Run for the Prize!

A while back while sitting in a lesson with J.J. a member, he suddenly said, "Plan for the best, Expect the worst." His comment had my mind reeling for the next couple of days. How does one plan for the best but yet expect the worst?
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." 1st Corinthians 9:24
Thinking about this scripture makes me think of running, now for most of you who know me I DO NOT like to run, I will do it but only if I have too.
Now this scripture does not refer to us running physically (although, if you do run in a race...you want to be in first place to obtain the prize.) but to us it means running spiritual back to God. The greatest gift that God has given us is eternal life as found in D&C 14:7 which says, "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

Is that not enough reason to run and win the greatest prize?

I think so, although when you think of running for me anyways, it is something so hard to do. I need to be motivated, I need to have the right tools to want to run. As I get the tools I do run and maybe not at the pace I would like to run but I am still running. That is how life is like. When we choose to live a Christlike life we choose to do whats RIGHT, we choose to be like CHRIST, to LOVE others regardless of their circumstances, situations, or themselves, you choose to REACH OUT, and you choose to SERVE. Even if the pace you are going at is not the pace you want or expect, you do it because you know that it brings you the most happiness.

It makes me think of my mission, how I chose to SERVE a mission to LOVE everyone that I came in contact with, to REACH out to everyone and more importantly to represent our Savior Jesus CHRIST and to become like him. I chose that path and it was one of the best decision that I have ever made. I have become a better version of me.

  Although, I am not a runner, I am running a spiritual race as we all are. There is no 1st place for we are all equal in God's eyes but he wants us all to win the race! To make it back to him! That even if the plan is right, that at times we might have to face the hard moments and expect the worst! In the end, its all for us. We are here to be tested, to be tried and to run the race! I know that as we rely on the Savior and we remember that the greatest gift is Eternal Life...We can do HARD things!

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It soon shall pass.

For the last couple of days I have really felt the love of my Savior for me. I have come to know that he loves me and knows me and he truly did die for me by name. Although I know this, I still struggle some days to even keep my head up in the dark, deep, churning waters. Yet, "I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." (2nd Nephi 1:15)
How is it possible to keep afloat on our belief and faith on the Savior Jesus Christ admist the storms of life?
Although I am no expert on exactly how (since we are all different), I know the way that he has helped to keep me afloat.
In Helaman 5: 12 it says, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" 
The key word there is foundation. We must build our foundation on Jesus Christ in order to remain sure and steady. Just as a ship has an anchor to remain sure in steady we must do the same and anchor our souls to Christ. As it reminds us in Ether 12: 4, "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast..."
As I mentioned before, I am no expert on life per say but I have my own deal of trials and tribulations that I have had to face. They have been difficult but have helped me to gain a greater understanding of the Saviors love for me.
For me the answer of comfort lies in the Savior. Relying on his grace and atoning sacrifice for me. He died for me so that I would have a chance to stand to face God, a chance to grow, to change and to draw closer to him. Many times I have felt like life has caused me to stretch more than I can but

President Henry B. Eyring has said, " Now, I wish to encourage those who are in the midst of hard trials, who feel their faith may be fading under the onslaught of troubles. Trouble itself can be your way to strengthen and finally gain unshakable faith. Moroni, the son of Mormon in the Book of Mormon, told us how that blessing could come to pass. He teaches the simple and sweet truth that acting on even a twig of faith allows God to grow it:

“And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

I will admit that there are days where I don't want to wait to receive the witness, I want the reward now. But I have come to know that as we are patient, as we are being refined by God he will prepare us for the reward ahead in our lives. 

I feel comfort in knowing that he is preparing me, that as I read my scriptures, pray to Heavenly Father, and have the faith I will be ready. A Hymn that has always brought me comfort says:

"I believe in Christ; he stands Supreme! From him I'll gain my fondest dream;

And while I strive through grief and pain, His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."

I believe in Christ so come what may, With him I will stand in that great day When on the earth he comes again To rule among the sons of men." 

Text: Bruce R. MConkie. 1915-1985

Title: I believe in Christ

President Henry B. Eyring continued, "If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing."

