the trial of our faith

lately i have been down a rough road. the end of my mission is drawing nigh and the work in my current area has been a bit slow and more difficult than any other area that i have served in. everyday that i wake up i fight with myself and it takes all  that i have to get up and get going. now i am not one that will give in or give up easily. i like to fight and i like that challenge, but this is a time that has been harder that any other time on my mission. i know that a mission can be hard but i never thought it would be this hard. i have been praying earnestly and fervently for strength and patience and acceptance with what i have been facing. i know that my Father in Heaven is with me and that he does love me, but i have truly felt alone lately.
   a couple of days ago i was reading my scriptures in 3 Nephi 26 and i came across verse 11, and it hit me hard what the lord said, "I will try the faith of my people." he really does try our faith. i knew at this point that i was and still am facing a trial in my life, because He wants me to grow and to prepare for what is next. i know that He is with me. He led me and helped me to understand, that just as the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 121:7 reads, "..., peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment."
   it is great to know that as we read the scriptures that we can be taught and can receive so many answers to our prayers. as i was getting ready to blog today about trials i remembered a scripture found in Ether 12:6 that reads, "...I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." we really do receive so many blessings after we go through trials and as we fight for what is right. trials help us to know what it is that the Lord would have us do in our times of need and discouragement. when we are willing to follow after Him then we are showing that we are "walking by faith and not by sight' (2 Cor 5:7)
  trials really are for us to grow and learn. even though i have had a hard time personally, i know that it is only through our trials that we can find ourselves. after all it is not our trial that defines us but refines us.
  when i think about this as i have relived all of this as i have typed, i realize that i am fighting i am not giving in and that Heavenly Father is with me and He always has been. i know that He loves me, i just need that reminder ever so often. it is about fighting with Christ not against him that matters the most, and has helped me to continue moving. not stopping for even a brief moment, unless it is a time for learning and teaching.
  our purpose is to prepare to meet God (Alma 34:32), and if that means going through trial after trial then i will make it through, because i know that i am being perfected every step of the way. i know that because our Heavenly Father loves us and that he will continue to guide us and help us to make it through. we need to take His arm that he has so graciously and mercifully offered unto us.

Choose This Day

this is something that i have thought about lately. it is something that i cannot stop thinking about actually.
   i was reading in 3 Nephi 13:24 that reads, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." these kind of scriptures always bring me back to a wonderful quote that my dear friend came up with "they both know you but only one loves you, so who will choose?" which draws me to the scripture found in Joshua 24:15 that reads, "...choose you this day whom ye will serve;..."
   as president Eyring spoke in his message that it is so important for us to choose this day. he also metioned this,
     "As the risen Savior, He is this day and forever the Light of the World. It is He who invites us to come unto Him and serve Him, without delay. His encouragement to you and to me is this: “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."
      That is as true of a day as it is of a life. A morning prayer and an early search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the course of a day. We can know which task, of all those we might choose, matters most to God and therefore to us. I have learned such a prayer is always answered if we ask and ponder with childlike submission, ready to act without delay to perform even the most humble service."
  as we serve the lord and as we choose to follow after Him we will be eternally blessed. what a great choice we can all make.
   as we all have a choice to make, i ask you to think about who truly loves you and wants you to be happy.

come unto Christ

how do we come unto Christ? this is something i have really been searching out lately. there are always the  answers of going to church, praying, doing service, loving one another and reading the scriptures. i have been trying my best to do all of these things, especially reading my scriptures more often. it is great to because as i was reading my scriptures i came across some verses that explain how we can come unto Christ as he has invited us to do so in 3 Nephi 9:14 which reads, " Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I recieve; and blessed are those who come utno me."
   now how is that we come? in Mosiah 3:19 it reads, "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, foreve and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to sumbit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." by putting of the natural man we can come closer to Christ and follow him with a  full heart and purpose. we are able to feel the Holy Spirit stonger and we can be guided by him and feel of his love.
   there are promised blessings that come to us as we come unto Christ. one of these promised blessing we can read about in 3 Nephi 9:22 which reads, "Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will i recieve, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again: therefore repent and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved."
     i love the hymn Come unto Jesus because it puts it so simply the things that Christ will do for us and how we can truly come unto him.

