What Does The Book of Mormon Really Teach?

   Is The Book of Mormon the word of God as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints claim it is? What does it really teach? Are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Christian? I hope I can shed some light on these questions.
   In the Holy Bible, Christ taught "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matthew 22:37-39) Lehi and Nephi, in the Book of Mormon were great examples of this.
   Lehi, one of the first prophets mentioned in The Book of Mormon, spoke of Nephi's love of God and for his fellowmen, saying, "...he hath sought the glory of God, and your own eternal welfare." (2 Nephi 1:25)
   Again, just before Lehi dies, he tells his son Jacob, "And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen." (2 Nephi 2:30)
   Lehi, in that same address to his son Jacob, exhorted him to "look to the Great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit." (2 Nephi 2:28)
   The Book of Mormon teaches that we must love God, love one another, keep the commandments, repent, believe in Jesus Christ, be faithful, praise God, give thanks, treat each other with kindness, and so much more! It even testiefies of the Holy Bible, that it "contains the covenants of the Lord" and "many of the prophecies of the holy prophets." (2 Nephi 13:23)
   With Christ, Lehi, and Nephi, I add my testimony that my only object is to love and serve God, and my fellowmen. The Book of Mormon teaches this plainly and I know it is truly the word of God. I invite all people to READ The Book of Mormon for themselves, to ponder what it teaches, and PRAY to God and ask if it is true. I know that anyone who sincerely and humbly takes this course of action will receive a witness from God of the divinity of The Book of Mormon, and of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which espouses it, and especially of our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer- Jesus Christ. You will have a greater desire to bring your lives in harmony with His teachings, an increase of faith, and strength from God to know and do what is right.

   

   "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26)

To find out more, go to http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon/  or send me a message on FaceBook.

Receiving Answers To Prayers

   In the past, I've heard some people say they feel their prayers are stopping at the ceiling and not quite making it to God. I wonder if from time to time each of us feels this way. We feel that even though our prayers are being said, they are not being heard, and more importantly they are not being answered.
   Each of us can take comfort in the words of Paul to the Romans "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
   I know that God loves each of us and hears our prayers, and if we do our part, He will answer our prayers. So the question is, what do we need to do to receive our answers?
   I came across a wonderful talk by Elder L. Lionel Kendrick called, "Personal Revelation."
   In the talk he gives a lot of counsel and I'd like to share just a short bit of it:
   "Receiving personal revelation is not a passive process. As we seek such revelations, we must prepare for these sacred experiences. President Spencer W. Kimball told us that “God reveals himself to [people] who are prepared for such manifestations.”

   The Savior spoke of this principle of preparing to receive personal revelation. He shed light on the things that we must do to properly prepare: “It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins [repents] and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name [prays], and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments [obeys], shall see my face and know that I am” (D&C 93:1).

   To properly prepare to receive personal revelation, we must repent, ask through prayer, be obedient, search the scriptures, fast, think pure thoughts, and develop a spirit of reverence."

   Elder Kendrick concluded his talk by saying, "It is a tender experience to petition our Heavenly Father in sincere, heartfelt prayer and know that He will respond with personal revelation. His promises are sure, but we must properly prepare to be receptive to the promptings of the Spirit in receiving this guidance."

   To see the full content of the talk and find more guidence on how to receive answers to your prayers and how to recognize them, please go to http://lds.org/ensign/1999/09/personal-revelation?lang=eng&query=receiving+answers+prayers and read "Personal Revelation."

Overcoming Feeling Overwhelmed

   Life can be overwhelming. Sometimes we just have a ton to do and not enough time to do it in. Sometimes things happen we don't understand. Sometimes we just don't know what we're doing!
   I think we've all struggled with that at some time or another- and if you haven't, knock on wood... even as missionaries we have those same struggles and feelings. I know I have on my mission. Recently I've learned some pretty cool ways to overcome feeling overwhelmed.
   I recently shared this discovery with some friends of mine: Sometimes life hits us like a river, and rather than trying to contain that river in a bucket, now I look at it as a river to swim in. Do I understand it all? No. But I don't have to. I just do all I can, and when the challenges are too big to conquer immediately- I just swim through it. I do all I can, and leave the rest to God.
   That's what I've learned to do, and it's helped a lot in my life recently. Just look at the good in the world, and don't worry about what you can't handle. Know that God will take care of you. He loves you, and if you turn to Him, it will all work out in the long run. Even if you can't see the ending.

