Trusting God - Thoughts of an Early Returned Missionary

"Trust in the Lord thy God with all thy heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Lately I've been going through a lot. I was having a lot of health problems which eventually sent me home because the doctors weren't able to find the source of the problems. Going home was so hard. I was hoping with all my heart that I could go back out to the mission field and finish out the short time I had left.
After being home for a while and going through more testing, we finally figured it out and I am on the road to recovery. When I figured out how long it would take to recover, I decided that it was time to end my mission. I feel like I knew for a while that I would be going home early, but I was in denial because I wanted more than anything to stay. But I realized that my Heavenly Father had something else in mind for me, and it was time to let His plan fall into my place.
Part of me still wishes my time in the mission field with that beautiful little black name badge wasn't over. However, I feel so much peace now. I feel like the decision I made was right, and that I was finally realigning my will with God's again. And I have no regrets.
I can and am at peace because I know that I put everything I had into my service. I made sure that every night as I went to bed I would be satisfied with what I did that day, no matter how rough the day might have been. I truly worked with all my heart, might mind, and strength. And I am forever thankful for the wonderful journey that it's been.
Things don't always work out as we wish, hope, or dream. But I do know that as long as we trust in the Lord with all our hearts, one day all of our most beautiful dreams will come true. And what a glorious day that will be.

Looking For Rainbows

"Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been."
Mormon 9:31

I really love this scripture. To me it says that we should be grateful in any circumstances, and be grateful for our imperfections. I've been thinking a lot about that lately. How can I be more grateful for my trials?
I believe that many times while we are in the moment of our trials, we often look down and focus on the negative. We ask "why me?" and forget that we are never truly alone. But our trials are what make us stronger and bring beauty into our lives.

Thankfully, we know that there will always be a rainbow after the rain. Christ lives and He is always waiting for us to come unto him. He can heal us and make everything okay again.

"Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Mosiah 14:4-5

What is one way you've learned to develop an attitude of gratitude?

Are You Spiritually Armed?

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God ...
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God:"
Ephesians 6:13-17

The world today is so chaotic and full of confusion. There are many ways to stray from the path towards our Heavenly Father, and many people have fallen victim. I am a strong believer of the fact that every one of us is at war--and we truly are! Of course, it is a different battle than the one that comes to mind when we hear the word war... and I'm sure that when we think of armor, we usually think of the kind on a knight, rather than the armor of God described in Ephesians. Knowing that we are at war, how do we suit up? Our souls are at stake, and I definitely don't want to lose that fight!

Thankfully, our loving Heavenly Father also wants us to win our own daily battles and has prepared a way to do so. One of the ways that really was standing out to me today was our daily study of the scriptures. It's one small thing that we can do, but it arms us spiritually. It nourishes us so that we have the strength to fight, it brings peace to our hearts as we face the front-lines, and it hands us a weapon to combat the temptations that will come against us.
This may be a small and simple thing that may seem insignificant, but every day that we go out without having read our scriptures, or prayed, or any of those small things, we go into battle unarmed and we will fall. These simple things predict the ultimate outcome of our future.
So, I'll leave you with a question:
Are you spiritually armed?

"The secret to your future is hidden in your daily routine."

~Anonymous

Peace Be Unto Thy Soul

"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."
D&C 121:7-8

I love being a missionary. It is great to be out serving God and those around me by sharing the gospel with all who will hear--I don't think I would want to be anywhere else right now. That being said, sometimes life as a missionary is hard. A full day of plans fall through, you're tired, and sometimes people aren't as kind as you'd like them to be. And you really kinda just want to curl up in a corner and not have to talk to people.
This is somewhat how I was feeling yesterday. It seemed like everything that could have fallen through did fall through, and my companion and I were exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically. Near the end of the day, we had an answer to our prayers and we met a young man who set up an appointment with us to come and talk to him! It was a tender mercy that I really needed.
This morning during my personal study I was reading through the story of Joseph Smith and the experience he had as he was called as a prophet to restore Christ's church. As I was reading, I thought of my experience and of his experience. The one that came to my mind specifically was when he was in Liberty Jail going through a LOT of persecution. At this time he cried out to God, saying "O God, where art thou? ... (D&C 121:1)." Our loving Heavenly Father reached out to him and comforted him with the words "My son, peace be unto thy soul..."
I know that I haven't gone through the trials that Joseph Smith had, but I still have times when I feel like crying out, pleading for God's help. And because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I know that we are never alone. God will never forsake us, and he will bring peace to our souls if we just ask.
What brings you peace?

