tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43367173607885463412024-03-05T08:36:23.226-08:00That All May Rejoice!Tender mercies I have seen in my life through knowing, living, loving and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-32462359709828158982017-06-12T06:27:00.000-07:002017-06-12T06:27:32.591-07:00The Prodigal Son<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "zoram" , "noto sans" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 28px;">"No one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all."</span><br />-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This last week in my religion class we studied the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. This story has always stuck with me and has always effected me differently over the years. Studying it this time I felt compassion towards the son who spent his birth on vain and frivolous things. Up to this point I had always associated myself with the feelings of the older son who feels jealously and resentment towards the younger brother who has received "the fatted calf" and his father's ring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a talk entitled "The Other Prodigal" where he discusses the feelings of the older brother and how we can all refrain from the tendency of comparing ourselves and ultimately trusting in God's love for us and all of His Children and how we must love and forgive them ourselves. In his talk he states:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Feeling unappreciated and perhaps more than a little self-pity, this dutiful son—and he is <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">wonderfully</span> dutiful—forgets for a moment that he has never had to know filth or despair, fear or self-loathing. He forgets for a moment that every calf on the ranch is already his and so are all the robes in the closet and every ring in the drawer. He forgets for a moment that his faithfulness has been and always will be rewarded."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"No, he who has virtually everything, and who has in his hardworking, wonderful way earned it, lacks the one thing that might make him the complete man of the Lord he nearly is. He has yet to come to the compassion and mercy, the charitable breadth of vision to see that <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">this is not a rival returning.</span> It is his brother. As his father pled with him to see, it is one who was dead and now is alive. It is one who was lost and now is found."</span></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"Certainly this younger brother had been a prisoner—a prisoner of sin, stupidity, and a pigsty. But the older brother lives in some confinement, too. He has, as yet, been unable to break out of the prison of himself. He is haunted by the green-eyed monster of jealousy."</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">How can we overcome such a tendency so common in almost everyone? For one thing, we can do as these two sons did and start making our way back to the Father. We should do so with as much haste and humility as we can summon. Along the way we can count our many blessings and we can applaud the accomplishments of others. Best of all, we can serve others, the finest exercise for the heart ever prescribed. But finally these will not be enough. When we are lost, we can “come to ourselves,” but we may not always be able to “find ourselves,” and, worlds without end, we cannot “save ourselves.” Only the Father and His Only Begotten Son can do that. Salvation is in Them only. So we pray that They will help us, that They will “come out” to meet and embrace us and bring us into the feast They have prepared.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I truly love this scriptural account because it helps us look inside of ourselves to understand what is most important. We need to trust that Heavenly Father will be the judge of all, but it is our job to love all those whom we come in contact with as our brothers and sisters. I know that God's love for us is real and unconditional and we must share that love with others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "zoram" , "noto sans" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/04/the-other-prodigal?lang=eng</span></span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-45764626316145936322017-04-20T23:43:00.001-07:002017-04-20T23:47:21.328-07:00Beautiful is the word "Eternal"<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"Love is intended to last longer than time, <br />to span the veil of death, <br />and <b>continue everlastingly</b>." <br />-Robert L. Millet</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I felt a desire to create this post mainly for me to understand more fully the grandeur of God's love and how it is able to distill upon those who feel the least deserving of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This post is mainly from journal entries following Emory's birth. I know I could have created this sooner but let's remember the crazy, wonderful chaos of motherhood ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Before referring to my journal I'm not proud of this but I feel it's important that I share how <u>indifferent</u> I felt towards Emory while she was 'in the womb.' All too often to me 'she' was just the 30+ runs to the bathroom at night, morning sickness, aggravating heartburn and my distorted whaleness. It didn't even occur to me to pack an outfit for her in my hospital bag! It seemed too abstract and surreal to comprehend that a baby was coming into our home. <b><i>That is why I now stand in complete amazement and awe of the love of God and His willingness to endow us with the unconditional, unfaltering, infinite love that He has for His precious children into the hearts of their mothers. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #e06666;">"No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">September 20, 2016: "I feel so overwhelmed with emotions as I write in my journal at this time. Right now I am hearing aloud and feeling the warmth of the hiccups of our sweet, new baby girl, Emory. I don't know if I've ever felt such pure joy in my life, it brings tear to my eyes just thinking about it. I loved</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"> seeing my husband's reaction. Just like our hike King's Peak, he held my hand the whole way. He was my strength and I loved him more in that moment then I felt I ever had the capacity to before.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I loved holding this pure, precious little body in my arms, I felt as though Heavenly Father had literally just placed this child from his hands into my arms and endowed us with the power and strength to love her as He does. I felt such reverence and awe towards her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><b>All fear, indifference, and anxiety was gone as it was replaced with warmth and light.</b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> "Driving away from the hospital I had what they call a </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">defining moment:</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">an event that typifies or determines all subsequent related occurrences. </i><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I felt terrified by every car driving past us that could potentially harm my baby. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(I was white knuckled, flustered and ready to send out a public service announcement telling everyone to just get off the road!) <i>Why is it so <u>easy</u> to feel fear?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In that moment there was a decision staring me right in the face: I could choose to <u>not</u> give my heart to her, therefore <u>not</u> be hurt if something bad were to happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I knew that if I chose that route <b>I would be losing so much more</b> than death could ever take. I knew that by bringing this child into the world I had been given the greatest blessing and privilege God could ever give to his children. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"<i>Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have JOY."</i> (-2 Nephi 2:25) This opportunity before me right now is what this life and the next life; eternal life with God is all about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I chose then that no matter what heartache, trials, or hardships we would face that I would always take care of her, I would never give up on her, and I would do everything that I could as her mother to help her return back home to her Heavenly Father." </span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> "Grief is the natural by-product of love...</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">grief is the natural by-product of love. One cannot selflessly love
another person and not grieve at his suffering or eventual death. The
only way to avoid the grief would be to not experience the love; and it
is love that gives life its richness and meaning." -Lance B. Wickman</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now we could blame this next part on "changes in hormone levels" but I believe it to be much more than that. I was afraid that when we brought Emory home that I would be freaking out about the cleanliness or harmful exposure. I was amazed by the spirit that she brought into our home. It felt so right. It was a spirit that we could not have replicated any other way. I don't believe I have ever felt so calm and so whole in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> In the days and weeks following I was oftentimes brought to tears by the love and gratitude I felt in my heart. One day I was staring a picture of the temple we were married in and realized that there was no way I could have opened up my heart the way that I needed to to be able to take care of my family without the knowledge that my family could be together forever. It made me feel so grateful that I was able to serve a mission to be able to share that message with so many others. I knew that the temple was important and significant but now I really know and feel that. Words cannot adequately express the joy that I feel. This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. </span><br />
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Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-42125928015833554622017-02-12T08:06:00.001-08:002017-02-12T10:07:36.124-08:00Trust in the Lord<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“It is extremely important for you to believe in yourselves </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not only for what you are now but for what you have the power to become. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Trust in the Lord as He leads you along. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He has things for you to do that you won't know about now but that will unfold later. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>If you stay close to Him, </i></span><b><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You will have some great adventures.</i></span></b><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="color: #a64d79;">You will live in a time where instead of sometimes being fulfilled, many of them will actually be fulfilled. The Lord will unfold your future bit by bit.”</span></i><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-Elder Neal A. Maxwell</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This last summer Preston ran the Teton Dam Marathon as a fundraiser for his internship with the Borgen Project. He performed incredibly, <span style="font-size: x-small;">though he did not have adequate training to complete such a race, was not receiving near enough sleep and had a good ole' case of the shin splints the power of his mind helped is what got him to the finish line.</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Or maybe it was the endless supplies of chocolate milk ??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Both my mom and his parents came up to watch him. While together, my sweet father-in-law shared some neat insights and personal experiences with us. At one point he got really tender and said <i>"I never expected to see my grandchildren, I'm not even supposed to be alive."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Up to this point I was still so unbelievably <b><u>cranky </u></b>and <b><u>crabby </u></b>about this whole pregnancy thing! Because (selfishly) it was taking time of my schooling, my summer and my sanity!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">In this moment it hit me that this pregnancy is no accident- it's not even a 'whoops!'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Somehow this was all meant to happen. Sure this whole time it didn't seem conducive to our schedule and future plans. But there was a much bigger picture that I wasn't able to see if I just kept feeling so bad for myself. <i>Why is it so easy to feel that way?</i> I needed to look up and outward to understand <b>God's purpose </b>in this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">There was a moment right in the beginning </span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">of my pregnancy</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">when I was in my state of tears and despair while Preston didn't even seem phased or upset. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">I cried "it's <i><u>your </u></i>internship that is ruined because of all of this!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">He calmly looked at me with the deepest love. He wouldn't even agree that it was ruined, he just said "Things are just happening sooner than expected, but this was part of the plan and <u>the most important thing to us all along. </u>We will just adjust and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><i><b>Let it Happen"</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Just as a side note: The time while I was on my mission, Preston was working so hard at school (working, 18 credits, starving college student) and on the roof (15 hour days rain, shine sleet, anything in between). At one point I asked why he was driving himself in the ground to work </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">so hard! </span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">He stated simply that everything that he is doing is ultimately to prepare for our eternal family. So while this was inconvenient it was the master plan. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">The experiences that I've had have created a deeper sympathy in my heart for those dealing with chronic illness and pain. Those 9 months seemed like they'd never end but that is nothing compared to the relentless pain that others have had to feel when faced with sometimes undiagnosed ailments and illnesses. My heart goes out to all of you <b><i>who keep those brilliant smiles on your faces</i></b> despite the pain and the unknown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">It has made me ponder the significance of each of our trials and heartaches and why they are a part of our mortal existence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The following poem is from the book <b>Charlie's Monument</b> by Blaine M. Yorgason, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>God,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>before He sent his children to earth</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>gave each of them</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>a very carefully selected package</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>of problems.