Sorry about not writing any posts for awhile. I honestly haven't quite known what to write about. Sure, I've gone to the temple twice (once was my first time), and I've had plenty of missionary experiences, but...I don't know. I can't really write about the temple because no words will properly describe the feelings that I had while I was in the temple. The simplest way to describe how I felt would be "happy," but happy doesn't do my feelings nearly enough justice. I guess I could write about how people "slamming" doors in my face while I'm out tracting with the missionaries only makes me want to tract harder and longer, and doesn't dishearten me at all, but that's really about all I have to say about that.
Well, okay, that's not true. I just really don't understand why people are so unreceptive to hearing the Gospel. I mean, I know a lot of the goodness of the Gospel, but I'm still learning. But even still, I know that Lehi was not lying when he said that the fruit of the Tree of Life was "...most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted" (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 8:11). I have taken but small nibbles out of the fruit, and yet it does make my soul rejoice and fill with exceeding joy. I just do not understand why someone would turn down the best thing ever. I want to force-feed these people just a spoonful of the knowledge that I have, and I feel like that person would maybe listen at least for a little while. And the people that say they don't have the time...why?? Ah!! Seriously, 5 minutes is too much? "Sorry, we're just about to go out to dinner..." *closes door*. You are seriously so ravenous that you cannot stand to wait another 5 minutes to hear what just might be the most important message of your life?? Wow. It's just frustrating, that's all. Frustrating, but not disheartening. No, not disheartening at all. I know that someday, someone will need to hear what I have to say, and if I work my butt off for two years and only have one person let me in, then I will have succeeded, for, "...if it so be that you should labor all your days crying repentance unto this people, and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" (D&C 18:15). My challenge to all of you is to stop and listen this week. If a pair of those nice young men in their white shirts and ties comes knocking on your door, let them in and listen, even if it's just for 5 minutes. Listen with your mind, and listen with your heart. Or even if you just know a Latter-day Saint, ask them to tell you a little bit more about what he/she believes in. I can guarantee you that it won't hurt you to listen, and most of us don't bite (hard, at least). Aaaand I just realized that most of my followers are LDS, but that doesn't matter! Maybe one non-member will see this and take it to heart, and just maybe, that person will get a bit more curious.
Ciao!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Well, this is a first.
A first has occurred!! I've had a request to write a blog post! I honestly never even thought about this possibility, but I am definitely open to suggestions. If you would like to give me a topic, I can certainly do my best to write my thoughts on it. Reader beware, the post may be anywhere from two sentences to an essay. Also, what I have said is true as far as I have understood it, and any mistakes are human error.
Tonight in Institute we had a lesson about forgiveness and a lesson about how faith must always come before signs/miracles. I think I'll talk about the faith one first.
I am so glad that I take notes, because otherwise I wouldn't remember many things that I'm taught. I'm not one that can hear something once and then remember it forever...except for with certain things, and those things occasionally change, so it's actually rather unpredictable. Anyway, I digress from my topic. Faith must always come before any sign or miracle is presented. Well, actually, what my teacher (we'll call him Brother G) taught was that tests come before faith, which comes before signs/miracles. He gave several good examples of instances that this happened. One of those examples was comparing Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Lucy Harris, wife of Martin Harris. Emma was never allowed to look at the plates while Joseph translated them. As far as I remember, she was commanded by God to not look at the plates. She was allowed to be Joseph's scribe for a short time while he translated, but he was still not allowed to look at the plates themselves. While this must have been excruciatingly hard for her to not look at the plates, even when she was left alone with them, she never looked, and she always retained her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. Lucy, however, was a far different story. Lucy actually obtained some parts of the translations from her husband, who had asked to take something home to show his wife. Lucy never gained a testimony of the gospel, and in fact she was one of the biggest thorns in the side of the Church while it was getting started. She eventually went insane, and believed that black snakes were constantly following her around. This example is only one of many.
Why would faith have to come before any miracles? You might think that seeing someone walk on water or heal a persons maimed limb would give a person an instant testimony that the Church is true. While a person may say that he believes in the gospel after he witnesses this miracle, he does not truly believe. One must receive his own testimony through careful study of the gospel, and from pondering the words of the Lord. In Doctrine and Covenants 63:12, the Lord says, "Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory." Basically what's being said in that scripture is that miracles will happen when you have faith because you want to further the work of the Lord. Sign-seekers want miracles for the wrong reason. They want instant gratification. They don't want to work to gain faith, they want faith right then and there. Faith does not come without an effort and a burning desire to know the truth. One must study the gospel and ponder the words in their minds and hearts before they can receive a true, deep testimony.
