This past Monday June 13, 2011 our mission was invited to sing at the Nashville Sounds Baseball Game. We sang the US national anthem. It was an honor and a priviledge to be able to do this. At first when I was one of the missionaries chosen to sing I was a little nervous but I knew I was going to be singing with a ton of other missionaries which helped me. That was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We practiced for one hour right before the game started. That is when we also received the music so we had not much time to get it all figured out.
We the missionaries from the TENNESSEE NASHVILLE MISSION from THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS say thank you to those who made it possible for us to receive such a glorious opportunity. This will be a time never to be forgotten. The Spirit of God was there as we sang such a beautiful number.
Here is the Stadium empty.
Missionaries from the Tennessee Nashville Mission and members from a local Single Adult ward from THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS came together to sing the National Anthem. This was glorious!
God has given each of us talents. How we use these talents are up to us. We can choose to perfect these talents or to loose them.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband said,
"Every person comes to earth as a unique individual. Similar threads may run in families, but each of us has a tapestry all our own. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote: “Each person in this life is endowed with those talents and capacities which his pre-earth life entitle him to receive. Some by obedience to law acquired one talent and some another.”2
The Lord made it clear that it is not good enough for us simply to return to Him the talents He has given us. We are to improve upon and add to our talents. He has promised that if we multiply our talents we will receive eternal joy.
In modern revelation the Lord affirmed the principles in this parable: “But with some I am not well pleased, for … they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. … Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known” (D&C 60:2, 13).
Applying the teachings of the parable of the talents has been a challenge and a blessing in my life. The following principles have been a great help to me in my efforts with this process.
Seek earnestly to discover the talents the Lord has given you. The talents God has given us first become apparent in the interests we pursue. If you are wondering about your talents, make a list of the things you like to do. Include all the activities you enjoy from different dimensions of your life—spiritual, musical, dramatic, academic, athletic, and so on. Study and ponder your patriarchal blessing for insights and inspiration. Consult family members, trusted friends, teachers, and leaders; others often can see in us what we find difficult to see in ourselves.
I remember a wonderful Primary teacher who frequently invited me to read the scriptures in front of the class. She told me what a nice reading voice I had and how well I read. What she said and the way she encouraged me helped me gain confidence and realize a talent from the Lord at an early age.
As a 19-year-old missionary, I yearned to know if I had been blessed with any helpful missionary-related talents. I felt a great desire to know how I could magnify whatever gifts I had so that I could be a more effective servant of the Lord. As I studied the scriptures and my patriarchal blessing, prayed fervently, and had various missionary experiences, several of my talents were made known to me.
Use your talents to build up the kingdom of God. Our first priority in helping others is our family. Parents are in a unique and powerful position to encourage and support their children in developing their talents. We also have many opportunities to help others identify their talents. I am grateful for the many people who have helped me add to my talents. The successes in life of those we assist, sponsor, mentor, and lift as they pursue their own talents can bring us great joy and satisfaction.
Focusing on serving the Savior can guide us toward making proper decisions in our daily lives. This perspective prepares us to do whatever the Lord may ask of us at any time. President Gordon B. Hinckley exemplifies this important attitude: “My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. I can be one who does his work with pride in that which comes from his hand and mind.”3
Acknowledge God’s hand in your success. We must never forget or stop acknowledging that all talents and abilities come from God. Some were given to us before our birth, while others have been acquired as we have developed. But in both cases, they are gifts from a benevolent Heavenly Father, whose gracious blessings are also the means for improving our talents and obtaining others. The Lord has said, “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things” (D&C 59:21).
I am thankful for the knowledge He has given us—that we are His children and that we are to magnify and multiply our talents to our fullest potential. I know that if we will work hard and do our best, using our talents to bless others and build the kingdom of God, we will be brought back into His presence and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matt. 25:21)."
Out of all of the temples I went through and picked my three favorite temples. It is so hard to pick the favorite temples, but these three are equal. All number 1. These temples are (dun dun dun)...
