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

Secrets to His Servants the Prophets

What is a prophet?

  I believe many people are turned away when told about "prophets" because of the doubt and trouble in times past with so called "prophets".  Jesus teaches us about prophets, he said;

"By their fruits ye may know them."  Which simply is to say, look at the good works or "fruit" that comes from a living prophet. 

Amos (a prophet in the Old Testament) teaches us that God gives us "His secrets."

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets."
Has God always called prophets?  The answer is yes.   From the creation of Adam, up to the time of our very own day.  What! we have Latter-day prophets?   Yes. Just as in times of old God calls prophets.

 For example Moses (being a prophet) brought the children of Israel out of bondage or slavery from a very wicked nation.  In a real sense, our day many people are in bondage and have many challenges which take them away from life's most precious moments.  How many families are broken because of drug abuse, violence, harassment or ignorance?  How many thousands of Heavenly Fathers children are hurt because of wickedness and "slavery"?
Our latter-day prophets receive guidance from Heavenly Father to help us come out of slavery and bondage.

The world changes and we can't do this on our own.  We need help and direction. "When there is to be anything different from that which the Lord has told us already, He will reveal it to His prophet and no one else."  Harold B. Lee

Prophets also Testify of the Savior and His ministry, just as John the baptist taught his people.  Watch this video of modern witnesses of latter-day prophets.

I know prophets are real, they do communicate with Heavenly Father through his Holy Spirit.  I know you can know this is true, because there is evidence that Heavenly Father has given us.

If you would like to know more about this evidence, check out my post "Safety for my soul", and I know without a doubt you can come to know this truth as well.

Additional Study:

 (Eph. 2:19-20)

(Mosiah 13:33)
(2 Chron. 20:20)

Mysteries of God

What are the mysteries of God??  I found myself pondering the question"what are the mysteries of God"?  Of course this obscured question is out of bounds for such a young person as I, but it seemed to me there is some kind of resolution to my questioning.  I was reading in the Book of Mormon and I read over a passage in Alma 26:22 which says; —"Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed . . ." 

  

 I asked, what things are to be revealed?  Am I to have some glorious epiphany and Heavenly Father hands me all the secrets in the world?  I don't think so. God wants me to learn and understand life a little better before he starts enlightening me about the next ice age or whatever it may be —guess you could call it "trial and error".

 I believe to "know" the mysteries of God is to "know" yourself.  We are his children, He loves us, He created us, but we don't know ourselves as well as He certainly does.

  The gospel of Jesus Christ is Faith, repentance, baptism, receiving he gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, by bringing forth "good works".

  Faith is to trust him, Know He will provide, believing he will guide you through stressful challenges.  

Through faith you will have the desire to repent and change your life, to allign your will with his.

  By these simple actions we can learn and gain the mysteries of God by having personal revelation, growing in maturity, finding gifts God has given you, and most important improving your Christlike attributes.   

The mysteries of God are within us all; prayeth continually "without ceasing" have faith you will be led to know yourself and know the mysteries in your own life.  Repent, change and bring forth good fruit so you may know the mysteries of God.   Find mysteries of God within yourself, we have them and we are His children.

Photos from: http://www.worldproutassembly.org
www.springmeup.com

FIRE WORKS

I think back to my youth and remember the days when my family and I would go on adventurous camping trips, which would usually include fishing, shooting, and doing the outdoor stuff.  I remember anticipating the beautiful sharp pine trees, and hearing the rushing river alongside our campground.   I love breathing the whispering winds as we are overwhelmed and humbled by nature and the creation of our God.

Some moments will never be forgotten.  Being young and learning to enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors I always came to love the campfire. Hear the crackling goodness of warmth and peace, staring into the blazing hot coals, as if your face was going to melt.  It's comforting to ponder and retain life's most precious moments as bouldering stress flow away. I find myself huddling close to a campfire while I have deep thought. 

So you're maybe asking yourself; why would he be talking about campfires?  Fire is an amazing reaction in which can sustain life, cook really good food, and keep us nice and warm.  But I want to relate how a fire can save us from harm, keep us happy with light to see and food to cook --- and how the gospels simple truths are likened unto a fire.  How Jesus Christ and His teachings can keep our own fires(spiritual fires) burning with light, happiness, warmth, and maybe full of tasty cooked food. 

       How does fire work?

PS--Don't Smoke

Fire is a combustive oxidation reaction--a chemical

reaction between oxygen molecules and any

molecules that have the potential to take on an

oxygen molecule. Energy, in the form of heat or

light, is released from the molecules as the reaction

takes place.

When enough oxygen and heat combine with the fuel source, ignition occurs. Once the initial heat source has ignited the fire, the flame generates its own heat for combustion, and oxidation continues in a chain reaction. The fire will burn until one or more of the necessary components is exhausted or removed. (1.)

When the elements of heat, fuel and oxygen are put into one bowl served together the reaction will produce FIRE!!  Like a fire, we are to put three elements into our spirituality such as:

 first, prayer; Second, scripture study; Third, sabbath day worship.

