The Will of God

I feel like this video really applies to me with the stage that I am at in my life. I don't know for sure what I want to do with my life, it's kind of scary! Where am I going to go to college? What will my degree be? Where will I serve my mission? Am I going to find a job? When am I going to get married? Will I be able to teach my children to choose the right and follow our Savior, Jesus Christ? etc. 

But, as I trust in my Heavenly Father that He truly does have a plan for me, I am given faith to move on with a smile on my face and know that the Lord's will is where I am supposed to go/be. 

I testify that Heavenly Father does have a plan for each and everyone of us. No matter the stage of life we are in, He cares about us and wants what is best. As we turn to Him to find out His will for us, we will be inspired where to turn and the next step to take.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

What a good reminder. This was a great comparison, we can each be a garbage dump - but through the Atonement and love of Jesus Christ we can be reclaimed. I love knowing that my Savior and Elder Brother suffered for my sins so that I will someday return back to Him worthily. What a great day that will be, to be 'encircled eternally with His love.' I'm so grateful for the Atonement and know that it is real. I am not perfect. I make mistakes. Through the Atonement I can repent and strive to become more like my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 "The Atonement of Jesus Christ is available to each of us. It can clean, reclaim, and sanctify even you." - Elder Shayne M. Bowen 

The Tender Mercies of the Lord.

I have many journals...most unfinished and rarely written in! But one specific journal I ask myself this question every time before I start writing:
"How has the Lord's hand been a part of my day, today?" 

I will admit, at first it was hard to write down something every single day and recognize how He had helped me that day with different things. As I have been listening to the Mormon Channel, there was a interview with Elder & Sister Bednar, and Elder Bednar said about how if we are trying to see how He has helped us, we need to pray to be able to more fully recognize it. So, I did just that.
I can't tell you how much of a difference it has made! It is always on my mind as I go through out the day, and I ask myself, 'Was that the Lord helping me then?'
I already knew that He was always there and always helped, but it has really strengthened my testimony of His love and His care for each one of us. 

An Apostle of the Lord.

I just finished an amazing two hour fireside listening to the counsel of a living Apostle, Prophet, and Seer of the Lord.

It was so good. The spirit was so strong.

I wanted so badly to shake his hand and have a little chat, but my ride had to quickly leave so I didn't have the chance. It's always been my 'dream' to have that happen. :)

He gave us great counsel, keep doing what you know is right. You will be blessed more than you know. Be positive. Look for themes in the scriptures. You have so much importance to Him. "One by One" (3 Nephi 11). Take faith, step in the water and it will part. Don't just step on the side waiting around. The Holy Ghost prompts good things. Righteousness is, and always will be happiness. Sister Missionaries add something that no Elder can. What makes him happiest is proclaiming the gospel. It is magnificent if we just regularly attend the temple and do baptisms for the dead. It is also magnificent if we just do Family History Work. But, if we do both - we get both halves of the blessings!! 

It was simply amazing. It wasn't anything like any other fireside, and it wasn't just a talk he prepared. Anyone could stand and ask a question, and either he, his wife or Elder Gay (a Member of the Seventy) would answer. Or sometimes even all three. I loved being in the same room and feeling his special presence. 

I know the gospel is true. I know that my Savior died for me, so that I might be able to return back someday. He shared something that makes sense to him, but he wasn't saying it was doctrine. In the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross, he didn't just get a huge burden of our sins, sicknesses etc. He saw us "one by one," He knew us, and experienced what we would experience and go through. 

I loved it. 

Someday, just someday I hope that I will be able to shake an Apostle or Prophet's hand and have a little chat. Someday. Plus, it was fun to celebrate his sixtieth birthday with him. :)

Dare to Stand Alone

This video has really reminded me of the importance to "be of the world, but not in the world." 

This past year on the few days I had to ride the bus home (luckily!) there were things talked of and words spoken that I have either never heard before, but could tell they weren't right. Or things I would rather never hear. I sometimes backed out of telling kids to please stop talking like that, but most times I tried my hardest to get the courage to tell them to please stop and quit talking that way. Not only did it take away that gross feeling, but it has helped me realize that people do care and that people will listen! 

Dare to be a Mormon;

Dare to stand alone.

Dare to have a purpose firm;

Dare to make it known.
I am proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I try to share my light with others through different things, and help them realize just how important the gospel is and how much it can change their life. 
Having a missionary come home has made me want to serve a mission even more. I realized the other day that the next missionary we have in the family will be another four years! That's along time for us. :) I love the gospel and I'm excited to share it with others. But for now - I will try to share it the most I can here! 

Joseph Smith - a Prophet of God

Last Friday in Seminary we sang an opening song...of course. 

Only, it wasn't the typical opening song, where you can mainly only hear the pianist, yourself and a couple other kids. 

Brother Shepard (A student teacher, I hope he gets a job at MC!) is an amazing piano player. He wrote a song, and that's what we sang for the opening song. It was so beautiful!! We sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer, only to the tune of my favorite song - Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. As we were just finished Brother Bryan walked in and said he wanted his class to come in and sing with us, so they did and it was even more beautiful! 

