"Remember Who You Are!"

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

The commitment was made but the darkness still did not give way.

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. 

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.

Our paths crossed and I exclaimed "I know who you are!"
 

She looked at me in my old worn out skirt, my temple bag and Book of Mormon in hand and stated "I know who you are too...tell me your name"

she continued, "You just got off your mission didn't you?...You still glow...and you have angels surrounding you right now..." 

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.

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. 

It was for me to realize that Heavenly Father was there for me all along,

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. 

We have His light, we have the potential to receive "...all the Father Hath"

 "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.” 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."

-Sister Elaine S. Dalton

 

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.

"...Shall be for thy good"

I believe there to be beauty in vulnerability.

Vulnerability being defined as 

 referring to the inability to withstand the effects of a hostile environment; capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt.

 

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. 

When we treasure Someone else's will above our own.
  

 There was a time I felt my soul had been permantently 

wounded from mistakes of the past. 

On truly sacred ground, in the House of the Lord 

I went trying to make sense of it all. 

Inside those walls impressions and light were received.

Thoughts of the creation of mountains filled my mind,

it's a process of millions of years with events including the colliding 

of tectonic plates and erosion from both wind and water.

The tedious result is a glorious one to behold. 

While climbing and finally atop a mountain peak you gain perspective unlike anything you would have received had you stayed in the valley below.

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. 
 

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. 

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.

"...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

-Doctrine and Covenants 122:7

 

Let Him carry the burdens of pain and heartache, He is making something great out of you through them. 

 

"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."

-Elder Orson F. Whitney

"Go to the Ohio..."

In 1831 the Prophet Joseph Smith received this revelation for the early saints

“Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; 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

Many heeded the call and gathered at the revealed place: Kirtland, Ohio. 

One particular family, Newel K. Whitney and his wife Elizabeth had lived in Kirtland all their lives, they were very humble yet prosperous.

When they heard the Gospel and knew it to be true. 

The Prophet Joseph Smith arrived at their store, shook his hand and declared "thou art the man!...You've prayed me here, now what do you want of me?"

The Whitney's, along with the other saints, started the preparations of 

building a temple. A House of the Lord, the first in this dispensation as 

part of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. 

"The temple in Kirtland was built by the Saints in their dire poverty. It was erected at great sacrifice."

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. 

The Saints had put forth their best effort and 

the word, light, truth and hand of the Lord were clearly and powerfully 

made manifest to these converts of new, unshaken faith. 

"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..."

In a video depiction shown at the visitors center Sister Whitney 

is confronted by one of her dear friends after hearing from the prophet 

that the saints were to move on to Missouri. She asked distressingly,

 “How we bear to leave our beloved Kirtland?” 

Sister Whitney pulled her back and looked deep into 

her eyes and replied with great strength. 

"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.” 

Beautiful to me in this conversation is that Kirtland had always been her life, home, and her dreams. Now with the acceptance of the Gospel the Savior and His perfect will became everything. 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. 

A small group of priesthood brethren were gathered in a school room 

as Joseph Smith prophesied unto them that this church would grow 

to fill north and south America and the world. The bewilderment 

in their eyes yet the power of the Spirit in that room is hard to 

comprehend. In our day we have seen that come to pass, 

because of the selfless sacrifice of those early latter-day saints. 

  Their story has laid the foundation of legacy of 

strength of faith and character for each of us.

Serving in the Washington Vancouver Mission is the Kirtland of my life. 

It was hard and required great sacrifice, 

but even deeper were the blessings and the joy. 

 I wasn't meant to stay and dwell safely there. 

There are other lands he was to call me to, invitations 

to come unto Christ to extend. 

This was only the beginning of the growth from 

challenges that we would experience. 

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.

His Light

I've learned a lot while having the blessed opportunity 

of serving a 18 month mission in Washington and Oregon.

One thing I have come to appreciate dearly is Light.

I didn't understand why it was suggested to take a Vitamin D supplement daily, 

but then I came to understand that for months on end the sun is a little shy. 

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.  

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. 

I knew I needed to seek another light source

and that very source that I needed was what I had chosen to give 

18 months of my life to share with these very people. 

That is the light and the truth of the 

Everlasting Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Through the experience of the mission, with its heartaches and its miracles I came to know to what source I can always rely on.

God is so aware of us. He is our Loving Heavenly Father.

He can never and will never abandon us.  

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way that we can find  

"peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come."  

-Doctrine and Covenants 59:23

That is a promise and it is the thing that is of the greatest worth.

Just like the sun in the sky it is always there. Whether or not we always feel it, that does not deny its existence.

"Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. 

That love never changes. 

It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, 

or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. 

It is not changed by your talents and abilities. 

It is simply there. 

It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. 

God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love.  

It is simply always there."

-President Thomas S. Monson

Our Savior's Love

Love is something we all naturally seek for.

Whether loving approval from peers and family members, 

or the tender longings of that one who holds your heart.

It is a natural desire for us as humans to find that love.

The purest love that ever has been manifested 

is the Love of our Heavenly Father giving His Perfect Son,

Our Savior Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, 

and carried our sorrows” 

-Isaiah 53:4

He, though sinless, paid the price for our sins.

He felt the weight of our weaknesses, mistakes and injustices,

from every paper cut to every heartbreak.

He did this so He could succor us or, literally run to our aid.

He showed us the greatest love, the purest love.  

Charity: The Pure Love of Christ

It is the highest, noblest, and strongest kind

 of love and the most joyous to the soul

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that 

"...to have faith in God unto salvation we must have 

a correct knowledge of His attributes and character."

"The love of Christ passeth all understanding..."

-Ephesians 3:19

There is nothing that we can do 

that would make Him love us any less

His Love is UNCONDITIONAL

"...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" 

-1 Nephi 19:9  

There is no where you can go where the infinite 

light of Christ's atonement cannot reach

His Love is INFINITE 

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to 

separate us from the love of God which is in Christ our Lord..."

-Romans 8:39 

 

Because of His love we can return to live 

with Him and our families forever

His love is ETERNAL

After being visited by the Savior at the time of the Restoration of the 

Gospel of Jesus Christ and priesthood authority, he describes his experience:

"...that earth, nor man, with the eloquence of time, cannot clothe in language as interesting and sublime a manner as this holy personage. Nor has this earth power to give the joy, to bestow the peace, or comprehend the wisdom which was contained in each sentence..."

-Testimony of Oliver Cowdery  

We are to search the scriptures and seek Him earnestly in prayer and immerse ourselves in the truths of His Gospel

 His love is LIFE CHANGING 

"Filled with His love, we can endure pain, we can quell fear, forgive 

freely, avoid contention, renew strength and bless and help others."

-Elder John H. Groberg

 Let His love, reach you and pentrate you. You will find eternal peace.

"...Perfect love casteth out all fear."

-Moroni 8:16 

 

Our Savior's love

Shines like the sun with perfect light,

As from above

It breaks thru clouds of strife.

Lighting our way,

It leads us back into his sight,

Where we may stay

To share eternal life.

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