Never Lose Hope

Last Saturday Elder Thompson and I were visiting people in the city of Davis where we are now serving.  Davis is a small town with a UC not to far from where we work. 
It was growing late in the evening, close to our time to head in, and were visiting some people who were potentially interested in learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As we were walking to the door I noticed a man with a large Jack Daniels liquor bottle in His hand, pouring himself a cup.  We knew this apartment was the correct location of the specific individual who had requested missionaries.  Our confidence quickly shot down, pondering and judging the men who were behind the door to be unstable, and undoubtedly uninterested.
So with willingness and determination, we knocked and without 5 seconds a man answers the door with his cup in his hand and a big smile on his face.  His name was Ron and was the one who we were looking for .  He asked some questions with a slur, and found himself getting carried away in his laughter.  As we carried our conversation, His roommate, John, came running in from behind him.  He was a taller Asian man with a smile from ear to ear, curious, and hand signaled us into his small apartment.  It was coming close to our hour and we thankfully offered another appointment.

This man and his friend surfaced many deep concerns regarding questions of their souls.  John mentioned he had a wife and two beautiful children who lived far away east.  A place where work was difficult to find and a decent education was in drought.  He said, "I have a drinking problem, and other bad habits I need help with."  With his hands spread towards us, wanting relief from his addictions, we could feel his sincerity penetrate our spirits. We could feel his heart towards his children.  We could feel his concern for their welfare.

Although he was passionate about His family, we had fear in our hearts, not knowing if the situation was right and we offered to set up an appointment of a more convenient time.  We suggested a time early the next day to watch a modern day prophet speak to the whole world.  He agreed, and promised to be there.

We headed home and both looked at each other and complained there was no way he would remember.

The following day early in the morning, we returned to our appointment at nine A.M. and we felt as if we were waisting our time.  I mumbled to myself, "I know he won't be there".  We didn't have hope for this unsober, hungover man. 

With surety he would not answer, we gave it a knock, and nothing happened.  We gave it a second knock having some faith he might answer the door, but nothing came.  After about 3 minutes I gave it a good pound.  Miraculously he opened on the last attempt, dressed to watch the general conference and talk about how he could find the hope for his life and his family!  We watched all of General Conference with Him and bore our testimonies as the modern prophets did that very morning. 
I learned a great life lesson.  Don't ever lose hope on someone, because God wouldn't give up on me.  It is because of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we all have the opportunity to find our faith, realign our life in harmony with Heavenly Fathers teachings.  I know with out a doubt, God lives and loves each one of us, and wants with all of His heart, might, mind and strength everyone to return! 
 
Never Lose hope!  Never!  God will never lose hope on you or on me.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

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

 Yield

Yield, What does it mean to you.?  When I first read the word yield I was taken back to a memory in my childhood when my mother drove an old 85 Fleetwood Cadillac.  I remember slouching back into the comfort of the back seat, leaning my head against the glass watching the cars pass by.  While coming to a halt I leaned over to see why we were slowing down, and in the corner of my eye I noticed the sign"YIELD" in bright red.   Being young I would believe I was curious enough to ask my Mom, who was an expert driver and had much experience with the road, could tell me a little more about the sign.  Why did we have to slow down every time this sign came into our view?  Why is it red?  Why so cautious when slowing down?

A few days ago as I was reading in the Book of Mormon (Another testament of Jesus Christ) and came across this particular verse;

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

 I asked why would their "yielding" their hearts unto God bring them happiness or "joy and consolation"?  When we yield it is primarily because we need to advise our decisions, ---in driving, to look for oncoming traffic-- but it can be used in more of a literal sense as well. 
Yielding means complying with the requests or desires of others: "a gentle, yielding person" or in other words slowing down to oncoming traffic.
When we make a promise to our Heavenly Father we promise to do things (such as keeping the commandments) yielding our personal desires to him by following His path.  In so doing we will receive his love "joy and consolation... even unto the purification... of our hearts".  What a blessing God gives us. 

Let's talk about "promises" or "Covenants" for a second.  The first covenant we make is Baptism.  Baptism is showing Heavenly Father you WILL keep His commandments.

If you are.. "desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 "Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death..

 "Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?"

When we make promises we yield ourselves to the will of God, and in turn he will "pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you.."  We yield our inclinations to do evil, we follow the road of righteousness(and we do our best to stay on), we take what we are holding onto(our past, thoughts, habits, actions, words) and we throw them away.  We yield (stop, slow down ) for God, so he can take the weeds in our hearts and plant beautiful flowers.  We give him everything.  It is difficult, but that is why we Yield, not completely stop but yield. It is an ongoing action which leads us to overcome our selfish habits and to swallow our pride.  Hand over your sins with trust in God, He will make everything ok.

The road of life's journey is learned after facing the trials.  Learning to become dependent on God.  We give all to him and we will find ourselves free.

YIELD and become free.