Never A Journey Left Alone

My life has taken left and right turns as I have gone down its path.  I have experienced many of life's challenges and difficulties.  However lone and dreary the path may have seemed, I cannot lay my head upon my pillow at night and say with an honest heart that Heavenly Father was not there.  Though I have been called to pass through some trials, I have always come through it, with His help, some even with greater strength than when it began.  There have been unseen hands that have guided me through the darkest of times.

When some speak of angels, some think of wings and pure white.  Others think of God, the heavens, or comfort beyond what words may capture.  I wish to paint a picture for you to follow, that you may know, angels do guide and protect us.  With life there is uncertainty, with God there is security.  He is mindful of us and has given His angels charge to watch over us.  They are truly a part of our lives, recognized and unrecognized, lifting us in times of need.  Through this mortal journey that we struggle on, there is never a point at which we are alone.

Its just not for me. Or is it?

If you haven't heard that phrase a thousand times, you've said it to yourself or even vocalized it many times.  The saddest claim I have heard in my life is when a person proclaims that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not for them.  Contrary to their thinking however, Christ suffered for all mankind, every soul that has lived, is living, or will ever live.  Therefore, the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. 

 

We may make excuses by saying that "these standards aren't for us," or "we just can't live this way or that," or that "its just too hard to be something that I'm not."  Everyone is a beloved son or daughter of God, that is our divine nature.  By cunning persuasion and temptation to weaknesses, the world pulls from our hearts the truth of who we really are, giving no place for heavenly things.  When our hearts become so set upon the world that we lose sight of who we really are, we fall into the mindset that "these things are just not for me."  I know we are children of God.  That is who we really are.  The path to following God is a path of everlasting happiness.  His love is for us.  His blessings are for those who keep His commandments, and they are given for our benefit, growth, and eternal protection.

Past Progression

Led to this wonderful place by design, I spent the past 6 months in the heart of our California Mission, beautiful Santa Rosa.  As you read from Elder Menasco and Sister Nestman, this place has truly changed our lives.  In the next few moments, I hope your heart will be touched with experiences that have strengthened my faith and helped me to have a greater desire to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is true that the people bring the change in our lives. 

Ever action has a consequence.  Every choice we make has an affect on our life and on the lives of others.  I reflect upon a family that has gently reminded me of this reality.  It was my privilege to come to know them and to share experiences with them, filling my heart with gratitude and love.  Two young men in this family I grew a particular love and respect for.  Despite their past decisions and the adversity that they have had to face, some as a result of their own bad decisions, they have shown me how to endure and be patient.  Their trials have not ceased even though they have made the decision to change their lives and seek for the better, in fact, it has increased in difficulty in many ways.  Every day they make the efforts to move their lives in a direction which pleases God.

Another young man touched my life in a way that he may not completely understand.  Brought to the knowledge of God though a dear friend of his, he was always willing to live the gospel that we taught.  It made me think back to the times that I struggled to follow the counsel Church leaders had given, how I tried to justify just small actions that may have not weighed eternal consequences.  However, I saw blessings come and saw blessings go.  Ben however, was always more than willing and happy to accept the invitation to follow the counsel the Lord gives us.  After his testing period of these changes in his life, he has come to live them.  Living the gospel is the greatest example that he has set for me and others.  It is in his smile, his family, and it is his life.

These people are just a few of the blessings that have come to my life.  It started with a call to serve in this beautiful place and ends with the hearts of these people.  They bring the spirit into my life, to bring a change and a desire to live better.  These people are what make the difference.  My heart is changed.  My perspective anew.  My life is the Lord's.  Why?  Because these are his children, I am his Son, and He is the way.  I have experienced and seen others share the same change as we have made progress to move closer to Christ.  Our past does not weigh us down, we arise each day with a bright hope.  With a willing heart, we find the blessings of heaven.  I have been touched.  Check out Elder Dane Jones post on Saturday! He will update us on the blessings he has seen here!