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><i></i><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>These,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He promised, smiling,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>are yours alone. No one</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>else may have the blessings</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>these problems will bring you.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><i></i><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And only you</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>have the special talents and abilities</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>that will be needed</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>to make these problems </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>your servants.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><i></i><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Now go down to your birth</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>and to your forgetfulness, know that</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I love you beyond measure.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>These problems that I give you</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>are a symbol of that love.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><i></i><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>The monuments you make of your life,</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>with the help of your problems,</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>will be a symbol of your</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>love for me.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><i></i><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Your Father.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small;">E</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small;">lder Kim B. Clark</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">spoke to us in a stake conference in Rexburg and shared these thoughts</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia";"><i>When the Savior was in the Garden of Gethsemane taking upon him all our infirmities the Savior <b>saw us, personally, every single one.</b> He experienced everything that stands in between us and eternal life. <u>Eternal life is within reach for all of us.</u> We can ALL feel his redeeming power in our lives. He went before us. Even with all the pain this the world. <u>He can make everything right.</u> There is nothing that can happen to us that He has not already overcome."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">In the weeks following this journal account I had numerous other experiences that taught this principle further. The loss of a dear friend and fellow missionary, seeing how a mother's love is represented through taking her child to the doctor to get shots and attending a temple session. I felt and learned that in the beginning we developed a deep love and gratitude for our Savior as we learned everything that He would suffer for us so we could return home. We probably looked at Him with longing and sadness thinking of the pain that He would go through for us. He did it so that we wouldn't have to suffer our pains alone. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia";"><b>His love is so pure, enabling and redemptive.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="color: black;">We may not always understand God's ways but we can trust that He does love us and that He knows what is best. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>"If we approach life's adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead to times of greatest happiness."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">-Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin</span></div>
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Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-85600949629174780952017-02-07T13:25:00.000-08:002017-02-07T13:29:43.976-08:00"Love is what we go through"<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Marriage is a gift from God to us, </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><i>the quality of our marriages is a gift from us to God."</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">These thoughts are from a journal entry dated March 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">One day in my environmental health class were learning about teratogens and other causes for potential birth defects. I told a girl in my class how all this information became very personal to me now because I was 5 weeks pregnant. She excitedly gave her congratulations and then asked if I had felt sick at all. I almost scoffed and said, no, not at all! I feel so great! (I honestly have had no firsthand exposure to morning sickness and hardly knew it happened!) The class carried on and out of nowhere I didn't feel so good, I rushed to the bathroom and found myself vomiting in the toilet. How funny to know that was just the beginning of what would happen multiple times a day for multiple months ;)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I couldn't stand the smell of any food let be able to take the energy to prepare any sort of meal for my husband. <b>This broke my heart.</b> Upon returning to school I had this surreal vision of being the perfect wife and homemaker. Healthy meat-filled meals, all the chores done, a spotless clean apartment for when he turned from work.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I thought that was how our love would grow.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I thought perfect circumstances would yield the perfect foundation for a happy, healthy relationship. In my 'vision' this was the picturesque opportunity to show Preston how great of a wife I could be because by completely of all these 'checklist' items that would reveal my worth.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I was so humbled to learn how wrong I was, I had absolutely no idea JUST how much he truly LOVED me. He already loved me <u>unconditionally</u>. As he helped take care of me by doing the simplest things his love for me grew deeper than ever before. (I honestly did not clean a single dish for two whole months!) True love grows through caring for the well being of another.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Love grows through crisis, it is when we are incomplete and weak that we are able to grow and strengthen one another</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><i>That semester we had the blessing of President and Sister Bednar coming and speaking to the married couples. </i><i>It was fascinating to hear them talk about how their personalities could not be more different but at the end of every discussion they are always able to come to an agreeance. </i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><i>They shared with us that </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">"Marriage requires work, it's not always roses and cupids. You just need to learn to love the work." </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">"You do not find the marriage you hope to have;</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">you create it. <span style="font-size: small;">You create it from the differences of men and women.</span> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Why do we search for the perfect person? so that we can avoid hardness and heartache?</span> </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Opposition and trials were an inevitable part of life. It is designed that way so that we learn that we are not supposed to 'handle life' all alone. Preston has always taught me that relationships grow through crisis. We sometime wish we could put our most precious relationships in an incubator so they can grow in the safety of a perfectly regulated and controlled environment but ultimately that's not how they grow. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-size: large;">In this life we have the opportunity to learn to love each other as the Savior loves us, unconditionally despite our incredible and recurring weaknesses.</span> </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I'm very grateful for my mission president always sharing this valuable lesson with us, "Love is what we go through, True love is what we go through together."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">"Be able to laugh, this is serious business but don't be so serious that it's not fun. Don't stress over the things that you cannot control. Laugh and Love. Don't waste your whole life waiting for happiness to come. Create it." -Elder David A. Bednar</span></i></div>
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Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-31679141930144252402017-02-07T00:42:00.001-08:002017-02-07T12:21:11.027-08:00"...the joy that awaits"<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>“We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.”</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">-Elder Joseph F. Wirthlin</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The experiences of this post are a little overdue and a long time coming but I believe things are better recorded late than never. At this time of year I can't help but reflect on the thoughts and feelings I had this time last year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span id="quote_book_link_175165">January 2016 Preston and I returned to BYU-Idaho to start our first semester as a married couple. In the second week of the semester I realized a delay in a regular monthly event. I thought it was most likely stress with the start of a new semester but I somehow worked up the guts to go to the grocery store and buy that lovely stick to put my thoughts at ease so that I would be able to focus on my homework. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As embarrassing as it sounds the instructions sounded a little complicated (so many things that could potentially go wrong weeing on a stick. ;) I didn't want to risk my pride by having to go back to the store for another one if I messed up this test. Therefore I humbly knelt down on my kitchen floor and said a prayer. My intent was to pray that I would be able to perform the test right, that it would read it accurately and that I could get back to peacefully working on my homework. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>As my mouth opened my mind was filled with different words. </i></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I had the </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>feeling to pray to accept the outcome and to know that everything would be okay. I felt peaceful and calm and that God had blessed me in that moment to trust Him.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I finished the test and was ready to walk away and let the answer develop as it would. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">My eyes wandered over to see and low and behold it was positive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I was shocked and COMPLETELY distraught, I didn't want it to be real, I felt upset and anxious. I called Preston and my mother is utter despair and tears. Mainly because we had plans to go to Albania in the Fall for an internship and now that was out the window.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><i>As I talked to my sweet mother she was tender and compassionate and listened to my concerns. Their was the deepest and most sincere joy in her reaction despite my despair. Now I understand the joy that she felt and how she probably dearly wished I could see that then, it would have saved on some tears. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">In the days following that, amidst my worshiping of the porcelain throne morning sickness, this life change was a major struggle for me. I had a plan to finish my degree and travel the world helping people, how come this wasn't pleasing enough to the Lord? </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I still stand back in amazement at the most promising and beautiful feelings of peace and happiness that were manifest to my heart and mind. Even so early on at the beginning of this adventure I KNEW this was the right thing for our family.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">The following Sunday the spirit was so strong in our Relief society lesson that I was able to escape the cold, nasty winter/morning sickness afternoon and get a glimpse of the deep, immense joy that I would feel on a beautiful, warm autumn afternoon. Though I still felt miserable, lost and confused deep down I could feel that this would amount to the greatest joy we had yet experienced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><i><span style="color: #e06666;">This is just one part of the plan, so much joy awaits. Eternity will be about learning, teaching, loving and serving but most importantly it will consist of the family. </span></i></span></div>
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My fears, though very prominent and real, were completely vanquished before my eyes. Learning the doctrine of the eternal family was my lifeline, it was still so easy to feel fear and selfishness but there was a power even deeper inside of me that I had yet to uncover.</div>
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<i>"The highest and noblest work </i></div>
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<i>in this </i><i>life is that of a mother."</i></div>
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<i>-President Russell M. Nelson</i></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;">I know that Our Heavenly Father loves us all so much and this His greatest purpose is for us as His Children to have eternal joy. He knows the experiences that we need and He knows who we are meant to become. It is easy to disregard our potential and become complacent doing what's within our comfort zone but we are meant to become eternal beings full of joy and to inherit eternal life. </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCyVe6TfXSxUU0cYem7WWgqgkwNJ6fZaY-4-E4amhg2kOJGThDTonXm1HZmsFQl6K67aPJoPFSkKNVFxBPdBMyeoxnl92N2YCr4cq6lUkXpQ9PuMckZxKvDDRPk4VC8f7OszV231ogXM/s1600/Larry+and+Julie+Family+21+Jan+2017+%252876%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCyVe6TfXSxUU0cYem7WWgqgkwNJ6fZaY-4-E4amhg2kOJGThDTonXm1HZmsFQl6K67aPJoPFSkKNVFxBPdBMyeoxnl92N2YCr4cq6lUkXpQ9PuMckZxKvDDRPk4VC8f7OszV231ogXM/s320/Larry+and+Julie+Family+21+Jan+2017+%252876%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</i><i></i></span>Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-39932012154228216052015-11-18T10:41:00.001-08:002015-11-18T10:41:08.376-08:00Abundantly Blessed <div style="text-align: center;">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Being newly married has been such an amazing time of life!! I find
