Two precious gifts

 "Life offers you two precious gifts. One is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will. You are free to exchange your allotment of time for thrills. You may trade it for base desires. You may invest it in greed. . . . Yours is the freedom to choose. But these are no bargains, for in them you find no lasting satisfaction."

 "Reflections on a Consecrated Life

--Elder D. Todd Christofferson

We must serve with all our heart, might, mind and strength.  We must serve our fellow beings as we would serve our family.  When we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are in the service of our God. (Mosiah 3:19)I know we need to spend our time wisely while we are here on this earth, we must "prepare to meet God".  Time is very short, and I can testify because the my time keeps going by faster and faster while serving the Lord.
I know this is true in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Hakuna Matata

    My name is Elder Vea and I hail from Hawaii. I am currently serving with Elder Wright on an "exchange" where missionaries switch with other missionaries and learn from each other. Just last night we started this exchange and I learned a lot within a few hours. Anyways, I am one of five children and I currently reside in Mesa, Arizona. I am loving every bit of being out here serving our Heavenly Father. It has been a neat experience to serve other people. I have learned many things here in California and one important thing I learned is that everyone is different. Everyone has lived a different life and has different backgrounds. Everyone has either experienced their life in a good way or has seen the "rough" part of life. I can honestly say that I have seen both worlds. My entire life has been centered around Jesus Christ and his teachings and how families can be eternal. But it hasn't been all sunshine and bright days. We all have a dark time in our life and sometimes it lasts for a while. We sometimes feel the need to "awake" and do something about our life but we can never find out how.

"If you want to be somebody,

If you want to go somewhere,

then you better wake up and pay attention."

Jesus Christ has provided an opportunity for us to "wake up and pay attention." His Atonement is sufficient for everyone. No matter what happened to us or where we are at in our life. People can change and experience a change of heart.

Growing up, my parents taught me the principles of the gospel and wanted me to live it. I was a rebel. I wanted to be free and I wanted to experience life the way I wanted to. I didn't want anyone telling me how to live my life. As I became older, in high school, something changed my life. As a senior, I was excited and I wanted to get the most out of high school while in this last year. I had a job, played football, and was enrolled in Theatre Arts. Everyday was a busy day: wake up at 6:30, school, football practice, rehearsal, and work. I wouldn't get home till probably around 11:00 at night. Then finish homework and finally went to bed. And then my whole day starts again. This went on for about 6 months. Football ended but I still wanted to do more. I soon forgot about reading my scriptures, saying my prayers and going to church. I forgot about God and what he has done for me. I FORGOT.

A few months went by and I recieved an important call . . . It was from my counselor at school. I received the most dreadful news ever: I was one credit short of graduating and so I needed to enroll in summer school. I was devastated. When I told my parents, they were furious! I felt like a failure.  I didn't know who to turn to but my older sister who was living in Arizona at the time. I told her what had happened. She asked me if I prayed.-- I said no.-- She asked me if I read my scriptures. -- I said no.-- She then told me, "You are asking the wrong person so get on your knees and call me later!" The phone call ended. After about 5 minutes, I got on my knees and prayed hard as I never had before. Still feeling sorry and tears in my eyes, I walked to the kitchen. My little sister was watching "The Lion King" at the time and as I was in the kitchen, These words came out and spoke to me: "Hakuna Matata." It means "No Worries." My soul was at peace. My tears ceased to fall and a smile came across my face. I was being told just that! Not to worry and do what God wants me to and everything will be alright. So, I read my scriptures, went to church and said my prayers. I was doing all that I can that would please my Heavenly Father. My counselor called me again and said, "You can graduate with your class but it would require some time of yours." I quickly took the offer and I was able to graduate.

     

  In the Book of Mormon, there is a prophet that I felt much like during this time, Alma 36: 12-21 "I could remember my pains no more..." I had finally awaken and did something about my problems. I know that as we follow Alma's counsel, and remember what "our fathers have taught us," then we can experience joy. "There can be nothing more sweet and exquisite as was my joy." The power of the Atonement is for everyone. If we put or faith and trust into the hands of our Savior, I can promise that He will tell us not to worry. We don't have to be perfect to come to the Savior. I am not perfect and neither are you but if we give our all, that would be perfect for Him to accept. So, I leave you with two words of wisdom: "Hakuna Matata."

Build me a bridge

"Cry me a river, build me a bridge, and get over it."  What a profound statement, usually taken in the sense of  ignorant feelings towards someone.  "Cry me a river, build me a bridge, and get over it" is used in terms of taking your problems ("cry me a river") and whipping yourself in shape ("build me a bridge") until you master whatever it that is bothering you ("get over it").

In the very real situations of life, trials come, and trials go.  I guess you could say, "life happens" when we don't always know the outcome.  Unfortunately, there are some of us who are born into grief, with a troubled family.  There are some who are blessed with loving parents in homes which are not broken.  The rivers of life that separate us from happiness are growing wide and with swift current.  At times we may feel or believe we cannot cross these grand rapids of crushing water walls.  We stand alone on one side of the river crying for help, when all we see are flowers and pasture fields on the other side.  We also see happiness, families close together, triumph and success.  How do we obtain such happiness?

God is our loving Heavenly Father, and he needs us on the side of happiness, but the trials of life are in our way (the river).  Can we sail this river with a slow current and calm wind? or swim without being pulled down into the depths?  If we really tried ourselves we could not make it.  So how are we to attain this happiness and "get over it"?  How are we to be who God wants us to be? 

 It is through our Savior Jesus Christ and by his Grace we can build "bridges" over the rushing calamities of day to day life. 

Watch this video. 

We must not give up now, we have come this far.  Let us trust in the Lord who has overcome the world, He has built a bridge over every river, small stream, and straits of life.  Take his hand, live the gospel, trust in Him, and take the first step on the bridge. I promise you, it will make you happy.  I know these things to be true.

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

Find your faith in Christ

With all the love and adoration I have or can give, I heed and wish to magnify the message of Jesus Christ.
  Jesus Lives.  He loves You and me.  He gave himself to atone for you and for me.
He says "come follow me" and "I will give thee rest"  I am optimsitc to meet Him and to fall at my knees, to wet his feet with my tears -- To hear him say -- "Well done"--  Face to face one day I will see him, he means more than life to me. 

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.

 

 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.