The gift of the Atonement is the most powerful gift we have been given. It is up to us to utilize it. What would be the purpose of Christ dying for us, if we didn't use the atonement?
I am so thankful for the atonement and the miracles I've seen in my life because of it. It is the reason I am where I am today.
I am currently studying at Brigham Young University-Idaho. I decided to go to school here last summer and it is the best decision I have made thus far. Before I got up here, a mission was on the forefront of my mind. Upon arriving, I didn't feel the urge to continue with my papers. I felt that BYU-I satisfied my "craving" for spiritual growth. The spirit here is amazing. The gospel is the focus in everything we do and say. We begin every single class with a prayer and often relate gospel principles to the concepts we are learning in class. It is amazing. Anyways, it wasn't until about mid February when a mission began to consume my thoughts again. I was dating a kid, David, but had the promptings to open my mission papers back up. I told David I was thinking about a mission. At this point we needed to make a decision. Should we be "official" or break things off? I wasn't getting a clear answer and had remembered a talk we had heard in a previous devotional that sometimes we just need to make the decision then the Lord will answer. So that is what David and I did. We made the decision to become "official".
It was the most amazing thing that followed after that. Within a couple days I received my answer. It came in feelings. I knew that I was not supposed to date David, and got overwhelming feelings that I needed to serve a mission. David and I broke up (but still are friends), and I began to work on my papers. The second I began to work on them again, I knew that this is where the Lord wanted me to be. I am supposed to be preparing for a mission.
At this point, my papers are almost done. I have doctors appointments next week, then just the final meetings with the Bishop and Stake President. My papers will be turned in on April 1st and I will have my call within a couple weeks.
I am so excited. Seriously, I am so anxious to bring the gospel to others. I feel so lucky to have it and I want others to taste of the great fruit I have tasted of. I have a strong desire to serve the Lord and bring others unto him because I know that through the gospel we can be made whole.
I look forward for the opportunity I have to prepare to serve a mission. I already have felt the blessings that come from studying the scriptures and having the mindset of preparing to teach others the truth. It has been an amazing and humbling experience to grow closer to the Lord through studying his gospel.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Little Things Matter.
I feel like people need to know and understand the little things, the little transgressions that may not seem so bad, but can actually be just the beginning of their fall.
Music, movies, television, friends CAN and DO influence a person for good or bad. It is our decision who and what we associate with. If we surround ourselves with unclean music, that is anything that the spirit cannot be present for, we will eventually think that it is okay. We will begin to act as the songs say. If we surround ourselves with unclean movies, movies that the spirit cannot be present for, we will eventually think that it is okay. We will begin to act as the movies suggests. Now pay attention to this one. If we surround ourselves with friends we know may be good people but making wrong decisions we will eventually think that what they do is okay. We will begin to act as our friends do.
This happened to me. Many bad things I never could have imagined myself doing or being apart of somehow slowly crept into my life. Satan is clever. He knew how to get me slowly a step at a time. But we shouldn't let this scare us. Something that I have learned as I have gone through the past four years is that we hold how our life is going to be in our hands. We can choose Heavenly Father or we can choose Satan. Unfortunately, for some time, I choose the latter through the choices I made. I made what I thought to be small decisions in the wrong direction which lead to my digression. I listened to music that swore or talked about inappropriate things, I watched rated R movies, I hung out with people who partied. And guess what happened; I fell away from the church.
The small decisions we make, what music we listen to, who we hang out with have an exponential effect on us and our spiritual progression. So let me tell you from experience, choose Christ. He will never lead astray. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without him in it. I was miserable before. Satan tricked me into thinking I was happy, but looking back it was so superficial and "in the moment". That is not what life is about. We were placed here to be successful and happy. Truly happy, not "for the moment" happy. And we can be truly happy if we choose the Lord.