                     Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden, care worn and

fainting by sin oppressed. He'll safely guide you

unto that haven where all who trust him may rest, may rest

Come unto Jesus; He'll ever heed you, though in the

darkness you've gone astray. His love will find you

and gently lead you from darkest night into to day, to day

Come unto Jesus; He'll surely hear you, if you in

meekness plead for his love. Oh, know you not that

angels are near you from brighetest mansions above, above

Come unto Jesus from every nation, from every

land and isle of the sea. Unto the high and

lowly in station, ever he calls, "come to me, to me."

 Christ has invited all to come unto him and to follow him. there are many blessings that await us as we do. it makes me think of my best friend who once told me "they both know you but only loves you, so who will you follow?" what a great question. i know that Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ do love us and they want what is best for all of us. they truly will guide us and lead is safely home as we choose to follow after them. come unto Jesus and he will guide you. 

the role of the holy ghost

i was reading in preach my gospel (a missionary guide) about the role of the Holy Ghost and i came across this, "....The Holy Ghost has a santifying,cleansing effect upon us. The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ and helps us recognize the truth. He provides spiritual strength and helps us do what is right. He comforts us during times of trial or sorrow. He warns us of spiritual or physical danger. The Holy Ghost provides thepower by which we teach and learn. The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of our Heavenly Father's most precious gifts. Through the power of the Holy Ghost we can feel God's love and direction for us. The gift is a foretaste of eternal joy and a promise of eternal life. "

      the Holy Ghost really does have a huge  responsibility, and i am so grateful that he is so understanding and patient with us, with me. i have definitely felt of his love, comfort, peace, joy and strength. i would not have made it this far without him. i am so incredibly grateful for this wonderful gift that i have, that of the Holy Ghost. it truly is a powerful gift that is given to us by a wonderful and loving Heavenly Father. the role of the Holy Ghost is one that can only be guided by one who truly does know us and love us, that one is Heavenly Father.

what does it mean to HEARKEN?

this past weekend we had stake conference in Lansing and the President Ritchie gave a wonderful talk about listening to the spirit. in his talk he mentioned the word HEARKEN and how it means to not only listen but to also do. this is something that has really stuck with me ever since, so i decided to search it out a bit more.
in a talk given by Russell M. Nelson (LDS.org - Ensign Article - Listen to Learn) he talked about the meaning of HEARKENing in all different ways. Elder Nelson mentioned that HEARKENing is linked to obeying. in the talk that he gave it is noted in the footnotes (15) that "the word obey comes from two Latin roots: the prefix ob “to” or “toward,” and the root audio, audire “to hear” or “to listen.” This root occurs in words such as audio, audience, or auditorium. Literally, then, the word obey means “to hear or to listen toward,” that is, “to comply."
so when we think about HEARKENing to the counsels of the Lord, are we obeying? to HEARKEN is not to only listen to, but to also go and do. i have thought a lot about this question in my own life, and there are many times that i have heard the counsels of the Lord, but i have not done what he asked me to do.
here is a silly story for you: when i was serving in the area of Cadillac, Michigan it came to be transfer time, and i had to go to the Grand Rapids for a few days before i got my new companion. as i was packing to leave i kept getting the impression that i should really take my snow boots. people kept telling me that it was going to snow, but i did not really believe them. so as i kept packing i kept getting the impression to take my snow boots. well me being stubborn did not want to take them, because i did not think that it was going snow and i also did not want to lug them around everywhere that i went (they were quite the snow boots). did i HEARKEN? truthfully i did not. so we got to Grand Rapids and of course there was not snow and no sign of snowing either, so i thought good thing that i did not bring my snow boots. well come that next morning there was eight inches of snow on the ground. so what did i not do...... HEARKEN! i should have HEARKENed to the spirit. after all he kept telling me to take my snow boots. so i trudged around in the snow for a couple of days in my regular missionary shoes with very cold feet. now if i would have only HEARKENed, my feet would have been a whole lot warmer. i have definitely learned my lesson in HEARKENing to the spirit.
there is a scripture found in 2 Nephi 9:29 that reads, " But to be learned is good if they HEARKEN unto the counsels of God." how true this scripture is. that is something else that Elder Nelson talked of, that the Hebrew word for both HEARKENing and obedience is the term shama' which means to "to hear intelligently." by HEARKENing we are learned, we are becoming like our Savior and our Father in Heaven, we are obedient.
as we HEARKEN to the spirit and as we learn to obey, we are promised great blessing from our Heavenly Father. remember that HEARKENing is not merely listening but it is doing!