An Uplifting Poem- The Oak Tree

   A poem was shared in church a little while back. I thought I'd share it with you:

"The Oak Tree"

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree's leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You'll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I've found, with thanks to you
I'm stronger than I ever knew

-Johny Ray Ryder Jr.

   I hope that helps lift your spirits as much as it lifts mine. What a wonderful poem!

Epiphanies are great!

   I just love it when my mind completely blanks and I can't think what to say next and then something profound just pops out of my mouth. Have you ever had that happen?
   Just the other day I was trying to explain to someone what it was like to gain a spiritual witness of something. I couldn't quite find the words so I tried to think of something to compare it to. Before I could think of anything my mouth decided to go for it. So out came an explanation that it was like building trust in a friendship. At first you don't know how trustworthy they are, but over time, as you listen to what they say and see how well it works, you begin to trust them. Right? You don't just trust some stranger on the street, do you? Well, it's the same way with learning to trust the Holy Spirit. As I've gotten to know how the Spirit speaks to me and as I've follow the impressions he gives, I've gained trust in him. The Holy Ghost has never lied to me. The more I've become familiar with him, the more I've come to know he can't lie, and he's always right. I didn't just start trusting everything he said from the first. My trust and faith has grown as I've tried out what he's said, until it has grown to where it is now, and it keeps growing each and every day.
   Pretty cool, isn't it? I'd never thought about it like that before, so I'm glad my mouth ran in front of my mind this time. I learned something new!
   So for you readers out there, how have you learned to trust the Spirit?

Forgiveness

   So today I just felt like writing a doctrinal rant about something that's been on my mind a little while.
   Forgiving isn't always easy. Someone cuts you off, says something offensive- sometimes even on purpose. Sometimes you feel you have a right to be angry or offended. But who are you really hurting by holding a grudge? Holding a grudge is just holding onto your own pain. Sometimes it's best just to start over new- a clean slate. Let the pain go. Forget about the past and start over. Give yourself another chance, give them another chance, and move on!
   The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides that clean slate between us and God. When we sin, we cause God to be disappointed in us. That sin separates us from God. But through the Atonement we are able to have a fresh start. We can feel the forgiveness of our loving Heavenly Father and be renewed. So, let the past be in the past and form fresh views of life! Let go of your pain and you'll feel God's love in your life.

Sometimes it's hard to "bless them that curse you!"

   Partly as a safety rule, we missionaries have "companions" just like kids that go to the pool might have "swimming buddies." We stay with our companions all day, everyday. It can be exhausting sometimes, but it can be really fun, too.
   Anyway, when you're around someone that much, you have to learn to put aside your differences and get along. Despite common belief, we don't automatically become best friends when we meet our new companions. And for those of you who don't know, we switch off "swimming buddies" several times in the two years of service we do.
   I've had to learn to have patience while I've been out here. But moreso, charity. Charity is a Christ-Like attribute that in some ways is related to patience. It means putting others' welbeing before your own, even when sometimes that person is annoying you! Charity is more than action, it's a state of being and a way of life.
   As I've learned to get along with my companions I have come to have a deeper understanding of my savior and of charity. Christ was the greatest example of it. Even when the people spat on him and hated him and eventually killed him, he allowed it to happen because He loved them and what He was doing would allow them to be forgiven of their sins. He loved the very people who killed him- He loved them so much that He paid the price for them, so they could be saved in the Kingdom of God and have eternal happiness! That price included His life.
   I've learned to love those that persecute me while serving as a servant of Christ, and only in that little way, I've felt some of what Christ endured for each of us! It was hard for me to have that love for just one person- it still is. I can't imagine how hard it was for Christ to do it for every sinner that ever lived- to love each of us enough to suffer in our place so we can be forgiven and live with God again! I'm not sure I could ever have that kind of love, but I am grateful for our Savior, who did! He truly lived and suffered for us so we can be forgiven of our sins and live with God again!

