Washing machines to Spiritual beings!

I have had this Blog in mind for quite sometime but for some reason it has taken me FOREVER to turn that thought into action so...I hope the time was worth it and that you will be able to get something out of this post.
During my time in Georgia our washer had some issues...it started out with the drum just being off balance and not sounding too pretty when it went into the spin cycle. Of course the more we used it the worse it got until finally it sounded like it was going to fall through the floor. Being the little farm girl I am I did my best to fix it but being unable to figure out how to get the front panel off without any tools I had to use something creative to balance out the drum.Looking around the apartment I tried to find something that I could use...finding nothing that even resembled a rope or string I decided to make my own. Now to find the materials. I thought for a while then decided to chop up some reusable cloth grocery bags and braid them together. I did but found the material was not at all as strong as I had hoped so I decided to also braid in some plastic grocery bags for strength. Hot dog! It worked perfectly!!

I now had something to work with! Now, how to use it...I found that by lifting the top of the washer I could tie the rope to part of the drum, which I did. I then made a handle using a butter knife. Now when the washer went into the spin cycle all we had to do was hold onto the knife/rope and compensate for the lack of balance! It worked great. But alas, after a few months this quick fix job wasn't very affective anymore- never mind the fun of being jiggled to death every time.

Now I will do a lot to not have to pay for something and it was the last thing I was going to do to go and pay to get my clothes washed. So I purchased a pair of multipliers and finally figured out how to get the front panel off. Now I could actually see what the real problem was from the inside! I was so excited! I found that the drum had come off of two of the springs. But now I faced another problem...I needed a wrench to be able to fix it properly. We asked several of our neighbors for one but found that most of them didn't own one, didn't know what one was or they were too small so I went back to the drawing board. Without the proper tools I was unable to completely fix the problem so I had to be content with another 'it'll do', temporary fix by readjusting the rope and just placing the drum on top of the springs. It wasn't going to last very long.
Finally, the next week I was able to obtain a wrench that worked and was able fix it properly. It worked perfectly! I was so excited!
Alright. Now to tie this experience into a spiritual analogy! Here are some things that came to mind during my 'fixin it up process': We cannot simply judge things (people, events, experiences, etc.) from the outside and expect to see the whole story or figure out the lasting solution. We cannot fix something from the outside and expect it to last. More often than not the superficial fixes cause lasting and greater damage. Even when we get an inside peek if we don't have the right tools or mind set we won't be able to do a whole lot of good. But, when we look deep inside, when we search for what the real problem is and we have the right tools-when we have a desire, love, hope, and faith- we can with our Saviors help make anything as good as new (and even better!)!
We cannot expect to live up to our Savior and His example if we don't seek to increase the 'tools' or talents He has given us to grow and help those around us. We cannot expect to help a friend who is broken inside by picking them apart. We must serve, love, and become their true/trusted friend. Life is not about the superficial or surface looks, actions, or motives. Life is about love. Life is about growing. Life is about looking inwardly fixing yourself and then helping others along as you learn and grow. Life is about gaining and maintaining an Eternal perspective.
At times our life can appear to be impossible to fix but I know that through our Savior and His Atonement ALL things are possible. I know that He knows each of us better than we know ourselves. He knows how to and can 'fix' a broken spirit. He knows you. He loves you and He has ALL of the right tools to help you come back to Him and our Father. Trust Him. Let Him guide you and He will heal you. I love my Savior with all my heart. I love this-His Gospel and I am so grateful for the experiences I have had and for the opportunity I have had for this short time to be a tool in my Father's hands. I love you, my brothers and sisters, and I pray that each of you will have a blessed day and ALWAYS remember to turn to our Savior. In His precious name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

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!

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.

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!