Let us all be as The Wise Men this Christmas and share what we have with those around us by seeking Christ and sharing what we know and cherish. Even if it is something as simple as inviting a friend to church or sharing your testimony. You may never know how much joy and happiness can come from such simple selfless acts. Let us be disciples of Christ and go and do. Merry Christmas everyone!

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Do we recognize, and understand who we are? Do we do all we can to live up to our potential? We are children of God. He knows and loves each one of us personally. I know that this is so! I hope this clip warms your heart as it did mine. Have a blessed day and NEVER forget who you are.

"...Ye are gods; and all of you are ^achildren of the most High." -Psalms 82:6

Just Do It!

While driving home from Savannah we passed a police officer who had pulled someone over. After passing him I kept a close eye on him in the rear view mirror and grunted as he pulled into traffic. I thought 'Great, now I really have to go the speed limit.' While fighting the urge to speed I was constantly looking over my shoulder wary of becoming his next 'victim'. I voiced my frustrations and my teaching companion simply said 'just go the speed limit.' Oh how simple that would have been but sometimes I like to do my own thing (I guess you could say I am a little stubborn at times) and instead I continued to look over my shoulder as I pushed between four & five over the speed limit. If I actually went the speed limit I assumed that I would be left in the dust by the surrounding vehicles or tailgated until an opportunity to pass me arose.
How often do we push the limits to simply not be left behind by our friends or be looked down upon by the crowd? I know I do it far to often and its generally because of an assumption. We must learn here in this life that if we want to become different from the world we must live in the world but not of the world or in other words we must live God's standards and not the world's. His standards are not always the easiest or most convenient to live but He has promised that if we do we will have "peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come" (D&C 59:23).
Why live life on the edge and be constantly looking over your shoulder with guilt? It makes no sense and yet we do it over and over again.  "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon" (3 Nephi 13:24, Luke 16:13). I know that this is true. I know that though something might be easier to do or not do at the time doesn't mean it is the right choice. We must follow our Savior and be exactly obedient to Him and His commandments. Today I was reading in Preach My Gospel under Faith in Jesus Christ (p.62-63) and it said  "Having faith causes us to try as hard as we can to learn about and become more like our Savior. We want to learn what His commandments are and then obey them." If we want to become different from the world we must be different from the world! We must follow our Savior "at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God" (Mosiah 18:9).

If God knows what my wants and needs are then why do I need to pray? If  He knows why would I need to ask Him?
These are some really good questions. There could be a lot of answers to them but the most important and simpliest answers are because its a commandment and because of  faith. "And again, I command thee that thou shalt ^apray ^bvocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private" (D&C 19:28).
Christ is our perfect example and even he, who had the ability to see his Father at any time, even he prayed to our Father. "And when he had said these words, he himself also ^aknelt upon the earth; and behold he ^bprayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him" (3 Nephi 17:15). Our Savior who in just a few short hours would be in the presence of our Father knelt down in humble adoration and prayed to his Father to talk to Him and to pray for the multitude.
I am so grateful for the Savior and his example that I have to follow. I have previously written a post on pray. Pray is amazing, it is simple, and it is more powerful than we can comprehend! I love it!

“Come, Follow Me”

By President Thomas S. Monson

---

“Come, Follow Me”

    

"Many are on a giant roller coaster of

disaster, seeking the thrills of the moment 

while sacrificing the joys of eternity"

To the east and south of the Tabernacle on Temple Square, marking the entrance to the valley of the Great Salt Lake and standing as a sentinel pointing the way, is located “This Is the Place” monument. Here is featured Brigham Young—his back turned to the privations, hardships, and struggles of the long desert way, his outstretched arm pointing to the valley of precious promise.
Miles that once took months are now traveled in minutes. The many hundreds of thousands of visitors who pause at the monument each year tingle with the spirit of pioneer tradition. Such tradition reaches its high point each year on Pioneer Day, July 24th. A grateful Church membership sets aside the busy cares of our fast-moving world and reflects on the everlasting principles which helped guide those noble pioneers to their promised land.

