choose GOD

Sometimes it is hard to feel worthy.
A lot of times, actually.

We go through the motions, we try to do the right thing, we feel guilt over our mistakes, we repent. And yet, we never feel good enough. We always are stuck wondering, "is it enough??" "Am I on good terms with God?" "If I died now, would I go to the Celestial Kingdom?"

"In the end, after all the mistakes I've made, would God really choose me?"

This, my friends, is where we go wrong in our reasoning. Understand this: God will always choose you. Always. In reality, it is He who is hoping to be chosen by us.

It is He who is hoping that we will choose to be close to Him and choose to desire heaven. He wants you in heaven! And if you show Him that you desire heaven, that, in the end, you are willing to choose Him, Celestial glory will be yours one day! Even in spite of your mistakes!



I'll let Brad Wilcox explain:
"In the past I had a picture in my mind of what the final judgment would be like, and it went something like this: Jesus standing there with a clipboard and Brad standing on the other side of the room nervously looking at Jesus.

Jesus checks His clipboard and says, "Oh, shoot, Brad. You missed it by two points."

Brad begs Jesus, "Please check the essay question one more time! There have to be two points you can squeeze out of that essay." That's how I always saw it.

But the older I get, and the more I understand this wonderful plan of redemption, the more I realize that in the final judgment it will not be the unrepentant sinner begging Jesus, "Let me stay." No, he will probably just be saying, "Get me out of here!" Knowing Christ's character, I believe that if anyone is going to be begging on that occasion, it would probably be Jesus begging the unrepentant sinner, "Please, choose to stay. Please, use my Atonement - not just to be cleansed but to be changed so that you WANT to stay."

You guys, Christ's grace is sufficient. We are never going to be perfect, we won't even be close. But heaven is not just something you spend your life trying to earn. It is something you spend your life preparing for.

Choose God. Choose Him in everything you do. Draw close to Him, stay by Him. Work to please Him, and understand that when you let Him down (because you will, we all do), you can be saved by grace. You can be changed by grace, and the changes you undergo when you strive to be close to God are ones that prepare you for heaven better than anything else.

The Afterlife isn't about scorekeeping. It isn't about guilt or punishment.
It's about choosing God and being happy with your choice. Brad Wilcox also said, "Heaven will not be heaven for those who have not chosen to be heavenly."

Do you think the unrepentant sinners will want to dwell with God after they die? No! They would feel more comfortable and more happy elsewhere.

If heaven is what you want - if God is whom you choose - then heaven is what you will get.



God will always choose you. He will always want you near Him.
Choose the same. Choose heaven. Choose GOD.


Haley


P.S. Read this article about our liberal (what - liberal??) theology. I really enjoyed it. Salvation is for everyone!

the strongest verb

I don't know if any of you have read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, but it's fabulous. I think it's the only book I've ever had to read in school that I thoroughly loved. I learned a lot about God and life by reading that book. I highly recommend it.
I found the following story on a website today... This story was told by Paulo Coelho, so it naturally caught my eye... enjoy.

----------

As soon as he arrived in Marrakesh, Morocco, a missionary decided he would stroll through the desert at the city’s boundary every morning. On his first stroll he noticed a man lying on the sand, caressing the ground with his hands and leaning his ears towards the earth.

“He is mad,” the missionary said to himself. But he saw the man every morning during his walks and after a month, intrigued by that strange behaviour, he decided to approach the stranger.

He knelt beside him and asked, in broken Arabic, “What are you doing?”

“I keep the desert company and offer solace for its loneliness and its tears.”

“I didn’t know the desert was capable of crying.”

“It cries every day, because it dreams of being useful to mankind and turning into a huge garden where people could cultivate flowers and tend sheep.”

“Well then, tell the desert it accomplishes its mission very well,” said the missionary. “Every time I walk here, I am able to understand the true dimension of the human being, as its open space allows me to see how small we are before God. When I look at its sands, I imagine the millions of people in the world who were born equal and am reminded that life isn’t always fair towards everyone. Its mountains help me meditate and as I see the sun rising on the horizon, my soul fills with joy and I feel closer to God.”