"Wherever He Leads Me"




 

In the mission field, we move around pretty often.  As I have moved from place to place, one question is frequently asked, "Is it hard to leave?"  At first, I was not really sure how to respond to that question, because there is an exciting part of moving onto a new area to serve, yet, there are so many people that you glow close to.  I feel it is similar to growing up.  We make friends and find ourselves taking different paths for school, sports, or otherwise.  However, I have come to know that wherever we are, the Lord can be with us.  We may have to leave our family or friends to go to school or when we are married, but we never forget those people.  It is the same for missionary work; I will never forget the people.  Life will take us where it may, but we may know that the Lord will never leave us to be alone.  I will continue to go wherever he leads me.

A Choice of Life or Death...




  I have been thinking a lot lately about the reasons why people change their lives.  What stirs within a person to drive them to change their life?  As I have come to understand more fully the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have seen that we need the Savior's help to create a lasting change in our lives.  I believe that we change because we feel something inside our hearts pressing at our souls, desiring something greater.  There is a choice that we must ultimately face: Are we willing to follow Christ for the rest of our lives, to make the changes necessary so that we may return to our Heavenly Father to live in happiness or not?  "I would that [you] should look to the Great Mediator, and [obey] his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life" (2 Nephi 2:28).

"I Have A Family Here On Earth, They Are So Good To Me"

Maybe I am just trying to get back in touch with my childhood, but I find it easy to remember all the songs I used to sing in church as a little kid.  There is a beauty about the simplicity of the message that they share and an even greater beauty to the depth of its meaning.  I have pondered many times on the words to the Hymn: "Families Can Be Together Forever" and considered it truth in my own life.  I am one of the lucky kids who grew up in a good home, raised by good parents, with good siblings.  Life has not always been perfect but things have been easier because I have parents who care and sisters who support me.  "The family is ordained of God" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).  In my family, we were never alone, we always cared for and respected each other.  I know that God has prepared a way for our families to be happy and to live together forever and I'm grateful for the blessings of the holy temples that provide us that possibility.  I hope to live in a manner in which I may see them gathered with my Heavenly Family. 

"Heavenly Father, Are You Really There...?"

The words of a children's hymn often stick with my heart.  "Heavenly Father, are you really there?  And do you hear and answer every child's prayer?"  ("A Child's Prayer").  I have felt His love often.  In the dark when I was afraid as a child, in my heart as I prayed for comfort during a time of trial, or in the middle of the day when I see hundreds of other people and wonder if I really matter to him.  It comes as a quiet and gentle reassurance, He is there.  He does answer our prayers.  Just as a young boy, Joseph Smith, prayed to find God, we too can.  We are His children and "everyone that asks, receives; everyone that seeks, finds, (3 Nephi 14:7-8), that is His promise.

Where Can I Turn For Peace?



The Resurrection: He Lives

 Life can often be chaotic, uneasy, or even uncertain.  However hard our trials may become or unclear our path in front of us may become, I know we can always turn to the Savior for comfort, peace, and guidance.  As long as we know that Jesus Christ lives, and most importantly, that he loves us, we can always remember the promise he leaves us, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).  I echo the words of a familiar hymn, "I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives!" (I Know That My Redeemer Lives - LDS Hymn # 136).

What Is Your Desire?

Lately, I have been thinking about some of the things we heard from the apostles just a week ago.  One topic in particular was about our desires.  I have been thinking about my desires and how that has shaped me into who I am at this moment.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming" (Desire). 

One desire I have is to improve my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  Daily communication, or prayer, is essential and even vital to gaining and maintaining a relationship with Him.  I struggle, like almost everyone else does, with making morning or evening prayer heartfelt and meaningful.  At times we may even doubt, but what I have come to find is that our Heavenly Father is always listening.  Our sincere prayers do not fall upon deaf ears or idle hands.  He is ready and willing to answer, our receiving is a matter of our sincerity and real intent (Enos 1:3-4).

Never Alone...

Through my life I have wondered at times if anyone knew what pain I was going through.  Of course I had freinds, like most do, who are willing and ready to come to the rescue and help us.  But what about the times when the pain we go through, our friends have not experienced?  Their words bring momentary comfort, their affection brings a small sense of security, but pain creeps back in once they have left.  

