Write your Blessings, Write Them One by One.

"When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done."

Hello! In our lives here on Earth, we receive so many blessings that most of the time, we don't even realize we have them. Sometimes, we complain because we have a big test coming up, or what we are having for dinner isn't very good, or our electronics are out of battery. I am a victim of this myself, but there are people on this Earth that don't even have the opportunity to go to school. There are some families and children that are starving and would get excited over anything they could eat.

If we simply write down the blessings we receive, we may see how blessed we are. In Ether 3, it provides clarity to what I'm trying to say: "Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men." He is all around us, but most do not even see it. I suggest starting a blessing journal. When you look back on your life, you will see The Lord's hand in your everyday life. As I have done this, I have gained a greater understanding of just how much God and Jesus Christ love us. If we do this, I know that we will change and want to serve and bless others. That is what this Gospel is about. We are trying to get back to our Heavenly Father, and we can't get back to Him by ourselves. We will make it because of others' simple acts of kindness, others' guidance and leadership, and through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.

He loved me enough to take upon my sins individually so that I could live in the presence of God. And I cannot repay Him even close to enough. But one you and I can do is to follow Him and His commandments. I know that when we are fully committed to the Church of Jesus Christ and His gospel, you and your posterity will be blessed. Never lose faith. He is ever so watchful. He loves you, and wants you to return to Him in righteousness. Maybe we could help fulfill his wish? I know that the true Church has been restored upon the Earth in these the last days. Let us all be grateful for what we have, and for our Savior, especially during this Easter Season. And I say that in the name of my Elder Brother, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

"Ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led"

Hello! I love to post on this blog, so I don't know why I don't do it more often! I need incentive....or something.

Well, in The Book of Mormon, we read of Nephi's continuous obedience in the Lord in whatever he was asked. When he was asked to build the ship, he immediately repsonded with the question of where to find tools. He did not question what the Lord wanted of him or how he could possibly do it, because of his faith (1 Nephi 3:7). In chapter 17, he is comforted by the Lord in this manner, and I believe that this applies to all of us: "And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." (emphasis added) I love this verse. He tells us that He will be our Light in the wilderness. This can be for anything, whether you're in college and feel like you're the only Mormon or if you're struggling with being bullied. We can Come unto Him and He will be that light we can hold onto in our times of uncertainty.

From reading the scriptures and attending church every sunday, we have many opportunities as Latter Day Saints of The Church of Jesus Christ to feel the Spirit and if we have the faith that He is there for us and will lead us through the wilderness, we will find that He loves us so much. We will find more and more evidence throughout our days, that He is watchful over us and we will recognize His hand in our everyday lives.

Through personal experience, whenever I have inquired of the Lord for help, I feel comforted. I know that He will always be with me, because He loves me and you more than either of us can comprehend! In the New Era (a Church magazine for young adults) they come out with a Mormonad that I look forward to every month! This one represents God's love for us. Even if we make bad decisions, He still loves us dearly. There are no petals that come off that say He hates you. HE LOVES YOU. HE LOVES YOU. HE LOVES YOU.

I know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and we can take anything to them and we will be at peace. I would encourage you all to seek for that evidence that proves Their love for you. I see it in my everyday life. I know that because He loves us, He gives us trials and temptations, and He knows that we can overcome them and endure. If we stay on the strait and narrow path back to our Heavenly Father, we will be more happy and blessed. I love all of the knowledge I continue to gain about my Savior and this Gospel, and I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

AND REMEMBER:

HE LOVES YOU.

Have any questions? Comments? Feel free to message me! :)

-- Christian

These ARE the Last Days.

All around us today we see hate, sin, and unrighteousness. Elder Dallin H Oaks, in the February Ensign, wrote of "Truth and Tolerance" within the world around us. I read it and I encourage all of you to do the same. I would like to quote the few parts of it that I believe are significant.

"We believe in absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. We know that the existence of God and the existence of absolute truth are fundamental to life on this earth, whether they are believed in or not. We also know that evil exists and that some things are simply, seriously, and everlastingly wrong.
The philosophy of moral relativism, which holds that each person is free to choose for him or herself what is right and wrong, is becoming the unofficial creed for many in the United States and other Western nations. At the extreme level, evil acts that used to be localized and covered up like a boil are now legalized and paraded like a banner. Persuaded by this philosophy, many of the rising generation are caught up in self-serving pleasures, pornography, dishonesty, foul language, revealing attire, pagan painting and piercing of body parts, and degrading sexual indulgence.
In this troubled circumstance, we who believe in God and the corollary truth of absolute right and wrong have the challenge of living in a godless and increasingly amoral world. In this circumstance, all of us—especially the rising generation—have a duty to stand up and speak out to affirm that God exists and that there are absolute truths that His commandments establish.
Because followers of Jesus Christ are commanded to be leaven, we must seek tolerance from those who hate us for not being of the world. As part of this, we will sometimes need to challenge laws that would impair our freedom to practice our faith, doing so in reliance on our constitutional rights to the free exercise of religion. The big concern is “the ability of people of all faiths to work out their relationship with God and one another without the government looking over their shoulder.” That is why we need understanding and support when we must contend for religious freedom.
Third, believers should not be deterred by the familiar charge that they are trying to legislate morality. Many areas of the law are based on Judeo-Christian morality and have been for centuries. Western civilization is based on morality and cannot exist without it. As the second U.S. president, John Adams, declared: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”"
I know that this is divine counsel from one of our prophets. And with the new missionary age being lowered, Our Heavenly Father is responding with His army. We need to be one of His top men. One with great faith, obedience, and diligence in the Gospel. These ARE the last days. There's no questioning it. Very soon we will have to choose between following God, or Satan. There will be no more fence sitters. Choose Liberty and Eternal Life.
I know that this is the right time for the age to be lowered, and i would hope that we all, young and old, will be active in The Lord's army. I love to read words from our Prophets on the Earth today and may we pray for their health and guidance by the Holy Ghost in what we need to hear. I know that God lives and wants the best for us, even if it seems like He's not there. He always is. And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.