The Scriptures are my Friends

Nephi, Moroni, Noah, Abish, Moses, Jonah and many others are my friends. I have never met them but I am able to connect with them as I read the scriptures. As I read their accounts I am able to receive strength for my life. Elder Scott said, "Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like a filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world." How great that is! Our friends aren't always able to be with us. But our scripture friends can be. I love the scriptures. I had never thought of them as friends until Elder Scott gave this talk. But I am now grateful that I am able to look to them as friends. I cherish the words they speak to me.

Read the scriptures. Memorize scriptures and make new friendships yourself!

In the Bible and the Book of Mormon there are many friendships to make. If you don't have a copy of either book click here.
Bible or Book of Morom

Friend of Christ

I  was reflecting being a friend of Jesus Christ when I came across this story:

I was sitting on the curb of a dirt road on the edge of a town somewhere in the middle of Argentina. I was a missionary, and this was my first area. My companion was doing an interview, and rather than waste my time I figured I would sit down and study the missionary discussions. Just as I opened the fifth discussion, I noticed a little boy running playfully across the street as though he was being chased. What was he running from? I wondered. What could be so terrible? Then I spotted the dreaded assailant coming at him from behind. It was a girl. He must have been considering the dreadful things that might happen if she ever caught up with him. Just in time, the boy saw me. Surely she wouldn’t dare follow him to an American in a suit. He was right. Pretty soon it was just me, an empty street, and a 10-year-old boy hiding behind my coat. Suddenly we were in the middle of a gospel discussion as he snatched the fifth discussion out of my hands and read the title. “Living a Christlike Life,” he said. I’m not sure what he said after that, but I gathered that his question was something like, “Who are you guys, anyway?” I tried to give him a shallow explanation of what missionaries do, only to be humbled by his profound response. In an attempt to summarize everything I had said, he replied, “¿Ustedes son amigos de Jesucristo?”—“You are friends of Jesus Christ?” “Yes,” I answered as he ran off to play, unaware of the effect he had had on me.I couldn’t get his voice out of my head. “¿Ustedes son amigos de Jesucristo?” There was something about the way he said it in Spanish. Did he mean it as a mere statement of fact or as an actual question? Am I a friend of Jesus Christ? I thought. What is a friend of Jesus Christ? A friend to Christ? A friend like Christ?

"Are you His Friend?" Michael Griffith

 In my life I try to be His friend. President Eyring said, "We become His Friends as we serve others for Him." We can be a friend to those around us. We need to follow His example in our lives. As we do so we can be His friend. Which friendship will bring so much joy!

Gods Love

I was having a hard few days. It is not an easy thing being a missionary and I was kinda down. Yesterday I had a meeting with some other missionaries. One Elder talked about how much God loves each of His children. He shared how important it is for us to help his other children learn of His love for them. The spirit was so strong as he shared these things. The spirit spoke to me and I was able to remember how much I am loved by our Father in Heaven. I had a greater desire to the best missionary I can be and help His children feel of the same love I have felt.
I urge you to pray that you too might be able to feel of our Heavenly Fathers Love for you. I know He loves you! I also know that He will answer your sincere prayer.

"I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love."
2 Nephi 1:15   

Count Down to Christmas

Last year for Christmas my family sent me an advent calender. Each day had a little note from a family member stuffed in it. I loved reading those little notes so much I decided I wanted to save it for this year. After a year I haven't been able to remember what my family has said so it has been exciting to read them again. Today I read a note from my Uncle Tim. He had quoted an article form the December 1983 Ensign, "What Shall I Do Then With Jesus Which is Called Christ?" I loved the quotes he picked out so much I decided to read the article.

I ask anew the question offered by Pilate two thousand years ago, 'What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?' Indeed, we need continually to ask ourselves, what shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ? What shall we do with his teachings, and how can we make them an inseparable part of our lives? In light on these questions, at this season we ask another: What does Christmas really mean? May I suggest some things that it should mean?

Christmas means giving.
Christmas means the Christ child.
Christmas means eternity.
Christmas means compassion love, and most of all, forgiveness.
Christmas means peace. 

