Sunday, June 15, 2014

We Are Grateful to Call Thee Father.

Happy Father's Day to all Fathers, Sons, and Men. We are all fathers in some part of our life. And we all have a Father who loves us. He wants the best for us. He has given us so many tools and guides to help us return to His presence; the scriptures, prophets, prayer, the Holy Ghost, the Atonement, and family, to name a few. On this day I am thankful that Heavenly Father still loves me through all of my imperfections. And I know that He loves you no matter what you have done. 

Our Father in Heaven does so much for us. Jeffrey R. Holland spoke in the October 2003 general conference and stated, "That single, riveting scene does more to teach the true nature of God than any theological treatise could ever convey. It also helps us understand much more emphatically that vivid moment in the Book of Mormon allegory of the olive tree, when after digging and dunging, watering and weeding, trimming, pruning, transplanting, and grafting, the great Lord of the vineyard throws down his spade and his pruning shears and weeps, crying out to any who would listen, “What could I have done more for my vineyard?”" This is such a touching insight. Our Father is doing all that He can and all that he asks is for us to follow Him. From someone who has given us everything, what can I do but follow Him. He has given me life. Through Jesus Christ, I get to see Him again. I am so grateful that my Father was willing to let His Only Son take upon the sins of the world and suffer on the cross so that I can experience eternal joy. 

The Father wants us to talk to Him. He wants to have a relationship with us. In fact, we cannot gain eternal life without having a relationship with Him. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." Joseph Smith added, "If any man does not know God, and inquires what kind of a being He is, he will realize that he has not eternal life; for there can be eternal life on no other principle." One can develop a relationship with our Heavenly Father through any of the means listed above. He has given us scriptures and prayer as ways to get to know Him better. "Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" (D&C 1:38). 

I know that God lives and is doing everything He can to bring us back to Him. He loves each and every one of us. He knows us. He knows you. He loves you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.   

I am a child of God,
And He has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home 
With parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him someday.  




Saturday, June 7, 2014

The Best Two Word Sermon - STOP IT.

A while back I watched an amazing video about bullying. Bullying does not just happen in schools. It happens in every day life at whatever age. Everyone deserves respect. We are children of our Heavenly Father and we each have something to bring to bless the lives of someone else. We all need each other in some way; it could be to help build us up, or they are so annoying that they are in your life to help your patience level. I am so glad that I have met all of the people I have. They have made me the person I am today. What I love is that everyone is different. There are no copies on this earth. Out of the 7 billion people, YOU are unique. If we remember that, and that God loves each one of us equally, we will more easily follow President Uchtdorf's counsel of STOP IT. 

For me, I need to STOP being lazy in posting on here. For me, I need to STOP giving into the natural man. What do you need to STOP? I, along with you, will start stopping things in my life that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can be made right. Watch this video and apply it to your life. :) I know that this is the same Church that Christ established on the Earth when He was here. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I cannot wait to share this happy message with the world in about a year. I love you all so much. Keep being you. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.