Thank You For... You! (part 1)

As the revolving door of time opens us up to a brand new year, I recently have found myself thinking about what has changed for me in the past 365 days. Quiet a bit has happened, but nothing as bold as the opportunity to serve a full time mission. Although I am still relatively "young" in the mission life, I have already come to see that my perspective has changed, forever altering my future. In reflection, I can safely say I attribute this perspective shift to the very spirit of the mission: Service.



President Hinckley being Jovial

 There are many ways to serve, many venues in which one can do it. You can serve your neighbor, your community, your family, or your country. The list goes on, but the nobility of the principle stays the same. I quote President Hinckley's father who, in response to young Gordon's plea to come home, said, "Forget yourself and go to work.”

How many of you have been forever changed because of service rendered? How many of you have a permanent brand of love on your heart because of some kind soul's selfless act? I can remember one such experience, when a close cohort of mine perceived me struggling, and offered a time tested remedy that he had found was his only source of respite in his own personal trek through the 'gall of bitterness'.

I had been struggling for a while, searching for a sense of identity and purpose. I felt that I was doing all that God had asked, and yet still could not see a way out. I was spiraling downward, and in this inward struggle to find self worth and value this friend offered a solution. "Hey, my mom needs help with the yard, how 'bout you come over and trim our trees?" At first I wasn't super excited, but agreed to do it. Little did I know what a profound impact that suggestion slash blessing-in-disguise had been.

It was a hot summer day, and the trees were tall. The hedge trimmer's plug was old, and the extension chord had been well used, resulting in a constant effort to keep the chord plugged into the hedge trimmer. As I tip-toed on the ladder, sweating as I swung the trimmer to and fro, something marvelous occurred; I forgot about myself! I was so completely focused on how awesome these trees were going to look that I failed to remember the worries that had so easily beset me the day before. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of a large pile of debris, drenched in sweat staring at a sweet looking yard with a grin on my face. It was only after I rewarded myself with a gulp of cool water that I realized that for a moment, I had escaped myself and been truly happy. I was too focused on how his mother's face would look as she pulled into the driveway to be thinking about my lame sauce worries. Revelation exploded as I realized that I had found the key true joy.

It is my testimony that as we "forget ourselves and get to work," we will find happiness. As we put ourselves out of the picture, we are forced to release our own pride and blindness, and inadvertently make room for the Comforter to fill the void. We will find renewed sense of purpose as we follow our greatest example, our Savior, and lift the hands that hang down. Christ gave His life, every moment of it, to better ours; it is an inevitable conclusion that we too will partake in His glory and joy as we strive to do the same.

Disclaimer:

This post was dedicated to this person who, through a small act of sharing his favorite remedy for the blues, had changed a life forever. He gave me new perspective on service, one that has changed the way I view my mission before it even began. In his mind's eyes, I'm sure this was the least of his acts of service to me (Dude helped me out A LOT) but it was the one that has changed my life. Thank you so much, John and all those who stuck around this long to read this far. I love you all, now go and do!

Merry Christmas!

President Monson is the man. Truly Christmas is a wonderful time to feel and spread love. As it says in Moroni chapter 7, charity is just the "pure love of Christ." How fitting it is that we exchange gifts on Christmas, and give freely to those we love, to commemerate the greatest gift ever given, even Jesus Christ.  It was the gift that still brings peace and happiness to people across the globe. It was the gift, that when taken advantage of, holds the keys to the gate of eternal life. What shall we give Christ in exchange for His matchless gift this Christmas season?

Scipture of the Day 12.18.10

2 Nephi 32:8-9

 

"And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, 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 in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."

It is sad to me how many people don't feel like they can pray. I've heard a lot of reasons, "I'd be hypocritical," "He doesn't want to hear from me" " He doesn't listen"... The list of excuses goes on, yet all are false. God wants to hear from us, we are His children! Anytime you feel like you can't or shouldn't pray, I would council you to get on your knees. The Adversary tries hard to get you to not pray, don't let him win!

Scripture of the Day 12.17.10

 

2 Nephi 32:3

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. 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. "

Feasting upon the words of Christ has changed my life. As I feast (i.e. read scriptures and listen to the words of the prophets) I have noticed the Holy Ghost flood into my life, and inspire me daily. My path has become clear, and I can press forward with faith, fully confident I am doing what the Savior would have me do.