......Awkward......

   The other day, a missionary told me he thought starting out a blog by saying "As a missionary..." was boring and uninteresting.... I'm about to be boring and uninteresting!
   As a missionary we talk to a lot of people every day. Sometimes it can be very awkward. If you've ever felt awkward talking to missionaries like me on the street, just know the feeling was probably mutual. But I like the saying "delight in awkwardness" -it's going to happen, so just deal with it, right? Okay, maybe it's not always awkward, in fact that's what I felt like sharing today.
   I don't care for awkwardness, but when I first meet someone, it seems there's a little switch that goes off in my head, turning me into "awkward mode." I was thinking about it the other night before going to bed, how strange that little switch is, and how to turn it off. Here's what I came up with. If we realize that we are all beloved children of God, then we are all brothers and sisters, and if I can see everyone who is walking down the street the way I see my immediate family then all of the sudden I become much more relaxed. I'm less afraid to be myself and more interested in the person I'm talking with. Instead of thinking "what am I going to say?" it turns into, "hey! There's my brother, let's go see how he's doing! I'm so happy to see him!" When people say mean things it doesn't hurt as much, and I still want the best for them. Just like if I were a little kid and got in a fight with my sister- we'd be best friends ten minutes later. It's awesome!
   What helps you get out of awkward mode?

Knocking Doors

   KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
   (Man opens door): "Don't EVER knock on this door again- THAT'S what you can do for the Lord!"
   SLAM!!!

   That was our experience about a week ago. Sad, but true. Funny enough, we meant to knock on his neighbor's door (someone we knew), but accidentally knocked on the wrong one.
   Now, that doesn't happen to us all that often, but it does happen once in a while. I just wanted to share the story to give you a taste of what we go through and to pose a question.
   I wonder: what could have upset the man so much that he would open the door just to yell at us and slam it back in our faces?
   It seems almost silly, doesn't it? We meant no harm, nor offense. We are just the messengers, here to tell the world about the story of what happened between God and a boy named Joseph Smith, and the significance for everyone of that event, and then invite them to ask God about it- to see what the Almighty and All-knowing says about it. If they've heard it before, yes, I'd like to hear what happened, yes, I'd like to talk more, but that doesn't change my objective to share the message and invite people to find out for themselves, in order to build their faith in Jesus Christ. It doesn't change the fact I'm simply there to share what I know and do it in a Christ-like way.
   Honestly, I don't really like knocking doors- I try to avoid it. I don't want to come off as a salesman, or have anyone feel as though we're invading their privacy. That's not Christ-like. But to keep to myself what I know is true, and what I know can bless every human soul's life, would not be very Christ-like. So we go out and try to share it with people. I hope for the day, when all people can talk openly and respectfully about what matters most to any of us, and not have doors slammed in our faces, or obcenities shouted from car doors. I hope for the day when we all come in the unity of faith and can deal kindly with one another even when our views differ. I hope for the day there is absolute peace on Earth.

For The Motherless

   With Mother's day tomorrow, I've seen many postings on the Internet regarding mothers. Today I would like to send out my love to those who, for whatever reason, did not get the chance to grow up with their mothers or get to know them.
   I did not grow up in that situation, so I will not even attempt to know what Mother's Day is like for those of you who did. But for the motherless out there, I send my love and appreciation. I hope you are able to enjoy the day, and know that there are thousands around the world that love and appreciate you. Especially your Savior, Jesus Christ!

   I invite each of you, no matter what your childhood situation, to read Something in My Heart Changed and ponder on the message it contains of our Saviors love!

