Let it Happen

It has previously been against my nature to be an advocate to this phrase 

but as I have pondered I have found some great truth in it.

A very dear friend of mine once coined this phrase and I mocked it,

In another setting my counselor spoke the same phrase 

and I laughingly rejected it.

At another point in my life while seeking advice on how I can make 

my mission an amazing life-changing experience, 

my beloved mission president spoke the previously stated words. 

"You don't make it happen, You let it Happen..." 

The 'coincidental-ness' of all this lead me to ponder it deeper 

and to compare it to the truths I know.

We are Children of our Heavenly Father, 

we are here on earth to learn and grow. 

As part of our mortal progression we have the 

opportunity to choose between good and evil.

To 'Let it Happen' does not mean to give full sway to the 

influences of evil and temptation, there's more to it.

We have been given this earthly experience

with the purpose to succeed.

Our Heavenly Father knew it would be difficult 

and that we would make mistakes.

So He provided a Redeemer and Savior,

Our Lord Jesus Christ.

He paid the price for our sins, 

provided the perfect example, 

and taught His Gospel that through it

we may be cleansed from sin

and return safely home

back to our Heavenly Father's presence.

The First principle of His saving Gospel is to have FAITH.

This mortal experience is for the purpose to have us grow. 

We are like clay in the Potter's Hands.

He is molding us into something far greater than we can see.

In this mortal life we may never understand why we had 

to go through the trails and tribulations we did.

I believe as we all reflect back we will never regret the 

Growth of Character that has come as a result. 

Now whenever I go through experiences that are painful and I doubt here are some things that I have come to remember.

I don't know what the future holds but I know who holds it

Trust a known future to a known God

"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."

-Proverbs 3:5-6 

He is helping you become 

"The Glorious being that He sees that 

you are capable of becoming" 

-President Boyd K. Packer  

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. 

 

The Rock

      The mission is so interesting. It is a pattern for our lives.

Not just the life that we will carry on after the name tag comes off, 

the mantle removed and we move on to regular life.

It establishes a pattern for our loyalty to the Savior on through eternity.

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. He taught us how to get lost in the work, immerse ourselves in the scriptures, to pray with great faith and witness miracles.

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.

Black ball point pen on lined paper wrote: 

"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."

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.

One night after planning and only a few degrees 
past total exhaustion we received a phone call, 

"Have you heard the news? Not to put a downer but 

there was a terrible accident. Your leader..." 

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.

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.

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.

"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son 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."

-John 21:17

                                                 

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.

I know our Savior and Redeemer lives, this is His work.

"With God, nothing shall be impossible" -Luke 1:37

Sacrifice: It's all about perspective

The best people I know have, throughout their lives, made sacrifices

of various natures. That of a hard working dad and a tender hearted mother

The way they honored their sacred commitment to one another. 

 

The sacrifice of time and effort they made to make our house a home built on high

moral standards. Teachers of every nature who with inspiration taught

to gain knowledge based on righteousness.

 

Within in the Gospel of Jesus Christ it seems we are expected to give,

tolerate and sacrifice so much. The lists of tasks, responsibilities

and duties goes on and on.

Within the 'task complete' 'success check-mark' or the 'finally that's

over!' We miss the real treasure of seeing how our sacrifice and

effort has been accepted of The Lord.

 

These words of our Loving Savior which were pressed upon my heart at a

sacred and pivotal time in my life have been vital to me as I have

continued in the service of The Lord.

"In the end it will seem no sacrifice at all, only a blessing"

 

The nature of God is that of One who is all- knowing, omnipotent and

merciful. All seeing, all prophesying and all FULFILLING.

His promises are sure and reach far beyond our mortal comprehension.

 

    This sacred and special time of mortality when we get to grow and

experience, cry, love and overcome; we have to opportunity to find

God's eternal blessings in his simple but steadfast words,

"If ye love me, keep my commandments"

-John 14:15

 

The commandments are calculated for our ultimate happiness.

When we align our will with Gods, we will see greater power in our

lives to resist temptation and develop Christ like attributes. We will

find eternal joy as we fulfill the sacred roles He has given each of

us, as a friend, a family membrane and most importantly as

a disciple of Jesus Christ.

 

 

The blessings from heaven with rain down and be all for our gain.

The Good Shepherd

 A major reason I love springtime is because of

all the beautiful new baby animals.

One of my favorites has always been lambs.

 

The Scriptures often refer to sheep to represent

us as Children of God.

Here, in mortality, we can often get lost and confused

just as sheep may wander away from their flock.

 

There is a need for a Shepherd.