The Power of a Testimony

The Power of a Testimony can never be overlooked. Every single day I have the wonderful opportunity of sharing knowledge I have gained through inspiration from the Holy Ghost. Being a missionary, I get to see a lot of testimonies being borne, however usually they spring from my companion or I. Despite the frequency of testimonies, I am still astounded how effectively testimonies invite the spirit. It is a wonderful gift when someone, be it friend of years or someone I recently met, shares his or her testimony, and I too get to feel the power of their words. I would like to share a testimony that was recently borne to me that struck me with great force.

"[Elder Vomocil] my friend, I know that this church is true. I know that Jesus Christ is my redeemer and the best news is he lives. I know that i have a father in heaven who lives as well and whose love for me is so strong that I can never fully comprehend it. I even know that I was set aside from my family to join this church and was protected by my God. I know that God invites everyone to repent and would gladly grant forgiveness and that forgiveness is possible only through our savior Jesus Christ. I know that the days of revelation are not over nor did they end. That god speaks to us through the holy ghost. I know that I and all can be saved as long as we believe that Jesus is the Christ and be obedient to his word. God gave us a prophet. His name was Joseph Smith. I know that he was called of God to usher in and translate the book of mormon. I know that this gospel is true"

I am and will be forever grateful for the testimonies that have been borne to me, but this one was especially powerful. Hopefully you all can feel the power of the Holy Ghost bearing witness to you the truth of everything that was said. Truly it is as Matthew Describes it in verse 20 of chapter 10,

 "For it is not ye that speak, but the ^aSpirit of your Father which speaketh in you"

A testimony is found and strengthened when one shares it. It's strange, but I testify to you that it is true. I would invite everyone who reads this to share with someone their testimony of what the Holy Ghost has showed them is true. You will not only find the blessing of a stronger testimony, but will bless the lives of all those who hear it. Lastly, I want to thank this special friend of mine who shared their testimony with me. It was recorded by angels in heaven, and will forever be remembered in my heart.

Scripture of the Day 12.16.10

2 Nephi 28:7-9

 

"Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God — he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark. "

 One day we will have to account to the Savior for all we have done, be it good or bad. It's sad how good the Adversary has become at fooling people into thinking that they will be able to slip by, say sorry and be good. The Savior preached repentence, and that is what is needed to be able to live with Him.

Scripture of the Day 12.15.10

2 Nephi 2:27

 "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself"

Satan is out to get us. Anytime we seek instant gratification at the expense of something greater, we fall into his trap. God gave us the choice, but when we sin, Satan wins. Choose Liberty!

The Lost Psalm

Nephi's Sorrow

As I ate my breakfast this morning, I had the wonderful opportunity of opening up the Book of Mormon in an effort to soak up all the Lord had for me this morning. I am continually astounded as to the things I read in the Book of Mormon but was especially touched by the words of Nephi in what is commonly reffered as his Psalm. The whole Psalm can beread in Nephi chapter 4 verses 16-35, verse 28 really stuck out to me. It reads,

"Awake, my soul! No longer ^adroop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the ^benemy of my soul."

How often has my soul felt asleep, my heart and mind lonely because I felt I was drooped in sin? How often have I been bogged down because of the Adversary, the great enemy of all our souls? As I read, I could feel Nephi's pain and really related to this rallying cry. I read on, and began to feel empowered when he went on to say,

Scripture of the Day 12.14.10

2 Nephi 2:25

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."

'Nuff said. God put us here so we can be happy. The best way to do that, to find that real lasting joy, is by turning to Jesus Christ. What are you doing to find real joy?

Scripture of the Day 12.13.10

1 Nephi 19:23

"And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning"

The scriptures are here for us, so we should start by reading them...  Hah, after you get that down, try relating them to yourself. Next time you read through Alma, put yourself in his shoes. Have you been feeling you need to fix something in your life, or are yoe going to wait for an angel to call you out?

Scripture of the Day 12.12.10

1 Nephi 3:7

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

This is one of my absolute favorites. Anything, I mean anything God asks of us, we can do... The kicker - He will prepare the way. Think about that - If we put forth our best effort and try our hardest,

 He will take care of the rest. Pretty sweet promise if you ask me...