The missionary left the man and went back to his daily chores. To his surprise, he found him the next morning at the same place, in the same position.

“Did you tell the desert everything I told you?” he asked.

The man nodded.

“And even so it keeps crying?”

“I can hear each of its sobs,” answered the man, his head tilted towards the ground. “Now it is crying
because it spent thousands of years thinking it was completely useless and wasted all this time blaspheming God and its own destiny.”

“Well, then tell the desert that despite having a short lifespan, we human beings spend much of our days thinking we are useless. We rarely find the reason for our destiny and think God has been unfair to us. When a moment finally arrives in which we are shown the reason why we were born, we think it is too late to change and keep on suffering. And as the desert, we blame ourselves for the time we have wasted.”

“I am not sure the desert will bother to hear it,” said the man. “It is used to suffering and it can’t see things differently.”

“So then let us do what I always do when I feel people have lost faith. Let us pray.”

----------

It's only natural that a man someday wonder "what exactly am I here for??" I learned in health this week that most start their search for identity when they're a teenager. I thought this was kinda interesting, and I really sincerely hope that some of the teenagers I've met haven't found themselves yet, if you know what I mean. haha. (No one in particular!)

My point is, man's search for identity may begin as a teenager, but it takes many people a long, long time to really figure out who they are and what their purpose is. And whether or not it takes you a long time to find yourself doesn't really make a difference. Many people, like the desert, will regret their past and will wish they had come to their senses sooner. But that's the point of life.

Move on and rejoice in the knowledge of a better life ahead of you.

In English this year, we've written a couple papers where we were required to take out as many to be verbs as possible while making revisions. Yeah. Try taking every occurrence of be, being, been, am, are, is, were, etc... out of your paper. H.a.r.d.

My teacher explained that the be verb is the weakest verb in the human language. "It shows no action," she explained.

I suppose in a paper this is often true. It's probably better to use other verbs sometimes.

But the weakest verb? I think not.

Who you are, what you choose to be, what your purpose is, these all seem like very strong statements to me.

Be a faithful disciple. Be a doer of good. Be a peacemaker.

People always make mistakes and slip up. You will say things you will regret. You already have experienced this, and you will no doubt experience it again.

But when you think about someone you knew years back, it isn't the little things they said that you remember. You remember them for the kind of person they were. What they did with their life, and how they treated others.

So be a force for good in the world. Decide who you are and never look back. Keep moving forward and continue learning new things about yourself.

“Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”

-Robert Browning

THIS is knowledge.

Have you ever looked into space and wondered a little extra about God?
About how He lives? What He knows?
Have you wondered about time? About creation?

About the mysteries of the universe... and have you ever wondered what we could possibly have to contribute...?

Because I do occasionally. But then I get a bit overwhelmed by the magnitude of such thoughts.
But still... I wonder about those who do not wonder. Those who accept life as it is and don't search for truth. Don't search for religion, for hope, for knowledge. 

It's the natural thing to do... question things. Because it's a need to have knowledge. It gives us purpose and something to look forward to. It nurtures the spirit and calms us in times of doubt.

And there are things that I don't know. Lots and lots of things. And many things I simply don't comprehend. I can't fathom them. I just can't fathom the hugeness of the universe.

But there are things that I do know. I have earthly knowledge and facts that have been fed to me since my birth. I go to school. I have a pretty basic understanding of history and chemistry and the english language.
And I have spiritual knowledge. More than I could ever sort through. More knowledge than they could ever teach me at a school. I have knowledge of a Creator and an eternity of happiness that awaits me. I have knowledge of my heritage, and an appreciation for my ancestors who would have sacrificed anything for truth to continue. And I wouldn't even know how to begin to thank them for that.

Some wouldn't call these facts. They'd call them hopes, wishes, theories, maybe even fantasies. But I know that these are statements. They are facts. And the only ones that can truly calm the human's tendency to constantly question. There's a period at the end of each of those statements because God put it there in my mind. And I would never let anyone put a question mark where God has already put a period.

