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".