President Henry B. Eyring, "The Gift of a Savior"

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to start off the christmas season by watching the First Presidency's christmas devotional. I have always loved being able to listen to prophets, but this talk really stoof out to me. In a world where Christmas is becoming more and more commercialized, President Eyring truly helped me refocus on what this wonderful time of year is all about; the birth and gift of our Savior Jesus Christ. I just love the spirit President Eyring brings, and his powerful testimony of our Savior. It made me wonder how I can better show to my Heavenly Father that I appreciate such a grand gift.

I know that Jesus Christ lived and died for me. Knowing that has really helped me through the most intense and crazy parts of my own life, where I didn't feel as if I could make it through by myself. Because of those times, I know that faith in Him can help you through all your hard times as well. This Christmas season, I would invite you all to take a little extra time to remember Him, and find ways in your own life to better show Heavenly Father how much you appreciate this wonderful gift. All He wants of us is to come unto him and repent (2 Nephi 26: 27) I know if we all do, we will soon be able to realize the wonderful blessing the Herald Angels sang of so long ago, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14)

Remember who YOU are!

Cute huh? I was thinking the other night about how little Elise Vomocil was with our Heavenly Father just a month ago, and it really struck me. That precious little person was with our Eternal Father saying her goodbyes and promising she would make it back. How long ago was it that you were with Him making the same promise?

That thought is a big one. Let it sink in for a second. You are a son or daughter of God. You knew Him, and He knows you. Before we came to Earth, He understood our personalities, and because of that placed us in positions where we would most likely succeed. This fact is written and portrayed plainly in the Bible, unfortunately many overlook it. In Jeramiah Chapter 1 verse 5 we learn that God knew the ancient prophet Jeramiah well when he says,

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

God knew Jeramiah, and Jeramiah had obviously done something before He came to earth to merit him becoming a Prophet. If it was like that for Jeramiah, wouldn't it be the same for us? I witness to you that although we may not be able to remember our lives as spirit children of Heavenly Father before we came to Earth, we did live with and learn from Him. We chose to follow Him, and promised that when we came down here to earth that we would do all we could to remember Him, and follow what His servant Jesus Christ taught us.
I think when we begin to understand who we are and where we came from, we start to gain real perspective on life. Little Elise there is a daughter of God, much like you and I, she's just newer at this whole "life" thing than you and I are. When we understand who we really are, we begin to realize what we are truly capable of, and life gets a whole lot more bearable. I would invite you all to ponder on that thought, to try your best to remember who you are.

Powerlifting and the Spirit?

 I've got two friends back home that are so dang strong. These guys... Hah I dunno, maybe they will post thier "numbers" as a response to this post, but it would blow you away. They've probably gotten a ton stronger since I left, Im actually a little afraid to go home and give them a hug, they'll probably just crush me! The crazy thing is these guys didnt start out as huge dudes... In fact, when they started on thier quest for ultimate gym prowess and dominance, they were relatively small, but that didnt deter them. With daily nourshment, consistant hard work and gym attendance, and a "never-give-up" attitute, they have transformed themselves from average Joes into titans of men. I've come to learn that the same principles of becoming strong and being able to lift a ton of weight can be applied to our own spirituality as well.

Be Strong and of Good Courage

Paris is The Man...



This guy and his video inspire me... Every time I watch it, I feel like I need to do better. A wise friend of mine (ahem Salah! hah) once said, "I wont ever be a product of my environment, my environment will be a product of me!"  That struck me... Do I ever fall when life's hardships get me down? Do I crack under the weight and pressure of things out of my control? Or do I take the proverbial (sometimes seemingly rotten) lemons and make the best dang lemonade you've ever tasted?! I like to think I do the latter, but I know I am probably kidding myself and could do much much better. So I guess the question is, how can I make sure I am rising to the occasion, and lifting others while I go?

We Are All the One

Matthew 18:12-13

 "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray."

I was reading this scripture as I was eating my breakfast this morning (gotta love those early morning cereal revelations) and it hit me. I think no matter where you are at in your life, at one point or another, we are all the one. In some way or another, we have all gone astray. For everyone it is something different... The one thing that is always consistent however is Christ. He will always been searching for us, always reaching out. As soon as we can turn from ourselves, and listen to His voice calling out, we will be able to find Him. He will guide us home.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is available to everyone. I have the unique opportunity to be his servant at this time in my life, and reach out to find those who might have lost their way.  I come in contact with tons of people everyday, searching for His sheep, because just as He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27) You might have even felt the promptings in your own life... Like you are distant from your family, or you need a change in your life because you are unhappy. Christ and His gospel can really help us with a wide range of problems. Seriously, the gospel is for everyone, and God gave it to us to help us become happier!