I know thats true, even though life may be hard at a times keep your chin up. Keep going, keep fighting. Christ has never left you. He is there and loves you and knows you. He knows the way to bring you comfort. Just go to him. He is ready to open his loving arms to you. 

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Because of my Mother

This is my Mother, Lucy Servellon

Lately, I have been thinking about my mother and the great impact she has had on my life. I am not trying to sound biased or anything, but my mother is the best mother that I could have ever asked for. To me, she is the best mother in the whole entire world, no the whole entire universe. Because of her, I am who I am today. So this blog post is dedicated to her.
My mother came from humble circumstances in El Salvador. There she was prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel and both her and my Grandmother Cruz were baptized. My mother, has not had an easy life, she has had to work her whole life to be where she is at today. She now works as a Social Worker for CAPSA.
Ever since I could remember, she has had a job, she even missed several Christmas's to be able to along with my Dad put food on the table. Although, she has had to do this she never once has failed to be at her children's side! She always signed up to volunteer in school programs, school functions, and church functions. Even though she would come home tired, she somehow made room to do all of these activities. I always wondered how she had so much time and how she had so much energy to help us. I remember one particular night, I had a school report due the next day and of course my responsible 12 year old self left it until the night before it was due to do it. I had to showcase a piece from one of the books that I had chosen to read and of course I had none of the materials to do this. I then felt very impressed (notice the word) to have the cover of the picture drawn on the back of my jacket to take to school to showcase. My mom is a wonderful artist and I begged her to help me do this. So after she finished dinner and cleaned up she sat right down and helped me to start the project. She stayed up till midnight doing this for me even though she had to be awake the next morning at 6:30.  I remember walking upstairs the next morning and finding on the table my jacket with the book cover drawn on the back of it.  I will never forget that. She always worked hard and even harder for us kids and I always felt like I fell short of giving back to her.
Just as my mother is a hard working woman, she is also a loving, nurturing, great listener, always rendering service, always bringing comfort, and strong and immovable testimony in the gospel.
Recently released General Relief Society President Julie B. Beck said on mothers, "However, mothers need not fear. When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children."
I don't doubt that, that is true. In fact, I know it's true. This always reminds me of the story often told about the 2,000 Stripling Warriors. How valiant, courageous, strong, and true they were to their testimonies. It reads in Alma 56:47-48:
"Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

"And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."

 Notice the words that they used, "We do not doubt our mothers knew it." How powerful. They knew it because their mothers knew it and they had been reared in the ways of the Lord. 

I love my mother. I truly do. She is my guardian angel, my support, my guide. She taught me to not doubt and to trust in God, regardless of the situation or circumstances I may face in life. Because of my Mother and because she knows and trust in God. So do I. I

I have always looked up to my mother her courage, her love, her example. She stays strong regardless of any stumbling block that comes her way and I want to emulate her. I am grateful that she made that decision long ago in El Salvador to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Because she made that decision it changed her life and has now changed my life. I know that if she can trust in God with all her might, mind, and strength, I can too. 

I know that God lives. That Jesus Christ did in reality die for you and for me. He knows you and me both our weakness and our strengths. He loves you and me and is always there to extended a loving hand to lift us up to heights we never dreamed were possible. 

