Be Strong

“Don’t you dare just go blend into the amoral, telestial, hard-scrabble world of today,” Elder Holland challenged graduates at BYU—Hawaii, located in the Laie, Hawaii, during a commencement address.
“Don't go to your first job or first neighborhood or first staff meeting and just begin to act like everybody else.  Be strong.  Be true. …Teach—rather than being taught.  You can't control everyone's morals, but you can control your own. You can't control everyone's language, but you can control your own.  You can't control everyone's personal standards, but you can control yours.  And thus the light of the gospel—the figurative lighthouse of Laie—can shine in all the world to which you go. Don't give up and don’t give in.  Be strong if you are the only Latter-day Saint for a hundred miles in any direction.  Stand straight and true and firm.”

“It is incumbent upon us as students, as Latter-day Saints, and as children of God to see the divine potential in ourselves, to believe in ourselves, and to know that with God’s help there is quite literally nothing in righteousness that we cannot become,” Elder Holland said. “That is the parable of this school’s history and it ought to be the parable of your history.”

Wise Men Still Seek Him

we all still seek Christ in our lives. Yet he speaks to us everyday through the spirit, seek him and you shall draw close unto him, keep his commandments and he shall draw close unto you.

We Can Live with God Again

ALMA 40:
11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

ALMA 40:

23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

CHRISTMAS

Many more people have the spirit of Christmas in them, or better said the spirit of Christ in them this time of the year. We all start to think about others more and we look for ways and opportunities to serve each other. Some start thinking of ways that they are going to improve, or what they could do the next year to come closer to Christ. I have heard during this time, those who have chosen to serve missions, and can't wait until next year when they can go. Also many who are going home from their missions that they will be able to be with their families, which is one of the greatest gifts that one could have during Christmas. some people who sing all the time or never sing ha, gain the courage to go door to door and brighten people's lives by singing carols to them on their door steps. Cookies and treats are made by many and given by the love of their heart. Many sacrifice time and money to make sure that people are able to get to places they need to go by giving them rides, while others supply dinners to those who have little in their possession. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and the pure love of Christ can be had by everyone. Let us all try to keep the spirit of CHRISTmas and charity throughout the whole year.

                       

                                                      MERRY CHRISTMAS

What Think Ye of the Book of Mormon? - Bruce R. McConkie - October 1983 ...

"In speaking of these wondrous things I shall use my own words, though you may think they are the words of scripture, words spoken by other Apostles and prophets.
True it is they were first proclaimed by others, but they are now mine, for the Holy Spirit of God has borne witness to me that they are true, and it is now as though the Lord had revealed them to me in the first instance. I have thereby heard his voice and know his word."

  -- Bruce R. McConkie

"Come All Ye Faithful"

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part,
Yet what can I give Him?
Give my heart.
(Christina Georgina Rossetti)

"O Holy Night"

2011 LDS First Presidency Christmas Devotional

DEAR ELDER

Our Savior, Jesus Christ

In the October 2011 general conference, Elder Dallin H. Oaks began his address by quoting a profoundly important question the Savior asked long ago: “What think ye of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42).
Elder Oaks then declared, “With those same words I ask my fellow Latter-day Saints and other Christians what you really believe about Jesus Christ and what you are doing because of that belief.”
This Christmas season, take time to consider what you believe about Jesus Christ and how that belief shapes your life.

I beleive we can all be better than we already are, for we are all striving for perfection. So instead of waiting until new years to start your new you, consider one thing that you can do starting now that you can do better because of our belief in Jesus Christ. What is one way that we can become more like him. If we all strive to be more Christlike now, the greater the miracles that will happen to us in our lives, for we are all blessed of God when we seek to live as he has commanded. What better gift can we give than to strive to be more like Christ.

Temple Blessings in El Salvador

In this life we are to work towards following the savior's example and to be baptized. I as a missionary look to help people make this covenant with the Lord that they may have the blessings from it. But my goal is not for them to make it that far and be done, but that they may go to the Temple, the house of the Lord, that they make make sacred covenants in the temple, and to have the blessings of being sealed to their families forever.

Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them

We shall all have times in our lives that we feel down, that we feel inadequate to who we feel we should be. This life will never have perfection and never be a time where we never feel pain, but if we strive for at least improvement, that we become better than we were, and let God lift us up when we are down, then shall our hearts be filled with love again, and we shall overcome our trials.

     The gospel of Christ may seem hard to obey sometimes, we have been given many commandments that may seem hard, and we may feel that we may never overcome them. Trust me, with the help of God, if you look unto him for your guidance and act upon the promptings given, you can lift yourself to better than you have ever been.

on to the next one...

Thanksgiving is over, and I am so thankful to all those that were apart of my thanksgiving. I am thankful to everyone that I have met out here and have made a difference in my life. A missionary may go out here to teach, but I think that I learn almost as much as I teach, and those that I am in contact with out here are great people that do make a difference in my life, and make me a better person. But now I move to the next celebration, and that is of Christ's Birth! What greater thing could I be thankful for.

Happy ????

We all wish we more in our lives than what we have right now. We always are seeking for the bigger and better thing, hoping for that one great event in our lives that will make everything better. But like the wise man who accumulated the small flakes of gold, If we are thankful for the small things that happen in our lives, we can realize how much we have been blessed and how many great things the Lord has already given us. All of our small blessing will add up to something great!

Alma 26:37

                                              Happy Thanksgiving

Family

"What is Treasure but a relationship that lasts forever."


