"Verily, verily I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than
from God?
And now, behold, you have received a witness; for if I have told you things which no man knoweth have you
not received a witness?"
D&C 6:22-24
A week before I got home and since I have been home I have been questioning my faith and my testimony of this Gospel and of this Church. I have been feeling empty and alone. I felt like my faith was diminishing and my testimony was falling fast. I have been reading and praying but it doesn't seem to help the feelings I had.
Last night I looked for help from a couple of friends. One of them gave me a couple of scriptures from Doctrine and Covenants and it says:
"But behold you must study it out in your mind, then you must ask me if it be right, and if it be right I will cause your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
But if it be not right you will have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me."
D&C 9:8-9
She said after I read this I should pray vocally to our Father in Heaven all of my concerns, worries and doubts and let him help me. So after I read those verses I prayed and I prayed for about a good half hour asking him if this is true. What I was teaching and what I was taught it true. I went to bed. Today I woke up and went on Facebook to find a talk from my friend's boyfriend. It was a talk given by Elder Holland titled "Come unto me" I felt like that talk was for me. After I listened to the talk I got on the phone and was texting a really good friend of mine from my mission and was asking him if this ever happened to him. He said yes and he gave me the scriptures that is the beginning of this note and he told me to pray to God before and after reading those verses and then just listen so I did. After I prayed the second time I opened my eyes to this verse.
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto my own and my own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not."
D&C 6:21
Now I cannot write what my experience was because it is sacred to me and it is from God but I can tell you this:
I know that this Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the true and living Gospel. I know that this is the ONLY true and living Church of Jesus Christ that is on the earth today. I know that the Book Of Mormon is true with all of my heart. I know that we have a literal Father in Heaven that is willing and ready to help us in any way we need it and I also know that we have a Savior that has redeemed us all so we can have a chance to live with him and God again. I know that what I have been teaching for the past 8 months is true without a shadow of a doubt. I know that Joseph Smith Jr. was the ONLY person who could unlock this last dispensation and bring forth the fullness of the everlasting Gospel. I also know that we have a living Prophet and his name is Thomas Spencer Monson and he receives direct revelation for us from our father in heaven. I know that these things are true and I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, July 5, 2013
My Mission
Here it is 8pm coming in from a long day of discouragement
and heartache
door after door slammed in our faces for weeks and one
door apologized for me joining the wrong church
my knuckles are red and sore and I don't even want to check
what's under my socks
my back is hurting from carrying my backpack all day I don't
know if I can stay up any longer
I get a text and my heart sinks to my stomach of what it says.
I was with him for 3 months and this is what he does.
We get a call and I go to my knees in tears. I thought we taught
him good enough.
We plan and I throw the phone to my companion and go to
the bedroom and slam the door.
It's 9pm. I shut the lights off in shame. I drop down to the
edge of my bed to pray.
Father why are you putting me through this? Why doesn't
anyone want to hear our message?
Why did you put me with that person for three months? Why doesn't
this person live what we teach him?
I want to keep a smile on my face but it is so dang hard to do that
when you put me through this.
I feel like giving up. Going home throwing in the towel. This isn't for
me. It never was. Amen.
I crawl into bed. It is 1030pm the alarm is set for 630am. I fall asleep
right away.
I find myself underneath a tall oak tree with the sun shining on me. A
Tall man comes up and sits next to me.
He tells me he is Jesus Christ. He goes on and tells me this. "So you feel
discouraged and lots of heartache.
I felt like that when my people wanted to crucify me. So your knuckles
are sore. My hands were sore when they put nails through my hands.
I see that your back hurts from your backpack. My back was in excruciating
pain when I had to carry my cross up to Calvary.
So you had a companion that didn't do what he was supposed to do. I had a
companion that sold my life for 20 pieces of silver.
So you have a person that isn't following everything that you have taught
them. I had disciples that went back to there fishing when I died.
You feel like you wanna give up and quit. I wanted to do that so badly
but I stuck through it because I had a mission to fulfill."
