Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Sacrifice for Others to Live

What are some sacrifices that others do for you personally? So many of us often overlook what is truly done for us. I know that I do. I sit there and think sometimes nobody but God cares. That is the wrong way to look at it. If we can only think for a second what someone has done for us.


Right now I am sitting here thinking about what people are doing for me. Maybe I don't see or know about it but I know people are protecting me. A perfect example is the man that you see on the street corner looking like a poor man who is truly an undercover agent trying to stop illegal activity. He is putting his life on the line for both you and I. We have all of the police officers world wide who are arresting criminals so they do not come and kill us or something else bad like that. There men are getting in firefights with the criminals knowing their life is in danger. They hope to go home to their families every night but will they? Some may not and they already know that. They are still willing to go and serve those in their communities and countries. Some even serve others in other countries by arresting or killing those harming others. So many get frusturated with these people when they get pulled over or are asked to move. Why do they do so? Impatience and disrespect. I know that these people are will appreciate these officers one day when their life is on the line. Our law enforcement personnel(Federal, Local) are willing to give up all to do so. This because of their love for their country and fellow men. Not everybody can do this job, it takes a special person.
The following link sends you to a clip of an officers story.
You Raise Me Up- Police Tribute

We also have our armed forces(Active, Reserve, Veteran, Deceased) in other countries as well as here who have given all or will give all. Here is another example of men and women that are willing to give up everything. Some of the soldiers come home alive. They know whether they do or not they have served their country in honor. They have helped in the protection of their fellow citizens. They have given it all. These soldiers go through traumatizing events that change their lives and families. Families are truly hurt by the things their soldier sees and feels now. Military and law enforcement families have often bad living conditions. We may not see it, but the families whose fathers or mothers mind is changed forever. They may not have patience or they may wake up to miserable dreams of previous occurances. They are sometimes also split because of such conditions. We as citizens often take this as granted. We don't give them the respect they deserve. We judge them because of what they do, but we don't know what they are going through. If only we understood what it was like to have to take a life to save a life, what would we then think? How would that affect your condition? Would you look differently upon these honorable citizens? People threaten these soldiers and officers and their families because of what they are doing? They are just trying to help.




We also have our firefighters who run into burning buildings to get somebody out. Not knowing if they will survive, but they do it because they love their fellow citizens. They want others to have their family with them. Often when somebody is in need of the need of the moment these people come to the rescue. When we complain about having a hard bed maybe we should think about the firefighter out fighting a forest fire and sleeping on rocks and other things. We have paramedics who go to scenes and people die in their arms. Doing all they can to save a kid who got hit by a stupid driver or a passer by in a drug war. These people are always ready to respond no matter what time it is. They go days without a good sleep so they can help others.

These men and women show charity, or the pure love of Christ. They are willing to give everything. Next time you see them how are you gonna think about them? Are you going to thank them or disrespect them? Just remember that you may need them one day and you will sure be thankful for them doing their job. This is a thanks to all who serve. it is a way of life for them, but for us it is a sign of their love and respect for us.
In John 15:13 it states, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." What does this say about these men and women.

We have one greater than all who gave up His life. We all know of Him. He is the Son of God. He who I speak of is Jesus Christ. He gave His life in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the cross and who was resurrected. He made it possible that we may all be able to receive help. Along with all of these wonderful heros on the earth who fall the Savior example He says, "Come unto Me, that ye may be healed." He took every kind of beating, suffering, hardship that mankind will ever face so we don't have to. He loves each one of Heavenly Fathers children individually. he is willing to do whatever to help us out. He has His arms outstretched but we have to reach for Him. He stands on the other side of the door knocking, are you gonna answer? I know that we can be healed by our Master Physician as we exercise faith in Him.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Events that Bring the World Together for Joyous Times!

As we all know one of the biggest worldly events that brings us all together is Olympics. The Olympics is when countries gather together for fun games and a bit of competition. I look at the Olympics as a time of world unity. We mostly all gather together to support our teams.