Mothers who Know

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The impact of kindness

Lately, I have been thinking about compassion, kindness, and love. This last week Sister Cluff and I had an encounter that shocked us and brought a new level of compassion into our missionary work. We were headed to an appointment when we felt impressed to take a different road. As we headed that direction we had to stop at the stoplight and right in front of us was a Patriot Gas Station and there lying on the gravel parking lot was a man face down. We both looked at each other and wondered if he was even alive! We saw that plenty of people would walk up to him, look down at him and then walk away. The Store Manager even walked by and didn't do a thing. When we arrived we asked around if anyone had called 911 and no one had! The first thing we did was try to get a response from him and then once we had established some form of communication we called 911. The 911 response in Eureka described to us that they would not send an ambulance out regardless of Kenny's situation, they had to send a police unit out first then the police determined if the person's situation was good enough to call an ambulance. While waiting for the police to show up we asked Kenny what had happened to him. At this point in time the Store Manager walked over to see what all the commotion was over a man that had been beaten and was heavily bleeding. The police showed up and immediately they called the ambulance. They then proceeded to talk to Kenny and because of they way he looked like they immediately disregarded what Kenny was saying and officially stated that he was a drunk man. Because of what he looked like they immediately assumed that he was a drunkard. They treated Kenny so cold like he was worthless. After they arrived they dismissed us without saying a word to us. The rest of the night I thought about what happened to Kenny and how there are days that we don't always treat others kindly or love them the way the Savior loves them.
Regarding kindness Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated,

"KINDNESS is the essence of a celestial life. KINDNESS is how a Christlike person treats others. KINDNESS should permeate all of our words and actions at WORK, at SCHOOL, at CHURCH, and especially in our HOMES.

Jesus, our Savior, was the epitome of kindness and compassion. He healed the sick. He spent much of His time ministering to the one or many. He spoke compassionately to the Samaritan woman who was looked down upon by many. He instructed His disciples to allow the little children to come unto Him. He was KIND to all who had sinned, condemning only the sin, not the sinner."

In Moroni 7:45 it reads, "And charity suffereth long, and is KIND, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

It continues on in Moroni 7:47, "But charity is the pure love of Christ"

In this video that is portrayed below, there is a woman that tries a civility experiment. It was interesting to see that when we are kind it pays it forward, it continues to incircle others and to help others. No one is perfect, we are all different, we are all unique but we are all children of God who loves us for who we are and wants us to all be Christlike and love others as Christ loved us.

Elder Wirthlin continues in his address by saying, "In the scriptures Jude taught, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.

Who can tell what far-reaching impact we can have if we are only KIND."

Truly, you never know what impact you will make when you are kind. I don't know what happend to Kenny after that incident but all I know is that Sister Cluff and I were meant to be there and where meant to help him. It taught me the measure of God's love for each of his children even Kenny. He loves us all and wants nothing more than our happiness.

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
John 13:35

 You can Read Elder Wirthlin's talk: The Virtue of Kindness

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Pornography...there is Hope

For a while now, I did not know what I wanted to "blog" about but very recently I saw a facebook status regarding pornography. It hit me home for me and I felt impressed to write on pornography. Pornography is a very sensitive subject for many and for me. We can all see that there is unintentional ignorance when someone simply has not been through an experience like pornography themselves. It's not a bad thing, they just don't know what the addicted person is going through.
Pornography as defined by Merriam Webster is: "material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement." This definition gives us an idea of what pornography is. Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the April 2005 General Conference spoke on pornography and he defines the effects of what it does to someone who is involved in pornography he states, "Those who seek out to use pornography forfeit the power of the power of the priesthood...patrons of pornography also lose the companionship of the Spirit. Pornography produces fantasies that destroy spirituality...pornography also inflicts mortal wounds on our most precious personal relationships....pornography impairs one's ability to enjoy a normal emotional, romantic, and spiritual relationship with a person of the opposite sex...pornography is also addictive." Pornography has an addictive power. It hooks you to come back wanting more and more. BUT there is hope! Elder Oaks boldy declares, "But the good news is that no one needs to follow the evil, downward descent to torment. Everyone caught on that terrible escalator has the key to reverse his course. He can escape. Through reptance he can be clean."
In the Book of Mormon there is a story of a man named: Alma the Younger in his own words he describes it:
"Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell.
"..The very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my sould with inexpressible horror...
"And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
"Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, Thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
"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."
"And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light did I behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding was my pain!" (Alma 36:13-14,17-20)
Elder Oaks continues, " My brethren who are caught in this addiction or troubled by this temptation, there is a way."
President Uchtodorf in the April 2012 Conference stated, "Lay your burden at the Savior’s feet...Allow Christ’s Atonement to change and heal your heart."
Christ has died for each of us because he loves each of us and he knew that we would stumble and fall and he knew exactly how to comfort us.
In Alma 7:11-13, it says,
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and emptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

"Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

For those who are victims of pornography and its harmfull effects, there is still hope.
I firmly believe that there is hope for one and all that battle any type of addiction and to say that there is not, would be a false statment! There is hope! There always has been! Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ there is hope.
For those of us who have not experienced the torment of any addiction now is the time to extend a loving hand of kindness and compassion towards those who are suffering. I know that I am no one to judge, to say that it is their fault that they entered into such addictions! I have made my mistakes and I know that the Atonement covers all sin, it covers everything.
We are all going to sin, regardless of what sin it is the Atonement will cover it. Christ loves us all and accepts us all. I wish that we would not cast judgment on those who make mistakes even grevious one's. I know that Christ would reach out to them and love them. Love is key.
President Uchtdorf continued on to say in his address,

"Brothers and sisters, there is enough heartache and sorrow in this life without our adding to it through our own stubbornness, bitterness, and resentment.

We are not perfect.

The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way.

Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way.

Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive."

Pornography is an addiction but that does not mean that there is no hope. There is always hope with any mistake that we make in this life. There is always hope over the horizon.

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You are never alone

A look of the stairs as I headed to the top

P-day this last week Sister Tucker and I along with Elder's Merrill and Cannell decided to go to the beach. As we walked down the long flight of stairs to the beach, I saw a bunch of rocks and realized that we were headed in that direction for our activity. We had to climb the rocks. I am not much of a climber, I don't like to do it but in order to do the activity I had to climb. First, I want to mention that I did not have the right shoes, I was climbing rocks on flat slick shoes. Climbing with shoes like that did not improve my attitude on climbing rocks, I chose to be unhappy on this task which made the task seem impossible. Every rock I climbed I felt that I was going to fall, I used all the energy necessary to hold on.  Once we had finished our activity, we had to climb over the rocks and climb back up the stairs. Its easy to come down, hard to go back up. I will honestly say, I was the last one up. I was embarrassed and mad at myself that I had not made it to the top fast enough. The next day I woke up sore. During Personal Study I was reading about Captain Moroni and how he fought for his country, family, and religion and I wondered to myself, how I was giving up due to my attitude and my shoes...simple things that I put as a stumbling block. I wasn't fighting the fight.
The Savior himself has said, "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)

There will be many days in our lives that we will have to make a climb, we might not be prepared with the right equipment or the right attitude. We may even have to put all of our energy into not falling back to where we started. We may even feel that we are alone, that there is no one to help us make the climb to get to the finish, to fight the fight. We may even want to quit our climb.  Never quit! That is a fall that is hard to come back from! Although it seems that we are doing this alone, I am here to testify that we are not! You are never alone in your climb! The Savior is always there to help you, to lift you up and to carry you to help you reach your destination! When all seems dark and dreary look around you for the light and you will see the Savior! My family has a motto that goes, "The Hernandez's never give up." so I extend this motto to you as well, apply it to yourself, for with the Savior all that seems impossible is made possible!

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The Power of Hymns

For those of you who do not know me well enough, I love music and when I say love it, I mean it. I LOVE music! Music is power in my eyes. Power, because it can say what I cannot express, music has a way to touch our hearts, it has a way to bring the Spirit into our lives. Jay E. Jensen stated, "Hymns are “an essential part of our church meetings. [They] invite the Spirit of the Lord.” They often do this quicker than anything else we may do. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said, “We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.”
Music has power, more importantly Hymns have power. This last Sunday I had the privilege to sing in sacrament meeting "I am a Child of God." I always knew the power that this song had, but never did I fully appreciate it until I sang it. Until I fully read the lyrics. It goes as follows:
1.I am a Child of God
And He has Sent me Here
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear
2.I am a Child of God
And so my needs are great
Help me to understand His words
Before it grows to late
3.I am a Child of God
Rich blessings are in Store
If I but learn to do His will
I'll live with Him once more
4.I am a Child of God
His promises are sure
Celestial Glory shall be mine
If I can but endure
Chorus:
Lead me, guide me walk beside me
Help me find the way
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

