The End

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."  -Ecclesiastes 3:1


This morning I finished packing my suitcases, just as I had a little over two years ago.  What has changed since then?  Some of the shirts are stained and some of the pants are torn, but is that all?  I don't think I can name all of the changes and differences that have occurred since then.  I also think that it would be impossible to sum up this great experience in a little blog post.  What I can say is that I have had a lot of little experiences that have made up my mission.  These experiences have shaped me into the person that I am today.

like stones in the river
we are tossed and turned
when the current moves so strong
but stones in living waters over time
are shaped until the edges are gone
polished and smooth, that's what we will be
if we put ourselves in god's hands
each day of our lives is a gift from the giver
to smooth all the edges
like stones in the river


I testify that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives for the better.  I know that living the principles taught by the Savior will help shape us into the great beings that we have the potential of becoming.  Living these principles will greatly improve the quality of our lives and help us find peace and joy in this life.  Being a missionary has helped me see this perspective even closer and I am ever so grateful for the many experiences I have had.  I am also thankful for the many people I have met and for their testimonies that have strengthened my own.

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan



One of the most influential stories told by Jesus Christ is the parable of the good Samaritan.  The Savior spoke often in parables because each has a deeper meaning understood only by those who have “ears to hear” (Matthew 13:9). 
In the second century A.D., Irenaeus in France and Clement of Alexandria both saw the good Samaritan as symbolizing Christ Himself saving the fallen victim, wounded with sin. A few years later, Clement’s pupil Origen stated that this interpretation came down to him from earlier Christians, who had described the allegory as follows:

“The man who was going down is Adam. Jerusalem is paradise, and Jericho is the world. The robbers are hostile powers. The priest is the Law, the Levite is the prophets, and the Samaritan is Christ. The wounds are disobedience, the beast is the Lord’s body, the [inn], which accepts all who wish to enter, is the Church. … The manager of the [inn] is the head of the Church, to whom its care has been entrusted. And the fact that the Samaritan promises he will return represents the Savior’s second coming.” ^*

Symbols from the Parable of the Good Samaritan

Symbol	An Early Christian Interpretation
Good Samaritan	Jesus Christ
Victim	Man wounded with sin
Jerusalem	Paradise
Jericho	World
Priest	Law of Moses
Levite	Prophets
Beast	Christ’s body
Inn	Church
Manager of the inn	Head of the Church

 

There are many different ways that this parable can be interpreted.  The parable of the Good Samaritan can help us to understand the greatest two commandments, the plan of salvation, or a number of other principles.  We need to 'liken' all the scriptures 'for our profit and learning' so we can understand and apply them better.(1 Nephi 19:23) As we do these things we will come closer to God.

resource: http://lds.org/liahona/2007/02/the-good-samaritan-forgotten-symbols?lang=eng&query=good+samaritan

The Bridge

"There once was this turntable bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day, the bridge sat parallel with the river, allowing ships to pass freely on both sides. But at certain times each day a train would come along and the bridge would be turned across the river allowing the trains to cross.  A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed.

One evening, as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day to come, he looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight and caught sight of the train's light. He stepped to the controls and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge into position. He turned the bridge, but to his horror, found that the locking control didn't work. If the bridge was not locked into position securely, it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train comes onto it. This would cause the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This train was a passenger train with many people aboard.

He left the bridge turned across the river, and hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river where there was a lever he could use to operate the lock manually.  He could hear the rumble of the train now. He took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man's strength. Then, coming across from the direction of his control shack he heard a sound that make his blood run cold: "Daddy, where are you?" His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him.

His first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run, run!" but the train was too close, the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost lifted the lever to run and snatch up his son, and carry him to safety, but he realized he could not get back to the lever in time. Either the people on the train or his little son must die. He took just a moment to make his decision. The train sped swiftly and safely on it's way, and no one aboard was aware of the tiny, broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the rushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of a sobbing man still clinging tightly to the lever long after the train had passed. They didn't see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked, to tell his wife how he had sacrificed her son.

Now if you can comprehend the feelings, which went through this man's heart, you can understand the feeling of our Heavenly Father when he sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. How does He feel when we speed along through life without giving a thought to what was done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ? Can there be any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His only Son died?"

