TRUST AND FAITH

As I have been pondering these past few weeks there are two principles that cross my mind.  FAITH and TRUST!  We teach these two principles everyday as we invite our brothers and sisters to follow Jesus Christ and learn more about the restored gospel.  What a fantastic message we share to all those who will receive it!!  What more could you give to someone who needs this embracing news?!!  I love this great news, Christ changes my life everyday.  How does Christ Change your life everyday?

I often ask myself; is my sacrifice good enough for him Who gave all?  Is this all I can do?  Can I do more?
  There is always more we can be doing, but we must be able to recognize our own potential and where we are currently standing.  This is why we self evaluate and set goals.   We set goals to always have increase spiritually, physically, mentally, or in our day to day work.  It all comes back to "how can we become more like the Savior?" 

I have the feeling many of us get caught up in the"end result."  There is much more success to be had than that of what the world may see as "success" or "popular''.  We all know the pearl of great price in not found at the end of our journey but during.  Although it may be hard to see, we must see afar of and TRUST in the Lord.  The Pearl is found through our trials, struggles, and difficulties.  Elder Todd D. Christofferson  told us of a story given by President Hugh B. Brown years ago about grooming a currant bush.

". . . he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’

 There are times in our lives when we become overgrown and the Lord will prune his vineyard to bring about the salvation of many.  Indeed it may hurt, as President Brown mentioned, but the Lord knows all.  He sees afar off and knows.  Let us Trust in the Lord and His tender mercies, Let us work as valiant and hard as we can.  Don't be discouraged, but put your faith in Him to help you in your work.  You are successful missionaries as you push, set goals, and strive to accomplish the means which the Lord has instore for you.  The "end result" is your FAITH and TRUST in Jesus Christ.  He will make you who you need to become.  Remember the words of Nephi;

I, Nephi was desirous also that might see, and hear, and know of these things. . . . For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost . . ." 

As we diligently seek our Savior, "doing all we can do" for our brothers and sisters, the Lord will provide.  It is His promise!!  I know these things to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.



Your Brother and fellow missionary,

Elder Cameron Wright

TO MY MOTHER

There are many people in the details of my designed life who have effected who I am now. But today I want to talk about someone who means the world to me.  I want to point out how much I deeply care for my beautiful mother, MarJean Wright.  Without my mom I don't know where I would be in life.  Life itself would not have much meaning, nor would the meaning of life have much value.  I respect and honor those mothers who sweat, worry, and remain awake for endless hours on weekend nights, waiting patiently for the unarrived son or daughter from a so called "important event" in there children's high school life.  I cannot account the number of occasions my mother pondered faithfully for her apathetic son to arrive home. 

My mother was true and faithful, never giving up sight on what really mattered.  I will forever remember the nights when coming home late after a night of "fun" and walking silently into the house thinking "they won't hear me", but always knowing mom was awake and never was I going to get past her.  For some reason She always "knew" what was going on, whether good or bad.  Fortunately, I knew and felt my mothers love and I could always sit down and talk with her about anything in my world, even if it wasn't something she wanted to hear. 

Those nights walking into our home I was commissioned to always report my night to mom.  Immediately when entering the door I would quickly take off my shoes and head straight to moms room to let her know I was home.  99.9 percent of the time the T.V. was on and she sitting up in her bed looking at me and waiting for the information about my night.  But it was much more than just "reporting", but talking with discussion how I was doing.  

I feel like one of the sons of Lehi from the Book of Mormon returning from the Land of Jerusalem after much tribulation and affliction and Sariah being worried about her sons.

  "after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us.

"For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; "  (1 NEPHI 5:1-2)

I honestly cannot count how many times that happened whether I was late or not, She was always there waiting for me.  The stories can go on and on about my sweet mom, and all she did for me.  I will never forget all the camping trips, road trips, late night movies, and just going out to get something to eat.  The soft drives as we talked about life, family, school, etc.  She was always invested into my life, and I could feel it.

My mother sacrificed the world for me by helping me and never giving up on me.  She could see afar off and trusted in the Lords blessings.

Although there were times in my life when I wasn't being who I was expected to be, and Mom never failed in trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ that He would take care of me.  She did all she could do to help me, and then give the rest to God.  She gave her whole life, her goals, her vision to raise me and my four older brothers.  Quit was not in her dictionary.  I thank her, I commend her, and I love her.  I will do all I can to support, honor and be the son she hopes and believes I am.  I am thankful for you mom.  I love you with all of Heart. 

Love your Son,

Elder Cameron Wright

4 Tools for Overcoming Any Challenge

It's once again my privelege to be able to write a little blog post on here today.  It was my opportunity a few weeks ago to do a cameo on Elder Bevan's blog where I wrote about General Conference and the need to study the addresses that have been given to us over the years because they are scripture.  Today, I want to thank Elder Wright for giving me this chance to talk a little bit more about a somewhat related subject; maybe sort of an expansion of what I was talking about last time. 

