tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87341551725800196532024-02-07T16:24:41.162-08:00by small and simple things..."Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." Alma 37:6Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-37888364198801854752015-01-28T10:20:00.000-08:002015-01-28T10:20:28.663-08:00A Day In The Life Of A Sister Missionary<div style="text-align: center;">
If I had a nickel for how many times I've been asked what I do all day on my mission I would have... a lot of nickels. I've spent the last 16 months of my life as a missionary and sometimes I forget that regular life is a little different than missionary life! Today I'll take you through a normal day in the life of a sister missionary serving in Mesa, Arizona, plus a little bit about our purpose as missionaries and why we do what we do.</div>
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Arising at 6:30 AM this is the first thing I put on in the morning! For 18 months I have the immense privilege of wearing Christ's name over my heart. Wearing my name tag gives me a sense of purpose and responsibility to tell people about Christ and how He has helped me and so many millions of other people on the Earth.<br />
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On to the morning routine!</div>
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If we're expected to teach people about Christ and the gospel, we better know what we're talking about! Luckily we have two hours every single day to study, both personally and as a companionship, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, Preach My Gospel (the missionary guidebook), and lots of other resources to build both our knowledge and our testimonies of the restored gospel.</div>
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"Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men."</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/11.21?lang=eng#20" target="_blank">D&C 11:21</a></div>
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Here in Mesa we have the wonderful opportunity to share the gospel online! We use Facebook, Skype, and blogs (like this one!) to spread the good word of the gospel.</div>
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Eating is probably my favorite hobby besides sharing the gospel.</div>
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Then off we go!! My companion and I are in charge of two wards (congregations) and our job is to share what we know to be true with everyone! We have lessons with people that we are already teaching, we talk to people on the street, we do service for people, we visit those who are already members of our wards, we do all sorts of things!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkhOwZo3cIW5fM2WkBn3r0FOfItgjjGiXYVzc-legDK4cB4c2A4JI271J6dZ8NKP0FCRpYBOkNc2mDx-wbXH6KJsTufqZmlYf9yepOvN0gTx8_DCaBs4SXTwFjE3yOP88Dn106smdJk4k/s1600/missionary+fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkhOwZo3cIW5fM2WkBn3r0FOfItgjjGiXYVzc-legDK4cB4c2A4JI271J6dZ8NKP0FCRpYBOkNc2mDx-wbXH6KJsTufqZmlYf9yepOvN0gTx8_DCaBs4SXTwFjE3yOP88Dn106smdJk4k/s1600/missionary+fun.jpg" height="320" width="159" /></a></div>
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This brings me to our purpose as missionaries. Our 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.</div>
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We aren't here to prove anything, we don't want to force anything on anyone, we are simply out here on our missions because we have found happiness through the gospel of Jesus Christ.</div>
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In the last General Conference Elder David A Bednar gave a wonderful talk about why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has such a large missionary force. He sa<span style="font-family: inherit;">id... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we invite you to attend church with us or to learn with the full-time missionaries, we are not trying to sell you a product. As members of the Church, we do not receive prizes or bonus points in a heavenly contest. We are not seeking simply to increase the numerical size of the Church. And most importantly, we are not attempting to coerce you to believe as we do. We are inviting you to hear the restored truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ so you can study, ponder, pray, and come to know for yourself if the things we are sharing with you are true."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;"> (You can read his full address here: <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/come-and-see?lang=eng" target="_blank">Come and See</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;">Our Heavenly Father has given us the beautiful gift of agency, the ability to choose whether we will be obedient to the commandments He has given us. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ we want <b>everyone </b>to have the opportunity to study out this gospel and discover that it's true for themselves.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;">I have met so many people on my mission that were searching for the truth. They looked and looked and searched but never found the absolute and complete truth. But when we introduced them to the Book of Mormon they start finding answers! We never ask anyone to take our word for anything, we simply invite them to read the Book of Mormon, learn about the gospel, and pray about the things they learn.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;">So why am I choosing to give a year and half of my life to be a missionary? Why am I making so many sacrifices to hopefully help at least one person come closer to Christ? <b>Because this gospel saves my life every single day. I can't not share the thing that has single handedly brought me the most happiness in my life with the world. I wouldn't be showing gratitude to my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, if I didn't give everyone I meet an opportunity to feel that same happiness.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;">Whether the people I meet accept my invitation or not, it doesn't make or break my testimony. I know that I am doing right because of the happiness I feel every single time I read the Book of Mormon or pray to my Heavenly Father.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;">I simply love God, Jesus Christ, and the gifts they have given me. Nothing more than that.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most gratifying part of being a missionary.... seeing others come unto Christ!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;">So there you have it. A day in the life of a sister missionary and what goes through her head almost every single day. Hopefully you can understand a little bit more about why we do what we do</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px;">Finally, at the end of the day, we go home to our apartment, plan for the next day, pray, and hit the sack by 10:30, ready to get up the next day and do it all over again.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-3142339124503432442015-01-23T10:27:00.000-08:002015-01-23T10:27:54.910-08:00Service<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just a forewarning, I cry every single time I watch this Mormon Message. So.... enjoy!!</div>
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Obviously today I want to talk about service. Both planned and unplanned acts of service soften hearts, open doors, save lives, and generally make the world go around.<br />
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That video is a beautiful example of Christ-like service. A young boy saw a way he could make someone happy and he followed through with that. Service is simply that, seeing something we can do to help someone and bring a smile to their face, and doing that thing. This world is full of imperfect people, imperfection means we can't always do absolutely everything for ourselves. We are designed as human beings to benefit from each other. Our human tendencies lead us towards helping others and making others happy.<br />
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This world that is so quickly spiraling downward from common decency is trying it's hardest to deny that we, as humans, need each other. But at some point in our lives, we all have to accept that sometimes we just need help.<br />
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It can be so scary relying on other people! I know for me personally I get very nervous when I have to trust someone else with something that's important to me. But I know that when those helping me and serving me are doing it out of love and respect I can trust them. When I try to serve others I hope they can trust me with things that are important to them.<br />
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So that's my rant on why we all need each other! Basically, we should be following the example of Christ in every aspect of our lives, and one of those aspects is service! Let's look at an example straight from the life of Jesus Christ. This comes from <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/13?lang=eng" target="_blank">John 13</a> verse 4-5 in the New Testament.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a>After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe <span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">them</span> with the towel wherewith he was girded."</span><br />
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Now let's think about this for a second. Christ is with His twelve best friends, His apostles, and He knows he's nearing the end of His life. His choice of activity was to wash their feet. Remember, they lived in the dusty desert and they always wore sandals. I can only imagine how dirty their feet must get all the time. And yet, Christ wanted to serve them and do something special for them, so He washed their feet.<br />
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I can only imagine if the entire world followed this example. If everyone saw a need and just filled that need without a second thought this world would be a very different place. There was no act of service that Christ was too good for, so there is definitely no act of service that I'm too good for. When there is a child of God in need, there's no way I can deny them any service that I can offer.<br />
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Since washing our friend's feet isn't a form of service we often encounter in our day, how can we follow this example? Service can be done is so many different ways. It can be done in big ways through community or neighborhood service projects, it can be done within our own families by helping make our family members' lives easier in some way, we can even do service by smiling at others as we pass by and using common courtesy. We never know how much good we do when we think about others throughout our days.<br />
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On my mission I've had the opportunity to think about others more than I ever have my entire life (maybe not the best thing I can say about myself), but I can testify that as I've devoted myself to serving others I've found more happiness than I've felt at any other time in my life.<br />
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So, my challenge to all of you today is to go out and find some way to serve someone TODAY. You don't need to plan out a complex service project, simply find someone who needs something, anything, even if it's just a hug, and fill that need. I can promise you that you will feel better for doing it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-81160336554476423392015-01-08T09:34:00.000-08:002015-01-08T09:34:10.166-08:00Daughters Of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ok Sisters, this one's for you! Watch this Mormon Message about how women all across the world are making an impact through the gospel of Jesus Christ.</div>
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It makes me feel so good to know that I'm a part of that world-wide women's organization. Relief Society! As a Mormon woman I feel empowered and strengthened by my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.</div>
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I love the confidence I see in this video. Nothing makes me feel better than to see women who see their potential, their strengths, and how strong their influence can be in the world. In the April 2004 General Conference, Thomas S Monson gave a talk about our personal influence. He s<span style="font-family: inherit;">aid "<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">As we follow that Man of Galilee—even the Lord </span><span style="color: black;">Jesus Christ</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">—our personal influence will be felt for good wherever we are, whatever our callings." (Read his full address <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/your-personal-influence?lang=eng" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">I know that this is true. That as we strive to exemplify Christ people will notice. Through our efforts to live the gospel we can make the world a better place. Women have such a powerful force in the world right now, take advantage of that and make a difference for the better!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">In a talk about the <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/the-moral-force-of-women?lang=eng" target="_blank">Moral Force of Women</a>, Elder D. Todd Christofferson said<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "</span></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your intuition is to do good and to be good, and as you follow the Holy Spirit, your moral authority and influence will grow." As women, we have a certain attributes given to us from God. Those are the attributes that will help us prosper in this life and help as many others as we can.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkc7OSt6y9ZBwZPVnbP2sl1L10ViSSHOxrU0xxVDAh2Cn3jtDPtw9BYeyogkvHOeMYvAgI4Dk742O-SY9eb19hkElqnJsYH95URgBdptgUfjd15pCdPI47vWOXsJuS3b0FYSuu4DWk9uz/s1600/meme-women-beck-1246794-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkc7OSt6y9ZBwZPVnbP2sl1L10ViSSHOxrU0xxVDAh2Cn3jtDPtw9BYeyogkvHOeMYvAgI4Dk742O-SY9eb19hkElqnJsYH95URgBdptgUfjd15pCdPI47vWOXsJuS3b0FYSuu4DWk9uz/s1600/meme-women-beck-1246794-gallery.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, while I'm all about girl power and feminism, let's remember that we were made the way we were made for a reason. I am proud to be a Mormon woman, I love being strong and feminine at the same time. I know that as I live the gospel of Jesus Christ I can have an influence in this world and in my family. A past General Young Women's President, Margaret D. Nadauld gave a wonderful quote that I will end with.<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity."</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-60075914311281894032014-12-30T09:35:00.000-08:002014-12-30T09:47:10.471-08:00Pressing Forward<div style="text-align: center;">