Through the gospel of Jesus Christ we learn that families can be sealed together forever through Hevenly Father's plan. We can live in complete happiness with those that we love the most, and never be seperated from them for all time and eternity.

Life

To find what you seek in the road of life,
the best proverb of all is that which says:
"Leave no stone unturned."Edward Bulwer Lytton

You cannot travel down what Lehi called “forbidden paths” and expect to guide others to the “strait and narrow” one—it can’t be done.

Elder Holland


Nephi taught us clearly what we ought to do. He said, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23).
Claudio D. Zivic

Leave No stone unturned within us, that we may be clean. That after all we can do to be clean, grace shall be there for us, that we may also teach others the path to the straight and Narrow of Eternal life, and not just the road of our temporal lives.

STRONG

The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.

    By Napoleon Hill

ETHER 12:27 
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

   Strength is gained through faith, which is found through hope in one who can help, which the greatest hope is only achieved by one who has pure love for those around him, or in other words Charity. For when one gives help he shall also receive help.

Simple

To never lose what matters most, requires us to keep what we treasure close. why go through all the work to find your treasure and then to forget to check the bag for holes. What treasure really is in this life, is what we can take with us in the next. Simply put our treasure is our relationships with others and our family, and the only way to secure our family and friends to be together forever is through the gospel of Christ. Our true treasure is our family, which can be sealed together forever!

Hope

To never lose hope is to never stop trying, you have not failed until you stop trying. Never stop believing that you can become something better. If one has done it, then so can you. For one has done all things, and can give you aid in the trials that you face. Believeth all things, hopeth all things, beareth all things, endureth all things

A Book of Mormon Story

To those who may feel they have somehow forfeited their place at the table of the Lord, we say again with the Prophet Joseph Smith that God has “a forgiving disposition,” that Christ is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, [is] long-suffering and full of goodness.”

Jeffrey R. Holland

“Faith precedes the miracle. It has ever been

so and shall ever be. It was not raining when

Noah was commanded to build an ark. There

was no visible ram in the thicket when

Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Two heavenly personages were not yet seen

when Joseph knelt and prayed. First came the

test of faith–and then the miracle. Remember

that faith and doubt cannot exist in the same

mind at the same time, for one will dispel the

other. Cast out doubt. Cultivate faith.”

by : Erich W. Kopischke

 

"Along with studying the scriptures, missionaries study Preach My Gospel every day. They learn principles and skills, and they apply them. They especially learn how to use the guidance of the Spirit in their work. If we want to learn as missionaries do, we too must carefully study Preach My Gospel and observe the missionaries in their daily work."

 

"Preach My Gospel--the Unifying Tool between Members and Missionaries," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 34

FACES

There was an activity that we did for our last meeting together as missionaries that was really good for me.  As I continue to think about it, I realize what I need to do, even if it may be hard. It was an object lesson that involved halloween, being that it was halloween that we did this on. We began by drawing a big pumpkin on the chalk board, and we went around the cirle having everyone add one little thing that they would do if they were carving a real pumpkin.


Then at the end, we read matthew 5:14-16 about letting our light shine to all the world. And I said if we had a real pumpkin, and we just drew on it with a sharpie, if someone then tried to shine a light through it, would you be able to see the light. And the answer would be no, you wouldn't see any light. But if you were to hollow out the pumpkin and really carve out the face instead of just drawing on it, and you were to put a candle inside of it, it would give off light for everyone to see. So if we become clean inside and out, and santify our selves, and not just put on a face on the outside, but make a true change from within, then our light will be able to shine forth unto everyone and we will be able to glorfy our father in heaven. Miracles will be able to come forth. Also Epheshians 2:8-10, as we created the pumkin on the board, we also are created by God that we might do the works ordained for us. If we realize who we were created by and then realize what our potential can be, as we strive to be clean inside and out, and not just put a face on, then our light shall shine for all to see.

A Different View

I always love to think about the different views we all have. Two people can be at the same place at the same time, but see far different things than one other. The other day I was at the top of Chase Tower, and I was able to see out across all of Rochester, and I can tell you it is a way different view that being down in the city. From the top of the tower you can even see Lake Ontario in the horizon and the green trees in all directions.

Yet if someone were to be standing down on the streets of the city, all they would see are the tall buildings around them. But from my angle, I could see all the people as well as miles in the distance. How similar it is when we teach people about this seemingly new concept of the restoration to them. When they first hear it, it may be like they are standing in the streets, they can only see the picture that is right in front of them. But as they lean unto the Lord for understanding, and pray and ponder for themselves, they begin to see the whole picture of what our heavenly father has in plan for us. It is like their eyes are being opened and they are able to see on a whole new plane, even as if they were at the top of Chase Tower and able to see out for miles and miles. As We begin to understand the plan of Salvation, we begin to see the whole picture. We begin to know what the lord has planned for us eternally, and we are able to see what the Lord has planned for us in our future, and the many blessings that we can receive!

FIRE!!

What is the meaning of a fire inside of you? Do you understand what it means to have that fire which will never distinguish inside of you? What is the cause of this fire deep inside? Why would the fire leave us, why will it stay? What is the fire that burns inside of us anyway? What does the fire feel like? What do I understand about the person who caused this fire? What will I do to keep this fire burning brighter than ever?


That was a lot of questions, but I can promise that I can answer everyone of those questions. There
is still a fire burning within me, there is still a fire burning within Brandon Flowers, But what I want to really know is if there is still a fire burning within you? Our goal in this life is to never lose faith, belief and testimony of our savior Jesus Christ, and to always remember him and live like him, that our fire may never distinguish!