How To Maintain A Positive Attitude

   Every morning I try to think of some things I am grateful for. The new day. A good night's rest. Maybe the fact I'm no longer getting a bad night's rest. But whatever it is, I like to start off the day on a note of gratitude. Whenever I do that, it is easier to be happy and have a good day.
   Someone once told me the last thing they do before going to bed was think of a way God had touched their lives that day, that way they could end the day on a happy note. When we take a little time to be grateful for our blessings, it opens our eyes to heaven's view and uplifts us. When we are grateful, we recognize our blessings, and God gives us more. Even though we will still face challenges, we face them with positivity and optimism, and our days seems to go better.
   I for one am grateful for good friends and loving family. I am grateful for my knowledge of the restored Gospel. I am grateful for the experiences God has given me to help me, strengthen me, and feel of His love. I am grateful that when we make mistakes, God has given us a way to correct them and be forgiven. I am grateful for nature. I am grateful for my Savior, who marked the path so I can know how to return to my Father in Heaven. What kinds of things are you grateful for?

How Can We Know The Way?

   Each morning as a missionary I study the scriptures. Today I was lead to read John 14:1-7. Just seven verses. I pondered them over and over trying to see what understanding I could gain from them. I'd like to share them with you. Jesus is speaking:

"1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that were I am, there ye may be also.
4. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."

   Thomas, an Apostle, didn't quite understand Christ or His Gospel! It amazes me to think about that! And Christ's response to Thomas' question- how can we know the way?- is profound. Christ IS the way!
   That applies to each of us as well. When there is a trial in your life or you feel hopeless, like there is no way out: CHRIST IS THE WAY! If we turn to him, if we focus on him and ask for his help, there is always a way to overcome it. We are NEVER hopeless when we are following Christ. He is the way to salvation and eternal life. If we accept him, and his teachings, and follow his commandments, we can overcome anything!

Are Missionaries Weird?

   Do you think missionaries are weird? Maybe intimidating? As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I get a lot of funny looks. They range from curiosity and confusion, to hoping not to be seen, and even anger. Some people are happy to see us, others yell out their car door.

   I think people see the Book of Mormon in our hands and the name tag and somehow get the impression we aren't normal. I'd like to debunk that theory. I think you'll find missionaries aren't so weird.

      I graduated High School, and during that period of my life most of my friends were NOT members of the LDS church. I played football. I wasn't good at it. I also tried wrestling, and track and field- same story: not good at them. You can probably tell I'm not much of an athlete! I also did ballroom dance. It was a lot of fun! We hung out at the park, mostly- if I did hang out with anyone outside of school. A lot of my high school friends still call me Ron to this day because they nick-named me after Ronald Weasly from the Harry Potter series (one of my friends was a HUGE fan!).

   Everyone's family situations are different. Some of my closest friends came from very different family situations. You and I may come from different types of homes. I had a close family. Some of my fondest memories are spending time with my mom or dad just talking or spending time together watching TV. Before my mission I spent a lot of time babysitting for my nieces and nephews.
   My closest friends and I were piano bums. We would mess around on the piano at each other's houses and play songs off the radio from artists like Taylor Swift, Relient K, The Fray, Axis of Awesome, and a lot of music from movies- especially Disney classics like Mulan. We wrote our own music. It was nowhere near professional, but it was fun.

   My family went on vacations growing up to places like the Grand Canyon, Four corners, and Disney Land.
   I had a crush on the girl down the street. Twice. I was horrible at trying to talk to them. I got WAY too nervous and generally the first thing that came out of my mouth was the dumbest thing I could think of. (can you relate?)
   I have a FaceBook. I had a myspace. I got on them way too much.

   I like to break into song randomly. So do my parents. I don't like to read all that much- but I'm beginning to like it more and more.

   I have broken my left collar bone, my left elbow, and snapped my left Achilles Tendon. It hurt. I was in Seventh Grade and I'm not afraid to say I cried!

   Do I need to continue???

