abide

Let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God 

(1 Corinthians 7:24)

Sometimes we pray and we don't get an answer.

Sometimes we do all that we can to keep trying, keep moving forward, and keep trusting in God, and we fall anyways.

Sometimes we try to call upon the Spirit, we try to feel God near, and we just can't.

And sometimes we've repeated, "Everything happens for a reason" to ourselves so many times that it's simply impossible to believe it anymore.


Sometimes, folks, it really feels like God doesn't care. I can assure you that He does, but still, sometimes it doesn't feel like it.
Sometimes it is hard to feel close to Him, sometimes we can't feel Him reaching back when we stretch out our hand.

Despite all of this, please, please keep reaching out anyways.
Sometimes we have to wait upon the Lord for a long time before we get our answers.
But I promise you, everything the Lord does, every answer He waits to reveal, He does that for a reason.
It's important to show God that you are willing to stay by Him, you are willing to abide with Him even when times are hard, even when you are barely holding onto your faith and your trust, show Him that no matter what happens, you will abide with Him still.

It is important to make the Lord understand that you love Him and you want to build a relationship with Him, not just ask for blessings. When your prayers aren't answered right away, don't stop praying! If you give up and cease to pray and reach out, you are showing God that all you want is for your problems to be solved, you don't want to talk to Him and trust Him and love Him.

Does that make sense?

Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers right away.
Sometimes He doesn't answer them in the way we wanted Him to.

It doesn't matter. He hears you, He does. And he will answer your prayers in His own time and in His own way.

Until then, show Him you are willing to love and trust Him regardless.
Abide with Him and keep your hand stretched out always.


Haley.

ask for help

Finally. FINALLY. I am home! For good this time. This summer has flown. My family had a great time in California, but I am so glad to be home. I can’t say that I’m dying to go back to school, but I’ll at least be glad to have a set schedule back. And I am so excited to be back in my home ward!

Here are a couple pics from our trip…

Golden Gate Bridge. It was fun to have my best friend Sydney in California with us.

Isaac’s birthday. I wonder if he likes his iron man toy?! (sorry for blurry pic)

I think I need to get into a better schedule with studying my scriptures and conference talks. I’m pretty sure I’ve done okay this summer for the most part, but especially the past couple weeks I’ve let my good habits slip a bit.

I was thinking the other day about the blessings I might be able to have in my life if I simply put in the tiniest bit of extra effort. Maybe all I’d even have to do is ask for them.

I wonder how hard it is for Heavenly Father to watch us struggle. It’s probably harder than I can imagine. As much as it is surely possible for Him to take away our sorrows, to bless us with strength, perhaps sometimes He waits for us to ask. Somehow, sometime, we have to learn to trust and rely on Him.

Maybe sometimes I put off things like scripture reading because I’m too busy trying to deal with things, solve all my problems. Surely just putting in the time to read my scriptures and following the commandments would solve my problems more efficiently, wouldn’t it?

I’m grateful for a Father in Heaven who blesses me so much. One who is patient and understanding always. I want to spend the necessary time so that I can draw closer to God and make sure that asking Him for help is always the first solution to come to mind in times of trouble.

We can make life so much easier for ourselves if we simply remember to ask. Ask for help, ask for more love, a softer heart, more angels to bear you up.

“Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.” – Shakti Gawain

Have a great day and week. God is good. Always remember this!

Haley

soldier girls

Happy April everyone! I hope you all enjoyed General Conference! If you missed it, you can watch/read/download here! You won't regret it!!

I've been sooo busy with school and am consequently so excited for summer.
And this trip.
And my best friend Sydney is coming with our family for two weeks to California! Yay!
What do you all have planned for the summer??

Hmmm... I'm trying to think of something interesting that has been going on in my life... I pretty much worked and watched Doctor Who all Spring Break. So not much to share there. I took the ACT this morning for the second time.
There's nothing more joyful than a good ol' standardized test!!!