-Anonymous Author

The Pump

I remember watching this old video in seminary and not really knowing what it was about other than a man that was pretty unfortunate with his choices.  Consider these questions after you have watched the video:  

Q:  How does this man’s experience show the need for self-mastery?
A:  Because he lacked self-mastery, he satisfied his immediate desire instead of preparing for the future.

Q:  How would his experience have been different if he had exercised self-mastery?
A:  If he had primed the pump before taking a drink, he would have had all the water he needed.

Q:  How is this man’s decision comparable to spiritual decisions each of us must make?
A:  Up to you, yes you have to do some thinking...  (=

"There is a man in a hot desert who sees a fountain at the top of the hill. With great effort, he climbs the hill and receives the life-giving water. What saved him?Was it the climb (his works) or the water (Grace)?"

This story, while effective in teaching the necessity of both grace and works doesn't fairly illustrate the interaction between the two or the extent to which the Savior goes to enable us. The water may be at the top of the hill, but that's not where Christ is. He comes down to the bottom and brings the water to us. That's how we can make the climb to the top--which he stills requires because He knows it will strengthen us and be for our best good. Christ is not waiting at the finish line; He is finishing our faith (see Hebrews 12:1-2). Grace is not the prize at the end of the climb. It is the enabling power throughout (see "Grace," Bible Dictionary, 697).  Resource: Adapted from Brad Wilcox's The Continuous Atonement

Some scriptures to consider:

-Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

-Alma 22:14 "And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth;"

While You Were Sleeping

Oh little town of Bethlehem

Looks like another silent night

Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem

Looks like another silent night

The Father gave His only Son

The Way, the Truth, the Life had come

But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today

Jerusalem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping 

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

As we're sung to sleep by philosophies

That save the trees and kill the children

And while we're lying in the dark

There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky

For the Bridegroom has returned

And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping

Will Jesus come again

And leave us slumbering where we lay

America, will we go down in history

As a nation with no room for its King

Will we be sleeping

Will we be sleeping

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

Moments that Matter Most

"If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."  -President Uchtdorf

 

Often our lives become super complicated as we try to do and be everywhere at the same time.  President Uchtdorf's message focuses on the basics of our lives.  As we focus on the basics and enjoy the pure gospel, we become aware of just how rich our lives actually are.

 

Stop to smell the roses and read more of President Uchtdorf's testimony:

Of Things that Matter Most

The Nature of God

There are three separate persons in the Godhead: God, the Eternal Father; his Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. We believe in each of them (A of F 1:1). From latter-day revelation we learn that the Father and the Son have tangible bodies of flesh and bone and that the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, without flesh and bone (D&C 130:22–23). These three persons are one in perfect unity and harmony of purpose and doctrine (John 17:21–23; 2 Ne. 31:21; 3 Ne. 11:27, 36).

God the Father

It is generally the Father, or Elohim, who is referred to by the title God. He is called the Father because he is the father of our spirits (Mal. 2:10; Num. 16:22; 27:16; Matt. 6:9; Eph. 4:6; Heb. 12:9). God the Father is the supreme ruler of the universe. He is all powerful (Gen. 18:14; Alma 26:35; D&C 19:1–3), all knowing (Matt. 6:8; 2 Ne. 2:24), and everywhere present through his Spirit (Ps. 139:7–12; D&C 88:7–13, 41). Mankind has a special relationship to God that sets man apart from all other created things: men and women are God’s spirit children (Ps. 82:6; 1 Jn. 3:1–3; D&C 20:17–18).  There are few recorded instances of God the Father appearing to or speaking to man. The scriptures say that he spoke to Adam and Eve (Moses 4:14–31) and introduced Jesus Christ on several occasions (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; John 12:28–29; 3 Ne. 11:3–7). He appeared to Stephen (Acts 7:55–56) and Joseph Smith (JS—H 1:17). Later he appeared to both Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon (D&C 76:20, 23). To those who love God and purify themselves before him, God sometimes grants the privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves that he is God (Matt. 5:8; 3 Ne. 12:8; D&C 76:116–118; 93:1).

