Quick to Observe

The Prophet Mormon

I have been wondering, and studying a lot recently about how I can learn more from my Father in Heaven about what He wants for me. I decided to open my scriptures, and began to read about the historian-prophet Mormon, the man who not only led the Nephite nation in battle since his teenage years, but compiled much of what we now have as the Book of Mormon.

Concerning Mormon, we read that God entrusted him with the precious records and the great and sacred responsibility of compiling them because he was, "quick to observe." (Mormon 1:2) I believe there is a lot of wisdom to be had in that statement.

At least in my life, Heavenly Father has been quick to teach me through the Holy Ghost when I slow down and pay attention to what is going on around me. Through observing the lives of some of those around me, I have been able to see and apply lessons they have learned or are learning to myself. I was able to see the true happiness that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings. I saw that it wasn't fake, that they really were living life with all the wonderful blessings that God promises to those that follow him.

From close observance to those around us, and whisperings from the spirit, we can direct our lives better. We can earn God's trust. I urge you all to look around, and see those you are with. Heavenly Father is always trying to reach out and teach us, and if we are quick to observe, you will see it. Truth is out there, and happiness is real. It is up to us to pursue it, to find it, learn it and live it.

I know the message that I share as a missionary is true, and will unlock the gate to Eternal Happiness for anyone who pursues it. Through close observation, you will also come to see how God works through people around you, and there is a better way. My life is great, and its real. Its what Christ offers to us all.  Message me and find out more about what he has done for me, and what He can do for you!

Also, check out an Apostle of the Lord, David A Bednar speak on being "Quick to Observe"

He Knows You.

"Nothing will surprise us more than when we get to heaven and see the Father and realize how well we know Him and how familiar His face is to us." — Pres. Ezra Taft Benson

That quote has been resonating in my head for the last week. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. The implications are powerful! He knows us well, and wants us to live with Him. Will we regret anything from this life when we pass? Will we see Him, remember His face, feel His love, and be ashamed and sorry? Are we doing all we can to show how much we love Him?

I wish I could show people just how much their Father in Heaven loves them. His love is manifest to me as I do the small and simple things that He asks and keep His commandments. In return, He sends the Holy Ghost to gently nudge me in the right direction and give me comforting assurances that what I am doing is correct, and that He approves. From these feelings, we can know that we are engaged in what we need to be to be able to return to live again with Him. I have come to cherish and value these feelings.

Anyone who is searching for their Heavenly Father will find Him. He is not as far distant as we sometimes suppose. Indeed, Christ himself tells us that if we look for Him, we will find Him.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Matthew 7:7

That promise is absolute. There is no, "maybe Ill find him," or "maybe He will answer me." He promises very plainly that He will manifest himself unto us. I know that is true. I know that he loves each and every one of us, and as we follow His son, Jesus Christ, and have faith, repent, and are baptized, we can be granted a spot alongside Him for eternity. Nephi says,

"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."

2 Nephi 31:20

I am so thankful for that promise.

How Can I Know?

I have always been fascinated by the way that Heavenly Father communicates to each of His children differently. No matter who you are, we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, who knows us better then we know ourselves. We can go to him with anything; any concern, any question, and we can receive guidance and answers. The prophet Joseph Smith laid out the process of how we receive answers from God very simply.

"Yea, behold, I will ^atell you in your mind and in your ^bheart, by the ^cHoly Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart."

Doctrine and Covenants 8:2

In your search for truth, when looking for answers to some of life's hardest questions, remember to ask God. After all, He knows you, me, and everything else better then anyone else around. Why not then go to the source of all light and knowledge? After you ask him to know if something is true, or wait course to take, wait for the answer. Pay close attention because thoughts will come to your mind that "sound right." It will make sense when you think about it. Also, powerful feelings will come to you in your heart, and it will "feel right." That is when you can know through the Holy Ghost that you have received your answer. To further clarify, Joseph Smith later wrote,

"But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your ^dbosom shall ^eburn within you; therefore, you shall ^ffeel that it is right.

 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a ^astupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong;"

Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9

I know this process works! I have tried it out many times, and felt either that 'burning in the bosom,' or the 'stupor of thought.' I have gained a testimony that God is my father in Heaven, and He loves me. He wants me to chose the right. He wants show me all the beautiful things about this world. He knows how I can be most happy, and when I counsel with Him in my decision making, he will guide me correctly. I am so thankful for this process, it truly is one of the greatest blessings from our Father in Heaven.

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,

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)

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...

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.