I have such a testimony that the Lord rejoice when those that are lost are able to find their way back... That through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all of us who go astray can return back to the fold. We can be changed, and rejoice with the Lord when we are. When you make that effort to change your life and become better, it will enable Heavenly Father to bless you, and you will see the blessings.

If you feel like maybe your relationship with God could improve, or really just want someone to talk to about it, send me a message on facebook! My facebook should be right next to this post, on the right hand side of the page...

Be Still My Soul

"Be still, my soul:
the waves and winds
still know His voice
Who ruled them
while He dwelt below."





I love that song. It brings me so much comfort. I find myself singing it sometimes, and love pondering over its words. My message today is simple. Life is rough. It was meant to be. Honestly, I would not know at all what the Savior and His gospel truly mean if I hadn't had gone through some of those really really difficult times... Looking back, I am grateful for every hardship I have had, they've taught me who I am, and where I can turn for peace. They have forced me to re-evaluate my foundation. 

Hel. 5: 12 

    And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the ^arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your ^bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty ^cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. 

Enough said... Really. Life will get hard. No matter how scary it can seem sometimes though, if we turn to our master, and rely on him, He will help us through. I know that if you have built your foundation on Christ, it really doesn't matter what happens to you. You will be able to take courage in knowing that there are great rewards if you endure your trials well. I know He has suffered through it all, and been where I've been, no matter where that is. Because of that, He is able to help me. Take courage in the journey, for just as the song says, the waves and winds still know His voice.

Good Times!

I love the story of Enos. Whether you are familiar with the story or not, there is one principle that I want to illustrate that came to me this morning that has never before dawned on me. To quickly summerize, Enos was the son of the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, who, while out hunting one day, had an epiphany. Enos had heard his dad talk about the goodness of the gospel of Jesus Christ his entire life, but had failed to really grasp it and apply it into his life, so he decided to pray. In his own words (verses 2, 3 and 4 of his own book) he says,

Enos in "mighty prayer"

"And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins. Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens."

First, I want to point out that Enos describes this experience as a wrestle with God, and cried out to Him in mighty prayer... Everytime I read that, I think back to times that I truely wanted something and pleaded my guts out with the Lord through prayer that he might help me out. I dont think when Enos uses the word wrestle he is talking about the kind of wrestling I used to do with my brothers and beating the Lord into submission, forcing him to give us what we want. No, I'm pretty sure he is referring to the inward struggle when we truely confess and humble ourselves before the Lord. Those prayers are hard to say sometimes, because to make them count they really have to be from the heart. I believe the wrestle he is talking about is not so much with God, but more with himself, beating his own heart into submission so that he can recieve the will of the Lord. I've always felt that way about that scripture though..

The new insight I gained today is that he was out alone, probably doing what he loves most... Hunting! That really struck me. Possibly the most important realization of Enos's existance came when he was spending time getting to know himself doing what he loved in this beautiful world God gave to us. The real message I want to leave today is that we all need to take time to get to know ourselves.

Too often in today's world, people are on the go all the time. With TV, Radio, Cell Phones, Music, Sports, Movies, Games, and really everything else, it sometimes becomes difficult for us to really step back and listen. I know from experiences that when we do turn off the music or TV, we can hear whats really going on inside our heads, and hear what messages God has left for us. I think President Uchtdorf in a talk from last General Conference said it best,



"May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you—as His precious daughter or son with divine potential."





Ahh good times!



 My challange to each of you would be to take a little time to yourselves this week. For me that used to be a cruise down the canyon on my longboard. For you it could be a walk in the park or on the beach, maybe some time spent in your yard working, or at the gym exersizing. It could be as simple as a long drive without music playing. Be creative! Remember to be open to the thoughts and feelings that come...Because they will come. In my life, the most earth shattering thoughts that have changed who I am today have seldom come at times of excitement. Rather, they have come while I was enjoying my own company and doing something I love to do. Who knows, you could even end up having an experience like Enos that will change not only your life, but history as we know it!

I know that God is aware of all of us, and knows us personally. I know that he has a plan for us that will make us happier then any of us we could ever imagine. Trouble is, most of the time we are too busy to actually listen. We are literally His children, and each of us has a very special role to play in this wonderful world of ours. I know that as we take time to ponder to ourselves, He will let us know what we can do to become most happy through promptings of the Holy Ghost that come as a still and a small voice.