God the Son

The God known as Jehovah is the Son, Jesus Christ (Isa. 12:2; 43:11; 49:26; 1 Cor. 10:1–4; 1 Tim. 1:1; Rev. 1:8; 2 Ne. 22:2). Jesus works under the direction of the Father and is in complete harmony with him. All mankind are his brothers and sisters, for he is the eldest of the spirit children of Elohim. Some scripture references refer to him by the word God. For example, the scripture says that “God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1), but it was actually Jesus who was the Creator under the direction of God the Father (John 1:1–3, 10, 14; Heb. 1:1–2).

God the Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is also a God and is called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit, and the Spirit of God, among other similar names and titles. With the aid of the Holy Ghost, man can know the will of God the Father and know that Jesus is the Christ (1 Cor. 12:3).

For more scriptural references, see: lds.org

Mormon Publicity

Mormons have been getting a lot of publicity lately.  Major newsgroups have been publishing articles on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for recent events concerning the church.  From the recent musical to the upcoming elections, there is a lot of advertising going on for our church.  Many members find some of them disturbing, but I choose to take a positive approach and say that the church is getting a lot of attention.  Here are some of the articles that have been popping up:

"Trey Parker's broadway play fulfills Smith's prophecy"

"The Book of Mormon" Broadway play received 9 Tony Awards Sunday evening, including the prize for the best musical. In receiving the award, Trey Parker held up the award and exclaimed, "You did it Joseph! You got the Tony." The national exposure and attention given the Book of Mormon, sacred to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, reached, perhaps its pinnacle with Parker's declaration. Interesting to note that Joseph himself states that he was told by the Angel Moroni that his, Joseph's, "name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of by all people." This was told to an obscure, 17 year old boy in 1823, and recorded in the L.D.S. book of the Pearl of Great Price, p.52, written in 1838. 
Source: Standard Examiner

"A Latter-day Saint view of Book of Mormon musical"

In my opinion, three reasons. -The first is that in the great scheme of things, what Broadway does with “The Book of Mormon” musical is irrelevant to most of us. In the great sweep of history, parodies and TV dramas are blips on the radar screen that come and go. Popular culture will be whatever it will be.

-The second reason is related. Jesus’s apostle Paul put it rather well when he said that Christians seek out the positive and virtuous things in life. His New Testament phraseology was adapted in the early years of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this formal Article of Faith:
“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men…If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
-Finally, if we Mormons really do follow Jesus Christ in our lives and look to him as an example, then it’s hard for us to ignore the injunction to turn the other cheek. There were times, to be sure, when Jesus roundly criticized others, but it was almost always for hardened hypocrisy. He dismissed the criticism he received personally and told his followers: “Do good to them who despitefully use you and persecute you.”
Source: Washington Post


"Mormons Rock!"

Mormonism’s astonishing growth from its founding 181 years ago in upstate New York to its current status as the fourth-largest religious denomination in America, with just over 6 million members domestically and about 14 million worldwide, has been fueled by a ferocious underdog energy derived from an experience of brutal persecution. The hostility was largely a reaction to the new religion’s long list of unusual beliefs and practices. Mormonism’s founder, the self-declared prophet Joseph Smith, claimed to have translated a new work of scripture (the Book of Mormon) from text written on golden plates he found buried in the ground. The book told the story of an ancient Israelite civilization in the Americas, including a post-resurrection visit from Jesus Christ.
Source: Newsweek

Abinadi

Today I studied the miraculous life of Abinadi found in Mosiah 11-17.  Abinadi was one of the matyrs mentioned in the Book of Mormon that really lived his testimony.  Some of the ways that Abinadi shared this testimony was by:

• Prophesying that God would punish the people of wicked King Noah(not the 'ark' Noah) unless they repented, Mosiah 11:20–25
• Was imprisoned for prophesying the destruction of King Noah and his people, Mosiah 12:1–17
• Taught King Noah’s wicked priests of the law of Moses and of Christ, Mosiah 12–16
• Alma the Elder believed and wrote his words, Mosiah 17:2–4
• Was burned to death by King Noah, Mosiah 17:20

I love how Abinadi propehcied and testified of Christ over one hundred years before He was even born.  He taught the wicked priests of King Noah the ten commandments and how the Law of Moses was a shadow of Jesus Christ.  He also taught about the ressurection and how the Atonement would be operative in our lives.  At the end of his life he sealed his testimony by being burned to death for not denying the things he had taught.  Even though he didn't convert many people, his cause wasn't in vain because of one of the priests who had a change of heart.  Alma went on to continue Abinadi's legacy and converted thousands.  There are a lot of things we can draw from the life of this Nephite prophet, but I think this will do for now. 