The Bountiful Utah Temple!This temple was dedicated in 1995. I love it here. I look forward to the week after my mission ends when I will get to attend this temple. That is gonna be so exciting. I have not yet ever attended this temple but I have seen it many times and now I just can't wait to be there. Bountiful Utah Temple
Cardston Alberta Temple. This is my home temple. I just love this unique temple. This temple was dedicated in 1923. Cardston Alberta Temple
San Diego California Temple. This temple was dedicated in 1993. This is such a beautiful looking temple. I can't wait to go here one day! It is going to be a dream come true. San Diego California Temple
These are my three favorite temples. The best thing about each of them is they are the House of the Lord. These buildings are dedicated to the Lord.
"Everything that occurs in the temple is uplifting and ennobling. It speaks of life here and life beyond the grave. It speaks of the importance of the individual as a child of God. It speaks of the importance of the family and the eternity of the marriage relationship."
—Gordon B. Hinckley
"When you come to the temple you will love your family with a deeper love than you have ever felt before. The temple is about families."
—Richard H. Winkel
"I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."
—I Kings 9:3
"And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."
—Exodus 28:36
"The temple is a place of holiness. It is the most sacred and holy place on earth and should be treated with the greatest degree of reverence and respect."
—L. Lionel Kendrick
What are Mormon Temples used for?
Temples are houses of the Lord, the most sacred structures on the earth. Anciently, the Lord directed Solomon to build a temple (1 Chronicles 28:1-6). This temple was a place where God could dwell, was a place of prayer, was a place of sacrifice and was a place where the principle and covenant of sacrifice was fundamental to worship. At the time of the Restoration, the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to once again build temples on the earth. Like ancient temples, today’s temples are also sacred places where God may dwell; they are places of prayer and, although we no longer offer animal sacrifices because that was done away with when Jesus Christ became the Eternal Sacrifice for our sins, the principle and covenant of sacrifice is fundamental to our temple worship. In temples, Church members participate in ordinances designed to unite their families together forever and help them return to God. In the temple, members:
Learn eternal truths.
Receive sacred ordinances, including those that bind husband and wife together for eternity, as well as join children and parents (Malachi 4:5-6).
Provide ordinances such as baptism for those who have died without the opportunity to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:29); 1 Peter 4:6)
Can a husband and wife be together forever? Do Mormons believe that families will live together in heaven?
Family relationships can last forever—not just for this life. Just as some of life’s sweetest joys can come through family associations, the loss of a beloved family member can be a source of our deepest sorrows. Jesus Christ gave power to His disciples to seal families together forever when He said, “And it will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Death does not need to be the end of our relationships with cherished loved ones. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that the “same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there [in eternity], only it will be coupled with eternal glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:2). Family members who accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ and follow His example can be together forever through sacred ordinances performed in God’s holy temples. These ordinances seal a husband and wife together for all eternity and children to their parents as an eternal family. (See: “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”)
I know families can be together forever with the sealing powers of the Priesthood here in these Temples. I know that all will receive the Gospel whether they be living or dead. I know that when the temple is attended regularly the Spirit within you is much stronger as long as you are going worthily. I know that marriage inside the temple is for eternity and not till death do you part. This is part of God's great plan! Families are so important in this plan that He has given us temples to be sealed together in for time and all eternity. For this is the House of the Lord!
One of the biggest questions of the church is the Doctrine of the Family. I will be honest, this is my favorite. I love talking about families. Many think of family such as being just friends. That is so very true. The biggest picture is we are all sons and daughters of a Loving Heavenly Father. He is truly our Father. I love talking to Heavenly Father about everything. He knows everything so there is no point trying to hide anything right. His love is remarkable. The Apostles declare in behalf of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS about the ordination of families. It states so clearly, The Family: A Proclamation to the World "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally. The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan. Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed. We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets." We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."
President Henry B. Eyring proclaims,
“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
“We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan."
We would also see that the commandment to be chaste, to employ the powers of procreation only as husband and wife, is not limiting but, rather, expanding and exalting. Children are the inheritance of the Lord to us in this life and also in eternity. Eternal life is not only to have forever our descendants from this life. It is also to have eternal increase. This is the description of what awaits those of us married as husband and wife in the temple by a servant of God with authority to offer us the sacred sealing ordinances. Here are the words of the Lord:
“It shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.
“Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting” (D&C 132:19–20).
“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Ps. 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God, and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
We cannot control what others choose to do, and so we cannot force our children to heaven, but we can determine what we will do. And we can decide that we will do all we can to bring down the powers of heaven into that family we want so much to have forever.
A key for us is in the proclamation: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The family unit is fundamental not only to society and to the Church but also to our hope for eternal life. We begin to practice in the family, the smaller unit, what will spread to the Church and to the society in which we live in this world, which will then be what we practice in families bound together forever by covenants and by faithfulness. We can start now to “promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family.” I pray that we will. I pray that you will ask, “Father, how can I prepare?” Tell him how much you want what he desires to give you. You will receive impressions, and if you act on them, I promise you the help of the powers of heaven.
I testify that our Heavenly Father lives, that we lived with him as spirits, and that we would be lonely living anywhere but with him in the world to come. I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that by suffering for the sins of all of us he made possible the changes in you and me that can give us eternal life. I testify that the Holy Ghost can fill us with hope and with perfect love. And I testify that the sealing power restored to Joseph Smith and now held by President Gordon B. Hinckley can bind us in families and give us eternal life, if we do all that we can do in faith."
(End Quote)
Families are eternal. That is a portion of our unique message to the world. We believe that families can be sealed together for time and all eternity only in the Temple or House of the Lord. The priesthood ministers this sacred ordinance.
The families today have shrunk. Many people are stopping at 1, 2 or 3 children. I imagine if we truly understood the doctrine here we would be doing everything possible to get all of these children here on earth. At times it may be difficult with children but just think of how much they truly mean to you. Honestly without the joys of parenthood what would you have?
“President Brigham Young explained that our families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents.”
I love my family and I know we will be together forever as long as we do our best in this life. I am so excited for the day that I will have a family of my own. Kids running around being kids, my future wife keeping me in line. That is family. No matter how hard the storm is hitting or how bad Satan is attacking the family we have one thing to keep us together. That is LOVE! I know this is God's plan. They way I know this is by the Spirit of the Lord. I exhort all to ask God if the family is eternal and He will answer.
Today is a day where freedom and peace are hard to find. We are in an ever busy world where things whether good or bad are always happening around us. Some are running to avoid the tendencies of the world. Some are just so consumed in the day to day life that hold them bound. In all of this confusion how can we find peace? Is there a place to go to get away from the evils of the world? These are all questions I have pondered and I have been asked. These questions truly make you think. There are basic answers but we got to think deeper. That is what I have been doing.
Is there a place to go where we can get away from the evils of the world? Lets start by answering this question. I think there definitely is a place where we can get away from the evils of the world. Where we can block all of the things out of our minds. First of all I believe the home can be a place of safety and refuge from the world. You can make your home a sacred place. You do not have to let the evils of the world into your home. You can close the door if you so desire. What are some of these evils? These evils can include pornography, immorality, filthy language and thoughts, unrighteous dominion, selfishness, and the list goes on. I do not know about you but I sure do not want this in my home. I want my home to be a place of peace. A place of where the Spirit of God can dwell in abundance. I want my home to be one that stands out. Here is what Christ said about the foundation of the home, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”(Doctrine and Covenants 88:119)
"Where could any of us locate a more suitable blueprint whereby he could wisely and properly build? Such a house would meet the building code outlined in Matthew, even a house built “upon a rock” (Matt. 7:24, 25; see also Luke 6:48; 3 Ne. 14:24, 25), a house capable of withstanding the rains of adversity, the floods of opposition, and the winds of doubt everywhere present in our changing and challenging world." (President Thomas S. Monson) Here is a recipe of building a home where the spirit can dwell, where it can truly be a place of safety from the world. Another place where we can be away from the dangers of the world is at the Church. When you go to church do you go in a sense of spiritual learning or do you go in a sense of wordly pleasure? Meaning do you go wanting to set your life a side for the things of a better or do you go putting your life first? God counsels us, "And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better."(Doctrine and Covenants 25:10) So we NEED to build Christ as the foundation of our homes. President Thomas S. Monson said,
"A home is much more than a house built of lumber, brick, or stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. We are responsible for the homes we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is not a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrow. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven here on earth. The thoughts we think, the deeds we do, the lives we live not only influence the success of our earthly journey, they also mark the way to our eternal goals. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions."
