I Want to Scream to the World... GOD LOVES YOU!!!!

Hello everyone! Life has been super crazy! It really feels great to be blogging again. I hope that everything is going well in all of your lives that you are depending on your Savior Jesus Christ to lift you up through all of your trials. 

Just yesterday, I got my feet wet again in spreading the gospel. I first went out with the sister missionaries to a less-actives and I am continuing to strengthen my testimony in just loving others for who they are, our brothers and sister in Christ. We started the lesson with a prayer and I immediately felt the Spirit. The missionaries out in the world today are the strongest that the world has seen. They work their butts off and it makes me want to be like them and spread the word to all that are open to this great message of peace, love, and joy. The sisters taught with power and with the Spirit. If any of you ever get an opportunity to go out with missionaries, DO NOT HESITATE. My testimony has had some its greatest uplifts when I was with these representatives of Jesus Christ. I left the lesson with joy that fills you from head to toe! I also went out with the elders in my ward just two hours later (Great idea to put them close together. You're on a spiritual high the rest of the night). 

I arrived at the church a little early and waited for the elders to arrive. We arrived at the appointment a little late but that didn't matter. We met with a women who I will call Emily. She welcomed us in and had many questions about the Book of Mormon. We started with a prayer, once again bringing in the Spirit and it just felt good in that room. She began to tell us her confusion between the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon because they did not match up with the verses in Isaiah. It was so great to help answer her questions. We began reading in 2 Nephi 8 and she would read aloud the verses and pause. She would then say something along the lines of "That is very powerful. Look at that!" Before, I never paid much attention to the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon because the stereotype is that they are hard to get through and so when I read the Book of Mormon I read it, but didn't give it the full pondering that these scriptures needed. It was so great to be able to learn from her, a less active, about the importance and sacredness of the scriptures. 

She also expressed concern because she had talked to her old pastor recently who was saying that Mormons were going to hell and would be damned. And she thought to herself, no! She knew that he was wrong because the Book of Mormon is just like the Bible. It is full of love, joy, and peace. It is a happy message. It was so cool to see her have spiritual experiences right before our eyes. At one point, she was so excited and full of the Spirit that she said she wanted to go to church and tell everyone, "GOD LOVES YOU!!!!!!" I just started laughing because she is just amazing! A couple months ago, other elders that have been transferred now, stopped by Emily's place and she did not answer the door. Seeing where she has come from really is great to know that God has a plan. He has a timetable of when things are supposed to happen and there are no coincidences. Okay back to the lesson. She was reading the chapter and realized that the things she was reading was exactly what she had experienced over the couple weeks that the elders couldn't meet with her. She is so great and I know that Emily will continue to progress. I love seeing people change. I think it is so great how the Lord does His work. We all have a mission to help someone in some way and only we can do that. The investigator told all three of us that if the two elders had not come knocking on the door that day, she wouldn't be where she is today. 

I know that we can have these experiences, whether they be simple or humongous, like the one I was lucky enough to witness, that it will impact others for good.  You can do anything through Christ. So, what's holding you back? There are enough bullies, enough tragedies, and enough bad news. Let us spread the good news! GOD LOVES YOU. :) And he knows you! He wants you to return to live with Him for eternity! I cannot think of a greater blessing. Knowing that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me and wants me to be righteous. I can talk to Him whenever I need to and He has provided me with the best tools possible to return home. I love this Gospel and the love that is in it. I am grateful for the missionaries that go out of their way to help other families and people, find their way back on the path to our Heavenly Father. I know that there is a living prophet on the Earth today that talks with God. I also know if we follow His counsel, we will be happier. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Never Give Up. :)

Missionary work is great! You get to see people change their lives to follow the Savior. It is an amazing experience to witness and makes us want to be even better. This past week I was chatting with a friend who I had prieviously talked to about our religions and she didn't really enjoy her church and didn't attend very often. I informed her of all the fun activities and opportunities that our Church offers for its members. She seemed pretty acceptive and wanted to come to a youth activity. There was a fall out for the one we planned and I told her when the next one came up I would tell her. Recently I had had an impression to invite her to church. Seeing that it was fast sunday coming up I thought that she would particularly enjoy it. I invited her and she reacted in a way that I did not entirely expect. She was offended that I asked her and was annoyed by it. I didn't even know what to say back to her. She apologized but I felt like she didn't really mean it.  

Since that experience I had been pretty down on myself and didn't know where to go from here. I had invited a lot of my friends already and they either weren't interested or got my hopes up and then it didn't work out. I want to spread this great message to all of my friends. Because I am a mormon, I live a great life. I know where I'll be going after I die, I know where I came from and why I am here. I know that whatever happens in my life, it is for the reason that my Heavenly Father loves me. And I want everyone I know to have that same knowledge. 

Today in Fast and Testimony meeting I bore my testimony and I knew that missionary work was a good thing. I knew at that point that I cannot give up. The Lord is calling us to the work. That doesn't mean that even more people will be interested than before. It means that we need to work harder, and involve the Spirit more with our teaching and finding people who are ready. Those people are out there. They don't know what to do and need that comfort that comes through the Gospel. I also found a quote by Elder Neil L. Andersen, and he states: "Whether or not the invitation is accepted as you invite others to come and see you will feel the approval of the Lord and, with that approval, an added measure of faith to share your beliefs again and again." (emphasis added). 