With the new year approaching we are all reflecting on how we spent 2014. It's strange to look back and see that I spent the entirety of this year on my mission! For this whole year I stayed in a geographical area of less than 20 square miles (and that's just me guesstimating big).</div>
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Watch this Mormon Message about New Years, it's one of my favorites!</div>
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Too cute, right? But also such an important thing to remember this time of year. As we reflect on the past year, we should be learning from the past, not dwelling on it. We should look forward, knowing that Heavenly Father has a plan for us and that maybe some new trials will come with 2015, but so will new opportunities. </div>
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As we make our mandatory resolutions like losing weight or accomplishing some worldly achievement, let's remember what a great opportunity resolutions can be to better ourselves spiritually. So for 2015, my big resolution is to remain a missionary even after I go home from my full-time mission. I'll only be able to spend 3 months of the coming year with an official name tag pinned on my shirt, but I can spend all 12 with that same name tag painted on my heart.</div>
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I challenge everyone who reads this to make a goal to better themselves spiritually somehow. Make a goal specific to your needs and your strengths and weaknesses. I know that as we take this special opportunity to show Heavenly Father that we are ready to take big or little steps toward Him that we will be blessed. He will help us as we strive to do our best and overcome our weaknesses.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another New Year's resolution? Get to this place as often as possible!</td></tr>
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President Thomas S. Monson gave this counsel for eternal joy and I think it applies perfectly to making this new year the best one yet!</div>
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"Gaze upward</div>
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Look inward</div>
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Reach outward and </div>
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Press forward."</div>
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Have a wonderful, safe, fulfilling New Year!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-34085244947335796152014-12-07T19:15:00.000-08:002014-12-07T19:15:27.508-08:00#Heisthegift<div style="text-align: center;">
"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" And why is that? It's not the presents, the trees, the lights, or even the halls decked with boughs of holly. This is the most wonderful time of the year because it's the time of year we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through so many amazing traditions!</div>
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As I have come to know Christ as my personal Savior, Christmas has taken on a whole new meaning for me. In the last few Christmases I have come to more fully appreciate the gift I was personally given when Christ was born.</div>
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Taken just a few minutes to watch this video and check out the Christmas website the Church came out with this year!</div>
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<a href="http://www.mormon.org/christmas" target="_blank">christmas.mormon.org</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#DiscoverTheGift</span><br />
Through sincere prayer and scripture study we can discover what Christ has given us. As we come to know Him better we will be compelled to follow His teachings more fully.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#EmbraceTheGift</span><br />
Living the teachings of Christ isn't always easy, but as we embrace whole-hearted obedience to His commandments we are blessed and uplifted.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#ShareTheGift</span><br />
What better time than Christmas time to share the miraculous gift that you yourself have discovered and embraced? Share the above link with someone you love or invite them to watch the He is the Gift video. As we share Christ we have nothing to lose but so much to gain.<br />
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I testify that because of the very first Christmas gift, we can all be saved. Through His love and sacrifice we can be cleansed from sin and made worthy to live with our Heavenly Father again.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-47281340270194428032014-11-28T14:15:00.001-08:002014-11-28T14:15:24.514-08:0014 Months and 14 Things I'm Grateful For<div style="text-align: center;">
14 months ago I entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah! It's so strange to think I've been a missionary for that long!</div>
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With my 14 month mark came a special day! Thanksgiving! A nationally loved holiday filled with family, fun, and turkey! I love this beautiful holiday season we've been given to ponder on what really matters in life.</div>
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And Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without a list of things we are grateful for!!</div>
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So, on my 14 month mark I'm going to give you 14 things I'm grateful for!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. First and foremost, my family.</span><br />
I don't know where I would be without this wonderful family I've been blessed with. Within this family unit I have learned the gospel, learned how to be a grown up, and learned how important it is to have these relationships for eternity.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. My mission experience.</span><br />
The past 14 months have consisted of so many experiences. A few of the adjectives I would use to describe my mission would be: happy, challenging, eye opening, exhausting, awkward, beautiful, hilarious, fun, and all together an experience that has prepared me for real life more than anything else I've ever done!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. My companions.</span><br />
These sisters have had the privilege of being around me for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for at least 6 weeks, sometimes more. I am so grateful for mission companions, they have supported me through my hardest times and rejoiced with me through the best of times.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. The scriptures.</span><br />
There is no satisfactory substitute for the peace I feel when I read from the Book of Mormon and the Bible. These books are the word of God. I can't imagine my life without the direction they provide.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. My dog.</span><br />
Make fun of me all you want, she's my best friend!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. The people of Mesa.</span><br />
I thank the Lord every single day that I was called on my mission to Mesa, Arizona. The people here have taught me much more than I've taught them! I've met and grown to love so many families and people that I want to be like when I grow up!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. My mission family.</span><br />
The Arizona Mesa Mission is most definitely a family. We're a tight knit family.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. The power of prayer.</span><br />
The personal strength that results from prayer is so powerful. Every single person on the Earth should have this in their life. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to kneel in prayer every day and receive help and guidance from a loving Heavenly Father.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. Food.</span><br />
Really though.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. Sunshine and the Arizona desert.</span><br />
It's the simple things in life.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">11. Random acts of kindness.</span><br />
Being on either the sending or receiving end of any act of service is a wonderful experience! Helping others and being helped brings out the best in everyone.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">12. The holiday season.</span><br />
During this time of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the beginning of a new year, people's hearts are softened and open to the peace the gospel of Jesus Christ brings.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">13. My mission president and his wife.</span><br />
Now that I've met these two people I can honestly say I've met two angels on Earth.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">14. Last, but far from least, Jesus Christ.</span><br />
Without the life and the love Jesus Christ offers me I would not the person I am today.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-4829924927173652712014-11-06T13:11:00.000-08:002014-11-06T13:11:03.880-08:00A New Name, The Same Game<div style="text-align: center;">
A new look, a new title, but all the same good qualities and uplifting posts. You can now find us at <a href="http://smallandsimplethingsalma376.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">smallandsimplethingsalma376.blogspot.com</a>.<br />
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I've been pondering a new blog title for a long time and it was truly revelation that led me to the Book of Mormon to find this verse:<br />
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"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/37.6?lang=eng#5" target="_blank">Alma 37:6</a><br />
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I'm not changing the world through this blog. I'm probably lucky if one person reads it. But I know that it is through my small and simple efforts that I can do my part in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what are YOUR small and simple things?</span><br />
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What do you do to make this world a little bit better? As we work together as a human family, we can bring great things to pass. A smile to a stranger on the street, a text to a friend in need, sharing what has brought you happiness, everything we do will affect someone. You have the power to make or break someone's day, make the choice NOW to make as many people's days as you can! And always ask yourself the question: what would Jesus do? I promise it works. Every time.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-10459002925694316102014-10-21T11:03:00.000-07:002014-10-21T11:03:49.438-07:00Approaching The Throne Of God With Confidence<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you all enjoyed General Conference a few weekends ago! I always love being uplifted and taught by prophets of God! Today, I want to share one of my very favorite talks from this past General Conference.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Elder Jörg Klebingat</span> of the Seventy gave a talk titled <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/approaching-the-throne-of-god-with-confidence?lang=eng" target="_blank">Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence.</a> He started his address with these two questions; on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your spiritual confidence before God? and what thoughts would come to mind if you had a personal interview with your Savior one minute from now? Immediately this caught my attention! What <b>would </b>I do if I was to meet my Savior today? Would I be confident in answering His questions or would I think back on all the things I may have done wrong in this life?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Sure, there are probably some people in the world that can honestly say they would be perfectly confident in meeting God today, but I think a majority of the world would be at least a little nervous about it! I know I would be! And I know that's a sign that I need to improve my spiritual confidence!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">While Satan will do all he can to destroy our spiritual confidence, it is 100% our choice to act and change to build that confidence! Elder Klebingat gave six suggestions on how we can improve our spiritual confidence. Remember, these suggestions will only work if you take the initiative and act for yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">First, take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Take control! It's <b>your</b> spirit! Don't let the mistakes or decisions of others control how spiritually confident you are or are not. <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2.27?lang=eng#26" target="_blank">2 Nephi 2:27</a> says "men are free according to the flesh... they are free to choose liberty and eternal life...or to choose captivity and death..." Only YOU can make this choice for yourself! Don't blame others or rely on others.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">"Spiritual confidence increases when you take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ daily."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Second, take responsibility for your own physical well-being.</span></div>