Knowledge is a beautiful thing. And even though I don't know everything, I know enough. I know enough to even stop questioning.

And that isn't like me.

be as the publican.

True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes. 
- Edward Frederick Lindley Wood 1st Earl Of Halifax (<--- I had to copy and paste that... quite the name!)


Alright. I read some brilliant scriptures this morning that are inspiring this post. Let's start with those.

Luke 18
10 - Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 - The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 - I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 - And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 - I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.




I love these verses.

Because when asked what I've learned from my sins,
Well, yes I've learned to repent. I've learned to do things differently next time.
But what I've learned the most is to be humble.

I make mistakes.
I am not always obedient.
I rely on the Atonement so much.


And I wonder... what would I be without God? 



I would be nothing.


Yes - I make mistakes.
And I am grateful for sin. I am grateful for all the knowledge that I don't have. I am grateful for people who have less than I do and are more grateful than me and people who work harder than me.

Because all these are constant reminders that I need to be humble.



I am grateful for a merciful God who loves me regardless of my flaws.

And I am grateful for my flaws for making me a better person who tries to live with a better perspective.







P.S. How is my blog showing up on your computer? I am having a hard time deciding what width to make it... I have a widescreen computer and I don't know if it looks too wide on your computer?
And I kinda dig the three-column layout, but I changed it, thinking it was maybe kinda throwing things off...
Ugh. I don't know. I'm an amateur with these things.

a marked generation (2)

This kid is hilarious.

I seriously cracked up at multiple parts during that video.

"That is genuinely as specific as they get on this one..." haha.

----------

I shared this quote in an earlier post, but I think it is really great and goes well here...

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)

----------

My birthday is December 21. And just for that reason the world had better not end on that day.   (:

Anyways. 

The end is definitely coming... I notice signs every day...

But, as you learned in the above video... it probably isn't coming next month.

We have no idea when it is coming.

So it is smart to be ready. Just in case.

And to tell you the truth... I am incredibly excited.

I want to meet my Savior and fall at his feet. I want to have all my memories from my pre-mortal life back. I want to have my entire family back together. I want to thank my pioneer ancestors. And thank my prophet Joseph Smith. 

I want to know what happened to Amelia Earhart, the Roanoke Colony, and Anastasia Romanov...

How the pyramids were built and what's the deal with the Bermuda Triangle...

I want to feel like everything is perfect and good and I can be happy constantly. 

I want to live in peace and love and gratitude with those who love Christ. 

I try to keep in mind that I came to prepare earth for His coming.

I was watching the trailer for Lincoln today (which I am very excited for...).

And I heard a really good quote.


"Think we choose to be born? Are we fitted to the times we're born into?"

wow.

Just the fact that you live on the earth right now should be a witness to you that you are a special and valiant and chosen child. 

Sometimes I wish I hadn't been born in this challenging time in a world full of temptations.

But then I take a step back... which is often required... and I am honored. 

I love my life in November 2012. It isn't perfect, but it is good enough.

I am honored to be given the privilege of sharing the gospel with others. 

The possibility that I might be able to save someone else shakes my soul and gives me the chills.

I am not perfect. I procrastinate my homework. I start projects and don't finish them. I say dumb things. I am not the perfect sister or the perfect friend. I complain too much. I thank people too little. I thank my Savior too little. I don't eat healthy and I don't read enough. I don't recognize God's hand as much as I should. I get frustrated too quickly and I go to bed too late.

But I am blessed and honored to be marked among this generation. 

I know that I am good enough. 

I know that you are, too.

I know that my Savior loves me and is always by my side. 

And I love him. 

I want him to be proud of me.

I don't want him to regret sending me to earth in 1996. 

So I will work hard. I will not let him down. 

I will be the child he wants me to be. 

Because even though our earthly existence is only a sliver of our eternity...

It is a pretty important sliver of time.

no worries.

Our message is a simple one.

Our doctrine is easy.


I mean, sure there is a lot to learn.

The truths of eternity stretch on forever and ever. No man living here on earth could ever or will ever know everything.