myself pinching pennies like I never have before and trying to figure out how
to incorporate my basically vegetarian diet into a meat lover’s ‘happy welcome
home after a cold 14 hour day meal.’ It’s been amazing to see how fast the time
has gone and how I truly treasure every minute with my best friend. But we have
received many blessings and adventures beyond this because we have chosen to
put Christ and His everlasting Gospel at the center of our home and marriage.</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">We were both amazed
we received from the wedding and how many sweet people have given us so much
love and support. Preston and I were both very overwhelmed with the amount of
money and gifts we had received. We had counted and recorded the amount of
money and set it aside. Up to this point I had been frantically searching for a
job, checking every website and applying to every place I could to no avail
yet. One day I had this huge list of things that I wanted to do and going to
the bank was one of them. A thought came very quick and strong “Tithing” it
literally made me stop everything I was doing, find our stache of money. I
counted and divided what we would pay for tithing and placed it in our
scriptures to give on Sunday and took the rest to the bank. </span></div>
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feeling nearly to the point of desperation as the Burger King ‘Now Hiring’ sign
flashed into view I grimaced a little. And then my phone rang. I answered to
hear the happy familiar voice of a family member asking if I was still looking
for a job in Logan. Turns out I was given one of the greatest opportunities for
work. It was for some of the lovliest, finest people that I know. They were so
good to me and so gracious to have me spend no time working when Preston was
off work. I learned some great new skills that will come in handy right now and
the rest of my life. This ended up being the greatest blessing and the best job
I could have ever asked for.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bT2DkxVHPLFE6eBqWMBBB5hiob70ZxtqKn1i0eFVGwhAiaVeqxWPAALjPakzIwzI-O2EfJxQSc2ZhBk-8mODtczWYT1GFN-qqEsV6tTQmebuDFwDcs_L2asoD2mGGo6X1d0q9KN_yco/s1600/12119121_10153147417922747_8926265027445082813_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bT2DkxVHPLFE6eBqWMBBB5hiob70ZxtqKn1i0eFVGwhAiaVeqxWPAALjPakzIwzI-O2EfJxQSc2ZhBk-8mODtczWYT1GFN-qqEsV6tTQmebuDFwDcs_L2asoD2mGGo6X1d0q9KN_yco/s320/12119121_10153147417922747_8926265027445082813_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">The day that I got
the phone call, Preston and I had already decided we would go to the temple
that night. It was the first time attending as a married couple and what a
sweet experience that was. That same night in our scripture study it was
Preston’s turn to select one. He shared a scripture from the Book of Mormon
that I recognize has always been a theme for him in his life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">“But before ye seek
for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God, and after ye have obtained a hope
in Christ ye shall obtain riches if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the
intent to do good-to clothe the naked and to feed the hungry and to liberate
the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.” <br />
–Jacob 2:18-19</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXT2qpcZPbDbcAj0R00IKj5U47c4XoiX-vtFlrGfEFmCxm_k-9tEhaiXzd8_KsmIIY16bB6QXvhgs86E9igk83SctoRBFxivokALHyZ-W5QLtp2OuzMWTCFaBjCbdTJDoWh1gqpAgcLA/s1600/12063819_10153125699522747_2937174120040946125_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXT2qpcZPbDbcAj0R00IKj5U47c4XoiX-vtFlrGfEFmCxm_k-9tEhaiXzd8_KsmIIY16bB6QXvhgs86E9igk83SctoRBFxivokALHyZ-W5QLtp2OuzMWTCFaBjCbdTJDoWh1gqpAgcLA/s320/12063819_10153125699522747_2937174120040946125_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">He shared something
with me that I had not realized up to that point. I had been doing everything I
thought was good and necessary to receive a job. It was stressful, frantic, exhausting
and I was getting nowhere. It wasn’t until I was exactly obedience and did what
I knew was right that God was able to open up a multitude of blessings that He,
the whole time, was just waiting to give us. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">I always knew that tithing
was a true principle and that I needed to live by it, but I became lazy doing
it, even though I knew it to be true. I know that all blessing truly do come
from God and He’s waiting and wanting to give them to us. I know that our
Heavenly Father has so much love for us. We are His beloved Children. He loved
us so much that He provided a Savior, Jesus Christ for us. Through Him I know
we can find the source of ultimate peace. </span></div>
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Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-39314221027226258052015-11-18T09:52:00.001-08:002015-11-18T09:52:18.544-08:00God's Timing: Adventures in Idaho<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have come to a point in my life where I
feel I can no longer ever doubt the divine timing of our Heavenly Father. I
know He is so aware of me and He always knows what’s best for me. He never
misses a beat or goes on vacation. His whole work and His glory focus on the
happiness and success of us as His children.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">One Sunday back in
May 2013 I had a meeting with the stake president to submit my mission papers.
It was very exciting. Afterwards Preston and I were to drive down to Utah for
Memorial weekend. Somewhere between Blackfoot and Pocatello the little white
car made that dreadful blasting noise and within a moment we found ourselves
pulled to the side of the road with a shot engine. Cars raced past on the
highway as we lifted the hood trying to figure out what was wrong. It was a
mystery but it was obvious that car wouldn’t drive again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">It was our original
plan to arrive in Logan in time to attend a missionary farewell celebration. We
called for help and they were hours away. We were grateful they were coming but
we knew we would be missing the event and would spend several hours there on
the highway. It all seemed a great misfortune- for we had a good goal to
accomplish and we were met with this unlikely fate. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHnGPv4HjKcbJBqUuGdF1lNNcevjxg3a71orLzyH09y0NVlUkkGNeNOw9qsimuGa9cdUFt5G0jk0EaPUle-6z0_HSkv6DShha2SmoAfPiYXxVP0wO3fgLmS3VX5bwwk0pyH1UyyZRRO8/s1600/1017440_182307495263180_616121382_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHnGPv4HjKcbJBqUuGdF1lNNcevjxg3a71orLzyH09y0NVlUkkGNeNOw9qsimuGa9cdUFt5G0jk0EaPUle-6z0_HSkv6DShha2SmoAfPiYXxVP0wO3fgLmS3VX5bwwk0pyH1UyyZRRO8/s320/1017440_182307495263180_616121382_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">To pass the time
Preston and I read a beautiful conference talk together and discussed
establishing peace within a home. We took a walk through the famous blackrock
rugged terrain. We watched calmly as the set gracefully behind those hills. All
the rushing around of classes and schoolwork, church duties and schedules was
all left behind in Rexburg as we were enjoying our own sanctuary here. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">It started to rain,
pour and storm right as help arrived. We loaded the dead car onto the trailer
and climbed into the back of the truck and continued our journey. I don’t think
I would realize the full impact of that trip until months later I was serving
my mission in Oregon and thought fondly and sweetly back on that time I got to
spend with Preston. It was one of the best memories yet with him.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1EoizN-2ILSsxMrJLrJVNfBsVZew16fgQvEVcZ3mzr0XJuuIg0dm9WedDitobsKEfywC-uv5F7dLpYZ9i_rmvC3tPfeJcPPMkbiO-ARdstOEPrNy-e6DVZG1Dhx58dR2RMl1XGyS5JQ/s1600/1003029_10151543809487747_288265554_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1EoizN-2ILSsxMrJLrJVNfBsVZew16fgQvEVcZ3mzr0XJuuIg0dm9WedDitobsKEfywC-uv5F7dLpYZ9i_rmvC3tPfeJcPPMkbiO-ARdstOEPrNy-e6DVZG1Dhx58dR2RMl1XGyS5JQ/s320/1003029_10151543809487747_288265554_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">Since returning home
from the mission and being married to that wonderful man I had another
opportunity to travel up to Rexburg to take engagement photos for some dear
friends. We traveled to a beautiful spot up in the mountains with glorious
golden fields, pines and aspen trees. It had snowed days earlier and still
lingered on the dirt road up there. We got some great shots and soon the
weather got bitterly colder so we headed back down. I was driving and truly not
comfortable with the conditions of the road, we turned one corner going down.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> Instead
of turning we ended up running the car right into a ditch against the ridge.
One of the dear friends present was very skillful in getting cars out of crazy
situations. But with only one of the two wheel drive tires touching the ground
he explained we would need a truck to get this out. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">I regret to say I felt
extremely frustrated and distressed, we thought of every idea we could and
recalled the roommates second cousin or that kid in my science class that had a
truck but with no true travail. It was very important to me to get the car out
to know that it was okay, to get down to see my sister and then return home
after a three hour drive still ahead to see my husband. In the moment of
distress we knew the best thing to do would be to pray. After piling sticks and
rocks and using all that super mom adrenaline to lift it, it was to no avail.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">In the perfect
moment I looked up in great surprise to see a F350 truck coming around the
bend. I couldn’t believe my eyes. One glance the driver gathered our situation
and pulled over kindly, reaching into the bed, pulled out a chain and exclaimed
“now what are you all doing out here?” with a grin. Our dear new friend Rick
might have felt we’d been stuck out there for days when we explained he was an
answer to our prayers!! He was just out for a humble deer hunt in the middle of
nowhere. In no time we were safely back on the road.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">That last experience truly got me, it was an experience that helped
me understand something I have been struggling with for years. It was a
principle that I have both believed and taught but I have never quite developed
a deep, abiding trust in it. I know now, very deeply within my soul that God
hears and answers prayers. I’ve always felt timid to pray for answers or to ask
for help because I’ve always felt like He’s so busy or He already has a plan or
idea. I have learned that through both of these experiences that yes, He does
have a plan. And that plan is calculated for our ultimate happiness. Preston
and I would have been happy arriving at the celebration on time and would have
had a wonderful experience there. But I believe Heavenly Father knew our
situation very well and knew exactly the pain and grief we would go through in
the coming months and years, we he gave us a very intimate, glorious memory
together that helped us develop a pattern and attitude toward life together. An
experience that became symbolic to us that we could use to get through some low
times. God also had this plan that we get stuck and “after all we [could] do”
help would come.</span></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJKFqUJfC0nNy82KCp4li_W46NBDrp4g4T3TbCVtO0tlcIFSsJjnNN1Hymww7L7JHeA3zEd0Xb2x2T7g_-VBzz47YoXGCysxkgA880n6xcKoSeCCVBt-PSlg2m2TYzTUxOaJSTNripvM/s1600/11034249_10152691433787747_3677886660241104358_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJKFqUJfC0nNy82KCp4li_W46NBDrp4g4T3TbCVtO0tlcIFSsJjnNN1Hymww7L7JHeA3zEd0Xb2x2T7g_-VBzz47YoXGCysxkgA880n6xcKoSeCCVBt-PSlg2m2TYzTUxOaJSTNripvM/s320/11034249_10152691433787747_3677886660241104358_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">I know our Heavenly Father may ‘appear’ busy because He is doing
these same exact things for every one of His children. I have no doubt that His
whole work and His glory is to “Bring to pass the immortality and eternal life
of man” –Moses 1:39 which means that we will be given experiences to help us
grow and stretch to be able to become that glorious celestial being He has
intended us to be. </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">He has a perfect
plan with perfect timing. </span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-40548504190695014222015-11-10T11:08:00.000-08:002015-11-18T10:00:21.401-08:00Zion<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Back in April my mom
and I had the beautiful blessing of traveling to Kansas City, Missouri. While
visiting Independence and the surrounding areas including Liberty, Far West and
Adam-Ondi-Ahman we felt the power of ancient promises, the strength of the early
stalwart members of the church and the duty we have as members of the church
now to recall these people and events. And to live our lives in such a way to
claim all the blessings established from the foundations of the world by our
Loving Heavenly Father. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; line-height: 115%;">This question has
often come to my mind since returning home from a mission:</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; line-height: 115%;">"How can we
have the same determination of the early saints?" </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; line-height: 115%;">They were so willing
to leave behind their homes, culture, language, professions, even relationships
to face the foreboding brutality of an unknown horizon. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; line-height: 115%;">They were willing to
do it because they knew the Gospel was true and they promised to give even
their very lives for it. What was so significant about the Gospel?</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; line-height: 115%;">I feel the beauty of
the Gospel is captured as we look at the impact of the Atonement of our Savior,
Jesus Christ from the very beginning of time to now. The first children of our
Heavenly Father sent to earth, Adam and Eve, learned about the gracious gift of
the Atonement while they were in the Garden of Eden. A transgression was made
and there seemed to be no hope for resolution or to be clean again in Heavenly
Father's presence. Despair and fear quickly set in. They were taught of a
Savior that would be provided for them. His selfless act of taking upon all our
sins and iniquities allows us the ability to repent, to be cleansed from sin
and able to return back to our heavenly home. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; line-height: 115%;">I believe the early
converts of the church felt the same heavenly relief as they each read from the
Book of Mormon praying to receive a witness that it was true. No doubt that
simple yet striking account of the Savior sunk deep into their very souls to
provide clarity in contrast to the cloudiness of lost "plain and precious
truths" through centuries of darkness.” They must have felt the purity of
the doctrine and felt that heavenly light shine down and testify that there
truly is a Savior. His atonement is meant to cleanse us and bring us back home.
