Strength from a Scripture

A few days ago I was in quite a bit of pain for no apparent reason. My back hurt- a lot. This was really unusual because I've never had back problems before. 

I was struggling to find out the reason behind the pain. What did physically do for this? Too much lifting? Sleeping on my back? I'm still not sure quite what I did but I know that I learned something.

I am nothing without God. I knew this but this experience gave me a new meaning to me. He is truly the one that gives me strength. He is the one that helps me get out of the bed in the morning. The one that helps me walk. Too often I think I take it all for granted. 

That day I could not do too much. But I did spend time in thought and prayer. And I thanked my Heavenly Father for all the strength He has given me in the past. For all the love that He has willingly given to me. I became much more grateful for everything that He has blessed me with. 

Book of Mormon

I know that this scipture is true. I feel better, still sore, but much better. I could never have done it without my Savior and I will never be able to do anything without Him. 

I love my Savior and I am SO grateful for His love for me and when He sends me gentle reminders that He is the one that is gives me everything. In his strength I can do all things. 

Prophets and Apostasy

Throughout time God has spoken to His servants the prophets. Each prophet has the power of God to act in His name and that power is called the priesthood. The priesthood is power given from God to man. 

In Amos 3:7 it says, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." 

God is the same "yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) meaning that His ways do not change. God will always work through His prophets.

God has called prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. Each one of these prophets has testified of our Savior and has given people guidance through the priesthood power that he has.

When Jesus Christ came to the earth He talked about His church and how it should be established. Paul records what the Church of Christ must have and he says, "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." -Ephesians 2:20

I love this scripture because it testifies that in the church of Christ prophets and apostles are needed. But they recieve all their words from Jesus Christ.

Moses- An Example of an Old Testament Prophet

The prophets role is to testify of our Savior Jesus Christ. They also to warn of us danger, and give us guidance on how to live with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.  Jesus Christ is not here on earth now to lead us, so we need a leader who will guide us in the way that Christ would. 

But not everyone listens to the prophets, so an apostasy happens (a turning away from the word of God). When this happens the people no longer have a prophet because they don't listen to him. This means that the power of God is no longer on the earth. Truth is lost and guidance is taken away.

But one thing I always love- God will give us a new prophet. He has always done that when His children are ready to listen again. It's a huge way that God shows His love for us. 

Happy Easter!

I love this time of year! It is so special because this is the time that we pay special attention to the atonement (or sacrifice) of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus Christ is the center of my faith and I would be absolutely nothing without Him and the sacrifice that He made for me so many years ago. Even though it was so long ago, it still applies to me. I still feel of the love and the influence that it has for me. 

One of my favorite scriptures about the atonement is found in The Book of Mormon (Another Testament of Jesus Christ).

It was written by a prophet named Alma and he says,

"And [Jesus Christ] shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 And he will take upon him death, that he may bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12)

I know that this scripture is true. One time I was having a rough moment on my life. I was given this scripture by a friend and I read it and did not pay too much attention to it at first. Later, at night I was praying and I was thinking of that scripture and I started to pour out my heart to God. I felt so much comfort at that moment. 

My Savior was with me. He always has been. Through my different struggles he's been there every step of the way. He leads me and He guides me. 

I love my Savior with all of my heart! And if you had not had the chance go to this awesome Easter website and watch a video called Because of Him. 

Because of Him I Can Love More Fully

Because of my Savior, Jesus Christ I can love more fully and deeply. Since I have been on my mission I have been able to love others much more than I ever thought possible. My mission has allowed me to love more people and in a deeper way.

I have been able to look past things that would irritate me- big or small because I can see how much patience my Heavenly Father has with me. 

I have loved all of my companions (meaning the person I share the gospel with). They each have taught me so much about the gospel and how to love by their example. 

I love the people that I teach. Each one of them are so special and so important to the plan that our Heavenly Father has! They have each taught me so much and I know that without them I would not be the person or missionary that I am today. 

I love the members of the ward (or congregation) that I serve in! They give so much of their time and talents! They have strong testimonies of the gospel and I grow from their example.

Being on a mission is not always easy, in fact it's one of the hardest but most rewarding thing I have ever done. Sometimes during those really rough moments I wonder how I can keep going day after day. I have learned that it's possible because of my Savior. Without Him giving me His love that He has for others and for His work, I would just quit. I have been able to look through His eyes and through His heart. 

"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." -John 3:16 

Jesus Christ loved each one of us so much that He was willing to die for us! What a huge blessing this is for me in my life! I have felt the love that He has for me and it's a powerful feeling. Because He loves me, it's so much easier to love those around me. 

Because of Him I can love more fully! 

Have a wonderful Easter week! 

I love my companion Sister Dono. She's so sweet and I am very grateful she's my companion! 

Happy Easter! (the bunnies represent my companion and I- see the C and the D?) 

Trust in God

Sometimes trusting in God is the hardest. I don't know why, but I guess it's because we can't see with his eyes. The scripture that immediately came to my mind was Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." We can't lean on our understanding, it's not going to work. I know personally when I have trusted in the Lord, my life turns out better. One of the biggest examples that I can think of is when I decided to go on a mission. It was a hard decision for me to make but it's been the best decision of my life. Is it also one of the hardest? Yes. I left behind my friends (and one of my best friends was getting married), my family who I love more than anything, my schooling, earning money for school and later life; but I have learned so much and my mission is preparing me for so much. It's the perfect place to learn. I do not regret it one bit. I would do it again! I wonder why I was so stubborn about not going in the first place. The Lord totally knows better than I do!

Just like with Aladdin asking Jasmine if she trusted him to go on that magic carpet ride, we need to trust our Savior with our lives. Jasmine did not fully understand about how the carpet was safe and how it actually could fly. In the end that did not matter. She trusted Aladdin and she had a wonderful time. It does not matter if we understand what the Lord wants us to do, we just need to trust in Him and do what He asks. I promise we will understand later.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8-9

Our Savior sees everything- He sees the whole field, while we only see what's in front of us. Trust in Him and I know that your life will be enriched and very blessed!

More scriptures on trusting in the Lord:

• Psalms 28:7 (Bible- Old Testament) "The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." 
• Psalms 62: 7-8(Bible- Old Testament) "In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."
• Mosiah 29:20 (Book of Mormon) "But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before himl and because they cried mightily into him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases anib the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him." 
• Alma 36: 3 (Book of Mormon) "For  do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."