But that's really okay.


You don't have to know everything. You actually only need to know a few things.

All the knowledge you need to obtain eternal life is available to you.


And all things considered, you don't need to do much.

Just be a good person and love God.


Do what you can. The Lord is merciful.

I am confident that in the end, you will receive the lightest consequences that are possible for your sins...
And the most abundant blessings possible for your faithfulness.


And pretty soon, if you are doing your best, your best will be better.

And you will want to do more.

It's a natural part of conversion.


Like Henry B. Eyring said just a couple weeks ago, having a testimony means you know the gospel is true.

And being converted is being true to the gospel.


Once you realize this your life will change so much for the better.


Imagine how proud your Creator will be when you return to Him.

Maybe you will be a little battered and not entirely perfect, but that's how the world returns you.


And then heaven makes you perfect.

Jesus Christ makes you perfect.


Again, sometimes it seems really hard and complicated.

Sometimes I am asked questions about the church that are really quite deep.

And sometimes I know how to answer, sometimes I don't, but then I wonder to myself, "who cares?"


Who cares if I don't know everything there is to know. It isn't even possible, and it isn't necessary for my salvation.

Don't get me wrong, knowledge is beautiful and important and required.


But don't let the little tiny details you don't know keep you away from the huge things that you do know.


Do you know the gospel is true?

Have you felt the Spirit - have you gained a testimony?

At least a little piece of one?


The gospel will always be true.

And when you take a step back, it will always be simple.


So... hakuna matata. 


and have a happy Sunday.

you know what you know.

We, as humans, long for acceptance.

I think it's just in the nature of the natural man.


We know what we know. The wildebeest in the above video knew the whole time that it was a crocodile that he was looking at in the water. But he just had to prove his point. He wanted to make sure that the other wildebeest knew who was right.

And he paid for it.


Do we find ourselves doing this?

I certainly have a tendency to do this sometimes... I want people to see things how I see them.


You know?


But here's the thing... you don't have to prove things to others. Even things you know are true.

If you know it's bad, stay away.
If you know it's good, cleave to it.

Of course I am not suggesting that you shouldn't share knowledge and try to enlighten your friends.

Let me try to illustrate this thought...


I love the gospel.

It's everything to me.

It makes me so happy.

The knowledge it brings...

The peace it brings...

The joy it brings...

It's unexplainable.


My ward family is everything to me.

My neighbors - my friends in my ward - are truly my family.

They mean the world to me and have helped to raise me. I don't think many outside the church truly realize what an amazing thing a ward is.


And the gratitude that enters into my heart whenever I think of my Savior...

The gospel is a miracle.

And I love it.


But the thing is... just because I know the church is true doesn't mean everyone I talk to will believe the church is true.

That would be awesome, but it just isn't like that.


Sharing the gospel is so important. You can bless the lives of those around you for eternity.

But I've been trying to remember that I can't convert anyone.

The Spirit can convert people. And I can try to make people sensitive to feeling the Spirit, but I can't just have a nice chat with someone and make them love the gospel. I will never be able to.

The Spirit changes hearts, not me.

So I guess if I want to help change hearts, I need to make sure I am sensitive to feeling the Spirit myself.

So that others can feel it through me.


Something that breaks my heart is when you see people who have had the gospel their whole lives and still they don't truly appreciate it. They have been surrounded by truth, and maybe at one time had a testimony. Maybe they still do have a testimony, they just don't have the conviction and motivation to become fully converted.

And it makes me so, so sad. Like, so sad.

And sometimes I just want to annoyingly yell at them... don't you know what people have sacrificed for you to have this gospel? Don't you know exactly who you are? Who you can become? How much God loves it when you are faithful to Him?

Don't you realize how happy you will be when you become fully devoted to your Creator?


But I don't say these things to them... (At least I don't yell these things to them... haha)



I do what I can. But they have truth right under their noses. And sometimes nothing I say or do will make them see it.


I just pray for them. That their hearts will be softened and changed. And that it won't take some drastic, life-shattering experience for them to become converted.