I know that Abinadi's teachings are true and that the ressurection is real.  The Atonement is heavily involved in our lives and is a lot more powerful and complete than we think sometimes.  I know that through obedience to God's commandments, we can be happy in this life as well as in the next.  I testify that our righteous efforts are not in vain even when we don't see the immediate effects of them.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.   

"Don’t forget Abinadi, who stood before the king.
All chained up from head to toe, the gospel he did bring.
If he would deny it, then the king would set him free.
He was true, and he died righteously."
-Book of Mormon Stories

Alma 36 Chiasmus

Today I was reading in Alma 36 about Alma the elders conversion story and was reminded that it was a type of poetry called chiasmus.  I love the content of this chapter as it describes Alma's experience as well as the hidden meaning in it.  I used an article from Jeff Lindsay to help explain this further:

Alma 36: A Masterpiece of Chiasmus

The most powerful and beautiful example of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon - and perhaps anywhere! - is Alma 36. (See the full text of Alma 36 - but without delineation of the structure.) The structure is obviously chiastic, but there are some very sophisticated and elegant perturbations which have been the subject of careful and lengthy analysis (Welch, 1991, Welch, 1989, and Brown, 1988). Welch (1989, 1991) presents several levels of chiasmic structure. Here I reproduce the overall structure, which is Level 1 in Welch, 1991. In addition, he analyzes the complete text to show the extensive chiasmic detail, including fascinating relationships between larger paired sections and the subtle use of weaving factors (transitions) that provide remarkable unity and a smooth flow of thought throughout the chapter. Welch also assess the degree of chiasticity, showing that this is not a contrived example or chance occurrence but fits objective criteria for intentional and deliberately crafted chiasmic structures. Finally, a comparison of other accounts of Alma's conversion story in the Book of Mormon show that only this one is presented in chiasmic form, indicating that this passage, crafted about 20 years after the initial experience he describes, had been carefully reorganized to yield a masterful and poetical statement of his conversion.

So here it is, Welch's outline of the overall structure of Alma 36. (Again, this is only scratching the surface of the rich structure in this chapter, but what a scratch!) Only the key phrases and concepts (sometimes paraphrased) are shown, with the verse number. The entire text of Alma 36 is also available.

(a) My son, give ear to my WORDS (1)
  (b) KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of God and ye shall PROSPER IN THE LAND (2)
   (c) DO AS I HAVE DONE (2)
    (d) in REMEMBERING THE CAPTIVITY of our fathers (2);
     (e) for they were in BONDAGE (2)
      (f) he surely did DELIVER them (2)
       (g) TRUST in God (3)
        (h) supported in their TRIALS, and TROUBLES, and AFFLICTIONS (3)
         (i) shall be lifted up at the LAST DAY (3)
          (j) I KNOW this not of myself but of GOD (4)
           (k) BORN OF GOD (5)
            (l) I sought to destroy the church of God (6-9)
             (m) MY LIMBS were paralyzed (10)
              (n) Fear of being in the PRESENCE OF GOD (14-15)
               (o) PAINS of a damned soul (16)
                (p) HARROWED UP BY THE MEMORY OF SINS (17)
                 (q) I remembered JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD (17)
                 (q') I cried, JESUS, SON OF GOD (18)
                (p') HARROWED UP BY THE MEMORY OF SINS no more (19)
               (o')  Joy as exceeding as was the PAIN (20)
              (n') Long to be in the PRESENCE OF GOD (22)
             (m') My LIMBS received their strength again (23)
            (l') I labored to bring souls to repentance (24)
           (k') BORN OF GOD (26)
          (j') Therefore MY KNOWLEDGE IS OF GOD (26)
         (h') Supported under TRIALS, TROUBLES, and AFFLICTIONS (27)
        (g') TRUST in him (27)
       (f') He will deliver me (27)
         (i') and RAISE ME UP AT THE LAST DAY (28)
     (e') As God brought our fathers out of BONDAGE and captivity (28-29)
    (d') Retain in REMEMBRANCE THEIR CAPTIVITY (28-29)
   (c') KNOW AS I DO KNOW (30)
  (b') KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS and ye shall PROSPER IN THE LAND (30)
 (a') This is according to his WORD (30).