"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the only begotten of the Father--
"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants there of are begotten sons and daughters unto God." (D&C 76:22-24) 

This is our testimony to all mankind. It is our gift and blessing to the world. He is our joy and our salvation, and we will find Christmas of grater meaning in our own lives as we share these truths with others. 

What shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ? Learn of him. Search the scriptures for they are they which testify of him. Ponder the miracle of his life and mission. Try a little more diligently to follow his example and observe his teachings. Bring the Christ back into Christmas.

The rest of the article is really good as well, click here to read it.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

On Monday Sister Mackie and I went over to a families home to help them decorate their tree. We wanted to share a Christmas message with them. This is the story I found to share with them. I love it and I hope you do as well.  

A Giving Christmas by Deborah Tolley Shatto

Christmas was just two weeks away. We had just moved to Moab, Utah, and our family of 11 was living in a three-bedroom trailer without utilities. My parents’ company had gone bankrupt, and there was no back pay. The situation was dismal, to say the least.

My singles ward was planning a service project called “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The bishops in the stake had prayed and selected a family for us to help for 12 days. Considering my family’s situation, I was disappointed that no one had offered to help us. I agreed to buy a gift for a boy in the family, but I couldn’t help but wonder what my own brothers would get for Christmas.

The day came for me to purchase a gift for this boy, and I wanted to get him something special. I decided to go to the local department store to see what toys were popular. After 30 minutes I was getting discouraged because no toys seemed just right for the child.

Then a young boy came into the store. He was about the right age, and his appearance suggested that his family was probably struggling financially. I noticed the thrill on his face as he came across a train set. I knew I had found my gift.

As this little boy’s brother came into the store to get him, I realized that this was the boy I was buying the gift for. I knew this was Heavenly Father’s way of telling me that the stake had picked the right family to serve. I was glad that I had agreed to help them rather than put my own needs first. But I had no idea that more blessings awaited my family.

My father found another job a couple of days before Christmas, and my parents managed to get a small gift for each child. And things were about to get even better.

The day before Christmas, a brother in the ward called the bishop and offered to rent a house to a needy family. It was a large, five-bedroom home with the utilities already working, and best of all, he didn’t expect rent until the next month. The bishop told us about the house, and we moved in that very morning.

Around the corner from the house was a little bar. Someone there noticed us moving in and was touched by our situation. He started collecting donations and brought over a mug filled with cash from perfect strangers.

Another miracle occurred when my father left work for the night. The bosses were passing out Christmas bonuses, but my dad had only been there for two days, so he assumed he wouldn’t get anything. He started to leave, and they said they had something for him. He was surprised to see that each of the men had given up part of their bonuses to share with our family. His company matched the donations. My dad was humbled by their generosity.

That evening, I helped drop off the gifts for our service project. When I got home, my mother told me about the mug of cash and the bonus from work. She had just finished when we heard horns honking. We ran outside and, to our further amazement, dozens of gifts decorated our lawn. We were touched and humbled by the love of strangers for our family. What began as a very meager Christmas had become, instead, a Christmas that we would never forget.

Later, as I thought about the events of the previous month, I realized that Heavenly Father knows each of us. He knows our needs, and He often uses others to meet those needs. But He blesses us the most when we put others first. When I sacrificed my family’s needs to help another family, my family was blessed more than I could have imagined.

Friendship

If we truly want to be tools in the hands of our Heavenly Father in bringing to pass His eternal purposes, we need only to be a friend.

-Elder Marlin K. Jensen

My Body is a Temple

On Sunday in Relief Society we had a lesson about our bodies being a temple. We started by listing words that describe the temple. We then read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

The teacher then read off our list but used the list to discribe our body. It was so powerful. So many times we forget that our bodies are sacred. They are wonderful!

Temples look so different. It doesn't matter what they look like what matters is the work that goes on there. That is the same with our bodies. It doesn't matter what we look like but the work we perform. Let's do good!

I am grateful for my body and the things that I am able to do. I am grateful that I am able to be a missionary and do the Lord's work.

Exchanges!

I just got done with being on an exchange with Sister McCall. Missionaries go on exchanges to be able to learn from others so we can improve. It was a great opportunity to be with Sister McCall for the past few days. I was able to reflect and write a list of how I want to improve. What a great opportunity that we have in life. To learn from everyone! Everyone has something to teach us. Either something we like that they do or something we don't like that they do. Open your eyes to improving yourself. That is what life is about becoming like our savior. I'm grateful that we have the opportunity to change and become better.