Everyone faces challenges in their lives.  We all get a little bit of everything.  Some challenges are serious and difficult to overcome, sometimes even life-threatening.  Others are much more minor, but still have the potential to slow us down for a little bit.  However, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome.  Not one.  The scriptures say, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).  (Temptations can also be intrepreted to mean trials here as well.)  We are spirit children of a Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to return to Him.  He has provided a plan to guide us throughout our mortal journey.  If we follow this plan, we will be rewarded with eternal life in God's presence and joy forever. 

When faced with our challenges, it is often difficult to remember that God really does love us and that he really wants the best for us.  A question often asked by those plagued with difficulty is "Why me?"  It is only natural to react this way initially.  But there is a better way to face our trials.  Instead, ask yourself something like "What can I learn from this experience?" or "How will I work to overcome this challenge?"  Analyzing our problems and challenges like this will help us to have a much more positive approach to everything that comes to us in life, no matter how great or small the predicament in which we find ourselves.  And the Lord Himself has always provided us with ways to overcome anything that burdens us. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ and His commandments provide many solutions for overcoming life's daily struggles and greatest trials.  I wish to mention four in particular:

1. Daily personal and family scripture study

The scriptures can be a powerful source of strength for us as individuals and families.  The prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon extends to us a wonderful promise related to the scriptures.  "...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" (2 Nephi 32:3). How about that for a promise?  Not sure what to do about something?  Feast upon the words of Christ!  They'll tell everything you need to know!  But it gets better.

2. Following the inspiration of the Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is a being of spirit.  He, unlike our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, does not have a body of flesh and bone.  But being how he is gives him a wonderful power.  His presence and influence can be felt simultaneously in multiple locations.  His presence is manifest in two different ways: (1) the power of the Holy Ghost and (2) the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The power of the Holy Ghost can be felt by anyone that is not yet baptized by priesthood authority.  The gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred upon those who have taken upon them the covenant of baptism.  When we receive this gift of the Holy Ghost, we are promised that he will be our constant companion, as long as we keep ourselves worthy and in places where he can follow us.  Remember Nephi's promise about the words of Christ?  He gives us a strikingly similar promise two verses later.  "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:5).  Still not sure what to do about something?  Listen to what the Holy Ghost tells you!  He'll show you everything you need to know!  So with the combination of the words of Christ (scriptures) and the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we will be shown and told all things what we should do!  It's not really leaving anything out, is it?  But let's keep going.  There's more.

3. Prayer

Some people may get to this point and say that all of this talk about scriptures and the Holy Ghost is all fine and good, but oftentimes we don't understand what we read, or we don't know what the Holy Ghost actually feels like, or even how to receive his guidance in the first place.  Our Father in Heaven has given us prayer as a means of verbal communication with Him so that we can express our thoughts and feelings about everything that is going on in our lives.  True, He does know everything that goes on with us daily and He knows our thoughts, but He has asked that we pray to Him in faith to seek His will concerning us.  And if we trust Him, that will will be made manifest unto us, somehow or by some way.  Prayer is where we can ask the questions that we need answers to, ask for help with our difficulties, and express gratitude for the multitude of blessings that we have already received.  Prayer is a good tool to use to clear up our doubts and fears.  It is a source of strength and spiritual renewal.  

4. Faithful church attendance 

Being in church among people with great faith and their own share of trials and difficulties is another great source of strength.  There's strength in numbers, right?  We're not meant to toil and labor during our days here on Earth just by ourselves.  We're surrounded by people who are more than willing to reach out and help us!  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in serving one another and lifting up those who are weighed down by difficulty and sadness.  When we are faced with seemingly insurmountable trials, we need not withdraw into ourselves.  There are many willing to help.  The doctrines and principles of the gospel taught by inspired teachers and leaders bring comfort and guidance.  Let these comforting messages fill your life and give you hope for the future.  

I want to conclude by sharing my testimony that Heavenly Father does indeed love us.  He has not left us here on the earth to struggle helplessly.  He would never do that.  It is not part of the plan!  He has provided numerous resources, many beyond those I have named and described, to provide us with joy that can last throughout the duration of our lives and on into eternity.  Our Savior Jesus Christ has sacrificed Himself, as a perfect man, so that all of us can receive exaltation and eternal life.  He loves us and understands everything that we suffer because He has already suffered it.  I repeat what I said earlier.  There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome.  Christ has made it possible.  Seek after Him.  Seek after His words.  They will bring you the comfort and guidance that you seek.   

-Elder Caleb Condie