This song "I Believe" I love it(lyrics below). If we are all united to God it will bring world peace! What more could we ask for. Now I know that that is such a huge piece to bite on but that is what is needed. We can have all the worldly things we want but that will not bring us exaltation in God's Kingdom nor being ready to see Christ! How do we do this? I think the world should gather together at a certain time and pray together. The power of prayer is miraculous and can solve all the problems. All religions and faiths should be united and one day will be I believe.

I love the words of Isaiah in chapter 45 verses 11-25 it declares,
"Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.
Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."

Mosiah 27:31 states,
"Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who live without God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye."

Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer! All mankind will be brought together at the judgement bar of God.

Nephi declares in 2 Nephi 31:21that "...there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God..." This is also my testimony!

"I BELIEVE"
"There comes a moment when my heart must stand alone
On this lonely path I’ve chosen
like a house that’s not a home
sometimes when I feel I’ve had enough
and I feel like giving up
you willed me to be all I can be
now nothing can stop me
I believe in the power that comes
From a world brought together as one
I believe together we’ll find
I believe in the power of you and I
This is the moment we have dreamed of all our lives
We’ll be the change we wish from others
We’ll stand tall for what its right
And in my hearts there’ll be no doubt
The arms of the world will come reaching out
And embrace me to be all I can be
Now nothing can stop me
I believe in the power that comes
From a world brought together as one
I believe together we’ll fly
I believe in the power of you and I
I believe the time is right now
Stand tall and make the world proud
I believe together we’ll fly
I believe in the power..
I believe in the power that comes
From a world brought together as one
(Of you and I)
I believe together we’ll fly
I believe in the power of you and I
(power)
I believe the time is right now
(Oh you and I)
Stand tall and make the world proud
I believe together we’ll fly (Together we’ll fly)
I believe in the power of you and I
(I believe in the power of you and I)"

Friday, August 26, 2011

We Live to Die and Die to Live

Lately I have been thinking about time and how it goes by. I have been pondering upon very good memories and I love those memories. So I am a missionary called to serve a mission for the Lord Jesus Christ! I was called for a period of 24 months. To make a long story short it was changed to a 22.5 month mission. I have been thinking about how the past 17 months have just been going ever so fast. It amazes me at where I have been and what I have been able to help with. With less than 6 months to go there is so much more to do. I don't have enough time in my day. I wish I did but God created all things for a reason. The human mind can't comprehend the mysteries of God, but we can comprehend a portion of His plan.

Before we came here to earth we lived with God. We are His spirit children. Oh how much He loves us! We learn that we were with God in Jeremiah 1:5 when He says, "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee..." Words with power. We don't remember it there because there was a veil put upon our eyes so we can act in faith while we are here on earth. So many believe they need to see things in order to believe them. Where is the faith? Where is the trust in God?

We then came here to earth to gain physical bodies so we can progress and grow. I would like to look at an analogy. Family for example. We are raised at home by our parents and or guardian. We live and learn with them, but there is a time that we must move on. Our progression either stops or slows down completely. We don't learn real responsibility when we are living at home. We don't have bills to pay and when we do we only pay a portion of them. We don't understand what it is like being away from our parents. We don't fully comprehend personal reliance. When we move away from home and go to work or school then we are able to start progressing again. We are learning more responsibility. We are seeing what it is like to be self reliant. It is such a blessing in life to learn this.
So we were in heaven came to earth and now we are making decisions on our own. We have free agency or the opportunity to choose for ourself because of our Savior Jesus Christ! He has made it possible for us to repent when we make wrong decisions. So we are learning and growing here upon the earth. We are progressing. We need to be learning everything we can while we are here on earth. We need to be taking the chances to grow. One thing about earth is that we have one guarantee. We are going to die. Do we just live to die and that is the end?

Absolutely not. That is not the end of our lives. The scriptures talk about eternal life. Doesn't eternal meaning mean no beginning or end? So where do we go after we die?
In St. John 5:25 it states,
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live."
In 1 Peter 3:19 it states,
"By which also he(Christ) went and preached unto the spirits in prison" So this shows there is life after death. That the dead will hear the gospel. Christ Himself went and preached it unto them. So we go to a spirit world where we are held until the resurrection. In this spirit world there will be Spirit Prison and Spirit Paradise. Depending on what you have done here on earth depends on where you will go. Isn't this just so cool.