A Motherly Example

"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."
John 19:25-27

Yesterday I got to Skype my parents! I was so excited and it was nice to see their faces and hear their voices. It was a wonderful way to celebrate my Mother's Day. And I have to admit, it was pretty hard to end the Skype call and know that it will be another 6 months before I get to talk to them again. However, it was time to get back to work.
As I went back to work, this scripture came into my mind. I thought of how hard it must have been for Christ, in His most agonizing moments, to send His mom away and finish His Atoning sacrifice alone. I also thought of the difficulty Mary must have had in seeing her son suffering and dying on the cross--wanting to be there and support Him, but not wanting to see the pain on His face as he hung there. I'm sure she also realized that this was one thing He had to do alone.
I am so grateful for the example both have set. And I am grateful for the example my own mom has set. Just like Mary, I know my mom wants to be out here with me to help me when times get rough, but she also knows that I am in God's hands just as Christ was, and that this is a journey I must make on my own. And because of Christ's example, I know that there are times that I'm going to feel alone and that it's going to be hard. As He probably did, I want my mother to be with me. But I know that the sacrifices I'm making are for a greater good. The decision I made to sacrifice my time will affect myself and others eternally. Again I am in awe of the examples my loving Heavenly Father has set for me to follow.
Who is someone you look to as an example?

It Was Mom

With Mother's Day approaching, as one would guess, I've been thinking a lot about my mom. And my mom is SUPER inspiring to me. She has been a major part of me becoming who I am today! I think sometimes we just don't really realize how much our mothers mean to us. As a missionary, I've definitely noticed that a lot more and have been a lot more grateful for her example. One thing that has especially inspired me as I have been serving a mission is my mom's own desire to respond to the call to serve.
When my mom was younger, her and her friend were in a car accident. Her friend was killed, and she was paralyzed from the waist down (supposedly for the rest of her life). However, even being in a wheelchair, she still decided that she wanted to serve a mission. She served faithfully in the California Aneheim Mission for 18 months, and, while on her mission, learned to walk again. She is truly an example of faith preceding miracles and that anything is possible with God.
Knowing this helps to motivate me more everyday, especially when things get hard. When I "grow up", I hope I can be even a fraction as great as her. I love my mother so much, and I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who allowed her to be a part of my life.

What has your mom taught you?

#ItwasMom

My Heavenly Home

"Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."
3 Nephi 17:3

A little while ago, one of the children in my ward back home sent me this letter:

 

I loved it! For a few reasons. Of course one of them is that I love letters. However, that's not the main reason. This letter reminded me of the sweet testimonies small children can have-it goes along really well with my motto: by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. We can learn so much about heaven from the mouths of small children.

I also loved this letter because it was a sweet reminder of home. It was a reminder of my home down in good ole' Idaho Falls where my family is. It was also a reminder of my heavenly home, where our loving Heavenly Father resides. For me, the temple gives me a chance to feel like I'm in my heavenly home. It is a place where I can go and, as the scripture says above, ponder upon the things my Heavenly Father has told me. It is a place where I can pray and seek for more answers, and it is a place where my earthly family can become an eternal family.

What reminds you of your heavenly home?

Obedience Brings Blessings

"...they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all--they were... true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
Yea, they were... of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him." 
Alma 53:20-21
"Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them..."
Alma 57:21

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the characteristic of obedience. It's come up in missionary meetings, lessons with the people my companion and I are teaching, and it's a HUGE part of my daily life as a missionary. But how?
I like to think about the example of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors. They were very young men who decided to enter into a covenant (a promise with God) that they would give up their lives to protect their families, their liberty, their religion, and others. I think of the exceeding amount of courage they must have had. What inspired this courage? What helped them to have enough faith in God to trust that he would deliver them?
Once again obedience is the key. All throughout their lives, even though they were young, they had been taught to obey the commandments of God. As they were obedient, I'm sure that they received blessings and were able to learn to recognize God's hand in their daily lives. Over the years they came to fully rely on God, so much so that they trusted Him with their lives. And God kept the promise that He made to them and none of them, even when outnumbered, were killed. Injured? Yes. They were young, and they had never before fought. But they were able to make it out alive. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.
Just as the Stripling Warriors were blessed, watched over, and protected in their time and circumstance, we are so today. We may not be fighting a battle of swords and shields. We have a much different battle today. We are the mighty young warriors who will fight for and save the people who can't do so themselves.God has called us to the earth at this time for a reason. And all he asks of us is to be obedient to His commandments so that He can show us the way and save us.
What is one blessing you've seen come from your obedience?