How can we make sure we don't allow ourselves to fall? Well let me tell you ways that have helped me. The primary answers: read the scriptures, pray, and participate in church and church activities. Scriptures; what an amazing tool we have been given to help us return to our Heavenly Father. I know that if we study our scriptures daily, we will be given strength to withstand trials, tribulations, and temptations that come our way. The scriptures have answers, turn to them to find the answers. Pray; the gift of prayer is the reason I am back in the church today. We can talk to our Father in Heaven anytime we need or want to. We can have that relationship with him that WILL strengthen us. Don't ever be scared to turn to the Lord for help when feeling week. He will answer and you will be made whole. Church; church and participating in church activities will help you remember the course. It is an opportunity to surround yourself with strong people and learn more about our Redeemer Jesus Christ.
Now, when it comes to music, television, and friends, how can we distinguish what is okay and what isn't? We all have the gift of the Holy Ghost or the light of Christ. When a song comes on and you have the thought "Oh, this song isn't the best. I should change it." Then change it! That is the spirit talking to you. When you're at a friends house and they begin participating in something you don't stand for, and you have the thought, "I told my self I wouldn't be around this, but..." No "but"! Leave! That is the spirit talking to you. Any thought of needing to change what you're listening to or what you're doing is the Holy Spirit cautioning you. Heed those cautions and you will never go astray.
I am so grateful that I am now able to recognize the things that lead to my fall. I am so thankful the Lord provided a way for me to come unto him again. He provides a way for everyone. I have a testimony that if we do our part in choosing Christ, he will do his part. Our Heavenly Father will save us. He is there for us as we journey through life. He is reaching out with open arms to anyone at any point in their life, so go unto him. Talk to him. He is such a merciful Lord and desires for us to be happy, and we can be through our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.
Music, movies, television, friends CAN and DO influence a person for good or bad. It is our decision who and what we associate with. If we surround ourselves with unclean music, that is anything that the spirit cannot be present for, we will eventually think that it is okay. We will begin to act as the songs say. If we surround ourselves with unclean movies, movies that the spirit cannot be present for, we will eventually think that it is okay. We will begin to act as the movies suggests. Now pay attention to this one. If we surround ourselves with friends we know may be good people but making wrong decisions we will eventually think that what they do is okay. We will begin to act as our friends do.
This happened to me. Many bad things I never could have imagined myself doing or being apart of somehow slowly crept into my life. Satan is clever. He knew how to get me slowly a step at a time. But we shouldn't let this scare us. Something that I have learned as I have gone through the past four years is that we hold how our life is going to be in our hands. We can choose Heavenly Father or we can choose Satan. Unfortunately, for some time, I choose the latter through the choices I made. I made what I thought to be small decisions in the wrong direction which lead to my digression. I listened to music that swore or talked about inappropriate things, I watched rated R movies, I hung out with people who partied. And guess what happened; I fell away from the church.
The small decisions we make, what music we listen to, who we hang out with have an exponential effect on us and our spiritual progression. So let me tell you from experience, choose Christ. He will never lead astray. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without him in it. I was miserable before. Satan tricked me into thinking I was happy, but looking back it was so superficial and "in the moment". That is not what life is about. We were placed here to be successful and happy. Truly happy, not "for the moment" happy. And we can be truly happy if we choose the Lord.
How can we make sure we don't allow ourselves to fall? Well let me tell you ways that have helped me. The primary answers: read the scriptures, pray, and participate in church and church activities. Scriptures; what an amazing tool we have been given to help us return to our Heavenly Father. I know that if we study our scriptures daily, we will be given strength to withstand trials, tribulations, and temptations that come our way. The scriptures have answers, turn to them to find the answers. Pray; the gift of prayer is the reason I am back in the church today. We can talk to our Father in Heaven anytime we need or want to. We can have that relationship with him that WILL strengthen us. Don't ever be scared to turn to the Lord for help when feeling week. He will answer and you will be made whole. Church; church and participating in church activities will help you remember the course. It is an opportunity to surround yourself with strong people and learn more about our Redeemer Jesus Christ.