Note the focal point of this story, the key element in his conversion story: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As Welch notes, Alma shows that it was not the angel or his suffering or the prayers of others that caused his conversion. It was not until he remembered that his father had taught of the atonement of Christ and then exercised faith to call upon Christ that his conversion occurred, bringing a rapid change in which guilt and the pains of hell were replaced with joy and a taste of heaven. I find this story to be powerful and moving, and knowing the underlying chiasmic structure greatly enhances my appreciation of this marvelous text.
Critics, of course, will complain that (i') is out of place. Actually, the structure that Alma is using is somewhat more complex and elegant than can be shown with the simple synopsis presented above. The full structure can only be presented by treating the entire text. (E.g., there are other small chiasmic structures and other forms of parallelism within the overarching structure.)
Source: http://www.jefflindsay.com/chiasmus.shtml#alma36

Necessity of Christ’s Atonement

In teaching about Jesus Christ and His Atonement, President Boyd K. Packer stated:
“I seldom use the word absolutely. It seldom fits. I use it now—twice:
“Because of the Fall, the Atonement was absolutely essential for resurrection to proceed and overcome mortal death. The Atonement was absolutely essential for men to cleanse themselves from sin and overcome the second death, spiritual death, which is separation from our Father in Heaven, for the scriptures tell us … that no unclean thing may enter the presence of God.”

To learn more about the Atonement and about our Savior, who provided this everlasting gift, read President Packer’s article “Who Is Jesus Christ?” in the March 2008 Liahona, a special issue focused entirely on Jesus Christ.

http://lds.org/pages/necessity-of-atonement?lang=eng

Flood

Recently in the Bigfork area, a lot of people have been concerned with flooding.  Flood preparation has been on a lot of people's minds and the community has had some meetings to discuss how to help prevent and protect before it's too late.  Elder Wells and I have been involved in helping by filling sandbags.  As we were helping out I couldn't help but think of the following scriptures in the New Testament:

Matthew 7:24-29:

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

Jesus is saying that we need to hear and do the things that he has asked us to do.  If we do, we have a solid foundation that won't fall when the storms of life come.  If we don't, then we have no such promise and we will crumble under pressure.  We also show our love for the Savior by keeping His commandments and serving other people(John 14:15).

Another great scripture that explains what the rock is, is found in Helaman 5:12, which says: "Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I testify that if our foundation is on Christ and we do what he asks of us, we cannot fall.  Even when the storms of life come down on us and we have no one to rely on, we still have Him.  He is always there for us and we can trust Him.  Whenever I've experienced difficult times in my life, I've found that the scriptures and prayer help me get through it.  Let us prepare ourselves spiritually now, so we don't have to worry when the floods come.

Answers to Prayer

Today I was reading in the Book of Mormon about how our prayers can be answered.  Alma has a great explanation of how not only our prayers can be answered, but our questions as well. 
Alma 5:45-48
"...Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."

I underlined several things that stood out to me, one of them being the question, how do we know if our prayers are being answered.  Alma gives the answer in the next verse saying that it is through the Holy Ghost, fasting, praying, and the spirit of revelation.

He then goes on to say that it has been revealed to him that the words that their fathers had spoken were true according to the spirit of prophecy as well as by the Spirit of God or Holy Ghost.   After that he concludes by bearing his powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement:

"I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name."

I know that these scriptures are true and I know that we can all know they are true by praying about them.  Receiving answers to our prayers takes effort and the Lord recognizes and blesses our efforts.  I know that prayers are answered, because mine have been.  I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

BD:Prayer

"Did you think to Pray"

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tinted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am lifted up in prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed, will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table with the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the case of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me and when He returns for His own He will have no problem recognizing me. 