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I'm telling you guys, this is a big deal! I know that when I've been in peak physical condition I've also been in peak spiritual condition. When I slack and don't take care of my body I can feel my spiritual "fitness" weakening as well. Taking control of the "natural man (or woman)" inside of us and controlling our appetites shows that our spirits are stronger than our bodies.<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Spiritual confidence increases when your spirit, with the help of the Savior, is truly in charge of your natural man or woman."</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Third, embrace voluntary, wholehearted obedience as part of your life.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">John 14:15 states: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." It's as simple as that. We cannot expect to receive </span></span><b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">all </b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for us if we are not abiding by <b>all </b>His rules. On a mission, the concept of exact obedience is pounded pretty hard into your head. And for good reason! I have felt the blessings that come when I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">consciously make the effort to be as exactly obedient as I can be.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>"Spiritual confidence increases when you are truly striving, for the right reasons, to live a consecrated life in spite of your imperfections."</i> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Fourth, become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I've found in my own life that if I like doing something I'm a lot more likely to do it over and over again. I've come to LOVE repenting! That's why I enjoy doing it every single day! Not a day goes by where I don't make at least one little mistake (a shocker, I know) so I try to never let a day go by without seeking forgiveness from my Heavenly Father. As I try to keep myself as "unspotted from the world" </span></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">(<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/59.9?lang=eng#8" target="_blank">D&C 59:9</a>) </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">as possible I can feel my relationships with Christ and God growing stronger and closer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><i>"Spiritual confidence increases when you voluntarily and joyfully repent of sins, both small and great, in real time by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ."</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fifth, become really, really good at forgiving.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/64.10?lang=eng#9" target="_blank">D&C 64:10</a>) The commandment applies to <b>all </b>of us. When we forgive everyone it is so much easier to feel the forgiveness we need from our Heavenly Father.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><i>"Spiritual confidence increases when you know that the Lord knows that you bear no ill feelings toward another soul."</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, accept trials, setbacks, and "surprises" as part of your mortal experience.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">I'm going to let you all in on a little secret: this world is very, very far from perfect. Sometimes things don't go completely as planned. And that is totally and completely okay. We are on this earth to be tested and tried. If our purpose is to go through trials and find joy through overcoming them, then why not rejoice when a trial comes our way? Sure, it's going to be hard, but it's an opportunity to prove that you can do hard things and remain faithful! Don't be freaked out by the fact that you have a few weaknesses. If we didn't have weaknesses this life would hardly matter. Use those weaknesses to improve and progress.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><i>"Spiritual confidence increases when you accept that 'often trials and tribulations are allowed to come into your life because of what you are doing right'"</i></span></div>
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Everyone reading this, whether you are a bishop, a new convert to the church, an average Relief Society member, or someone who doesn't know much about religion at all, everyone can increase their spiritual confidence. I know that through all of these suggestions Elder Klebingat gave us we can become confident in the sight of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. </div>
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I invite everyone to evaluate your confidence before God and act accordingly.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">"<span style="line-height: 22px;">And if men come unto me I will show unto them their </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">weakness</span><span style="line-height: 22px;">. I </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">give</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"> unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">grace</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"> is sufficient for all men that </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">humble</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"> themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">weak</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"> things become strong unto them."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/12.27?lang=eng#26" target="_blank">Ether 12:27</a></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-51034681732613345632014-10-12T16:23:00.001-07:002014-10-12T16:39:10.957-07:00We Are His Greatest Creation<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I want to talk about something really important to me! Our bodies! I know, it may not seem like a very spiritual thing at first, but I promise it is!<br />
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The whole reason we came to this Earth was to receive a body. We needed to become more like our Heavenly Father so we can someday experience the same blessings that He does. As His spirit children we lived <b>with</b> Him but we couldn't live exactly <b>like</b> Him.<br />
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In a general conference talk, President Boyd K. Packer said <span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our physical body is the instrument of our spirit."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A temple is a place for Heavenly Father's spirit to reside on Earth. Our bodies are instruments for us to house our own spirits. We are literally temples! Depending on who is reading this, you may or may not know how much time/effort/talent is put into making temples perfect (not to mention the cost)! It's A LOT! It takes <b>years</b> from the time a temple is announced to be built in an area to the time it's actually usable!</span></span></span></div>
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Temples take maintenance and care, so do our bodies! Temples are an expression of God's love, so are our bodies! Seeing a pattern?</div>
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The following Mormon Message is one of my favorites because it helps me put into perspective how grateful I should be for a healthy working body. Enjoy!</div>
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When I think about how I was created in God's image (See <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/1.27?lang=eng#26" target="_blank">Genesis 1:27</a>) I can appreciate my body and all of it's strengths and flaws so much more.<br />
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Think about it for a second! You are a replica of the Creator of the universe. Maybe your body has a few flaws. Maybe it has a lot of flaws. Maybe it just flat out doesn't work quite right. But no matter how poor or perfect are bodies are, they are a divine and essential gift from the one who knows us better than we know ourselves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoOKTbU_99_ZjQv7vz_evFfxFRurw0wyjHSaFWnlgNNClAI7PmJHjoxIVwckI6Hb_gTxHpNQeOfe31eFHTp5k-gIkQehLszMXwxTqkZ39I424eb1gn__3OCNeQncMdmaP-lITYzBulKWO/s1600/10665074_10202567941670968_5447484753021089962_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoOKTbU_99_ZjQv7vz_evFfxFRurw0wyjHSaFWnlgNNClAI7PmJHjoxIVwckI6Hb_gTxHpNQeOfe31eFHTp5k-gIkQehLszMXwxTqkZ39I424eb1gn__3OCNeQncMdmaP-lITYzBulKWO/s1600/10665074_10202567941670968_5447484753021089962_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I have to just stop and marvel at the awesome things are bodies can do!</td></tr>
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Now believe me, I know exactly what it's like to be told "you are a child of God, be grateful for your body" and <b>still </b>thinking "well He could have given me a better one." These beautiful bodies we have been given are so important, and Satan knows that. He attacks them in every single way possible. Think about the epidemic of eating disorders and self hatred that sweeps the world. Satan is doing everything in his power to stop God's children from appreciating and taking care of what we came to Earth to receive.<br />
In the General Women's Meeting, Dieter F Uchtdorf gave this address:<br />
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"Yes, God loves you this very day and always. <b>He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits.</b> He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer.<br />
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Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? ... <b>Do you think outward attractiveness, your dress size, or popularity make the slightest difference in your worth to the One who created the universe?</b><br />
He loves you not only for who you are this very day but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and the desire to become."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb1Zl0S2OuKTaMQ5QnBCKV8blyDJfwbkQIN_SVGCq3K6IisRjuOFuQOef6UFHXx-WJM62BQlB-T2ryr808-1XvH_yPW18KBuA58l6pk6H_18aycuBh8So9xqoHFqllNzEdeMJo9gvDKIN/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb1Zl0S2OuKTaMQ5QnBCKV8blyDJfwbkQIN_SVGCq3K6IisRjuOFuQOef6UFHXx-WJM62BQlB-T2ryr808-1XvH_yPW18KBuA58l6pk6H_18aycuBh8So9xqoHFqllNzEdeMJo9gvDKIN/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sue never let her physical limitations hold her back from following Christ!</td></tr>
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I testify that this is true. Your Heavenly Father loves you, He blessed you with the body you have, He expects you to take care of it to the best of your ability, and most of all He gave you your body and all of the trials you experience in this life so you can someday live with Him again.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-14829807072632198892014-10-03T12:52:00.002-07:002014-10-03T12:53:06.585-07:00General Conference<div style="text-align: center;">
Tomorrow (October 4th, 2014) marks the beginning of the 184th Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!</div>
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Let me tell you why this is just so exciting!</div>
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General Conference only happens twice a year. Twice a year we get to hear directly from the prophet of the Lord. If getting to hear from the prophet doesn't sound exciting then I don't know what does!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e_9UVIL5pfr8rUlHrruW02mFsqomgarqCc8c6UXvsHUzR2shnxrduhhZ4RXpJMNreXyG-u2YV70B2DNYiqwhg7mDq5cAQvRAyoWrpx4_pZLLzGr30m3cqCTPRF_-n3qngt2MyDmIgZ24/s1600/first-presidency-lds-477209-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e_9UVIL5pfr8rUlHrruW02mFsqomgarqCc8c6UXvsHUzR2shnxrduhhZ4RXpJMNreXyG-u2YV70B2DNYiqwhg7mDq5cAQvRAyoWrpx4_pZLLzGr30m3cqCTPRF_-n3qngt2MyDmIgZ24/s1600/first-presidency-lds-477209-gallery.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
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This is the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and his two counselors, Henry B. Eyering and Dieter F. Uchtdorf.</div>
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The men (and women!) we get to hear from this weekend are truly called of God. They are called to lead this church and teach us the gospel. Through the prophet and apostles we can learn God's will for us. They receive direct revelation from Heavenly Father about what this world needs.</div>
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General Conference is one of the only times we get messages from so many general authorities and auxiliary leaders in the church! So, come, join with us! Partake of the abundant feast of the good word of God, straight from the mouth of His prophet!</div>
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Anyone in the world can watch General Conference at <a href="https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng" target="_blank">lds.org</a> or <a href="http://www.byutv.org/" target="_blank">byutv.org</a>. In Mesa, AZ it can be watched on Cox 114 or Direct TV 374. Anyone who has BYU TV can also watch it on TV.</div>
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In Mesa the morning sessions start at 9am and the afternoon sessions start at 1 pm both Saturday and Sunday. For the men the priesthood session starts at 5pm on Saturday evening.</div>
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In Idaho and Utah all the sessions are one hour ahead!</div>