World Series

It's the World Series, the greatest time of the year for baseball fans! When I was younger, I would always try to record the game so I could watch it over and over again, to see how the players played so well, so one day I could learn how to play baseball great myself. Maybe it paid off some, as I went and played baseball all through high school and beyond. As someone as dedicated to baseball as I was, it's hard to believe I am not playing it right now. Through the years I would play on the spring team, then during the regular season, the on the summer team, then on the fall team. And if I could have played on a winter team, I probably would have. It is safe to say I was really into baseball. 

     So why would I go on a mission and not continue baseball? The truth is I have a testimony of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I would have felt worse to know that I didn't serve my God for two years when I had every opportunity to do so, then to play the game I love for two years. So why would I stop playing baseball if I had the chance to continue? Because I know what God wants me to do. I know the Book of Mormon is a true book, as with the Bible, and I know that there are a lot of people that do not know this. They do not know how merciful of a God we have and the plan that he has set up for us to be happy forever. If I can spend my whole life doing something I love, then why couldn't I spend two years teaching others about what else I love, and the love God has for them. My life will continuewhen I get back, but I never will have the opportunity to give 10% of my life to such a great cause again. I went on a mission to serve the lord and bring happiness to others, I was blessed to do what I love for my life before, and now I am blessed to love what I do now.


    

What If We Just Ask ?

What are the possibilities of asking ? What could happen? what might happen? Each of us are entitled to personal revelation and we can all receive it! President Monson talked about gaining a personal relationship with our heavenly father, and that the closer we become with him, the more we will be able to receive insight. Pure intelligence can be spoken in through the mind said J. Devn Cornish. The way that we can receive a personal relationship with our father is through prayer. Elder Cornish also said " If we feel too bad to pray it is like saying we feel to sick to go to the doctor."

     Elder Cornish told a pretty simple story to help us realize what we may receive, even if it is simple. He told a story of when he was a little boy, and he prayed that he could find a quarter on the side of the street to buy a peice of chicken. I mean that is a pretty simple thing to ask for, but he had the faith that it would work. "Whatsoever you shall ask the father in my name which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you. "

    Sometimes there are blessings that we can receive from a loving heavenly father who knows what is best for us, but those blessings are dependant upon us asking for them. The closer we become with our father in heaven the more we will know what we can ask that is within his will, and the more blessings that we can receive if we just have faith and ask, as well as act. For Faith without works is dead ...

Missionary Work and the Atonement

Why is it hard, why is it hard to have people believe what we have to share, about happiness forever. We have a message that will bring peace to everyone that hears it and obeys the message. Why can't success be more rapid? Remember we are all missionaries, every member a missionary as it has been said. This applies to you as it applies to me. Listen to the message of the prophets.

CLEAN AND HALLOWEEN

         During our last preperation day, which is our day for missionaires to get together and have some fun, we played capture the flag again. With all of us running up and down stairs, and jumping from concrete wall to concrete wall. Sometimes running at full speed, some of us are bound to get hurt a little, and some of us did.
           
        I was on my side, waiting for the perfect moment to make my break to the other side and free a prisoner of my team. After a few moments I saw my opportunity and I bolted through the gap. One of the other team came charging after me, but I knew that I was fast enough to make it to the other side and free my teammate. I ran up the stairs and dodged the tag, I was wide open, a clear path to go free them. Right as I made it around the concrete wall, I saw the mud puddle. I had forgotten that that was there, and I was running at full speed, there was no way to avoid it. One of my feet slid in the puddle and next thing I know I was flat on my face covered in mud. Just when I thought I was completely safe, the unexpected obstacle came up, and I was tagged and put into jail :(

  How many times to we think that we are completely free, we think that we will be all right by taking that path because we know what lies ahead of us, and we will remain clean. Then the unexpected obstacle like the mud puddle happens, and before we know it, we have fallen to the ground, we have become dirty and satan has his chains upon us.                 
   
      As Halloween approaches, a lot of people like to have a lot of fun. They think they know what the obstacles ahead are, like what might be at that party, but they think that they are fast enough or good enough to dodge the obstacle. And maybe they will make it through one, but we never know when that unexpected obstacle will jump out at us. Halloween is one of the best times of the year, where friends get together and create great memories. Our Savior knows that we like to have fun, but he also wants us to reamin clean before him. As we have fun this holiday, remember the savior in all we do, that we may have another great holiday and yet remain CLEAN THIS HALLOWEEN!

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE -- WHATEVER THAT MAY BE

No matter who you are, or what faith you have, you can always be the best that you can be. All of us are never going agree which path is the right one for us to follow. As a missionary I have been put into the mix of hearing what a lot of people believe. And like I said, sometimes we never agree. Sometimes I think that I have brought forth my best point of view upon a certain subject, and yet the other person that I am talking to does not agree with what I have to say. All I have to say is no matter how clear I may present an issue, or how powerful I believe that the spirit has testified to them of what I believe and know to be true, everyone has their free agency to see it differently.

This coach, even though everyone may see the same picture different, has incorporated something into their program that everyone can agree on. If you are Catholic, be the best Catholic boy that you can boy, if you are Mormon, be the best Mormon boy that you can be. Whatever you may be, whatever you may do, honor what you do. We are children of God, regardless of what you believe, be firm in your faith of Jesus Christ and be Your Best. Serve those around you and be the example of what God knows you can be. Be open and hear the messages of Christ, BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!