Besides learning great thing Sister McCall and I also had a lot of fun! We talked to a lot of people. Helped a lady move. And walked a lot!

Halloween as a Missionary

As a missionary I go out and work everyday. However, since yesterday was Halloween we stayed inside and watched The Testaments. The Testaments is a movie about when Christ appears to the people in the ancient Americas after he was resurrected. (See 3 Nephi 11)

After we watched the movie we wrote our testimonies to our mission president and his wife. It was a great opportunity to reflect on the truths that I hold so dear to my heart and to be able to write them down. As well as writing my testimony I was able to share with them some goals that I have. "I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don't set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life." -Elder M. Russell Ballard

Last night I also wrote my testimony in 10 copies of The Book of Mormon to give out this week. I felt guided as I wrote a personally testimony in each book. I know that The Book of Mormon is true. I know it testifies of Christ just as the Bible does. The Book of Mormon gives me so much comfort, peace and strength in my life as I read from it. There are so many things we can learn as we read this book. I know that you can know for yourself that this book is true by reading and praying about it. I know that because as I read it and pray about it, my heart is touched and I know that it is true.

(receive a copy for yourself by clicking here)

"Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me." Alma 5:45-46

A Message of Christ

Being a missionary is hard. But there are some sweet moments that make it all worth it. Yesteday Sister Mackie and I had one of those great moments. It was dark and cold and we were knocking on doors. No one was interested in our message but then one lady opened up. She let us in. We were able to share a message of Christ's Atonement with her. The spirit was so strong as we learned more about the Savior. "Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together." D&C 50:22

Stressed?

What a great church sign! How true it is. I know that our Heavenly Father does help us as we pray to him.  "I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things." Alma 20:4 Through prayer we receive that strength that we need. And chocolate helps!

Being a missionary is stressful... I just moved to Nashville. I didn't know the missionary I'm with. I don't know the area. After being here a couple days I only know a handful of people. Stressful right? You have no idea! But through prayer the Lord has given me strength. He has helped me to stay calm eventhough there is so much I need to do and learn.
...And yes I have had chocolate!

The Light of the World

I went caving yesterday. We had a pretty large group but not everyone one had a light so we had to share. As we were walking around I was thinking of how important this light is. It is impossible to get around safely in a cave without a light. Just as it is so important to have a light with us in a dark cave we need light as we go throughout this life. That light can be found through Christ.
"The emblems of the Savior’s Atonement remind us that we need not stumble in darkness. We can have His light with us always." Elder Hales
While in the cave a had a light I tried to share my light with others who did not have a light. Now I'm back to my life as being a missionary. I try to share the Light of Christ with others. It brings me so much happiness to help others find the light.
"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
John 8:12

For the body and mind!

This morning we meet with an incredible woman. She was telling us about when she read the Word of Wisdom and it made so much more since then ever before.

The Word of Wisdom is a law of health. The Lord cares about our physical selves as well as our spiritual well being. By following the Word of Wisdom it helps with both our physical and spiritual well being.

All of the Lords commandments are important and there is a very good reason why the Lord has given us the word of wisdom. So many times I think that just because I don't use tobacco, drink coffee or tea, use alcohol, or do drugs I am good. But there is more than just that.

I am now committed to eat healthier! Yay!  I am going to start by drinking more water and adding more fruits and veggies to my diet. I'll let you know how I do.

Missionary Work

I love general conference! It is getting closer only a month away!  During general conference our church leaders speak to us and tell us what it is God would have us to do and to know.

Last October conference I was in the MTC (mission training center) preparing to come to Tennessee and teach the gospel. One of the first things that was shared was from the prophet this is what he said...

First, to young men of the Aaronic Priesthood and to you young men who are becoming elders: ...every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission... A word to you young sisters: while you do not have the same priesthood responsibility as do the young men to serve as full-time missionaries, you also make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome your service.  -President Monson

It touched me so much then to hear him talk of this important work of sharing the gospel. But it means even more to me now as I have been a part of this great work. I have seen lives blessed by the message of the gospel, a message of love and hope. I am so grateful for the choice that I made to come and serve the Lord. It is not an easy thing to do, but I know that my life and so many others lives have been blessed by this choice to serve.

Click here to find out how your life can be blessed by the message I share each day. Or ask me on Facebook.

Hudson the Hippo

I was over at a lady's house from my church yesterday. She sells library books and she let Sister Anderson and I each pick out a book. Sister Anderson found a book called "Hudson the Hippo." She showed it to me because my nephew's name is Hudson. I thought it was funny so I decided to get that book.

This book is about learning to control angry feelings. Hudson wakes up in a bad mood and wants everyone else to feel bad too. In the end when Hudson learns to control his feelings, he has a much nicer day with his friends.

This isn't just a good thing for Hudson the Hippo to learn to control is anger, or even the kids that will read this book. But it is something that each of us must learn.  In the talk "The Case Against Anger" Burton C. Kelly said, "instead of blaming events or the people around us for our anger, we should remember that no one else can 'make' us angry. We make ourselves angry."

How can we stop from being angry? President Hinckley gave us council on how in his talk "Slow to Anger." At the end of his talk he said. "I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect." He continued by saying, "If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Your marriages and family relationships will be preserved. You will be much happier. You will do greater good. You will feel a sense of peace that will be wonderful." What a wonderful blessing we can receive if we can learn what Hudson the Hippo learned, which is to control our anger.

Hungry?...I am.

I love bread. Good bread. Homemade bread. And right now that sounds so good! I am hungry and a warm piece of homemade bread would be so good! 

How often are we just simply focus on our physical needs. (Like being hungry...) It is easy to recognize when we are hungry, thirsty, tired etc. But it is so much harder to always remember to meet our spiritual needs. In John we learn, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you" (John 6:27).

I remember one summer I went to a youth camp. I was having a lot fun but it wasn't a very spirtual environment. The were many kids who wanted to "rebel" and as they continued to misbehave their actions drove the spirit away. I remember feeling such a need for spiritual strength. My soul hungered just as Enos' had in the Book of Mormon. When we had free time I was invited to hang out with some girls but I realized this need I had to be spiritually fed so instead I went back to the cabin and pulled out my Book of Mormon and read. 

Just as we must feed our bodies everyday we also must feed our spirits. We partake of the "Bread of Life" by studying the scriptures and praying everyday and going to church each week. I know this is how I have stayed strong and spiritually nourished.

***

I once saw a church sign that said:

"without the bread of life you are toast"

I think it might be my favorite church sign.

A Text of Strength

I went to bed last night not feeling very good. I woke up and I still felt sick. I took medicine which helped but I still felt so weak. As I was thinking about how I'm going to have the strength I need for today I got a text. It said "Alma 26:12". This scripture says:

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of my self, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

How perfect that was to hear. I know that God will give me the strength I need whether  it is physical, emotional, or spiritual strength that I need. I know that our savior will give you strength as well, as you turn to Him. He loves you! And he wants to help you!

Why don't you do you?

I came across a blog the lady shared a story... in her story she wore color contacts. Someone asked her, "Why don't you do you?"
Her response was "What?"
He then said "Why are you pretending to be someone you're not? You don't need to change the color of your eyes."

How many times in our life are we trying to be someone else? Whether it is the color of our eyes our size or our other features.

In an address to young women (but can be applied to everyone) Elder Holland said the following: "Please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. We are all different. Some are tall, and some are short. Some are round, and some are thin. And almost everyone at some time or other want to be something they are not! But as one adviser to teenage girls said: 'You can't live your life worrying that the world is staring at you. When you let people's opinions make you self-conscious you give away your power. ...The key to feeling [confident] is to always listen to your inner self-- [the real you.]' ...We should all be as fit as we can be-- that's good Word of Wisdom doctrine. That means eating right and exercising and helping our bodies function at their optimum strength. We could probably all do better in that regard. But I speak here of optimum health; there is no universal optimum size."

We need to be happy to be us! We are children of God our bodies are temples. We need to treat them with love and respect. We need to our love and accept ourselves.

Now I say along with the man that gave the advice... "Why don't you do you?" I know that as we accept ourselves we will be happier.