Prayer

In prayer we speak openly and honestly with our loving Father in Heaven. We express

gratitude and thanksgiving for our blessings. We may acknowledge our love for Him. We

also ask for help, protection, and direction according to our needs.
In turn He will give unto us our direction according to our need and His will. -- I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father--  2 Nephi 32:9

Scripture Study

“feast upon the words of Christ … ,(and) the words of Christ will tell [us] all things what [we] should do” (2 Ne. 32:3)

Search out diligently for your life and others questions of your soul, your current needs and concerns and challenges WILL be made light.  For the "words of Christ" will direct you to make correct decisions.

Sabbath Day Worship

"Our Sabbath-day behavior is a reflection of our commitment to honor and worship God.

By keeping the Sabbath day holy, we show God our willingness to keep our covenants." (2)

We show our God we love Him by remembering him and His Sacrifice.  As we partake of his sacrament, and abstain from shopping, attending sporting events, and partaking of unrestful things, we will see and feel him more in our lives.

These three simple ingredients turn into what is called a testimony (fire of the spirit).  When you feel clean, you feel happy, independent, worthy, and last but not least, loved.  You know the Savior is pleased and happy for what you are doing.  These basic applications turn into a life sustaining reaction, in turn will increase your happiness, love, peace, and joy in not only this life, but in the life to come. 

We mush continue to apply these principles:

 1) prayer(communication with our Heavenly Father), 2) scripture study(Book of Mormon, Bible, current teachings of latter-day prophets), and attending to fellowship in the unity and body of His church(church attendance and sabbath day observance).  As we do so, we will become acquainted with love, which is in Christ our Lord and Savior.

Look at Tom, he's so excited because he has fire now!!  Remember fire can make us warm, but if we cease to feed this fire, it will burn out.  Keep feeding your spiritual fire with the required needs, and you will find the peace which comes for safety of the soul.

 

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. 

 

SURVIVAL

DEER HUNT

We can survive the most wretched tribulations.  When the point of no return has begun, you will find yourself maintaining your existence.  I would like to relate my experience to a simple, yet scary experience.

As we take our journey into the mountains, driving up and down muddy roads, we scout our options and head up to the place of our desire.  It was a deep canyon, with a few miles of pine trees grouped at the bottom.  My brother dropped me and my father off at the tip top of the mountain, and told us, "I'll be back at dawn," with a big smile.  I was so excited, I couldn't wait to explore the vast variety of God's creations. 

Despite my excitement, my father warned me, "don't forget your survival kit," I whipped it into my bag and we were off. 

About 2 hours had past, the view of the canyon, and many wonders had caught my vision.  I was amazed how much humility can be brought to one when standing on top of a mountain. 

My attention was so caught away that I hadn't noticed what lay ahead for me and my father.  A storm was rolling to the west of us; much to our chagrin, it would hit before we could radio to my brother.  It had descended upon us like a thief in the night.  

Without warning the storm had let out snow the size of cotton balls, and after no time, began to reach my ankle, then my shin, and to the middle of my hip.  My father was beginning to worry.  Me a 12 year old boy and 55 year old man stuck on a 10,000ft mountain; as the story takes its twist, we could not do anything but wait.

After two or three hours, I became uneasy.  We set out and found cover in a small cove of trees, where we could stay free from wind and snow.  I gathered wood, bark and all I could find to start a fire.  We both came close to our small but warm fire and huddled until the storm had passed. 

It was the longest 2 hours of my life.  I contemplated how we were going to survive--how could we live through such horrible circumstances?  I told myself we were doomed to eternal misery on top of this lifeless mountain.  But that was not the case; I had been prepared.  I brought my survival kit, which included a knife, matches, blanket, food, and water.  It was enough to survive for a couple days.

Why should I have worried?  I had my father with me, even though I felt alone.  When I was young and scared, I didn't know the mountain well, but my father did.  He knew the plan, the path, he knew what I needed to be safe.  That is why he warned me to bring my survival kit. 

I want to relate this story to our Heavenly Father.  He cares and He knows what we are going through.  He knows the path, the way.  He sent his son Jesus Christ to comfort us and create a path for us to return to him.  Heavenly Father knows the way to be safe.  Have patience, read His word and He will show you the way.

Although I was nervous and losing touch with hope, my father looked at me and said, "everything will be ok, the storm will pass."  Those short words comforted me like a warm blanket.  Everything will be ok. 
As time went by, the storm eventually passed, and we were able to walk down the mountain to our destination.  

We need to listen to our fathers more, not only our ''earthly fathers'' but our Heavenly Father. 
"Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

 Just as the survival kit could have saved our lives, Heavenly Father has given us spiritual survival kits.  Scriptures, Prophets, and the Holy Ghost.  We need to be in tune, and remember His survival kits.

How do you survive your hardest storms?


Photo from: http://www.snowscenes.net/