no. excuses.

No, this isn't a post on chastity. :)

And I love the music they use in the backgrounds of these videos. :)

Okay.

Elder Holland kinda calls out all the young men in this video... but of course, this can apply to many, many people. Not just young men who hold the Priesthood. :)

In the beginning when I first watched it, I felt all guilty and thought of what a terrible person I am... haha. But it ends happy and has a very good message.


"This is a life and death contest we're in, young men."

When I watch this video, it hits home what an important battle I am fighting... the outcome of this battle doesn't just affect my life. It affects my eternity. It affects the eternities of those around me.

And the straight path... it truly is narrow. And you really have to work if you want to achieve your eternal goals. They won't just be handed to you... of this, I am certain.

We talked a little about lame excuses in seminary today...

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Luke 14

 15 - And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

 16 - Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

 17 - And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

 18 - And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

 19 - And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

 20 - And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

24 - For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

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So... we decided that "I have married a wife" was the lamest of the three excuses for why the men couldn't come to supper. :)


You know, I try really hard not to be too blunt when blogging. But I like how Elder Holland... well, he really is pretty blunt sometimes.

Because, as he said, nothing else seems to work.


To be honest, there are a lot of things I don't know.
I don't know what my future holds - or what yours holds.

But I know that my God doesn't want excuses.


He wants no more Oh I'll go to church every week and I believe everything I hear... but that's enough spirituality until next Sunday.

No more Oh I'll tell my kids the scriptures are true, but I don't need to read them. 

No more then I'll repent or I'll start praying tomorrow.

He isn't in need of hearers only.

Our God needs DOERS!!!


Think of the Conference talks we have heard just recently.

We have sheep to feed.

Lives to bless.

People to save.


We have work to do! And now is the time to be fully converted!

No more excuses.

No more hypocrisy.

(Not saying you are a hypocrite and of course I am not exempt!)

There are people out there who need you.

They need the Gospel and you are the one meant to bring this Good News to them.



So do good.

Be good.


And show your gratitude for God - and for all that He has given you.

And do whatever it takes to become truly converted so you can fight this battle.


no. more. excuses.



Because I have chosen to fight for what is right.

And I need you on my side.

guess what I saw today?

yep. 2,000 stripling warriors. [in a parade]

and they stretched as far as the eye can see.

A Marked Generation

We all know those people around us that just amazing.
They are smart, funny, spiritual, and just all around... good.

And there is no doubt in our minds that they are going straight to the Celestial Kingdom...

And then there's us.

At least that's how we seem to always see it.

We tend to often feel that we are not measuring up, that we're just not good enough.

Well...
There have been people on this earth for thousands of years.
There was Adam, the Ancient of Days.
From him came many, many prophets who preached to millions of people that we read about in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, We read about Christ being born. He preached healed, and offered himself up for a sacrifice.
There were many, many generations following that.

Read history books. Read about the Indians, the Revolutionary War, Ancient Rome, Chinese history...

There have been a lot of people on this earth.

Billions.

Billions of people have lived and died here over the course of six thousand years, each with their own special mission.

And then you were born.

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For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not.... God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God...." Make no mistake about it you are a marked generation.

- Ezra Taft Benson
(read more)

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You came here for a reason. You have a mission to complete that no one else can complete for you.

We are the strongest generation... the generation strong enough to defeat Satan.

Strong enough to stand up for what we believe.

Strong enough to make a real difference.

The fact that you live on the earth at this time... makes you amazing.

The Father saw something in you during the pre-existence. He knew you were strong enough.

You were foreordained to be great.

Of course, that means that we have a great responsibility. We can't let our Father down.

We have to work hard to accomplish what we came here to do.

But. I promise.

It will be worth it.

Dare to Stand... Even If You Stand Alone.

First of all, I thought of this comic when I watched the following video:

LOL... I've been waiting for a video to come out on this talk... yay!  Plus the chief petty officer (or whatever he is) totally cracks me up. 

"May we ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven."


I love that talk... it was given last fall. It was actually given during the Priesthood Session, but for some reason I read it after. Click here to read the whole talk.

It is hard to stand alone, or even mostly alone.

It can actually be really hard.

But there is one thing that I know.

Someday not too far in the future, we will be looking back on the decisions we made during this life.

And we don't want to have any regrets.

Because even though things seem like a big deal here, and heaven seems far away, it is not so.

There is a day not too far away, that we will either be rejoicing in the fact that we were loyal and courageous, or in great sorrow because of our sins.