Dedicating Yourself

"But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."
2 Nephi 32:9

As I was reading this scripture yesterday, I was trying to think about how it applies to me, as I usually try to do when I read the scriptures. I believe that this scripture provides a great perspective on one of the reasons we pray, which is to consecrate (or dedicate) ourselves to following God's will.
Many, if not all of us do good things throughout our lives. But why? What is our reason? I do because I believe that it will help me come closer to God by becoming more like Him. I know that when I follow God, he blesses me. Just as I strengthened my obligation to do good as I took upon myself the name of Christ when I was baptized, we can strengthen our will to do good as we pray frequently throughout each day. It gives us a sense of accountability and accomplishment. We can ask for the strength to improve and then report on our improvement. I love it!
I know that whatever we ask for with a righteous heart, it will be given to us. I want to leave a challenge to dedicate yourself more fully to following God as you pray this week, and then share what you learned and/or felt!

Praying for Strength

"But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound."
1 Nephi 7:17

Yesterday morning we had a mission-wide conference call for Easter, and we talked about the Atonement and how our lives are changed because of it. During that call, my mission president talked about the story in 1 Nephi 7 in which Nephi is tied up by his brothers. In verse 17 (above) Nephi does something really awesome. He didn't pray that his circumstances would suddenly change and that all of his problems would suddenly go away. Instead, he prays that he can change his own circumstances. I love that. He has faith that God will set him free according to his faith, and he prays to see the fruits of his faith through his work. What do you pray for?

Remembering Christ for Easter

"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
Luke 22:42

A while ago, I made a post Who is Christ to You? In this post was the beginnings of a rough draft for an assignment given by my mission president for Easter. Since then, I have been working on adding and revising it so that I could turn it in today, and I thought I should share. This is part of my testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Who is Christ to You?

The question Who is Christ to you? has been running through my mind over and over the past few weeks as I have prayed and studied more in depth of Him and as I have asked the people I teach about their own faith in Christ. There are a lot of common answers to the question of who He is--in His day, he was a great leader, a great teacher, and a great example for how we sould all be living our lives. But that doesn't answer the question; who is Christ to me? Why is it important that I know Him? This question calls for deeper thought and more personal application. I know that He suffered and died for me and my sins and overcame death so that I too could return to my Heavenly Father someday, but how does that knowledge change my life today?

First I am taken to His birth. It was a great and miraculous event; the Savior of the world was born. A new star appears, and the angels on high are singing and rejoicing. Each and every one of us were a part of it. We already knew that He was going to redeem us from the sins we hadn't even started to comprehend yet. We knew that He is central to our Heavenly Father's plan for us. And through the account in 3 Nephi 1, we come to learn that He was a Savior from the moment He was born, not just after His Atoning sacrifice was complete. The signs of His birth saved the faithful physically and the doubting spiritually. Though the signs of His presence don't seem quite as obvious today, they are still there. Each day these very same signs save me. Who is Christ to you? runs through my mind again.

Next, I think about Christ's life and ministry. This is where the many common answers of who He is comes from. From a young age, angels ministered to Him and helped Him to know the will of the Father and His role as the Son of God and Savior of the world. He then taught those same things to all who would hear. He was living a perfect life and strived constantly to serve others. He performed many mighty miracles and set the perfect example of the life we need to live to return to Him. There were many who did not agree with His teachings and persecuted him. They were always trying to catch Him in His words, and in turn He taught us to love our enemies. He chose not to give in to what would be a constant temptation to use His power and lash back, something many of us struggle with, and beckoned us to "come, follow me." Who is Christ to you?

Then my mind directs me to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here I picture the Savior, my Savior, suffering agonizing pain beyond compare. Here it is that He suffers to pay the price for my sins. Here it is that He also willingly suffers for my weaknesses, pains, sicknesses, and sorrows. He already knew exactly what I would go through in my life, but He wanted to be able to know in the flesh how to succor me. This great pain was enough to cause Him to bleed from every pore. So much so that He asks, "...if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42)." In this His infinite agony, He pushes on and endures because of His love for His Father and for each and every one of us. For me. Again the words Who is Christ to you? flash in my mind.

After His suffering in Gethsemane, He comes out to His apostles, still drenched in blood and completely exhausted, and finds them sleeping for the third time. At this point, He probably had every right to complain or question His apostles and their loyalty to Him. But instead he responds in love and says, "...sleep now, and take your rest...(Matthew 26:45)." If they had only realized what their beloved Master had just experienced, would they have slept? Who is Christ to you? repeats in my head once more. Immediately after that, still drained of energy and having no time to recover or clean up, He is met by a group of people along with Judas Iscariot, one of His closest friends and beloved apostles, and is betrayed for some pieces of silver. He was then led away, as Bruce R. McConkie states, "...with a rope around His neck, as a common criminal, to be judged (The Purifying Power of Gethsemane, April 1985)." He was then taken to places where He would be beaten, mocked, spit upon, and eventually crucified at Calvary. The very people that He had healed and taught now regarded Him as something for naught and tortured Him. In these truly agonizing moments, did He think of Himself? No. Not even one complaint. Like always, He was thinking of you and I in our moments of trial. Suddenly this great Atonement becomes a lot more personal. The question Who is Christ to you? continues to take over my thoughts.