Alma 30:44 - But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

What an amazing scripture, right?


All things denote there is a God.



Look at all the tiny details that work together perfectly... The earth is like one big, perfectly engineered machine.

When you look at the beauty of nature... the beauty of humanity... the beauty of love and forgiveness...

There is no way it all just created itself.

It wouldn't make sense.

I always think of Elder Nelson's talk from last April...
"Anyone who studies the workings of the human body has surely 'seen God moving in his majesty and power'..."


And still, so many people believe that all of this just happened. That a Big Bang could create intelligent, loving, and truly beautiful people.

You guys, there are an infinite number of signs - an infinite number of evidences - of a God.

And people praying for some big sign... they just don't get it. 


There are signs everywhere. 

You are a living, breathing, evidence of a God. 


No matter what anyone else believes... You know what you know. Nothing could ever change that.

And if you feel you need to prove a point... stop. Remember to be patient with people. 

We're all just living life the best we can.

Remember who converts people... who changes hearts.


Do what you can, and pray that the Lord will make up the difference. 

Because, in the end, He always does.

a heightened desire to serve

"Only when our testimony transcends what is in our mind and burrows deep into our heart, will our motivation to love and to serve become like unto the Savior's. It is then, and only then, that we become deeply converted disciples of Christ and powered by the Spirit to reach the hearts of our fellow men."
-Russell M. Nelson (Afternoon Session)

I suddenly had the increased desire to do missionary work about a year ago. I say suddenly, but really, that was a step in my conversion. Many, many things, over the course of my whole life, led to my desire to serve others and to share the good news of the gospel.

It's why I started this blog. It was the first thing that popped into my head... An easy way to share my thoughts. Maybe not everyone will read them, but a few will, and if you can change the lives of even just a few... well, you've done your job right.

When I talk to my nonmember friends, it seems that that desire - that unexplainable need to do missionary work (what my friend Sydney would call a pulsing of the heart) - almost explodes inside of me. 

Those people are happy. You can live a happy life without the gospel. But can you live a fulfilled life? (haha... kinda reminds me of that post I did a few days ago... )

The gospel has brought me comfort. 
Enlightenment. 
Understanding.
A true appreciation for sacrifice.
The belief in an Almighty God - One who loves unconditionally and would never forsake.
It's eased my burdens in an unspeakable way.
Taught me to hope.
Taught me to love.
Taught me to trust.
Given me a love for people.
Taught me that there is a balance in all things - a reason for every trial and triumph.
Shown me the beauty of humanity.
The goodness of the human spirit.
Taught me to marvel at God's creations.
Instilled in me the knowledge of who I am and what my Divine Purpose is.
Given me a sense of amazement and awe at what my Savior has accomplished.

The list truly could go on and on.


And if I can help just one person to partake of the glorious freedom and joy that the gospel has to offer... I will be the happiest, most successful person alive.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
(-Emily Dickinson)


A strong desire to serve God's children came with the desire to share the gospel. The two are inexplicably linked together.

It's why I'm going to Fiji, although I am a strong believer that the most meaningful service you will ever do will be among your own peers.

I am still going to jump at the chance to serve people of another culture, though. The chance to see the world and interact with people that are living in such a different way from me will be an amazing experience.

The desire to serve is a strong one that has also been blooming and blossoming and maturing within me for a long time.

But never before has it been so strong.



The age change for missionaries announced today was maybe one of the biggest answers to prayer that I have ever had.

It was actually an answer to unspoken prayer, because although I have been worrying and wondering about a mission, I'm not sure I ever brought my thoughts to the Lord.
He knows my heart, though.

I'm pretty sure it's the only major announcement that the church has made that I can remember...

(I guess that it depends on what you would consider a major announcement, but I can't remember another that directly impacted me and affects me the way this one does.)



I've sorta briefly described my change of heart toward missionary work and service. For a while now, I have had the strong desire to serve a mission, but I've never totally known if I would.

I mean, you never know what I will be doing by the age of 21. Maybe I will want to get married by then. And I don't feel like putting a family on hold for a mission is a good choice for me to be making...