Chose Liberty!

I feel bad for my parents... If any of you know them, you should give them a huge pat on the back, or a congrats for making it through me alive. Seriously, I think the reason I was born to them is because they were the only two individuals on the planet who could handle me. You see, I (like probably every teenage boy) had this thing with rules... I didnt like them very much, and made it my personal goal to break every one I could... I used to think that rules were things to bind you down, that, "with all those rules, there was no way I could be free!" Man, I wished I had paid better attention those nights our family happened to read 2nd Nephi, woulda saved me and my parents a lot of grief!

Sad-face Homeless man...

I know there are tons of people out there who still think like I used to. I meet them everyday... "Naaahhh mannn, Im going to do what I want, when I want to, I dont need no stinkin religion to tell me what to do! God knows me mann, I aint' gonna hurt nobody!" I hear it all the time. Some of those people are homeless. Some are rich, others seem completely normal. All of them however, are completely missing the point...

Tools of the Trade...

Everyone has tools. No matter what it is you do, you usually need something to do it with. Musicians need their instruments, Mechanics need wrenches, computer programmers need computers, and scientists need like beakers and Bunsen-burners and stuff... I think... Anyways, you get the point!

As a missionary, I have a lot of tools at my desposal. I have my car, phone, cards, pamphlets, planners, and most recently facebook and blogs... But all of those pale in comparison to my most favorite tool, the one I use most and is most effective at bringing people closer to Jesus Christ... the Book of Mormon.


But what is the Book of Mormon and why is it so important? 

Christ Appears in America

The Book of Mormon is an ancient record of Prophets here on the American continent, who knew about and testified of Jesus Christ and His life. It was written by a family who left Jerusalem around 600 B.C. and came to America to start a new life in the Promised land. They teach their children the gospel and prophecy about the coming of Christ, who at the climax of the record, comes down and teaches his disciples here the same things he taught in Jerusalem and the Bible. Eventually, the righteous people are hunted down and killed (similar to what happened to the primitive Christians) and the record was hid up in the earth by the last Prophet in the family, to be brought forth at a later time...

In comes Joseph who, as a young man was called of God to become a Prophet in these last days (to understand more about Joseph Smith, click here). Part of his calling was to restore the true Gospel of Jesus Christ on the Earth, and bring forth the Book of Mormon. He found the record, and through the power of God translated it. He went on to do much as a Prophet, and through him Christ's church, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon church) was restored.

My tool set!

Everything I do, and the truthfulness of everything I teach relies completely on the Book of Mormon. If the Book of Mormon is False, then Joseph Smith was never a prophet, and this Church is not true. I love that! I love knowing that anytime I teach something that might be difficult for them to understand or accept, they can take all their doubt to the Book of Mormon. I think President Ezra Taft Benson said it best, 

"...The only problem the objector has to resolve for himself is whether the Book of Mormon is true. For is the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was his prophet, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and it is being led today by a prophet receiving revelation"

There is a promise at the end of the book that states if you, "... ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." (Moroni 10:4) I invite all to take that challenge.

I know that the Book of Mormon is scripture from God, and is true. I know that Joseph Smith really was called of God to bring it forth, and I am so glad that he did. Whenever I read the book, I gain that witness. Sometimes I'll find answers to questions I have been wondering about. I always feel the spirit as I read it. The book truely does teach and testify of Christ and just as Joseph Smith said, "...A man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" Dont take my word for it, go and find out for yourself! If you want a free copy, go to the link below, or you can read it online. If you have any questions, let me know on facebook. I talk about this all day every day, and would love to shed some light for ya!

Free Book of Mormon, and more information about it! 
Read the Scriptures Online! 

Save Yourself!

I just heard a story about a man in my ward here who collapsed at Wal Mart. Everyone started freaking out, and called 911. Fortunately there was a man in one of the lines who noticed, ran over and started preforming CPR. When the paramedics arrived, the man who collapsed was ok, and they attributed that to this stranger who had given him CPR... So, when were in danger of physical death, CPR can save our lives... but what about spiritual death?

CPR will save your life, your eternal life! Let me break this down for you. As a missionary, I have been called of God to bring others to Christ and I know of no better way then CPR.