And finally, my mind takes me to the empty tomb. The glorious day when Christ's resurrection that had been prophesied for centuries finally became an actuality. The bands of death have been broken, and the debt of the world repaid. Those who were once lost because of their imperfections could now become perfected through their belief on His name and their faith in the very one who gave His life as a ransom for their sins. This infinite and everlasting Atonement didn't just those who lived before and during Christ's time--centuries later, you and I can still benefit from the life of our Savior today.

Knowledge of all of these things is wonderful. It helps us to better understand our Redeemer, and helps us to know how to better follow His example. However, even knowing all of this is not enough--it can't be enough. After everything He has gone through, we cannot accept having a simple passive belief and knowledge of Him. It still requires more personal application to our lives. Again the question Who is Christ to you? races through my thoughts.

We all have our own personal struggles and trials in our lives that weigh us down in one way or another. Just as my mind had previously taken me to the Garden of Gethsemane and to the cross of Calvary, it now takes me to my most agonizing moment--the moment I was enduring my own Gethsemane. The moment in which I felt completely and utterly alone. The moment when I myself felt like I had been forsaken and had let dark, destructive thoughts enter my mind. The moment when I really started to wonder if it was all worth it. I knew I didn't have the strength to overcome this moment alone, a realization many of us come to as we face our most difficult moments. My heart was pleading for help as these inner struggles were starting to pull me down into the depths of despair.

In that very same moment, I remembered the things I had been taught for as long as I could remember; I remembered learning about Christ, and that He had suffered all things alone so that I wouldn't have to. Suddenly the darkness in my mind was dispelled as the light took over and I felt the warmth of His loving embrace. I was strengthened and freed from my personal torments and remembered my purpose as a daughter of God. There are not enough words to express the gratitude and relief that I felt.

We are never alone! I know that as the Savior has overcome the bands of sin and death, so can we all as we believe in Him and apply the great gift of the Atonement He has given us. There is no need for us to continue to suffer and carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. We are precious sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to be happy and has provided a way for us to do so through His Beloved Son. Through this gift we have the ability to become better people every day and become more perfected in and through Christ. This is why I want to strive to do my best daily to share my knowledge of Him with everyone. There are many who are struggling in the darkness, searching for the light to come and save them. It is up to those of us to know to share that light. I love this gospel and my Savior with all my heart. No longer will I wonder what the answer to this question is for me. Who is Christ to you?

Because of Him

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Philippians 4:13 

Something really cool is happening in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints right now. Through social media, because Easter is this Sunday, we are doing an initiative to focus more on Christ and what is possible "because of Him."
I am so excited to be a part of this! It is only through Christ that I am who I am today, and we have such a great opportunity to really share it with EVERYONE IN OUR REACH. And our reach is a lot larger--even worldwide through the tools we have been given. For more information, check out easter.mormon.org or #BecauseofHim.
There are many ways we can share our testimonies of the Savior, but my challenge for this week is to specifically share your answers to one question:

What has been made possible to you because of Him?

What Will YOU Do for Christ?

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."
Joshua 1:9

As I listened to the words of the prophet and apostles during General Conference this weekend, the major message that stuck out to me was about standing strong as a disciple of Christ and the cost of discipleship. Among those mentioned that stood up for their beliefs no matter what the circumstances were the pioneers, ancient prophets, Christ's apostles, and most of all, Christ himself.
Right now, it seems as though we are blessed to not be persecuted as they were. I don't think it will be this way for long. The world is distancing itself farther and farther from the standards that a loving Heavenly Father has given us to be happy. What used to be the good moral standards of everyone is now being mocked and put at naught, as well as the people who live them.
We are already in need of courage every day if we want to continue to live what we believe. There is coming to be a need for more courage, strength, determination, and, most importantly, love. Heed the call to stand strong as a witness and representative of our Savior. Have love for those that persecute you, but do not just let things fly by.
Every day we have the opportunity to ask ourselves what we will do for Christ. As we allow Him to strengthen us and as we stand up for Him, God has promised to be with us wherever we go. What are you willing to do for Him who gave everything for us?

Blessings of the Priesthood

"And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?"
Alma 26:2

Okay. First of all, for those of you who don't know and may be confused by the title of this post, I want to explain that the "priesthood" is the power and authority given to man by God to act in His name. MANY great, wonderful things come through the priesthood, most especially the ability to make sacred covenants, or promises, that allow us to return to God's presence again someday.
That being said, there are also many other ways God's children can be blessed through the priesthood. Today I had the opportunity to be a part of one way. Sometimes life can get challenging, discouraging, or just plain confusing. We try to do the best we can to follow what we know to be right or do our best to keep our head up and not let things get to us. We also, despite our best efforts, can't always do it alone. We need an outside source to give us the strength to carry on or a word of comfort to help us remember that we're on the right track. I needed that reminder--a reminder that I'm a precious daughter of my loving Heavenly Father.

