Friday, February 11, 2011

Difficult days

We've all heard it, no matter how hard things are, there is someone going through something even more difficult. And it never fails that no matter who says it or how we heard it, we dont quite seem to find how that applies to us. I know that applies to me. As I was having a hard day, like we all have every once in a while, that thought has came to me. And after debating it im my mind for a while I finally chose to think about how that could even be true. I thought about people I have met on my mission. I thought about people back at home, and none of those things seemed to help. Then I thought about the Savior's words to us, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4) It was only then did I remember just how good I have it. Later the Savior taught, "come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) I hope we will remember the Lord Jesus Christ everyday, because life's challenges are going to come and we need His help. I testify and promise that the Lord will be there to give us aid when ever we come unto Him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

You are here for a reason

      Wouldn’t it be great if life came with a map, showing us where we’ve been and where to go?
Thankfully, life does have a map. Our Father in Heaven has a plan for us and wants us to know where we came from and where He wants us to go.
      Before we were born, we lived with God in heaven. All of our spirit brothers and sisters were there, too—everyone who has lived or will live on earth. In this “pre-earth life,” each of us was an individual with the same ability we have now to learn, reason, and make decisions. We were only spirits then. God is the Father of all our spirits, so we call Him our Heavenly Father.
     I wish we could remember the pre-earth life, but as Paul told the Corinthians,"we walk by faith, not by sight"

      In our pre-earth life, God knew that in order for us to grow and gain knowledge, we would have to leave His presence for a while. So, as part of the plan He prepared for us, He sent us to earth to experience the joy—as well as the pain—of mortal life. When we were born, our spirits received mortal bodies, giving us the opportunity to have families and to develop mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.The Book of Mormon teaches us clearly that we came to this earth to prepare to meet God again.(Alma 34:32)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

What's the secret of success?

"Success is usually earned by persevering and not becoming discouraged when we encounter challenges. Paul Harvey, the famous news analyst and author, once said: 'Someday I hope to enjoy enough of what the world calls success so that someone will ask me, "What's the secret of it?" I shall say simply this: "I get up when I fall down" ' (quoted in Marvin J. Ashton, Conference Report, Oct. 1981, 126)."
      How true is that! There is power in getting up when we fall down. No matter what your circumstances might be, the gospel of Jesus Christ can help you. We all run into things in our life that trip us up, make us fall down, and just seem to level us to the ground. When we read the scriptures, when we go to church, say our prayers, and do something nice for someone else we are really picking ourselves up. Jesus Christ should be central to all that we do.
      "Jesus said, 'Without me ye can do nothing.' (John 15:5). I testify that that is God's truth. Christ is everything to us and we are to 'abide' in Him permanently, unyieldingly, steadfastly, forever. For the fruit of the gospel to blossom and bless our lives, we must be firmly attached to Him, the Savior of us all, and to this His Church, which bears His holy name. He is the vine that is our true source of strength and the only source of eternal life. In Him we not only will endure but also will prevail and triumph in this holy cause that will never fail us." (Abide in Me," Ensign, May 2004, 32)
        It is my testimony that when ever we seem to be down in the dumps, struggling to get out, if we turn to the Lord of Host, the Prince of Peace, our Master and Savior, the Son of God, Jesus Christ he will be able to help us overcome any trials and situation we are in.