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.