"When additional counsel or comfort is needed, or during times of illness, the young man or woman may receive a priesthood blessing from a father, home teacher, bishop, or other priesthood holder. A ...blessing... contains words inspired by God to His sons and daughters, serving as a guide and comfort for a lifetime and even with eternal significance. Think of the wonder of it (Robert D. Hales, Blessings of the Priesthood, October 1995 General Conference)."

I still may not know everything, but I know that the power of the priesthood is real. I felt the power of it today as my Heavenly Father spoke to me in my personal needs through my mission president. I know that this same power was restored by the prophet Joseph Smith, and that we are still enjoying the blessings of that today. I would be lost without it.
What is one way you have received divine guidance in your life?

Feeding His Sheep

"...Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time,... lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him a third time... lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
John 21:15-17

A while ago, Jeffrey R. Holland gave a talk regarding this scripture. In this account, Christ had already risen from the tomb and had visited his apostles, then left. Peter and some of the other apostles decided to then go out fishing, where eventually the were reunited again with Christ and were feasting him. After having asked Peter 3 times to "feed his sheep", he tells him to continue to be a better disciple of Him. Elder Holland gives his version of this account and says,

"...To which Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my nonscriptural elaboration), perhaps saying something like: “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me (Jeffrey R. Holland, The First Great Commandment, October 2012 General Conference)

So many of us have come to a great knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and as such have the responsibility to go out and share it with the world. But how often do we, instead, ignore that responsibility and go and "cast our nets"?

I know that if we truly love our Savior, we will do our very best to keep his commandments and feed His sheep by sharing the precious truths within the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is one way you have "fed His sheep" today?

Our Divine Potential

"And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons [and daughters] of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled."
3 Nephi 9:17 

As I have been reflecting on how I can improve myself, I reflected on how I often think about myself. There is a common saying that we are our own most critical judge--and I realized once again that I had been unnecessarily pulling myself down. And I realized once again that our view of ourselves can be one of Satan's most powerful tools. It is not something everyone sees, and so it's hard for others to help. He wants us to forget who we are and our divine potential so that we feel unworthy to enter our Heavenly Father's presence.
 This reminds me of the story of the ugly duckling I was told as a child. In the story, one duckling looks around at the other ducklings and notices that he is different and he thinks that he is worth less because he is ugly compared to the others. He comes to believe that he will never be good enough. So he leaves the other ducklings feeling distraught and depressed. After a time has passed, he one day looks into the pond to see his reflection to find a beautiful swan! He suddenly sees that being different in the beginning was a good thing, and he was able to become more than he ever imagined.
Just as the young swan realized who he truly was, we must also come to know that we are precious children of GOD. We must not forget who we are and our eternal infinite worth. And we most definitely should not feel unworthy of his love. We are all different, but we have the potential to become more than we realize.

From the "Vilest of Sinners"

"...they took a small number with them and returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had selected, go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites—

That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers;...that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God, that they might become friendly to one another, and that there should be no more contentions in all the land which the Lord their God had given them.

Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.

And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them; nevertheless they suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and fearing that they should be cast off forever.

And it came to pass that they did plead with their father many days that they might go up to the land of Nephi."

Mosiah 28:1-5

The sons of Mosiah are some of my favorite people in the Book of Mormon. They brought thousands of people unto Christ, and brought happiness into the lives of many more. Their example still affects us today! There was one thing that specifically stuck out to me today. These young men, before they became these outstanding missionaries, were going about rebelling against their father and the church. They were trying to tear down the church and lead many away from the precious truths within. They were termed, as the scripture says above, "the very vilest of sinners". As I thought about this, I thought more about how repentance works in our daily lives. Especially for me as a missionary. Why is daily repentance important for missionary work?

I try to imagine teaching someone about repentance when I haven't fully repented myself. I imagine that it's like trying to teach someone to be a professional football player when I don't even fully understand the game myself. These young men had been the vilest of sinners. There is no way that they could have helped someone come unto Christ unless they had done so themselves, but because they had learned from their mistakes they were able to teach with more power than ever before.
Today I want to be more like the sons of Mosiah.
Who is someone in the scriptures you have learned from and want to become more like?

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"Wherefore I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written."

1 Nephi 19:24

I always get really excited around this time of year--one of the 2 times a year that we get to hear the words of a modern day prophet. In about 2 weeks (on April 5th and 6th) we have the great opportunity to hear the words of God worldwide through his servant the prophet. What a day we live in! It's a time when I can receive answers and guidance for my life in a more powerful way.