   So do you still think missionaries are weird? Well, maybe I am, but you see, we're regular joes who have had regular childhoods and grew up in loving homes and we're really normal people. Each one of us has a different story, but we each have had our ups and downs, our adventures and embarrassments. We had to learn our ABC's and 1,2,3's just like anyone. We didn't just pop out of nowhere! We have lives. We have feelings. We have cares, concerns, questions, preferences- just like anyone.

   In the end, we're all children of God, and we're all a whole lot more alike than we think. I was just talking to a man from Ghana, who made similar comments about his race. He said he thinks it is okay to have a sense of pride in one's own herritage, but it is not okay to put others down for it. I think that applies to religion as well. I definitely am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but I don't think lowly of others who are not of the same religion. I would hope people of other faiths would feel the same way toward missionaries like me. We have different beliefs, but we are all children of God and He loves us all equally.
   In the words of a well-known song: "why can't we be friends?"

I Like To Look For Rainbows

   You know, I just love the hymns of our church. No, they aren't all that entertaining, but there's a lot of meaning and beauty in them. I especially love the children's hymns! For example, the children's hymn "I like to look for rainbows" always gives my courage and strength to keep on following God and trying to do good.

"1. I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.

2. I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,
And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

ChorusI want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with God again."

   Who couldn't be lifted in a hard time by that? That's why I love children's hymns.

   Feel free to listen to some of the children's hymns on the interactive music player on LDS.org: Interactive Church Music Player .

I'd suggest "I am a child of God" "I'll walk with you" "I lived in Heaven" -just a few of my favorites.

Go to the source- Mormon.org

   I think it's funny how when many people want to know about our church, they ask their preacher or a friend. If I wanted to learn about Catholicism do you think I'd ask a Baptist? It's sounds funny when you put it like that, doesn't it? Why not just go to the source? Wouldn't it make more sense to ask a member of the church? Most members are more than willing to share about their beliefs. Better yet, talk to missionaries like me- that's one of our main purposes is to teach about our church. Or if talking to people would make you too nervous, why not go to mormon.org, the church's official website on the basics of our beliefs.
   On mormon.org you can find profiles of members who have posted a little bit of who they are and their testimonies of why they are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You can find the Church's official stance on many subjects. It's a great way to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And when you think about it, it just makes sense, doesn't it?

http://mormon.org/people/find/eng/

Keep Moving Forward

   Have you ever seen the Disney movie "Meet The Robinsons?" I love it! It's hilarious! I love the Tom Selleck reference (I'm indirectly named after him... long story...) and the imagination used in it! What a great adventure!
   I also love the message it gives to it's viewers- "keep moving forward!" Sometimes life gets hard, or sometimes we get hung up on things that might get us down or hold us back. Perseverance is a key to life. We keep moving forward, we push along, and we keep on living. Remember to love God and just push along despite the opposition. Just stick it out and in the end you'll realize you are stronger than you think!
   "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God..." Romans 8:28.

Memories

   Home-baked cookies, a picture, a particular ring tone... there are so many little things that can trigger so many memories. Maybe some of those things bring back memories for you of being home as a child or hanging out with friends, or maybe a particular point in your life.
   Lately I've been having tons of those flashbacks! Thinking of people I haven't seen since I was in elementary school, and stories from my childhood. Some of those memories are very vivid! I remember a scout camp out when I used a plastic spatula to make breakfast and it melted onto the pancakes (we didn't eat them). Jumping on my neighbor's trampoline... I'm sure Elder Waltman's ears have just about fallen off from me sharing so many stories that have come to mind. But those memories can bring us so much happiness. Who doesn't want to remember the best times of their lives? I believe that our memories are a gift from God. J M Barrie once wrote, "God gave us memories that we might have roses in December." We can enjoy them, learn from them, and share them. Think back to the happiest times in your life. I would say mine are when I have been truly selfless and given my all in service for someone else because I care more about them than myself, expecting nothing in return. Especially when I can tell it meant a great deal to them. That's satisfaction. That's something worth remembering.
   What do you remember? When in your life were you happiest? Why do you think that is? Feel free to leave a comment and tell us all about it.