I have come to rely on, and find solace in the selfless act the Savior provided or us.  There is a pain that we cannot understand, but we can know that he did it for us, that "he may know...how to succor his people" (Alma 7:11-12).  I have felt devastating holes of disappointment and discouragement filled through the power of His atonement.  I have felt the hopeless pains and ever lonely sorrows of life experience lifted from my life and an abiding peace and heavenly assurance fill holes I thought would never heal.  One recently has said, "The Savior is not a silent observer. He Himself knows personally and infinitely the pain we face" (The Atonement Covers All Pain).  Let us always remember, especially through our pains, we are never alone, nor will we ever be.  "Come unto me...and ye shall find rest to your souls" (Matthew 11:28-30).

Our Faith Can Make Us Grow

I remember back when I was a boy, I would often go to the store with my mom and keep her company while she shopped.  I would always ask for a hundred things that we never needed, but for some reason she was always willing to let me get just a little something.  I used to love to get the magic grow animals.  These little toys just intrigued me; you just drop them in water and they would grow to be huge!  Although I lacked the patience to sit and watch them grow, I would find myself coming back to the glass to observe them and see how they grew.  I was always astonished at how long it would take for these animals to grow, but I knew that by the end they would reach their full potential. 

We, in many ways, are like these little animals.  Often times we may feel small or inadequate or as if we cannot measure up to the tasks that we sometimes face in life.  However, just like placing us these animals in water, we too must build up our faith and immerse our lives around that.  As we do so, we begin to see not only our faith, but we ourselves grow.  Our faith begins to become manifest in our daily lives (Alma 32:41).  Although we may not notice this growth over night, as we look back on our lives we will see that change has occurred, despite the slow process.  Like these animals, however hard things may get, we must not be removed from our reservoirs of faith, or we will ultimately shrink noticing our insecurities and inadequacies once again.  We must continue to grow, and we will if we but continue to immerse ourselves completely in our faith in Christ.

Stepping Stones

Lately, I have been thinking about how we overcome our struggles and change.  I have thought back on sports and how there was so much change for me, before I was really any good.  I swam for many years and enjoyed it, but it became very frustrating when I was not performing to the ability I felt I could.  As I struggled, practice after practice, trying to find out why I could not do better, I finally turned to coach, and asked him for help, because simply pushing through on my own was not doing the trick.  After having countless hours of stroke technique and changing the habitiual ways, I soon found myself slowing down and doing worse.  Discouragement set in and I thought it wasn't going to work.  But with the help of my coach, I learned that persistance in the change would bring the greatest outcome, and though it felt uncomfortable, it would not be long, until it became natural. 

This is a lot like living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We come to believe in Christ and try to change our lives to live how God wants us to.  But no matter how hard we try, we cannot make that change alone.  We cannot rely on our own strengths, or will power to get us through, we need the help of Jesus Christ.  Then, just like coach, He will shape us into who we need to be to return to Him, and achieve peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.  And though the way may be hard, it is not impossible, though the habits we must break seem too difficult, it can be done, and He will be there to help us every step of the way.  I know that change may take time, but it will become natrual and it will become who we are.

The Island Chill

Bula Vinaka! (Hello in the Islands of Fiji).  Just the other day, I was serving with my good friend and Fijian warrior, Elder Volavola.  As we were going through our day, we shared experiences on how the Gospel has brought peace to our lives and shaped us into who we are today.  We talked about some of the attributes the Savior has and has perfected; purity being one that our focus fell on.  There is an attraction and a joy that comes from being pure and seeing purity in others.  After all this, of course we found ourselves talking about Fiji water, which is the best and most pure water!

There is an island in Fiji that is surrounded by tropical forests.  Upon such, sits a waterfall that flows from the mountains, whose environment remains uninhabited by people.  This environment that is created has allowed for these waters to flow purely and remain perfectly untainted by unnatural and other unclean things.  Because of this, we get one of the best tasting waters in the world!  (If you don't believe us, try it.)  Just like the water that flows so freely and unaltered by man's hand, so too must our lives remain free from the tainted hands of the world.  We must keep our hearts and minds pure, so that the love of God can flow as freely and purely from us, as these waters do from the falls in Fiji. As we seek to become pure, even as the Savior, we will feel our lives drawing closer to His, (Moroni 7:47-48).

Just Like Playing Ball...




