NONE WERE WITH HIM

"Brothers and sisters, my. . . message today is intended for everyone, but it is directed in a special way to those who are alone or feel alone or, worse yet, feel abandoned. These might include those longing to be married, those who have lost a spouse, and those who have lost—or have never been blessed with—children. Our empathy embraces wives forsaken by their husbands, husbands whose wives have walked away, and children bereft of one or the other of their parents—or both. This group can find within its broad circumference a soldier far from home, a missionary in those first weeks of homesickness, or a father out of work, afraid the fear in his eyes will be visible to his family. In short it can include all of us at various times in our lives.
"To all such, I speak of the loneliest journey ever made and the unending blessings it brought to all in the human family. I speak of the Savior’s solitary task of shouldering alone the burden of our salvation. Rightly He would say: “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me. … I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold me.”
Watch this video.


The bitter sweet pain of life comes with a challenge. We must feel the bitter pain before the sweet will come. My last post about our challenges was symbolic to a "Warhead" but is so true. The Warhead is so sour right at the moment, but after a few minutes turns to sweet. I can tell you from experience that our trials of faith can and will turn into the sweetness of Christ. It will, but only if we let it. Just like Alma says "But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war(or our trial, challenge, sickness etc.) . . . many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war(trial, challenge, sickness, etc.); and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility." (Alma 62:41)

We too have to take our "trials, challenges, and sickness" and learn from them. Remember Christ bled from every pore. Remember him who suffered all, "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all . . . . Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit. Take your trial, take it to the "depth of humility!!" Learn from it, remember it, and never give up!! "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

“Blessed are they who … come down into the depths of humility and are baptized. …
“Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. …
“And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. …

I promise you in the name of Jesus Christ, He cares, and He knows what YOU are feeling. He's suffered it, seen it and walked in your shoes, but just as he said to Joseph Smith,
. . . "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
You will reap "rewards" from heaven, you will be blessed in your acts.  "Exalted on high," what could be better?

Sometimes we feel alone?  Why?

 You feel alone . . . I feel alone . . .  why . . .?   I don't know. . . . I ask the same questions at times. . . .-- Maybe so we could get up on our own and learn . . . . . Learn emptiness so we can feel the fullness of love.  I can just tell you one thing, when sorrow, doubt and fear pass, I feel ABLE, because I know God will help me.  Then in return God softens my heart so I can feel his love for his children. I can offer my sacrifice and broken heart to whatever he wants me to do, and they (meaning people who need the gospel) will feel it. We must take these experiences and learn from them, and ("soften" your heart with love) and not ("harden" your heart with anger).

"We cannot really feel charity—Christ’s love for others—without at least tasting His suffering for others, because the love and the suffering are but two sides of a single reality." (LDS.ORG)  And when we do come to feel and understand one millionth part of what our Savior bore we become "joint heirs" with his will.

I know these things to be true my brothers and sisters.  Your purpose lays waiting unwrapped underneath what seems to be impossible.  Though the tape is strong, and the cardboard isn't loose you can open your gift awaiting you at the end of your journey.
Ask yourself, ---will I take my trial? Will I overcome the world with Christ?-- Do try and understand why this is happening, because God does. He is ABLE!

Take care my good friends, and have a happy, safe new year. God be with you.

Bitter Sweet

Have you ever tasted of the intensifying impact of a sour object or food?  It devastates you, wakes one up, and merely sends shivers down you spine.  Your mouth may form a squint and tears create from your eyes. Even at times you can lose your senses or taste.  Whatever sour impact or experience you've had, it will always leave a mark, whether detailed deep in your soul, maybe physically marked or numbs your
tongue.

One example which is on my mind is the lip biting, puckering taste of the candy "Warheads".  The impact of this weapon no larger than a quarter, and comes with a verity of colors, even chewables.  Small, yet lethal when entered into the dark abyss of the mouth.  Those who know, have also endured the horrifying reality of sourness.

The power of the Warhead!!

The reason I write of the impact of such a eccentric candy is to the effect of our saviors atonement.  The sourness of His experience in this life.  He freely subjected to His Fathers will to endure the bitter, sour pain of reaching and fulfilling every gap of sin for us.  Just so we could humbly submit to our fathers will, and when offering our devotions of repentance, willing to change our acts, we could be healed-- clean from all unrighteousness, become something, someone our Father in heaven wants us to be. 

When we partake of sin, we embrace pain, we pay somewhat of the consequence for our actions.  For the moment some say, "all is lost" or "I cannot be healed of such sin".  I tell you my friends, "sin was never happiness", such as sourness is never sweetness.  The point I am trying to make is when we first feel, taste, live the life of sourness, we learn lessons.  We learn that through our savior Jesus Christ we can be healed from those pains.  The taste of the warhead is much more tolerable when the sourness is gone, just as if we repent and ask forgiveness we can partake of the tree of life, which is in Jesus Christ.

Look back into your past and ponder your most difficult trials.  How did you feel during and after the trial?  What did you learn?  How were you strengthened?  Why did god let this happen to you? 

 There is always a lesson to be learned.  There is ALWAYS a sweetness after our bitter trials.  But only through our Savior can we become 100% healed, clean, and sorrowful free from our mistakes or sins.

I know through His love we can be healed, we can be free.

Life is bitter but ever so sweet. 