The PRIESTS back home.

   In our church, priests are ordained as young as 16 years old! Listen to what the priests I grew up with have to say about their beliefs and conviction of their Savior. These young men have been examples to me!

   Yes, I've cut my hair since then... enjoy! Leave your thoughts!

Finding Peace

   Some days are hard. Agreed? Missionaries are just like any of you- we have easy days and hard days, happy days and sad days. Sometimes it's hard to find peace in the hard days. It's hard to find happiness in the sad days. Sometimes it's tempting to just sit on the couch with some comfort food (I recommend mint-chocolate chip ice cream) or to take a nap, but as missionaries, our whole effort is for other people and we really don't have much time to sit and mope when we can be out in the world lifting up hands that hang down. So we have to find other ways to cope with the stresses and keep on trucking. Let me give some suggestions on how you can make it through the day and FIND PEACE in a difficult world.
   1) I ALWAYS find peace when I read from the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. Jesus Christ promised to send us the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, and whenever we read from the scriptures the Holy Ghost comes into our lives stronger. And just like His name suggests, he comforts us and gives us strength to keep pushing and to do what is right.
   2) Say a prayer.... alone..... OUT LOUD. You may feel awkward the first time you do it, but God hears you. I know He does. And every time I've done it, it's helped me really work out my problems. You'll find you receive answers to your prayers easier when you pray out loud and "counsel with the Lord in all thy doings..." (Alma 37:37). Talk it out with the all-mighty. He's a perfect therapist!
   3) "Forget yousrelf and go to work." Some counsel Gordon B. Hinckely's father gave him, when he was on his mission in England. When we think of others first, our problems don't seem so bad, we recognize the blessings God has given us, and we are filled with gratitude. We are filled with love and care for others. ( http://lds.org/new-era/1995/05/sweet-is-the-work-gordon-b-hinckley-15th-president-of-the-church?lang=eng&query=forget+yourself+go+work )

   Do you have any suggestions? feel free to leave a comment with some ideas on how to find peace!

Walking

   Missionaries are often tagged by their white shirts, ties, and name tags. You may have seen us walking down the street, or biking across town. That's usually us! In case you were wondering, some missionaries do have cars. Elder Waltman and I have a car. But we try not to use it too much so we can be out talking with God's children: it's kind of hard to have a Gospel conversation with the guy going through a hard time when you pass him at 40 mph going down the road.
   Today is one of those days when we are going to give up the car and walk it. We have people to see and a Gospel to preach, and I can't wait to go! So if you see us out there on the road, say hello! We'd love to talk with you!
   Well, I'm going to go hike around town for a few hours! Hope to see you out there!

"..I do not boast in my own strength.."

   Once a week, Elder Waltman and I get together with some other missionaries and we teach and learn from each other. Today was my turn to teach. I had been asked a couple days ago to prepare a talk on a Christ-like attribute of my choice. I prayed about it and came to the conclusion I should talk about humility.
   "Humility is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished. It includes gratitude for His blessings and acknowledgment of your constant need for His
divine help." -Preach My Gospel pg 120.
   I really like how Ammon showed humility after serving the Lord and helping thousands of people come to a true knowledge of their savior Jesus Christ. Ammon began to talk about the success they had and one of his brethren cautioned him, "...I fear thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting." (Alma 26:11)
   "But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God." (Alma 26:12)
   "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things..." (Alma 26:13)
   Ammon kept no honor for himself, but gave all the honor and glory to God- where it rightly belonged.
   Each of us has been given talents, ability, senses, knowledge or other gifts from God. Sometimes it is hard to see that everything we have and are, are gifts from God. And any good thing comes from Him. Anytime we have happiness or success, it is because He had His hand in it.
   I for one am grateful for the blessings He has given me. He gave me the ability to see the beauty of nature. He gave me a loving family. He gave me the opportunity to be here in Nashville and meet so many wonderful children of His. This list goes on and on!
   In our church we have a hymn called, "Count Your Many Blessings." I would invite each of you to take a moment to count your many blessings from God and see how He has touched YOUR life! Feel free to comment on my blog and share what you're grateful for!