  Today's blog is coming to you from the best Canadian I know, my brother from another mother...Elder Bohnet! (That will also explain why he chose Steve Nash as the basketball player).  Have you ever been watching a basketball game and been like, man that guy is such a good shooter. I have played basketball a little and I think I'm a... decent shooter, and I know the work that goes into becoming a good shooter. When we are watching the game we only see the what that person has become, we don't always see how they got there. It takes a long time practicing, a lot of frustration, at times, and some excel quicker than others. Those who push through the rough days and keep going are the ones who become something great.

This is true in our own spirituality. I often look at others and think wow, that person is really spiritual. They didn't become like that overnight. I'm sure that it took hours of study and prayer. I'm sure sometimes they felt hopeless and that there prayers were not being answered. If we push through those hard times and diligently seek out our Father in Heaven the answers will come. A Book of Mormon prophet said, "And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst," (Alma 32:42). The key is to be patient, diligent, and have faith. If we do, we can come to know spiritual truths and feel the joy and satisfaction that comes from living the Gospel.

What Draws Me There?

This morning while I was looking at this picture, I thought of how bad I wanted to be there.  I think of good friends and missionaries that surround me, and I want to be with them.  I started to wonder, what is it that draws me to want to be with these people, or at this place?  One may suggest, because beauty.  Another, the bond or connection.  Another may say it is because of a neat, clean appearance.  Or it may be the atmosphere of love and comfort.  All of these give me a vision of what heaven may be.

I define draw, partly, as a means of pulling up or out of despair.  We know that everyone that is born with the light of Christ, (Moroni 7:16), and that this inward force drives us to do right and come to God.  To completely define draw, in this manner, it is an effect that causes us to be pulled out of despair and to move continuously towards God.  These things that draw me to Him, are places or people previously designed by the Lord to bless my life.  I know this applies to us all.  A scripture to help understand this, is found in Jeremiah 31:3.   "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." 

I am drawn to these places because of the love that I feel.  That love is everlasting.  That love is the perfect, and fills our souls with peace and joy.  May we draw close to Him as He draws close to us.

Power to Heal

Let The Children Come

Elder Bohnet and I just got done teaching one of our friends about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As we have reflected upon what that consists of; faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and enduring to the end, we thought of why we love talking about this so much.  We both decided it is because of Jesus Christ, and how he makes us feel!  

As I have come to know my Savior and older Brother, Jesus Christ, one thing I always marvel at is the power that he has to heal us.  I think of the mistakes that overwhelm our past, the worries that cloud our future, and the burdening guilt that once weighed down our hearts.  I think of that only for a moment.  I have come to accept, apply, and appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life.  I have felt the power he has to lift burdens and heavy hearts, diminish worries, and replace doubts with a bright hope.  He has all power to heal us physically, but there is a healing that takes a perfect love and patience, and that healing is spiritual healing.  I think of a scripture in the Book of Mormon, when the Savior appears to the people and tells them, "come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal [you]..."(3 Nephi 18:32).

I know that the Lord will heal all who come unto Him, with full purpose of heart.  I know that is because he has an unconditional and an everlasting love for us.  He can heal us. He can make us whole.

What Of My Testimony?

While studying the scriptures the other morning and Elder Bohnet and I began a discussion on the topic of  faith and our testimonies.  We read the account of Joseph Smith after he had seen a vision of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  He was persecuted for what he saw, and many people attempted to make him deny this heavenly witness.  But, Joseph Smith recorded, "I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true...I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, (Joseph Smith - History 1:25). "

I quote an Apostle of the Lord, Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "That was Joseph Smith’s testimony. What about ours? How can we come to know and testify that what he said was true? How does one gain what we call a testimony?"  I promise as you read this talk "Testimony" and ponder its meaning, you can come to know that what was spoken is true, and come to know, as I do, that Joseph Smith did see what he said he saw.  I promise if you do this, our Father in Heaven will answer you.

Power of the Spirit!

Check out the talk! "Serve with the Spirit" 

I came across this talk because one of our Sunday classes, taught by Greg Orr.  In this talk, is found many ways  that we can come closer to the Spirit and be guided by it in our lives.  President Henry B. Eyring gives us some wonderful words of advice and support as a prophet, seer, and revalator of our Heavenly Father.

