The Sacrament

Whew!! So, this week we put on an "Open House" for our church. It was chaotic and crazy but it was a lot of fun to put together. We had all of the different programs and auxiliaries that our church is involved in come and talk about some of the things that we offer. It was a really fun night where anyone could come in and learn a little bit more about our church and at the end we had our Mission President, President Jack R. Christianson, give a devotional. He talked about the incredible programs and auxiliaries that the church offers, but that the main focus and reason for our Sunday attendance is the Sacrament.

When we enter into the waters of baptism we make a covenant, or a two-way promise, with God. We promise God that we will:
-Always remember His Son, Jesus Christ
-That we will take the Savior's name upon us
-That we will keep His commandments

He in return promises that we can:
-Have the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit
-Get a remission for our sins
-Be born again

We don't have to be re-baptized to renew these covenants. That is what the sacrament is for. Every week, at church, we get to partake of the water and the bread, that is blessed and passed to the congregation by those holding the power and authority of God. When we partake of these emblems it is as if we are being re-baptized. Our covenants are renewed. Those mistakes that we made, and repented of, that week are washed away just like the day you were baptized. You've got another clean slate! What a miracle!!

I love the sacrament. I'm so grateful for it. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us, He wants us home again with Him. I know that is by making, keeping, and renewing these precious covenants that we're going to make it there.

The Holy Ghost

  This afternoon I was thinking of an experience that I had when I was really little. We use to have two bunnies when I lived in Kanab, UT. There names were Whiskers and Scooter and sometimes we would take them out of their cage and let them run in our backyard. One day, I was sitting outside watching them run around. when something else caught my attention. I remember turning my back to the rabbits and getting engaged in another task. I was fully focused on the new project that I had immersed myself in when I felt this distinct, and very prompt, impression to turn around. Although I was little, I remember it felt like someone had hastily tapped me on the shoulder. As I turned around I caught a glance of a cat, moving quickly to go pounce on Scooter, who was oblivious to the whole thing. I ran toward the cat and got there right in time to scare it away from my little bunny :).

  So... yes, this is a strange story, and most of you probably don't see a bunny's life as high priority, but I learned a lot of lessons from that experience. I learned a lot about the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead. He is with the Father and the Son, and they have the same purpose but they are three separate beings. There are many different roles that the Holy Ghost can play in our lives. He testifies of truth, helps lead us in the right direction, provides power to teach and to learn, he can warn us in times of danger (like if your rabbit is in danger :)), and one of my favorite roles of the Holy Ghost is that he is a comforter. I love the scripture in in John 14:18 that says, " I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." Our Heavenly Father speaks and comforts us through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a precious gift that our Father in Heaven offers to all of those who have been baptized, by the right authority. The Holy Ghost can be our CONSTANT companion, if we are worthy of it.

  I'm so grateful for this gift! I'm also grateful for a Father in Heaven who loved his daughter enough to help her protect her little bunny. Because Scooter was important to me he was also important to Heavenly Father.  He loves us. He wants us to succeed and be happy and that is why He has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Prayer

So... here's a story:

When I was 16 years old I wanted to go to one of my friend's weddings, who lived about a hour and a half from my house in St. George UT. It wasn't a planned trip and I had just gotten my driver's license and so my Dad was really hesitant on letting me go. He wanted me to take a friend but none of my friends were available, and I, being stubborn, persisted until my Dad finally gave in and consented.
I was excited to get out on my own and prove to myself and everyone else that I was a "grown up" now. I got to my friend's wedding safely and headed back home just as it started to get dark outside. As I was driving on an old road I heard some strange noise, over the radio, and decided to pull over to see what was wrong. When I got out of the car I noticed that my tire had popped! I was shocked and worried because I had no idea how to change a tire! I wasn't sure what to do because it was dark and there weren't any immediate towns close by to walk to.

I got back in my car and realized, with dismay, that my phone wasn't getting service. So I sat there, and waited. Waited for what? I'm still not quite sure. As I was waiting in the dark I started to feel really uneasy. I wasn't sure what to do, and as I played with my phone I found a musical segment that I had recorded a couple days previous. The song was a hymn called "Did you think to Pray?". As I sat in the dark and listened to the song, the words played in my head:

"Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ your Savior, did you sue for loving favor? As a shield today?
Oh, how praying rests the weary. Prayer will change the night to day.
So, when life gets dark and dreary, don't forget to pray."

By this point, I was scared. So I prayed. I prayed and prayed. And a miracle happened, for one brief moment I got enough bars on my cell phone to call my Mom and tell her where I was and that I was stranded. The last thing I heard was her saying, "Dad is on his way". So I waited again. The whole time replaying that song over and over until, about a hour later, my knight in shining armor- my Dad- arrived.
I know that there are many blessings that come from praying to our Heavenly Father. When we pray He can help guide us in our everyday life, He helps us resist temptation, He helps us make good decisions, He forgives us of our sins, He can warn us of times of danger, He can give us feelings of peace and comfort, and we will be closer to Him when we pray. I know that just like my earthly Father was willing to drive out to the middle of nowhere to rescue his stranded daughter, our Heavenly Father will help rescue us, and give us joy, as we lean on Him and talk to Him through daily prayer.

