Friday, June 24, 2011
Choose the Right
When I was thinking about joy this morning I was thinking about how joy comes from making good choices. Freedom of choice is one of the most precious gifts that our Father in Heaven has given us. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden they were in a state of innocence. They knew no evil because they knew no good. They didn't know sweet because they didn't know what the bitter was like. To give an example: I love doughnuts. I think they are delicious. I could eat them all the time, any kind of doughnut. I also hate pickles. I have never liked them. They smell bad and taste bad and I always pull them off of fast food restaurant burgers. I would prefer not to eat pickles but if I had never had a pickle, and tasted how bad it was, would I begin to understand how tasty a doughnut really is? Probably not. I would probably still like the doughnut but I wouldn't be able to appreciate it for what it really is. So, in the beginning, Adam and Eve never had to deal with sadness but they never knew how great happiness was. Once they both partook of the fruit, there was a fall from their sinless state, and sin was introduced. Instead of looking at this as a way to make us miserable we understand from the Book of Mormon that, "Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25, pg. 59). We now can choose evil, but we can also choose good, which was all part of our Heavenly Father's Plan. "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" (2 Nephi 2:27, pg. 59).
If you ever look at Mormon's hand you might notice something, other than a wedding ring. Not everyone, but most, Mormon's have a "CTR ring". This isn't something that we have to wear but it is something that we choose to wear because the initial stand for "Choose the Right". It is there are a reminder to make the correct choice. Choices come to us every day, every hour, every minute. It often reminds me of the Disney movie "Pocahontas". As Pocahontas is canoeing down the river she comes to a split in her path where she has to decide which way she wants to go. She can choose the smooth steady course, or the raging river. There are many ways we can turn our lives, and many paths we can choose from but my message today is that when we choose the path of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will experience the joy that He has waiting for us at the end. And even if, sometime, we choose the wrong path, our Savior's sacrifice for us makes it possible to get back on the right path. I'm so grateful for our freedom to choose. I'm grateful that our Heavenly Father provides ways for us to know which way is the right way by providing prophets, families, and the scriptures to guide us on our journey back home.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Family
This morning I was thinking about what to write in my blog post today and the image of my family popped into my head. If there is anything that truly brings me great joy it is my family. They are that constant safety net in my life of people who are always there for me and who accept me for exactly who I am. So, I'm going to tell you a little bit about my family and what makes them so great:
My Dad- Super driven, a hard worker, a city manager, loves learning, you can sometimes catch him listening to Miley Cyrus music, loves quoting movies, a provider, someone who takes pride in his family
My Mom- A quiet hero, humble, patient, full of love, meek, doesn't like to watch the same movie twice, temperate, loves the sun, loves watching ER shows on TV, a great listener
Kreigh (my older brother)- Entertaining, child-like, pure, artistic, a good father, only has about 5 different foods as part of his diet, can continue to function on no sleep
Krista (my sister-in-law)- Stubborn, passionate, dreams big, isn't afraid to take charge and get things done, always can make any situation not awkward, the best person to have inside jokes with, the sister I always wanted
Kyle (my little brother)- Quiet, witty humor, incredibly smart, valiant, faithful, is comfortable in his own skin, is willing to entertain your crazy ideas, obedient, self-sacrificing
I could make the list go on and on. I really love my family. We haven't always agreed on everything, we haven't always gotten along but because of the foundation of faith that my parents tried to instill in us since we were young we've been able to become great friends. Families have been ordained of God, and because of that they are the most important social unit now and in the eternities. When the gospel of Jesus Christ is brought into families the home can be a place of peace and refuge, it can be a place where the spirit dwells, it can be an anchor in a world that's values are shifting. Having time together as a family to read from the Bible and the Book of Mormon, to pray together, to eat meals together, to learn and grow together, has been such a blessing in my life. I know that we can find happiness in our families, no matter what background we come from. I know that when we make the Savior apart of our families that He will keep us safe and we will be able to experience peace and joy.
My Dad- Super driven, a hard worker, a city manager, loves learning, you can sometimes catch him listening to Miley Cyrus music, loves quoting movies, a provider, someone who takes pride in his family
My Mom- A quiet hero, humble, patient, full of love, meek, doesn't like to watch the same movie twice, temperate, loves the sun, loves watching ER shows on TV, a great listener
Kreigh (my older brother)- Entertaining, child-like, pure, artistic, a good father, only has about 5 different foods as part of his diet, can continue to function on no sleep
Krista (my sister-in-law)- Stubborn, passionate, dreams big, isn't afraid to take charge and get things done, always can make any situation not awkward, the best person to have inside jokes with, the sister I always wanted
Kyle (my little brother)- Quiet, witty humor, incredibly smart, valiant, faithful, is comfortable in his own skin, is willing to entertain your crazy ideas, obedient, self-sacrificing
I could make the list go on and on. I really love my family. We haven't always agreed on everything, we haven't always gotten along but because of the foundation of faith that my parents tried to instill in us since we were young we've been able to become great friends. Families have been ordained of God, and because of that they are the most important social unit now and in the eternities. When the gospel of Jesus Christ is brought into families the home can be a place of peace and refuge, it can be a place where the spirit dwells, it can be an anchor in a world that's values are shifting. Having time together as a family to read from the Bible and the Book of Mormon, to pray together, to eat meals together, to learn and grow together, has been such a blessing in my life. I know that we can find happiness in our families, no matter what background we come from. I know that when we make the Savior apart of our families that He will keep us safe and we will be able to experience peace and joy.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
As a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we are here to testify to the world of the Savior, of His plan for us, and that His church is established again on the earth. So when we go from door to door, knocking and praying that some one will listen or that some lunatic will not open the door, we try to teach people about what makes our church different from all the other churchs they have ever been to or experienced. One of the differences is the Book of Mormon. I will refer to it often in my blog because the Book of Mormon is the true test on whether or not this church is Jesus Christ church or not.