NEVER BACK DOWN -- OR DO SOMETHING BETTER

The other day we were walking down the street and we saw a bunch of people, kids ranging from 3 to adults. And if you have ever seen the movie called never back down, that is what they were doing! circling up and ready to brawl ! but this is what I have to say, is there something more we could do than to back yard brawl, could you we be doing something better.  WE CAN DO BETTER, BE BETTER, LIVE BETTER, Follow Jesus Christ and don't let yourself be caught up in the things of the world. Follow the example of this guy!

General Conference..... and I love it!

General Conference brings back some of the greatest memories that I have. I still remember all the best times that are associated with Conference, like waking up in the morning with a waffle or pancake breakfast for the Saturday morning session of conference. I think it was the tradition of my family to do that for Saturday morning, because looking back I can't think of a time that it didn't happen. Not to say that there wasn't a time, I just don't remember it ha. And I also remember quite often we would go for a drive up to West Yellowstone State Park. We would have conference playing on the radio, and be driving through the beautiful environment. It really was a cool thing to hear conference as we talk about Jesus Christ and the many mighty miracles that he did, and while I am listening to that, I am also able to see with my eyes all the marvelous things that God has done for me in this life. All of the beautiful mountains that he has given us and all the animals that roam around that country are an amazing adventure to see. This world when I really look at it, is a testimony that Jesus Christ lives, and that there is a God. For there is beauty all around uncomparable to the creation of man. 

    Those are my favorite memories of Conference, being with my family, enjoying our traditional breakfast on Saturday and then going for a beautiful drive to see and to hear what great things God has done for me. I hope that I am able to create more memories that are just as good as the ones that I have right now. General Conference is a wonderful time for me, for God has given me many things to be happy and thankful for !

Under the Masters Watch

When I was in Israel I saw a little boy who could whistle and call his sheep as we call dogs. My son-in-law, who spent two years there, told me that some shepherds are so close to their sheep that they literally call the sheep by name, and the sheep come out of the flock. Jesus, understanding the nature of sheep, referred to them in characterizing the Pharisees and others who did not belong to his fold and did not recognize who he was. They did not come out and follow him as he called.

In John 10:7, the Savior explains that it is through him, and only through him, that mankind can gain entrance into his Heavenly Father’s kingdom: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”

--- Homer S. Ellsworth

    Jesus Christ knows each of us by name, like some of the sheep herders that lived in Israel, he is very close to us, more than we even realize. We are characterized as his sheep, for he calls to us by name, with pure love that none can compare, he always wants the best for us. Sometimes I like to imagine it as this, that the sheep that are of the fold of Christ are kept in a beautiful pasture, they have all they need to live happily and they are under the watch of the master that will never let the enemy come upon them. Then there are the sheep that are on the outskirts who are not apart of the fold, and are on their own. The wolves and the predators that prowl for them are always on the watch and lie in wait to catch them, for the sheep have no protection. The shepherd (Christ) is always calling the sheep by name to come over to him, and he will open the gate to let the sheep enter into full safety of the masters watch. But unfortunately sometimes the sheep will stare at the gate but will not come because they like the freedom of what they think is the rest of the world. For the sheep don't realize the dangers that lie outside of the masters watch, and they do not realize that they shall have all they need in the masters watch, and protection forever.

     As I have gone through my time on my mission, I have seen people that respond to the call of Christ very quickly, they realize what the shepherd has to offer and accept the call. Yet there are those that sit at the gate, they hear the call of their master, for he has called them by name in love to let them in. But they sit at the GATE and DEBATE what freedom really is. Commandments are freedom, for they will set you free. Though others may think those of the fold are suppressed, the watchful eye of the master can see to the horizon and knows the dangers that lurk in the distance. For he guides his sheep in safe paths, while they who choose their own path do not see beyond their strides.

The Lord has given us a promise, that if we hearken to his voice and come under the watch of the master, we will be promised eternal life, peace, happiness, and our families forever. Do not WAIT at the GATE and DEBATE about what freedom really is, but enter into the fold and live peacefully under the MASTERS WATCH .

NEVER ALONE

            


1 Nephi 3:7

7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
Regardless of the problems that we may have in our life, the lord shall always prepare a way that we may accomplish the task at hand as well as keep his commandments at the same time. It is not something that we have to choose one or the other. For he giveth no temptation above that which we are able to handle. And he will with the temptation make a way that we will be able to escape it. So when we consider that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen, and also that a trial must be encountered before we receive a witness of what we believe, we must realize that temptation is a way to grow our faith. Just like faith has been compared to a seed, if it has nourishment it will grow, It must be challenged to become strong. Not everyone is going to see an angel on the road they travel, like on the road to Damascus. Some may think that by that type of experience is the only way for them to truly believe. But I shall consider to you that faith once again is things not seen. The road to accomplish all things in your life has been laid out already by your loving heavenly father who gives guidance by his holy spirit to anyone that seeks his counsel, and those who seek it often are wise. The road is already there though you may not see it, but sometimes the only thing that is holding us back is to start walking...

Raise Your Vision: Safety for the Soul

A missionaries purpose

This one is more to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We had a wonderful zone conference today, in which Elder Nash of the seventies came and spoke with us. He is a very powerful speaker, and we had speakers from the missionaries, from our mission president and his wife, and from Elder Nash and his wife. The main time was spent with elder Nash speaking. I always listen carefully for something that I have never really thought of before. I always want to pull some idea or concept out from a talk that I can really feel like I have learned something new that I never knew before. Elder Nash said this, "It is the role of the missionary to assist the members in the work of the Lord, and not for the members to assist the missionaries." That was a strange thought to me at first, but as I thought about how to be a successful missionary, and the things that we have learned from preach my gospel, he is right. You as members are the true servants of the vinyard, doing the Lords work. You are the ones that spend day in and day out, with your non-member friends, and it is through you that the missionaries can assist you in your efforts to bring eternal life for your friends and family. We as missionaries should do everything that we can to find and to bring in, but in large, success is found through the members of the ward. If you follow your part, the blessings of God will follow and rain upon you.