And I'm really into Dancing with the Stars at the moment. Okay sorta into it. I watch most of the episodes. haha.

I got a letter in the mail the other day. It brought serious joy. Turns out it was just from this Radiothon I participated in... but yeah you should all mail me letters because I rather enjoyed finding that little surprise in the mailbox.

And here's my new favorite picture.

So I wanted to share this spectacular music video with y'all.
If you are familiar with T.C. Christensen (think 17 Miracles), he has a new movie coming out soon called Ephraim's Rescue. I'm so excited!


So here's a spectacular music video from it! Go get tissues (you're welcome)!



Here's my favorite line:

"We reached for God from where we stood."

God is closer than you think! And He can be reached by anyone! No matter where you're calling from!

You're never too far away and the Atonement is always accessible to you. Our Savior's grace and mercy extends to all, even you.

Don't you forget it!

Love to you all, have a great Sunday!





P.S. You can find this song on iTunes!! I've been listening nonstop!

please pray for all affected.

Wow. What a contrast to my last post (found here).

I pray for all those who were affected by today's shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

I think tragedies like this realistically affect everyone. This sickened and frightened... and saddened the entire country. And everyone who heard about it.

So pray for peace and understanding and acceptance. And a renewed motivation to do better and to be better so that tomorrow - and all the tomorrows after that - the world will be brighter and more beautiful than today.


And pray especially hard for the families and loved ones of those sweet kids and teachers.

And never cease to find the good in the world.

Those who serve and love.

The ones who end suffering. End hunger. End sadness and abuse.



‎"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." ~ Fred Rogers




May we all strive to be caring people who hope for hope and find the strength to be strong.

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.

feasting on the scriptures...

Another EFY lesson!!

> Scriptures... involves opening your scriptures and reading from them. Simple as that.
> Story details... the scriptures are history books! They tell about different people at different times and what they did and what they learned.
>Doctrines and principles... we have the scriptures so that we can learn wisdom. Try to identify what the passage of scripture you are reading is trying to teach you.
> Apply... those doctrines and principles applied to the people in the scriptures. How can you apply those principles to your own life?
> Do... as usual, action is required. Make those principles become a part of your life.



As you can see from the awesome bullseye I made above... studying scriptures is like target practice.

Maybe sometimes you will only hit the outer ring. That's better than missing! A lot of people have a hard time even getting that far!

So if you are an outer ring shooter... good job! With practice you will be able to hit the next white one!


Learning to love the scriptures might take a long time. The key is persistence. Maybe for months you will never get farther than the "scriptures" ring. That's cool. Keep moving forward until you hit the "story details" ring. Reading gets much more interesting when you can figure out what is going on!

It could take a really long time before you are fully utilizing your scriptures... but there are tools you can use to make it easier!

Use study helps! Institute books, The Old Testament/New Testament/Book of Mormon (etc.) made Easier, the internet...

There are seriously countless books out there. Just make a trip to Deseret Book or Seagull Book... or browse their websites.


Also do things to make it easier to feel the Spirit while you are studying.


Use M. Russell Ballard's 5 Steps to Improve Study!

- Consistent time and place to study alone
- Make your scriptures yours! Mark them - make notes in the margins!
- Set an amount of time for study rather than a certain number of chapters or pages
- Study topically as well as chronologically
- Take time to ponder, meditate, and pray about what you read.


It helps so much to start your scripture study with a prayer. Think of a question you may have and ask Heavenly Father if He will answer it through your scriptures. After a few days of reading, see if your question has been answered.
Many people say that they don't get many answers from the scriptures... but are they really looking? Did they have a specific question to begin with? It's hard to find the answer to a question you never had.

I know that if you take your questions to the Lord... they will be answered.

The scriptures are amazing! So many people have sacrificed so much so that we could have them. Don't take that for granted!

how to pray

"As you feel the need to confide in the Lord or to improve the quality of your visits with Him - - to pray, if you please - - may I suggest a process to follow:  Go where you can be alone, go where you can think, go where you can kneel, go where you can speak out loud to Him.  The bedroom, that bathroom, or the closet will do.  Now, picture Him in your mind's eye.  Think to whom you are speaking, control your thoughts--don't let them wander, address Him as your Father and friend.  Now tell Him things you really feel to tell Him--not trite phrases that have little meaning, but have a sincere, heartfelt conversation with Him.  Confide in Him, ask Him for forgiveness, plead with Him, enjoy Him, thank Him, express your love to Him, and then listen for His answers.  Listening is an essential part of praying.  Answers from the Lord come quietly--ever so quietly.  In fact, few hear His answers audibly with their ears.  We must be listening so carefully or we will never recognize them.  Most answers from the Lord are felt as thoughts in our mind.  They come to those who are prepared and who are patient."  
-H. Burke Peterson

We are told that we should pray every day... and several times a day.

And hopefully we all do.

But are you praying with real sincerity?

Do you carefully tell our Father about your day, about your worries, and about your joys?

Do you confide in Him? Do you ask for forgiveness?

Do you thank Him for specific things - or do you blanket everything into "thank thee for this day"?


Because if you do any of these things... it may be time to change the way you pray.


So why do we pray?

Someone once gave me this perfect example... if you aren't very good friends with someone - if you don't know them very well - you wouldn't ask them for a favor, would you? That would be awkward and embarrassing...
We need to get to know our Father. We need to communicate with Him so that we can call Him a friend. When we are constantly thanking Him for our blessings and speaking to Him what's in our hearts... we will feel more comfortable when we need to ask a favor of Him.

We pray so that we can communicate with and have a personal relationship with our Father.

When do we pray?

Well... always.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.

That's the whole verse. How incredibly simple.

In Alma 34:27 we read, "Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you."

Always, always, have a prayer in your heart.

Your creator deserves no less.

How do we pray?

3 Nephi 19:6 - And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus.

Just talk to God. Like a friend. But talk in a respectful manner.

And pray in the name of Christ.

Do what H. Burke Peterson suggested in the above quote...

- Find a quiet place - a place where you can be alone.
- Picture and think about Who you are talking to. Do not let your mind wander.
- Confide in Him
- Ask for forgiveness
- Plead with Him
- Enjoy Him (I like this one)
- Thank Him
- Express your love to Him
- Listen for answers (important. see the story at the beginning of this post.)







Do all this... because you will be most abundantly blessed. 

Alma 37:37 - 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.







P.S. I will be gone at EFY next week... so this blog will be lacking in posts from the 25th to the 30th. I am, however, planning on letting Blogger auto-post a few videos for you throughout the week. So tune in! I am sharing an awesome video about selfless softball players... and probably a couple of others... Maybe just some of my favorite I'm a Mormon videos.

Anyways, Have a lovely week, and I will see you when I get back! No doubt I will have gained lots of new ideas and thoughts to share with you!

Make. A. Change.

     You know... people say a lot that how bad you want something determines how hard you will work for it...

And I think that that's true, but I think there is more to it than that...

It's hard to motivate yourself to make a change...

I mean, someone who really wants to lose weight... that doesn't necessarily make it easier for them to go bust their tail at the gym...

Does it?

What I mean is...

It isn't just how bad you want the end result.

That little voice that pops into your head in the morning - that little "do it tomorrow" voice - wins over all too often. And that voice plays a huge role in whether or not your goals are accomplished.

At some point, you just have to dig down deep and find the motivation to get yourself started.



At some point, you have to decide that you are willing to commit to a change.

And to do that... you have to have some serious will-power.


You know what? Start easy.

Want to hear a story?


So a couple years ago... I really wanted to do better about reading my scriptures. I just wasn't consistent, and it was hard for me, because half the time I didn't even understand what I was reading.