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I know, without a doubt, that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. He is called of God and holds His authority. I can promise that as you listen to his words and the words of all the other leaders, God will answer your questions and teach you His will for you.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-84097078756373652112014-09-24T11:44:00.001-07:002014-09-24T11:45:21.704-07:00The Hope Of God's Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today's post is for those who may not know that they have a loving Heavenly Father taking care of them. Watch this true story of a man who came to know that life is so much more when you know your identity as a child of God.</div>
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To anyone out there who may be questioning whether God is real or if He cares, I testify with all my heart that He is there. He loves you and He needs you. I have felt His love and it is the sweetest feeling in the world. I can promise you that sincere prayers are answered.<br />
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Just like Todd Sylvester's prayer was answered, I know that all my prayers can be answered and so can yours!<br />
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"And through the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things."<br />
Moroni 10:5<br />
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When any prayer is answered, it's through the power of the Holy Ghost. I know I've written about the Holy Ghost before, but I'll do a quick review! The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of spirit, meaning he doesn't have a body. The Holy Ghost's role is to be our helper in this life. He comforts us, teaches us, guides us, warns us, he even helps Heavenly Father answer prayers!<br />
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After saying a prayer or reading scriptures or doing anything of importance, have you ever felt a warm fuzzy feeling? That's the Holy Ghost! Those warm fuzzies are how prayers are sometimes answered! We know that for Todd his prayer was answered while a prayer was being said, he felt good and he felt accepted. Through the feelings that the Holy Ghost gave him he knew that God was real and that God loved him.<br />
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I can't emphasize enough how much God loves each and every one of His children and wants to answer our prayers. Sometimes He takes awhile to let those answers show because we need to be ready for them, but the answer always comes at just the right moment.<br />
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I invite everyone who reads this, whether you believe in God or not, to kneel in prayer and ask God if He is there. I can promise you that through the Holy Ghost you will feel His presence. I can't promise it will be right away, but it will be right when you need to feel His love most.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-55260128073133157102014-09-17T13:21:00.000-07:002014-09-17T13:21:23.635-07:00Part 6: Enduring To The End<div style="text-align: center;">
Congratulations! You've officially made it to the end of this blog series. As I've had the opportunity to write about the Gospel of Jesus Christ I have strengthened my own testimony and come to know how important this gospel is to everyone on the earth!</div>
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"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.</div>
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Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, 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."</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31.20?lang=eng#19" target="_blank">2 Nephi 31:20-21</a></div>
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Even though baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost are one time things, we never stop progressing and learning. We can continually build our faith, we should continually repent of sins (spoiler alert, you'll continue to make mistakes even after you're baptized!), and we continually work to keep the covenants we have made.</div>
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Enduring to the end can be the hardest step in following the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It requires patience! Watch this Mormon Message on patience and think about why enduring to the end in the gospel requires us to be patient with ourselves as well as others.</div>
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Too cute, right?! I already have the first marshmallow, I've made covenants with my Heavenly Father and I am extremely blessed. But I know that if I am patient and live like I should I will be blessed yet again with that second marshmallow, eternal life!<br />
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"And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/14.7?lang=eng#6" target="_blank">D&C 14:7</a><br />
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I know that by making the gospel a pattern of living you can draw closer to God. You can continue to progress and grow in the gospel your entire life. If we endure to the end we will be rewarded and be able to live with our Heavenly Father again someday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickSZYtGkD74njdOVnOv1_ZONhg53fS94PtIaK474sbHOvoYfvlb4J7dUy53PsQAjpCQBqX0m_XUdtuGxF_QHxw1h574VBMCNyRrbNG7D14HK7aWz5YNB1Cz07Az8YvSap-KVwph50LPN0/s1600/endure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickSZYtGkD74njdOVnOv1_ZONhg53fS94PtIaK474sbHOvoYfvlb4J7dUy53PsQAjpCQBqX0m_XUdtuGxF_QHxw1h574VBMCNyRrbNG7D14HK7aWz5YNB1Cz07Az8YvSap-KVwph50LPN0/s1600/endure.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I invite everyone who reads this to think about the ways you can improve how you endure to the end. Whether that be working on patience, keeping an eternal perspective, or looking ahead to future blessings.<br />
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I know that following the gospel of Jesus Christ brings happiness.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-59325754167128428192014-09-07T16:51:00.000-07:002014-09-07T16:51:22.634-07:00Part 5: The Gift of the Holy Ghost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Welcome back! I bet you thought you were done with this blog series after learning about <a href="http://questionsofasistermissionary.blogspot.com/2014/08/part-4-baptism.html" target="_blank">baptism</a>! Absolutely not! In fact, baptism is only half complete after you come up out of the water.</div>
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Watch this cute video and listen to a prophet of God speak about the gift we receive after baptism and how it blessed and continues to bless his life.</div>
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"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism-- yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel."</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31.13?lang=eng#12" target="_blank">2 Nephi 31:13</a></div>
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After a person is baptized, one or more authorized priesthood holders place their hands on the person's head and confirm them a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and give them the gift of the Holy Ghost.</div>
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Anyone and everyone can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost, whether baptized or not, but it is only after baptism that one can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. When we receive that gift we have the right to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJCawRxLzpFNtze9tUgHbr99Z4XHf-qcgDUnWAlrF7iaVUvflPazCGe5PNpRQC7rWfeqA92OvQD_Fb3WVms0GoH-iDUTn1pXiZU7mQglYGpIR8LUiDQTc0jcRUjJPRf8xWSyiPrcKBqYZ/s1600/katie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJCawRxLzpFNtze9tUgHbr99Z4XHf-qcgDUnWAlrF7iaVUvflPazCGe5PNpRQC7rWfeqA92OvQD_Fb3WVms0GoH-iDUTn1pXiZU7mQglYGpIR8LUiDQTc0jcRUjJPRf8xWSyiPrcKBqYZ/s1600/katie1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Through the power of the Holy Ghost, Katie came to know that the Book of Mormon is true and decided to be baptized! Doesn't she just glow with the Holy Ghost?!</div>
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The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and he plays many roles. Especially when we have the gift of the Holy Ghost he can comfort us, guide us, warn us of danger, testify of truth, teach us, remind us of things we may have forgotten. You can see why it's such an advantage to have him around!</div>
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After we are baptized, one of the roles of the Holy Ghost is to sanctify us from sin. I guess you could say the baptism by water is like rinsing the dishes off with water, and the Holy Ghost is like scrubbing them with dish soap! Christ really wants this blessing for us! He said "come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day." <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/27.20?lang=eng#19" target="_blank">3 Nephi 27:20</a></div>
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As missionaries we always need to have the Holy Ghost with us. We can't expect people to just believe everything we say just because we say it! As Nephi taught in the Book of Mormon; "when a man (or woman!) speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men." <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/33.1?lang=eng#1" target="_blank">2 Nephi 33:1</a>. </div>
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I can promise you that through the Holy Ghost you can come to know truths. You can come to know if the Book of Mormon is true, if Joseph Smith was a prophet, and if Christ is your Savior.</div>
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"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.</div>
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<b>And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.</b>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.5?lang=eng#4" target="_blank">Moroni 10:4-5</a></div>
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I invite everyone who reads this to take a question that you have to your Heavenly Father. Ask in sincerity, with faith that you will be answered, and I can promise that through the Holy Ghost you will receive that answer.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-77286246047589879032014-08-29T11:55:00.000-07:002014-08-29T12:12:47.387-07:00Part 4: Baptism<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcome back to your favorite blog! As you've built your <a href="http://questionsofasistermissionary.blogspot.com/2014/08/part-2-faith-in-jesus-christ.html" target="_blank">faith</a> and learned how to <a href="http://questionsofasistermissionary.blogspot.com/2014/08/part-3-repentance.html" target="_blank">repent</a> (follow the links to past blog posts!) you've been preparing to make your very first covenant with your Heavenly Father! Baptism! And if you've already been baptized, don't worry, this blog post is for you too!<br />
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And don't worry, I haven't forgotten a video! It just comes later in the post! In the mean time, enjoy this picture from when Sarah made her first covenant with her Heavenly Father.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc5R2EP7zvB3sEZM7LKMxmBYny8FPsBxtrszsKn6zGUllhZdvxrWcxW801yhOQ_SXXnabW4R71FObJXO9Lbik-UCTT4XTohqXtdWXaX5m8PPeupPoXPMo_5Rt75nSH2KzKIkRzKmsqpyp/s1600/sarah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc5R2EP7zvB3sEZM7LKMxmBYny8FPsBxtrszsKn6zGUllhZdvxrWcxW801yhOQ_SXXnabW4R71FObJXO9Lbik-UCTT4XTohqXtdWXaX5m8PPeupPoXPMo_5Rt75nSH2KzKIkRzKmsqpyp/s1600/sarah.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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A covenant is a two way promise that we make with our Heavenly Father. We promise Him that we will do certain things and He promises us certain blessings in return. An ordinance is a ceremony or physical action that shows that we have entered into a covenant with God. So when we are baptized it's an ordinance that we perform and covenants are made!<br />
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God has always required His children to make covenants. He wants to bless us at every opportunity and when we keep the covenants we make we are blessed! God is the one who sets the terms for the covenant and we can choose to either accept or reject the terms. Keeping covenants not only blesses us in this life but brings salvation in the next life!<br />
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So what exactly are we promising and being promised when we are baptized? We promise three specific things! 1. To take upon ourselves the name of Christ 2. To always remember Him and 3. to keep His commandments. Seems easy enough right? We are promising to live our lives like Christ lived His to the best of our ability. We aren't expected to be perfect all the time (what would the point of this life be if we could be perfect on the first try?) but we are expected to do our very best.<br />
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In return we are promised that if we hold up our end of the bargain we can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and receive a remission of our sins.<br />
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As missionaries, when we invite someone to be baptized we invite them to <b>follow the example of Jesus Christ </b>by being baptized by someone holding the authority of God. So if we are following Christ when we are baptized we should be baptized in the same way as Christ, right?<br />
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Enjoy this video and we'll go from there!<br />
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Baptism by immersion (meaning your whole body goes under water, just like when Christ was baptized!) is a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior. Similarly, it represents the end of our old life and the beginning of our new life as a disciple of Christ!<br />