Then we will be resurrected and judged by our Savior Jesus Christ! From there it will depend on where we go in heaven. Where we will know which heaven we will go to. More than one heaven wait a second?
Paul says, "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven." So there in 2 Corinthians 12:2 it states there there are more than one heaven. It is not just heaven or hell. There is more to this than is told. Would a just and merciful God put a good person with a sinner?  No! 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 it states, "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory." So at a later time we will talk about who goes where, but until then you can go to Gods Plan of Happiness
I hope this makes sense. If not let me know and definitely I heed all to go to the link above. It explains it better than I can.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Sacrifice for a Mission

Why do LDS missionaries give up soo much to be a part of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What do we give up? What do we get in return?

These are all questions that have been asked to me. First of all we give everything up because we have seen what this Gospel has brought our families and friends. We give everything up so others can have this same happiness and peace in such a sinful world.

I will tell you what I gave up personally. This is not boasting but just to show some of what we give up. I gave up seeing my families for a period of 24 months. I gave up a remarkable job working for the Governement. With giving this job up I gave up the chance of making $110,000. For all I know I may have given up my only chance with that job. Many of you after reading that are thinking, "How stupid is he?" Lets be honest if I didn't know what we have I would ask myself the same question. That was just a portion of the money I gave up. I also gave up a job offer for approximately $150,000 for the time I would been on my mission. To be honest money means nothing in eternal perspective. It is just here to help you get through life easier. Money comes and goes like wind. It is here for a while then it is all gone. I would now give up any amount of money to come and share this Gospel. We pay our own way on our mission. We roughly spend $10,000 to be here on our mission. I only call my families twice a year. Mothers Day and Christmas. I trust God completely that our family will be there when we get home. There is a chance they may not be. But we are promised they will be taken care of as we are obedient. I gave up all of this for you. The Savior gave up His life for you to be able to hear such a glorious message.

As I said earlier money is here for a while and gone like wind but the eternal blessings of serving the Lord are always there. There is no limit or ending time if we are keeping the commandments. Through modern prophets we have learned that every worthy, able young man is to serve a full-time mission. President Monson said, "Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much." But not only that, in the Doctrine and Covenants (Latter-Day Scripture) says that every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a missionary. That we are all to share the glorious message of this Gospel with our friends and families. This is a sacred calling to go forth and share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the inhabitants of the earth. You personally are honored to represent the Master and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. You get to stand where He would stand if He was here. How incredible is this? The trust He has in us in beyond all measure. This is one of the reasons we give up what we do. Another is we leave our families for two years to bring other families together for eternity. In the Temples of the Lord, families are sealed together for time and all eternity. Which means nothing but sin will separate them from each other. The Lord said, "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (Doctrine and Covenants 82:10) Think of all the promises in the scriptures and the Lord Himself says that He will not break them. We are the ones that deny ourselves the blessings of Heaven. The message which we know is true will change eternities for all who heed the message.


"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
(3 Nephi 13:31-33)
These are some of the temporal promises. This promise is to everyone though. These promises completely depend upon us and our obedience to the commandments and the Gospel.
 We get knowledge over anything. We learn how to study, we learn how to live, we learn the principles of life if the mission is taken seriously. We also find many new friends and sometimes enemies, but we love the all. This is what we get.
This message is true and I bear testimony of it. The message we share is the way to Heaven to abide with God in the Celestial Kingdom. Ask what the Lord has yet in store for you as Joseph Smith did. You will come to know whether in this life or the next that this message is what He has for you. In this I testify in the Holy and Sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

A Boys Dream

As kids we all have dreams. Some are way out there and some are very reasonable. Do these dreams ever become a reality? For some they do when they work hard enough to accomplish them. For others they don't pursue their dreams. I once read this quote that says,

"The Future Belongs to the People Who Believe in the Beauty of their Dreams."
Take a bite out of that for a second. I love that quote. That really makes me ponder about the meaning. What does it mean to you. Please comment as I would like to know. 