I bowed my head and I started crying. He puts his arm around me and crys
with me.
I looked up at him and asked him "Why did you go through with it?"
He told me "I did it because I love you."
Then I woke up. It was 630 already. I jumped out of bed with a smile on
my face and ready to go out and finish my mission.
and heartache
door after door slammed in our faces for weeks and one
door apologized for me joining the wrong church
my knuckles are red and sore and I don't even want to check
what's under my socks
my back is hurting from carrying my backpack all day I don't
know if I can stay up any longer
I get a text and my heart sinks to my stomach of what it says.
I was with him for 3 months and this is what he does.
We get a call and I go to my knees in tears. I thought we taught
him good enough.
We plan and I throw the phone to my companion and go to
the bedroom and slam the door.
It's 9pm. I shut the lights off in shame. I drop down to the
edge of my bed to pray.
Father why are you putting me through this? Why doesn't
anyone want to hear our message?
Why did you put me with that person for three months? Why doesn't
this person live what we teach him?
I want to keep a smile on my face but it is so dang hard to do that
when you put me through this.
I feel like giving up. Going home throwing in the towel. This isn't for
me. It never was. Amen.
I crawl into bed. It is 1030pm the alarm is set for 630am. I fall asleep
right away.
I find myself underneath a tall oak tree with the sun shining on me. A
Tall man comes up and sits next to me.
He tells me he is Jesus Christ. He goes on and tells me this. "So you feel
discouraged and lots of heartache.
I felt like that when my people wanted to crucify me. So your knuckles
are sore. My hands were sore when they put nails through my hands.
I see that your back hurts from your backpack. My back was in excruciating
pain when I had to carry my cross up to Calvary.
So you had a companion that didn't do what he was supposed to do. I had a
companion that sold my life for 20 pieces of silver.
So you have a person that isn't following everything that you have taught
them. I had disciples that went back to there fishing when I died.
You feel like you wanna give up and quit. I wanted to do that so badly
but I stuck through it because I had a mission to fulfill."
I bowed my head and I started crying. He puts his arm around me and crys
with me.
I looked up at him and asked him "Why did you go through with it?"
He told me "I did it because I love you."
Then I woke up. It was 630 already. I jumped out of bed with a smile on
my face and ready to go out and finish my mission.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Lehi's dream....was he dreaming of the HIGHLINE TRAIL!?!?!??
OK so yesterday Natalie C, a few missionaries and I went up to Glacier National Park and we drove up to the Sun road. Well at the top of the sun road there is this trail called "The High Lin Trail." So we decided we would hike the trail. It was going great until we hit the VERY narrow path on the side of the cliff where you had to grab the rope on the side. Like this
As you can see it very narrow and that's the ONLY thing that you had to hold on cause one wrong step you would be falling a long way down. Well when we were coming back I started thinking of Lehi's dream about the Iron rod and how there were 4 groups that were clinging to the iron rod but some of them let go and went to the spacious building but what really got me was the last group. They held onto the iron rod to the end and they made it to the tree and part took of the fruit and the other people were mocking them but it did not phase them cause they knew what was right. So looking back at yesterday and at that rope. 
If any of us took a wrong step and let go of that rope (Iron Rod) We would not be coming back. So brothers and sisters cling to the Iron Rod to the end and you will be richly blessed and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
SATAN! A sneaky little bugger?
I know its been a while since I have posted last but I have been busy with work and preparing to go on a mission to Cleveland Ohio and all. ;-) but anyways In Sunday school today I heard a really cool and really true story.
"If you put a frog in a boiling pot of water the frog will just jump out. Now if you put the frog in the pot of cold water and just warm the water a little at a time the frog will like it and soon enough he will jump out or die in there."
--Elder Seth Floyd Hanson
SO TRUE! That is how Satan works in our lives. He doesn't go full blast on us. He slowly works on us until we break and follow him. I will like to share another story with you and this happen.
I got my mission call on June 29th and I was called to the Cleveland Ohio. I was so excited that night after I opened it but that split second that I doubted myself SATAN CAME! The next few weeks after that I would think of going on my mission then again that split second of doubting he would come. I felt like nothing worked. I prayed at at least 3 times a day, read my scriptures every chance I got and it didn't help. So this past week I was so pumped I hit 5 more weeks till I leave for Cleveland I was thinking of what I was going to do on my mission how I was going to teach I was even practicing my door approaches. I wasn't even doubting this time and when I fell asleep not even 20 mins later I felt a hand that was literally burning my leg. I immediately jumped and I saw him. SATAN was at the end of my bed and I stared at him for what felt like an eternity but for only an hour. It was the longest hour ever. I felt like Heavenly father was not with me anymore and I felt like my shield was gone that night. So the next day I called the Elders in my area Elder Hanson and Elder Walch and I told everything to Elder Hanson and both of them gave me a priesthood blessing and that night I went home and I laid in my bed and right beside my bed I have the poem "Footsteps" and at the end of that poem it says "When you saw one set of footprints that was when I was carrying you." That night I felt Heavenly Father's arm engulf me and I felt like I had my shield back again.
I share this with you because it brings me back to the frog story. I was the frog to Satan and each experience got more and more stronger like the water got hotter and hotter. Then the last experience I had was the boiling point of the water.
Brother's and sisters I want to bear you my testimony that SATAN is REAL and is around us every day trying to tempt us and persuade us to go his direction and not Heavenly Father's direction. I KNOW this church is true with all my heart and I KNOW that we have a living prophet who is Thomas S. Monson who leads us and guides us every step of the way. I KNOW this Gospel is TRUE and I am so excited to preach it to the people of Cleveland Ohio. I say these things in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
"If you put a frog in a boiling pot of water the frog will just jump out. Now if you put the frog in the pot of cold water and just warm the water a little at a time the frog will like it and soon enough he will jump out or die in there."
--Elder Seth Floyd Hanson
SO TRUE! That is how Satan works in our lives. He doesn't go full blast on us. He slowly works on us until we break and follow him. I will like to share another story with you and this happen.
I got my mission call on June 29th and I was called to the Cleveland Ohio. I was so excited that night after I opened it but that split second that I doubted myself SATAN CAME! The next few weeks after that I would think of going on my mission then again that split second of doubting he would come. I felt like nothing worked. I prayed at at least 3 times a day, read my scriptures every chance I got and it didn't help. So this past week I was so pumped I hit 5 more weeks till I leave for Cleveland I was thinking of what I was going to do on my mission how I was going to teach I was even practicing my door approaches. I wasn't even doubting this time and when I fell asleep not even 20 mins later I felt a hand that was literally burning my leg. I immediately jumped and I saw him. SATAN was at the end of my bed and I stared at him for what felt like an eternity but for only an hour. It was the longest hour ever. I felt like Heavenly father was not with me anymore and I felt like my shield was gone that night. So the next day I called the Elders in my area Elder Hanson and Elder Walch and I told everything to Elder Hanson and both of them gave me a priesthood blessing and that night I went home and I laid in my bed and right beside my bed I have the poem "Footsteps" and at the end of that poem it says "When you saw one set of footprints that was when I was carrying you." That night I felt Heavenly Father's arm engulf me and I felt like I had my shield back again.
I share this with you because it brings me back to the frog story. I was the frog to Satan and each experience got more and more stronger like the water got hotter and hotter. Then the last experience I had was the boiling point of the water.
Brother's and sisters I want to bear you my testimony that SATAN is REAL and is around us every day trying to tempt us and persuade us to go his direction and not Heavenly Father's direction. I KNOW this church is true with all my heart and I KNOW that we have a living prophet who is Thomas S. Monson who leads us and guides us every step of the way. I KNOW this Gospel is TRUE and I am so excited to preach it to the people of Cleveland Ohio. I say these things in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The continuous Atonement!
" I'll never do it again," we say--and then we do it. In a work full of challenges, temptations, and even addictions, it is easy to lose hope for ourselves and those we love. During times of discouragement, we must remember that the purpose of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not just not cleanse and console, but also to transform--and that takes time. Christ is not waiting at the finish line once we have done "all we can do." He is with us every step of the way, and his atonement will be available as long as the perfecting process takes--continually.
This is the first paragraph of this book I read when I was flying back from Utah. The person that sat by me said "What did he ever do for you." She was asking what Jesus did for me and I said "He performed the ultimate sacrifice so I can return to him again. The Atonement, the continuous Atonement." She was sitting there and asked "What is the atonement?" and right there while I was wearing Reuben Miner's name tag I felt like I was a missionary so the next hour I was teaching her the atonement and how Heavenly Father gave his only begotten son to die for us and take our sins upon him so when we came down to earth we would have a chance to repent when we sin and be able to come back and live with our heavenly Father and our older brother Jesus Christ. I also told her through the atonement we can become one step closer to perfection. When we got into Kalispell knowing I always have a copy of the Book of Mormon and when we got off the plane i gave it to her and wrote down the scriptures of the atonement and about Jesus Christ. She had the biggest smile on her face when she left. I do know that Heavenly Father lives and Jesus Christ did the ultimate price for me and you and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
He will ALWAYS love you no matter what!
"I am the thorn in Your crown but You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow but You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist but You love me anyway
I am Judas' kiss but You love me anyway"
For the people that are following my blog I like singing and making music. Well me and a friend took bridge from another song and made it ours and when I always sing this part I ALWAYS feel a sense of comfort and security that he loves me for who I am. Jesus Christ came down in Flesh and bone and walked with us on earth and he died for us. We were that thorn, we were that sweat from his brow, we were that nail in his wrist, we were that kiss Judas gave to Jesus BUT he STILL love us. NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!
I am the sweat from Your brow but You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist but You love me anyway
I am Judas' kiss but You love me anyway"
For the people that are following my blog I like singing and making music. Well me and a friend took bridge from another song and made it ours and when I always sing this part I ALWAYS feel a sense of comfort and security that he loves me for who I am. Jesus Christ came down in Flesh and bone and walked with us on earth and he died for us. We were that thorn, we were that sweat from his brow, we were that nail in his wrist, we were that kiss Judas gave to Jesus BUT he STILL love us. NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
NEVER judge anyone!!!!
He found the boy’s father going and coming in the hall waiting for the doctor. Once seeing him, the dad yelled:
“Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have the sense of responsibility?”
The doctor smiled and said:
“I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital and I came the fastest I could after receiving the call…… And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”
“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??” said the father angrily
The doctor smiled again and replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Bible “From dust we came and to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go and intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace”
“Giving advice when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.
The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank God! Your son is saved!”
And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any question, ask the nurse!!”
“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.
The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”
NEVER JUDGE ANYONE because you never know how their life is and as to what is happening or what they’re going through.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Are you worth dying for????
I have been thinking about this song a lot and it has been stuck in my head for the past three weeks. I didn't know if it meant something to me or am I supposed to write a blog about it. Well I got my answer.
You might be the wife, waiting up at night, you might be the man, struggling to provide, feeling like it's hopeless.
Maybe you're the son, who chose a broken road, maybe you're the girl, thinking you'll end up alone praying God can you hear me? Oh God are you listening?
Am I more than flesh and bone? Am I really something beautiful? Yeah, I wanna believe, I wanna believe that I'm not just some wandering soul that you don't see and you don't know Yeah I wanna believe, Jesus help me believe that I Am someone worth dying for.
I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free but you think you're the one that grace could never reach so you just keep asking, what everybody's asking
You're worth it, you can't earn it yeah the Cross has proven that you're sacred and blameless your life has purpose
You are more than flesh and bone can't you see you're something beautiful yeah you gotta believe, you gotta believe He wants you to see, He wants you to see that you're not just some wandering soul that can't be seen and can't be known yeah you gotta believe, you gotta believe that you are someone worth dying for
You're someone worth dying for you're someone worth dying for!
Sometimes we feel like we are worthless. We have no point to life. Some of us may be asking ourselves "Are we someone worth dying for?" To be honest I have asked that to myself. Even before I got baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but I am here to say YES! You are someone worth dying for. You are something beautiful. Heavenly Father has a plan for EVERY SINGLE PERSON on this earth. Just like it says in John 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. I know this is true and I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
You might be the wife, waiting up at night, you might be the man, struggling to provide, feeling like it's hopeless.
Maybe you're the son, who chose a broken road, maybe you're the girl, thinking you'll end up alone praying God can you hear me? Oh God are you listening?
Am I more than flesh and bone? Am I really something beautiful? Yeah, I wanna believe, I wanna believe that I'm not just some wandering soul that you don't see and you don't know Yeah I wanna believe, Jesus help me believe that I Am someone worth dying for.
I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free but you think you're the one that grace could never reach so you just keep asking, what everybody's asking
You're worth it, you can't earn it yeah the Cross has proven that you're sacred and blameless your life has purpose
You are more than flesh and bone can't you see you're something beautiful yeah you gotta believe, you gotta believe He wants you to see, He wants you to see that you're not just some wandering soul that can't be seen and can't be known yeah you gotta believe, you gotta believe that you are someone worth dying for
You're someone worth dying for you're someone worth dying for!
Sometimes we feel like we are worthless. We have no point to life. Some of us may be asking ourselves "Are we someone worth dying for?" To be honest I have asked that to myself. Even before I got baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but I am here to say YES! You are someone worth dying for. You are something beautiful. Heavenly Father has a plan for EVERY SINGLE PERSON on this earth. Just like it says in John 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. I know this is true and I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Marriage!!!!
“When I got home that night as ...my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.
So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!
If you don’t share this, nothing will happen to you.
If you do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
By: Parwan Banu
Friday, September 16, 2011
Are YOU intune with your voice????
Since I was a toddler I always loved to sing. When I got to 7th grade I had my chance to show people my talent. But when I audition for choir, the choir director said to me, "Boy how on earth do you have that voice yet your just in the 7th grade?" I said "I don't know. It just comes natural to me." Today I am a Tenor 1 in the Community Choir in the Flathead Valley called the Crown of the Continent Choir and in the Headwaters Ensemble. I am a leader in both of the choirs because I am in tune with my voice. But sometimes I lose my in tunableness with the spirit and the gospel and I know I'm not the only one that does lose sight of it.
Everyone is busy with their career in life and they get so caught up with their work they lose their sight or "In tune" with Heavenly Father. But how we can ALL come back to that surety that we are in tune with our Heavenly Father and his gospel is to take a step back from your busy schedule and take a breather. Sit down and pick up your scriptures, or go on the Internet and look up your favorite Mormon Message and get that sense of peace and surety that you have been missing in your life. I know this to be true.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Trials! Pains or Blessings????
When we came to this earth Heavenly Father told us we would go through trials. Sometimes they are going to be small ones like friends mocking you about your religion or they can be BIG ones like a family death or a friends death. No matter the size of the trial Heavenly Father will never leave us to deal with it on our own. He will also NEVER give us to big of a trail for us not to handle.
Let me tell you my own experience of the trials I have been going through. This whole year I have been going through one crap storm after another. We got news that my grandma is literally on her death bed, friends mocking me about my religion (LDS) and about me going on a full time mission. I don't know how to pay for my mission/bills/tithing and on top of that 2 months ago I got word that 1 of my friends that I have known since I was like 2 died. One died in Pakistan. I didn't know what to do. I thought I lost a little bit of my faith and testimony. So I asked for a blessing of strength and comfort and it helped so much then 2 weeks after that I heard that a friend I knew when I was like 1 died in a car accident. It didn't hit me as much until I went to the Billings Temple then I couldn't take it so I talked to the missionary that baptized me Elder Miner and he gave me this scripture:
D&C 98:11-14
And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
Let me tell you my own experience of the trials I have been going through. This whole year I have been going through one crap storm after another. We got news that my grandma is literally on her death bed, friends mocking me about my religion (LDS) and about me going on a full time mission. I don't know how to pay for my mission/bills/tithing and on top of that 2 months ago I got word that 1 of my friends that I have known since I was like 2 died. One died in Pakistan. I didn't know what to do. I thought I lost a little bit of my faith and testimony. So I asked for a blessing of strength and comfort and it helped so much then 2 weeks after that I heard that a friend I knew when I was like 1 died in a car accident. It didn't hit me as much until I went to the Billings Temple then I couldn't take it so I talked to the missionary that baptized me Elder Miner and he gave me this scripture:
D&C 98:11-14
And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.
And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.
Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.
So after reading these verses it hit me, these trials are just Heavenly Father just proving me to be worthy because he gave me a commandment that I must obey and that he will try me even unto death that I may be found worthy. How amazing is that. So just remember brothers and sisters that when you are going through trials, sure they are pains in your life but it's only Heavenly Father proving you worthy. One last thing. I love this song and it talks about blessings from trials. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Conclusion of the Articles of Faith!!!!
Hope you guys enjoyed my blog the past couple of months about the Articles of Faith. Maybe now you have a better understanding in what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believes in. Lets go through them one last time.
1) We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2) We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3)We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4) We believe that the first principles and aordinances of the Gospel are: first, bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5) We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6) We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7) We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8)We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9)We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10) We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11) We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12) We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13) We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
I know these 13 articles of Faith to be true. I know that the book of Mormon to be true and the Bible to be true and Both to be the word of God. I know that God called a Prophet to restore his fullness of his gospel and that Prophet was Joseph Smith and that he has called a Modern day Prophet today who is Thomas S. Monson and he is here to guide us and keep us on that straight and narrow path to get back to Heavenly Father. I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
1) We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2) We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3)We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4) We believe that the first principles and aordinances of the Gospel are: first, bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5) We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6) We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7) We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8)We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9)We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10) We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11) We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12) We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13) We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
I know these 13 articles of Faith to be true. I know that the book of Mormon to be true and the Bible to be true and Both to be the word of God. I know that God called a Prophet to restore his fullness of his gospel and that Prophet was Joseph Smith and that he has called a Modern day Prophet today who is Thomas S. Monson and he is here to guide us and keep us on that straight and narrow path to get back to Heavenly Father. I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
AOF 13 of 13!!!!!
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
For the last article of Faith WE as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are an example of this Article. We are honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men. These are all attributes of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. We are trying to become more Christ like by being these things. We know who are trying to be more Christ like when they try there hardest to be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and doing good to all men. If they really want to be more Christ like they will be these things and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
For the last article of Faith WE as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are an example of this Article. We are honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men. These are all attributes of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. We are trying to become more Christ like by being these things. We know who are trying to be more Christ like when they try there hardest to be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and doing good to all men. If they really want to be more Christ like they will be these things and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, August 12, 2011
AOF 12 of 13!!!!!
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
This is pretty much self-explanatory. We believe in keeping the laws to the best of our abilities,and not break them like some people do! We should do everything that we can do as a human being to uphold the laws of the land and from our government. We should support everything that the government does until it goes against God's rules and judgment. As we follow the laws of the land and the people that lead us and are obedient to them thus, we will have more freedom. Also as we follow and be obedient to the commandments that God has commanded us to follow we will have more freedom then ever before and be so blessed.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
AOF 11 of 13!!!!!
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
I love this article because it talks about my favorite Amendment. FREEDOM OF RELIGION, and its the only Article that doesn't have "WE BELIEVE" so its the special one. This Concept is very simple. Anyone can worship how, when and where ever you want to. We don't try to shovel feed you our religion or at least we aren't supposed to. Everyone has the right to their own religion and this Article says it perfectly. That's why so many people came to America because they had that right of freedom of religion!!! Now since God gave us our free agency, wouldn't the church that claims to be the true church of Christ respect that agency that God gave to all mankind? I know this church is true and I know that God gave us the right or Agency to freedom of Religion. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today and he will not lead us astray. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
AOF 10 of 13!!!!
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
WOW! There is so much in this article. This is such an amazing concept to go over but we don't have that much time to go in depth in this small blog post but it is talking about missionary work and the second coming. Lets take this piece by piece shall we.
First "We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the Ten tribes." In the Bible it talks about the 12 tribes of Israel and how they were all together but further into the Bible, they were split into the North and South. The 10 tribes also known as Ephraim went North and the 2 tribes known as Judah and Benjamin stayed in the South. The Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and the 10 tribes and the 2 tribes were scattered and destroyed. In later years, we find out that the tribe of Judah was let back into Israel and now is the major tribe today. The tribes were scattered ALL across the world and it is our job as missionaries to find them and bring them back and to restore the 10 tribes.
Second "We believe that Zion (The new Jerusalem) will be built upon the American Continent;" This is from Modern Revelation. It simply means that Zion or the New Jerusalem is going to be built on the American Continent. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that Zion will be built in Independence Missouri.
Third "We believe that Christ will reign personally upon the earth;" What an AMAZING day that will be. To see our lord Jesus THE Christ come down and reign his world. His presence will be felt so strongly that everyone on this earth will bow down before him and praise him and follow him.
Fourth "We believe that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory." The earth will be so awesome to live on! Everything will be perfect! The earth will literally be resurrected and be perfect once more. That day is coming up pretty quick.
I can not wait for the GREAT and DREADFUL day of the Lord to come! Hopefully by the time that day comes everyone will think it will be a GREAT day but for few it wont. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
WOW! There is so much in this article. This is such an amazing concept to go over but we don't have that much time to go in depth in this small blog post but it is talking about missionary work and the second coming. Lets take this piece by piece shall we.
Second "We believe that Zion (The new Jerusalem) will be built upon the American Continent;" This is from Modern Revelation. It simply means that Zion or the New Jerusalem is going to be built on the American Continent. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that Zion will be built in Independence Missouri.
Third "We believe that Christ will reign personally upon the earth;" What an AMAZING day that will be. To see our lord Jesus THE Christ come down and reign his world. His presence will be felt so strongly that everyone on this earth will bow down before him and praise him and follow him. Fourth "We believe that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory." The earth will be so awesome to live on! Everything will be perfect! The earth will literally be resurrected and be perfect once more. That day is coming up pretty quick.
I can not wait for the GREAT and DREADFUL day of the Lord to come! Hopefully by the time that day comes everyone will think it will be a GREAT day but for few it wont. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
AOF!!!! 9 of 13
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
This Article of Faith is the most important Article in all of the church. It's talking about Revelation but not only the past but also the present and the future. I love what Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the twelve apostles says in the 2011 April General Conference. He says: "Revelation is communication from God to His children on the earth and one of the great blessings associated with the gift and constant companionship of the Holy Ghost." How true this sentence is. By having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in our lives, we can have revelation.
If you think of it the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price are all revelation. The Bible and Book of Mormon are past time revelation but Doctrine and Covenants are present and future Revelation. Brigham Young said that the book of scriptures that were in front of him were nothing compared to the Living Prophet that we have today.
As you can see, the prophets of old are important but the living day prophets are vital in today's society. The knowledge and revelation that we gain from the Modern day Prophets is more vital to us than any other scripture we read. Therefore we need to heed and follow the council of the modern day Prophet who is Thomas Spencer Monson and I know he will not lead us astray. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This Article of Faith is the most important Article in all of the church. It's talking about Revelation but not only the past but also the present and the future. I love what Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the twelve apostles says in the 2011 April General Conference. He says: "Revelation is communication from God to His children on the earth and one of the great blessings associated with the gift and constant companionship of the Holy Ghost." How true this sentence is. By having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in our lives, we can have revelation. 
