Patience

  I love running races it’s were you get to see how fast you actually are. I once was scheduled to run a certain race thinking it would be a pretty normal flat race but as I got passed the first mile I came to hill I didn’t expect to see. I got discouraged thinking it would ruin my time and throw off my pace I wanted to keep. Anyone who runs a race doesn’t necessarily stop because they come to hill they just keep running, hoping that they can make up the time going down hill or on flat ground. Runners know one of the best things we can do is to stay calm and not get frustrated so that we can stay focused and have the good race we want. We need to have patience in our trials knowing things will get better. We need not to become frustrated or angry with situation in our lives, because sometimes our Father in Heaven has other plans for us, we just got to do what makes us stronger. Trails require us to be humble before God and learn from Him. Each of us will face trials and tests; it’s just how we react to those difficulties that will determine our success and happiness. Each experience we have weather it is easy or hard helps us develop the traits and attributes that will help us become more Christlike. We come to recognize the good that comes fore each experience we face. Let us have an eternal perspective in all that comes our way, not complaining but having patience in all we do being prayerful and we will become closer to our Father in Heave more then ever.   

Jiu-Jitsu

Arm bars, chokes, triangle chocks, leg locks, ankle locks and so many more ways to submit an opponent in jiu jitsu. Jiu jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense method that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. It teaches how anyone can change the outcome by speed, technique, and power by using joint locks and chokes to bring pain to the body in a submission hold which is the similar to a checkmate in the sport. By learning different moves and thinking fast of when to use them, anyone can change the outcome of the fight. Even when in the worst of the worst situations there is always something you can do to come out on top. You have to want it though. We need to know that there is always hope win. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed with things going on in our life. Even in the worst of the worst of times we must continue to have a full brightness of hope. In Jiu Jitsu you sometimes have a good position and bad ones too, like in life "we have the best of times and the worst of times". This life is not always going to be easy, in fact it's a time of testing and proving ourselves. we may never know why we face what we do but as times goes on it’s a lot easier to look back on our trials and see what we learned from it or how it made us stronger. Trials seem to humble ourselves so that we turn to Christ and learn from His example He lead. The lord lets us pass though a small moment of pain that we might grow and take on bigger trials that will come our way. Just how a jiu jitsu trainer doesn't want to let his athlete to leave the gym without pain or sweat, our father in heaven doesn't want us to leave this life without trials because they know that the small amount of pain now will help them in the future. Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained how the sweetness and bitterness is essential until the end of this brief, mortal life. The Good will overcome the evil and those who repent and turn to Christ shall be given eternal life. The hard part is staying positive while enduring trials but I know that trials truly are a blessing in our lives 

Toby And Her Rock

     I’m going to win!!! Said my younger sister Toby. Last summer Toby went on a youth trek to experience what the pioneers had gone though traveling from Illinois, to Missouri, to Nebraska, though Wyoming and then finally to Utah. the youth spent a few days walking part of this long enduring trek with little to eat as the pioneers did (sometimes just a biscuit for lunch) but along the way as they were becoming tired they were given a rock (about the size of a football or softball) to carry along their way. The rock represented sin, they could get rid of the rock by going to the bishop (an office in the church, he can’t forgive sins but can help you get though the repentance process). Sins are lifted from us as we turn to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. Mosiah 26:29 says

Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also.

Toby kept hold of her rock while everyone else went and got rid of theirs by going to the bishop, her friends told Toby "go get rid of your rock!!", "why are you holding on to it??". "I'm going To Win!!!" she replies. "Win what??" they ask. After a long time of growing weak form caring the rock and unable to carry it any further she went to the bishop, he took it the rock, and threw it off to the side. Toby stood their puzzled, learning the she didn’t need to carry it the whole way but could have got rid of it immediately. Sometimes in our lives we carry "rocks" but as we turn to Christ we can get those "rocks" thrown to the side. Don’t let any sin drag you down, He is forever there for us and He can lift any burden from us, if we truly want to be better. He is the light and life of the world, His arms forever extended towards us and we can continually feel strong as we look to Him.