I wanted to go on a mission so bad, but it was always still kind of a maybe.


Well it is not a maybe anymore.


I freaked out when I heard that announcement, and I have been giddy with excitement all day.

Like every time it crosses my mind, my heart fills with so much joy - I can hardly begin to explain it.


And there is no uncertainty at all - not the slightest of a doubt in my mind - what I will be doing when I turn nineteen.

I am so excited and so grateful that I won't have to wait to leave or wait to make that decision.

One of my sweetest tender mercies.



And I think - because of the sweet miracle that took place for me in the first five minutes - this has been my favorite conference so far. Ever.

And the talks have been great. Have you tried taking notes?

I just thought of something that we read in seminary yesterday... (I took a picture of the following quote with my iPod so I could share it with you guys...)

Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down, he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down, and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said, "There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now," said he, "when compared with the [living] oracles, those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books."

This is of course not to say that the scriptures aren't important. The scriptures are the word of God and the prophets that wrote in them were Divinely called and their words apply to us today.

The Book of Mormon has been called the keystone of our religion, the most perfect book that exists today.

But even above those books, are the words of our Prophet and the apostles who are on the earth today.


I pray that each of you will tune in to conference tomorrow and listen to the amazing and essential advice that the Lord's disciples have to offer you. Whether you watch from the seats in the conference center, the pews in your stake center, the couch in your family room, or your spinny-computer chair...

I know that you will feel the Spirit witness to you that the words being said are true... that the amazing speakers you will listen to are truly conveying the Lord's will to you.

Click here to watch.

10:00-12:00 pm and 2:00-4:00 pm MDT.


You guys are awesome.

Happy Conference Weekend.

fulfillment.

Okay so we have been talking about the Sermon on the Mount in seminary this week...

And we've talked about some pretty cool stuff.





Harold B. Lee said that the beatitudes are the constitution for a perfect life.

So be meek. Thirst after righteousness. Be merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker.

Actually, watch that video again and write down all of the beatitudes and the blessings you will receive if you live this... constitution. 

I will start you off. If you are poor in spirit... the Kingdom of Heaven is yours.

And that's just the beginning.


Something interesting that my seminary teacher talked about yesterday was fulfillment.

He talked about how when Christ was ministering to the people... he made the Sadducees and the Pharisees nervous and upset. The people followed the Law of Moses. They worried that they would lose their authority and power to this Savior.

Well... I guess that theirs is another story, but understand that Christ didn't come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.  

Matthew 5:17- Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Okay so I know that this is really hard to see. It is a worksheet that explains how the Law of Moses was fulfilled, not destroyed. 
Instead of just not killing, you also aren't supposed to get angry or (get this) mean. (crazy, right?)
Instead of saying don't commit adultery, he adds more. Keep your thoughts clean, too.
Don't just love your neighbor, love your enemy.
(etc, etc...)

See what I mean?


The same applies to the Gospel as a whole. Often times people will explain to you that they don't need religion. They are happy the way they are. 

I've had this happen to me...

And they are right. People can still be happy without being Mormons... that is important to remember.

The Gospel fulfills.

Living the teachings of and believing in your Savior simply makes things more... what's the word... hmmm... peaceful. 

It removes doubt.

Take people of other Christian faiths, for example. From their church they are building a solid foundation and learning to have faith in Christ. Sharing the Gospel with a friend helps build upon the foundation that they already have.

Don't look to change the person... look to maybe... complete them?

(I hope this all makes sense... I'm kinda thinking aloud here... Well... at least thinking through my fingers, haha.)


Everyone should understand that God loves them. No matter who they are. No matter what they believe. No matter the choices that they make.

Never think that God isn't proud of you. Not for one second.

Don't think that He won't be happy to receive you.

The heavens will cheer when you return.


Your mistakes do not define you. The past is past, so leave it there.

And start with just little changes.

Something else we talked about in seminary was Christ calling his very first apostles.


They were mending their fishing nets when the Savior asked them to follow Him.

And they immediately left.

They left behind their livelihood... their careers... their families...