- Elder Henry B. Eyring

The Falcon, Prophet, and Holy Ghost

There once was a mighty king who enjoyed hunting more than anything. He had a trusted friend, a falcon, whom he would take on his hunting trips. The falcon had been trained to fly high above the hunters and alert them to where the game was.
  One day the king took his trusted men and his prized falcon out to hunt. After a day of traversing the land the hunters became disoriented and lost their way. They were tired and thirsty, so when they heard the sound of rushing water
they were overjoyed. They discovered a
pool of clear water with a steady stream of water splashing into it. The king took his goblet from  the servant's pack and bent to catch the clear, cool water and once more the falcon swooped down and knocked it from his hand. By know the king was extremely angry and asked for his gun. The bird that he considered his friend had spilled his water for the second time. The king wondered why the falcon had turned on him.
  The king attempted to fill his cup a third time, but the bird again knocked it from his hand. The king lifted his rifle to shoot the falcon, yet just as he was about to pull the trigger his servant called for him to come and look. The king walked up the hill and behind some trees, above where he was to have taken the drink. In the river was the decaying carcass of an elk. The water that had looked so fresh and inviting could have easily killed him. The falcon could see farther than the king, and had warned him of the danger.

  This is the same with a prophet. Things may look good to us, but in actuality can be harmful. The prophet is who is going to warn us.

  This story can also be related to the Holy Ghost.  While the falcon did warn the king of the danger that he could not see, a lot of the time the prophet is not there to help us make decisions.  The falcon can be symbolic of the Holy Ghost as well because of it's immediate promptings.

My testimony is that we have both working in our lives today.  The prophet gives us the knowledge we need to make right choices, while the Holy Ghost confirms everything that he tells us.  I know that if we follow both of these heavenly influences that we will be protected as we go through this dangerous world.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Friday the 13th

Many people are very superstitious about Friday the 13th.  The fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.  The fear stems back to several different unfortunate events that have been assumed to have happened on that particular day.    
"There is also a biblical reference to the unlucky number 13. Judas, the apostle said to have betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest to the Last Supper.
As for Friday, it's well known among Christians as the day Jesus was crucified. Also, some biblical scholars believe Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit on Friday. Perhaps most significant is a belief that Abel was slain by his brother Cain on Friday the 13th." (National Geographic)
It's hard to say whether or not these events happened on these days.  Maybe it's just coincidence, but I'll just believe in the things that we know from the scriptures.  We know that prophets throughout the scriptures used symbolism to teach about Jesus Christ and that the meaning behind the numbers can be used as symbols as well.  Some of the scriptural symbolism behind the numbers are listed below:

Number	Scriptural Symbolism
1	God, Genesis, beginning
2	Christ, opposition, deliverance
3	Holy Ghost, Godhead, solid, divine protection
4	Earth (North, South, East, and West; 4 elements; divisions of day; seasons, and etc)
5	Grace (4+1)
6	Man’s imperfection (6 times, Savior is charged with having a devil inside, serpent in Hebrew has 6 names)
7	Oath, spiritual perfection
8	Abundance, Covenant, beginning, new
9	Judgment
10	The Law, Order (10 Commandments)
11	Discord, disorder (12-1)
12	Priesthood authority, governmental perfection (quorum of 12 holds all Priesthood keys)
20	Expectancy (i.e. 20 years Jacob waited to get wives and payment)
30	The right moment
40	Probation, trial, renewal (40 days ark)
200	Insufficiencies

Mothers Day

Mother's day is a special holiday when we celebrate our mothers.  We get to honor the women in our lives who mean the most to us and thank them for all that they do.  With both this and the recent Easter holiday in mind, I would like to relate the following scriptures: 

"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." -St John 19:25-27

While Jesus was on the cross, He made seven statements:

-"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
-"Woman, behold thy son!"
-"Behold thy mother!"
-"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
-"I thirst"
-"It is finished!"
-"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

Of these seven statements, two of them are directly about Jesus making sure that his mom will be taken care of.  Jesus "commended her to the care and protection of the beloved disciple, with the words, 'Woman, behold thy son!' and to John, 'Behold thy mother!'  The disciple tenderly led the heart-stricken Mary away from her dying Son, and "took her unto his own home,' thus immediately assuming the new relationship established by his dying Master."

