September 23, 2013
I was reading in Mosiah the other day and found something so great
that I wanted to share with everyone! It’s in chapter 26, verses 1-4. It's
talking about the youth of the church during the time of Alma and King Mosiah
and how they were struggling. As I was reading I thought about you, mom and dad,
and how you work with the youth in our church and I realized that this really
applied to me also. Being part of the youth in the church can be very
challenging at times to remain faithful and believe/understand what the church
is teaching. It says in the beginning that the "there were
many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king
Benjamin...and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers...neither
did they believe concerning the coming of Christ." That is so important
for us, especially as youth, to understand what the teachings of the church
are. I thought I knew exactly what we believed in and knew all the doctrine of
the church until I came out here and really studied it! I found out that I
honestly knew maybe 5% of everything our wonderful church has to offer!! In
verse 4 it says, "...for they would not call upon the Lord their
God." They didn't know how to truly pray. They wouldn't pray and they
wouldn't just ask God questions, or for help, or for guidance, or anything! No
wonder why in verse 3 it says, "...Because of their unbelief they could
not understand the world of God; and their hearts were hardened." I always
felt weird praying back at home, unless it was during family prayer, at church,
or before a meal. I thought it was silly, and maybe the Lord was getting
annoyed with me talking to him too much. But now I pray all the time!! Over
every little thing! And as a result, the spirit dwells with me more, then the
spirits talks to me and teaches me so I can understand the doctrines of the
church more. Then I gain a testimony, and then I am truly happy! It's the
domino effect that brings joy!! When we "Call upon the Lord [our]
God." mysteries, fears, anger, doubt, and other harmful feelings dissolve
away. Please, Please, PLEASE pray! Pray always, God wants to hear from you more
and wants to know how your day went, or how you're feeling! Pray with
sincerity, with real intent (meaning you are willing to follow whatever answer
you are given no matter what!), and with faith. I know this to be true. I know
God, an almighty and all-knowing, and perfected being, wants to hear what we,
his children, have to say. What a blessing and what a sign of love from Him!
September 30, 2013
How excited is everyone for general conference?????? I bet you're all super pumped, cause I sure am!!!! Wow, a living prophet on the earth today! An actual prophet, one just like Jacob, Nephi, Abraham, Moses, Alma, is going to speak to us this week!! I never realized how incredible of a blessing that was! I don't think I'll even sleep this time! I know that if we all pay attention to conference and sacrifice our time to watch as much of it as we can, that we will be incredibly blessed! I have a firm belief that if you come up with a specific question, ANY QUESTION, that it will be answered this weekend. I know it! Even if no general authority gives a talk on that subject, if we listen intently and carefully and have a constant prayer in our hearts, the Spirit will answer it for us. I know it works! I do it every Sunday and it's a miracle every time! Even when Elder Jensen and I ran the entire church meeting yesterday (we both gave talks, he conducted the meeting, I did all the music, I taught the entire Sunday School, and he taught the combined Relief Society and Priesthood meetings) I learned, and was given revelation through the Holy Ghost, the answer to my question. God doesn't want us to live in confusion, he wants us to ask questions and be humble enough to receive an answer! He also has given us a loving and living Prophet to avoid confusion as well! We are taken care of so well!!
October 7, 2013
Whoo! How inspiring was that? Seriously? 10 hours of conference? Why can't it be 100 hours? I had a blast and I hope ya'll did too!
For the first time in my life, I believe, I
did not fall asleep once during any session of conference! ha! I think I
finally understood who was really talking to us. Inspired men of God! Apostles
of the Lord were talking to us in the flesh! Apostles just like Paul, Peter,
James, and John!! And even a living Prophet! A Prophet just like Nephi, Moroni,
Noah, David, or Alma! This is just living proof that God does love us, and he
wants us to return to Him! It would just make sense to me that He would continue
to speak to us, doesn't it?
Hmm...my favorite talk? I would have to say
Russel M. Nelson's at the very last session on Sunday evening. He threw down
hard. Such a special message was given. I absolutely loved how he emphasized on
how we truly are sons and daughters of an Almighty Being. A perfect God. An
unconditionally loving Heavenly Father. "None of us can ever stop being a
literal child of God." Do we even comprehend what that really means? What
kind of an opportunity that is? He is so ready to give us everything that He
has. Think about EVERYTHING that he has!! He has it all! And all he needs us to
do is endure well to the end. Hold on for just a little while longer, and in
the eternal perspective of things, we will have our eternal reward. An eternal
family. Eternal happiness. Never ending growth and progression. The mansions in
His Kingdom (Mine is going to be blue). Abundance of true love. The list goes
on for forever. How can you not love a father like that? Who gives us so much
for so little work? I do love Him so much. I know that He lives and I know that
He is watching me and is proud of my success, and is merciful towards my
shortcomings.
Remember when Russel M. Nelson looked right
into our eyes and said softly "Your Heavenly Father has known you for a
very long time." That touched my heart. He has known us for a very long
time. I need to remember that He knows me so much better than I do, and that
when we trust Him and what He does, it is only because it is what's best for
us. Whether it'll will help us in this life, or the next.
I have a firm testimony of living Prophets
in these last days. I am so happy that we don't have to be confused about
doctrine, or ordinances, or how things should be. Thomas S. Monson knows the
way! I sure am grateful for ya'll. My family is the most important thing, and I
am so glad that we have the gospel in our lives. I love you guys SO MUCH! IT
HURTS HOW MUCH! I am so excited to be with ya'll for eternity!!
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