So... I prayed for a desire.

Because I wanted to say that I was doing good about reading my scriptures, but I didn't really have the drive to actually pick them up and get started. I always thought, "I'll do it tomorrow".

Ha - and maybe even believed that sometimes.

Anyways... one day, I decided to switch from where I was at in the Book of Mormon to the Doctrine and Covenants.

And I read a section.

And I understood it.

The thing is... the Book of Mormon is easier to understand than the Bible because it was written more recently...

Well... the Doctrine and Covenants is way easier to understand than the Book of Mormon... because it was written even more recently.

The last section was written in 1918.

We read and study books in English class that are older than that.

So... my point is this:

I discovered that the Doctrine and Covenants is really easy to understand and full of amazing scriptures. Like, every other verse could be highlighted.
The Doctrine and Covenants made me love reading my scriptures.

So now I read in all different parts of the scriptures.


And I realized that it doesn't matter if you fully understand what is going on in every verse.


And don't expect to find deep, incredible insight on every chapter. 


Sometimes you just have to try and get the big picture... what that chapter or group of chapters is trying to teach you.


Pray for understanding. 


And sometimes... just accept that you don't understand it. Maybe you will later.


From one little step... reading an easy-to-understand section of the Doctrine and Covenants....


I learned to love the scriptures.


And now... instead of praying for a desire to read... I pray for a desire to study. 
(Because sometimes I still get a little lazy with that.)


But I have upped the ante a little bit. 


And I am proud to say that at least I read daily, and the whole taking-my-time-to-gain-insight thing will become more consistent as I work on it. 



This works with anything requiring motivation. 


Commit to at least taking a step - maybe a small step - but a step.


And go from there. 




Just dig deep, find an inkling of will-power...


And just make it happen. 







P.S. It gets annoying to keep typing Doctrine and Covenants over and over again... It's just such a long name... and "Doctrine" is a tedious word to type!

P.P.S. I had to look up how to spell "ante"... I suppose that isn't something that I write out very often... :)

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

     Just a quick post because I wanted to share a story... it is a story that I read in this book today.... and it's awesome.
     Just so that you know before you read, this was experienced and later shared by Jon M. Huntsman Sr.

Enjoy.

----------

     I learned this important lesson during a time I had the privilege of serving as the stake president (the ecclesiastical leader) for Howard W. Hunter, then the prophet and President of the Church. He was a dear and trusted friend. On one occasion, I felt the Spirit move me to go by his home to see how he was doing. When I knocked on the door, his wife said, "President Huntsman, come on in. We knew you would come by. President Hunter told me a few minutes ago, 'President Huntsman will come by our home this evening to see how I'm feeling.'"
     When I went in, he was leaning back in his recliner, looking pale and quite ill. When I asked him what I could do to help, he said "I would like a priesthood blessing. Would you be kind enough to give me one?" I said I would be honored and humbled to do so and asked if he wouldn't mind explaining the nature of his illness.
     He responded, "Today I had an ill thought toward another man, and it's made me physically and emotionally sick all day. Every bone in my body aches. My heart burns because I had a negative thought in my heart toward another person. Would you bless me that any harsh thoughts toward any man or woman would dissipate immediately and be eradicated from body and heart, mind and soul?"
     So I placed my hands on his head and, as soon as I did so, I thought of Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." I had just put my hands on the head of a man who was so pure in heart that it made him physically ill if he had negative feelings toward anyone. That was one of my greatest experiences, to learn from such a pure man the impact of carrying ill thoughts toward another.

----------

     That is an awesome story that stood out to me, because it is crazy to think that something like this could happen. Howard W. Hunter had a very, very pure heart. (Along with all of our other prophets)...

Psalms 24

3 - Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 - He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

----------

I don't really know how to end this post, because I just wanted to share that story... so... bye.

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.

