? What will it be like to be around you? Who will you be?"

(http://www.scribd.com/doc/34660140/The-Fourth-Missionary) 

We are children of God. In a talk given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf in October 2011, he said,

"This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God...we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation...And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it."

(http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng)  

There is so much more in store for us than what we own here. If we are faithful to the end, and-

 "... press forward with a steadfastness  in Christ, having a perfect brightness of  hope, and a love of God and of all men...if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

(http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31?lang=eng)

These are the blessings that are promised to us. We are children of God, each of us, and with that divine heritage, we are so much more than the finest set of jeans or the fastest car made. None of these possessions will follow us into the eternities. What will follow us will be our knowledge and, if treated right, our families. I know that as we work on our divine qualities, and strive to be like God, the very Father or our spirits, we will feel more fulfilled in our lives. We will have peace in the Savior's promise that,

 "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

(http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/13?lang=eng)

My challenge to you is to pick an attribute that you want to work on. Patience, kindness, happiness, love...those kinds of things. For a week, make a daily goal for yourself of how you want to increase in this attribute. We are spiritual beings sent here to have a mortal experience. These are all qualities that we already have, but that require more refinement during this time we have on earth. I promise that as you as you do this, people will notice a difference. You will be happier as you trust the Lord to help you change and become the person that He already knows we can be.

(https://www.lds.org/youth/video/christlike-attributes?lang=eng)

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!