These elect souls were able to recognize the truth when it was presented to
them. As the Light cracked through the darkness of hundreds and thousands of
years, they did not shy away from it, rather they sought after it, were willing
to give of all their earthly possessions to fully taste of the sweetness and
cleansing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; line-height: 115%;">They chose to follow
a prophet, a man called of God and given authority to govern the Lord’s kingdom
on the earth. Joseph Smith was called to be that man. Many knew he was a
prophet before even meeting him, from reading the Book of Mormon they came to
know that this book was from God and was delivered through His divine
instrument, a prophet. Through the devastating event at Haun’s mill we learn
the importance of listening to a prophet’s voice. In this case timing was
essential and it was the difference between life and death. We can see today
how following the council of our prophet can save us from experiencing
spiritual death and help us avoid exposing ourselves to the things that deeply
damage our souls and our divine nature.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeBOh2Y_IoZsqxb9s9CHjT4sgsIbFST3mtOFxSM7L6LTqvMfYvSsO3tTqgBL9ZOI2_djOxln7ut82uw30FIQJcCnMcO1cleLwZOv-zx6rOOiYhfFt-jsjxD_Mn8Dfmo47QYOgvtoKTwg/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeBOh2Y_IoZsqxb9s9CHjT4sgsIbFST3mtOFxSM7L6LTqvMfYvSsO3tTqgBL9ZOI2_djOxln7ut82uw30FIQJcCnMcO1cleLwZOv-zx6rOOiYhfFt-jsjxD_Mn8Dfmo47QYOgvtoKTwg/s320/image2.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">In Liberty Jail we learned of the irony of its name. This was the
place where four 6ft tall men were crammed into a damp, cold, diseases infested
dungeon while they heard the cries of their wives and children being kicked out
of their homes. The Prophet Joseph’s humble prayer and experience are captured
in the scriptural account in the Doctrine and Covenants where he cries to God
and asks “Where is thy pavilion?” Though dark and bleak crying for the last
strand of hope the most glorious revelations were unfolded to him. “Peace be
unto thy soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small
moment” These are words that have been the soul assuring answer to prayer as
they have turned to the scriptures for countless amounts of Heavenly Father’s
children. He was there in Liberty Jail with those men and He is there with us
in our darkest moments too. He has suffered all of these things; He is our
dearest Friend who is sitting beside us in our bleakest most miserable moments.
We need Him. We always need Him. </span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">This place was the refiner’s fire for the most significant
revelations but the most joyous times. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Far West was a consecrated and holy land where the people were
commanded to lay the cornerstones for a temple that would be built there. The
building did not take place in any of their lifetimes. This prophecy goes to
show that our Heavenly Father’s promises are sure and even more significant and
expansive than we can comprehend. </span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">“Though we have rightly applauded our ancestors for their spiritual
achievements (and do not and must not discount them now), those of us who
prevail today will have done no small thing. The special spirits who have been
reserved to live in this time of challenges and who overcome will one day be
praised for their stamina by those who pulled handcarts.”<br />
-Elder Neal A. Maxwell</span></span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kansas City, Missouri Temple</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">They have left a legacy for us.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Now these fervent and valiant souls are rejoicing as they watch us
fight the battles that we do every day! It is no small task and the subtle
sneakiness of the adversary is penetrating even deeper into the hearts and
homes of those who have tasted of the Gospel. To rejoice in the eternal realms
with those who have gone before us into the eternities we need to cleanse our
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">We need to have the personal worthiness and preparation to be able
to build our own little temple because there will be many when the Savior comes
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Adam- Ondi- Ahman: a place of beginnings</span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">The beauty of the grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it is
never too late to start. We have never gone too far, there is no where we can
go where His infinite and loving touch cannot reach us. The best place to start
is right now. </span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">The translation of Adam-Ondi-Ahman is “where God walked with Adam” <br />
That can be the goal for all of us today, to start living our lives in such a
way that we can feel Him close. I know that “This life is the time for man to
prepare to meet God” -Alma 34:32 </span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">It seems like forever but it really is such a short amount of time.
He wants us to be happy and eternal happiness only comes through Him.</span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";"></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b> </b></span></span></span> </span></span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-86017771760958698102015-11-10T10:07:00.000-08:002015-11-18T09:42:09.096-08:00A Stone for a Ring<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The
Greatness and Goodness of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The
last several months I have been humbled to understand the way that our Loving
Heavenly Father instructs us in this life. His teaching is not the pass or fail
kind, it’s not cramming the material in last minute and trying to regurgitate
it in the time of an exam. It requires our whole heart and mind. It uncovers a
capacity of character that us ourselves, never fully knew of. He gives us this
gift of knowledge that we may become great; to inherit the blessings of
holiness and royalty that is part of our birthright. Only through the experience
and trying of mortality can we come to understand the infinite, eternal,
all-knowing, all-encompassing life of endless joy that God lives and has
prepared for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Life
has its challenges, often times when it seems there is no way to go on. But I
have personally seen the Hand of God in my life guiding me to exactly where I
need to be. Sometimes it is manifest in humorous and inconvenient ways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My
first semester of school after the mission I was busily amidst getting back into
the routine of my studies, one day I felt a slight but reoccurring pain in my
side. Other signs came to point to a possible kidney stone. I went to the
doctor and the CT proved my assumption right. I thought it was no big deal, I’d
had them before. With a lemonade-filled no social life weekend I could sweep it
out of there in no time. The doctor noted that it was particularly larger than
my previous and it would be best to have it blasted before it caused infection.
We scheduled a day for the small procedure but the whole thing turned out to be
a dreadful inconvenience. I had slight fears, for I had to be put under for
this procedure and I was slightly nervous. My parents made it a point to be
there for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedJqG2qONaLdLYfl1Ic0l673Eg1xMz9NUHkaRpo8WtduWtOevRSPCF8By4ar3RjQHV1mNBRM_5RqlWa4Juo3Mx8p7vwCnMQxCpGzzqhTv0ucQMs6g7W4D3aRYK2Y4HN8vQoulpn8DlDU/s1600/11249762_10152882489007747_73322681901333363_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedJqG2qONaLdLYfl1Ic0l673Eg1xMz9NUHkaRpo8WtduWtOevRSPCF8By4ar3RjQHV1mNBRM_5RqlWa4Juo3Mx8p7vwCnMQxCpGzzqhTv0ucQMs6g7W4D3aRYK2Y4HN8vQoulpn8DlDU/s320/11249762_10152882489007747_73322681901333363_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Also
so did my boyfriend, we dated before the mission, he had asked for my father’s
hand in marriage a couple months ago and for reasons was not granted his
blessing. I was put under as my parents were there, the procedure went fine and
I woke up to see my sweet Preston there with a gentle smile on his face. He
told me that while I was out it placed him and my father in ‘close’ proximity
of each other to talk things out. It placed greater peace among the mind of my
father granting him permission to pursue our relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1PWN8CFJFUeHYqbL_PFeVs3H_g1C7oAiKaqa20K3LKDfuG47-WgR6DmfJ4NeBLIO__zBD9pkpXvgzVBncZe1nb1wqRujxaF5VN6Sa5lp23lB0oKD1nEC8rsPzmBwGSrLW_UqCYRgAco/s1600/10425421_10152910122252747_6519758303868067743_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1PWN8CFJFUeHYqbL_PFeVs3H_g1C7oAiKaqa20K3LKDfuG47-WgR6DmfJ4NeBLIO__zBD9pkpXvgzVBncZe1nb1wqRujxaF5VN6Sa5lp23lB0oKD1nEC8rsPzmBwGSrLW_UqCYRgAco/s320/10425421_10152910122252747_6519758303868067743_n.jpg" width="252" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Through this
experience we have the blessing of being where we are today, happily married
and in good relations with our families. I have no doubt in my mind that this
was made possible through the work of God. I could have looked at that
experience and been totally miserable and thought forever “what was the point
of that” but in fact God had given me a kidney stone and He was able to
transform that into a diamond wedding ring. I know our prayers were answered, I
will never doubt His influence, His ways and His desire to make us happy.