As a young boy I have always dreamed of being a rich man. Who hasn't? As a career I have always dreamed of being either a FBI Agent or a Secret Service Agent. That is honestly my dream. I know I am weird. I love going and helping and protecting people. I hear sirens and oh my I feel so much like helping out. As you can ask the missionaries that have served around me I get REALLY excited when I hear sirens. I am ready to be carrying a firearm and going and getting bad people. From different doctor visits I was told I should switch my career choice and doing something a little calmer. I was heart broken to hear that. I received comfort from my Heavenly Father though. He made sure I know He is there. For a long time I have not accepted that advice. I know for my physical sake maybe I should listen to it but I just don't want to. I don't want someone to tell me I can't do something. It hurts to be honest, especially when it is your dream. Now of course over the past year I have accepted and put my trust in God. I know He is there. I know my Savior atoned for my pains and afflictions so that one day I will not have to whether in this life or the next I do not know.
With time going by I have gained a greater idea on my dream. I can still work for the FBI or Secret Service but I can be on a Anti-Cyber Terrorism Unit. That would be so cool. It would still be helping people from the back lines. There is always a plan in place. I pray I can make the right decisions in life to follow this [perfect] plan which is put in place. I pray all of us will be in tune with the Spirit so we to can know where we need to be and what we need to be doing. If nothing else in life we NEED to be sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

President George Albert Smith (1945–1951), THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, said,
“That is your mission, my brethren and sisters of the Church, that is your responsibility. Freely you have received and our Heavenly Father will expect you freely to share with His
other sons and daughters these glorious truths” (Sharing the Gospel with Others, sel. Preston Nibley [1948], 213). 
“We will attain our exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom only on the condition that we share with our Father’s other children the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and observe the
commandments that will enrich our lives here and hereafter.”

With that said I pray each of us will share with others the joy we have in our lives. True happiness will only come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

STRENGTHENING FAMILY RELATIOSNHIPS

I will be honest I love talking about families because that is what I hold dear to my heart. I love my family like no man could imagine. I love studying and learning more about how to strengthen families because one day I am going to have my own and need to know how I can strengthen it from the beginning. Again after going through conference talks and different things running through my head and seeing different people raise their families here is my suggestions:
  • LOVE IS SPELT  T-I-M-E FAMILY PRAYER
  • SCRIPTURE STUDY
  • FAMILY HOME EVENING
  • FAMILY DINNER AROUND TABLE (talk about your day, find out how you can help your kids or wife here)
  • PICTURE OF TEMPLE AND THE SAVIOR IN EVERY ROOM
  • ONLY APPROPRIATE MEDIA IN THE HOME
  • HAVE HUNG UP-THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
  • HOME BUILT UPON THE GOSPEL AND THE SAVIOR
  • HOME SHOULD BE BUILT UPON LOVE, LAUGHTER, JOY, HOPE, FAITH, TRUST, GRATITUDE, PATIENCE, SERVICE, FUN, GOOD MEMORIES, ETC..
  • EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE FAMILY CENTERED
  • EVERYONE IS EQUAL IN THE HOME (no one is more important than the other)
  • FAMILY IS MOST IMPORTANT
  • IDEA OF ETERNAL FAMILY
  • BEING SELF-SUFFICIENT (when a family provides for themselves they grow but are much happier)
  • NEED TO BE UNIFIED
  • AVOID DEBT
  • "CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME" ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD
  • HOME IS A PIECE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH
  • MEMBER MISSIONARIES
  • TEACH CHILDREN TO DO CHORES AND WORK 
  • MOTHER AT HOME WHILE CHILDREN ARE BEING RAISED IF POSSIBLE
  • GOD HAS ENTRUSTED HIS CHILDREN TO YOU, TAKE CARE OF THEM
  • BEING AN EXAMPLE TO THE FAMILY AND THOSE AROUND YOU
These are again in inexperience persons view. These are just ideas that may help situations in the home. I truly from my mission know that these will help if you implement them but the most important part is living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said of this, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (3 Nephi 13:33) He promises that if week seek righteousness then all things will be added unto us. What better promise can we get. We need to be the example because if we don't live the Gospel then how should we expect our children to live it?

Family is number one above work, above sleep, and most importantly above friends. Sorry but that is how I believe it should be.