What power this song has! To know that we are all children of God! An all powerful being and we are his children! He loves us and wants nothing but the best for us! How great to know that His promises are sure for each of His children and that if we endure we can live with Him again! This song is in the Children Songbook today as well as the Hymn Book. This song has the power to help us remember, to realize we are God's Children and we are of worth! There will be times in our lives where we will struggle and just to recite or to sing a hymn will bring us the comfort and strength necessary to continue pressing forward.
The First Presidency has said: “Brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the Spirit of the Lord into our congregations, our homes, and our personal lives. Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual nourishment. Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, ‘and it shall be answered with a blessing upon [your] heads.”

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An improved vision

These are my actual glasses!

This week I had the chance to go on Exchanges with Sister Cluff. It was an amazing exchange! I realized that the vision I had for myself, was great but at the end of our exchange, my vision had improved. There are many times that we lose sight of our goals, our purpose, and our vision. We tend to do good, when we could do better! Don't get me wrong, doing good is great but when you can do better, why not do it? That is what hit me the hardest as we went about our day in Eureka. I could do better, so why not do it? I relate this to being able to physically see. I usually wear glasses, why? Because I can't see. Imagine if I decided to not wear my glasses for a day? I would be LOST! I couldn't see anything or anyone in front of me. And lets say, that I found some other glasses, and they weren't the right prescription but I could still kind of see, and I wore those, my vision would slightly improve. But if I wore the right prescription, my vision would drastically improve. I would see the color of the world, I could see what is in front of me, I could see what I wanted to change and what I could improve in.
We all have area's in which we need to improve in. For me it was having a better vision, a better attitude, and becoming more christlike towards others. It reminds me of what President Monson said, "Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time."
Having this improved vision in mind, I now know the goal in sight as it says in Mosiah 4:27, "...And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." All things must be done in order to change, in order to win the prize, or the goal! We can all achieve our goals in sight, if we put our whole trust in the Savior, for he will always lift us up, help us achieve our goals when we feel we cannot go any further. He will help change us!

As I said before, we all have the chance to improve our vision, sometimes our windows need to be cleaned in order to see a clearer picture, to see what we need to do to become better!
Charity Never Faileth-President Monson

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Peace

I have been contemplating peace this whole week and how we are all yearing for peace in our lives and that peace brings us comfort. There have been times in my life where I have searched for peace and have not found it but I look back at those moments in life and I asked myself, was I looking at the right source for peace? President David O. McKay said, “The peace of Christ does not come by seeking the superficial things of life, neither does it come except as it springs from the individual’s heart.” He said further that this peace is “conditioned upon obedience to the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. …No man is at peace with himself or his God who is untrue to his better self, who transgresses the law of what is right either in dealing with himself by indulging in passion, in appetite, yielding to temptations against his accusing conscience, or in dealing with his fellowmen, being untrue to their trust. Peace does not come to the transgressor of law; peace comes by obedience to law, and it is that message which Jesus would have us proclaim among men.”
I realized then, that the peace that I was looking for was not found in things of the world but the things of God. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings us that peace that we all yearn for, that we search for. It brings us the comfort that all will be well through our times of grief, strife, struggles and trials. Peace can be found when we start to change our lives for the better, when we seek to do what has been asked of us by our Heavenly Father. To take his council and to follow through with it! Living righteously blesses our lives with peace knowing that because we are living righteously we will be well.

A story that I love in the New Testament is of Christ calming the seas, it says: (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/8.26?lang=eng#25)

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea; obey him!

 Joseph B. Wirthlin said, The phrase “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39), that the Savior uttered when he calmed the storm-tossed sea, can have the same calming influence upon us when we are buffeted by life’s storms. During the Passover feast, the Savior taught his disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27.) There will always be times of trial, but how we must know that all will be well when we rely on the Savior. That his army of mercy is extended towards us and he will bring us that peace and comfort we are seeking. As I examined my life, I am so grateful that I changed my view of peace. That I looked toward the one source that brought me that peace. The savior himself said, "Peace, be Still."(Mark 4:39) How still must we be in order to have those promptings that he has prepared for us in order to continue moving forward in this life. I know this to be true, life is hard. I have faced many hard circumstances that have brought me clsoer to my Savior and how grateful I am for those moments in my life. I know that as we strive to look towards the Savior that he will bring peace to our times of strife! May we all look towards Christ!

