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 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

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

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

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"

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

Physician

While Jesus was in His earthly ministry He invited different men to come and follow Him.  One of these men was named Matthew, a publican or tax collector.  Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to come to his house and have a feast.  When the Pharisees saw that Jesus was associating with Matthew they asked the disciples why He was eating with publicans and sinners.  Jesus overheard them and answered saying, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."  He continued and said, "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

We go to doctors to make us whole.  Whenever we have a health problem, we consult a doctor to proscribe the best treatment.  Likewise, whenever we have a moral problem we need to go to the Savior to receive the best care.  Jesus Christ is the ultimate physician.  He performed many miracles; causing the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, and the sick to be made whole.  We all have different 'sicknesses', but the Doctor of our Souls can heal us spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, etc.  Jesus didn't go to the people that were whole, but the people that needed help.  None of us are perfect so we all need His healing powers.  Through His great sacrifice we can be made whole by repenting of the wrongs we have done.  Isn't it time for your check-up?       

Mark 2:17 Matthew 9:12-13 Luke 5:31-32

Get Lost

Get Lost Stickers

Here in Montana we often see this sticker on people's cars.  When I first saw it I was a little offended and thought that the people of Montana didn't want any outsiders coming to their state.  This is partially true so they can maintain the beauty of the state, but not what the intent of the sticker is for.  The purpose of the stickers is totally opposite of what I first thought it meant. 

Closer examination of the stickers shows that it actually says: Get Lost.(In Montana).  Going to the website(http://www.getlostmt.com/) gives you more information and the site's title states, "Lose Yourself Finding the Best of Montana."  The stickers are a marketing campaign to promote tourism in Montana.  It totally doesn't seem like it would attract tourists, but it does. 

This reminded me of the cliche statement of "Don't judge a book by it's cover"  There are a lot of people we come in contact with that put a label(sticker) on Mormons right away that says: "Get Lost."  Our job as missionaries is to help promote understanding  and have people examine us closer.  Our sticker really says: "Get Lost in the Gospel of Jesus Christ."  Give it a try, don't judge a book by it's cover, and help us promote understanding.  What do you have to lose?

To promote understanding check out these websites and offer them to your friends:

http://mormon.org/values/

http://mormon.org/faith/

http://lds.org/?lang=eng

To find the "Get Lost" stickers, go to a local Town Pump or Wheat Montana this summer.



My Pioneer Heritage

Crossing the Sandridge, by Jeremy Winborg

This is a picture of my mom's, dad's, mom's, mom's mom and dad, or in other words my great, great, great grandparents.  Robert and Annie Brighton Thornley who were recently married traveled from their home in northern Utah in 1859 to pick up supplies.  While traveling, one of their oxen gave out in an area called the Sandridge.  They continued on for 20 miles with Robert sharing the yoke with the healthy ox.  When thy arrived at Maughan's Fort, the only food available was sugar beets, which they then lived on during the winter.  

I am so grateful for such a rich pioneer heritage.  Without these courageous men and women I would not be here today.  I am thankful for the legacy they have left me and all of the freedoms and blessings I enjoy because of them.  Their willingness to sacrifice greatly impresses me and let's me know that they had an unwavering testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Faith

Whenever I think about scriptures on faith I always think about Hebrews 11 and Alma 32.  Both of these passages provide us with the basic principle of faith.  Alma 32:21 says that faith is "not to have a perfect knowledge of things," but to "hope for things which are not seen, which are true."  At first, this idea of hoping for things we can't see is pretty abstract and hard to understand.  But I like how Alma further explains this and compares the idea of faith to a seed so even a child can understand it.  The LDS Children's song book provides a great song on faith that explains it well:

Faith
Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.
Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.

 Faith is like a little seed: If planted, it will grow.
Faith is a swelling within my heart. When I do right, I know.

Faith is trust in God above; In Christ, who showed the way.
Faith is strengthened; I feel it grow Whenever I obey.

Hebrews 11 states that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement is central to our beliefs as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I've never seen Christ, but I have a deep faith that He lives and loves me.  I know that following His teachings will bring us greater happiness in this life and in the life to come.  May we all continue to live His teachings and "choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Hebrews 11:25

The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead.  He is a personage of Spirit, not having a body of flesh and bones.  This means that He can dwell within each one of us.  I like to portray this as the influence of the sun.  There is only one sun, but it's warmth and light can be felt by all. 