When I think of this great opportunity, I think sometimes I don't fully understand what it means... if God came to talk to me, I would be right there, wouldn't I? And I would definitely try my very hardest to remember everything I possibly could! And the words of the prophet should be the same, because we know that whether it is by the voice of God or by the voice of His servants it is the same. But sometimes it can be hard to stay on task, and it's even harder to immediately have every talk memorized by heart.

And there are ways in which we can better retain what we learn at conference. Elder Uchtdorf has given us 3 suggestions to be better prepared, so here they are!

1. Members of the Church are entitled to personal revelation as they listen to and study the inspired words spoken at general conference.
As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. For example, you might yearn for direction and guidance by the Lord regarding challenges you are facing.\
Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase, or song. A heart filled with gratitude for the blessings of life and an earnest desire to hear and follow the words of counsel will prepare the way for personal revelation.
2. Don’t discount a message merely because it sounds familiar.
Prophets have always taught by repetition; it is a law of learning. You will hear repetition in themes and doctrines in general conference. Let me reassure you: this is not due to a lack of creativity or imagination. We continue to hear messages on similar issues because the Lord is teaching and impressing upon our minds and hearts certain foundational principles of great eternal importance that must be understood and acted upon before we can move on to other things. A wise builder first lays the foundation before erecting the walls and the roof.
3. The words spoken at general conference should be a compass that points the way for us during the coming months.
If we listen to and follow the promptings of the Spirit, they will serve as a Liahona, guiding us through the unknown, challenging valleys and mountains that are ahead (see 1 Nephi 16).
Since the world began, God has raised up prophets who speak the will of heaven to the people of their times. It is our responsibility to listen and then apply the messages the Lord provides for us.
Our merciful and loving Heavenly Father has not forsaken and will not forsake His children. Today, as well as in times past, He has appointed apostles and prophets. He continues to reveal His word to them.
What a marvelous privilege it is to hear God’s messages for each of us during general conference! Let us prepare well for this great blessing of divine guidance delivered by His chosen servants.
For this is no ordinary blessing.

(General Conference--No Ordinary Blessing. Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Letting Christ Shine Through You

"Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up..."
3 Nephi 18:24

In this world, we have many opportunities to shine in different ways. We have been given talents and skills that make up part of who we are, and people see more of who we are as we magnify those gifts. And then we have an even greater opportunity to use those talents to show those around us even more. A chance to help them feel God's love and find joy in this life and eternal joy in the life to come. And just as those talents help us to shine, the light that comes from within us can help others to shine as we let it. How have you let Christ's light shine through you today?

Back to the Basics

"But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."

2 Nephi 32:9

Prayer is such a great blessing and tool that we have the opportunity to use in our every day lives. It is the way we talk to our Heavenly Father and receive guidance in our daily lives. And it is one of the most basic tools we have. It doesn't require any fancy technology, big ceremonies, a certain type of clothing, or a specific place to be. We can pray anywhere and at any time. So why don't we take of advantage of this more often?

I've been thinking a lot about how I can use prayer more in my life. I know that prayer is one of those basic things that doesn't just get us through the big, life-changing trails we go through, but it's meant to help build and strengthen us in our smaller daily trials that can weaken us. In an ever increasingly chaotic world, it is one of the constants we can rely on to talk to the one who knows all.

What are some of the basic tools of the gospel that you rely on day to day?

I Will Trust

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation."

2 Nephi 22:2

This scripture really stuck out to me today as I pondered the changes that I am facing currently, with being transferred to a new area with new people and a new companion. And yesterday, quite frankly, was a super long and difficult day. I started to wonder if I really was where I am meant to be. Then I remembered that God didn't promise us this life would be easy, He just promised it would be worth it. And though we all have hardship in our lives and make mistakes, He has provided a way for us to overcome them through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Often times our Heavenly Father puts change and challenges into our lives, and it is up to us to face forward and trust that He knows what is best for us. As we realize this and take advantage of the great gift that has been given us through Christ's sacrifice, we can use these experiences to become better, stand taller, and be a greater light to all of those around us.

What is one thing that has helped you put more trust in God?

I Love to See the Temple

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, ^awhen the ^bmountain of the Lord’s ^chouse shall be established in the top of the ^dmountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.

 And many ^apeople shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the ^bmountain of the Lord, to the ^chouse of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will ^dwalk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

2 Nephi 12:2-3

 

This Wednesday I had the amazing opportunity to spend some time in the Portland Oregon temple. It was beautiful, of course, but it was also so much more than that. Our Heavenly Father knows that this world can and is full of chaos, and it is really hard to find a place where you can really clear your mind and be at peace. This is why I love the temple. It is the house of the Lord. It is a place where I can feel peaceful, remove all distractions, and receive answers and guidance for my life.