Because they were committed. They were willing to give up all they had for the Savior.

They knew they would be blessed for doing so.


So what are you being asked to give up? What is the Savior asking you to leave behind?

Probably smaller things than Peter, James, John, and Andrew left behind.



Remember that God is on your side. He wants what is best for you.

He wants you to turn to Him.


I think that you are always, always worthy enough to pray.


So learn what His will is for you.

And start learning the constitution for a perfect life.


And the Kingdom of Heaven will be yours.

who are you?

In Nov. 1975 Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone tells this story:

"Many years ago I heard the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France. King Louis had been taken from his throne and imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken by those who dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch as the king’s son was heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would never realize the great and grand destiny that life had bestowed upon him.

They took him to a community far away, and there they exposed the lad to every filthy and vile thing that life could offer. They exposed him to foods the richness of which would quickly make him a slave to appetite. They used vile language around him constantly. They exposed him to lewd and lusting women. They exposed him to dishonor and distrust. He was surrounded 24 hours a day by everything that could drag the soul of a man as low as one could slip. For over six months he had this treatment—but not once did the young lad buckle under pressure. Finally, after intensive temptation, they questioned him. Why had he not submitted himself to these things—why had he not partaken? These things would provide pleasure, satisfy his lusts, and were desirable; they were all his. The boy said, “I cannot do what you ask for I was born to be a king.”

We are all born to be kings in the kingdom of God. Our Father is a king, and just as the king’s son was exposed to every vile and perverted thing in this life, so you will be exposed to much of the filth and degradation of our generation. But you Aaronic Priesthood bearers and Young Women are also born to be kings and queens, priests and priestesses."

(Click here to read more...)

"Simba, you have forgotten me."

"No, how could I?"

"You have forgotten who you are, and so forgotten me."

"Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the circle of life."

"How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be."

"Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king. Remember who you are."

----------

Do you remember who you are? I guess... I guess I forget sometimes. 

You are the daughter/son of a King. A great, mighty, merciful, and glorious King.

A King who is waiting for you to return to Him, to claim the blessings that are rightfully yours.

You are Cinderella, you are Belle. You are Snow White, Fiona, Rapunzel, and Mia Thermopolis.

You are Prince Eric, Prince Charming, and... and Prince Zuko.

And like the fairy-tale characters above, you have come a long way to be where you are now. 

And you have a long way to go.

But nothing could be more important than the choices you make now.

Your eternity is riding on them. 

I know I have used this analogy before, but imagine a never-ending string of Yogurt Cheerios. (Because they are yummier than normal Cheerios...)

That never-ending strand represents your eternity. And a single Cheerio on that strand represents your earth life. 

The choices you make now, during this minuscule period of time, they affect your eternity. 

The time you spend here is very important. 

(So all you YOLOers should stop YOLOing...!)

D&C 25:10 - And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.

That's my very favorite scripture, you know. 

A beautiful and perfect realm awaits you. 

Remember who you are.

leave the world behind.

I love EFY. It's always the best. So... for the next few blog posts I will probably be sharing with you parts of lessons that were given.

So here's the first one.

First of all, think of your standards. Do you think that the standards that the Church has given hold you back? Are they hard to keep?

Do you feel like they restrict your freedom?

Well... Ariel felt like her freedom was restricted.

She didn't want to stay under the "C". ["C" meaning Covenant for our little discussion...]

Do you want to stay under the Covenant?

Or are you always finding that you want to be part of the world?
[I left that video out... but it would be appropriate to go watch at this time! Click here.]


But... as Sebastian says in the following video...

"The human world is a mess!"


[Isn't that such a cheerful song? I love it!]




"Down here all the fish is happy
As off through the waves they roll
The fish on the land ain't happy
They sad 'cause they in their bowl"


Living under the Covenant makes you happy.
Keeping your standards makes you happy and gives you freedom.