Now, speaking of miracles, what is the greatest miracle of all time? The loaves and fish? Jesus walking on water? Jesus raising the dead? Healing the leper? I say to thee, nay! (Sorry, I couldn't help it.) The greatest of all miracles was the miracle of forgiveness. Think about forgiveness. Think about how difficult true forgiveness is. How difficult would it be for you to forgive someone who had killed your wife and two of your children because that person was driving drunk? Or how would you respond if you were a concentration camp survivor and was asked to be forgiven by one of the guards at your camp many years after you had been freed? And yet, we have been commanded to forgive all others; "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10). Not forgiving someone of theirs sin against you is actually a greater sin than whatever sin that person made against you. No joke. "Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; fr he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin." Now these two commandments may upset some of you, but I ask you, what are you doing when you are refusing to forgive someone?
You are denying that person the Atonement. You are saying that that person is not good enough to be saved by Christ. Who on this earth has the right to deny another person the Atonement? No one. Now, I'm not saying that everyone has to forgive everyone else of everything that has happened to them right this very second. Forgiveness takes time, and it takes effort. It's not something that happens right away always. But it is something that must happen, no matter how hard it is. How can we forgive someone? Well, we have a couple of heavy-hitting resources at our disposal; our Heavenly Father, our Lord and Savior, His atoning sacrifice, and the standard works (the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price). We have the odds stacked in our favor so that no matter what happens to us, we will have the power to overcome and move on.
I would challenge all of you to start doing as much as you can to gain/regain/strengthen your faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and in his gospel and church. And once you have done that, I would challenge you to pray about his gospel to find out for yourself if it is true. I know for sure that this is the true church of Jesus Christ, and I know that through his atoning sacrifice I will be saved. I know that if I do all that I can to understand his gospel and to follow in the footsteps of Christ that I will be able to spend eternity with my family and my Heavenly Father. I know these things to be true, and I say them in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ciao!
Tonight in Institute we had a lesson about forgiveness and a lesson about how faith must always come before signs/miracles. I think I'll talk about the faith one first.
I am so glad that I take notes, because otherwise I wouldn't remember many things that I'm taught. I'm not one that can hear something once and then remember it forever...except for with certain things, and those things occasionally change, so it's actually rather unpredictable. Anyway, I digress from my topic. Faith must always come before any sign or miracle is presented. Well, actually, what my teacher (we'll call him Brother G) taught was that tests come before faith, which comes before signs/miracles. He gave several good examples of instances that this happened. One of those examples was comparing Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Lucy Harris, wife of Martin Harris. Emma was never allowed to look at the plates while Joseph translated them. As far as I remember, she was commanded by God to not look at the plates. She was allowed to be Joseph's scribe for a short time while he translated, but he was still not allowed to look at the plates themselves. While this must have been excruciatingly hard for her to not look at the plates, even when she was left alone with them, she never looked, and she always retained her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. Lucy, however, was a far different story. Lucy actually obtained some parts of the translations from her husband, who had asked to take something home to show his wife. Lucy never gained a testimony of the gospel, and in fact she was one of the biggest thorns in the side of the Church while it was getting started. She eventually went insane, and believed that black snakes were constantly following her around. This example is only one of many.
Why would faith have to come before any miracles? You might think that seeing someone walk on water or heal a persons maimed limb would give a person an instant testimony that the Church is true. While a person may say that he believes in the gospel after he witnesses this miracle, he does not truly believe. One must receive his own testimony through careful study of the gospel, and from pondering the words of the Lord. In Doctrine and Covenants 63:12, the Lord says, "Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory." Basically what's being said in that scripture is that miracles will happen when you have faith because you want to further the work of the Lord. Sign-seekers want miracles for the wrong reason. They want instant gratification. They don't want to work to gain faith, they want faith right then and there. Faith does not come without an effort and a burning desire to know the truth. One must study the gospel and ponder the words in their minds and hearts before they can receive a true, deep testimony.
Now, speaking of miracles, what is the greatest miracle of all time? The loaves and fish? Jesus walking on water? Jesus raising the dead? Healing the leper? I say to thee, nay! (Sorry, I couldn't help it.) The greatest of all miracles was the miracle of forgiveness. Think about forgiveness. Think about how difficult true forgiveness is. How difficult would it be for you to forgive someone who had killed your wife and two of your children because that person was driving drunk? Or how would you respond if you were a concentration camp survivor and was asked to be forgiven by one of the guards at your camp many years after you had been freed? And yet, we have been commanded to forgive all others; "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10). Not forgiving someone of theirs sin against you is actually a greater sin than whatever sin that person made against you. No joke. "Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; fr he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin." Now these two commandments may upset some of you, but I ask you, what are you doing when you are refusing to forgive someone?