All these things are wonderful, and help me to feel my Heavenly Father's love. Even more so, however, is the comfort knowing that in the temple, our families can be sealed together for all of time and eternity. I am so grateful for the joy that comes with God's plan for us, which truly is the plan of happiness and salvation. If we choose to do what is right and stand in holy places, we all have the opportunity to find peace in this life! What is your holy place? Why is it special to you?





Who Is Christ to You?

"Wherefore, beloved brethren, be ^areconciled unto him through the ^batonement of Christ, his ^cOnly Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a ^dresurrection, according to the ^epower of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the ^ffirst-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh."
Jacob 4:11

The question of "Who is Christ to you?" has been running through my mind over and over the past couple of weeks as I've really studied in depth of Him, prayed, and as I have asked the people I teach about their own faith in Christ. Christ, in His day, was a great leader, a great teacher, and the ultimate example for how I should be living my life. But that still doesn't answer that question; I need more. Christ didn't just set an example; He suffered and died for me and my sins, and overcame death so I too could return to my Heavenly Father someday. And I thought, "This is all great, but that was centuries ago. What should that mean to me today?"
Then my mind directs me to the Garden of Gethsemane, with the Savior, my Savior, suffering beyond my comprehension and bleeding from every pore. In His most agonizing moments, when I most likely would have given up, He endures. Not only does He endure, but He is thinking of me and the things I would be going through. Wow.
After His suffering in the Garden, He comes to His disciples, still drenched in blood, and finds them sleeping. They didn't realize what He had just suffered. Immediately after, as they are walking, Judas Iscariot, who was one of the 12 apostles, betrayed His Savior for some silver. How hurt I would have been if a beloved friend had done so to me.
Christ was then led to various places where He would be beaten, mocked, spit upon, and eventually crucified. Again, through all of this, did He think of Himself for even one moment. No. Not one word or complaint. Again He was thinking of you and I, and our moments of trial. Suddenly this great Atonement becomes a lot more personal. The question "Who is Christ to you?" repeats once more in my mind.
I could continue to go on about my love for Christ and His Atonement, but words cannot describe my feelings. I love my Savior and strive to become more like Him every day. As you do your own study and as you pray, I challenge you to answer this question for yourself: Who is Christ to you?



Going To Battle

"Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?
And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen ^aso great ^bcourage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. ...
Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the ^aliberty of their ^bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their ^cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them."
Alma 56:44-45,47

In the Book of Mormon, one of my favorite stories is that of a group of 2 thousand young men. They knew that their fathers could not go to war because of a covenant they had made, so they courageously took up arms to defend their familes. Their mothers had taught them in such a way that they knew God and trusted that they would be delivered if they obeyed Him with exactness.
Today we do not have such battles in which we have to wear helmets or breastplates and carry sheilds and swords. We do however, fight daily against the powers of hell as we strive to obey with exactness the commandments of God. We must take courage and stand up for what we believe. Today we fight for the life and liberty of the souls of our families and friends.
And that leaves us with a challenge and a question: Are we willing to be valiant warriors in our modern day?
What helps you to have the daily strength to go to battle?

One Way

"For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land."
Alma 37:44

I love this scripture. It says that "it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ ... as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass." And I was thinking about the meaning of it for us today. How could I apply this scripture to my life?
For those of you who need some background, the compass that this scripture is referring to is the compass used by Lehi and his family as they left Jerusalem and came to the promised land. As they were dilligent and obedient in keeping God's commandments, script would appear and give them clear directions as to where they needed to go. However, when they chose to be disobedient, the compass would no longer direct them, and they were forced to wander aimlessly.
So how does this apply?
There so many things that distract us from our course to our Heavenly Father. And sometimes we go through trials wondering why we need to suffer, forgetting who our one source for comfort is. We all know life is not easy--so why does this say it is?
Think of it this way. God is our loving Heavenly Father, who wants to bless us and wants more than anything for us to be happy, just as any parent would! He gives us commandments, which help us be more in line with His will as we follow them, and it is then we are willing to listen to Him. In those moments, it is easy to hear those promptings and guidance in our daily lives. The path is clear.
When we aren't living those simple basic commandments, he may be giving us the most obvious sign in the world, but we would not see it. It takes us doing the small and simple things before we can receive greater direction in our lives.