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In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we are baptized by the same authority that Christ held while He was on the earth. That's a very important part of following Christ's example.<br />
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For those of you who have already been baptized, don't fret! We won't give up on you just because you've made mistakes since your baptism! Perfection isn't expected, effort is. We can continually go through the process of building our faith and repenting. Look out for future posts where I'll write about how we can renew the covenants we have already made!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBYWZlljSxQwxNMyrQ3VTU8lpEHZsAY44Mkn8TrYN9lxpg-DsKYhyh5sMVr6sAvSDTkalZHgxAIYZi1OzpyJMgC3GR0AOfTGh9WiLsajQTwLU2SP9luj7NLrvHv8RpL4VEt10z6dGB-7_/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBYWZlljSxQwxNMyrQ3VTU8lpEHZsAY44Mkn8TrYN9lxpg-DsKYhyh5sMVr6sAvSDTkalZHgxAIYZi1OzpyJMgC3GR0AOfTGh9WiLsajQTwLU2SP9luj7NLrvHv8RpL4VEt10z6dGB-7_/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
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The blessings of baptism are available to everyone!</div>
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I know that as we follow the example of Jesus Christ in every way we will be blessed. As we strive to make and keep essential covenants we will progress in the gospel and be ready to live with our Heavenly Father again someday.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-79806916751068575092014-08-23T13:42:00.000-07:002014-08-29T12:12:33.930-07:00Part 3: Repentance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We'll start part 3 with one my very favorite Mormon Messages today! Enjoy!</div>
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Too cute, right?! But not only is this video mega adorable, it's also a really great message! When we came to this earth we were so shiny and clean and ready to ride around the block! Unfortunately we're human so we have made some mistakes in our lives. And we'll keep making mistakes. Though the results of our sins may not always be as visible as bright red paint, they're still there and they cause feelings of guilt and shame.<br />
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It takes time and hard work, but those feelings can be 100% washed away!<br />
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The second principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, after faith, is repentance. Our faith in Christ will motivate us to act, that action is repentance. "Repentance includes forming a fresh view of God, ourselves, and the world." (<a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/lesson-3-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng" target="_blank">PMG, ch. 3</a>)<br />
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Repentance is changing our thoughts, beliefs, actions, or behaviors to become more in line with God's will. It is only through repentance that we can become clean from sin and become worthy to live with our Heavenly Father again someday.<br />
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"And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that <b>no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven</b>; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins."<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/11.37?lang=eng#36" target="_blank">Alma 11:37</a><br />
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Repentance can be a wonderful experience! It's not always fun, it's usually not easy, but it's always worth it to know that the changes we are making are for the better!<br />
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The first step to being forgiven of our sins seems really obvious, but it's important! We have to <b>recognize</b> that what we are doing is wrong! We shouldn't be sorry that we got caught or that the consequences of a wrong decision are less than desirable, we should be sorry because we have done something against the commandments.<br />
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Then we need to <b>STOP</b> whatever it is we are doing wrong!<br />
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The next step is to <b>confess </b>our sins to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. This takes a huge amount of humility but it's an amazing feeling when you feel that the Lord doesn't remember your sins anymore.<br />
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Whenever we can we need to <b>make restitution. </b>When our sins have wronged someone else we should do all we can to make those wrongs right.<br />
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From that point on <b>keep the commandments!</b> Keeping the commandments will help us resist the temptation to go back to that sin.<br />
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The most important part of repentance is <b>acknowledging the Savior. </b>It is only through Him that we can be forgiven. From the most minor of mistakes to the most grievous of sins, Christ has suffered for us so we can be washed clean.<br />
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This isn't an instant process. Repentance takes time, be patient with yourself! You're becoming more like your Heavenly Father! Of course that will take a little bit of time!<br />
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As you repent and make those changes, whether large or small, you will experience a change of heart, you'll have the desire to follow Christ and keep God's commandments.<br />
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I want to testify that everyone who makes the effort to truly repent can be forgiven of their sins. Through the Atonement of Christ we can all become worthy to live with our Heavenly Father again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGaoAmoNZ_4illL_Monb8LZ2Sgnbe8yslKqmc0nLt_frTmRujKEbQGPtpa1VuJUl9fzAwOxUqmu2Ha-kxR4shtPvrIVMT_hQFukWmyG8_t_VgoclLM5eZAPlEEBNlXhd59jwbtJXtHoWh/s1600/savior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGaoAmoNZ_4illL_Monb8LZ2Sgnbe8yslKqmc0nLt_frTmRujKEbQGPtpa1VuJUl9fzAwOxUqmu2Ha-kxR4shtPvrIVMT_hQFukWmyG8_t_VgoclLM5eZAPlEEBNlXhd59jwbtJXtHoWh/s1600/savior.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
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"It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines."</div>
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland<br />
(Read his full address <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-laborers-in-the-vineyard?lang=eng" target="_blank">here</a>)<br />
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I want to invite you (everyone who reads this) to think about some of the changes <b>YOU </b>can make to become a little bit more like your Savior. He is the perfect example after all!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-7712686958877971872014-08-17T16:45:00.001-07:002014-08-29T12:12:22.251-07:00Part 2: Faith in Jesus Christ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Part 2 of your favorite blog series is finally here! Enjoy this Mormon Message to start it off!</div>
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In my last post I addressed the topic of the Atonement and how we can cleansed from sin. The next posts will be about the steps we need to take to claim that wonderful gift! And it all starts with faith.</div>
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Let's define faith.</div>
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"And now as I said concerning faith-- faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/32.21?lang=eng#20" target="_blank">Alma 32:21</a></div>
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So faith is believing in something you can't see or prove. In the Mormon Message above we find a few really beautiful examples of having faith in Christ. In the Bible, Esther is faced with a difficult choice to make. She knew fully well that she could be killed for approaching the king but she also knew she had to defend her people. She had faith that because she was making the right decision she would be protected.</div>
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Christ has the desire to bless us, forgive us, protect us, He is waiting for us to exercise our faith and seek out those blessings that He has waiting for us.<br />
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"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him."<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/7.12?lang=eng#11" target="_blank">1 Nephi 7:12</a><br />
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In Preach My Gospel we find what happens when we exercise that faith in Christ:</div>
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"When we have faith in Christ, we accept and apply His Atonement and His teachings. We trust Him and what He says. We know that He has the power to keep His promises. Heavenly Father blesses those who have faith to obey His Son."<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/lesson-3-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng" target="_blank">PMG, pg 61</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRaHVncg9u9l1o4y_E1q0hsV0HZXWXKuTg9P6e8NvoaDD3GwkFjlniyW8lEg070wCz9nkBQB_HUKSnLokMy3nvKtbwZlfjHb9xR2L7bJFTw80ERGDHHoWHOutx2Yr61Vc3C9cdMhaJ87Y/s1600/katie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRaHVncg9u9l1o4y_E1q0hsV0HZXWXKuTg9P6e8NvoaDD3GwkFjlniyW8lEg070wCz9nkBQB_HUKSnLokMy3nvKtbwZlfjHb9xR2L7bJFTw80ERGDHHoWHOutx2Yr61Vc3C9cdMhaJ87Y/s1600/katie.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
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I have been so blessed on my mission to be able to witness so many people exercising their faith in Christ and acting on that faith by being baptized! Taking the physical steps to follow Christ is a big way to increase our faith and build our testimonies.</div>
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So we know what faith is, we know why need it, and we know who our faith should be in. But HOW can we build our faith?<br />
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"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can find place for a portion of my words."<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/32.27?lang=eng#26" target="_blank">Alma 32:27</a><br />
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Building your faith might start simply desiring to have faith! Hoping but not yet believing that something is true is a perfectly acceptable start. And the next step? Experiment on the word. Try it out! Take a small step into the dark by reading the Book of Mormon, meeting with the missionaries, or making that goal to be baptized.<br />
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"Now we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves -- it must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea it beginneth to be delicious unto me.<br />
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Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge."<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/32.28?lang=eng#27" target="_blank">Alma 32:28-29</a><br />
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I invite you all to increase your faith in Christ. Just try it out. Trying praying a little bit more or reading your scriptures a little bit more. I can promise you will feel the Spirit and you will know that Christ is your Savior.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-88139910763270521372014-08-12T10:23:00.001-07:002014-08-29T12:12:10.828-07:00Part 1: Through Christ We Can Be Cleansed From Sin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This post is going to kick off my latest blogging adventure! Follow the next few posts to find out how you can find peace and joy through Jesus Christ!</div>
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So let's start Part 1 with this video and we'll go from there!</div>
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The single most important event in my own personal history took place in this video. The Atonement of Jesus Christ.</div>
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When we came to this Earth we knew we would make mistakes and be imperfect. Our Heavenly Father knew this as well and knew we would need some help if we ever wanted to live with Him again. So He provided a Savior for us.</div>
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"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/3.16?lang=eng#15" target="_blank">John 3:16-17</a></div>
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Because Jesus Christ performed the Atonement we can all be cleansed of sin. Every mistake and imperfection can be washed away with the power of the Atonement. </div>
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The Atonement consists of three separate events; Christ suffering for our sins, His dying on the cross, and His resurrection three days later.</div>
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When Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane He suffered for the sins of the world so that we can be forgiven. He also died for us so that when we die it doesn't have to be the end. We will be resurrected just like He was three days after His death.</div>
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"And he shall go forth, suffering pain and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.</div>
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And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/7.11?lang=eng#10" target="_blank">Alma 7:11-12</a></div>
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Although Christ suffered for our sins He didn't take away all personal responsibility for what we do wrong! When we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, have faith in Him, repent of our mistakes, and participate in saving ordinances such as baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost we can be saved and be worthy to live our Heavenly Father again someday.</div>