You are denying that person the Atonement. You are saying that that person is not good enough to be saved by Christ. Who on this earth has the right to deny another person the Atonement? No one. Now, I'm not saying that everyone has to forgive everyone else of everything that has happened to them right this very second. Forgiveness takes time, and it takes effort. It's not something that happens right away always. But it is something that must happen, no matter how hard it is. How can we forgive someone? Well, we have a couple of heavy-hitting resources at our disposal; our Heavenly Father, our Lord and Savior, His atoning sacrifice, and the standard works (the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price). We have the odds stacked in our favor so that no matter what happens to us, we will have the power to overcome and move on.
I would challenge all of you to start doing as much as you can to gain/regain/strengthen your faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and in his gospel and church. And once you have done that, I would challenge you to pray about his gospel to find out for yourself if it is true. I know for sure that this is the true church of Jesus Christ, and I know that through his atoning sacrifice I will be saved. I know that if I do all that I can to understand his gospel and to follow in the footsteps of Christ that I will be able to spend eternity with my family and my Heavenly Father. I know these things to be true, and I say them in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ciao!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
"On the road again..."
I have decided something! The newest addition to my bucket list is to drive the entire Pan-American Highway, from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina in one trip. Start to finish, that's roughly 29,800 miles. Snap. While I'm traveling this road, I plan on stopping by all the LDS temples that are on the way. There are actually quite a few, but I don't know all of them because I'll have to piece together a bunch of maps to make one surefire route. I am super excited about this, as I usually get about any new, exciting, spontaneous ideas that I have. It will probably be quite a long and potentially pricey expedition, but it would be an incredible experience. I would love to complete this trek with Girlfriend, but that depends on whether or not she'll be up for this almost 30,000 mile voyage. I'm sure I can probably convince her though.
As with many of my grand ideas, this idea requires a car, and I think I have already determined which car I should use. I've decided on the 2004 Subaru Forester XT with a number of after market add-ons. I read an article explaining how to basically turn the Forester XT into a Forester STi, which my car aficionado friends will recognize as a true wolf in sheep's clothing. The under-hood upgrades would run less than $1000, which is a heck of a deal. Subarus are exceptionally good at getting over most any terrain, which will come in handy when I'm traversing the frozen arctic tundra and the muggy rain forests. The Forester also has quite a bit of cargo capacity, which is useful for carrying spare car parts, food, water, and clothing. Going through customs will be a nightmare because of all the gear, but oh well. The experience will be so incredible, and to share it with someone as special as Girlfriend will be such a blessing. I cannot wait for this expedition.
Ciao!
Update: I figured I should write down all the countries that will be visited in the trek, so here goes:
1) Canada
2) United States
3) Mexico
4) Guatemala
5) El Salvador
6) Honduras
7) Nicaragua
8) Costa Rica
9) Panama
10) Colombia
11) Ecuador (hey!!)
12) Peru
13) Chile
14) Argentina
I believe that the highway will travel through the major cities in each country (well, in the US it goes through Denver, and that's about it), so the temple count goes to at least 18. Dang. That is wonderful. The list of temples includes:
Calgary Alberta
As with many of my grand ideas, this idea requires a car, and I think I have already determined which car I should use. I've decided on the 2004 Subaru Forester XT with a number of after market add-ons. I read an article explaining how to basically turn the Forester XT into a Forester STi, which my car aficionado friends will recognize as a true wolf in sheep's clothing. The under-hood upgrades would run less than $1000, which is a heck of a deal. Subarus are exceptionally good at getting over most any terrain, which will come in handy when I'm traversing the frozen arctic tundra and the muggy rain forests. The Forester also has quite a bit of cargo capacity, which is useful for carrying spare car parts, food, water, and clothing. Going through customs will be a nightmare because of all the gear, but oh well. The experience will be so incredible, and to share it with someone as special as Girlfriend will be such a blessing. I cannot wait for this expedition.
Ciao!
Update: I figured I should write down all the countries that will be visited in the trek, so here goes:
1) Canada
2) United States
3) Mexico
4) Guatemala
5) El Salvador
6) Honduras
7) Nicaragua
8) Costa Rica
9) Panama
10) Colombia
11) Ecuador (hey!!)