His primary purposes are to bear witness of the Father and the Son, reveal the truth of all things, and to sanctify those who have repented and become baptized.   There are many 'voices' that compete for our attention in this busy world and they can easily drown out spiritual impressions if we're not careful.  The voice of the spirit is distinct in the way that it:

-is a still voice of perfect mildness Helaman 5:30

-is a still small voice 1 Kings19:12
-pierces to the very soul 3 Nephi 11:3
-causes our hearts to burn 3 Nephi 11:3

Listening to the quiet whisperings of the spirit comes in a variety of ways including experiencing feelings, thoughts, and impressions.  Some of these feelings include love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faith, and hope.  Who wouldn't want to feel any of those feelings?  We need to strive constantly to listen to these promptings and valiantly and courageously act on them.  Doing so will give us better direction in our lives, all of the aforementioned feelings, and the constant companionship of one of the members of the Godhead.  I testify that having the Holy Spirit as our companion is vital in everything we do.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Fundamental to our beliefs as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is our belief in the Book of Mormon.  This book is miraculous in nature and has many insights on the principles of Jesus Christ.  Joseph Smith Jr. translated and published this ancient-American record in March 1830.  It is a record of a people that populated the American continent and covers their history from around 600 B.C. to approximately 421 A.D.   The climax of the Book of Mormon is found in the middle of the record when Jesus Christ appears to the people there soon after being resurrected.  Reading from and pondering the Book of Mormon will increase your faith in Jesus Christ as well as an increase your desire and ability to follow His teachings.  You can find out for yourself that the truths taught in the Book of Mormon are true by asking God.  What do you have to lose?  I have asked my Father in Heaven if this record is true and He has answered my prayer.  I have enjoyed the peace that this brings into my life.  This is why I have sacrificed two years of my life: to share what I have learned with others.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that living the teachings contained therein will bring greater happiness in this life as well as in the life to come.  

3C



Mongolian CTR ring

Montana Billings license plate

I noticed this the other day and thought that I would post a blog entry about it.  3C stands for a number of things to me.  As most of you know, I was originally assigned to the Mongolian Ulaanbaatar mission.  3C is the Mongolian version of 'CTR.'  3C actually stands for Зөв Сонголт which means 'choose the right'.  Anyway, the other day I was looking at all of the missionaries' cars and noticed something cool.  The number and letter for the cars originating from the county of Billings is 3C.  Somehow there is yet another connection between Mongolia and Montana. 

In one of our last zone conferences we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Allan Packer of the Seventy.  Elder Packer talked a lot about how we were specifically assigned here to the Montana Billings Mission.  He had me stand and talked to me with his back facing the audience for a good three minutes about how even reassignments were inspired and that I was in the right place.  It was very awesome and I am glad to say that Montana is the place that I am supposed to be.  This reminded me of the 3rd verse of the song in the LDS Hymn book 'I'll go where you want me to go' which reads:

There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide
Where I may labor through life’s short day
For Jesus, the Crucified.
So trusting my all to thy tender care,
And knowing thou lovest me,
I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:
I’ll be what you want me to be.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Over mountain or plain or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;
I’ll be what you want me to be.

The Lord always has a plan for us, we may not see the whole picture at once, but I know that he has the best in mind for us.  Nothing happens by chance and everything happens for a reason.  Let us do our best wherever we are 'called to serve.' 

Arkoudas' Testimony about Trust in the Lord

Christ Centered Christmas

Today for my studies, I read about the different names that Christ has in the Bible Dictionary.  He is known by so many different names and they all have a specific meaning and purpose.  Jesus was a pretty common name back then* and meant 'God is Help' or 'Savior.'  Christ means the 'Annointed' in Greek and Aramaic as well as the 'Messiah' in Hebrew.  Some of the more used names include: Immanuel, Messiah, and the Anointed One.

Immanuel means 'God with Us' and is a sign of God's deliverance.  It signifies that Christ as God will be born into mortality of a virgin and will be among the people to save and redeem them.

Immanuel

Messiah means the anointed and is used as the title of an office, it denotes the King and Deliverer whose coming the Jews were eagerly expecting.  Many Jews, as we learn from the Gospels, were looking only for a deliverer from the Roman power and for greater national prosperity; so when the Messiah came, the nation as a whole rejected him.
-Messiah

Jesus is spoken of as the Christ and the Messiah, which means he is the one anointed of the Father to be his personal representative in all things pertaining to the salvation of mankind.

-Anointed One

There are many, many more and they all have a purpose as I said before.  My favorite reference to his different names is found in Isaiah 9:6 which says: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.