What Shall We Give?

Mom?-------Check!

Dad?-------Check!

Grandma?-------Check!

Grandpa?-------Check!

Charlie?-------Check!

Hannah?-------Check!

 

Do you have all the Christmas presents that you need this year? Hopefully you did not miss anyone! Christmas is a wonderful time to give gifts to our family and friends. It's fun to see what we can give them that is going to make them happy.

 

Did you remember Christ on your Christmas list this year? What are you going to give him? It's a little hard to give someone something who already has everything. What do you give the King of Kings? I have come to the conclusion that we give of ourselves. We serve. We make goals to become better. That is what we give to our Savior. That is what makes him happy.

This year I am going to give the gift of scripture study. For 2015 I am going to give my time to study the scriptures every day so I can learn and grow from the principles, doctrine, and stories. It's God's word. It's reading what he wants to tell me. It's a gift I'm giving Him but I know that I'm getting so much more in return.

 

 

I love my Savior so much and He is the reason for this beautiful Christmas celebration! He has given us so much! What are you going to give Him this Christmas?

 

What Shall We Give?

(It's a beautiful song. One of my favorites.)

 

He is the Gift

What does Christmas mean to you?

Santa? Gifts? Parties? Trees? Lights?

The list goes on and on.

That may what Christmas seems to be like on the outside but what is it really about?

[Christ]mas is about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

It's about remembering why he came to earth. The life he lived. What he gave.

 

What does [Christ]mas mean to you?

To me, it means selflessness.

The scriptures are filled with Jesus Christ and his selfless service. He always reached outward. Always. I think that is what [Christ]mas is all about. What can I do for others? What can I give to someone that is going to make them happy? What can I do to help someone feel the love and joy of Christmas? It's selfless. It's giving of ourselves. It's following Christ's example. This is how we feel the joy, love, and spirit of [Christ]mas!

 

I love this video clip. It helps us to remember Jesus Christ is the reason for this celebration! Santa, gifts, parties, trees, lights, hot cider, baking cookies are fun traditions. They bring my family closer together and Christmas has that magical touch of doing so. But in all that hustle and bustle, let us all remember the true meaning of [Christ]mas!

What does [Christ]mas mean to you?

 

 

"Come Follow Me" -Jesus Christ

This past weekend the Wick family was baptized!

I have loved seeing the Wick family change and become more like our Savior as they embraced the gospel and followed the teachings from our Savior. As you talk with them you feel their spirit and love. You can see how happy they are. You have been able to see them grow in faith, hope, charity, virtue, patience, obedience, diligence (the list goes on). 

 

Often at baptisms I reflect on my baptism day when I was eight years old. That was a few years ago... and I may not be able to remember much of the events but what I do remember is the spirit. I felt peace, I felt happy, I felt love. Those feelings can only come from God. I feel that same spirit every time I see someone make promises with God through baptism. No words can describe the happiness that I have felt.

 

"...And now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts."- Mosiah 18:8-11

 

I love this scripture! I love this gospel. It's about love, kindness, service, following Jesus Christ, and trying to become better than we were yesterday. I'm grateful for the gospel and I'm grateful that the Wick's are part of my life and to have their testimony and example lift and strengthen me. And I am personally grateful for the words of our Savior as He tells each of us,

"Come Follow Me."

 

Discover the Book!

When I was little my parents would read to me from the Book of Mormon every night. We had the picture version back then. They would point to different characters and I would tell my parents if they were righteous and followed God or if they were wicked and followed Satan. My parents would always teach me how important it is to follow after righteousness. When we do, we are blessed.

My family has taught me these things and I am grateful for the many, many hours teaching me the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Bible and the Book of Mormon. 

I love the Book of Mormon with all of my heart and I am very grateful for the many sacrifices that have been made to bring this book to this earth. It's message is powerful and inspired because it comes from God. The Book of Mormon has given me many answers in my life. I have prayed and prayed to my Heavenly Father for guidance and I often have found my answers by reading the Book of Mormon. I know that this book is true. How? I read it then I asked God and He gave me an answer through the feelings and thoughts in my heart and mind that the Book of Mormon is true. I, and many others have discovered the book. Now it's your turn. Or if you have already discovered the book- do it again. My testimony grows and grows each time I read it. I love to discover it again adn again! If you would like to have a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon there is a link on the right hand side that says "Free Copy of the Book of Mormon." This book has changed my life and it will change yours too. That's a promise!

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."