Hope for the Hopeless

Just a great message of hope. We all need a little boost every now and again to help us get out of ruts that we find ourselves in. There are times when we stray from the course that we know we should be on, or times when we feel alone and that everyone around us has left us. There are times when we have a close friend or family member die, or when we have been overcome with an addiction. The best thing is that there is a hope that is always there. The good shepherd Jesus Christ is waiting to provide that hope. As it says in the scriptures "His hand is stretched out still" and "He sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them". No matter what we have done or where we are there is hope that through Jesus Christ we can end up back into His loving arms and arrive with the faithful into the arms of God the Father. I am so grateful for my Father in Heaven who sent His son to suffer and die for me that I may have this hope and that all may experience it for themselves.



To learn more visit http://www.mormon.org/

God Lives!

There are certain verses of scripture that seem to stick to us for one reason or another. A phrase that has stuck with me almost since the first time I read it was "all things denote there is a God" it continues by saying that the earth and everything on it as well as all the planets "do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." I have loved nature. It is a testimony to me that truly God lives. This is His handiwork. This is not a product of random chance. I enjoy taking time and thinking of things that help me see that God is indeed real. I encourage all to do the same. Whether its the beauty of this world or some other blessing in your life find the things that personally help you know that God lives.

To learn more go to http://www.mormon.org/

The Power of Choice

There has been something on my heart lately that I feel I need to share. It is something that is simple and yet it is something that is not understood by many. It is what we refer to as agency. Agency is a gift from God that allows us to choose for ourselves in all things. By this gift we can choose who we will become. It goes so far that we can choose where we end up when all is said and done. God's gift of agency is a perfect example of His love for each of us. We can all make choices that will bring us closer to our Father in Heaven and we can even make the choices that will bring about endless happiness in the presence of God. I am so grateful for this wonderful gift. There are those out there who find it hard sometimes to accept, especially when we find that all around us is negativity and nightmares becoming reality. Indeed as I have mentioned before in my blog bad things happen to good people, but it is also true that what we seek for we shall find.

 

The prophet Lehi taught, "Wherefore, men are ^afree according to the ^bflesh; and ^call things are ^dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to ^echoose ^fliberty and eternal ^glife, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be ^hmiserable like unto himself." From this I know that in the end where I am is where I chose to go, and who I am is who I chose to be. The power of choice when truly understood will change the very way we make decisions. I love this gift called agency and I love my Heavenly Father for allowing all people everywhere to choose for themselves what will be.

 

To learn more go to http://www.mormon.org/

Even in the Hard Times

The question often asked inside of our minds is why does God allow this to happen to me? Why doesn't God take this away from me? Often times we ask ourselves these questions when we have lost a loved one or when we see all the trouble and natural disasters going on in the world. Indeed these times are difficult for anyone to go through and my sympathy and heart goes out to them, but there is a hope that shines through even in these times. God loves all of His children. That is a doctrine we learn from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I know for myself that it is true and yet bad things happen to good people. I have tried to live a life that is one of which God can be pleased with and yet there are difficult times that make me ask myself questions. Earlier on I would find myself asking questions like those listed above. Now, having felt God's love and knowing that He seeks to bless my life and all of His children's lives I ask myself how this helps me draw closer to God? An example is Joseph as in Joseph of Egypt. Joseph was sold by his brothers and became a slave and was even imprisoned for a good part of his life. This could have easily justified anger and thoughts of why me? Why do you do this God? But Joseph never had that perspective. He learned from the situations he was put it. He excelled and become a leader in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. As I or others have had that mentality and try and excel and learn from the situations that happen to us we will be blessed. Maybe no when we want, but when it is needed. We will become closer to God.

As a Book of Mormon prophet observed, that fits well into our situations we face today, "Yea, and we may see at the very ^atime when he doth ^bprosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of ^cprecious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do ^dharden their hearts, and do ^eforget the Lord their God, and do ^ftrample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

And thus we see that except the Lord doth ^achasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with ^bdeath and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not ^cremember him."

Look for opportunities to draw closer to God. Look for what we can do to excel in the situations we get put it. Remember God and all His goodness. This is sometimes something we forget to do but how grateful I am for a God who may at times love us enough to help us remember Him.

Super Bowl Winning Mormon

Come on who doesn't love football? Rob Morris is a Superbowl winning football player. He loves the game. Above all that he loves his family and that is what it's all about. Families is one of the greatest blessings God gives us. That is where true happiness is found. Check out this video on Rob. See why families are important to him.

Understanding God and His Love

One of the greatest things I can declare as a full time missionary and representative of the Master is the doctrine of God's love. I have had quiet moments of reflection where I have felt an overwhelming sense of the love God has for me. I know the Bible is true and that God is no respecter of persons. I find that this quick video of an apostle of the Lord helps us all feel of that love that God has for us. For as He says in Jeremiah,"I have loved thee with an everlasting love". And though there are times we turn ourselves away from the Lord we can have hope. There is always a way back to those loving arms. For we know as it says in Isaiah, "His hand is stretched out still".

Going for what matters most.

The other day I received an email from my dad who was encouraging me to keep a journal. He lives by example and has always let me know how happy he is to have moments written down so that they are not forgotten. It made me stop and think about what I have done. I am all about journal writing but I have not been keeping up the way I should. I have let other things get in the way and I am afraid I have let great experiences I have had go by. This idea of letting things get in the way is something that is a constant struggle in this life. We have so many choices to make. How do we know which one is best. I love this clip by President Monson, the Lord's Prophet on the earth today, which sheds light on the subject. It may help you as it has helped me see what matters most and what is most important.

The Book of Mormon

I encourage all to listen to the words of this modern day Apostle. This book brings people closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. It speaks of  miracles and all we need to do to have happiness in this life and in the life to come.