He is always there to guide us to peace through life's storms.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/04/peace-within?lang=eng&query=peace 

(Peace Within-Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin April 1991 General Conference)

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United in a cause!

This week has been incredible! We have been working on unity now, more than ever! Which brings me to the topic of unity! Unity is so key to missionary work, the spirit of unity not only helps your companionship but your teaching. In Mosiah we read: “And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:21). This week we had a miracle that brought more strenght to our companionship! We have an investigator who when we saw last Sunday was struggling with Word of Wisdom but we reassured him that if he prayed, continued reading from the Book of Mormon, and attending church that he would be able to overcome this problem! We called him yesterday to see if he was going to be at church today and sadly found out that he had to work but that he was going to be there next week. As he was telling us this he expressed that he had been 7 days nicotene free! 7 days!! How excited we were for him! We put him on speaker phone and expressed our excitement for him and to continue reading from the Book of Mormon and to continue praying so that in due time he could be ready to be baptized on March 17! I know that this was not possible without the Lord. This experience helped Sister Tucker and I become more unified in our purpose and thus bringing the spirit of unity to our companionship. Our purpose as missionaries is to bring others unto Christ through the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and eventually take the necessary steps to enter the waters of baptism and as companions we must have the spirit of unity to work together and to help this purpose be fulfilled! May we all be united in a righteous cause!

"The miracle of unity is granted to us as we pray and work for it. Our hearts will be knit together in unity."- President Henry B. Eyring 
We at the end of this last Transfer were all united in one purpose
(Sister Tucker on the left, I am next to her, Elder Mcqueen is next to me and Elder Carter is on the far right)

Knitting Our Hearts Together: President Eyring http://www.lds.org/liahona/2010/08/knitting-our-hearts-together?lang=eng&query=unity

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There are no dead ends

 This week, while visiting a less-active or trying too anyways, Sister Tucker and I ran across a sign at the end of this street (pictured on the right) that said: The Dead End. Now, don't be mistaken this is not what usual Dead End Street Signs say, this one however, was special. We have all felt at some point or another in our lives that we have hit, if you will, "The Dead End". We feel as if there is no way that we can turn back, no way we can get out and no way we can make it out. During these trying time in our lives we may forget that there is a way out! This way out is only made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Having hope in our Savior will help us endure to the end and especially endure through these trying times.President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said, "The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow. Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light." (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-infinite-power-of-hope?lang=eng&query=hope)
How important is it that we hold fast to the gospel in our lives during these trying times? We must hold strong to the values which we believe in and hold the arm of our Savior as he helps us through these experiences. Elder Bednar in the October 2011 Ensign describes the 3 groups that where in Lehi's dream, he specifically describes group 3 by saying, "The third group also pressed forward with faith and conviction; however, there is no indication that they wandered off, fell into forbidden paths, or were lost. Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the scriptures. Perhaps it was diligence and devotion to a seemingly “small and simple [thing]” (Alma 37:6) that saved the third group from perishing."
(http://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/10/lehis-dream-holding-fast-to-the-rod?lang=eng)
I know that life at times seems like it's The Dead End but let us not forget how infinite the sacrifice of the Savior was for each of his children on this earth, that there is no Dead End. He will help us overcome any obstacle in our lives as we turn to him with open hearts and sincere prayer as we humble ourselves before him.