That first trek of 1847, organized and led by Brigham Young, is described by historians as one of the great epics of United States history. Mormon pioneers by the hundreds suffered and died from disease, exposure, or starvation. There were some who, lacking wagons and teams, literally walked the 1,300 miles across the plains and through the mountains, pushing and pulling handcarts. In these groups, one in six perished.

For many, the journey didn’t begin at Nauvoo, Kirtland, Far West, or New York, but rather in distant England, Scotland, Scandinavia, or Germany. Tiny children could not fully comprehend the dynamic faith which motivated their parents to leave behind family, friends, comfort, and security. A little one might ask, “Mommy, why are we leaving home? Where are we going?”

“Come along, precious one; we’re going to Zion, the city of our God.”

Between the safety of home and the promise of Zion stood the angry and treacherous waters of the mighty Atlantic. Who can recount the fear that gripped the human heart during those perilous crossings? Prompted by the silent whisperings of the Spirit, sustained by a simple yet abiding faith, they trusted in God and set sail on their journey. Europe was behind, America ahead.

On board one of those overcrowded and creaking vessels of yesteryear were my great-grandparents, their tiny family, and a few meager possessions. The waves were high, the voyage long, the quarters cramped. Tiny Mary had always been frail, but now with the passage of each day, her anxious mother saw the little one becoming weaker. She had a serious illness. There was no neighborhood drugstore, no doctor’s prescription, no modern hospital—just the steady roll of the tired old ship. Day after day worried parents watched for land, but there was none. Soon, Mary could not stand. Lips that were too weak to speak trembled with silent but eloquently expressed wonderment and fear. The end drew near. Little Mary peacefully passed beyond this vale of tears.

As family and friends crowded around on the open deck, the ship’s captain directed the service; and that precious, ever-so-small body, placed tenderly in a tear-stained canvas, was committed to the angry sea. Her strong father, in emotion-choked tones, comforted her grieving mother, repeating, “‘The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ (Job 1:21.) We’ll see our Mary again!”

Such scenes were not uncommon. Tombstones of sage and rock marked graves the entire route from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City. Such was the price some pioneers paid. Their bodies are buried in peace, but their names live on evermore.

Tired oxen lumbered, wagon wheels squeaked, brave men toiled, Indian war drums sounded, and coyotes howled. Our faith-inspired and storm-driven ancestors pressed on. They, too, had their cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.

Often they sang:

Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;

But with joy wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day. …

All is well! All is well!

(“Come, Come, Ye Saints,” Hymns, no. 30.)

These pioneers remembered the words of the Lord: “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion.” (D&C 136:31.)

As the long, painful struggle approached its welcomed end, a jubilant spirit filled each heart. Tired feet and weary bodies somehow found new strength.

Time-marked pages of a dusty pioneer journal speak movingly: “We bowed ourselves down in humble prayer to Almighty God with hearts full of thanksgiving to Him, and dedicated this land unto Him for the dwelling place of His people.”

The crude homes were described in these terms by one who was there as a small boy: “There was no window of any kind whatever in our house. Neither was there a door. My mother hung up an old quilt, which served as a door for the first winter. This was our bedroom, our parlor, our sitting room, our kitchen, our sleeping room, everything in this room of about 12 by 16 feet. How in the world we all got along in it I do not know. I recollect that my dear old mother stated that no queen who ever entered her palace was ever more happy or proud of shelter and the blessings of the Lord than was she when she entered that completed dugout.”

Such were the trials, the hardships, struggles, and heartaches of a former day. They were met with resolute courage and an abiding faith in a living God. The words of their prophet-leader provided their pledge: “And this shall be our covenant—that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord.” (D&C 136:4.)

The passage of time dims our memories and diminishes our appreciation for those who walked the path of pain, leaving behind a tear-marked trail of nameless graves. But what of today’s challenge? Are there no rocky roads to travel, no rugged mountains to climb, no chasms to cross, no trails to blaze, no rivers to ford? Or is there a very present need for that pioneer spirit to guide us away from the dangers that threaten to engulf us, and lead us to a Zion of safety?

