Gratitude for my Blessings

I am just so happy right now in such rough times. Along with many of you, me and my family are going through some tough times but we are so very greatful for these challenges. These challenges are what builds our character. These challenges bring us closer together and show us who our best friends are and what matters most.

I am so thankful for my family first of all. They mean so much to me that there are no words to explain it. I am so thankful for my parents helping me to come on my mission and making it possible for me to be here to help God change peoples lives. My mission means so much to me. I would not give it up for any amount of money. I am so happy I was raised in a big family because it has brought so many great memories and such a big support group. I am thankful for being born of goodly parents in a home which has the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for my family and friends and all who encourage me to come on a mission. All those that encouraged me can truly be called friends. I didn't know why so many people encourage me to come on a mission but I sure know now. I always looked at it as giving up two years of my life. Now I look at it as two of the best years of my life. It is not the best two years but it is two of the best. The best years will be raising my own family one day. I have seen people change. I have seen families become more united than ever before. I have literally seen myself become a new person which I am very thankful for. I am thankful for my mission president and his family for all that they do for me. I am so very thankful for my former mission president who helped me get through my hard times. I am ever so greatful for the Lord sending an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to me which prevented me from making the biggest mistake of my life and going home off my mission. I am thankful for his counsel and advice. I am thankful for this two magnificent years. There are no words to explain it. I am so thankful for my friends I have gained on my mission and their help and encouragment. I am thankful for my leaders as a youth who helped me stay on the strait and narrow path. I am thankful for the Gospel and the blessings and happiness which it has brought into my life. I am just so very thankful for all of the mercies and blessings God has granted to me; whether it be friends, family, trials and challenges, His strength and whatever else. I will never be able to repay Him. The closest thing I can do is keep His commandments and return to live with Him. I can also help raise His sons and daughters.

I am forever thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father! You can never glory too much in our God! "Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of His great power, and of His mercy, and of His long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." (Alma 26:16) I am honored to be on His errand. I am honored to wear the name of JESUS CHRIST upon my shoulder. There is nothing greater than this. It is a very sacred part of my life. I have never felt so close to my God. There is so much power if we do what we should during this opportunity. My mission was chosen by revelation from God. It was chosen by God through one of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Behold I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people that they might have everlasting life." (3Nephi 5:13) For two years I set my personal life away voluntarily to do the great work of our Lord and Savior. I have set my standards to a higher level so I can be called His disciple. I want people to be able to look at me and say, "He truly is a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ." I say this not for boasting but I say this in gratitude for my God. I want to be able to help move His work. It is one step at a time or you might look at it as one soul at a time. I do not come to baptize people into the church. I have come to bring the fold of God back into His arms. I want men and women to come and know their Heavenly Father. I want them to come to know of the mercies of our God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

In the Book of Mormon the prophet Lehi sees a dream. In this dream he sees a large and spacious field which is dark. He sees a tree which shone very bright. He see fruit upon this tree. He sees a rod of iron on the bank of a river. He sees a river and on the other side of a river a large and spacious building. The large and spacious field is like unto the world. The tree of life represents Jesus Christ. The fruit on the tree represents the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The rod of iron represent the Word of God. The large and spacious building represents the pride of the world. The people in the building were mocking and laughing at them that partook of the fruit. As Lehi followed the iron rod he came to the tree and partook of the fruit. Those that partook of the fruit were ashamed at those who were in the building scoffing them. Lehi said of this experience,

"And it came to pass that I beheld a tree whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I have ever tasted... And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruits." (1 Nephi 8:10-12)

Brethren and Sisters in the Lord, I know that the Atonement makes one happy. I know that this fruit is desirable above all other fruits. This is why I have come to share this Gospel. I know that if you so desire you to can come to know of this exceeding joy. I am greatful for everything I have. I am most greatful for the knowledge of my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

I hope everyone is greatful for all that they have. I hope you thank God for those boulders and pebbles He puts in your path. We may not see the big picture now. We may not understand why this happens to us. We definitely should not complain about them because that is taking away from the growth you may have received in your character.Now we are not perfect but we can be through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Let us always look at things positively. Always remember how merciful the Lord hath been from Adam down until now.  I pray you may receive strength to conquer your challenges through Christ Jesus. I pray that God will watch over you and keep you close to Him as you do what He has asked. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lets Shout Out in Gratitude for Mothers

Well lets have a shout out to all of the women in the world who make a difference. Let us remember them always but especially at this time around Mother's Day. Whether they are mothers or not they are important. Whether married or single the women in the world make a difference and are an example to the next generations.  Lets refer to a story in the Book of Mormon when the 2000 stripling warriors went off to battle and they were young and not experienced. 

