Where is your Focus?

Sorry I haven't written lately. Things have been really hectic and I don't have the computer as long. I have been pondering lately about where is the focus my focus? What do I want to accomplish in this life? What do I want in the eternities?  These are all just basic questions but the truth behind it is these questions may change how we view things, and what we focus upon.


I am forever thinking about what I want to do for a career. I have my mind on my dream but is there something else I should do? I am always pondering and dreaming about this. Last night in fact I had a dream that a police officer asked me for some id and I pulled out an Active Duty Marine Corps. ID. When I decided to come on a mission I was actually filling out the paperwork for the Marine Corps. I thought that was pretty cool. I would still absolutely love to go and serve in the military. God is showing me the path of where I need to be though which is even greater!


I have a question for you, "Where is your focus?" This is a pretty general question but lets think of it deeper. Do you focus more on what happened in the past than you do on the present? Do you set your family aside to get the pleasures that you so please? Do you focus on work more than you focus on being the father of your children? There are times that we do need to focus on work. Because of the economy many fathers and mother are having to work more than one job which really cuts down time at home. They are trying to provided for their children's needs.I am not a parent yet so I don't understand exactly what it is like to take care of my own kids. I have helped with nieces and nephews though. I have rented my own house and paid my own bills. So I am not completely knowledgeable in this subject, but I do know that there is a lot that has to be done.


Does it seem like to you that there is no fun and play because of all the things that you have to do? Do you feel the list of things to do keeps getting longer and longer? Welcome to the reality of life where in order to slow down the pace you have to do it. You have to take control of the situation and decide what is the most important. You are in control of your life ALWAYS REMEMBER that! Nobody else can be. You can let others influence your life but they can't make you do anything. Many times people say the Devil makes them do it but that is NOT SO! They say they can't do anything to change their life and that is false. Does God make you do anything? He ALWAYS INVITES you to do something. Lets think about this for a second.


Is your life focus on doing the will of our Heavenly Father? That is the number one step in our life. How do we figure out His will? That is something you have to do personally. You will need to humble yourself and admit you need help and then get on your knees and pray to your ever so loving Father in Heaven. Talk to Him and ask what you should do. Figure out what His will is for you and not what you want to do. This will be completely personal for you. Maybe some things will be for your family or something but you can not receive revelation for someone you do not have stewardship over. Write the answer you receive down as this is so important. We as humans can hardly remember things sometimes and when you write it down you got paper that will remember it for you.


There are many things we need to focus on in our lives but there are many things we surely do not need to have any participation in even though you think you may to be cool or popular or liked. If that is why you are doing it then surely it is the wrong reason. Some of the things we need to focus on are things the latter-day prophets are speaking about. Examples are GOD, Education, FAMILY, etc..


We as individuals know what we need to focus on. We can pray to see if it is right to focus on. We can seek help and guidance from parents, spouse, etc.. ALWAYS REMEMBER God is right there waiting to help, but He is waiting for us to ask. I know that if we focus on the things of God that we will not have to worry about the rest.

In 3 Nephi 13:19-21 Christ counsels us,
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

 Christ says in 3 Nephi 11:31-34,
"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.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof."

As we listen to this counsel we have been promised by the Savior Himself the things that we need will be given to us as we seek first the kingdom of God.

As I have been taking my own advice and finding out what God wants me to do I am learning so much and changing so much in my life. I am changing career choices along with going to a different school and where I should live after my mission. He is guiding me in this process as I listen to His counsel. My dreams are not what He wants me to do. It is hard to accept at times but I know it is for me that He is directing me this way. I am so thankful for having such a Loving Father in Heaven. I know that as we listen to His counsel whether we understand it or not we will be directed to success. Try this because it really works and helps out in decisions whether difficult or easy He will help.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF 9/11

As we know 10 years ago tomorrow the US was hit with terrorist attacks which took thousands of lives. Not only did it take lives but it changed many lives. Families missing brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, etc.. This is heart breaking for those of us who did not lose family members as well. I wish I could have done something to prevent what had been done. I wish I could rewind and make those persons who crashed the planes not do it. This day will always be remembered as a day of sorrow and anger. The sorrow will be for those whose lives were lost and families separated. What we do know from the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that families are meant to be together eternally. It is not till death do we part.

I remember the day what I did on 9/11/2001. I was in 6th grade at school. I went home for lunch and all over the news was the planes hitting the twin towers. I went back to school and we had a low flying aircraft heading towards our school. I will be honest I was a little scared because of what I had just seen on the news. I figured the plane was just going to land. After I went home I watched the news for hours. I was just in astonishment of what had happened. I re-watched it time and time again. Until I came on my mission I watched the youtube clips of it. I have always wanted to be a federal agent and to help prevent things like this and still want to. When this happened it gave me a second witness that that was what I wanted to do for work. I feel like that is one of my callings in life. To protect and serve and I have the upmost desire to do so. I love serving others.

The images of what happened will be in my head forever. The sacrifice by those who helped protect and save lives will always be thought of. The firefighters and paramedics and police officers and soldiers who spent days looking for people need to always be remembered. Those who lost a loved one and friends always need to be remembered.  They are forever in my heart. May I ask that we all take a moment of silence for those whose lives were lost? Think of how truly great your life is. No matter how bad they are someone else is worse.


Please take time to remember and honor those who were affected.

Where Are Your Feet Planted?

As a little boy in primary at church where the little kids go to classes and be taught by music and other activities, I remember this one song. It is called "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man." I always remember talking about the two places we build your house. I would like to change it for this is where we stand. Do we stand on a strong rock or in the sinking sand? Do you know where you stand? I would encourage you to think about this.

The Rock- Jesus Christ
The Sinking Sand- The World

As we learn about planting our feet we learn that sinking sand is not good. Just imagine being sucked under to the point you think there is no hope. We see nothing around, as it is dark and dreary. Satan has us in his territory. Satan has his grasp upon all of the worldly things around us, that is how he caught us. He wants us to be focused on things that are not Godly. Things that will destroy us. When Moses was given the commandments saying, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). What does this mean? I see it as anything that would take our minds off of the Savior and push us away from Him. An examples is  seeking earthly possessions over eternal possessions as we have been commanded not to in Luke 12:31, "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." "All these things" are applying to the things we NEED! Not the things we want but what we need, such as clothing, food, shelter, etc..When we focus on things that take away from the Spirit of the Lord that can be considered as false gods.

I want my feet planted upon the rock in the scriptures. In Helaman 5:12, Helaman declares, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

In Doctrine and Covenants 6:34, the Lord declares, "Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail." How great is that? That is a promise that can help in any situation. If we always remember that what will destroy us? Nothing but our own desires. We need to read our scriptures, study the life of our Savior, pray earnestly without ceasing with all our heart, might, mind and strength. He will answer our prayers if we are willing to act upon the answer no matter what it is(real intent), have faith in Jesus Christ and sincere heart.

Let us stand tall upon the Rock of our Redeemer. Let us make a stand in the world we live for the things we believe and know to be true. Shall we not move forward in such a great cause? I declare we shall. I declare we need to focus our lives on our Savior and Repent if necessary to come into His fold. I know He lives. I know that we can come unto Him and receive help when the storms beat upon us. I know with all my heart that God is ready to calm your storms as you ask for the help. Pray unto teh Father will all your heart and He will give unto you power to calm the storm.