 

A Light Unto All

TESTIMONIES OF CHRIST



To wrap up my Christmas blog this season I want to testify I know these things are true.
We will find TRUE happiness with the embracing love of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Come together with your family, feel the spirit with love and joy.
Choose Christ.
When we choose Christ we choose change, and when we choose Christ, he helps us change. And Changed men can change the world. Bring change into your heart this year, and be the example for your family. They need you.
This is my one of my favorite accounts of the Birth of Christ from a Prophet in America. The prophet's name is Nephi;

"behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.

"And it came to pass that he(Nephi) cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
"Lift up your head and be of good cheer(Nephi); for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign(star) be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

"For they(the people) knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand,

"And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word . . . . bringing glad tidings unto the people because of the sign which did come to pass, according to the words of the prophecy of all the holy prophets.

As a representative of Jesus Christ I add my words the those who were before me, I know the Savior lives. I know He Cares about each and everyone of us. Even me, a sinner, that through "faith in his name hath made this man(me) strong, whom ye see and know" http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/acts/3.16?lang=eng#15

Tonight, whoever you are, "that dwelleth in the land; yea, . . . . all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation" to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

With Love,

Elder Cameron Wright

My Song in the Night

PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO!!!



By focusing on your loved ones, enjoying or building holiday traditions, and following the Savior's example of service, you can give yourself and your family true, lasting Christmas gifts.

I am not the best writer or speaker, but if there was anyway to express my inter most burning feelings of this Christmas season, this video hits it. I love my Savior.. I love my family.. My wish this Christmas is to help someone, anyone in need. Simple acts of service make a difference!!
Take care, I love you all. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The Greatest Gift, Part 2

I love these short clips about Christmas, they are by latter-day Apostles and a Prophet of our Savior Jesus Christ.



Christmas means the Christ child, the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger while angels sang and wise men traveled far to bring gifts. It is a beautiful and timeless story, and I hope that you will read it again this season.
I Challenge each and every one of you to read the account recorded in Luke chapter 2 and see if this next quote isn't true.
"Part of the purpose for telling the story of Christmas is to remind us that Christmas doesn't come from a store. Indeed, however delightful we feel about it, even as children, each year it 'means a little bit more.' And no matter how many times we read the biblical account of that evening in Bethlehem, we always come away with a thought—or two—we haven’t had before....
---Jeffrey R. Holland---

My Christmas is to share the gift of Christ with others, and to bear witness to them the truth of His message. I love you all. Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Greatest Gift

WATCH THIS VIDEO FIRST

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I would be shocked to find out most of us haven't been in this situation. When we have some feelings of disappointment because "Santa" didn't bring us what we wanted. Although as we grow and come to understand the "GREAT GIFT" of Christ, we hold close to ourselves what is most precious and sweet. God so loved the world he sent His son, His Son so loved the father he gave himself for you and for me, we in return can show our love by keeping His commandments. As Christians we celebrate His birthday, and come together with our families. We show our love for him, and by so doing, he gives his love bringing the Spirit of Christmas into our homes. The power of unifying family is the Gift. "Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than things. To catch the real meaning of the “spirit of Christmas,” we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the “Spirit of Christ.”
--Thomas S. Monson--
I love my Savior, and I am ever needful for His love and support. I know He gazes over my trials, he understands my weaknesses, and feels the disappointment when I sin. I am ever grateful for the blessings in my life and family. Christ is Gods Gift for this world. What can WE give back to him this Christmas season? I leave these things with you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Christmas, the TRUE GIFT

Sometimes we can get lost in a world full of presents wrapped in colorful attire, sparkling lights and long lines at toy stores. Christmas spirit is indeed felt as we express our love for others by giving. But what does giving entail? Is it merely going to the crowded shopping malls and spending money that we sometimes don't have? I don't mean to preach to the choir because we all know this concept of how we really need to give.  This quote given by James E. Faust is one of my favorites:

"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves--giving of the riches of the heart and mind--and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store."

My note is that we focus this Christmas season not primarily searching for that "perfect" present, but to diligently search in our hearts "gifts" we can share with our family.  Open the door for an opportunity to serve your family, friends, and neighbors. This will be my second Christmas away from home. I can tell you family and friends are the Christmas Spirit. Merely being in their presence is the best gift one can give or receive.  Spread your arms and keep them tight within your love.
"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others" --Thomas S. Monson --
Presents come and go, but family gifts are eternal. Show your love by giving service, make breakfast, doing the dishes for your mother, cleaning your dad's car, give your mother a break and clean the house for the holidays. Simple acts are great acts of love, gifts deep within our heart are PRICELESS.  They will not and cannot be bought!  I love my family with all my heart, and I know the greatest gifts we can give are those simple acts and cherished moments with our family.Watch this video, it's one of my favorites.

"I, like you, need to remember the very plain scene, even the poverty, of a night devoid of tinsel or wrapping or goods of this world. Only when we see that sacred, unadorned child of our devotion—the Babe of Bethlehem—will we know why... the giving of gifts is so appropriate"
---Jeffrey R. Holland--

I know as we spend our time and give our special "gifts" with those who we love, you will feel the spirit of Christmas.  You will have the light of Christ present in your life.   Have a merry Christmas.

Picture from: timespaceorg.blogspot.com