Come Unto Christ

"Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will ^acome unto me ye shall have ^beternal life. Behold, mine ^carm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."
3 Nephi 9:14

Each year for the youth of the church, there is a new theme or motto, and this year it is "Come Unto Christ". I was so excited to find out that this was the theme for the year. What better theme to strengthen and uplift than Christ himself. And I have decided to adopt it as my own theme this year. Because of this, I have been really pondering about how I can better come unto Christ. As a missionary, it's really easy to remember to do those small and simple things that we can easily forget in our lives. But there is always room for improvement.
In our missionary meeting today, someone mentioned the need to be re-converted every day. We need to have a new respect for the one who gave us so much. Who really gave us all. We need to have a new perspective on the ways His atonement can apply to us in our individual daily lives.
I know that what I'm doing may be hard, and I may be doing good things. But I want to be better. I want to feel more of Christ's love and light in my life and help others to do the same. And I want to challenge you to do the same. How will you come unto Christ?

 



Like Captain Moroni

  "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto ^aMoroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the ^bdevil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."
Alma 48:17

If you didn't already know this about me, you should know that one of my absolute favorite heroes from the Book of Mormon is the awesome Captain Moroni. Appointed as a chief captain over the Nephite army at the age of 25, he followed the example of the prophet and led his army in righteousness for the liberty of his country. In my opinion, he is one of the greatest examples of being Christ-like that I know. I strive every day to be compared to him, but even more so, like Christ. As I was studying his story in the Book of Mormon, I was inspired yet again. But what are the traits that make him so inspiring? Here are just a few of my favorites:
  "And Moroni was a ^astrong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect ^bunderstanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;

  Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the ^awelfare and safety of his people.

  Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had ^asworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood."

Alma 48:11-13

 

There are so many great examples of faith, courage, and hope in the scriptures. As we study them, we can come to learn to be better disciples of Jesus Christ and better children of God. Who is your favorite hero in the scriptures? How do they inspire you?

 



Do We Feel So Now?

"Behold, verily I say unto you, the ^aangels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to ^breap down the fields;"
D&C 86:5

Today I had the opportunity of working with some youth in a missionary preparation class with my companions, and it was simply amazing. It is great to see the powerful testimonies of this new generation paired with their desire to share it. I am comforted to know that my future and the future of my family is in their hands.
There are so many people who are out in the world walking in darkness. Most don't know that something is even missing from their lives. They are "happy to be content", but are missing the joy that comes from the fullness of the gospel!
I love this scripture because it reminds us that we were excited about this gospel. We were excited to share the message to those who were lost and needed to find there way.
Do we feel so now?

Simple Truths

It seems like there's been one question popping up more than others as of late--Why the Book of Mormon? And it's a legitimate question. There's so much emphasis put on this book, but why? What about it makes it so important? Why should it be important to me in my life?

The Book of Mormon is so important to the members of this church because it is the way we can know of the truth of the church. So much hinges on it. If the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith truly is a prophet of God, and God has revealed His gospel again to the earth, which means that the church that Joseph Smith helped to restore is the true church! And that's the simple, logical answer... at least, in my opinion.

But that still doesn't answer the big question: Why should I care?

Because the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel, it contains the truths that my Eternal Father wanted me to know. It shows me the path that I need to follow to return to Him someday.

Not only that, it answers the deep questions of my soul. It's words provide me with peace and comfort. The stories help me learn by example, so that I don't have to learn life's lessons the hard way (usually). Most importantly, it helps me to learn of and come closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

What does the Book of Mormon mean to you?

Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Why Not?

"And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?"
~Jacob 4:12 (Book of Mormon)

Today as I was reading my scriptures, this scripture stuck out to me yet again. I love it. On the page of my scriptures, I have written the phrase "Why not?" And it really got me thinking. I'm out sharing the message of Christ full-time on my mission right now, but when I was at home I didn't really share as much as I maybe should have to my friends. And I know that a lot of us do likewise. What stops us from sharing this joyous message?
I think a lot of the time we resist sharing because of fear. We don't feel like we understand the atonement of Christ well enough, we might think that those we share with will turn away from us, or the many other excuses we have. The message we know and love is so dear to us and so much a part of us, and rejection hurts. But if we really love the people around us and want them to know more about us, why don't we share the thing that brings us the most joy and will bring us the most joy?
Through Christ we have a hope for a better life now and in eternity. He helps us to love, forgive, and heal. Because of Him, we never have to walk the path alone. There is so much suffering in this world, and when we are seeking to end the suffering and pain, when we seek to have "world peace", or even just to make the world around us a better place, why not speak of Christ?

"For I am not ^aashamed of the ^bgospel of Christ: for it is the ^cpower of God unto ^dsalvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
~Romans 1:16 (New Testament)

In One Small Moment

Hi! I am Sister Jenkins, serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Oregon Eugene Mission. I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity to go out and share what I know about my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. It's only for a short amount of time, but I know that many lives can change with the testimony of one person. I know that my life has been forever changed because a 14 year old boy decided to pray. Will you let it change yours?