     The whole idea of the message is, that every member is a missionary, and will play a big part if not bigger role than the missionary in bringing people to the truth. Hopefully the missionaries will try to involve you as members in everything that they do, and make realitionships with investigators in the ward, but you as members, can make a major difference in the work of the Lord in your area. Talk to your missionaries and sdee how they can assist you. And as the ward begins to feel the fire of the work, many souls will be brought into the fold of God and blessings that are special to you shall be given from our loving Saviour and God. Missionaries and Members together, unified and strong will bring a greater result than the two seperate parts could ever hope to achieve alone. In unity are the greatest works of this world accomplished. The savior loves us all, and there are many that await the light of the gospel.

The Only True God & Jesus Christ Whom He Has Sent

I love to listen to Elder Holland, he puts passion into his words. I hope that we can all have passion within our words to bear with power our testimonies of the savior Jesus Chrsit.

"Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing."   --  Albert Schweitzer

 I am really big into quotes and I like to hear what other people think. There are regular people everywhere inspired everyday by the Holy Ghost to say things that will make a difference in other people's lives. The Holy Ghost whispers quitely to us, It will not be loud like thunder, but we will feel it in our hearts and hear it within our minds. The Holy Ghost is a guide that will never leave us as long we are worthy of that great gift.

The Sting of the Scorpion

If we obey the commandments and follow the teachings of the savior, he will give us promptings for safety. And as the boy thought to grab shoes, he justified not wearing them. Many times have I justified not following a prompting of the spirit and found out my path was not the right choice but the one I was prompted to follow would have been best.

The Blessings of Scripture-400th Anniversary of the KJV Bible

2 Nephi 32:3

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.


I am so thankful to have the words of Christ in my life, that I am able to study and learn and decide for myself what I believe and have faith in. Thanks to the efforts of some men, I have been richly blessed with the words of Christ at my finger tips.

Just Do it

"People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do." - Louis Cass

I heard a story while I have been out here about a man that was struggling early in his life. He had no one to turn to and didn't know what to do. His friend gave him a number to call of someone that might be able to help him out. He called and this person was able to able him. He didn't just say that he will do something but he actually went out and did something for this man. And for two years, this man had his struggles, and for two years, this other man helped him out, always had his back. Eventually this man was able to get on his feet again, and he started to make the right choices in his life and make something of himself.

       The man that helped him didn't just say you can do this, but he helped him for two years, he is an example of how you can change people by what you do. After two years, the struggling man had so much respect for the man helping, that when he was asked to go to the Hill Camora pageant, he knew that he should go, he didn't want to let him down. After going to the pageant, and realizing what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is all about, he decided to ask for the missionaries.

     We can all make a difference in someones life. If we go out and show people how to follow the savior and be an example to how we should be, we can make more of a difference than just saying and telling people how to do it. Be an example and let your light shine forth!

Book of Mormon challenge

     It is the end of transfers, so yesterday we had a transfer meeting. This one was much different than any of the other ones that I have been a part of. This one was a mission wide transfer meeting. All of us went to the Hill Camora to hear what our mission president had to say. We sat in the pavilion right on the hill, which is a pretty special moment to have every missionary there on the hill to talk about the Book of Mormon, especially since that is where the Book of Mormon was found.

      Earlier this year we had Elder Costa of the quorum of the seventy come to our mission to talk to everyone. During the time that he was with us, he gave some promises regarding miracles that would happen within this mission, if we showed forth the faith and actually believed that such miracles could happen. For our mission is no different than that of of those in the Book of Mormon who went and taught the Lamanites. So our Mission President, in his efforts to help these miracles come forth, has challenged all of us, as companionships, to read the Book of Mormon all the way through within one transfer. That means we will have to read 13 pages per day, everyday. Miracles can really happen if you put faith into what you are doing.

      Right before I came out on my mission, I had a similar goal. I was going to read the Book of Mormon as fast as I could. I spent every hour that I had to read the Book of Mormon, Day and night. When I woke up, I began reading as I ate breakfast. During lunch I read, and even during the whole night I read. Whenever there was available time, I read the Book of Mormon. I figured that I was going on a mission and I had better read again the book that I was going to be teaching about, and know it better than I had before. I finished reading the Book of Mormon in less than a week. I believe it took me from Monday morning to Saturday night.

    So what did I gain by doing that. More than I have realized, and yet I still realize what that did for me. I went into the Missionary Training Center with a knowledge of the Book of Mormon already. I was able to learn more because I already knew a lot through reading it. I know that it has helped my testimony of what I believe, and given a better ability to teach about the Book of Mormon.

    So what can you gain from it? I know that you can gain the same as me. Anyone who reads the Book of Mormon and puts faith to what they read, and follows what the Book of Mormon teaches, will have a greater faith in Jesus Christ and will have blessings and guidance and comfort that they never knew they could have or feel. We had a promise from our mission president regarding missionary work by reading the Book of Mormon and using it more fully. And the Book of Mormon contains the promise that everyone will be blessed as well. Try it and see what will happen if you read the Book of Mormon all the way through.

Facebook

     What is the image that we put ourselves into. Today everything that we do can be seen by everyone else. Now I have never been one to try and hide the things that I do. If people want to know what I do, then I will tell them. If asked about a situation, I will give you a straightforward answer. I don't want someone to get the wrong impression of who I am other than what I really true. As a missionary, I am seen and heard by many. There is a lot of people who know who I am, and what I do, and everyday that image increases. I have all these people that see me in person face to face daily, and I want to let them know who I am, and what my values are. But how many see me virtually, through facebook. Believe it or not, my image is broadcast all over the internet as well. And regardless if I am a missionary or not, I want people to know my values.

         So now there is thousands of people who have seen my image and know who I am, yes thousands. The real question is how many of them know my values and who I am. I would hope to say that almost everyone that I have met knows who I am, and what my values are. There will always be the occasional few that I never told who I was, and later I always felt bad that I never told them who I am. Because I know who I am, and I want everyone to know it as well. My image is in everything I do, including facebook, whether being a missionary or not, whether my home account or my mission account. If I choose to live the life that I have chose; to be a Mormon, to follow Jesus Christ, I want to let everyone know who I am. I don't want to hide anything, nor do I want anything to hide. What I post on facebook is seen by everyone, and can lead people away from what is right if I am not careful.

     If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or are thinking of becoming one, or even just a good christian person that is following Christ, I challenge you to not let foul communication come forth from you, whether from you mouth, or from your fingers to the internet. Let your image be clean and be an example to everyone around you, let you light shine forth. If we choose to follow the example of the savior and his teaching more than ever now, the blessings that we can receive will be more than what we ever would expect. Be clean and let your little sins be swept away.

What I believe, What I know

There is a question, almost everyone will ask, whether it is out loud, or whether it is just in the minds, "Where did I come from." At some point, I believe that everyone will think this question, I did. I am a person who wants to know, to see, to feel. But this question is one where we will just have to have faith in. We have the words of the prophets, old and new, and all of them testify that there was a creation, that we existed before. So I must have faith in the words of the prophets, and I know that they speak the words of God upon this Earth. For now, this shall be my answer and I shall believe. I also know that at some point in the future, I will know...

http://lds.org/pages/we-lived-with-god?lang=eng

HANDS DOWN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

A TESTIMONY


Listen to a recent convert from Rochester, New York. Listen to what the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ has done for her life. Listen to her share the most important thing to her. Listen and Gain your own. I have, and I KNOW, and thousands more have, and they know. Listen to what the words of Christ can do for you.

Help Wanted:

Help

This has been an eventful day so far, and it is only three o'clock. By eight this morning we were already out of the apartment on our way to help one of the families in our ward. She had asked us to help her move the large things our of her house to her new home. So we called our ward mission leader and off we went. I am not sure how many houses we have helped move in or out since I have been in Rochester, but I know that it is has been quite a few. After we got all the things that she needed taken to her new home, we went straight to Cameron's community service to help them out with their food services, which today was a cook-out with hot dogs and sausages, for all in the neighborhood that needed something to eat for the day. We do this at least once a week and it is always fun to talk to the people there and help them with whatever they need us to do.

The message today is service. Already today we have given six hours of it. And to honestly look back at it, I enjoy the time that we are out doing something. The more that we are looking out for our fellow men and women, the more we are living the gospel of Jesus Christ and not just saying it.

Weekends!!

     Everyone always looks forward to the weekends. Whether it's for the party that is going on at your friends house that weekend, or the trip that you are taking to your cabin to go snowmobiling or four-wheeling, or even snowboarding. Whatever it is, the weekend is always something to look forward to.

      On my mission I look forward to a different type of weekend. The weekend I look forward to is the one where there is someone who has accepted a change into their life and is choosing to follow Jesus Christ and be Baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God. These are the types of weekends that I look forward to. I went to Niagara Falls this weekend to be a part of a baptism for a man that I had helped teach over there. He is a great person, and I loved teaching him and spending time with his family. Just like John 3:5 says, " Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God," He has made that decision, and I am so happy that he has made such a choice. Choices are placed in our paths everyday, not every choice brings great happiness into your life, but this is one that will make all the difference and bring eternal happiness into his life.

♬♪ Have I Done any Good in the World Today? - Mormon Tabernacle Choir ♫♭

by the small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I have passed by many small opportunites to help someone out everyday. I wish I could take some of those times back, but rather than dwell on the past of things I can't change, I will focus on the future, and make someone's day brighter.

The More the Merrier !!

     This is game is so much fun when you get a lot of people to join in and play! Especially when you get most of the zone, which just means the missionaries that are near you, to play. Isn't that how it usually is, The More the Merrier ! So what is the game? Capture the flag! My companion and I showed up a little late for the start of the game because we went with two other missionaries and played golf in the morning. Now when I was back at home, I golfed all of the time, I had a season's pass for a couple of years running, and started to get pretty good, and had some fairly good scores. But when you come out on your mission, and you play golf only here and there, so far it has been twice for me, you sort of lose your touch. It was good for not playing in a while. I had some pars and one birdie, it was just the other holes that kind of did me in. But all in all, Golf is always fun. After we finished our game, and got a little burnt from the sun, we went and played capture the flag. All is fun until someone gets hurt, which of course it what happened. there was stairs going down into the other teams area, and one of the players was running down them, and he tripped and hit his head on the concrete wall to the side of him. there was a little blood, and it was a scary moment for everyone, but it wasn't as bad as we all thought. It was just fine later, but we decided to end the game, just so no one else would get hurt in this concrete jungle of an areana that we were playing in.