Pray with all energy of Heart

   If I could get out just one message, or teach someone something that could change their lives I would most definitely teach the significance of PRAYER. Yes, I would love to teach people of God and Jesus Christ, don't get me wrong, but prayer is our connection with God, and is the only true way to gain a witness of their reality or divinity.
   In our church, some young men are the ones who bless the sacrament (or eucharist, or Lord's supper, or communion some faiths might call it). I was one of those young men before I served my mission. As I got older, other young men started to bless the sacrament and would look to me for advice and help on how to do it. My first advice was ALWAYS to remember that the blessing is a prayer, and prayer is a conversation with someone- GOD. When you pray, you are talking to an actual being! You aren't talking to the air, or saying something that only sounds nice to the people who hear the prayer- you are talking with God.
   I remember the times when the young men and I really prayed to God, and not just recited a prayer. The Holy Spirit was SO strong! We KNEW God heard us, because we were sincere and we were talking with Him with full purpose of heart. God's power was evident and we were blessed.
   I know this is the case for all who pray to God, remember He's a person, and talking with him, not preaching a sermon to Him- they will be strengthened and enlightened by His spirit. So, to you readers out there, the next time you pray remember that and you will really talk with God! He will answer your prayers, and it will change your life. You will find you are closer to God than ever.

   "36. Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and withersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
   "37. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."
   -Alma 37:32-43
 

In The Beginning...

   "So just what is a day in the life of a mormon missionary like?" you might wonder. Well, for me, it's an adventure. Every day is different and you can never predict what might happen. Such was yesterday: loosing a dear friend, hiding in a Wal Mart during a tornado watch, teaching the Gospel in a power outage...
   I am currently stationed in Nashville, Tennessee, where the trees are green and the people park on their lawns- a practice rarely seen in my hometown in California. For the last two weeks I've been with two other fantastic missionaries- Elder Waltman and Elder Vasquez.
   Elder Vasquez was originally called to serve in Brazil for his mission, but had trouble getting his visa, so he was sent here with us for a while instead. Late last week Elder Vasquez finally received his visa and was told he would leave Monday morning. He was bothe sad to leave, and excited to go, and we felt the same way. We're glad he's finally going to where God wants him to go, but we're sad to see him leave. Monday morning we dropped him off with the other missionaries also leaving for Brazil and said our goodbyes.
   Our trio was down to two. Elder Waltman and I went about our day as planned from that point-- going to email, go shopping, etc. As we pulled into Wal Mart's parking lot and got out we heard a tornado siren and figured we'd be okay in the building. Not a few minutes after we walked in, we, along with every one in the store- customers and employees alike- were asked to go to the center of the store for safety! When the winds got louder and the lights flickered, some people ducked and others joked about what they would do if a tornado actually hit the building. We tried to text and call other missionaries from our cell phone, to let them know what was going on and that we were okay, but there was no reception.We stayed there for around twenty minutes, before it was announced the storm had passed and we were free to shop.
   As we left the Wal Mart and drove down the street, we saw a MacDonald's sign broken from the wind and branches from the trees strewn across the roads.
   We finally received word that all missionaries in our area had been ordered to stay in there apartments, so we did. We knew the storm was bad, so we called as many people as we knew to make sure they were safe and well. Luckily each of them were, and no damage had been done to their properties either.
   When the lock-down finally ended we left to go teach people we knew about the Gospel of Jesus Christ- finally some more common missionary work. We were able to find a lady Elder Waltman knew from a different part of Tennessee who had moved here. She was so excited to see him and get to talk with us. We talked for about an hour and then headed back toward our apartment for another apointment.
   As we got close we noticed all the lights were out for several blocks. Our apointment was in one that area, and when we knocked on the door the husband answered and told us, "I don't think we can read the word tonight- we have no light." We told him to wait as we went to our apartment to grab flash lights for them to borrow.
   Upon our return we read from the scriptures with this family using flash lights in the power outage. It was a very unique and special experience for each of us. After talking for a while and inviting them to read the Book of Mormon and pray about our message, we left the family with our flash lights and with a prayer and hoped the best for them as we went back home to go to sleep.
   That is just a taste of what it is like being a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is full of ups and downs, happiness and heartache, great adventure and simple conversations. There's nothing quite like the opportunity to serve the Lord full-time for two years.
   To those of you reading this, I hope I can help you see what being a mormon missionary is like, and moreso I hope that through your reading of this blog you'll be pricked in your hearts to learn more of Jesus Christ and learn of the Book of Mormon, which testifies that He is, and that He lives. I hope you will come closer to your Savior, and to your Father in Heaven. I hope you will feel a deeper conviction of the truth in your hearts. I invite you to learn more about the unique message we- as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints- share. A message which will improve your life and help you come closer to God in immeasurable ways!