12) Peru
13) Chile
14) Argentina
I believe that the highway will travel through the major cities in each country (well, in the US it goes through Denver, and that's about it), so the temple count goes to at least 18. Dang. That is wonderful. The list of temples includes:
Calgary Alberta
Billings Montana
Denver Colorado
Albuquerque New Mexico
Ciudad Juarez Mexico
Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Mexico
Oaxaca Mexico
Mexico City Mexico
Tuxtia Gutierrez Mexico
Guatemala City Guatemala
Tegucigalpa Honduras
San Jose Costa Rica
Panama City Panama
Guayaquil Ecuador
Trujillo Peru
Lima Peru
Santiago Chile
Buenos Aires Argentina.
Bam. Now I really, really cannot wait. :D
Another update: Well, turns out I took a wrong turn just looking at Google Maps, so a couple of those ones in Mexico might not count, and there is at least one new one, Monterrey, Mexico. But still, that's a heck of a lot of temples. And it's still a heck of a trip. :D
Another update: Well, turns out I took a wrong turn just looking at Google Maps, so a couple of those ones in Mexico might not count, and there is at least one new one, Monterrey, Mexico. But still, that's a heck of a lot of temples. And it's still a heck of a trip. :D
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"...that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son..."
Tonight was the first time that I've been able to go to my missionary prep class at Institute for about 3 weeks, and what a blessing it was to be able to go. It's actually because of Institute that I have anything to write on here at all! Woohoo!! Our lesson tonight was about preparing investigators to be baptized. One of the scriptures we read really struck me because of one part that was in it. I don't know why this particular part struck me so strongly tonight, I guess it was just a big nudge from the Spirit that I needed to focus on this part right now. The scripture that we read that inspired my thinking was from D&C 20:37; "All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church" (italics added for emphasis). That italicized part is such an important part, one that all Latter-day Saints who go to sacrament meetings will recognize as familiar. "...that they are willing to take upon them the name of they Son..." is in the blessing for the bread. But I wonder if we fully understand what this sentence means?
When we take the sacrament and agree to take upon us the name of the Savior, of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are basically agreeing to live like He does. We are agreeing to be like Christ. While it is not possible for us to be exactly like our Savior, that is exactly what we have been commanded to do, and that is exactly what we agree upon from the moment we are baptized. Think about that for just one second; we agree to live like Jesus. Not only is this commandment found in the Doctrine and Covenants, but it is also found in 3 Nephi, where Jesus, while speaking to the Nephites, says in verse 27, "...Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." Straight from the Savior. We are to be even as He is. I believe that this one commandment pretty much sums up all of the other commandments. Jesus Christ was the one and only perfect being to ever walk this earth. That means that he followed all of the commandments to a 't.' And we've been commanded to be like him. Dang. That may be a bit daunting to many, but it really is actually a blessing to be commanded that. When you are striving to be like Jesus, you will be blessed to have the Spirit constantly guiding you. You will want to read the scriptures, you will want to preach the gospel, you will want to follow all of the commandments, and you will be worthy of receiving all the blessings that our Father in heaven has in store for us. I dunno about you, but I am definitely down for that. I know for a fact that following in the footsteps of the Savior will guarantee us untold blessings for us and for our families. I know that Christ lives, and that if I follow Him I will be able to return to see my Heavenly Father someday. I know all of this beyond a shadow of a doubt, and I hope and pray that someday you will also be able to know these truths, if you don't know them already. I leave you these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ciao!
When we take the sacrament and agree to take upon us the name of the Savior, of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are basically agreeing to live like He does. We are agreeing to be like Christ. While it is not possible for us to be exactly like our Savior, that is exactly what we have been commanded to do, and that is exactly what we agree upon from the moment we are baptized. Think about that for just one second; we agree to live like Jesus. Not only is this commandment found in the Doctrine and Covenants, but it is also found in 3 Nephi, where Jesus, while speaking to the Nephites, says in verse 27, "...Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." Straight from the Savior. We are to be even as He is. I believe that this one commandment pretty much sums up all of the other commandments. Jesus Christ was the one and only perfect being to ever walk this earth. That means that he followed all of the commandments to a 't.' And we've been commanded to be like him. Dang. That may be a bit daunting to many, but it really is actually a blessing to be commanded that. When you are striving to be like Jesus, you will be blessed to have the Spirit constantly guiding you. You will want to read the scriptures, you will want to preach the gospel, you will want to follow all of the commandments, and you will be worthy of receiving all the blessings that our Father in heaven has in store for us. I dunno about you, but I am definitely down for that. I know for a fact that following in the footsteps of the Savior will guarantee us untold blessings for us and for our families. I know that Christ lives, and that if I follow Him I will be able to return to see my Heavenly Father someday. I know all of this beyond a shadow of a doubt, and I hope and pray that someday you will also be able to know these truths, if you don't know them already. I leave you these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ciao!
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