In the four decades since the end of World War II, standards of morality have lowered again and again. Today there are more people in jail, in reformatories, on probation, and in trouble than ever before. From padded expense accounts to grand larceny, from petty crimes to crimes of passion, the figures are higher than ever and going higher. Crime spirals upward; decency careens downward. Many are on a giant roller coaster of disaster, seeking the thrills of the moment while sacrificing the joys of eternity. We conquer space but cannot control self. Thus we forfeit peace.

Can we somehow muster the courage and that steadfastness of purpose which characterized the pioneers of a former generation? Can you and I, in actual fact, be pioneers today? A dictionary defines a pioneer as “one who goes before, showing others the way to follow.” Oh, how the world needs pioneers today!

We forget how the Greeks and Romans prevailed magnificently in a barbaric world and how that triumph ended, how a slackness and softness finally came over them to their ruin. In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security, a comfortable life; and they lost all—security and comfort and freedom. From the confusion of our modern world, sincere persons searchingly ask themselves: “To whom shall we listen? Whom shall we follow? Whom shall we serve?”

Today, chronic strife permeates even the personal province of the Prince of Peace. Contention thrives, though he declared, “Contention is not of me, but is of the devil.” (3 Ne. 11:29.)

But if we have ears that truly hear, we will be mindful of the echo from Capernaum’s past. Here multitudes crowded around Jesus, bringing the sick to be healed. Here a palsied man picked up his bed and walked, and a Roman centurion’s faith restored his servant’s health.

Many turn away from our Elder Brother, who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), and follow blindly after that Pied Piper of sin who would lead us down the slippery slopes to our own destruction. Satan cunningly calls to troubled souls in truly tempting tones.

Do not yield to his enticements; rather, stand firm for truth. The unsatisfied yearnings of the soul will not be met by a never-ending quest for joy amidst the thrills of sensation and vice. Vice never leads to virtue. Hate never promotes love. Cowardice never gives courage. Doubt never inspires faith.

Some find it difficult to withstand the mockings and unsavory remarks of foolish ones who ridicule chastity, honesty, and obedience to God’s commands. But the world has ever belittled adherence to principle. When Noah was instructed to build an ark, the foolish populace looked at the cloudless sky, then scoffed and jeered—until the rain came.

On the American continent, those long centuries ago, people doubted, disputed, and disobeyed until the fire consumed Zarahemla, the earth covered Moronihah, and water engulfed Moroni. Jeering, mocking, ribaldry, and sin were no more. They had been replaced by sullen silence, dense darkness. The patience of God had expired, his timetable fulfilled.

Must we learn such costly lessons over and over again? Times change, but truth persists. When we fail to profit from the experiences of the past, we are doomed to repeat them with all their heartache, suffering, and anguish. Haven’t we the wisdom to obey him who knows the beginning from the end—our Lord, who designed the plan of salvation, rather than that serpent who despised its beauty?

In the words of the poet:

Wouldst thou be gathered to Christ’s chosen flock,

Shun the broad way too easily explored,

And let thy path be hewn out of the rock,

The living rock of God’s eternal word.

(William Wordsworth, inscription on a rock at Rydal Mount, Cumbria, England.)

Can we not follow the Prince of Peace, that pioneer who literally showed the way for others to follow? His divine plan can save us from the Babylons of sin, complacency, and error. His example points the way. When faced with temptation, he shunned it. When offered the world, he declined it. When asked for his life, he gave it!

“Come, follow me,” the Savior said.

Then let us in his footsteps tread,

For thus alone can we be one

With God’s own loved, begotten Son. …

For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow’rs,

And glory great and bliss are ours,

If we, throughout eternity,

Obey his words, “Come, follow me.”

(“Come, Follow Me,” Hymns, no. 116.)

Now is our time to make this decision. Let us follow him.

http://lds.org/ensign/1988/07/come-follow-me?lang=eng&query=elder+piper

The Power of Prayer

Though most of us have heard about prayer do we know: What the purpose of prayer is? How to pray? or How to receive answers to those prayers?

Hopefully this will help answer those questions. Remember prayer is simple-just a child talking to his/her father- and yet it is so powerful.

What is the purpose of prayer?/What is prayer?

"Prayer is a two-way communication between God and man."

"No on can know of spiritual truths without prayer."

Prayer shows our faith, obedience, and use of our agency (right to choose). When we pray we are acting and not being acted upon.

How do I pray?

1. Address our Heavenly Father ("Our Father in Heaven,...")
2. Express the feelings of your heart (gratitude, questions, requests to confirm that the Book of Mormon is true, and so on).
3. Close ("In the name of Jesus Christ, amen").

"Don’t worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your Father. He hears every prayer and answers it in His way" (Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer).

Answers to Prayers

It is important to know that we are each entitled to receive personal revelation which comes through sincere prayer. In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord tells us, "...I will answer you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost..." (D&C 8:2). Though He will always answer in some way or another "it is a mistake to assume that every prayer we offer will be answered immediately. Some prayers require considerable effort on our part. True, sometimes impressions come when we have not specifically sought them. They generally concern something we need to know and are not otherwise able to find out" (Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer).

"He is our perfect Father. He loves us beyond our capacity to understand. He knows what is best for us. He sees the end from the beginning. He wants us to act to gain needed experience:

When He answers yes, it is to give us confidence.

When He answers no, it is to prevent error.

When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His commandments, and a willingness to act on truth. We are expected to assume accountability by acting on a decision that is consistent with His teachings without prior confirmation. We are not to sit passively waiting or to murmur because the Lord has not spoken. We are to act" (Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer).

The Lord hears our prayers and He will ever answer. I know this to be true. I am so grateful for the amazing gift of prayer we have been given so that we can personally receive answers and revelation from our Father in Heaven. I know my Father loves me beyond comprehension and I am grateful for that knowledge and the peace and joy it brings to my heart. I say these things in the name of our elder brother and loving Savior, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Vitality of the Book of Mormon

"Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ. No one adequately and properly knows why he needs christ until he understands and accepts the doctirne of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind. And no other book in the world explains this vital doctrine nearly as well as the Book of Mormon." -Ezra Taft Benson (LDS.org - Ensign Article - The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants)

The Book of Mormon was written plainly so as Nephi says "ye cannot err" (2 Nephi 25:20 p.99). The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. It lays out the Doctrine of Christ plainly and simply so that even a child could understand. Everything in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hinges on whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. Read from it, pray and ask God about it, and find out for yourself if it is or is not from God. If you take the prophet Moroni's challenge at the end of the Book of Mormon to "ask with a sincere heart, with real intent (meaning you fully intend to act on the answer you recieve), having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of  it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost." I testify as does Moroni that "...by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:4-5 p.529).

I know that the Book of Mormon is another testiment of our Savior Jesus Christ and that if we abide by its precepts as the prophet Joseph Smith stated we will "get nearer to God...than by any other book". (Intro. of The Book of Mormon). I love the Book of Mormon. I love being a missionary. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Learn it from us!

There are a lot of rumors out there and false accusations. The best way to clear them up is to go straight to the source! Check out mormon.org!

It has loads of information about what we believe and members of the church have created profiles to share why they believe what they do and to answer a lot of questions that people ask about Mormons. It is an amazing website. You can also check out my companion and I's profiles

mormon.org/me/2N85/eng/

http://mormon.org/me/2MV1/

There is an option to chat with missionaries on it as well so if I'm not online at the moment or you want to talk to someone else...there you go! Have a great day!!!

Finally. Recognition.