Sometimes it’s painful but in the end it is all well worth it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkWXhuu_eWwqGRNZf4d8r1lWfRgjvMnbcUR2s_ecTq0LYWC9Foc56YBAG2fJd9rIRZJjE_OCSgKuJ8JCvTt_Pv9rmRyc-ixJfTF0H2ux0QgNYBYziLyMvZjtLA581-sbXhWNxZaOAxjk/s1600/12088237_10153125703562747_8468153658074156808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkWXhuu_eWwqGRNZf4d8r1lWfRgjvMnbcUR2s_ecTq0LYWC9Foc56YBAG2fJd9rIRZJjE_OCSgKuJ8JCvTt_Pv9rmRyc-ixJfTF0H2ux0QgNYBYziLyMvZjtLA581-sbXhWNxZaOAxjk/s320/12088237_10153125703562747_8468153658074156808_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span></span></span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-18174807983689245502015-03-30T11:44:00.001-07:002015-03-30T11:47:14.801-07:00"I am... the Life"<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spring has always been my favorite time of year. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were lessons that I needed to learn the past couple weeks that I could not have learned any other way than by seeing new life come about in the world around me among our Heavenly Father's creations.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Returning home from the mission has been a trying, hard yet faith promoting experience.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the mission you gave every waking thought and ounce of energy to the cause of spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You feel you gave everything but the beauty of being in the service of the Lord is that this promise is always sure </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he who loseth </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>His life for my sake shall find it..." -Matthew 10:39</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found a new way to live my life. To be filled with faith, hope and charity. To always seek the Spirit and remember the atoning sacrifice of my Savior forever. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Returning to the home that I always loved I felt as though I was walking back through a ghost town on my life with lifeless skeletal memories of my poor choices and mistakes from before. As though I had all the goodness drained out of me and I was left completely alone to fight my own personal battles. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These thoughts distressed me because they are contrary to the message I'd given my whole heart to declaring the past 18 months. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day I had the blessing of babysitting for a family in my ward. They were the sweetest children and I learned so much from their examples. They live for joy and were always searching for fun. T.V. was a bore, laughter was the melody and were so quick to forgive one another. Despite my weaknesses they loved me perfectly, unconditionally and whole-heartedly. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My previously numbed, doubtful and hesitant heart became softened that day from the love of these children. I walked out the door completely exhausted from their games and active lives but as I soaked in the late afternoon sunshine I felt so full of joy! Before I was afraid to look around me because everything seemed to contain a painful memory but in that moment I could feel God's love being placed in my heart for others and making me whole.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Driving around town I realized something, in late February most of the trees were empty and barren. Single branches held one or two leaves from the autumn before. They had been left to stand their lifeless as they withstood the winter. Our Heavenly Father didn't intend for those trees to hold onto those bright fall leaves forever. They were to come back in the spring (return from their missions) and become something new, something better and even more radiant for the new season in their lives. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've been so blessed to see the glorious blossoms of spring which only come as the trees are willing to accept whatever the will of the weather is, rain or shine. They are always reaching up and out, to embrace whatever experiences God wants to give them. That's how they gain new life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The purpose of this life is to be willing to grow and experience, no matter how painful those steps of faith may be. We can't be afraid to love and give our hearts because '...that's what gives life it's richness and meaning' There's so much that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to learn and experience for the purpose of us coming to know them and becoming like them. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me...shall have the light of life."</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>-John 8:12</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know that God's love for us is real and as tangible, warm and real as the sunshine. The purpose of His love is that we literally become new creatures in Him. That our burdens and our fears may be eased. That we can experience life and joy because our Savior Jesus Christ has felt, endured and overcome it all. We can find life, light and healing in our lives as we forever have faith and trust in our Savior and His infinite atonement.</span></div>
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Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-22169160111753845772015-03-19T23:40:00.001-07:002015-03-19T23:43:45.654-07:00In His Hands<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"What I originally viewed as a complete disaster ended up being a plan... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">perfectly crafted and instrumented in the Hands of the Lord."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Serving a full-time mission for my Savior, Jesus Christ, has been</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">one of my most treasured experiences I have yet had in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was full of heartaches and sacrifices. It resulted in one of the most unique </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and personal tutoring curriculum's straight from my Heavenly Father to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mission was just the beginning of my mortal education. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have learned and will continue to learn that</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is so involved in our lives. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nothing that happens is random. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will make mistakes and we will fall short. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> We will feel pain and we may have regrets.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These things happen to fulfill our purpose of mortality, to grow </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and become stronger and <i>come to know who we can always trust, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>who provides the 'healing balm' and whom we are to forever abide in. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming home was like walking into the Ghost town of your life before </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and you're not sure what to do with the broken pieces still around you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">while still trying to hang onto the memories of your mission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One Sunday morning I realized the journal I used the last part of my mission was missing. That afternoon I was searching frantically for it for two hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was devestating having doubts that the beauty of the mission </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">happened at all and having the evidence of the end of it lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This occupied my mind and created a two hour set back for an intended trip an hour south to deliver a wedding present to a former boyfriend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parking the car off the highway I walked the mile up his driveway, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">relishing in the memories that occured along that road and urging a smile thinking about the happy state that he was in now. <b>There was strength beyond my own</b> helping me make the earnest strides to my destination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the doorstep doubts filled my mind as I wondered </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'what on earth am I doing here?!' </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His parents answered with a similar look on their faces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They kindly invited me in and expressed how I had <i>just</i> missed him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Handing over the gift, with a jab to the heart I was then overcome with peace and filled with awe that <b>my Heavenly Father saw and understood things that I did not but he lead me to the perfect place at the perfect time.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had been searching for understanding why my journal had to go missing. I needed to walk up that road with complete fearlessness and do the right thing as a disciple of Jesus Christ would. <i><b>God had prepared my heart to be ready for the hardest thing but that wasn't the will of the Lord. </b></i>I had received an answer to prayer asked for over two years ago, 'to be able to love more purely'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the days following a man called saying he had seen my journal in an airport terminal and felt prompted to pick it up and take it home. He read through looking for contact information and was touched by the things he read. If I had found the journal any earlier I would have shown up two hours earlier and done more harm than good, <b>God has perfect timing.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through this experience I learned that God was well aware of me and the healing that my heart needed to experience. I felt emotionally stretched to my very limits but <b><i>His strong, gentle hands came in and lovingly filled in the gaps. </i></b>He knew I was capable of giving more than I thought I could. He knew my journal and the miraculous story of it being found could touch more lives than I had imagined. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts..."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">-Isaiah 55:8-9 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have come to a new determination to trust in God more completely.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Answers to prayer don't always come when I want them to, <b> </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>But They Come.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I won't understand certain experiences of mortality,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>But He Does.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b>What are the reasons for pain in the past, confusion in the present and questions about the future...<b>We are to go forward with faith in Jesus Christ </b> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“The acceptance of the reality that we are in the </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lord's loving hands is
only a recognition </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">that we have never really been anywhere else.” </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Elder Neal A. Maxwell</span></span></span></span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-32497617262137169342015-03-15T00:02:00.001-07:002015-11-18T10:03:55.711-08:00"Remember Who You Are!"<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #bf9000;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God
is our Loving Heavenly Father. He knows us each individually and He is
well aware of each of us and our own personal challenges and
circumstances. As our Father He wants to bless us and has provided
everything necessary for us to work through the trials of mortality and
have eternal joy and peace in this life and in the life to come. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These are principles I
have heard, known and even taught to others my whole life. It was not a
concept I believe I even began to really comprehend and understand to
this extent until the weeks following the return home from my mission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was at a point where
questions and doubts were swarming my mind, my Book of Mormon sat close
by my feet on this airplane but in a moment of weakness I lacked the
motivation and desire to pull it out and search its pages to find the
answers of my soul. Deep in this despairing mental hole, feeling as
though I could get myself out of it I let pointless doubts loom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Arriving at my new
destination I felt lost more than ever before. With all the strength of
Spirit I had within me I pulled it out and committed to read the Book of
Mormon at the next airport gate I would be waiting at. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The commitment was made but the darkness still did not give way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Passing through the next
concourse I had this feeling that I needed to smile. As I did so I
started to notice the people and the world around me. Just getting a
glimpse into the lives of these other individuals reality hit me that
there was nothing for me to complain about comparatively. There is so
much potential to reach out, learn, grow and love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As quickly as my mood
changed and gratitude increased I saw this light as though an angel was
descending down from heaven walking towards me. After a double take I
still could not believe my eyes. It was the brilliant glow and beautiful
smile of Sister Elaine S. Dalton, the former Young Women's President
who's light and testimony I had built mine upon for years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our paths crossed and I exclaimed <i>"I know who you are!"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She looked at me in my old worn out skirt, my temple bag and Book of Mormon in hand and stated <i>"I know who you are too...tell me your name"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">she continued, <i>"You just got off your mission didn't you?...You still glow...and you have angels surrounding you right now..." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I clumsily tried to
express to her how much her light and example impacted me as a youth.