      There was a couple of things that I thought of with these two events. First of all was the golf that we played. When I say that it is harder to do the things that are right in the game of golf when you haven't played in a while, the same goes for gospel. When you don't practice the things that make you a better person consistantly, when you go out and try to perform, it is always harder to do it the right way. If we want to be great parents. great friends, good neighbors, if we practice, we will be successful. There is a qoute by Ralph Waldo that goes along well with this, it says, "That which we persist in doing becomes easier – not that the nature of the task has changed, but our ability to do so has increased." – Ralph Waldo. I really lilke this quote, and from learned experience and one thing the my former boss used to say, "it's not that you are not very good, it is just that you need more experience." That is a very true statement for everyone. If you get down on yourself for not doing it right every time, realize that those who do it right, usually have a lot of experience, and some people take longet than other to reach the needed experience. The longer and more experience I spend doing the right thing, no matter what it is, the easier it will become.  And like capture the flag, we are always trying to reach a goal, in that case it was the other teams flag, but for life it could be going to church, or reading the book of mormon, the two main things that we as missionaries strive our hardest to teach people to do. When we do these things and persist in them, we are blessed  from the lord, and he will look out for us. And as you consistantly do these things, it becomes easier and easier to do it week after week. As we try to do the things the Lord has told us to do consistantly, we will be blessed and all things will work out for our own good. Put your trust in the Lord and do what is right.

    The update on Samatha, we have seen here a couple more times and we have talked to her a little bit. She didn't come to church with us this week because she had a lab for school at that time. We are also meeting with her today, which will be really good. The only bad thing about it all is that she will be moving tomorrow and we may never see her agian after that. Hopefully she will take the step and contact the next missionaries where ever she goes. Once again you never know what can happen when you act on the prompting of the spirit and just open you mouth and say hello, and put words into action. Like the post before, " In their shoes, " you never know what could happen with the regular "Hello."

Rearrange

      We are all free to choose whatever path we want to go on. The Savior has asked us that we make the choice to follow him, to rearrange our lives if they are on the wrong track, turn the course, and make it right. If at anytime I feel like I am going the wrong way, or just making no progress at what I am doing, look for a change, or just rearrange your priorites to where the things that you want to accomplish most are the things that are first in your life.

      Why I thought of this principal today, ha funny story :) We were on our way over to visit one of our investigators, and had decided that we were going to watch the movie The Testaments with him. When we got there, we realized that we didn't have it. So we called a member that we knew, that lived right next to him. Amazingly they were not home which is unusuall. So we called them and ask when they are going to be back in about 30 min, but just climb through the front window because it was open. Ha so the first time in my mission, well I guess the second time, because once I locked my keys out of the Niagara Falls Apartment and had to climb a tree to get to the deck to get into the window, but that is a whole other story ha. But for the first time, I climbed through another members window to get in their house to get the DVD out. Now the real funny thing about this member is that they really like to joke around and have fun. So we decided to play along a little bit.. :) we decided to rearrange all of the furniture in the whole house. so when they walk in they wouldn't know what is going on. So for about five minutes, we rearranged the whole house's furniture and just had some fun. We grabbed the movie and went over to the investigators home, and we were there for about 20 minutes before the member came back to her place. Before they got back, my companion and I tell each other that second the member gets home, they will be over to the investigators home in the snap of a finger. And sure enough, we saw them walk into the apartment, and instantly they came right over to us and went off on us. Of course it was all in fun, and they really weren't that mad, but it made for a funny moment one of those times that you remember and look back on ha. After that we went back over and fixed up the house again, just as it was before. We had a good lesson with the investigator too, and it was a fun visit to that part of the city.



     This is my advice, If you seem to be stuck and things are just not going the way you want, Change and Rearrange!! It is just silly to keep going in the same direction and the same way if it is not working for you. Every person has their own style and their way. Their is always the Goal that you are trying to reach, the end sight. But if you can't seem to reach the goal, look for a new route. Pray for imspiration from the Savior through the Holy Ghost, because if you are looking for help, that is the best source to find it. have fun, and in the words of a great song, "Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change."



Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.  (2Nephi 2:27)

In Their Shoes...

     What does it feel like when two young men, for example Me and my companion, one 6'5'', and the other 5'10'' ha, walk up to you and start talking to you while you are on your front steps, sitting down. That is what I would really like to know, what are they thinking?   Or you see these two guys riding bikes and say, "hello, how are you," you know the usual greeting for pretty much everyone in Rochester, or just the head nod seems to do as well ha; But then you get curious and say to yourself, why are these two young men dressed so nicely, their white shirts and ties, sometimes matching ties even though we try to make sure that doesn't happen :) and also why they are riding around on bikes through all the neighborhoods being nice to everyone. You ask, "what are you two doing out here dressed like that and riding around." and we as missionaries tell them what our purpose is in doing what we do.

      So that was my thought from yesterday, what is going on in the mind of someone who doesn't know who we are and what are purpose is, and when they find out! I would love to know what they really think on the inside, but I really don't think that I will ever get that opportunity to know that, bummer :(   There was an instance yesterday when this happened. And I am very curious to keep a tab in my blog of what might happen just by a stranger saying hello to the missionaries.. through the blog I will try to keep an update on what I know of the progress of this person, and what can happen when you accidentally run into someone that is a friendly face. Will she ever want to learn more, maybe once, maybe none at all. Only time will tell, I guess I will just have to have some patience and see what happens.