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Temples

There is not just one word that can describe how wonderful Temples are. Temples are the Holy House's of the Lord. His spirit resides there and as members of the Church of Jesus Christ we have the privilage to work towards entering the Temples of the Lord to make sacred covenants with our Father in Heaven for ourselves and more importantly for our deceased ancestors. These covenants that we make within the walls of this Holy House are essential for our salvation and for our deceased ancestors. Silvia H. Allred stated, "The covenants we make with the associated ordinances we receive in the temple become our credentials for admission into God’s presence. These covenants elevate us beyond the limits of our own power and perspective. We make covenants to show our devotion to build up the kingdom. We become covenant people as we are placed under covenant to God. All the promised blessings are ours through our faithfulness to these covenants." I know that to be true, it is amazing the blessings that we recieve as we diligently serve our Lord and keep our covenants!

This week I had the chance to do a Session in the Medford, Oregon Temple (pictured on the right)! I was really surprised as to how small it was, but how beautiful it was as well. I had been wanting to go to the Temple since I left on my mission because I was not able to do any sessions at the MTC since the temple was closed during my stay there. As we drove up I just couln't wait to get in and feel what I had been desiring to feel. The Spirit is so essential to Missionary Work but so essential for every member that enters through those sacred doors. The Spirit helps us to recieve personal revelation for ourselves, the Bible Dictionary describes Revelation (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/revelation?lang=eng&letter=r) as: "Divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God and could not be saved with any degree of salvation in the eternities. Continuous revelation from God to his saints, through the Holy Ghost or by other means, such as vision, dreams, or visitations, makes possible daily guidance along true paths and leads the faithful soul to complete and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom. The principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation. It is the making known of divine truth by communication with the heavens, and consists not only of revelation of the plan of salvation to the Lord’s prophets, but also a confirmation in the hearts of the believers that the revelation to the prophets is true. It also consists of individual guidance for every person who seeks for it and follows the prescribed course of faith, repentance, and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. “The Holy Ghost is a revelator,” said Joseph Smith, and “no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations” (HC 6:58). Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion." How important is that we live our lives so fully that we can participate of all the blessings our Father in Heaven has bestowed upon us? The Temple is such a blessing and with the knowledge and testimony of our Savior and his church we can overcome all the hardships of our lives if we stay true to what we know and believe.
Sitting in the Temple waiting for the session to start I felt so overwhelmed with the Spirit. I just was so glad to be there. There is no place I would rather be (besides the mission) than in the Temple. If I could stay in the Temple all day, every day I would. Going through the session I thought of all the times I had gone before and how each time I was learning something new, and I was feeling the love the Savior had for me. Something that I needed at that time. The Temple is the place where God shows his love for me and for all those who enter through his doors. It helps me to remind me of my purpose on this earth and that I do serve a purpose. I am special to his eyes, just as we all are.
Silvia H. Allred said, "Let us be worthy to have a current temple recommend. Let us go to the temple to seal our families eternally. Let us return to the temple as often as our circumstances will permit. Let us give our kindred dead the opportunity to receive the ordinances of exaltation. Let us enjoy the spiritual strength and the revelation we receive as we attend the temple regularly. Let us be faithful and make and keep temple covenants to receive the full blessings of the Atonement."
The Temple is the place to be, it is the place to aspire to enter. I love the Temple! I had the best time being there and feeling his presence! I know that Temples are of God and that he loves all of his children enough to restore his church and to bless us with Temples to make everlasting covenants with Him so that we too can someday become as he is. (This is my District, we had the chance on Wednesday to attend the Temple! How lucky we were!)


http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/holy-temples-sacred-covenants?lang=eng&query=temples

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Patience is a virtue!