Her gold blazers, stories of running and hiking and her description of
the beauty inside the walls of the temple prompted and inspired me to be
worthy and pure and do the things necessary to abide there someday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was a tender mercy of
tender mercies. It was more than just meeting someone face-to-face that
I had loved and admired for many years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was for me to realize that Heavenly Father was there for me all along,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He had already sent
angels to assist and lift me, I just hadn't yet done the things
necessary to access that power and recognize them. He sent someone I
knew and loved to help point my gaze heavenward; to His immediate and
unconditional love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have His light, we have the potential to receive "...<i>all the Father Hath"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>"</i></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>Remember who you are! See yourself as our Heavenly Father sees you. You
are elect. You are of noble birth. Don’t compromise your divine
inheritance. You were born to be a queen. Live so you are worthy to
enter the temple and there receive “all that [the] Father hath.”<sup class="noteMarker"> </sup>Develop deep beauty. There is no more beautiful sight than a young woman who glows with the
light of the Spirit, who is confident and courageous because she is
virtuous."</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i><span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-Sister Elaine S. Dalton</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I
know that God lives and that He is consistently and anxiously reaching
out for us. No matter how many times we may turn away, He will never
turn away from us. His Love is always there. We need to have the courage
to reach out our hand to partake of that love and be changed into the
glorious, pure and virtuous beings He has always intended us to become. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-6694991904999627932015-03-14T23:02:00.001-07:002015-03-15T00:11:11.756-07:00"...Shall be for thy good"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe there to be beauty in vulnerability.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vulnerability being defined as </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>referring to the inability to withstand the effects of a hostile environment;</i> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">capable</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">susceptible</span> <span class="oneClick-link">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">being</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">wounded</span> <span class="oneClick-link">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">hurt.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not being vulnerable to the forces of the world that will always try to pull us down and tear us away. Rather being vulnerable and submissive to an all knowing Loving Heavenly Father in whom we can forever trust. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When we treasure Someone else's will above our own.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> </i> </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a time I felt my soul had been permantently </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wounded from mistakes of the past. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On truly sacred ground, in the House of the Lord </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went trying to make sense of it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inside those walls impressions and light were received.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thoughts of the creation of mountains filled my mind,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it's a process of millions of years with events including the colliding </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of tectonic plates and erosion from both wind and water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tedious result is a glorious one to behold. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While climbing and finally atop a mountain peak you gain perspective unlike anything you would have received had you stayed in the valley below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To create these mountains causes pain, if compared to the process of our Heavenly Father perfecting a soul it comprises of heart-wrenching moments, tear-filled nights, and enduring faith in Jesus Christ. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just as ascending up a mountain trail in the late afternoon sunshine on an autumn afternoon has indescribable joyous feelings. Same as for the potential of our lives, desires and our hearts when we fully yield them to God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are things we can learn no other way than by walking the higher yet harder road. We will come to understand love, joy, peace and redemption like we never had before placing our will in the Hands of the Father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Doctrine and Covenants 122:7</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let Him carry the burdens of pain and heartache, He is making something great out of you through them. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">"There is the reason. It is for our development, our purification, our growth, our education and advancement, that we may buffet the fierce waves of sorrow and misfortune; and we shall be all the stronger and better when we have swum the flood and stand upon the farther shore." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">-Elder Orson F. Whitney</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1831 the Prophet Joseph Smith received this revelation for the early saints</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.5999984741211px; text-align: start;">“Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should </span><span class="highlight" id="scrollTarget" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #fefbbf; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.5999984741211px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>go to the Ohio</b></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.5999984741211px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high." -Doctrine and Covenants 38:32</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many heeded the call and gathered at the revealed place: Kirtland, Ohio. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One particular family, Newel K. Whitney and his wife Elizabeth had lived in Kirtland all their lives, they were very humble yet prosperous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>When they heard the Gospel and knew it to be true. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Prophet Joseph Smith arrived at their store, shook his hand and declared <i>"thou art the man!...You've prayed me here, now what do you want of me?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Whitney's, along with the other saints, started the preparations of </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">building a temple. A House of the Lord, the first in this dispensation as </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">part of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">"The temple in Kirtland was built by the Saints in their dire poverty. It was erected at great sacrifice."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After hours of labor for members of each family including sacrificing basic needs such as sleep, water and food along with precious ones such as material and fine china the temple was completed, dedicated and glorious revelations and visitations of heavenly messengers unfolded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Saints had put forth their best effort and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the word, light, truth and hand of the Lord were clearly and powerfully </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">made manifest to these converts of new, unshaken faith. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.5999984741211px; text-align: start;">"The Saints were forced to leave Ohio and their temple, built at so much sacrifice and such a great cost, and move to Missouri where they suffered again.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.5999984741211px; text-align: start;">.."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a video depiction shown at the visitors center Sister Whitney </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s confronted by one of her
dear friends after hearing from the prophet </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that the saints were to move on to Missouri.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> She asked distressingly,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> “How we bear to leave our beloved Kirtland?” </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sister Whitney pulled her back and looked deep into </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">her </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">eyes </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">replied with
great strength. </span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The Lord commanded us to build a temple and that we did, we
have been taught, endowed and grown and now He has called us to Missouri.”</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beautiful to me in this conversation is that Kirtland had always been her life,
home, and her dreams. <i><b>Now with the acceptance of the Gospel the Savior and His
perfect will became everything</b></i>. And she would drop her perfectly good well
thought out plans to follow Him. Our heavenly Father created something so
beautiful out of something so little. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A small group of priesthood brethren were
gathered in a school room </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as Joseph Smith prophesied unto them that <i><b>this church
would grow </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>to fill north and south America and the world.</b></i> The bewilderment </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in
their eyes yet the power of the Spirit in that room is hard to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">comprehend. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">n our day we have seen that come to pass, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">because of the selfless </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sacrifice of
those early latter-day saints. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i> Their story has laid the foundation </i></b></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>of legacy of </i></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>strength of faith and character for each of us.</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Serving in the Washington Vancouver Mission is the Kirtland of
my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was hard and required great sacrifice, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but even deeper were the
blessings and the joy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I wasn't meant to stay and dwell safely there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
are other lands he was to call me to, invitations </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to come unto Christ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to extend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was only the beginning of the growth from </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">challenges that we would
experience. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I am so grateful for an all knowing Heavenly Father to let me suffer so much in order to reap so many blessings. I'll walk whatever trek He has planned, because I know all along and forever I will always be safe in His hands.</i></span></div>
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Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-41088525278854882922015-02-12T12:52:00.005-08:002015-02-12T12:52:45.142-08:00His Light<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">I've learned a lot while having the blessed opportunity </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">of serving a 18 month mission in Washington and Oregon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">One thing I have come to appreciate dearly is <b>Light.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">I didn't understand why it was suggested to take a Vitamin D supplement daily, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">but then I came to understand that for months on end the sun is a little shy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">Some days I would feel like I had never fully woken up. With no sunlight instantly casting its brilliant rays upon you right as you stepped outside a lot of days it just felt like this dark warm grey blanket was still covering you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">I have claimed to be solar powered and so days like this would have a big effect upon my mood. It was easy to feel tired, sluggish and unmotivated. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I knew I needed to seek another light source</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and that very source that I needed was what I had chosen to give </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">18 months of my life to share with these very people. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is the light and the truth of the </span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everlasting Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. </span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through the experience of the mission, with its heartaches and its miracles I came to know to what source I can always rely on.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is so aware of us. He is our Loving Heavenly Father.</span></span></span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He can never and will never abandon us. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way that we can find <i> </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come." </i> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">-Doctrine and Covenants 59:23</span></span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is a promise and it is the thing that is of the greatest worth. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just like the sun in the sky it is always there. Whether or not we always feel it, that does not deny its existence. </span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. </span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>That love never changes.</b> </span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It
is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, </span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">or by the
amount of money you have in your bank account. </span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is not changed by your
talents and abilities. </span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is simply there. </span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is there for you when you
are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. </span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">God’s love is there for you
whether or not you feel you deserve love. <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is simply always there."</span></span></span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-President Thomas S. Monson</span></span></span></span></div>
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Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-50096441376537654872015-02-03T11:24:00.001-08:002015-02-03T11:29:37.440-08:00Our Savior's Love<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love is something we all naturally seek for.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether loving approval from peers and family members, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or the tender longings of that one who holds your heart.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a natural desire for us as humans to find that love.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The purest love that ever has been manifested </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is the Love of our Heavenly Father giving His Perfect Son,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Savior Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> “Surely he hath borne our griefs, </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and carried our sorrows” </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-Isaiah 53:4</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He, though sinless, paid the price for our sins.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He felt the weight of our weaknesses, mistakes and injustices,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">from every paper cut to every heartbreak.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He did this so He could succor us or, literally run to our aid.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He showed us the greatest love, the purest love. </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charity: The Pure Love of Christ</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>It is the highest, noblest, and strongest kind</i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i> of love and the most joyous to the soul</i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"...to have faith in God unto salvation we must have </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a correct knowledge of His attributes and character."</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>"The love of Christ passeth all understanding..."</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>-Ephesians 3:19</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>There is nothing that we can do </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>that would make Him love us any less</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>His Love is UNCONDITIONAL</b></span></span> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>"...Wherefore they scourge Him, and he suffereth it; and they smite Him, and He suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon Him and He suffereth it, because of His loving kindness and His long-suffering towards the children of men" </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>-1 Nephi 19:9 </i><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>There is no where you can go where the infinite </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>light of Christ's atonement cannot reach </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>His Love is INFINITE </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>separate us from the love of God which is in Christ our Lord..."</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>-Romans 8:39 </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i> </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Because of His love we can return to live </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>with Him and our families forever</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>His love is ETERNAL</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After being visited by the Savior at the time of the Restoration of the </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gospel of Jesus Christ and priesthood authority, he describes his experience:</span><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>"...that earth, nor man, with the eloquence of time, cannot clothe in language as interesting and sublime a manner as this holy personage</i>. <i>Nor has this earth power to give the joy, to bestow the peace, or comprehend the wisdom which was contained in each sentence..." </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>-Testimony of Oliver Cowdery </i><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>We are to search the scriptures and seek Him earnestly in prayer and immerse ourselves in the truths of His Gospel </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b> His love is LIFE CHANGING </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">"Filled with His love, we can endure pain, we can quell fear, forgive </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">freely, avoid contention, renew strength and bless and help others."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">-Elder John H. Groberg</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b> </b>Let His love, reach you and pentrate you. You will find eternal peace.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>"...Perfect love casteth out all fear."</b></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><b>-Moroni 8:16 </b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/423365_10150576209622747_423453328_n.jpg?oh=60cf6f7adb2bef2729df919060ce260f&oe=554F93B7&__gda__=1432618215_bfd0ce7d054c91c9fde415d6f4e8b3fe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/423365_10150576209622747_423453328_n.jpg?oh=60cf6f7adb2bef2729df919060ce260f&oe=554F93B7&__gda__=1432618215_bfd0ce7d054c91c9fde415d6f4e8b3fe" width="252" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><b> </b> </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our Savior's love</span></i></span>