Elder Boyd K. Packer said: “Obedience to God can be the very highest expression of independence. Just think of giving to him the one thing, the one gift, that he would never take. …

“Obedience—that which God will never take by force—he will accept when freely given. And he will then return to you freedom that you can hardly dream of—the freedom to feel and to know, the freedom to do, and the freedom to be, at least a thousandfold more than we offer him. Strangely enough, the key to freedom is obedience”

Obedience. The key to freedom.

Don't try to be a part of a world you don't belong in. 

Finding The Silver Lining

“Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.”

- Maurice Setter

Life isn't easy for anyone. 

I think that a lot of people forget that sometimes. 

Hard things may come up in your life, and they will.

Maybe you will even have to deal with really hard things. 

And it is sometimes really hard to filter through all the bad and find the good.

But it's possible. 

Often you will discover that the silver lining was right under your nose the whole time, it just took you a long time to decide to look.

Yes. Decide to look.

Because whether or not your trials strengthen you... well, that is your choice.

One thing that I've found you can gain from just about any trial... is perspective.

You gain a different and more beautiful view on life.

You're given a chance to reevaluate your priorities and see if you like where they lie. 

And if you do... well, that's great.

But more often than not, you find that you should probably update that list of priorities a little bit.

And that's a good thing.

The chance to gain a new perspective and take a look at your priorities...

Well, that's a silver lining.

And a pretty hefty one.

See how this guy uses his trials to give him perspective...




Be grateful for what you have.

Because there is pretty much always, always someone who is going through the same trial you are going through.

And there are always going to be people who are in a worse position than you are.


And remember this:

No matter how dark and hopeless things seem...

There is always a silver lining.

And if you can't see it right now, then you can't.

But hopefully you will be able to later, and hopefully you will be able to look back on your trial and see how it strengthened you.

Remember that good things come to those that wait,

And that in the end, all will be well.

(Please watch the video embedded in this post...)
It's fantastic.

- Never forget your identity... and never forget your purpose.

You were put on this earth to succeed.

So be strong... and make that success a reality.

The Big Picture... Because Hard Work DOES Pay Off!

Me right now. Sporting my new Coldplay shirt and SOOO happy
because I just finished my last test of the year.

I despise tests.

Well actually, I despise studying.

Which sort of comes with tests...

So I despise tests. By the transitive property.


Now. Is studying something that pays off?

Well, it does if you are wanting to get a good grade.

Which I do want good grades. As a matter of fact, I want excellent grades. I guess that's my motivation to study.

If I want something bad enough, I will work hard until I get it.


I know that I've shared this scripture before in this post, but I want to share it again.

Because it's my very favorite.

D&C 25:10 - And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.


You know... our spirits have existed for eons. And even before that, you existed as an intelligence.


You have always existed. 


And you will continue to exist... forever.


And ever. (If that adds emphasis)


So... when looking at millions and billions and trillions and jabrillion-gajillions of years... 


The years that you spend on earth... which are very few...


Seem like nothing.


And in a couple thousand years... probably less... your time on earth will seem like it passed in the blink of an eye.


And a fast blink at that.


So why would you throw eternity away... for something that will pass in the blink of an eye?


It drives me crazy all the time when I see that people don't have the right perspective on life, or that they aren't fully living the Gospel.


You guys... the Gospel is a way of life. It isn't something that you turn on and off. 


It isn't something that you live only on Sundays or in Seminary. 


Your scriptures don't disappear when church ends.


Don't teach a bunch of Primary kids that they should be praying daily... when you aren't. (Well... still teach them that, but you know what I mean, right?)


Fully live the Gospel every day.

Pray several times a day.


Read your scriptures. Study them. (and know the difference between reading and studying)


I mean, I read my scriptures every day, but would probably be lying if I said that I fully devoted my time to studying them daily. I mean, I do sometimes, but not always.


But I should be. I suppose I should work on that a little bit. 




Please please PLEASE do not give up everything in your future for little things now. 


Because even though we live in a beautiful world... there is a better one out there. 




So ask yourself... do I want that world enough to work for it?


I hope you answered yes, and I hope that you will always remember the potential that you have.

Remember what you can become.

Because temporal things don't last... so devote your time to the things that will last.


And always strive to be better.

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.