 

Shepherds still, as of old, go before the sheep, and the sheep follow,

the master calls and the sheep instantly recognize His voice.

 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son,

Jesus Christ, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,

but have everlasting life."

-John 3:16

 

Jesus Christ truly is our Shepherd.

Through His Gospel

He will lead us home back to

our loving Heavenly Father's presence.

 

He has felt every pain that we will ever feel,

that is why there is no need for us to wander alone.

"and he will take upon him their infirmities,

that his bowels may be filled with mercy,

that he may know according to the flesh how

to succor his people according to their infirmities"

-Alma 7:12

 

The Saviors invitation is real and it is available to all of us.

Pray to our Heavenly Father in His name

you can have relief to your soul, comfort, guidance and peace.

He knows us and longs to run to our aid when we call.

 

 

 

I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

as the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:

them also I must bring,

and they shall hear my voice;

and there shall be one fold,and one Shepherd.

-John 10:14-16

 

 The Book of Mormon is another testament of the

divinity and the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

On the American continent He beckoned the same invitation:

"Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins,

and be converted, that I may heal you? 

-3 Nephi 9:13

 

 

Let Him heal your heart. Trust Him.

He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world and truly

The Good Shepherd.

Sacred Promises

God loves us so much that He has provided temples for us 

 where in these last days, through priesthood authority, 

we are able to make sacred and saving ordinances or promises

with Heavenly Father necessary to return back to His presence.

A couple months back a dear friend of mine and I 

put aside the craziness and stress of a daily schedule 

against the literal winds and storms of life,

we walked up the hill to this beautiful place.

Inside we felt God's love and goodness as we performed 

proxy ordinances of baptism for those who have passed away.

We were reminded of the promise we made to 

"Stand as a witness of God at all times,

in all things, and in all places.

That ye may be redeemed of God...

that ye may have eternal life."

-Mosiah 18:8-10

 

As we stepped outside those doors my soul longed for that 

wonderful Spirit to still linger.

Much to our joy we saw how the winds that we 

had pushed through to make it up the hill had turned into

the last afternoon sunshine being illuminated 

by a rush of storm clouds that had passed over as we were inside.

A sweet and favorite primary song of mine came to mind:
 

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

I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away

and I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain

I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

 

Even though we had to step 'back into the world' in a way

with its storms and craziness.

I could look at the storms as a means to be cleansed by the rain.

Through covenants we can be in the world but not of the world. 

God always keeps His end of the promise.

As we fulfill our end and always remember Him.

We can feel of His sustaining power in our lives.

There is no better way to live.

"Sacred covenants are to be revered by us, and 

faithfulness to them is a requirement for happiness." 

-President Thomas S. Monson

This is the Way

Everyday we talk to new people we ask them,

"What is the most important thing to you?"

They answer without hesitation or a second thought "My family."

We nod our heads with a smile on our face.

We sometimes ask "How do you know that God loves you?"

with a grin they often say, "Well I'm alive, aren't I?!"

 

The world was created and the Gospel was restored so that

FAMILIES could be together FOREVER.

 

Our Loving Heavenly Father has said

"For behold, this is MY WORK and MY GLORY to bring to pass the

IMMORTALITY and ETERNAL LIFE of man."

-Moses 1:39

 

It is innate within all of us to have the desire or

 the VISION of being with our families forever.

 

God has provided us a way to achieve this,

like most things it comes through DISCIPLINE

 Challenges and adversities, changes and adventures that are all a part of mortality

are ultimately all part of God's plan.

We can grow and become who God wants us to through

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism for the remission of sins,

 receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End.

 

When we do these things, we achieve our DESTINY

To live with our families and all those whom we love

in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

in a state of never-ending happiness

  

 

That's God plan, He's made it possible.

Make it yours.

"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."
-2 Nephi 31:21

God's Light

We live in a crazy world today.

Sometimes we may feel as though our own sins or mistakes or the poor choices of others leave us feeling dark, empty or abandoned.

 

There was a night in history where one man, The Son of God prayed and suffered in Gethsemane for the sins of mankind.

 

He took upon Himself everything, every paper cut and every heartbreak.

All the evil in the world was gathered there and still

ALL WICKEDNESS COULD NOT PENETRATE THAT LIGHT

 

In your individual personal battles today, whatever you may be facing recognize that

It has already been overcome,

Pray for God's strength to help you get through.

You will feel Him there.

 

God's Light overcame everything once, let that same light penetrate and eliminate your fears and concerns.

 

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

"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..."

 

 Photo taken near Queenstown, New Zealand

 

"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."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf