Ever wonder how much GOD LOVES US?!!!

I really enjoy reading John 17 while the sacrament is being passed.  That and I really enjoy during the Sacrament pondering what the Savior has done for me and the rest of humanity.  I find it a great time to contemplate and as Alcoholics Anonymous put it in the 4th step to recovery, take a "fearless and searching inventory" of how I made mistakes over the week and how I might try to do better the next week.  I always feel the presence of the Holy Ghost during this 15 minutes or so of peace. 
       Recently as I was reading that 17th chapter (also known as the intercessory prayer) verse 23 stuck out to me and I read it over, and over, and over! "That the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me"  Read that over and over until you memorize it!  Now the real question is not how much does God love us, but rather how much does he love Christ?!  Well...how much do YOU think God the Father loved his sinless Son?  I think it is infinite, he loved him enough to give him all power and glory (John 3:35; 16:15)  So if God loves his perfect son that much, how much does he love us even though we are imperfect?  "That the world may know that thou (God) hast sent me (Christ), and hast loved them (us), as thou (God) hast loved me (Christ)"  This may be my new favorite scripture in the New Testament.  If God loves us as he loves his Son no wonder he "So loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son"  John 3:16 
       May we all try our best to emulate the Savior in everything we do.  To know him is to love him.  To love him is to keep his commandments.  "We love him because he first loved us"  1 John 4:19 and remember what the Savior said about loving him "If ye love me, keep my commandments"  John 14:15.

Mmmm...Humble Pie!

Recently we had a zone training in Great Falls MT.  This was my first time at a zone training as an Assistant to the President.  We left from Billings and had to get up and hit the road around 5:10am or something to that effect as the meeting started at 9:30am (Mountain Daylight time).  We made it there alright and the ride was absolutely breath taking at parts.  It was such green beautiful country.
    We made it there with no difficulty the meeting commenced; I sat nervously, anxiously awaiting for my turn when it came.  I thought of things I might say, or what would the Elders and Sisters like to hear?  As I went through it in my head I came to the point that I felt I was prepared and this was going to be a cake walk.  I mean come on all I had to hit on was exercising in the morning and companion study.  Well soon enough it was mine and Elder Catron's turn to speak.  We had planned on being brief and our presentation wasn't going to exceed fifteen minutes.  Piece of cake right? More like a piece of pie...very humble pie.

     I felt like a frozen deer in the headlights up there!  I felt like I was stuttering and going all over the place with my thoughts.  I then started to ask an Elder about his work out routine in the morning, this wasn't planned and he looked like a deer in the headlights too.  I was so embarrassed with myself, but I think I learned the lesson the Lord was trying to teach me.    I may be making more of this than there really is, but I felt like I had butchered it.  I think the words President Hinckley shared with someone who did something similar in a different situation, are appropriate.  "If you would have went up [to speak] the way you came down, you would have came down the way you went up"  Those are the wise words of a prophet!  And boy is it true.
 

The rains came down, and the floods came up!

We have been doing service up in Roundup Montana (yes, Roundup is the name of a town in Montana) the past few weeks, due to the major flooding they have had there.  It has been so humbling to be a part of the clean up.  As we were tearing out drywall because of the water damage the thought dawned on me "what if this was your home?"  I felt a cold shiver go through my whole body.  What would my family do if this were to happen to us?!  I almost began to weep for the family this did happen to.  They lost everything...  what was most painful for me to see, because of my love for pianos, was the beleaguered Steinway that was destroyed!!!!
     I have learned so much about serving others here in Montana.  It feels so good to lend a helping hand.   To who ever reads this I hope that you will heed the voice of a prophet when asked what the church could give him for his birthday, as President Monson said "find someone who is having a hard time and do something for them"  I know you will feel better no matter how your day is going it will only go up as you serve your fellow man.  As King Benjamin of old said  "I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."  Mosiah 2:17 
If you'd like to see a brief shot of me on the news check out http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/Volunteers-Get-Roundup-Recovery-on-Right-Track-123168003.html

What Are Apostle's For Anyway?

Elder Bednar is awesome! I've learned a lot from this video that I didn't know before.  One thing particularly that I liked was when he points out that the role of an Apostle is not to just give talks in General Conference but to find single individuals or find "the one" and help them.  Also that the Church is not some corporation and the Apostles are not the board of directors.  Rather this is the Lord's work and he directs it through his Apostles and Prophets.  I remember in the last conference listening to the brethren and feeling the spirit testify to me the truthfulness and reality of these men's callings.  God be thanked that he has again called Apostles and Prophets to the earth!

Where Were We?

I just saw this video today and I really felt the spirit testify to me of its truthfulness.  I really love the Plan of Salvation. This is only the beginning of the plan. To learn the rest of it you can go to Mormon.org. I know that we are ALL children of a loving and forgiving Heavenly Father.  He is aware of each one of us, his children. 
     I realize this video is directed more for teaching children, but that is why I like it so much because it is so basic.  I know we all lived with our Father in Heaven before we came here and we have the opportunity to return to live with him after this life.  I declare these things in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and God amen!

Anchor Points

I think we all have moments in our lives were we feel like letting go of the "cliff" we call life.  Sometimes even when we put forth our best efforts we fall short, or slip.  Whatever the case may be we fall once in a while right?  The most important thing though is how far do we fall.

      Just as a rock climber fixes anchor points into the mountain to prevent from falling very far.  When tragedy occurs it can often shake our footing, or our faith and we--fall.  We all, whether we realize it or not, have anchor points fixed in this mountain we call life.  These anchor points catch us when we are free falling to our spiritual death.  They prevent us from completely losing our beliefs.  They keep us from "falling"

     Spiritual anchor points are dotted all along our climb.  They may start small or weak but the higher we climb and more experienced we get we anchor them deeper and deeper.  Let me share with you some of my anchor points in life.  When I was first baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  That is starting small.  I can remember times in my life when Heavenly Father gave me direct answers to prayer and the peace I felt was a definite anchor point when I slipped and fell.  One major anchor point was planted after I read the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  When I first went through the temple I felt the anchor points being tapped in.  These are just a few of my anchors to my faith.  What are some of yours?

"The Knowledge Which I Have is of God"

We were reading Alma 36 with a man not of our faith when this scripture jumped out at me in verse 26 "For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God."  As I have been a missionary I have seen peoples' lives change as a result of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I can say full hearted that I know that the knowledge which I have is of God I am so grateful everyday for him.  He means everything in the world to me and all that I do I try to please him and help others understand that He does live!  He is real, and his Atonement is real also.  I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have and am just as grateful to be here in Montana and share it with other people.

The Epitome

There was a woman that we were teaching for a while, who had alot of contact with Mormons and had had missionaries coming to her house for quite some time.  We had not been able to see her for along time and were kind of catching up when she told us that through this gap of not seeing us she feels that the "Mormon Church" is not for her and she did not believe the Book of Mormon to be true.
         "However" she said in an almost confused tone "I still think that you guys are the epitome of Christianity and you do everything and more that a good Christian would do"  She told us this is her stance now but she will keep an open mind on the Book of Mormon and maybe one day she will believe it is true.  Now what sticks out to me is that she said we are the "epitome" of a good Christian.  Epitome is a rich word meaning

"a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class: He is the epitome of goodness. " (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/epitomes)  "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"  If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck IT PROBABLY IS A DUCK.

Highs and Lows of a mission.

The author of this was unknown but I think this poem is more accurate than ever in describing the indescribable feelings that the mission gives you.  This poem is entitled "The Highs and Lows of a mission"

A mission is a strange experience
It is a trial and a test.
A mission throws at you the worst
Yet, teaches you the best.
I've never been so happy,
I've never been so depressed.
I've never felt so forsaken,
I've never felt so blessed.
I've never been so confused,
Things have never been so clear.
I've never felt my Heavenly Father so distant,
He's never been so near.
I've never been so discouraged,
I've never been so full of hope.
I feel I could go on for forever,
I think I've come to the end of my rope.
I've never had it quite so easy,
I've never had it quite so tough.
Things have never been so smooth,
Things have never been so rough.
I've never traveled through more valleys,
I've never ascended more peaks.
I've never met so many nice people.
I've never met so many freaks!
I've never had so many ups,
I've never had so many downs.
I've never worn so many smiles,
I've never had so many frowns.
I've never been so lonely,
I've never had so many friends.
BOY, I hope this is over soon,
GOSH, I hope this never ends.

AMEN to whoever wrote this!  I definitely can say I have experienced every line from this poem on my mission.  I am so grateful I made the decision to come out on one, and that I have the opportunity to serve the Lord full-time for two years!  If you're debating whether or not you want to go on a mission then hear my words.  I say GO!!!!!!!!  IT IS THE BEST TWO YEARS!

Happiness

Happiness is everlasting we never have any reluctance or regret.  Pleasure on the other hand burns out just as quick as a match held at the finger tips.  One can only hold on to that flicker of light for so long until it gets close to your finger's tip forcing them to drop the burned out stick.  True happiness burns like the sun, always warm, and always burning.  I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not fleeting, it lasts▬for eternity.  If you want to have true peace and happiness in your life, true happiness, not a counterfit, but truly lasting peace and joy.  May I invite you to find the gospel of Jesus Christ and don't just make it a part of your life but make it your life.  I can promise any who read these words who are looking for more in life they will find it as they embrace the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon.  I am eternally grateful for the happiness I have found through the Savior Jesus Christ.  I love him and I know that he lives, it brings me happiness being apart of his work.

Dirty Windows

I read this story today from President Monson's talk "Charity Never Faileth" and I realized how far I have to go before I actually get "there".  This talk almost had me in tears, perhaps it was the timing of reading it but I could really see how the windows I am looking out are dirty.  You will have to read the talk for yourself but I would like to take a short clip from it.  

"A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.

“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”

Identity Theft

One thing that I have learned from this passage is our relationship to God when he says "Moses, my son" (Moses 1:4).  By and large most people do not realize their eternal identity.  That each of us truly is a son or daughter of God.  Understanding our relationship with Him it is no wonder why He would love us so much that He would go through all of this work to give us happiness.

The Business of Tearing Down

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment"  Matthew 12:36  There is a poem that has always been a favorite of mine called "Wreckers"  by Dan Clark.  It reads:

"I watched them tearing a building down

A gang of men in a busy town

With a hove-heave-ho and a lusty yell

They swung a beam and the side-wall fell

I asked the foreman are these men skilled

The kind you'd hire if you had to build

He gave a laugh and said no indeed

Just common labor is all I need

I can easily wreck in a day or two

What has taken a builder years to do

Overcome Evil with Good

What does it mean in Revelation 13:7 speaking of the Devil that "[Power] was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them"  There have been times when I have read this and thought are we utterly hopeless?  Since the adversary has been given power to overcome us we might as well just give up then right?  WRONG!!!  I have patiently pondered this passage and  I'd like to suggest to you the "reason of the hope that is in [me]" (1 Peter 3:15) 
The first and foremost reason for us to not be discouraged about being overcome is Jesus Christ has told us  "be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  I always find comfort in those words, no matter how dark the day, the Savior's words light the way. 

A Superficial Knowledge

"Now, the atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths. Many of us have a superficial knowledge and rely upon the Lord and his goodness to see us through the trials and perils of life."  -Bruce R. McConkie

As I have often pondered these words through out course of my trials and triumphs (mostly during the trials).  I am ever more humbled at the sober realization of what Jesus of Nazareth did for me and for all the world.  I recently heard a song from a musical called "The Garden" by Michael McLean, in it described the pain that the Savior must have gone through in the Garden of Gethsemane.  I have heard songs before that brought a sense of the spirit of Gethsemane but nothing like this.

Thou art a God of truth

I am grateful for the divine injunction from the Lord to "seek learning...by study and also by faith" (Doctrine & Covenants 88:118) One of my favorite things to do is to learn new things.  Especially when it is in a subject I know nothing about and it completely blasts a crater in my mind saying "I never would have imagined that."  We live in such a unique world so diverse and complex. Not everything that has been speculated by science is true hence the changing in college textbooks constantly.  Sometimes even members of the church have a tendency to "speculate" on certain theories leaving us asking ourselves "do I feel the Holy Ghost testify that is a truth".  Truths are things as they really are, were and will be.