Feed My Sheep

   Christ taught, "Feed my sheep." (John 21:17) As a missionary for the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I was "called to serve" not "called to preach." Although preaching and proclaiming the Gospel is the main part of how we perform this service, we also try to serve people in other ways too.
   Just a few days ago, Elder Waltman and I were driving down the road when we saw a group of men with a big moving trailer outside of their house, hauling large and small items, little by little into the house. I looked to Elder Waltman and said, "do you think we should go help them?"
   Elder Waltman replied, "sure."
   So we did. There were probably seven men there already helping out, but we offered our help and they accepted. We helped unload the trailer they already had there, and a truck or two and another trailer. We got to help them lift furniture in their house, and random trinkets and bags. As we helped out we got to know the couple moving in a little bit. They had a young child, and were moving in from across town. They were the nicest people and we had a lot of fun helping them out.
   When all the moving was done, we talked to the man moving in for a brief moment and he told us of the church he goes to, and how they are reaching out to people who may not feel comfortable in regular church buildings. What a wonderful idea. He and his family were such caring, Christ-like people and we enjoyed being around them.
   We then said our goodbyes and began walking back to the car, when this man graciously called out to us and invited us in for some pizza. I wasn't expecting that, but we readily accepted the invitation and enjoyed some pizza and their company for a little while longer. They were so appreciative and thankful- and honestly we hadn't done much in a group of so many people. I felt so honored that they would be so kind to us for such a little thing. Some would call it Southern Hospitality, but I would call it an exalting and Godly attitude.
   From King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon we learn, "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)
   I would invite you to look for ways to serve others, and do a good deed here and there. When you do, you are serving God, and you can be at peace. I know in my life I have always been happiest when I have been more concerned with the well being of others before thinking of my own. When you put your all into selfless service you are doing exactly what Christ talked about when He said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Through Small And Simple Things

   The neat thing about God is that He accomplishes great and mighty miracles through small and simple things. Take for example missionaries like me- not that I've worked any mighty miracles, but I sure have seen some. What we do is not extraodinary, but the outcome is. We walk around, help people mow their lawns, pick up trash, teach the Gospel, cry repentance. We make phone calls, and tell stories. We pray. A lot. We invite people to live the teachings of Christ. None of that is terribly difficult or tremendous- definitely not heroic- work, but the outcome and blessings are immeasurable. I've seen people's lives change! I've seen people overcome smoking addictions that for their whole lives they couldn't break. One elderly lady had begun smoking at age 13, but when she finally heard the message of the restored Gospel she gave it up cold turkey. I've seen understanding blossom and faith grow. I've seen families united and love kindled.
   No, what WE do is not all that great or fantastic, but what GOD does THROUGH us, can be paramount. Truly God has done a marvelous work and a wonder through missionaries and good people everywhere. So when you feel like what you do isn't that great or maybe you feel it isn't good enough for the world, remember that God works through small and simple things, and great things are brought to pass. So just keep on trucking and know God can work miracles through you.