This week has been a great week! A week very memorable, especially for how much patience I needed and had developed. I had the chance to go on exchanges to Petaluma with Sister Simnitt. The most memorable experience from this exchange was Thursday and Friday morning. Thursday was the most patient trying day. We had planned the night before to visit many Less-Active, Potential Investigators, and Investigators. As we started our day, house after house no one was home. We felt defeated! By 2:45 pm we were tired! We had found no one that we had planned to see! We wanted to badly to speak to someone! To teach a lesson! President Uchtdorf in the April 2010 Conference says on patience, "Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter. Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace."
We must always be patient! I am not always patient and the Lord knew that I needed to learn this lesson. Things are not always going to go as planned. That day had not gone as planned. As we kept wondering why the Lord had not provided a way for us to see anyone that we had planned to see He had provided a way for us to see miracles, He was trying our patience to prepare us for the miracles we were to witness. Ether 12:6 in the Book of Mormon declares, "Wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye recieve no witness until after the trial of your faith." We must always be tried! How important then is developing patience? I am so grateful that I learned now! I know that I will keep learning about patience, I am not perfect but the Lord in his infinite mercy will help us develop and grow, if we ask in faith with a sincere heart to help us! He is always there.
Tracting on Thursday we saw miracles. The Lord had prepared us to talk to those whom we would come in contact with. We were able to find 3 potential investigators! We came in contact with a man that verbally attacked us and somehow we managed to stay patient and to stand strong for our values and the Church. The Lord prepares us each day for the hard lessons we have to learn. The wonderful thing about our Savior is that He never leaves us alone. He is always there, ready to help us!
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/continue-in-patience?lang=eng&query=continue+patience

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Miracles do happen!

This week has been an amazing week full of miracles! It is amazing to see the miracles that happen in our everday life! They really do happen! This week we met with an investigator for the Eureka 2 area Elders Carter and Mqueen, this man's name was Louis. He is from Mexico and I am the only bilingual sister in my zone and area at this time! So as Sister Tucker (my companion) and I drove to his apartment, I practiced my spanish and taught Sister Tucker the first lesson on the way there. Once we arrived, and met the Elders  We walked directly to his apartment. When he opened the door I immediatly loved Louis! He was so kind, nice and welcoming! He let us in and with in minutes we started to get to know him more, while I translated for the Elders any answers or questions both parties had. We started with a prayer as we finished, the Elders began by asking Louis about his friend who had said that he (Louis) wanted to know more about the Atonement. He agreed and the Elders began speaking and I began translating you could see Louis's eyes and how much he believed in the Atonement. He asked many question to understand but nevertheless the belief was there! He would tell us from time to time what he believed in and how his beliefs were in line with the Church's beliefs. This man had been prepared by the Lord for all of us who were in that room with him. We didn't teach him, he taught us. He then asked if he could pray (we talked about many more things that I don't have time to mention!) and said that he promised to become a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints if God gave him the job he had applied for in Somoa that very next day. As he prayed he made that covenant with God to be faithful and to be baptized. As we finished the lesson and as we all walked out we all felt we needed to pray. We we had all felt the spirit so strong and knew that our Heavenly Father would make it possible for him to get that job. That brought a Spirit of unity, a Spirit of love and a Spirit of Missionary work. Miracles do happen! Unseen to our own eyes at times, they do happen! Moroni a prophet in the Book of Mormon declares, "...My beloved breathern, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." Miracles do happen! I have seen it in my life! I know that the Savior loves each of his children on this earth, he knows us each individually and loves us perfectly. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and testifies of his people in the Ancient America's. I know that we have a Prophet: Thomas S. Monson, that leads and guides his church today under the direction of Jesus Christ. Love you!!

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We are all Enlisted

As the title says, We are all Enlisted! This is our time to give a year and a half to two years to the Lord. Is it possible to Enlist in the Army of God? Of course it is. This is a minor sacrifice to the infinite sacrifice our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done for each of us.  Jeffrey R. Holland an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint spoke during a world wide General Conference in October 2011, "Do I need to hum a few bars of “We Are All Enlisted”? You know, the line about “We are waiting now for soldiers; who’ll volunteer?” Of course, the great thing about this call to arms is that we ask not for volunteers to fire a rifle or throw a hand grenade. No, we want battalions who will take as their weapons “every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.”  Although, I have been out for a month, it has been the greatest month of my life, the happiest month of my life. The Lord has blessed me in many ways that I still cannot comprhend. Serving the Lord will bless our life and the lives of those whom we serve! They will get the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be able to know a new way of coming unto Christ and having a way to return to him. I know that this is true. I have seen it in my life and I know that when we come unto Christ we can live a fuller and happier life!

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