Go forth with faith

 in Moroni chapter 9, Mormon is writing an epistle to his son Moroni and he is telling him of all the calamity that is going on between the nephites and the lamanintes. there is a lot of bad things going on and Mormon begins to tell his son in verses 3 and 4, "... for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth the up continually to anger one with another." " Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when i speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when i use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, i fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them."
  Mormon is having a hard time teaching the people because they are not willing to listen. there are times that i definitely feel this way, that no one is listening. it can be hard to share the gospel at times, but we are promised that as we do we will be blessed and we will be able to conquer that Satan, we can not give up or give in.
  Mormon continues to tell Moroni in verse 6, "And now, my beloved son, not withstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God."
   GO FORTH WITH FAITH!!!!!!!!!!! just as the hymn says to go and "tell the world of Jesus Christ the Lord. Bear witness that he is God's own son; proclaim his wondrous word. GO FORTH WITH HOPE and courage strong to spread the word abroad that people of all nations are children of or God (psalms 82:6). GO FORTH WITH LOVE to tell the world the joy of families. that we may be with those we love through all eternity, GO FORTH TO SERVE and do your best with no thought of reward. then you shall know the boundless joy of serving Christ, the Lord. GO FORTH WITH POW'R to tell the world the gospel is restored, that all may gain eternal life thru Jesus Christ, the Lord. GO FORTH TO PREACH his glorious truths of peace, of joy, and love, that all who heed his holy word may praise the Lord above."
    even when times do get hard and we feel that no one is listening this is when we need to send out that rallying cry that President Eyring speaks of "REMEMBER HIM!" ( general conference address april 2010 in the preisthood session). this is why i am here on a mission is to invite others to come unto Christ. it can be hard but as i REMEMBER HIM and GO FORTH FAITH i have the courage to stand against the enemy of all righteousness.
   lets all follow the counsel that has been given to us Mormon and also President Eyring to go out and to the best that we can to share the gospel to all of God's children!

GOD BLESS AMERICA

i was studying in Alma 43 and 44 when Moroni becomes the chief captain of the Nephite armies and leads them into battle against the Lamanites.
  the Lamanites are not very good men and they are out to destroy the Nephites, to put them into bondage. now the Nephites do not necessarily want to fight, but they know that they must protect their homes, liberties, families and religion.
   reading about how Moroni prepared his men for battle and the strategies that went behind all the attacks amazed me. Moroni was definitely a man that was led by God to preserve a nation.
   as i read these two chapters in the Book of Mormon it made me reflect a lot about those who fight in the armed forces now. i have quite a few friends that we actually a part of the armed forces. i even know of a few men and women who are out fighting now. i actually really started to think about one my best friends whose husband is in Afghanistan right now. i thought a lot about the sacrifice that he is making to fight for our country and those that are with him as well. i also though about my best friend who is at home without a husband or father and the courage that she has as well. when i pondered about this i realized that they are both fighting for our freedoms, homes, liberties, religion  and children. how grateful i am for all of the sacrifices that they make for an entire nation. i thank you!
   how blessed we are to live in a country that we may worship how where or what we may. how grateful i am for such a privilege to be able to support the country and those who fight for it. i am thankful for every person who goes out to defend their country.
   later in Alma 46:12  Moroni hoist the title of liberty which states, "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children". now this is something worth fighting for. we can also be defensive in other ways as well, by being steadfast and immovable and always abounding in good works. we can be true folloers of Jesus Christ and do as he would do. we can be an example of the believers. we can stand for truth and righteouness. we can be more Christ like in words, actions and deeds.
   as we go forth in faith the Lord will bless us and keep us safe. i encourage all to hoist their title of liberty and to defend God!
 