Finding joy through hard times

Sometimes life isn't fair. "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11, pg. 57 Book of Mormon). I know that there is a God out there that provides a way for us to find happiness and joy, even through the sorrows that we go through.

Prophets

One thing that makes our church unique is that we believe in a living prophet who leads and guides the world today. If you are familiar with the Bible at all you will know that because God loves us He has always sent a prophet. He called Noah to tell all of the people that because of their wickedness they would need to repent or a great flood would come. Moses was also another prophet who was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

A prophet is someone who is a mouthpiece for God. He gets direct revelation from our Heavenly Father and tells us the way to get back to our heavenly home to live with Him again. Through a living prophet we have had God's power and authority restored to the earth again. This authority makes ordinances like baptism, the conferral of the Holy Ghost, and the eternal binding of families, possible. He is a special witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He teaches us more of Him and how we can get close to Him. The prophet teaches the world which paths will bring peace and ultimately give us the most joy.

 Our prophet's name today is Thomas S. Monson. I know that he has been called of God because every time I listen to his words, and apply them into my life, I know I am in accordance to God's will. I feel closer to my Savior, when I follow His chosen prophet.

The Plan of Salvation

   So this week I've been thinking a lot about my Grandpa. My Grandpa passed away a couple weeks ago. He has been in pretty bad health for the last little while so it wasn't too unexpected but it was still sad to see him go. As I was listening to his funeral on a CD last night, I was thinking about how grateful I am for the Plan of Salvation. The Plan of Salvation, or the Plan of Happiness, is the plan that our Heavenly Father has provided for us. It answers the questions: "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" and "Where am I going?"

  The "Where am I going?" answer, specifically has brought the most comfort. Eventually, we all leave our mortal body. Our body stays in the ground and our spirit goes to a place called the Spirit World. The Spirit World acts as, somewhat of a waiting place for spirits. It is a place where missionary works still continues. Where those who have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ can teach it to those who never got the opportunity in earth life.  Then those spirits will get the chance to accept or reject the message (see 1 Peter 4:6).

  After the Resurrection, where are body and spirits reunite (never again to be separated), we are judged based off of our deeds and desires of our heart. We are then placed in one of three kingdoms of glory (see 1 Corinthians 15:40-41). The Telestial Kingdom is comparable to a star in glory, it is for those who didn't repent or accept Jesus Christ. The Terrestial Kingdom is comparable to the moon in glory, it is for those who were honorable but weren't valiant in their testimony of Jesus Christ. The Celestial Kingdom is comparable to the sun in glory, this is where our Heavenly Father dwells and where our families can be together forever. This is for those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and remain true to their testimonies of Him throughout time and eternity.

   I love our Heavenly Father's plan for us. I know that it is truly His because I have prayed to know. The Holy Ghost has whispered to my spirit the surety of this plan. How grateful I am to know where my Grandpa is! How grateful I am to a God who loved us enough to provide His Son who made this whole plan possible.

 If you want to learn more about the Plan of Salvation click here.

Temples

Salt Lake City, UT temple

 So this week was a little of a hectic one. I don't know if you've ever felt that way before... things were just overwhelming and I felt very little peace in my life because of all of the things that were calling for my attention. I was able to go to a LDS temple a couple of days ago and being inside that holy edifice brought the peace and clarity that I desperately needed.

Mesa, AZ temple

Oakland, CA temple

 The temple is, literally, the house of the Lord. I like to think of it as, the place where "Heaven meets Earth". It is a holy place where ordinances are performed that help us make promises to get closer to God. Whenever the power and authority of God has been on the earth there have been houses of the Lord. They are there to help enable us to do the things that God wants us to do. They help endow us with the strength and the power to get through the strains of this world. In a revelation given through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, on June 1, 1833 the Lord said, "Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high; For this is the promise of the Father unto you; therefore I command you to tarry, even as mine apostles at Jerusalem" (Doctrine and Covenants 95:8-9, pg. 185-86).

(I don't actually know these people but here they are getting married in the San Diego, CA temple!)

  The temple is also a place where we can be married for time and all eternity. Our Heavenly Father wants us to have our families forever and so He provides His temples so that the with the proper priesthood authority we can be "sealed" together throughout the eternities.

Hong Kong, China temple

  I love the temple. It is a holy place, and I know that is where the Lord dwells. When we live a worthy life, and do everything we can to follow Jesus Christ, the temple can be that beacon of light that we can always go to for truth and strength. I know that because of the temple, my family is forever thing, and that brings me my greatest joy.