Running All Out

      When my friend dared me to run cross-country with him it stuck. Always having that goal to go faster and faster is always there. Waking up a lacing up is all you need to help with stress and clearing your mind. Even with all the pain in your ankles, knees, and hips after running four, five miles and just noticing you still have to get home, so with your tired self you turn around and keep going. Being away from the worlds worries as you push your body forward is something runners have a passion for but can’t explain why they do it. Could be staying healthy or the excitement of exploring new places to see what's around the corner, just over the hill or how far does the endless trail actually goes. Pushing your body to its limits is a great feeling as you go faster and faster and when you finally receive that time you wanted it’s a great accomplishment. We need to always be pushing ourselves to be better and better, so that we can always have that great feeling in our lives, making good choices and keeping the lords commandments helps us become better. Enduring to the end is key in Gods plan for us and as we do so we find that great joy, and the gospel of Christ can helps improve our lives so that we can become better and better. Like good running shoes help runners go faster, the gospel helps our lives go better and bring that happiness that we all desire. Stay on that path that will lead to eternal life and if for any reason we stop running or leave the path, Christ's hand is extended towards us willing to help us out. Christ loves us so much that he gave his life in atoning for our sins and because of that there is always a way to change and get back on the path running again. I hope that we are not slowing down, but striving to be faster and faster so in that great day we will able to stand to our Heavenly Father saying "I have finished my course", "I have kept the faith", "I have honored thy name".

Fight At The Top Of The Mount

     We learn so much from the Book of Mormon, it helps us out in our everyday lives and as we apply the principles it teaches us we become the person we want to be. The stories in the book really catch my attention when they talk about war or the battles that go on, we wonder why such a precious book that testifies of Christ would talk so much on war. Well in the book of Alma chapter forty seven we learn so much on how we can fall so easily, and how we have to constantly be saying no to pure pressure and keep our guard up at all times. In this chapter is describes a two men, one named Amalickiah and one Lehonti both good men of war but Amiliaka was one who loved power and high ranking, his ultimate desire was to be king. While Lehonti was a man of god. Amalickiah made the Lamanites people really mad at the Nephites that they went to war. They gathered themselves together on a hill called Antipas, Amalickiah and his people (the Lamanites's) at the bottom of the hill and Lehonti at the top of the hill. Amalickiah being a man of war knew that the higher ground had the advantage so he sent a messenger up the hill to tell him to come down and fight, Lehonti stood his ground and said no. Three separate times this went on, till the fourth time Amalickiah said come down half way so that we can talk. Lehonti agreed and came down a little. Amalickiah gave him an offer Lehonti couldn’t refuse, saying at night take your armies and surround me, then in the morning we will surrender to you but if I let you will you make me (Amalickiah) second in command. Lehonti loved the idea and agreed. But this is the very thing Amalickiah desired. He knew that in those times if the king died that the second in command would take over. He then had a servant poison Lehonti by degree till he died. We learn so much from this story, the main thing I get from this is don’t ever come down from off your mount. We all face temptation everyday and we have to stay strong every time it attacks, because it is going to come at us again and again. We have to be steadfast and immovable, as we stay on our mount we will not fall. But as soon as we come down a little bit we fall. We see the results when we come down a little bit. In Lehonti's case he came down a little bit and it ended in his death. May we always stay on our top of our mounts and be safe and not let any little sin bring us down.