" tree of life "

 in Alma 32 it talks about faith and how it is like a seed, that if planted and nourished that it will grow.
  in verse 28 it reads,
    Now, we will compare the word unto a ssed. 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 to me.
   this scripture made me think of the tree of life, which represents eternal life, that is spoken of in 1 Nephi 8 and 11, when Lehi has a dream about the tree of life and when Nephi wants to understand the dream that his father had.
   the seed that we plant and nourish can spring up to this tree. this tree is what we know to be the love of God. which we can read in 1 Nephi 11: 21-22, " And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things." we we plant the seed within us and nourish it, we begin to feel so much more of the love of God.
   so how do we nourish this seed? by reading the scriptures, praying continually, going to church, serving others, attending the temple regularly, fulfilling our church callings, consecrating our all, being Christlike, putting off the natural man, following the prophet, heeding the promptings of the Holy Ghost and by loving others. there are so many other things that we can be doing as well. i know that as we strive to be like Jesus that we can be filled with the love of God.
   it is amazing to me that every time i open the scriptures and when i listen to the counsels of Heavenly Father, whether it be through the Holy Ghost or the mouth of His prophet, my testimony in the gospel is strengthened ten fold. this past weekend when i was listening to general conference i kept hearing the apostles and the prophet talk about faith and planting the seed of faith and how it can grow into an everlasting tree. it dawned on me that this is what i wanted to blog about. it is what i have been studying and pondering about for the last little while. the church is so true!
  as we all plant that seed of faith in our lives and nourish it with the good word of Christ, i promise you that you will be filled with the love of God.
   now what if we do not have the faith strong enough to nourish the seed? in Alma 32:27 it reads, "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 give place for a portion of my words." i love this scripture because it puts it so plainly and well, that we can "experiment" and "let the desire work inside of us". when we do as we are asked to do then we are promised that we will be blessed. our tree will grow and we will be able to have a portion of his words.
  i am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who shows unto us the things that we must do to return to live with Him. He truly is our loving Heavenly Father. i am so thankful to be apart of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints, for i kow that it the one true church on the earth today
   i encourage all of you to take this challenge that Alma has put forth, to plant a seed of faith and to nourish it, and watch it begin to grow. will you plant your seed of faith?
  .

it is that wonderful time of year....

come one and come all..... it is conference time again. what is conference, some of you may be asking? well every six months, april and october, we get to hear from the prophet (Thomas S. Monson) and the apostles as well as other general authorities from the church. it truly is a great time of year.

   being able to get counsel from the prophet and other authorities is such a  blessing. they truly do strengthen us and help to come closer to our Heavenly Father.

  for me it the best way to start off the holiday season and helps me to remember the Savior through it all.

  i encourage you all to watch it and put your spiritual ears on and be ready to receive answers to prayer. i know that as you listen with an open heart and mind and a desire to learn that you will feel of Heavenly Father's love for you.

   it is this saturday, 2 October 2010 and sunday, 3 October 2010. the times vary to where you live. in Utah the sessions are from 10-12 pm and then again from 2-4 pm. so if you go off that you can find what time it starts in your area. it is a broadcast and can be found on BYU TV or at your local LDS church, you can also mainstream from the internet on lds.org . now each session is different in both topic and speakers.

  during the april conference President Thomas S. Monson left us with a prophetic blessing, "

Now, as we come to the final moments of this conference, my heart is full and my feelings tender. I express my love and gratitude to you. Thank you for your prayers in my behalf and in behalf of all of the General Authorities of the Church. The Lord hears your prayers and blesses us and directs us in the affairs of His kingdom here upon the earth. For this we are deeply grateful.
As we leave this conference, I invoke the blessings of heaven upon each of you. As you return to your homes around the world, I pray our Heavenly Father will bless you and your families. May the messages and spirit of this conference find expression in all that you do—in your homes, in your work, in your meetings, and in all your comings and goings.
I love you. I pray for you. May God bless you. May His promised peace be with you now and always, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
  what a man of great counsel and love. i am so excited to be able to listen and learn from our leaders of the church. how greatful i am for thier time and their concern for us.

  i hope all can watch. what a great privilege it is that we get to hear from the prophet of GOD.