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"And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end."</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/27.19?lang=eng#18" target="_blank">3 Nephi 27:19</a></div>
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I testify with all my heart that through Christ we can be cleansed from sin. Through His Atonement we can become worthy to go home to our Heavenly Father someday. We can learn about the Atonement through the Bible and the Book of Mormon, I invite you all to ask a missionary what you can read in the scriptures to learn more about the power of the Atonement.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-3899394065740619612014-07-31T11:01:00.000-07:002014-08-29T12:11:49.922-07:00Sharing Your Beliefs<div style="text-align: center;">
Watch this Mormon Message about how we can share the things we believe in using <b>all </b>forms of communication we've been given!</div>
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I want to talk about President Uchtdorf''s plea to "always preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words."</div>
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How can YOU help spread a little bit of the happiness you feel when you pray, read the scriptures, or serve others? We have been blessed with so many ways to share the gospel! One of those ways is what you are looking at right now! A blog! I've learned a lot and had some really great experiences sharing what I know to be true through this blog. If you feel so inclined, you can be a missionary through a little piece of the internet! It's fast, easy, and you can be yourself while fulfilling the commandment to share the gospel! </div>
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In the video it showed a girl sending pictures with scriptures. This can be such a fun and easy way to help someone else feel the Spirit! As a missionary I know that the message that I have to deliver is of great worth, but I rarely feel adequate to be the one delivering it. Luckily, it doesn't matter how eloquent I am when I speak! If I am sharing the gospel out of love and I am trying my hardest then it only matters that the people I'm talking to are feeling the Spirit, Heavenly Father will take care of me and make up everything that I lack! And nothing brings the Spirit like the scriptures! Share a scripture and a picture with someone today and help them feel the love their Heavenly Father has for them!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhSFE50umF0orKIZjpPg0FpXlNbdDqVPvfn1pq8f3lU1GI2S6uzfrvi3tcc6WYQE5uMBEmxkV4HTUnT5P3m8KFraBSVbPPKXzQjmR-RK7p8NL_dsp8XPiqzO1N1NqRmBrhfShBOTR6ADv/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhSFE50umF0orKIZjpPg0FpXlNbdDqVPvfn1pq8f3lU1GI2S6uzfrvi3tcc6WYQE5uMBEmxkV4HTUnT5P3m8KFraBSVbPPKXzQjmR-RK7p8NL_dsp8XPiqzO1N1NqRmBrhfShBOTR6ADv/s1600/photo.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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As missionaries in the Arizona Mesa Mission we get to use Facebook to invite others to come unto Christ! Facebook and other social media sites are such an easy and universal way to share your beliefs! Post a picture of the Savior, a temple, or a favorite scripture!<br />
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And when you're not using the internet to share the gospel, then "...be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-tim/4.12?lang=eng#11" target="_blank">1 Timothy 4:12</a>) Just the way you live your life can be the best way to show people that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ!</div>
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"And now, behold, I say unto you, that the things which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen." <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/16.6?lang=eng#5" target="_blank">D&C 16:6</a></div>
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I invite everyone who reads this to find a way to use the modern technology that we've been blessed with to share the gospel! I know that this will bring happiness and blessings!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-47319627316561005892014-07-24T10:22:00.000-07:002014-07-24T10:22:06.751-07:00In The Midst Of The Monsoons<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm serving my mission in Arizona. In Arizona there's this thing that happens every July-August. It's called monsoon season.</div>
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Every few nights there's a storm that rolls through town (or almost every single night if you're talking about last week!). The storms range from mild wind and dust to violent thunder and lightning storms with flash floods and/or dust devils.</div>
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Let me tell you, monsoon season is not the most convenient thing when the only mode of transportation you can currently employ is a bicycle. Luckily my companion and I have been saved by many members of our ward who were so willing to literally "brave the storm" and rescue us by giving us a ride in their car!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6-TlrB_DPIKEil_AhMufKTNG0yofFx19izFyEpnDpXXfy_I7tBHSnwX18olTH-26DLSzOPPclW6G1lnTWYToCbEweBKYXin02cwv0tBpAxzDKWgqhS5zyvylLcHYJYt2lk0F2RMSzw6Q/s1600/storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6-TlrB_DPIKEil_AhMufKTNG0yofFx19izFyEpnDpXXfy_I7tBHSnwX18olTH-26DLSzOPPclW6G1lnTWYToCbEweBKYXin02cwv0tBpAxzDKWgqhS5zyvylLcHYJYt2lk0F2RMSzw6Q/s1600/storm.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Example of a lovely Arizona storm.</div>
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We can easily draw a lovely parallel between monsoon season in Arizona and our own lives. We often have monsoons or trials to get through before the relaxing sunny days come. The storms in our lives can range from small inconveniences to major tragedy.</div>
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Luckily, we all have tools that we've been given to help us brave our storms, we also have people set in our lives to be there to pick us up and make riding the storm a little bit easier.</div>
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During a literal storm we have places of refuge and tools to use to protect us from the wind or rain, like umbrellas or rain boots. When our life is storming away we can find refuge in the scriptures. The word of God provides peace and guidance. We may need to know which direction we need to go to stay safe, we can find answers in the scriptures to direct us to safety.<br />
Often, if I'm struggling with something specific I will search out answers by looking up scriptures about whatever I'm struggling with so I can receive the guidance I need directly through Christ's teachings. Using the search bar on <a href="https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng" target="_blank">lds.org</a> I can easily find scriptures that will lift me and guide me through my trials.</div>
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I am so blessed as a missionary, I get to be with a companion all the time. I never have to go through anything alone while I'm serving my mission. Admittedly being within sight and sound of one person 7 days a week, 24 hours a day sometimes isn't the most fun thing in the world, but I've come to love it! I'm guaranteed to have someone to check my outfit or my hair for me, I always have someone to talk to when I have a bad day, and best of all, when the monsoons are a-stormin' and I'm out on my bicycle I'm not alone! My companion is right there beside me, peddling away and we can encourage each other to keep biking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGctbAEhr3S9XmjAwXRUoA82D41XWbQhW24_QzccQCOBcIp2zzWuwq6H_0KLUtGlmoL4k4Q-GnbRH1BtW0seQZ1N9cXawDjDYIDL8gvi5J0DTdXRIjpxqpBFdrNnfC5GcmkFtlNUT5dFY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGctbAEhr3S9XmjAwXRUoA82D41XWbQhW24_QzccQCOBcIp2zzWuwq6H_0KLUtGlmoL4k4Q-GnbRH1BtW0seQZ1N9cXawDjDYIDL8gvi5J0DTdXRIjpxqpBFdrNnfC5GcmkFtlNUT5dFY/s1600/photo.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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No matter the circumstance or animal involved, we are always there for each other!</div>
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Even when I'm not a missionary and I don't have a companion I'm never alone! And neither are you! We always have someone right next to us during the sunny days and during the most violent storms. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, understands every trial we go through and He supports us through everything. Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to communicate with Him. When we are in the midst of life's great trials we can get on our knees and pray to God for peace, comfort, and anything that we need.</div>
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In the New Testament in the book of Mark, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/4?lang=eng#" target="_blank">chapter 4</a>, Christ is traveling with his disciples on a boat. During the journey, Christ is sleeping and a great storm begins to rage and beat into the ship. The disciples were obviously a little scared, I don't blame them! They woke their Master and alerted Him to the fact that the ship was going to go down at any minute. He literally calmed the storm, He "rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Then He calmed the storm in His disciple's hearts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbWucDFD4Ore5INLiWLfNl5nEBp0jp9T2XR1Q5wXngI0D8Q_60HJ_4ruTxYseqS3r-7Q0PPr_WssldBOwbMhD_pWpqYIQ5w_5Wafdn-Sr6zClceeBw431YdYeJ0xUdskMC4B-hWMWqrq6/s1600/jesus-calms-the-storm-39557-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbWucDFD4Ore5INLiWLfNl5nEBp0jp9T2XR1Q5wXngI0D8Q_60HJ_4ruTxYseqS3r-7Q0PPr_WssldBOwbMhD_pWpqYIQ5w_5Wafdn-Sr6zClceeBw431YdYeJ0xUdskMC4B-hWMWqrq6/s1600/jesus-calms-the-storm-39557-gallery.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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Because He is the Christ, Jesus can calm any storm that is raging in our lives. He knows exactly how we feel and how we need to be comforted. I know that through the power of His Atonement anyone and everyone can find peace.<br />
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I invite those who read this to look for relief from their personal monsoons through studying the scriptures, prayer, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.<br />
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I can promise that through the gospel there are sunny days ahead :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-65989487541343824062014-07-10T16:46:00.002-07:002014-08-29T12:11:29.615-07:00A 5 Step Program For When You Have A Question About Mormons!<div style="text-align: center;">
I know this might be long shot, but I'm having faith that at least ONE person who reads this blog will have some sort of question about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As a missionary I'm here to answer questions and point people in the right direction! Since I can't answer every single question for every single person in the world, I made up some instructions to follow when a question emerges!</div>
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You can follow these steps in any order you want, when a question pops up just choose an option and hopefully you'll get an answer! Ideally you should try all of these options so you can get as much information as you can.</div>
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Ultimately, you'll have to decide if the answers you receive are true or not on your own. I'll give you an example:</div>
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<b>Q: Who wrote the Book of Mormon?</b></div>
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<b>A: Ancient prophets who lived at the same time as the Bible prophets wrote the Book of Mormon, they lived on the American continent and prophesied of Christ's birth and mortal ministry.</b></div>
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Ok, so hopefully that's a satisfactory answer. But no matter how much I tell you about the history of the Book of Mormon, it's not going to do anything for you until you find out that what I'm saying is true by yourself. With every single answer you receive about anything gospel related you should <b>pray about it</b> and have faith that God will answer you and tell you if it's true.</div>
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So here you are!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5 Steps to Take When You Have a Question about Mormons</b></span></div>
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<b>1. Go to mormon.org </b><br />
This is such a great website! You can find a page of frequently asked questions, a page of our beliefs and values, you can even chat with real live missionaries online! There are lots of cool features that are sure to answer your questions! Check out <a href="http://www.mormon.org/" target="_blank">mormon.org</a> right here!<br />
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<b>2. Ask a friend</b><br />
Maybe the reason you have a question is because you have a Mormon friend and you're curious about why they do or don't do something. Ask them! If you're honestly curious no one is going to be offended or feel awkward if you ask "why don't you drink coffee?" or "why would you go to church for 3 hours every Sunday?" Asking someone who belongs to the Church will be a much more reliable source than asking someone who isn't.<br />
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<b>3. Read the Book of Mormon</b><br />
The Prophet Joseph Smith once said "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." Our entire religion hangs on one book! If you want to know if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has any validity to it at all, read the Book of Mormon. I can promise you with all my heart that this book is true, but my promise won't mean anything until you read the book and pray about it!<br />