C- Church. First and foremost, making it to church should be our number one goal when in danger of spiritual death. Church is a place where we can feel the Holy Ghost more abundantly, where we can show our commitment to God. I once heard that you can tell which God's he worships by how he spends his Sabbath. It is so important, the Lord gave it to Moses as one of the big ten! For me, church on Sunday is my spiritual recharge, essential for a successful week!

P- Prayer. "As you need the help of your father in Heaven, you must call upon Him through prayer" -Wendell Nix, Stake Patriarch. When brother Nix told me this, it didn't ring very true at the time. I figured I could cruise through life and God would grant me what He would. Let me tell you, I have learned otherwise. It says ask and ye shall receive in one form or another over 100 times in the Bible! That must mean it is pretty important. Much like any relationship on earth, to maintain and improve our relationship with God we have to talk to Him. Any parent knows how wonderful it is when kids call home, and how sad it is when they don't bother. When we pray, we call down blessings from heaven, and the spirit is able to touch our lives. Alma 37:36-37 reads,

"Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

How true that scripture is!

R- Read. As we read the scriptures we will feel an increase measure of spirit in our lives. I know as I read the scriptures every morning, the difference could be seen and felt in the day. Nephi says it best in 2 Nephi 32:3 when he says "Feast upon the words of Christ, for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." The scriptures are the words of Christ, and as we read them, our testimony, faith, and desire to serve him increases. 

In conclusion, if you are dying, give yourself CPR! I know that as we do these 3 simple things, our lives become easier, and we have more spirit to guide and direct us where we should go and what we should do. Just as it says in Alma 37:6,

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." I leave with you my testimony that by doing those 3 simple things, our lives will improve, the Lord will be able to bless us more, and we will feel a closer and deeper relationship with our savior, Jesus Christ.

The Greatest Gift Ever Given...

"Greater ^alove hath no man than this, that a man lay down his ^blife for his ^cfriends. " John 15:13

Being a missionary, I am always talking about Jesus Christ. My whole purpose in my calling is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and spread the wonderful news to everyone I come in contact with so that thier lives can be... well, better! I share the message of God's gift to us... How we can have everything he wants for us... If Heavenly Father himself were to give you the greatest gift He could, would you take it?

That gift I'm talking about is Jesus Christ, or more specifically Christ giving up his own life for us. Simply put, He gave it up so that we dont have to suffer shame or guilt for the mistakes we make. He gave it up so that we as humans can be forgiven and have those burdens lifted. He gave it up so that all of us can find a way to be happy, not only in this life, but after as well. Through his suffering, we can live with our Father in heaven and families forever if we but seek forgivness and follow Christ. The gift was given to all (2 Nephi 9:21), He denies none... But what does He expect of us to be able to claim those blessings?

The prophet Nephi describes what we need to do in verse 23 of chapter 9 (2 Nephi 9:23). Specifically, Nephi says that we need to repent and be baptized. When we do, we recognize our sins and weaknesses and make a promise to God to always try and do better. As we slip up and sin, we pick ourselves back up and move forward, constantly recommitting ourselves to be better. All of us are imperfect. We all have things we can change about ourselves to better align our lives with God's will for us. As we do, we will begin to feel the goodness and mercy of God, replacing feelings of guilt with love. We will also be able to feel the Holy Ghost more in our lives, and be able to hear His direction for us.

I am so thankful for what Jesus Christ did for me. I cannot imagine what life would be like if I had to live with the burdens of my mistakes forever. I am living proof that as you seek for change, and turn to God and repent, forgiveness will come. Anyone who takes up this challange and truely strives to follow Christ will add more light to thier life, and ultimately be a happier person. You will enable God to bless you, and I promise that He will. I know because I've done it, and have seen the incredible change in myself.

Brand New Day...

So life is crazy... I thought when I was called on a mission I would get to leave the whole internet thing behind. How does that old saying go, "If you wanna make the Lord laugh, tell him your plans?" Hah well that really is how I feel right now. I'm excited though, hopefully you all will actually be able to get something out of this..

So my Scripture of the day is found in the Old Testament, Joshua 1:9
 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. "
I know that that is so true. Anytime the Lord tells us to do anything, he will not only prepare a way for us (1 Nephi 3:7), but be with us everystep of the way. As I embark on this new and exciting assignment, and as you embark in anything in life, try and remember that. Ask for help, and council him in all thy doings, and he will through the Holy Ghost grant you courage to overcome.