We went on with our lesson, and towards the end of class Brother Bryan came in and told us to come into the class next door. We walk in and there are five other classes stuffed into a small classroom! We sang the same song, and the spirit was so strong. I loved it, and I hope Brother Shepard writes the notes down - maybe I'll ask him for it...I wouldn't mind learning it. :) 

I know that Joseph Smith did see Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that he was a Prophet of God! I will be eternally grateful for all the sacrifices and hard times he went through. Because of him, we have the Book of Mormon, which has blessed me so much. I'm excited to meet him someday, and thank him for all he's done!! 

I love this picture, my dad bought it for my mom for Christmas and as I see it daily it reminds me of what an amazing man he was and how much he sacrificed to bring forth the Book of Mormon. 

Comfort when needed.

Not too long ago I finished signing up for classes for next year. (I can't believe it's my last year of High School!!!) I realized I needed two more science credits - and I wasn't too pleased!! I hate science, everything about it and it's not my best subject. I finally pushed myself into Chemistry, I thought that two trimesters wouldn't be too bad. As I was going through concurrent enrollment classes I saw Chemistry 1010 was offered. I knew I didn't want to take it, but knew it was a good idea because it would be a lot easier in HS, and that I had to take something with science in college! I grudgingly clicked on it and submitted. Ever since then, a day doesn't go by that I keep thinking to myself about how hard it is going to be and how it could ruin my GPA.  

Today as I was reading my scriptures I came across this verse: "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you;..." (Doctrine & Covenants 68:6). I cannot explain to you how much this helped me realize that everything will be okay! I will be able to do it, especially as I put my faith and trust in my Heavenly Father and Savior. I can do hard things!! "The future is as bright as your faith." (President Thomas S. Monson). My future is looking pretty bright, everything will work out!

This is one of my favorite pictures. He looks like He is so interested in what the little girl is talking about, and I'm sure He is! I know He loves me and cares about me, what my worries/concerns are, my hard days and everything else in between.  

Virtue...

So my friend made this video for a Wellsville Stake Fireside and interviewed people at the seminary building. She was having technical difficulties and so I helped her make it. I think it turned out swell! Plus, I'm in it - although I only say just a little bit. Short 'n sweet, right? :) 

I know how important being virtuous is. I will go to the temple someday, pure and clean, and be sealed to my eternal sweetheart! I love it when Sister Dalton says, "Virtue is a prerequisite to entering the Lord's holy temples and to receiving the Spirit's guidance. Virtue 'is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards.' It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions." Her last sentence reminded me of a quote I heard somewhere about how each small decision/choice we make is really important, because it shapes our lives and how we will make the next decision that comes at us. 

I love our church leaders and I'm so grateful for them!! They truly are inspired of God, to teach us what we are needing to know and understand. 

Back to the Ol' Grind...

Those of you that are used to my old blog, I had 'Spiritual Sunday Posts,' where I would post a Mormon Message, along with something that touched me or my testimony etc. I've decided I want to start back with that!! So, I'm 'back to the old grind.' :) 

I love this one, it reminds us our own divine worth and how important we truly are. We are all destined to become queens/kings! I know that Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us, just the way we are. It makes me think of a scripture mastery I learned this year, 1 Samuel 16:7. It says, “...Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” It doesn't matter what the world sees we are, but what the Lord sees we are. And He looks on the heart, the Deep Beauty. 

The best Book out there...

I love the Book of Mormon, with all my heart. And I know it is true without a doubt. As I read it daily it strengthens my testimony of my Savior, His love for me, and that I truly can return to Him someday. It also helps me become a better person. I have a better day when I study the Book of Mormon. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and it's teachings, I know that Joseph Smith truly was a Prophet of God, and that he did see our Heavenly Father, and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for all that he went through, so we could have this book, full of truthfulness, to guide us and teach us in our day. 

:)

Today in Seminary we talked about Joseph...yes Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. :) I've never really thought much about that story, yes it is sad, because his brothers hate him and sell him into Eygpt, but then it becomes happy because Joseph is kind enough to save them. But, Brother Bryan (best seminary teacher, ever) asked us to replace Joseph, with Jesus. And with just a couple verses of doing that the whole story changed. One scripture, particularly really stuck out to me. Genesis 45:7. It says: "And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." Joseph is speaking there, unto his brothers, and is telling him how he has forgiven him etc. When I replaced Joseph, with Jesus Christ, it had a whole new meaning. Christ was sent by God, to save us. To save us so we could repent of our sins so that someday we could return back to Him, into His open arms welcoming us with gladness. Save us so we could be "perfected in Him." Another one that stuck out to me - Genesis 46:29: "And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while." He (Brother Bryan) then asked us "Why would our Father would be excited to see you, or why would you be excited to see Him?"  Different things came to my mind, I would be excited to see Him, because I would want to thank Him for so much. Thank Him for always being there and helping me know what is right and wrong. Thank Him for His unending love for me, and for always helping me be strong. I would also be excited to give Him one big hug. :) I never knew I could love the Old Testament so much. 

Towards the end of class Brother Bryan left the last few minutes to us to have a chance to get up and share what we learned about ourselves, or Jesus Christ, from that story. I was a quiet and didn't go up so I decided to share it on here - better than nothing right?! :) I need to do better with being brave and sharing my feelings. Something I'll be working on...

You should all go read Genesis 45-47, and do the same thing I did. Replace Joseph with Jesus Christ and see what it does. It does amazing things. :)