Running From Temptation

     Recently, I have thought alot more about how much temptation we all are faced with it each and everyday of our lives, such as, television, internet and things we read and much more. Temptation is a test for us to choose good things instead of bad. Ive seen how satan makes sin look fun by deceiving us, saying that it wont hurt us if we watch this or read this, but it really does bring us down. we need to always have our garuds up to overcome temptation. We all have the wonderful gift of agency to choose good or evil. those who look to god, praying for strength and are obeying the comandments will receive Heavenly Father strengthens that will help them to withstand any temptation. I like a story that I heard from Elder Nuttell while we were on team ups together (being with another companion for the day) and he realated this story of him and his friend to temptation. They were riding there bikes on a hot summer day, near a dam in a rough area of town. Trying to have a fun time out on there bikes exploring a new area, they soon came to a nice relaxing spot accross a river on a hill to hangout for a bit. Not much time later came a couple hornets flying around them, not thinking much of it and seeing that the hornets soon left they went back to enjoying themselves, not much time later a big hornet nest came flying around them. Not lingering any longer they quickly ran down the hill, over the river, running over jagged rocks, stumbling here and there trying to get to saftey, after running way far off in the distance they notice they were finnally safe. This is how we all should act when any temptation comes our way, like Elder Nuttell and the hornets, they didn't hang around, the ran away. when someone or something temps us we need to run from it not hang around or we will fall. If Elder Nuttell stayed any longer he would have been stung. When temptaion comes we need to ask ourselves which side of the line are we on? If we want to be on the safe side, (the Lord’s side) we will do the right thing every time. So when temptation comes, prayerfully think about your problem, and the influence of the Spirit of the Lord will be able you to help you stay on the right side. There is safety for all of us, but only on the Lord’s side of the line.

I've Messed Up, Does God Love Me???



Obedience Helps us Become Who We Want To Be.
















     God has a perfect love for each and every one of us. In the scriptures we read over and over again how god becomes angry with the wicked, so how is this showing that god loves us? Well we know his love is perfect, that he requires us to obey his commandments because he knows that only though obedience to his laws can we become perfected. Just as he is perfect. Its like how a parent has complete love for their children and still becomes angry or disappointed in the choices that they know will only bring them down. He has provided us with great council such as the commandments, word of wisdom and much more. He gives us this for our own happiness because he knows that not living by his council will only bring us misery. We must always turn to Christ and listen to the Holy Ghost; then we can feel his love for us, even when we are being disobedient. Christ can always change us. Christ also taught "Not everyone one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Our Father in heaven loves us as does our savior Jesus Christ who made it possible to return and live in heaven forever but we are saved by his mercy after all we can do. God is perfectly just and through Christ we can be made perfect. May we strive to always chose righteously and receive blessings from our Heavenly Father who truly loves each and every one of us. 

Delete Keys In Our Lives

     I’ve thought a lot about the importance of staying busy, when we are working our minds are focused on productive things that build us up. Work keeps us busy and away from temptation, but thoughts might come in our mind that can distract us from our true goals, we are blessed to have "delete keys" in our lives to reinvite wholesome thoughts by inviting the spirit in our lives by saying a prayer, read the scriptures or thinking of a favorite hymn. Your mind is in charge, when some unworthy thought pushes its way into your mind; replace it with your "delete key". Worthy music is powerful and can help you control your thoughts. I’ve noticed it a lot when I choose uplifting music such as hymns; I feel a warm, comforting spirit that helps me truly want to be better. We can feel the spirit at church, but we need to take on the challenge in providing an environment that spirit can be felt daily. In D&C 88:63 the lord gives us hope saying Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. If we draw near unto the lord the blessings will pour upon us, we just need to invite him in our lives by surrounding ourselves in a spiritual environment. this does not however eliminate trials, but helps us get though them President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explains it perfectly, along the way we experience more bitter trials but also more sweet spiritual growth until, ultimately, those who endured to the end will be “received into … a state of never-ending happiness. May we always have that be our goal to endure to the end, get over these earthly hardships, being faithful to the end to enjoy the many blessings of heaven.  

Honesty Is Who We Want To Be

     Honesty has always been important but I’ve noticed it alot more these past few months and have really though about the great feeling it brings. As a missionary its easier for us to be honest when talking with people because we know who we represent (Christ and his church) and we want to bring them closer unto Christ by doing whatever we can to help and being honest is a big part in that. There is an importance to always be honest even in the hardest times. For me when were driving around out in the country or where no one is around its really easy to not stop at stop signs, to go over the speed limit or to disregard other traffic laws. I’ve come to realize the importance of following all the traffic laws because I don’t want to lose that dignity that I have in myself. We pray for safety when driving on the roads and if we drive over the speed limit does our Father in Heaven have the right to give us that safety to protect us? We need to do all we can and he will provide the rest. It really can get hard to be honest at times to others and yourself but we can overcome the temptation, having the Holy Ghost with us at all times helps us make righteous decisions, when we fall in to temptation and become dishonest we lose our self-respect and lose the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We must always stand up for what is right to become who we want to be. Alma 5:16, 19 says can you imagine yourself coming to the lord at the last day and say "yes, my works on earth have been the works of righteousness". Could you look up to god at that day with a pure heart and clean hands having the image of god engraven upon your countenances?