</div>
<div class="line" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shines like the sun with perfect light,</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></span><br />
<div class="line" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As from above</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></span><br />
<div class="line" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It breaks thru clouds of strife.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></span><br />
<div class="line" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lighting our way,</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></span><br />
<div class="line" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It leads us back into his sight,</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></span><br />
<div class="line" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Where we may stay</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></span><br />
<div class="line" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To share eternal life.</span></i></span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-40129876755572464802015-01-20T11:41:00.001-08:002015-02-12T12:18:33.443-08:00Let it Happen<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has previously been against my nature to be an advocate to this phrase </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but as I have pondered I have found some great truth in it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very dear friend of mine once coined this phrase and I mocked it,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In another setting my counselor spoke the same phrase </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I laughingly rejected it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At another point in my life while seeking advice on how I can make </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my mission an amazing life-changing experience, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my beloved mission president spoke the previously stated words. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"You don't make it happen, You let it Happen..."</i> </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 'coincidental-ness'<b> </b>of all this lead me to ponder it deeper </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and to compare it to the truths I know.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are Children of our Heavenly Father, </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we are here on earth to learn and grow. </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As part of our mortal progression we have the </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>opportunity to choose between good and evil. </i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To 'Let it Happen' does not mean to give full sway to the </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">influences of evil and temptation, there's more to it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We have been given this earthly experience</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>with the purpose to succeed.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Our Heavenly Father knew it would be difficult </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>and that we would make mistakes.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>So He provided a Redeemer and Savior,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Our Lord Jesus Christ.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He paid the price for our sins, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>provided the perfect example, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>and taught His Gospel that through it</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>we may be cleansed from sin</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>and return safely home</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>back to our Heavenly Father's presence.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The First principle of His saving Gospel is to have FAITH<i>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This mortal experience is for the purpose to have us grow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are like <i>clay in the Potter's Hands.</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is molding us into something far greater than we can see.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this mortal life we may never understand why we had </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to go through the trails and tribulations we did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe as we all reflect back we will never regret the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Growth of Character that has come as a result. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now whenever I go through experiences that are painful and I doubt here are some things that I have come to remember.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>I don't know what the future holds but I know who holds it</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Trust a known future to a known God</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"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."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>-Proverbs 3:5-6 </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is helping you become </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The Glorious being that He sees that </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you are capable of becoming" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-President Boyd K. Packer<i> </i><b><i> </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I know that are Redeemer lives and because of Him we can be renewed and strengthened through His atonement daily. I know my Heavenly Father's love for me and for all of His children is real and eternal. It it His whole work and His glory for us to come Home to Him.</i><b><i> </i></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-40289693086550249642015-01-09T14:55:00.000-08:002015-01-09T14:58:28.519-08:00The Rock<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mission is so interesting. It is a pattern for our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not just the life that we will carry on after the name tag comes off, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the mantle removed and we move on to regular life.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It establishes a pattern for our loyalty to the Savior on through eternity.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a great leader, a friend, and we had a work to do. We were in a good area and every day we had the sacred privilege of putting all of our energy in helping others come unto Christ. <b>He taught us how to get lost in the work, <i>immerse ourselves in the scriptures</i>, <i>to pray with great faith</i> and <i>witness miracles</i>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mission went through a transition phase and we were taken out of the area and on to other responsibilities. I had no idea what the next assignment would include or how I was even adequate enough to be considered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Black ball point pen on lined paper wrote: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"There's a reason you were called to this, I will do my best to carry on the work you have done here while I still can...You are a leader.</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These words meant nothing amidst the chaos of changes and goodbyes. A few miles up I-5 and I found myself in a total dream, everything I had always wanted and desired was right in front of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One night after planning and only a few degrees </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">past total exhaustion we received a phone call, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>Have you heard the news? Not to put a downer but </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>there was a terrible accident. Your leader..."</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A dense cloud formed around me for days, I tried to work and serve but I was so hurt and I would not extend a helpful hand forward. Rather I grew very bitter and angry in my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why have I been left alone? Was my faith not strong enough? Why would you leave? It pains me to think of your body torn in pain, the suffering that you must have felt, the price that you paid, the love that you have.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the moment I don't know if I understood the great, celestial example that was before me, possibly very similar to Peter. Though we cannot make up for the lost time we can make a resolved commitment to that leader that He has always intended us to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, <span class="clarityWord">son</span>
of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him
the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest
all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">John 21:17</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></i></div>
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<img alt="" src="http://media.ldscdn.org/images/media-library/gospel-art/new-testament/jesus-walking-on-water-129516-gallery.jpg" itemprop="contentURL" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know that this Gospel is true, many people have layed down their lives for it. Because of the example of these individuals I have made the commitment to continue to give my whole life to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know our Savior and Redeemer lives, this is His work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"With God, nothing shall be impossible" -Luke 1:37 </span></div>
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<br />Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-77418642720043152832014-03-10T13:43:00.000-07:002014-03-10T13:43:30.296-07:00Sacrifice: It's all about perspective<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The best people I know have, throughout their lives, made sacrifices</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">of various natures. That of </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a hard working dad and a tender hearted mother</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The way they honored their sacred commitment to one another. </span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The sacrifice </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of time and effort they made to make our house a home built on high</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">moral standards. Teachers of every nature who with inspiration taught</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">to gain knowledge based on righteousness.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Within in the Gospel of Jesus Christ it seems we are expected to<strong> give</strong>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>tolerate</strong> and <strong>sacrifice</strong> so much. The lists of tasks, responsibilities</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">and duties goes on and on.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Within the 'task complete' 'success check-mark' or the 'finally that's</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">over!' We miss the real treasure of seeing how our sacrifice and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">effort has been accepted of The Lord.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These words of our Loving Savior which were pressed upon my heart at a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">sacred and pivotal time in my life have been vital to me as I have</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">continued in the service of The Lord. </span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">"In the end it will seem no </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">sacrifice at all, only a blessing"</span></em></strong></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The nature of God is that of One who is <strong>all- knowing</strong>, <strong>omnipotent</strong> and</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>merciful</strong>. <strong>All seeing</strong>, <strong>all prophesying</strong> and <strong>all FULFILLING</strong>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">His promises are sure and reach far beyond our mortal comprehension.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> This sacred and special time of mortality when we get to grow and</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">experience, cry, love and overcome; we have to opportunity to find</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">God's eternal blessings in his simple but steadfast words,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>"If ye love me, keep my commandments"</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-John 14:15</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The commandments are <em><strong>calculated for our ultimate happiness.</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we align our will with Gods, we will see greater power in our</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">lives to <em>resist temptation</em> and <em>develop Christ like attributes</em>. We will</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">find eternal joy as we fulfill the sacred roles He has given each of</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">us, as a friend, a family membrane and most importantly as </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">a <strong>disciple </strong></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>of Jesus Christ.</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDP4-E3I8NMOc8LQo0LDrfnOn_yk_vEurTaGGAYV8NMlrOHWvzLG6vLbGz1QNdo72mNbgJncHncUgBgpcCMiYJnfIoLGngqb3Y4lBi_nboL_vQ0sfBdU80Aw4ADoD87TsFWnwbVtME-FM/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDP4-E3I8NMOc8LQo0LDrfnOn_yk_vEurTaGGAYV8NMlrOHWvzLG6vLbGz1QNdo72mNbgJncHncUgBgpcCMiYJnfIoLGngqb3Y4lBi_nboL_vQ0sfBdU80Aw4ADoD87TsFWnwbVtME-FM/s1600/photo.PNG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The blessings from heaven with rain down and be all for our gain.</div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-35342180531563055692014-03-01T15:11:00.000-08:002014-03-01T15:11:52.983-08:00The Good Shepherd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A major reason I love springtime is because of </div>
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all the beautiful new baby animals.</div>
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One of my favorites has always been lambs.</div>
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The Scriptures often refer to sheep to represent </div>
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us as Children of God. </div>
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Here, in mortality, we can often get lost and confused</div>
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just as sheep may wander away from their flock.</div>
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<strong>There is a need for a Shepherd.</strong></div>
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Shepherds still, as of old, go before the sheep, and the sheep follow,</div>
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the master calls and the sheep instantly recognize His voice. </div>
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<em>"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son,</em></div>
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<em>Jesus Christ, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, </em></div>
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<em>but have everlasting life."</em></div>
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<em>-John 3:16 </em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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Jesus Christ truly is our Shepherd.</div>
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Through His Gospel</div>
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He will lead us home back to </div>
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our loving Heavenly Father's presence. </div>
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He has felt every pain that we will ever feel,</div>
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that is why <strong>there is no need for us to wander alone.</strong></div>
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<em>"and he will take upon him their infirmities, </em></div>
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<em>that his bowels may be filled with mercy,</em></div>
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<em>that he may know according to the flesh </em><em>how </em></div>
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<em>to succor his people according to their infirmities"</em></div>
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<em>-Alma 7:12</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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The Saviors invitation is real and it is available to all of us.</div>
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Pray to our Heavenly Father in His name </div>
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you can have relief to your soul, comfort, guidance and peace. </div>
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He knows us and <strong>longs to run to our aid </strong>when we call.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwK2Dv21cH2Yi9oYgg7WXRAcEygPXFW-PzEASv6siXZCG0PK4FPCRn1cgxBkaO1fqC9eLD0vlNGqXVhirhdmR-qCe6qu2U3nyMGjwRZuNaf8KbsWGlPiS3BtFdyzdFmHuaCtdgNoHih8/s1600/679951_10151140636187747_825728307_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwK2Dv21cH2Yi9oYgg7WXRAcEygPXFW-PzEASv6siXZCG0PK4FPCRn1cgxBkaO1fqC9eLD0vlNGqXVhirhdmR-qCe6qu2U3nyMGjwRZuNaf8KbsWGlPiS3BtFdyzdFmHuaCtdgNoHih8/s1600/679951_10151140636187747_825728307_o.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, </em></div>