It is important to notice the love that Jesus showed to His mother, especially at this painful time of his life.  Our mothers also deserve this attention and I'm grateful for this holiday that helps us to show it. 

I am personally grateful for my own mother and all that she has done and is doing for me.  I have always admired her example and relied on her testimony growing up.  She had a great influence on me deciding to serve a mission and has supported me through it all will letters and packages, for which I am very thankful.    No offense to all of you other moms, but I have the best one!  I love her and hope that she has a great mother's day.

Love ya Mom!   

Can We See God?

Today I was reading in John 14 when something at the end of verse 21 caught my attention.

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."  I read this and asked myself the question, "Can we see God?"  I remembered several scriptures about some prophets that had seen Him and decided there must be some requirements.  Here are some of the scriptures that I looked up:

I have seen God face to face, Gen. 32:30
Moses … was afraid to look upon God, Ex. 3:6
Lord will come down in the sight of all the people, Ex. 19:11
nobles of the children of Israel … saw God, Ex. 24:11
Lord spake unto Moses face to face, Ex. 33:11

I will love him, and will manifest myself to him, John 14:21 

I see … the Son of man standing on the right hand, Acts 7:56 

etc.   (for the complete list: God, Privilege of Seeing)

One that stuck out to me was in Matthew 5:8  which says, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."  I had read this scripture many times, but never really thought about what it meant.  Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount and tells us that we can see God if we are pure in heart.  So what does 'pure in heart' mean?
D&C 67:10 says "that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual."  This tells me that we need to not be jealous, fearful, or prideful if we are to have the opportunity to see God the Father.  I looked up some other references and found James 4:8 which says to "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts..."  So as long as we are drawing unto God, and cleansing our hands, we are purifying our hearts.  This reminded me of another scripture in Revelation 3:20 which says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."  
In conclusion, I believe that we need to draw closer to God.  As we do this by avoiding the carnal mind and humbling ourselves, we can be 'pure in heart'  This includes virtuous thoughts, words, and actions.  As we do these things, we are promised in the scriptures that we will see God.

Be Prepared

Almost weekly it seems, we learn of a new disaster occurring somewhere in the world. But disasters can also happen privately within the walls of our homes. Calamities such as the loss of a job, an overwhelming debt, a serious injury, a home mortgage we can no longer afford to pay, and so forth. We believe in being as prepared as possible for such challenges. For example, we are advised to have an adequate supply of food, drinking water and financial reserves.  

source: mormon.org

In addition to being prepared physically, we should also be prepared spiritually.  There have been a number of natural disasters lately and a lot of people have been thinking about how they can be prepared.  "What we will need in our day of testing is a spiritual preparation. It is to have developed faith in Jesus Christ so powerful that we can pass the test of life upon which everything for us in eternity depends."

"The great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return in glory to our heavenly home."  (October 2005 General Conference)

                                        -Henry B. Eyering

How can I be prepared?

1. Develop Faith in Jesus Christ
2. Grow closer to Heavenly Father through prayer
3. Have Charity and serve others
4. Study God's word

The Bible and the Book of Mormon

“And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, ... and they teach all men that they should do good.”

-2 Nephi 33:10

The Book of Mormon and the Bible Support Each Other

Like two eyewitnesses strengthen an argument in court, the Book of Mormon and the Bible both testify of Christ.

Some people think that because we read the Book of Mormon, we don't read the Bible. That's just not true. It's like saying that we don't eat oranges because we eat apples. Both are good fruit! The Book of Mormon is not a replacement for the Bible. In fact, because the Book of Mormon and the Bible both contain the gospel of Jesus Christ as it was revealed to different civilizations, studying them together can clarify some concepts that are difficult to understand. The Book of Mormon tells us to read the Bible and affirms that its message is true (Mormon 7:8-10). And in the Bible, Jesus told His apostles,  
“Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them

also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Christ visited these “other sheep” in the Americas after He was resurrected, teaching the same message to the Nephites that He taught to the people of Israel. The Book of Mormon makes it clear that Jesus Christ's message and His atonement are not for one group of people at one time. They are for everyone, everywhere, from the beginning of the earth to the end. Having the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ reminds us that He is mindful of every one of us.


Source:
Mormon.org/book-of-mormon