Go Out Having Faith

Moving Forward In The Hardest Of Times

The cold is rough, but being up here in Wolf Point is insane because it can get down to -50 degrees which is just suffering. Every day I try to do what I can when I go out and work. Today is -24 (without wind chill) and I am doing what I can to stay warm, by wearing thermals, double socks, hat, scarf and a heavy Jacket. I have a task to accomplish being out serving a mission to bring others unto Christ. My father in heaven has given me an assignment to work here in freezing Montana, he never said it would be easy so I put my faith in him knowing I can complete the task given; faith does not make the task easier, just possible. The lord has asked me to serve a mission so like Nephi said "I will go and do the things, which the lord has commanded" for the lord will protect us as we have faith in him, believing that he can provide. The lord tries us (like sending us to Montana) so we will turn to him, putting forth that faith in the hardest of times. He gives us many miracles in our lives, for miracles do not produce faith but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, may we always continually be blessed as we put forth true faith in our father in heaven.

                                

The Greatest Hope

     As a missionary we teach many important principles, but a lot of what we teach ultimately comes back to the importance of the atonement, that Christ preformed which payed the price for all of our sins making it possible for all his children to return and live with our father in heaven again. Many people we come in contact with say they are lost and think that there is no hope to over come mistakes they have made.  

President Boyd K. Packer taught "There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted for the promise of complete forgiveness. That is promise of the atonement of Christ." 

     We are all precious,each one of us. Every soul can again be pure as we have faith in Christ, repent for our sins, going to him in prayer with a broken heart and contrite spirit truly wanting to be better. We come to feel him in our hearts, feeling his love for us and once that connection happens our lives change. This knowledge of the atonement brings comfort and peace as we use it in our daily lives, the atonement is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied to us individually, one person at a time. I know that the atonement is real and that Christ will always be there lifting us up. He lived a perfect life here on the earth, he atoned for our sins and he does live, now and forever.

Gotta Be Different To Make A Difference

 
As a missionary I'm different, I dress different and act different. People notice who were are, because of the different way missionaries carry themselves. People often ask us why we are always so happy walking walking around town, being far from home,  and giving up so much of our time. We tell them that Jesus is the Christ, he is a real being who loves us and pleads for us to follow him. When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be different, you come to know of him and his love for you, your heart changes and your love for others grow. Every heart can change, I see it everyday as people keep our commitments to read the scriptures and pray to our father in heaven. They come to change their way of life to draw closer to our savior Jesus Christ. We find true happiness in this life as we go through our trials, having someone always there by our side every step of the way. As we follow Christ we choose the path of everlasting light that leads to eternal life. The lord changes us from the inside out, we then can the world. May we always know that Jesus is the Christ, always follow him, and truly be willing to change for him. 

Good News

     I have always loved watching the news in the morning to see all the current events going on in the world and around me. It is always interesting every time i watch it, I feel so involved in the things going on. I was always able to watch a lot, growing up with three sisters we had to fight for the bathroom and for some reason I always lost. So I watched the news, It became beneficial to me later in the day because it was something exciting my family and friends were all interested in and wanted to talk about, because we all like good news. That is why I am out here on a mission to share the good news of the gospel about Jesus Christ and his perfect atonement for all mankind that though him we can all come to live with our Heavenly Father again. By using the atonement daily in our lives and doing good works. It is exciting to know that we can live with god again, that this life here on earth is not the end. Our Father in heaven truly loves us and has created a perfect plan for us and our families to return home to him again. Its such a blessing to come to know our fathers love for us. This is the best news I know of, to share with the world.