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<em>and am known of mine.</em></div>
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<em>as the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: </em></div>
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<em>and I lay down my life for the sheep.</em></div>
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<em>And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:</em></div>
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<em>them also I must bring,</em></div>
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<em>and they shall hear my voice; </em></div>
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<em>and there shall be one fold,and one Shepherd.</em></div>
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<em>-John 10:14-16</em></div>
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The Book of Mormon is another testament of the </div>
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divinity and the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. </div>
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On the American continent He beckoned the same invitation: </div>
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<em>"Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, </em></div>
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<em>and be converted, that I may heal </em><em>you?</em> </div>
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<em>-3 Nephi 9:13</em></div>
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Let Him heal your heart. Trust Him.</div>
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He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world and truly</div>
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<em><strong>The Good Shepherd.</strong></em></div>
<br />Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-24034810736496534382014-02-25T11:18:00.001-08:002014-03-01T14:05:28.504-08:00Sacred Promises<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God loves us so much that He has provided temples for us </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> where in these last days, through priesthood authority, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">we are able to make sacred and saving ordinances or promises</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">with Heavenly Father necessary to return back to His presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple months back a dear friend of mine and I </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">put aside the craziness and stress of a daily schedule </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">against the literal winds and storms of life,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">we walked up the hill to this beautiful place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Inside we felt God's love and goodness as we performed </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">proxy ordinances of baptism for those who have passed away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were reminded of the promise we made to </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Stand as a witness of God at all times,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">in all things, and in all places.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">That ye may be redeemed of God...</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">that ye may have eternal life."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Mosiah 18:8-10</span></i></div>
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<i></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we stepped outside those doors my soul longed for that </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">wonderful Spirit to still linger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Much to our joy we saw how the winds that we </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">had pushed through to make it up the hill had turned into</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">the last afternoon sunshine being illuminated </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">by a rush of storm clouds that had passed over as we were inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A sweet and favorite primary song of mine came to mind:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again...</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to be the best I can and live with God again.</span></i></div>
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<i></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though we had to step 'back into the world' in a way</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">with its storms and craziness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I could look at the storms as a means to be cleansed by the rain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through covenants we can be in the world but not of the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">God always keeps His end of the promise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we fulfill our end and <i>always remember Him.</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can feel of His sustaining power in our lives.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no better way to live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Sacred covenants are to be revered by us, and </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">faithfulness to them is a requirement for happiness." </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">-President Thomas S. Monson</span></i></div>
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<img height="290" src="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31/278522_10150252192882747_2828249_o.jpg" width="400" /></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-10556565358040628182014-02-21T16:47:00.002-08:002014-02-21T16:50:18.330-08:00This is the Way <div align="center">
Everyday we talk to new people we ask them, </div>
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"What is the most important thing to you?" </div>
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They answer without hesitation or a second thought "My family."</div>
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We nod our heads with a smile on our face. </div>
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We sometimes ask "How do you know that God loves you?" </div>
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with a grin they often say, "Well I'm alive, aren't I?!" </div>
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The world was created and the Gospel was restored so that </div>
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FAMILIES could be together FOREVER.</div>
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</div>
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Our Loving Heavenly Father has said </div>
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"For behold, this is MY WORK and MY GLORY to bring to pass the </div>
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IMMORTALITY and ETERNAL LIFE of man." </div>
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-Moses 1:39</div>
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</div>
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It is innate within all of us to have the desire or</div>
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the VISION of being with our families forever. </div>
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</div>
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God has provided us a way to achieve this, </div>
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like most things it comes through DISCIPLINE</div>
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Challenges and adversities, changes and adventures that are all a part of mortality </div>
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are ultimately all part of God's plan.</div>
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We can grow and become who God wants us to through </div>
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THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST</div>
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<em>Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism for the remission of sins,</em></div>
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<em> receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End.</em> </div>
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</div>
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When we do these things, we achieve our DESTINY</div>
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To live with our families and all those whom we love </div>
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in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ </div>
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<em><strong>in a state of never-ending happiness</strong></em> </div>
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="298" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t31/774250_10151228351897747_1914694_o.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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That's God plan, He's made it possible. </div>
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Make it yours. <br />
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<em>"This is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now behold this is the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, and the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."</em><br />
<em>-2 Nephi 31:21</em></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-80081968344756604492014-02-13T12:59:00.003-08:002014-02-14T12:33:38.196-08:00God's Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We live in a crazy world today.</div>
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Sometimes we may feel as though our own sins or mistakes or the poor choices of others leave us feeling dark, empty or abandoned. </div>
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</div>
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There was a night in history where one man, The Son of God prayed and suffered in Gethsemane for the sins of mankind.</div>
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He took upon Himself everything, every paper cut and every heartbreak. </div>
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All the evil in the world was gathered there and still</div>
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ALL WICKEDNESS COULD NOT PENETRATE THAT LIGHT</div>
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In your individual personal battles today, whatever you may be facing recognize that </div>
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It has already been overcome,</div>
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Pray for God's strength to help you get through.</div>
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You will feel Him there.</div>
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</div>
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God's Light overcame everything once, let that same light penetrate and eliminate your fears and concerns. </div>
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</div>
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The Saviors words and true and real "I am the Light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not." -Doctrine and Covenants 6:21</div>
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"God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn..."</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo taken near Queenstown, New Zealand</span></div>
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"Even though we may feel lost in the midst of our current circumstances, God promises the hope of His light—He promises to illuminate the way before us and show us the way out of darkness."</div>
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-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf</div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-89127462770082292002014-01-29T15:08:00.000-08:002014-01-29T15:14:32.689-08:00King's Peak<div style="text-align: center;">
This past summer I joined with family and friends in climbing the tallest mountain in Utah.</div>
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We were starting off on a big adventure, standing at the base and I had no idea how I would endure that long of a hike- I had never gone that length nor that altitude before. </div>
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The whole way my hand was in the grasp of one who had walked this trail before, enduring every valley, hill and summit that I would encounter. He had been where I will go. </div>
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</div>
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I did not think I would be able to do it, I had doubts and I really didn't want to go forward but he believed in me, he knew I could do it and he promised me that he would never leave my side. </div>
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He held my hand the whole way. </div>
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When I would get tired and wonder why I was doing this I would just look at him and I would remember why I was out there. This same man who led me all the way and was willing to walk every step with me and gave me encouragement and assurance whenever I needed. </div>
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He promised me that the end would be well worth it. I didn't know what exactly would be there at the end but I knew if I could be with Him the rest of forever no doubt all of these labors and every step would be worth it. </div>
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The climb was necessary to make our relationship even stronger.</div>
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There's a reason why we can't quite see the end yet.</div>
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All I know is that I am on a journey. Someone is holding my hand and guiding me because He wants me to see and feel the great fulfillment and view that comes after putting exercising faith in Him. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfuLBu4MzeWPuCQmLSyGVHlCPfzL5Usx8oB6JxnmIXd70u_RI6ix1ns9q1bsKVGOpe0f88TDZeThplfGLl39634XAF88dcgI1BzieJ5J4frOJD6hkiahUXL_kaXBZHkaCpfAIUMRY-N8/s1600/1460286_10151798805883137_1929293078_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfuLBu4MzeWPuCQmLSyGVHlCPfzL5Usx8oB6JxnmIXd70u_RI6ix1ns9q1bsKVGOpe0f88TDZeThplfGLl39634XAF88dcgI1BzieJ5J4frOJD6hkiahUXL_kaXBZHkaCpfAIUMRY-N8/s1600/1460286_10151798805883137_1929293078_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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This mortal life is similar to this mountain trek. Right now we can't see the end result- all of the wondrous glorious blessings which our loving Heavenly Father has in store for us.</div>
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"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." -1 Corinthians 2:9</div>
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All we can do is love and trust the One who marked the path and lead the way for us. Even those moments when exhaustion over takes your body, your hiking up a steep hill and still can't even see the top, or even if dark storm clouds loom overhead. </div>
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Our Savior, Jesus Christ is always there with us, He has overcome it all so that we don't have to do it alone. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">words to my favorite hymn #41</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #a64d79;">That glorious rest will then commence</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #a64d79;">Which prophets did foretell,</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #a64d79;">When Saints will reign with Christ on earth,</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #a64d79;">And in his presence dwell</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #a64d79;">A thousand years, oh, glorious day!</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #a64d79;">Dear Lord, prepare my heart</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #a64d79;">To stand with thee on Zion's mount</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #a64d79;">And nevermore to part.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hiking King's Peak, Summer 2013</span></div>
Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336717360788546341.post-38061163067531108582013-08-05T23:07:00.002-07:002014-01-29T15:19:31.863-08:00FAITH<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I would like to share my thoughts on faith for a moment. Whoever is reading this, dear friends, potential missionaries we all will have those moments where faith is essential to progress. I have always loved one quote by President Uchtdorf <b><span id="8800762332113986327"><span id="8800762332113986327">"It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop." </span></span></b><span id="8800762332113986327"><span id="8800762332113986327">While preparing for a mission I have been given many opportunities to test and strengthen my faith. A lot of the time it has been painful and hard but I have also heard that the quote 'God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle.' is very wrong. The Lord will give us challenges and <b>we aren't supposed to handle them on our own. Rather God doesn't give us anything that we cannot handle without his help.</b> I have learned that adversities will come but they can be seen as blessings to draw closer to the Lord and realize He truly is in the details of our lives and He longs for us to draw near unto Him. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span id="8800762332113986327"><span id="8800762332113986327" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">
<span id="8800762332113986327"><span id="8800762332113986327">Just in this week that I am to enter the field I have had some extreme challenges that have nearly knocked me off my feet and have tested my faith more than I could have ever imagined. As I have sat crying on the floor after a series of events I could feel this force almost wanting to shove me to the ground to make me cry 'I give up! I can't do this!' Then there is another side, <b>there is a particle of faith inside me that prompts me to get to my knees and pray for the Lord's help. </b>That is when you can feel your words reaching heaven, you know that He is listening and that He is close. You don't have to do anything alone. He has everything <b>beautifully crafted in His hands. </b>That's when you're able to get up off the ground and have the strength that comes with choosing to be on the Lord's side. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span id="8800762332113986327"><span id="8800762332113986327"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span id="8800762332113986327"><span id="8800762332113986327" style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-family: inherit;"><b>"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear." </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span id="8800762332113986327"><span id="8800762332113986327"></span></span><span id="8800762332113986327"><span id="8800762332113986327" style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-family: inherit;">That is what I should be feeling right now. <b>Our faith just
needs to be bigger than our fears.</b> Fear may still be present as we stand at
these battle lines but never let it overcome you. The Lord is our leader. We
will be strong and courageous.</span></span></div>
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Maegan Rusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374270276503616926noreply@blogger.com0