And the things we do now will determine our eternity. 

If you think about the fact that we were created eons ago, and have existed infinitely as intelligences, and have eternity to go,

why would you give that up now... for something so small?

Or maybe it seems big, but in fact won't matter to us in the future.

Don't give in to negative peer pressure...

It's not worth it.

Not even semi-worth it.

Because despite what you might think, you are never alone. You have a Father and a Savior to back you up.

And most likely many people too, even if you don't realize it.

Dare to be a Mormon;

Dare to stand alone.

Dare to have a purpose firm;

Dare to make it known.

An Introduction to Missionaries

Why do we have missionaries? What do they do?



     Unfortunately, many people think that our missionaries are out to advertise our church... that we just want to increase our numbers. I hope that they come to realize that this is not so. 
     The people in this video... they have the light of Christ in their eyes. You can see it, and it is almost tangible.
     The young people in this video - and missionaries all over the world - they have seen and experienced the pure happiness that the gospel brings... it doesn't make your life perfect, but it makes it meaningful, and it makes it easier to deal with everyday things.
     The gospel gives you a new perspective and helps you know what you need to do to live with God again, to obtain eternal life.

     We just want to spread that happiness. It changes lives. When you have experienced such joy and comfort from this gospel, it's hard to not shout it to the world... I know Christ lives! I know the Church is true!  Sharing the gospel is a pleasure. You bless the people that you teach, and you find great joy in the process. 


D&C 18:15 - And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! 

16 - And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

     Not only do missionaries change people's lives for the better... they really do change their own. They change their own lives in a delightfully wonderful way.

     Some missionaries are converts to the Church themselves, and just want to pay it forward.

     Others were born into the Church, and can't imagine living life without the gospel... so they feel the need to share it. 

     All missionaries have one thing in common. They have the desire to serve their King.

And it creates a ripple effect...

   


 Jeremiah 16:16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.


To request a visit from the missionaries, or to learn what to expect when missionaries come to visit you, click here.
And never forget... every member a missionary.


Also... are you interested in a video about temples tomorrow?

Did one of my posts leave a lasting impression on you? I'd love to hear about it! Comment below! 

Want to read about the layout of my blog? Click here.

Why I'm a Mormon Part 4/4: A Royal Army

If you are just now joining us... this is the end of a 4-part series...
Please click here for the introduction,
here for part 1,
here for part 2,
and here for part 3.

     In the preface of Why I'm a Mormon, the author talks about the remarkable growth of the church. He explains how it would have been impossible to write such a book just a few decades ago... there just weren't Mormons that were well known like that...
     We hear all of the time about how our world's moral standards are declining, and the adversary is trying even harder. We can constantly see bad things all around us that are spiritually damaging.

     But here's the thing to remember... the reason the adversary is trying harder... is because we are getting stronger, and becoming more in numbers.

     In the end, God's royal army will have to fight off the adversary once and for all. We already know what side will win... so why on earth would so many people join a force that is condemned? I honestly don't understand.

Hymn #251: Behold! A Royal Army

Behold! A royal army,

With banner, sword and shield,

Is marching forth to conquer

On life's great battlefield. 

Its ranks are filled with soldiers, 

United, bold, and strong,

Who follow their Commander 

And sing their joyful song:

Victory, victory, 

Thru him that redeemed us!

Victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Victory, victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ our Lord!

And now the foe advancing,

That valiant host assails,

And yet they never falter; 

Their courage never fails.

Their Leader calls, "Be faithful!"

They pass the word along;

They see his signal flashing

And shout their joyful song:

Victory, victory, 

Thru him that redeemed us!

Victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Victory, victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ our Lord!

Oh, when the war is ended, 

When strife and conflicts cease,

When all are safely gathered 

Within the vale of peace,

Before the King eternal, 

That vast and mighty throng

Shall praise his name forever, 

And this shall be their song:

Victory, victory, 

Thru him that redeemed us!

Victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Victory, victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ our Lord!

D&C 5:14 - And to none else will I grant this power, to receive this same testimony among this generation, in this the beginning of the rising up and the coming forth of my church out of the wilderness—clear as the moon, and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.

     The fact that we have so many members of the Church now -- whether they are well-known or not -- it's so exciting! We are becoming more and more fit for battle!

We are becoming a Royal Army of the Lord!

And can you even imagine an army more fit for battle - than one that has the Lord on their side?