Alma 56:47-49

47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

 48And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

 49And it came to pass that I did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us. And now behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced.

See here in this story we see that a mothers example is so important. These boys followed their mothers teachings. Another example is well look at my mother. From childhood she taught us about our Heavenly Father. She taught us that we need to go on a mission. I followed my mothers counsel after I had a hard time. I was not as obedient as these boys but guess what I eventually did come around and followed that counsel. I had to humble myself. I would recommend going to lds.org and looking up the talk, "Mother Told Me by Bradley D. Foster." This talk is so awesome and again shows the effects of a mother in a childs life. The prophets have counseled that when we are able to the mothers need to be in the home and raise the children. I saw a perfect example of that in my life. When I was really young my mom was at home with me. But then my mom had to go to work and the next brothers and sisters missed out on having a mother with them. I firmly believe that a mother in the home teaching the children will do much more than us men in the home teaching. Another example of someone being taught by their mother was Jesus. Jesus Christ learned about His Heavenly Father at His mothers knees. That is a perfect example. I know not all times mother will be able to be at the home because of financial problems and different things. Some mothers have to go to work to help support the family. 

Lets refer to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland "Because of Your Faith" where he says, "I am grateful for all the women of the Church who in my life have been as strong as Mount Sinai and as compassionate as the Mount of Beatitudes. We smile sometimes about our sisters’ stories—you know, green Jell-O, quilts, and funeral potatoes. But my family has been the grateful recipient of each of those items at one time or another—and in one case, the quilt and the funeral potatoes on the same day. It was just a small quilt—tiny, really—to make my deceased baby brother’s journey back to his heavenly home as warm and comfortable as our Relief Society sisters wanted him to be. The food provided for our family after the service, voluntarily given without a single word from us, was gratefully received. Smile, if you will, about our traditions, but somehow the too-often unheralded women in this church are always there when hands hang down and knees are feeble. They seem to grasp instinctively the divinity in Christ’s declaration: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these … , ye have done it unto me."

"I say to you mothers, if you ever have sons and daughters who amount to what they should in the world, it will be in no small degree due to the fact that your children have a mother who spends many nights on her knees in prayer, praying God that her son, her daughter, will not fail. I remember at the foolish years of my teenage life, my mother came to me with an intuitive impression and warning which I brushed off as foolish teenagers do. “Oh, mother, that’s silly,” I said, then within only a month, to stand face to face with the temptation about which mother had warned. I never had the courage to go back and tell her how right she was, but I was on guard because someone warned—my mother." (Harold B. Lee, President of the Church, The Righteous Influence of Mothers)

Along with all that has been wrote I know how much a mother makes a difference in the life. There are times where mothers are taken out of the home because of divorce, death, work or just left home. I know that their are times where fathers are wifeless and mothers are husbandless.  Lets show our mothers and wives and daughters how much they really mean to us. It doesn't matter if they have ever been a mother. The difference they make in our lives is huge. Let us remember that God created them and they are all Daughters of God. They are important in the home and in our lives. I have always heard the closest love to our Heavenly Fathers love is our mothers love. The pain they go through not only physical but emotional. The stress we cause them. My poor moms hair is all going grey because of me. HAHA! I LOVE HER!

I love my mother like none other. I would do anything for her. I am so very grateful for the things she has done for me. For raising me with the Gospel, for teaching me how to work and for taking care of me as a little brat. If she didn't love me then I know she wouldn't have dealt with me as a kid and then as a teenager. The patience and charity she has is definitely God given. No one could deal with us guys unless they loved us. I love my mother. One day I will be married and have a wife to take care of me. Thats how it works right? Just kidding! But so honored we are to be given the Daughters of God to raise our children and us as well. Lets be honest here. How many men are grown up. We all grow old but we never grow up. I know of this to be true. If you love your mom tell her you love her. Not just tell her but show her. Do the same for your wife.  
Always respect our mothers and all the females who make a difference in our lives. God Bless you Mothers and Daughters of God!