Our homes can be that place of safety that we are all looking for in this troubled world. In all of this confusion how can we find peace? Well when we build our homes around Christ His Spirit will dwell there and the promise He gave, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:26-27) He promises us the spirit to bring peace unto us. He promises that the Spirit will teach us ALL things. This is why you need the Spirit in your home. You need this peace He promises. In your home you teach your children and when truths are taught by the Spirit, your kids will remember them much better. This is one of the greatest gifts our Heavenly Father can give us. A gift that we should not take for granted. When we receive this gift we will desire to share it with others because of the joy and happiness it brings. Another principle we need to know is LOVE! YES LOVE in the home is so important. LOVE is what Christ has shown to us. LOVE is how our families can become more united. LOVE also needs to be shown in the home with meaning. Do you just tell your family you LOVE them or do you truly deep in your heart LOVE them? I know the LOVE of God, for I have felt it. I know you too can feel that LOVE in your life and in your homes. Your homes will be strengthened against the powers of the Adversary if you follow the counsel given. We can find peace today if we slow down and take a breath and as God said, "For all flesh is in mine hands, be still and know that I am God." (Doctrine and Covenants 101:16)
What matters most to you in your life? What brings you the most happiness? Who are your best memories with? I will tell you my story. Above is a picture of my family(parents, neices nephews, brothers and sisters) minus 2 of us. My brother Bryan and I are not in this picture. At the time of this picture we are serving our missions. He was in the Maryland Baltimore Mission and I am here in the Tennessee Nashville Mission. They have always been there for me. My greatest memories are those with my family. My best relationship on earth is with my family. I grew up having 4 older brothers and 2 younger sister and a younger brother. It was amazing having 8 of us devils as my mom might say at home. Together we would break things, fix things and well we would just have fun. We together are a close family I think anyways. I don't know what they think. LOL! Well I was born of goodly parents. Throughout my life they have continually taught me the gospel and showed me an example of loving parents. My parents were always so loving when we were bad kids. They still loved us after we would destroy things, fight, play together, and well were just kids. We would go down to Salt Lake City, Utah every year for family vacation to visit my fathers parents. Boy those were some drives. Just imagine that many kids in a mini van for 10-12 hours. Luckily we lived only 40 minutes from my moms parents. They lived on a farm and well my parents didn't have to worry about us disturbing the neighbors. USUALLY! As a boy I loved to play with little matchbox cars. I remember my dad when he was YOUNGER (cough cough) he would play cars with me. I often reflect upon those times where we would act like we were racing these cars in a circle like a nascar race. O those memories I cherish whether my dad knows it or not. Later I was able to go with my dad and older brothers to mow lawns. I learned how to work. We would go out every year and rake the leaves in the lawn. You know us being kids we would make as big of piles as we could so we could jump in it. We would steal leaves from our neighbors yards so we could make an even bigger pile. My dad usually wasn't to fond on that because that was more work for him. That is not to worry though we have the memories.
My mom taught me how to do house work. This time it wasn't outside piling leaves. We were in the basement piling clothes so we could jump into them. Oh how they dealt with us I know not. We would take the top off the toy box and race down the stairs. LUCKILY we never had to go to the hospital for that one. As we got older we started to get busy in sports. Well we were hardly busy but my poor parents were. We were in different towns all the time. We were pretty much all on different sports teams. I am sure my parents wished they could have been at different places at once. Growing up my family would go to the church and play basketball, we would go across the street in an open field and we would play softball. Even today my parents still go and plays basketball with us. O I hope I can be as active as them. Running to all of our needs they stayed busy enough that they often slept very little. My dad later in life was working hours that hardly made it possible to see him. He was working so hard to be able to provide for our large family. Oh how greatful I am for my parents and all the sacrifices they have made for us their children.