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<b>4. Meet the missionaries!</b><br />
There's a reason the church sends missionaries like me all over the world! If someone had a question about the church in Africa, they're covered, we have missionaries there! We sacrifice 18-24 months of our lives just for people like YOU! No matter who is reading this, we are serving for you! We are set apart as representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we are authorized to teach about the Church and everything we believe in. I guess you could say we're the 1-800 number on the back of the cereal box if you have any questions, comments, or concerns :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdZiLyTg-SsHdX-lhZ4FyxYSpd-6PLqJ3ZPYWPLER7Oe5OUqS3OUGl3Z3mrtXmIC4wQmbD4k2EnYTocnMHq8GcsUfvmeAxA4eAONTbNPmIfVghyzcbbPTy4itqCwEaYeki4US5j2p9uKc/s1600/bikes-210654-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdZiLyTg-SsHdX-lhZ4FyxYSpd-6PLqJ3ZPYWPLER7Oe5OUqS3OUGl3Z3mrtXmIC4wQmbD4k2EnYTocnMHq8GcsUfvmeAxA4eAONTbNPmIfVghyzcbbPTy4itqCwEaYeki4US5j2p9uKc/s1600/bikes-210654-gallery.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Who wouldn't want to ask these guys about Jesus? But I can promise you, whenever I ride my bike, I always wear my helmet!</div>
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<b>5. Attend church</b><br />
If you follow step 4 you will very likely be invited to take this step as well! You can find a church to attend no matter where you live (Find your meetinghouse <a href="https://www.lds.org/maps/#ll=33.449,-112.073&z=13&m=google.road" target="_blank">here</a>)! Every Sunday we gather as wards (congregations) and worship together. We start with sacrament meeting, held in the chapel. In this meeting we partake of the sacrament, listen to talks (speeches), and sing hymns together. The next two hours consist of Sunday School classes, Primary (for children from 3-12), Young Men and Young Women (Boys and Girls 12-18), and Relief Society and Priesthood classes (for adult women and men respectively). Church is a great time to learn about Christ, the Church, make friends, and find peace!<br />
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As you take one or more of these steps I can promise you that you will find the answers that you are looking for! Whether you question is "why don't Mormons go shopping on Sunday?" or "Where can I find peace for my life and my family?" you can find the answer!</div>
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I invite everyone who reads this to either take one of these steps or invite someone to do so. I know happiness can be found in this gospel.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-51226214770410451832014-07-04T12:44:00.000-07:002014-08-29T12:11:13.203-07:00Marriage Advice From Your Local Expert On Being Single<div style="text-align: center;">
Ok, I'll admit it. I use catchy titles to make people read my blog! The marriage advice will most definitely NOT be coming from me today!</div>
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But it will be coming... just remember that patience is a virtue.<br />
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints puts a strong emphasis on family and strengthening family relationships. In 1995 the prophet came out with a proclamation on the importance of families, the first paragraph reads:<br />
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<span class="dominant" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #39362d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="drop-cap" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-family: OFLSortsMillGoudyRegular, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 58px; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px 6px 0px -5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">W</span>E, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #39362d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;"> and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ 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.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #39362d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><br /></span>(Read the entire proclamation <a href="https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng" target="_blank">here.</a>)<br />
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Families are <b>central</b> to God's plan for us! That's why they're so important!<br />
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But, as we know, God's plan for us doesn't end after this life. So naturally, neither do families! Another paragraph of the Family Proclamation reads:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #39362d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">"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."</span><br />
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In temples we can be sealed for time and all eternity, meaning there is no "till death do you part!" We can literally be with our families <b>forever</b>!<br />
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Now your patience shall be rewarded: I'm going to talk about some of the advice that I've gotten for that distant future where I will be sealed to someone in the temple and start my own forever family.<br />
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On my mission I've met a lot of families. Like A LOT. And they've all been different! No two families are alike! I'm fairly convinced that the reason I was sent to Mesa on my mission was to have HUNDREDS of examples of how/who/what I need to be when I go home!<br />
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I've seen lots of different kinds of marriages and lots of different kinds of parenting techniques. I've slowly gone from thinking in my head "wow, cutest family ever, I wonder how they do it" to actually asking them "Ok, I need your help, how do you make your family so awesome?"<br />
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So I've been asking them! And I want to share some of the advice I've gotten with the world! <span style="color: magenta;">I'll be adding my own personal comments in pink, because I'm obviously an expert that has a lot to say on this subject.</span><br />
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<b>Communication is key, don't be afraid to ask your spouse to do things for you, compromise, talk about big decisions and purchases beforehand, you're allowed to take a few minutes to cool down before telling your spouse what is bothering you, be HONEST.</b><br />
<span style="color: magenta;">This is a collection of what <b>many many </b>people told me. Apparently good communication is kind of important! </span><br />
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<b>Don't fret the little things, don't worry if they don't load the dishwasher the same way as you, don't take anything personally, there are plenty of things that will happen that won't be worth fighting over, LET IT GO.</b><br />
<span style="color: magenta;">Love this! When two people get married they are trying to mesh together two very different lives, it makes sense that it won't fit together like a perfect puzzle piece at first. Being adaptable and teachable will make for a much easier time combining two different life styles.</span><br />
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<b>Hold hands, always sleep in the same bed even when you're angry, always always always always always APOLOGIZE!</b><br />
<span style="color: magenta;">I can't add anything to this, it's too perfect. BIG thank you to those who gave me this advice!</span><br />
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<b>Attend the temple often together, put God before your own desires, stay active in the gospel together, SERVE TOGETHER.</b><br />
<span style="color: magenta;">A marriage should be a triangle, it should be you, your spouse, and Heavenly Father. With all three of you working together you accomplish everything and get through anything!</span><br />
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<b>Last but not least, don't feel like you're settling, go into a marriage as an equal partnership.</b><br />
<span style="color: magenta;">If I'm going to spend eternity with someone, it's gonna have to be a good match. For lack of better words, to marry a TEN I'm gonna have to be a TEN. </span><br />
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So there you have the highlights of my collection of marriage advice. I'm hoping someday I get to put some of this advice into practice :)<br />
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I know that I can be with my family forever, both my family I have now and my future family. I know that temples are houses of the Lord and in them we can be sealed for time and eternity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMHDbE0-g7W5sHia5O72BUlARCy1DLOcqFXY93u3dwxjWnGIlDMxFHSM21K6mHbKChE2AnuiCazwBZZUBQG8Gsi3nqQvq4WdjzXEx9REfCom0by3DmtsE9jiK2w_N_5JFyfyyMpbnp7NF/s1600/family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMHDbE0-g7W5sHia5O72BUlARCy1DLOcqFXY93u3dwxjWnGIlDMxFHSM21K6mHbKChE2AnuiCazwBZZUBQG8Gsi3nqQvq4WdjzXEx9REfCom0by3DmtsE9jiK2w_N_5JFyfyyMpbnp7NF/s1600/family.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is from that one time I graduated high school, glad I get to spend eternity with these peeps!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-91837677187626720882014-06-27T15:08:00.001-07:002014-08-29T12:11:00.427-07:00Why should YOU go on a mission?<div style="text-align: center;">
So you're considering a mission? Maybe you're just considering considering a mission! Well, you've come to the right blog.<br />
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You can read all you want about how <b>I</b> decided to go on a mission <a href="http://questionsofasistermissionary.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-really-made-me-decide-to-go-on.html" target="_blank">here.</a> But today, I want to talk about YOU. Why should YOU go on a mission?<br />
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Keep in mind, all missions are very different, but I can promise you with all my heart that you can experience the same spiritual growth and blessings, no matter where you serve.<br />
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Since I'm a list person, let the list making commence!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why should YOU go on a mission?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>1. Being a missionary is a commandment, whether that means a full time mission or not. "And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my father. Amen." D&C 15:6. Heavenly Father wants <b>all </b>of His children to come back to Him someday, and He might need YOUR help to get them there. Maybe that means a full time mission, maybe that means you need to reach out to a neighbor or friend and share the gospel with them!<br />
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2. Seeing other people change changes you. Seeing other people turn toward Christ has a strong impact on your personal testimony. Seeing the sacrifices and changes other people go through to repent and come closer to Christ is extremely humbling and has helped me see how much more of my own life I could be giving for the gospel.<br />
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3. In addition to seeing other people change you get to see yourself change! Spending 16 hours a day (the other 8 sleeping), 7 days a week for 18 to 24 months thinking about and doing missionary work changes you a tiny little bit. Or a really big bit. You talk with thousands of people about religion, you have the privilege of being within sight and sound of one specific person 24/7, you spend hours and hours and hours studying gospel materials (553 hours {or over 23 full days} over a period of 18 months to be exact), you follow the Spirit in knowing how certain people can progress towards making covenants with Heavenly Father. All of these things (along with the other thousand things you do as a missionary) will bless your life and increase your knowledge of the gospel.<br />
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4. You can see what kind of return missionary you want to be. I've met a lot of return missionaries on my mission. As often as I can I try to get their advice and input on what it's like going home after a mission and adjusting to real life. When you come on a mission and see other people who have already been through their 18-24 months it helps put in perspective how short of a time we have to serve the Lord full time.<br />
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5. While you are gone, your family will be blessed. I know this may seem contradictory but I promise it's true. I see it in my own family and in other families with missionaries out. Your example of following Christ and serving Him will rub off on your family and friends and they will receive blessings as you are obedient and enthusiastic in missionary service.<br />
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6. Finally, last but not least, you will meet some of the best friends of your life on a mission! Companions, other missionaries, investigators and recent converts, the members, all of the people you get to interact with on a mission make for a lot of best friends and lasting memories. Look at Alma and Amulek in the Book of Mormon (Alma 8), they got to serve each other and preach the gospel together and they became the best of friends!<br />
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All in all, there are a lot of reasons you should go on a mission. But the bottom line is that you have to pray about it. Pray and ask your Heavenly Father what kind of missionary service He needs you to do. Maybe He needs you as a full time missionary, maybe He needs you as a service missionary, maybe He needs you as a member missionary, there are countless opportunities for you to help others come unto Christ!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-40760106231025006192014-06-11T14:59:00.001-07:002014-06-11T14:59:58.881-07:00Was that MY voice?!?<div style="text-align: center;">