Unlike a lot of people think the Book of Mormon is not here to replace the Bible. On the contrary, it is here to help compliment the Bible. "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." (Article of Faith, 1:8) Since the Bible has been around for centuries and has been through many different translations little pieces of truth have been lost out of it. The Book of Mormon came forth help bring clarification to the doctrines that are already taught in the Bible. To follow the example of Jesus Christ many people are baptized. Baptism is a saving ordinance, one that we have to have to be able to get back to the Kingdom of God (see John 3:5) so then why are there so many ways to be baptized? Should infants be baptized? Should it be baptism by immersion? This piece of doctine, and more, are answered in the Book of Mormon.
The way to know if the Book of Mormon is a true book of God is by doing what one of the prophets exhorted us to do at the end of the book. "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, have faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost" (Moroni 10:4). I know this works because I have done it myself. The Book of Mormon changes lives. I have witnessed it. It brings peace to a trouble soul, it answers questions to prayers, it teaches us of who our Savior really is. I love the Book of Mormon. It brings me joy. Real joy.
To learn more about what the Book of Mormon is click here
Friday, June 3, 2011
True Joy
Welcome to my blog! I really struggled with a name that I wanted for this... some kind of short statement that people might take notice of if they just happened to stumble across it. So as I was searching the scriptures for some powerful statement (they have many of them) I came across the statement, "tasting exquisite joy". It actually comes from one of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon:
In the middle of the Book of Mormon, which is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, there is a story of a young man named Alma the younger. Now Alma the younger grew up in the Americas, around 73 BC, at a time where the church of Jesus Christ was flourishing. Alma the older, who was Alma the younger's father, had been chosen and called as a prophet from God to teach and to witness to others that Jesus was the Christ. Now, Alma the younger did not believe the words of his father. In fact, he rebelled against his father. He tried to ruin people's hopes in a Messiah coming, pulling many people away with him. He went around trying to destroy the church that his father was trying to build. As Alma and his friends went about in their destructive behavior the Lord sent an angel down to visit them. This angel rebuked them and commanded them to stop destroying the church of Christ or they themselves would be destroyed. For three days and three nights Alma lay in a comatose-state, not being able to open his mouth or move his limbs. Although he was still on the outside, on the inside he was experiencing a great struggle. He explains that he began to be, "racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins" (Alma 36:12).
In the midst of all this sorrow Alma remembers the words of his father prophesying of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would come into the world and atone for every one's sins. "Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: Oh Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness... and now, behold when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more" (Alma 36:18-19). By calling on the name of the Savior, and having had truly felt remorse for his sins, Alma was able to feel his burdens lifted by the Son of God. Joy and light began to feel his soul and he explained that there was nothing that was, "so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" (Alma 36:21).
After this experience Alma the younger became of the greatest prophets in the Book of Mormon. His whole life had changed because of the experience he had feeling the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Although I have never had an experience quite like Alma's I can relate to it, as I'm sure a lot of you can. There have been times in my life where I have needed that release that only the Savior can provide, and that is where true joy lies. Every day we can feel this joy when we turn to Him, and try to keep His commandments. So this blog is about a journey. My journey, perhaps maybe your journey, back to God through that One that provides the exquisite lasting joy that we are all seeking. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is true happiness.
In the middle of the Book of Mormon, which is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, there is a story of a young man named Alma the younger. Now Alma the younger grew up in the Americas, around 73 BC, at a time where the church of Jesus Christ was flourishing. Alma the older, who was Alma the younger's father, had been chosen and called as a prophet from God to teach and to witness to others that Jesus was the Christ. Now, Alma the younger did not believe the words of his father. In fact, he rebelled against his father. He tried to ruin people's hopes in a Messiah coming, pulling many people away with him. He went around trying to destroy the church that his father was trying to build. As Alma and his friends went about in their destructive behavior the Lord sent an angel down to visit them. This angel rebuked them and commanded them to stop destroying the church of Christ or they themselves would be destroyed. For three days and three nights Alma lay in a comatose-state, not being able to open his mouth or move his limbs. Although he was still on the outside, on the inside he was experiencing a great struggle. He explains that he began to be, "racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins" (Alma 36:12).
In the midst of all this sorrow Alma remembers the words of his father prophesying of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would come into the world and atone for every one's sins. "Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: Oh Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness... and now, behold when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more" (Alma 36:18-19). By calling on the name of the Savior, and having had truly felt remorse for his sins, Alma was able to feel his burdens lifted by the Son of God. Joy and light began to feel his soul and he explained that there was nothing that was, "so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" (Alma 36:21).
After this experience Alma the younger became of the greatest prophets in the Book of Mormon. His whole life had changed because of the experience he had feeling the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Although I have never had an experience quite like Alma's I can relate to it, as I'm sure a lot of you can. There have been times in my life where I have needed that release that only the Savior can provide, and that is where true joy lies. Every day we can feel this joy when we turn to Him, and try to keep His commandments. So this blog is about a journey. My journey, perhaps maybe your journey, back to God through that One that provides the exquisite lasting joy that we are all seeking. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is true happiness.
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