You might be wondering what this has to do with, "What matters most to you?" Well the reason I talk about my family and my experiences are because this is what matters most to me. The knowledge of the sealing powers of Heaven here on earth makes me comfortable knowing that all these memories will be with me for eternity. As you may see I love my family. I cherish all the memories that I have with them. My family is my support group. They have always been there for me and I know they will always be there for me. Even if it is only emotional support. I know that God has a plan for us to be with these families. I know that that plan is eternal and family is at the center of His plan. Thankfully as we grow up our support group gets bigger and wider spread which is our LARGER/EXTENDED family.
Preach my Gospel proclaims about families,
"Because of the Restoration we understand God’s purpose for families: “The divine plan of happiness
enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and
covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the
presence of God and for families to be united eternally” (“The Family: A Proclamation to
the World)
On earth, family associations can be the source of some of our greatest joy. Satan is
attacking the family on many fronts, and too many families are being destroyed by his
efforts. The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ makes it possible for families
to be united now and in eternity. By living the principles of the gospel, families can
experience peace, joy, and a sense of belonging and identity in this life. Through the light
of the gospel, families can resolve misunderstandings, contentions, and challenges. Families
torn by discord can be healed through repentance, forgiveness, and faith in the power of
the Atonement of Jesus Christ. “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when
founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are
established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect,
love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."
For I know that the purpose of families is much greater than any of us can comprehend. Each child born is a son or daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. He gives us the power to create life and expects us to use it wisely. He does not delight in taking life. For those who abuse this power, the judgements of God shall fall upon them. But know that there is Forgiveness through Repentance. It may not be an easy process especially knowing you have disobeyed a Loving Heavenly Father. But in the end if we repent all things shall be wiped away because of our faith and obedience. This can be accomplished because of the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ who sufferred for all mankind. Not just sins, but pains, sorrows and trials. Know there is HOPE! You are not alone in this fight. "And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation." (Doctrine and Covenants 98:37) Here is God's promise to us that He will help fight our battles only when we do all that we can. In John 16:33 Jesus Christ proclaims, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." With this knowledge lets all jump into the path of righteousness and fight this battle not alone but with Christ. Let us stand firm in the Faith and move towards Christ. Let us teach others about the importance of the family and the purpose of the family. More joy and happiness in the family will come through living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Families are ordained of our Almighty God! Remember those memories of mine are because of my family.
So while I was thinking about what I should write my blog about I remembered a missionary always saying this one phrase, "You just got to love on people!" To be honest this is such a true so inspired phrase. Have you ever wondered what showing a little love to someone can do for them. Maybe that is a smile, a hug, or saying hi, saying I care about you or even I love you! To us some of these things may seem like so small but in reality maybe the person receiving this plight gesture needed it. Maybe you have been the receiver of one of these gestures. What did that gesture do for you?
I believe that love is what brings people together to be more united than ever before. We see this in many divers ways. When there is a natural disaster or any disasters and your friends and family come to your support, I ask, "Is there love?" If they did not love you then they would not come to help. Lets be honest here many times there are people helping out that don't even know you but what they do know is that you are a Son or Daughter of our Loving Heavenly Father. They see the sadness in your eyes they remember the many blessing which have been given to them. They want to help you because of there love for you. Maybe not all times will they show that love or aid but you will know that they are there to support you in the deepest ruts of life. For example there are many stories of when there is a tornado or other natural disaster that has caused huge damage. People from hundreds of miles away drive to assist in the support of those who were disturbed. They sleep in their cars or on the hard ground not caring because they know that many others are not as blessed. With these disasters God humbles the people and because of it many hearts are softened and from then they remember the Lord their God. In lifes trials do you seek guidance from your Heavenly Father who has shown you much love and invited you to talk with Him. I would exhort all to pray and gain a relationship with our kind gracious and Loving Heavenly Father.