Now, when it comes to music, television, and friends, how can we distinguish what is okay and what isn't? We all have the gift of the Holy Ghost or the light of Christ. When a song comes on and you have the thought "Oh, this song isn't the best. I should change it." Then change it! That is the spirit talking to you. When you're at a friends house and they begin participating in something you don't stand for, and you have the thought, "I told my self I wouldn't be around this, but..." No "but"! Leave! That is the spirit talking to you. Any thought of needing to change what you're listening to or what you're doing is the Holy Spirit cautioning you. Heed those cautions and you will never go astray.
I am so grateful that I am now able to recognize the things that lead to my fall. I am so thankful the Lord provided a way for me to come unto him again. He provides a way for everyone. I have a testimony that if we do our part in choosing Christ, he will do his part. Our Heavenly Father will save us. He is there for us as we journey through life. He is reaching out with open arms to anyone at any point in their life, so go unto him. Talk to him. He is such a merciful Lord and desires for us to be happy, and we can be through our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Beginning of Something Great.
I decided to start this blog to allow those close to me to follow my journey as I prepare to serve a mission. I am blessed to be preparing at BYU-Idaho where I am currently studying Communications. Let me tell you how I got here.
In December of 2009, I wasn't the best person and I hadn't been for awhile. I had tried to push the light as far away as I could from my life. But I was starting to recognize that something was missing from my life. Deep down I always knew it was the gospel but it took me being humbled through the spirit to really recognize it.
I started praying. Not for myself because I didn't feel and wasn't worthy to ask for blessings, but for my family and my loved ones. It felt good to talk to my Father in Heaven again. I realized that the Lord was allowing me to have this relationship with him, even though I had been disobedient. The Lord allowed me to feel of his love through the gift of prayer, through recognizing that I knew he was there. I wanted to show the Lord that I too loved him. Slowly, I began to pray more. Praying led to obedience and the strong desire to be obedient. I started attending church again and I can't even describe how amazing it felt to be in the Lord's chapel. I had missed it.
This whole experience of my "rebirth" I guess you could say has forever changed my life. I have a testimony of the atonement. I know that because our Savior died for us, we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ suffered all of our pains and afflictions and I am so grateful for his sacrifice. The atonement is real and can be applied to any of us, no matter how sinful we think we might be. 2 Nephi 28:32 says "I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts." Heavenly Father is always there for us. If we come unto him in prayer asking to be humbled and repenting of our sins, then we can and will be made clean. The atonement is real and if we utilized it in our lives we can return to live with our Heavenly Father once again.
In December of 2009, I wasn't the best person and I hadn't been for awhile. I had tried to push the light as far away as I could from my life. But I was starting to recognize that something was missing from my life. Deep down I always knew it was the gospel but it took me being humbled through the spirit to really recognize it.
I started praying. Not for myself because I didn't feel and wasn't worthy to ask for blessings, but for my family and my loved ones. It felt good to talk to my Father in Heaven again. I realized that the Lord was allowing me to have this relationship with him, even though I had been disobedient. The Lord allowed me to feel of his love through the gift of prayer, through recognizing that I knew he was there. I wanted to show the Lord that I too loved him. Slowly, I began to pray more. Praying led to obedience and the strong desire to be obedient. I started attending church again and I can't even describe how amazing it felt to be in the Lord's chapel. I had missed it.
This whole experience of my "rebirth" I guess you could say has forever changed my life. I have a testimony of the atonement. I know that because our Savior died for us, we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ suffered all of our pains and afflictions and I am so grateful for his sacrifice. The atonement is real and can be applied to any of us, no matter how sinful we think we might be. 2 Nephi 28:32 says "I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts." Heavenly Father is always there for us. If we come unto him in prayer asking to be humbled and repenting of our sins, then we can and will be made clean. The atonement is real and if we utilized it in our lives we can return to live with our Heavenly Father once again.
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