     So this is how it happened.. We were visiting a recent convert on the other side of our area, and we start looking at our watches, which seem to be our enemies sometimes, and we are not sure how long it is going to take to get the the next appointment from where we are, because we have never ridden on bikes on that route. I tell my companion I think it will take like 30 minutes, and my companion thinks maybe an hour. So we meet in the middle with a compromise, 45 minutes it is. Off we go, and as we go we start to realize, wow! we really are getting there fast. Next thing we know, we are almost to our appointment, and it has only taken like 20 minutes to get there. To kill a little time because we are way way early, we decide to visit former investigators that we had written down earlier that morning. Of course none of them were home ha, but it was still worth the try. On we go to our appointment about 20 minutes early and knock on the door. No answer, this has happened before and we figure that he will be home a little bit later, and we will just wait on the porch. Straight across from us, the next door down, there is a college age women and a college age man sitting on the porch, Someone our age ha. We say the usual, "Hello, how are you," and he responds by asking, "Who we you." We tell him and he says that he really doesn't care for us, and bla bla bla. But the girl next to him who is at University of Rochester for a semester for a human body dissection ha, is nice and talks a little to us. Right as we are about to come a little closer and actually have a conversation instead of shouting from porch to porch, the door opens and our appointment decides to let us in now ha. So there goes our first meeting with the college kids that live next door. We have a good dinner with the member that we are visiting, Ghetto Burgers as

he calls them. And have a good discussion on Luke 24, and what happened after Jesus was

resurrected, and we are on our way out the door. Surprisingly enough, right as we are about to leave, the college girl, whom we will just call Samantha for now, comes out again. We say hello, again, the usual ha, and this time we are on our bikes and are right in front of her steps, so we can have a normal conversation, no shouting. We come to find out that she has a friend who is serving a foreign mission in Thailand, and that she won't get to see him for two years. And of course we hear 2 years, and go, "what, is your friend a Mormon!" She says, "Ya, and I won't see him for two years, I miss him." So the conversation goes on for a little while, and it is starting to get dark, so we tell her that we will be back in that area on Thursday, near the same time, and she said hopefully we will see you again.

     So that is the story, The life in the investigators shoes. This is where we cross paths with this person's life, and see in what way we might be able to bless her life with the gospel. She could have said nothing and let us pass by, but she didn't, and to think of all the times I just let things pass by astounds me. Never give up as a missionary at anytime in your life, young or old, you never know what will happen later. Maybe Samantha learned a little about the church from her friend before, but who knows. Maybe she was not interested then, but may be now, the only thing I can do is try to imagine myself in their shoes, and guess what she has the potential to do. Never Give up on someone that May receive the gospel at some point in their life, as a recent convert has told me that same day, "Never give up on the people you meet. The missionaries that first met me probably were really discourage all the time because I didn't make all the appointments, and I didn't listen that close all the time. But look at me now, They probably never would have guessed that I would end up where I am now now. Just never give up on your people.."

C.O.M.M.I.T.M.E.N.T.

Frank Lloyd Wright - I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.

   I am a missionary, and I have committed to do a lot of things. If fact I even have a whole entire white hand book and all the things that I committed to do when I choose to come out on a mission. I am not perfect, so obviously I am not a hundred percent perfect in all that I do, but I can try. So I was thinking of commitments the other day and some attitudes or attributes that might make me more successful in what I am trying to do while on my mission. These are some of the things that I have come up with. There are many ways for many people, but these are the things that will help with me ha. These are some of the things in the white handbook:  waking up on time, studying every morning, having the desire to go see more people when most do want to see you ha. My commitment right now is to memorize one scripture daily, and to give at least two compliments more a day than I do right now. Now lets see If I can hold up to my commitments. Whatever your commitments are, try your best as well :) 
Compromise: What I always want is not the best thing for me, even if I don't always realizes it at first.

HOpe: Hope has a goal, it has something that you are striving for, a commitment to yourself that you are willing to keep. 

Might: Without the effort of your might, you can never reach the goals that will make you soar, use your might to accomplush your goals.

Master: Seek to become a master at want you want to accomplish. To truly become commited to what you want, I believe one must try to be a master at what he wants. I am not saying you have to be a master, just seek your best to do your best.

Itegrity: Being truthful, and doing what is right even when no one is looking, suprisingly is something that can help you along your way. When you are sure within yourself that you are doing the right thing, then it makes it easier to go full force towards the goal and commitment that you want to accomplish.

Talking: Without opening your mouth and letting people know of the intentions that are seeking, keeping a commitment can be harder without the support of your people. Or without speaking because you are afraid can really slow the progression of what you want.

Moving: Action is required if you are going to reach your goals and commitments. "You can plow a field by turning it over in your mind" (Gordon B. Hinckley)

Egaged: Have a passion for what you want to accomplish and go for it, be engaged in things that are good for you, and seek after the things that will bring you closer to your goals.

Negative: Negative thoughts and attitudes are the deciding factor in whether you actually accomplish your goals or not. There is nothing more inportant to me than this catagory. If you let the negative thoughts become the focus of what you are doing, then you will never ever accomplish what you want. If you want to follow through on a comittment, you must be positive :)

Teaching: Being on a mission has helped me realize that the best way to help yourself learn , is to prepare like you are the teacher and are going to teach someone. The best way to learn is to teach.


     To Commit to something is to give a part of you to whatever you committed to. Commit to serve and to love those around you. There was no greater commitment than the Jesus Christ's commitment to do the will of the father. He healed the sick, clothed the naked, gave the hungry something to eat, and served all those around him. He committed his life to us that we may be happy! knowing what commitments the savior made, What commitments have you made in your life?