An Introduction to The Book of Mormon

     I've been writing this blog with the mind-set that it would be members of the church reading it... As I've gotten many page views from people all over the web, I decided that I want to do a basic introduction of the Book of Mormon and the missionaries...(missionaries tomorrow).



 

   
The following video is about a man whose life was changed forever because of this wonderful book. I'm sure that the lives of many others will also be changed because of him...




     I looked up the talk given by Tad R. Callister at the last General Conference to find a quote, because I remembered he gave an awesome talk on the Book of Mormon in the Sunday morning session last October...
     But there were too many good ones! It seriously took me forever to decide which words to quote on here... I did finally decided, but I would invite you to read the entire talk here. 


-----

"But why is the Book of Mormon so essential if we already have the Bible to teach us about Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian churches in the world today when they obtain their doctrines from essentially the same Bible? It is because they interpret the Bible differently. If they interpreted it the same, they would be the same church. This is not a condition the Lord desires, for the Apostle Paul declared that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). To help bring this oneness about, the Lord established a divine law of witnesses. Paul taught, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1)."

"The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church."

"What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses."

This is my attempt to recreate the picture they showed...  Don't laugh at it... I'm already feeling a little OCD about the top part! :)

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Okay...
     Do we believe in The Bible? Obviously yes.
One of our Articles of Faith states
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."
(AofF 8... to read the others, click here.)

     So does that make us Christian?
Absolutely. 
     A Christian is anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, and that He is the redeemer of our sins. I don't know how anyone can argue that we are not Christians... our church is named after Christ!

     Now... I am not a convert to the church. I was born into the gospel. I do have a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. I see miracles happen in our church every day. I know that this is the true gospel restored to the earth, because I feel the Spirit when I learn about the scriptures, and when I go to church.
     I've had the opportunity to go to pretty much all of the Church history sites in the U.S. When I was in Palmyra, New York, which is where the First Vision occurred, I gained a deeper gratitude for this book, and for all that Joseph Smith sacrificed to give it to us.
     When I was in Nauvoo,  Illinois, one of the cities that the early saints settled, it was peaceful. It felt like taking a step back in time, and I gained a deeper gratitude there too. A gratitude to those early saints who gave all that they could to have the gospel.

     I know that the Church is true, and that the Book of Mormon is true, because I have felt things. I just know it in my heart, and I could never deny it.


Please click here to learn about the Book of Mormon in greater depth.
To request a free copy of this amazing book, please click here. 


Moroni 10:4 - And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would 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.

5 - And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

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In Honor of President's Day... (I Know... Yesterday...)

"It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible."
-George Washington


"Do not let any one claim to be a true American if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics."  
-George Washington

"In regard to this great book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to found portrayed in it."

-Abraham Lincoln

“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.” 

-Abraham Lincoln

"Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future. Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."   
-Ulysses S. Grant

"The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God...... Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty...... With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." 

-John F. Kennedy


"We establish no religion in this country, nor will we ever. We command no worship. We mandate no belief. But we poison our society when we remove its theological underpinnings. We court corruption when we leave it bereft of belief.
-Ronald Reagan


"Without God, there is no virtue, because there's no prompting of the conscience. Without God, we're mired in the material, that flat world that tells us only what the senses perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of the society. And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. If I could just make a personal statement of my own -- in these 3 1/2 years I have understood and known better than ever before the words of Lincoln, when he said that he would be the greatest fool on this footstool called Earth if he ever thought that for one moment he could perform the duties of that office without help from One who is stronger than all.
-Ronald Reagan

A man had deprived himself of the best there is in the world who has deprived himself of this, a knowledge of the Bible. When you have read the Bible, you will know it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your heart, your own happiness and your own duty.

-Woodrow Wilson

2 Nephi 10

10 But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land.

 11 And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles.

 12 And I will fortify this land against all other nations.

 13 And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God.

 14 For he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words.

Click here to view my other post about America.

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.