Tour of Nashville

I grew up in Utah but I now live miles away in Tennessee. I have been here for 9 months but I had never been to Nashville. A couple of weeks ago a sweet lady that goes to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with me took us to see Nashville. Our adventure started with going to the Temple. The temple is a very special place where we learn and we make covenants, or promises, with God.

I enjoy the feelings of love and peace that is found in the temple. I feel closer to God when I'm in the temple than anywhere else.

After the temple we saw many fun things. We saw the globe at the WWII memorial and the Parthenon at Centennial park.

Even though I loved seeing the things around Nashville it does not compare to that of the temple. President Thomas S. Monson said "The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls--not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by the Son of God when He said, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you'."

The Masters Love

While on youth.lds.org I found this article. I loved this analogy and wanted to share it.

The Master's Love
Neil L. Andersen

Watching a Frenchman and his Labrador retriever helped me to more deeply appreciate eternal relationships that are infinitely more important.

While serving as a mission president in France, I would travel with Sister Andersen once a month to the airport to pick up the arriving missionaries. On one occasion as we stood waiting outside of the baggage claim area, we met a very interesting Frenchman who was also waiting. The difference was that while we were waiting for missionaries, he was waiting for his dog.

He spoke fondly of his large, black Labrador retriever, with great affection and respect, almost as we would speak of one of our children. I could sense that he treated the animal with love and kindness. The man had been transferred to the city of Bordeaux and until he could get settled in the right apartment he had left his dog in a kennel in his previous city. Now things had been properly arranged, and the dog was arriving on the same plane as our missionaries.


In my imagination I thought of what had transpired—from the point of view of the dog. I imagined that he had been treated like a king in his master’s home. He may have been allowed to jump on the sofas and sleep on the foot of his master’s bed. Maybe he even had his own shelf in the refrigerator, stocked with his own special food.

Then one day, without any explanation, he was suddenly behind bars, in a kennel with a cement floor and steel bars, his food pushed underneath the door to his pen. If a dog could connect the events together, this dog would have wondered: “What happened? Why am I here? What did I do?” He did not realize that his master had a plan for him, that they would soon be reunited, and that in the meantime, his master was paying for his kennel and his food, ensuring that he would be kept in a warm place out of the cold. All that time his master was preparing a place for him at an even finer house in Bordeaux.

Suddenly, looking through the glass into the baggage area, we could see workers rolling out a large crate. We could hear the barking of the dog inside. I could tell he was frightened and anxious. Again, in my mind I could imagine two men arriving at the kennel one day, taking the dog, and putting him in the crate. Soon the Labrador found himself in the belly of an airplane. Again he must have wondered what was happening. I could imagine his fear.

Now, at last, the crate was in front of us. Workers opened the door, and out came the beautiful Labrador. First he was nervous. His head was up, he was alert, and he was ready to defend himself.

Someday we will return to stand before our Master. At that moment, if we have lived as we should, we will experience in person His great love.
Then suddenly the eyes of the black Labrador met the eyes of his master. Immediately, the dog’s behavior changed. His barking stopped and his tail started wagging. He jumped into the arms of his master and they embraced, a Frenchman and his dog reunited.

I have thought since that I learned two important lessons from this experience, as it pertains to our own experience here on earth.

First of all, we too are far from our heavenly home. Like the dog who went to the kennel, we are in a state that is not natural for us. And like our Labrador friend, our Father has provided everything for us, our ability to live, breathe, grow, and find happiness. In this mortal state we can learn lessons, show our faith, choose right from wrong, and remain loyal to our covenants.

Second, we are much different than the black Labrador, for we are the very offspring of God. We are sons and daughters of Heavenly Parents who love us. Through prayer we can communicate with our Heavenly Father. We are also loved by the Savior Jesus Christ, our Master, who willingly gave His life for us so that we could return to our heavenly home. He has set an example for us so that through obedience we can find our way. We also have the Holy Ghost to reassure us and to remind us about why we are here, what we must do, and what we need to learn in order to prepare for the time when we will see our Master once again.

Someday we will return to stand before our Master. At that moment, if we have lived as we should, we will experience in person His great love, and with the greatest happiness and satisfaction we will hear our Master say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: … enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).