I have been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for basically my entire life. Today I finally, clearly and distinctly felt and recognized the Holy Ghost. This has been something I have struggled with -recognizing and feeling the Holy Ghost- for a long time. It is something that is essential for our learning and as a missionary something that I try to teach people about everyday.
The Holy Ghost speaks to us softly and quietly. He speaks differently to each of us. In the scriptures it tells us many of the 'fruits' of the Spirit. In Galations 5:22-23 it tells us "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,..." Doctrine and Covenants 11:11-13 it tells us it "leadeth to do good", in Helaman 5:30 it is described as "a still small voice of perfect mildness, as if...a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul". The spirit is quiet and yet oh so powerful. It is something that if we aren't paying attention to can very easily go unnoticed.
The job of the Spirit is to teach, protect, guide and comfort (D&C 36:2).
Today I discovered how the spirit talks to me. Unfortunately I recognized it after it was too late to respond. The Holy Ghost speaks to me through simple thoughts that come into my mind. The difficulty is descerning these thoughts from those of the spirit and my own. Someone once told me that if it leads to do good its from the spirit. Today the simplest thought came into my mind to move the phone from my back pack to my desk. Simple. But because of the simplicity I ignored it. The thought came to my mind several times but I continued to put it off. The result: our appointment that we had been anticipating fell through. The individual we were meeting arrived early and saw us in a meeting. They had tried to call but we obviously missed it, so they simply left. When we called them at the scheduled time they were already far from the meeting place and would not be able to make it. Earlier that morning my companion and I had prayed about this individual and felt a warm comforting feeling (the Spirit again) as to how the individual would recieve our lesson and the invitation we had for them later that day. Because of my decision not to follow the simple promptings I had had this individuals progression has been (hopefully temporarily) slowed. I am sad that I had to learn of/recognize the Spirit this way but one thing is for sure, I will never let this happen again and I will act on the promptings I recieve in the future.
We learn from our mistakes, so let us take those mistakes and use them to make us stronger and better than before. I love the Lord. I know that as we continue to follow Him and strive to recognize His promptings through the Holy Ghost and as we act on those promptings He will ever be there leading us along the path leading back to Him. I love Him. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I absolutely love being a missionary and sharing what I learn with other!
In the name of His son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

I Know.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the one and only true church on the earth today (Ephesians 4:5). I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God, as is the Bible and together they teach us the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that through the prophet Joseph Smith the fulness of the gospel has once again been restored to the earth. I know that I can live with my family and my Heavenly Father for all eternity if I remain faithful and endure to the end. I know. You can know these things for yourself if you follow the prophet Moroni's exhortation "...I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy chost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:4-5). The key to this is having 'a sincere heart' and 'real intent', meaning you truly want to find the truth and fully intend to act on whatever answer you recieve. Faith is a principle of action. You must be willing to act before you can recieve. If you want to read more of my testimony in my Savior Jesus Christ and why I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints look up my profile on mormon.org
The Atonement is real, He lives. I am a daughter of God who loves and knows me personally. I am a Mormon.
In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Mormon Channel

Want to learn more? This site is awesome!!

Conversations Episode 18 - Programs - Mormon Channel

~Faith~

"Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire or effort. It does not come as the dew falls from heaven. The Savior said, 'Come unto me' (Matthew 11:28) and 'knock, and it shall be [given] you' (Matthew 7:7) . These are action verbs- come, knock. They are choices. So I say choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism." -Richard Edgley Oct. 2010

Faith is also a principle of action...choose faith.

http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/faith-the-choice-is-yours?lang=eng

"We invite all to inquire into the wonder of what God has said since biblical times and is saying even now."

http://lds.org/ensign/2008/05/my-words--never-cease?lang=eng

I LoVe being a missionary! It is amazing to see the light come into someone when they learn about and find God. Today my companion and I had the opportunity to teach about where we were before this life, why we are here and where we are going. The Holy Ghost was there, it was unmistakable. I am so glad I know that my Father in Heaven loves me and I know where I am going. I love being a missionary! Have an AwEsOmE day!

Hello!

Ok so obviously this page is still a work in progress but check out the videos! They are amazing & I absolutely love Elder Holland's talk! I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is Jesus Christ church again on the earth. I love life and I love my Savior Jesus Christ.
Have an amazing day and as always, remember to pray! God is there ready and waiting to listen and to bless us, His children. He loves us each sooo much! Smile! :D