Back to love. Lets take the example of our Heavenly Fathers love for us. A scripture often quoted is John 3:16, 17, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." God gave His Only Begotten knowing what Jesus Christ was going to have to bear for us. He knew the Jews were going to crucify His Son. He knew that Jesus Christ was going to have to suffer for all mankind which made Jesus Christ bleed from every pore as if it was sweat. How much pain and suffering our Heavenly Father went through watching this happening to His Son none of us can comprehend. The patience He has to have is remarkable. Brethren and Sisters I admonish all to think of the Love God has for you.
LOVE IS THE KEY! The key to open the blessings of Heaven more abundantly. The key to success in life. The key to joy and happiness that we all seek for. The key to return to live with our Heavenly Father. The key to strengthening marriage and family relations. The key to raising a successful family. The key to know how Heavenly Father feels about all His children. Love is center of this plan our Heavenly Father has given us to live. With marriage comes children and with these special children comes unconditional love. NO matter what your kids do, do you think you should stop loving those you gave life to? It is the key that we must all pray and seek for.
President Henry B. Eyring said,
"Love is the motivating principle by which the Lord leads us along the way towards becoming like Him, our perfect example. Our way of life, hour by hour, must be filled with the love of God and love for others. There is no surprise in that, since the Lord proclaimed those as the first and great commandments. It is love of God that will lead us to keep His commandments. And love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey Him.
Moroni 7:48 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.”
For all of us it may be hard to see in our lives an increasing power to love and to see ourselves becoming more like the Savior, our perfect example. I wish to encourage you. You have had evidences that you are moving along the road to becoming more like Jesus. It will help to remember how you have felt, at times, like a little child, even in the midst of cares and trials. Think of children singing the song, "I'm trying to be like Jesus." You will remember that Jesus asked His disciples to bring the children to Him and said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, ... for of such is the kingdom of God." You have felt the peace of a pure little child at times when you have tried to be like Jesus."(End Quote)
If you truly love your brother or your sister, your parents, children or your spouse, what will you let pull you apart? What will you let prevent you from being together for eternity? Yes there are gonna be things that are gonna happen because that is what Satan wants. Satan is jealous of the love we have for our brothers and sisters. He is jealous of the love from our Heavenly Father. He truly does seek to destroy the love you have for your family. He truly seeks to destroy your life. I know Satan is working on each of us. Some more than others but his angels are trying to destroy and scare us. Let us be faithful to our Heavenly Father though. Let us be steadfast and immovable always abounding in good works.
Remember Remember the blessings which have been promised to you. Remember the Heavens are there to support you in times of need. Pray and ask for Heavens help. I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that there is a God and He truly does love each one of us. I know that He knows us better than ourselves.
"YOU JUST GOT TO LOVE ON PEOPLE"
"I'm Trying to be Like Jesus"
I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways.
I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,
I have often times wondered what is Charity? I have studied and studied it but I still do not understand. I may understand it one day. "What is charity? The prophet Mormon teaches us that “charity is the pure love of Christ.”In his farewell message to the Lamanites, Moroni declared, “Except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God.”
I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient. I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others. Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.
Charity, that pure love of Christ, is manifest when a group of young women from a singles ward travels hundreds of miles to attend the funeral services for the mother of one of their Relief Society sisters. Charity is shown when devoted visiting teachers return month after month, year after year to the same uninterested, somewhat critical sister. It is evident when an elderly widow is remembered and taken to ward functions and to Relief Society activities. It is felt when the sister sitting alone in Relief Society receives the invitation, “Come—sit by us.”
In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of charity. Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do ourbest to help out.
Charity has been defined as “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love,” the “pure love of Christ … ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with [her].” (President Thomas S. Monson, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS)
As it states here in Moroni 7:47, "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."
How much does your Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ really love us? Their love is infinite, there is no expression for how much He truly does love us.
Defining Charity
"The Lord said that charity is “the pure love of Christ,”that which is “most joyous to the soul,”“the greatest of all the gifts of God,”“perfect” and “everlasting.”
As difficult as charity is to describe, it is rather easily recognized in the lives of those who possess it.
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An aged, crippled grandmother who subscribes to an afternoon newspaper, knowing it will bring her delivery-boy grandson to her home every day where, at her knee, she teaches him to pray.
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A mother who, in hard economic times and scarcity of meat, seems to savor only chicken wings, to the puzzlement of all.