To preface today's post I want to write a little bit about who the Holy Ghost is. The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead (Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost). He does not have a body but he is one of God's spirit children. He plays many roles in our lives. He comforts, teaches, bares witness of truth, cleanses, warns us of danger, and so much more.<br />
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For the sake of simplicity and me actually being able to write this post, we'll use one specific example from my own life about when I felt the Holy Ghost influencing me.<br />
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Once upon a time I was out running. I planned out my run so it would take about an hour, but I left a lot later than I had originally planned so it was already dark about half an hour into my run. The trail I was running was mostly lit, but not always. Now I was running in Eagle, Idaho, a tiny little town that's extremely safe. I had never before felt like I was in any danger there. This time however, I was coming up on one particularly dark stretch of trail covered by some trees. Creepy, right? I was running along feeling fine when I suddenly jerked to a stop. <b>I literally could not run any farther.</b> I wasn't out of breath, my legs felt fine, but I could not make myself move forward. I wanted to run my full hour but something inside me was telling me to turn around and run home.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question of the Day: Was that me or the Holy Ghost?</b></span><br />
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Now, let's evaluate. From one view point this could have been my body's natural fight-or-flight defense system kicking in, telling me that running in the dark wasn't the safest idea and maybe I shouldn't take my chances. But from another view point I thought something else had to have been guiding me. (Admittedly this is an extreme example, but hey, go big or go home right?)<br />
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Ok, I know you all are on the edge of your chairs with your noses an inch away from the computer screen. I'll let the suspense go. I turned around and ran home. Nothing happened and I was completely safe.<br />
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But anyway! When I got home I had time to think, "why did I receive that prompting? Was I being silly and scared? Or was there a real reason that I had to turn around?"<br />
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This seems to be the question of the dispensation! If you've never questioned whether a thought was your own brain making it up or an actual prompting from the Holy Ghost then I would like to meet you and learn all of your secrets to life and the universe.<br />
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"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.<br />
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For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.<br />
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.<br />
But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny Him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.<br />
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Moroni 7: 13, 15-17<br />
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Ok, Moroni, enough with the run on sentences. Let's break this down.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How To Tell if That Thought Was You or The Holy Ghost:</b></span><br />
<b>(According to Moroni)</b><br />
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1. Will the results of the thought/action be good?<br />
2. Will the thought result in service?<br />
3. Is the thought inviting you to make the right choice?<br />
4. Will the thought lead to any kind of happiness?<br />
5. Does the thought lead you to Christ?<br />
6. Does the thought lead away from Satan or anything he supports?<br />
7. Does the thought feel good?<br />
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If you answered yes to any of these questions, most likely, that thought was from the spirit!<br />
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Bottom line: If the thought was positive, it was from God. If the thought was negative, it was probably Satan. If the thought was about how you could really go for some ice cream right now, it was probably from me.<br />
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So, using my example, the thought I had to turn around and run home was probably the Spirit. I'll never know if there was actually any danger waiting around the dark corner, but I'm happier knowing that I was 100% sure of my safety by turning around and running home.</div>
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"The voice of the Spirit is described in the scripture as being neither 'loud' nor 'harsh.' It is 'not a voice of thunder, neither...voice of a great tumultuous noise.' but rather, 'a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper,' and it can 'pierce even to the very soul' and 'cause [the heart] to burn.' Remember, Elijah found the voice of the Lord was not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but was a 'still small voice.' </div>
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"The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all. (No wonder that the Word of Wisdom was revealed to us, for how could the drunkard or the addict feel such a voice?) </div>
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"Occasionally it will press just firmly enough for us to pay heed. But most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression, like Samuel of ancient times, 'Speak [Lord], for thy servant heareth.'"</div>
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President Boyd K. Packer</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-78236540752759358112014-06-04T11:11:00.000-07:002014-08-29T12:10:29.237-07:00My New Guardian Angel<div style="text-align: center;">
On Monday, June 2nd, 2014, I received an email informing me that my grandpa on my dad's side had passed away that morning.</div>
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It was a beautiful day. Despite the tears and the sense of loss and longing I felt oddly comforted knowing I had gained a brand new guardian angel.</div>
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George Steve Sparhawk. The only way I can think to describe him is through my personal memories of him. I can remember countless boat shows and boating trips on many a sail boat and kayak. I can remember picking up the phone and being asked "Am I talking to a pretty girl? It sounds like I'm talking to a pretty girl!!" </div>
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Before I left on my mission my family and I took a trip out to South Dakota to visit him and when we drove up in the mini van he teetered out onto the front lawn with his cane greeting us with his usual enthusiasm. During that visit I was allowed to take his sky blue '67 Mercedes Benz out for a short test drive. A few days later when we were packing up to leave he promised me that when I came home from my mission he would take me out on a real joy ride in the Mercedes.</div>
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After I left on my mission, I had been out for about 2 months when I got this picture in an email. My grandpa and his wife were baptized! And my little brother got to baptize them! It was the sweetest email I had ever received on my mission. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjNhu63VDwdPvTmP-Qk6JyYS2T2iyJyjEMgbX8d5ap7ITrRBRB84DZG_gziC0Cb_6JDZDodmGRz7jp2T12wlvl2sONhsO8AdDYAZ5kNmzMbJDyDOeI1A79Ewo1ixacTH4qgYBxvaD7VVD/s1600/gpa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjNhu63VDwdPvTmP-Qk6JyYS2T2iyJyjEMgbX8d5ap7ITrRBRB84DZG_gziC0Cb_6JDZDodmGRz7jp2T12wlvl2sONhsO8AdDYAZ5kNmzMbJDyDOeI1A79Ewo1ixacTH4qgYBxvaD7VVD/s1600/gpa1.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
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The morning he passed away I was compelled to study the Plan of Salvation from Preach My Gospel. It was so comforting and strengthened my testimony that families are forever. I was also comforted knowing that my grandpa had made essential covenants in this life and that those covenants would allow him to live with our Heavenly Father again.</div>
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I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my grandpa is in the spirit world making everyone laugh and helping others come to Christ. He loved the gospel and he loved the missionaries he got to work with. I know that I will see him again and that he won't be held down by the diseases that held back his mortal body in this life.</div>
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I know that he will be with me for the rest of my mission. He will be here to comfort me and encourage me when I need it. And I am eternally grateful for that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy57I0tP01W1wzVWlki-VIv_P7zK141SdT2R9QgLWWExYuNlQoOkf6wXnkNvnwIFKShH-ZhjbzRn1aQmU56mf8q8EKGitPOLSh8tO-d8dh8Qq1L6lgDGKq7ByL0Rmfuxa60CUM-N6NMHah/s1600/gpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy57I0tP01W1wzVWlki-VIv_P7zK141SdT2R9QgLWWExYuNlQoOkf6wXnkNvnwIFKShH-ZhjbzRn1aQmU56mf8q8EKGitPOLSh8tO-d8dh8Qq1L6lgDGKq7ByL0Rmfuxa60CUM-N6NMHah/s1600/gpa.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479598343485808950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8734155172580019653.post-44098163495070495332014-05-20T14:26:00.001-07:002014-08-29T12:10:17.552-07:00These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I want to share a few of my favorite things with you all. Some of these things are big deals that make all of life's trials worth going through and some of them are those little things in life that make every day a little sweeter.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Scriptures</span></div>
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Some people say life didn't come with an Instructions Manual, I would beg to differ. This is my Book of Life Instruction. Also known as The Holy Bible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. These four books of scripture make up the teachings of Jesus Christ, an account of His personal ministry, and revelation given to prophets throughout all time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTcz2anAcghAiO0HjIO7K1fQahVC52ASAPUX2Mbt5qIa2yV7HA2C0bK8-cp5LUT_2hYHpwFZF1kL3aEDBzzpFEWOfVOq_YNTMXd4YzHvljBzaIZJxG8e0dSo1GM1u272dpVUGDd91E7Dc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTcz2anAcghAiO0HjIO7K1fQahVC52ASAPUX2Mbt5qIa2yV7HA2C0bK8-cp5LUT_2hYHpwFZF1kL3aEDBzzpFEWOfVOq_YNTMXd4YzHvljBzaIZJxG8e0dSo1GM1u272dpVUGDd91E7Dc/s1600/photo.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have had this book since I was 8 years old! It was a gift to me when I was baptized. As you can see, this book has been well loved and well picked through. And I have yet to be disappointed! Whenever I have a question about anything I know I can turn to the scriptures and find doctrine to instruct me, examples from Christ's life that I can try to exemplify, and stories of prophets to inspire me to become a better disciple of Christ.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sharing the Gospel</span></div>
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Have you ever recommended a favorite book or movie to someone? I know that when I discover a new favorite flavor of ice cream I want to make sure the whole world knows about it! When something brings you so much joy and so many blessings, what do you have to lose by sharing that joy with others? </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ice Cream</span></div>
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Because how else am I supposed to keep cool during a hot Arizona summer day?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Temples</span></div>
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One of my favorite hymns is titled "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" Whenever I think about temples this song pops up in my mind. I know that temples are houses of the Lord, I know that being in the temple has given me so many opportunities for personal revelation and learning, I know that in the temple I can someday be sealed to my future husband (whoever he may be!) for time and all eternity. In the temple I can feel peace and I can feel close to the Lord.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Prayer</span></div>
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When I need advice, revelation, peace, comfort, or just some one to be there for me, I know I can turn directly to my Heavenly Father. Being able to communicate with my Creator has gotten me through some of the hardest times in my life and has also helped me celebrate some of the best times of my life.<br />
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"But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."<br />
2 Nephi 32:9</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Puppies</span></div>
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Honestly, who wouldn't have this on their list of favorite things?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Family</span></div>
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Last but far from least on my list of favorite things is my family. I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am today if I hadn't had my family to support me. I am so comforted knowing that we can be a family not only for this life but for eternity after this life! And I am so excited to someday have my own family, I only hope and pray that I can be half as good an example to my children as my mom and dad were to me.<br />
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