If you think of it the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price are all revelation. The Bible and Book of Mormon are past time revelation but Doctrine and Covenants are present and future Revelation. Brigham Young said that the book of scriptures that were in front of him were nothing compared to the Living Prophet that we have today. As you can see, the prophets of old are important but the living day prophets are vital in today's society. The knowledge and revelation that we gain from the Modern day Prophets is more vital to us than any other scripture we read. Therefore we need to heed and follow the council of the modern day Prophet who is Thomas Spencer Monson and I know he will not lead us astray. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
AOF!!!! 8 of 13
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
So what this Article is saying is that the Bible is to be the Word of God and the most correct translation is the King James version of the Bible. We also believe that the Book of Mormon is to also the Word of God hence "Another testament of Jesus Christ."
In Ezekiel 37:16-22 it reads:
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
So what this Article is saying is that the Bible is to be the Word of God and the most correct translation is the King James version of the Bible. We also believe that the Book of Mormon is to also the Word of God hence "Another testament of Jesus Christ."
In Ezekiel 37:16-22 it reads:
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
So what these scriptures are saying is that the Stick of Judah is the Bible and the Stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon. Our Heavenly Father said he will make these to sticks (Nations) come together as one and they shall have one King and they shall not be divided as two kingdoms anymore. Thus forth comes the Bible and the Book of Mormon as one book and that book is the Word of God.
I testify that this is true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
AOF!!!! 7 of 13
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
I love talking about this Article of Faith because of last Sunday I was talking to President Clark on the phone about this Article and he said "Kenny you probably didn't know this but you have all these gifts." So this may sound confusing to you guys that are non-members so let me break it down for you. We believe in the GIFT OF TONGUES. This is referring to mostly missionaries, when they go on their mission they have the opportunity to learn a language. That's when we say the gift of tongues, we are saying Heavenly Father has given a gift to learn another tongue.The GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES is along the same lines you can not speak the language but you can understand them and translate it into English for yourself and companion.
1 Sam 10:10- And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
The GIFT OF PROPHECY and REVELATION is like an inspirational thing. Men who have a testimony of our savior Jesus Christ has the gift of prophecy. If a man has the gift of Prophecy then this man has the gift of Revelation.
"Now if any man has the testimony of Jesus, has he not the spirit of prophecy? And if he has the spirit of prophecy, I ask, is he not a prophet? And if a prophet, will he not receive revelation? And any man that does not receive revelation for himself must be damned, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. For Christ says, ask and you shall receive; and if he happens to receive anything, I ask, will it not be a revelation? And if any man has not the testimony of Jesus or the spirit of God, he is none of his, namely Christ’s. And if not his, he must be damned." Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith.
“No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a Prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10
The gift of Visions can be best described when Lehi has a vision of the tree of life. In 1st Nephi 8:18-33 it reads:
18And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit.
1 Sam 10:10- And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
The GIFT OF PROPHECY and REVELATION is like an inspirational thing. Men who have a testimony of our savior Jesus Christ has the gift of prophecy. If a man has the gift of Prophecy then this man has the gift of Revelation.
"Now if any man has the testimony of Jesus, has he not the spirit of prophecy? And if he has the spirit of prophecy, I ask, is he not a prophet? And if a prophet, will he not receive revelation? And any man that does not receive revelation for himself must be damned, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. For Christ says, ask and you shall receive; and if he happens to receive anything, I ask, will it not be a revelation? And if any man has not the testimony of Jesus or the spirit of God, he is none of his, namely Christ’s. And if not his, he must be damned." Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith.
“No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a Prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10
The gift of Visions can be best described when Lehi has a vision of the tree of life. In 1st Nephi 8:18-33 it reads:
18And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit.
19And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
20And I also beheld a trait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
21And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
23And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.
24And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.
25And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
26And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
27And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
28And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
30But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
32And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
33And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
This is Lehi's vision of what would happen in the future.
The gift of Healing is pretty much the priesthood. We the brethren that have the Holy Priesthood have the Gift of Healing. We have the opportunity to give blessings to heal the sick and afflicted, to comfort the people that need comfort and etc.
I testify to you that these gifts are true and they are from Heavenly Father and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
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