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A man who suffers an undeserved public chastisement, but humbly receives it anyway.
Is not the common thread in these examples charity, a selflessness, a not seeking for anything in return? All of our divine attributes seem to flow from and be encompassed by this one.All men may have the gift of love, but charity is bestowed only upon those who are true followers of Christ.
The very power of God is found in His attributes of godliness.The power of the priesthood is maintained by these attributes.We seek these attributes, especially charity, the pure love of Christ.
Recognizing, Receiving, and Conveying God’s Love
How, then, can we better “clothe [ourselves] with the bond of charity … of perfectness and peace”?May I share with you three suggestions.
1. Recognize His love. “Pray … with all the energy of heart”for this gift. Do so in meekness with a broken heart, and you will be filled with hope and love from the Holy Ghost Himself. He will reveal Christ to you.
It is part of the gift of charity to be able to recognize the Lord’s hand and feel His love in all that surrounds us. At times it will not be easy to discover the Lord’s love for us in all that we experience, because He is a perfect, anonymous giver. You will search all your life to uncover His hand and the gifts He has bestowed upon you because of His intimate, modest, humble way of granting such wonderful gifts.
Ponder with me a moment the following majestic gifts: the glories of all creation,the earth, the heavens; your feelings of love and joy; His responses of mercy, forgiveness, and innumerable answers to prayer; the gift of loved ones; and finally the greatest gift of all—the Father’s gift of His atoning Son, the perfect one in charity, even the God of love.
2. Receive His love in humility. Be grateful for the gift and especially for the giver of the gift.True gratitude is the ability to humbly see, feel, and even receive love.Gratitude is a form of returning love to God. Recognize His hand, tell Him so, express your love to Him.As you come to truly know the Lord, you will find an intimate, sacred relationship built on trust. You will come to know He understands your anguishand will, in compassion, always respond to you in love.
Receive it. Feel it. It is not enough just to know that God loves you. The gift is to be felt continually day by day.It will then be a divine motivator throughout your life. Repent. Remove any worldliness from your life,including anger. Receive a continual remission of your sins,and you will bridle all your passions and be filled with love.
3. Convey His love. The Lord’s response to us is always filled with love. Should not our response to Him be in kind, with real feelings of love? He gives grace (or goodness) for grace, attribute for attribute. As our obedience increases, we receive more grace (or goodness) for the grace we return to Him.Offer Him the refinement of your attributes, so that when He does appear you will be like Him.
As a man first immerses his thoughts in love and conveys those feelings to God, man, or self, a magnified portion of that attribute will surely follow from the Spirit. That is true of all godly attributes. Righteous feelings generated by a man seem to precede the increase of those feelings from the Spirit. Unless you are feeling love, you cannot convey true love to others. The Lord has told us to love one another as He loves us,so remember: to be loved, truly love." ( Charity: Perfect and Everlasting Love, GENE R. COOK, OF THE FIRST QUORUM OF THE SEVENTY)
I know that God is filled with this Love! I know that we can to be filled with this love. I know that there is nothing that can prevent us from having this love if we so desire it. I know God is willing to give us this love. God Bless All
REMEMBER God's promise
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
Here is the Stadium empty. 
Missionaries from the Tennessee Nashville Mission and members from a local Single Adult ward from THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS came together to sing the National Anthem. This was glorious!
One of the biggest questions of the church is the Doctrine of the Family. I will be honest, this is my favorite. I love talking about families. Many think of family such as being just friends. That is so very true. The biggest picture is we are all sons and daughters of a Loving Heavenly Father. He is truly our Father. I love talking to Heavenly Father about everything. He knows everything so there is no point trying to hide anything right. His love is remarkable. 
President Henry B. Eyring proclaims,
Later I was able to go with my dad and older brothers to mow lawns. I learned how to work. We would go out every year and rake the leaves in the lawn. You know us being kids we would make as big of piles as we could so we could jump in it. We would steal leaves from our neighbors yards so we could make an even bigger pile. My dad usually wasn't to fond on that because that was more work for him. That is not to worry though we have the memories. 