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.

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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)

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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.

love others.

Have you seen this commercial? This is perhaps one of the most beautiful videos I have ever seen. Enjoy. And then share. :)

There are so many things I take for granted.

I feel so selfish sometimes. 

I am so lucky to be living where I am living.

I am so lucky to have the family I have, and the gospel in my life.

I am so lucky to have the freedoms I have.

The past while I have been been really sad about the condition of our country. 

I fear for it.

But you know what? It is still great. It is still good.

I am probably living in better conditions than 99% of the world.

And I'm grateful for Sundays.

I'm grateful for my ward family.

I am grateful for my friends. 

I am grateful for my sight.

When I take a little step back, I can see the world from a different perspective. We are all just plugging along, trying to do what we think is best.

And life is hard. Not just for me or you, but for everyone. 

We weren't meant to be self-sufficient. We need God in our lives.

And I want to help people.

I want to make them grateful for me. 

I want to change someone. 

Maybe even change a few someones. 

Little teeny tiny actions on our part really can have a profound effect on someone's life.

Or someone's eternity.

What better way to show gratitude to your Savior than to love and serve your fellow men?

Matthew 25

34 - Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 - For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 - Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 - Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 - When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 - Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 - And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

How amazing, right?

The scriptures say that in the last days, love of many shall wax cold.

We see this everywhere... divorce, violence, nasty words...

One place I always notice it is on the internet. I will click on the article of a tragic death, and all I read is, "how could you be so foolish" or "you shouldn't have left your child alone..."

I read nasty words everywhere on the internet. 

I just think, "Would you say these things to someone's face?"

"Do you think that because you can anonymously write unkind words that they will be forgotten or dismissed?"

"Do you think this isn't bullying??"

I mean sheesh, hasn't anyone ever heard of netiquette?

The internet isn't the only evidence of love waxing cold... just the one that came to mind at the moment. 

Keep in mind that no one - not even the angels in heaven - not even the prophet - knows when Christ will come again.

People have been making predictions for thousands of years. Click here to see a list. It's actually very interesting.

But no one knows. 

We have knowledge of signs that will proceed the coming of Christ, but I think people sometimes suppose that it will take a long while for them to be fulfilled. 

I wonder if some people think, "when we have missions in China, then it will be time."

Well the gospel is already being preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. I'm pretty sure we don't have to have a China mission for that to be fulfilled.

And don't forget Hong Kong.

Don't take this as doctrine, but I wouldn't be surprised if Christ came tomorrow and the signs were just fulfilled in different ways than I had supposed. 

I mean I'm pretty sure that there are still signs that have to be fulfilled... but I don't know... just a thought.

What if when the Savior comes and despite what's going on around you, you are still loving and serving your fellow men?

I don't think those people - people who really, truly love others... even those they don't know - have anything to fear. 

So what is your take on this? What lesson is to be learned?