I love this work and I am so impressed and grateful for all of the hard work that the missionaries of the world put in every day to serve others to bring others unto Christ. I know that if we continue to share the Gospel, we will feel blessed and loved by our Heavenly Father because we are following His counsel. Never give up. And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

A Great Missionary Opportunity! And for others: Great for Answers!

ATTENTION: 

                            You're invited (EVERYONE) to The Church of Jesus Christ of
                              Latter Day Saints on November 1st, 2012 for an Open House! 

What: The Mormons Next Door.. (title)

Time: 7:00 pm. 

Where: 2930 Townline Rd. Perry, OH 44077

Some questions that will be answered:
- Are Mormons Christians?
- What is the Book of Mormon?
- Can families be together forever?
- Why is Kirtland, Ohio important and what happened there?

If you have any questions please feel free to call:

(440) 228-9181

(440) 796-3764

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED. (Now you want to come....)


PLEEEEAASEEEE SHARE THIS WITH ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!!!!!!!! Whether it be by status, text, tweet, email etc. We want to get the word out!!!!

Let us Recommit Ourselves to the Gospel.

“I am pleased to announce that effective immediately all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19. I am not suggesting that all young men will—or should—serve at this earlier age.” This was President Thomas S. Monson’s announcement in his opening remarks at this past General Conference.  When I first heard this, I was wondering if it was a dream. When I finally realized that it wasn’t, (this was a few days later…) I was so excited. It puts things that much closer for me. I’ll be in the field in 3 years! It really is causing me to be more focused on the Gospel because I want to be a good missionary and we all should recommit ourselves to preparing for a mission. “Perspective missionaries will be asked to enhance and improve and take more seriously, their pre-mission preparation. This should include: total personal worthiness, supplemented by gospel study of the Book of Mormon and the Standard works of the Church, seminary classes, and systematic study of the missionary handbook, Preach My Gospel.” (Jeffrey R. Holland). I have also realized that I need to be making the right choices in my everyday life, because one bad choice can hurt me along the way.

I know that because of this announcement I must(among a few):
1. Study His Gospel everyday
2. Learn to teach how Christ teaches
3. Try my hardest now to love everyone
4. Be more selfless
5. Always have the Spirit to be with me (never be in a place where it is hard to hear his still small voice.
6. Establish a good connection with my Father in Heaven through daily prayer.

In D&C 11:21 it reads: “Seek not to ^adeclare my word, but first seek to ^bobtain my ^cword, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my ^dSpirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the ^econvincing of men.” Jeffrey R. Holland insight in this new announcement is as follows: “It means that God is hastening His work. And He needs more and more willing and worthy missionaries to spread the light and the truth and the hope and the salvation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to an often dark and fearful world.” We need to commit ourselves to being completely worthy as Elder Holland has advised us. God only sends the most worthy to do His work. (D&C 105:35 - There has been a day of ^acalling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are ^bworthy.) Russell M. Nelson in his talk at this conference gives the youth of the church some counsel. “All missionaries, younger and older, serve with the sole hope of making life better for other people. The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come.” I know that this Church is true and that this new announcement was indeed inspiration from Heaven and we need to answer the Lord's call. I love this Gospel and I cannot wait to get out and preach the truth unto the world. And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

P.S. Here is a link to this past conference, if you did not get a chance to hear all of conference, I strongly urge you to do so! It is so awesome! https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/10?lang=eng

Patterns of Light: Discerning Light

In the second video, Bednar is discussing discerning the inspiration from the Holy Ghost, and just an everyday thought. He says: "Everything that entices us to do good and to be good comes from the Holy Ghost. So everyday, whenever you feel the need to help someone either by holding the door open or helping them to understand something, both of which you are not obligated to do, is the Holy Ghost. He also informs that God should not have to get our attention in obvious ways. We should always be in a place where we will be able to hear His still small voice. In this ever busy world, we need to put the Kingdom of God first. What helps me personally is asking myself what it is like for other people that don't have the Gospel. They don't know why they are actually here, where they are going after they die, and how they even came to be. But with the Gospel, we know. So let's not take that for granted. We have been chosen to be on this Earth at this time for a reason. One is to spread the gospel to our friends. You would be surprised who is watching you and needing that comfort that the Gospel brings. To get back on topic, Bednar says that "Any person, anywhere in the world can and is influenced by the Holy Ghost. He is our conscience that warns us of things that are not right and what we should do. He can also confirm spiritual truths. Like if we want to know if the Book of Mormon is true. 
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the^gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things." (Moroni 10:4-5)

I know that if we are in an environment where we can feel the Spirit that the Holy Ghost will never lead us astray. He wants what is best for us. I love this Church with all of my heart. It gives me comfort beyond belief. I cannot wait for this Saturday to hear from our Living Prophet President Thomas S. Monson. I hope that you will heed to his words and to everyone's words this upcoming weekend. They have pondered over their subjects and their messages are truly inspired. And I say that in the name of my Beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.