One thing spoken seeemed to press on my heart and I felt the Spirit testify to me that these things are true:
"Our humility and our faith that invite spiritual gifts are increased by our reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures...when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully."

What Do We Give To God?

Thursday we had a baptism! It was a great day, and a great time to feel of the spirit.  Baptism is an essential step that we all must take to return to the presence of God.  In the time leading up to the baptism, I have been thinking a lot about the changes that this young man has made to bring his life in line with the will of God.  I have thought about who he has become, and who he can eventually become.  I encourage you to think about who you want to become and what you should do to become the person the Lord would have you be. 

A Book of Mormon prophet, King Benjamin, taught, "For the natual man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth of the natrual man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord..." (Mosiah 3:19).  Another righteous group of people spoken of in the Book of Mormon, "did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. (Helaman 3:35).

Through Jesus Christ, we can change and become more like him.  We must put aside our own passions and appetites and be subject to the will of God.  We must choose to be humble and teachable.  It may be hard, but the Savior will help us.  If we are willing to obey, we will "become saints through the atonement of Christ."

"Come What May and Love It"

This month has been a month of trial, for me, for friends, and for those that are close to me.  I have found the words of an Apostle of the Lord, Joseph B. Wirthlin, bringing my soul comfort and peace. "Come What May, and Love It", was a beautiful talk given just a few years ago, and it brought my family through a difficult time.  I often return to this talk as a reminder that even though we may go through trials and struggles, we have a choice of how we react. 

Life will be what it is regardless of what we know or what we believe.  But I have found that the gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me hope and helped me persevere through these hard times.  The gospel is here to help us have that vision, not to take away our struggles.  I am so grateful for the hope and peace that the Savior's sacrifice and the gospel's perspective has given my life.  May we all remember that in times of struggle that we have a responsibility to act, and not to merely be acted upon (2 Nephi 2:14).
Watch his video at: Mormon Message: Come What May, and Love It

Always Remember Him

I have been thinking back on my childhood life and all of the fun that it was.  I also reflected upon the times where there was mistakes and mishaps, particularly when I have walked away scarred from injury.  I have these little reminders, one on my forehead, one on my hand, and another on my foot.  All of these scars help me to explain a story.  As I look at them, I am reminded of how they came to be there.  My mind plays back the most vivid and remarkable scenes of just how these scars came about, they have become, so to speak, my little marks of remembrance. 

As a young boy, I seemed to love to flaunt these scars and tell everyone I knew how I got them.  It made my story better when I told them how bad it hurt, or how I didn't even cry when I got stitches.  They were to me and to everyone I told, evidence that these events had actually happened. 

Those events and that thought, pull me back to the Savior.  To those whom He appeared, the prints in His hands and feet bore witness that he truly is the Son of God.  D & C 6:36-37 tell us of a promise as we remember Him.  In remembering the pains that brought our scars, let us also remember Him, who willingly accepted these scars, that mark Him our Savior and Redeemer.  Let us remember to believe in Him and to follow Him.  To his scars, it is not just a story, but it is quite literally His life and glory.  I know that He lives and loves us and we are blessed as we believe in Him, John 20:26-29.

"We are the children of God"

Worth of a Soul

Someone close to me expressed something that she fears, as she is changing her life and trying to come closer to the Savior.  As my companion and I shared with her our desire for her to come to understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ more fully, I found myself pondering upon my life and how change had brought up some of my worst fears.  As we listened closer, I have come to feel that this fear was more internal; the question of self worth. 

There is a worry that comes to us when we change our lives, when we come to wonder if we must truly move past the places where we once felt most comfortable.  Will we be good enough for the new group of people that we will associate with, or will these new set of values that we will live really make me free?  I have pondered about this for a few days and a certain hymn comes to mind, which touched my heart and awakened my spirit to a sense of healing that Christ offers to us all, as we change and become something new.

"Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish;
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.

Here bring your wounded hearts; here tell your anguish.
Earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot heal."

"Come Ye Disconsolate"

There are fears, doubts and pains that trouble our souls, but as we go though these experiences a feeling of hope and joy may flood our souls as we read the words of prophets of old, Romans 8:16-17.  We are all God's children, and he loves each of us.  Doctrine and Covenants 18:10, 13.  We are of worth to Him.