Your Happily Ever After

This last year President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave my favorite talk called " Your Happily Ever After" to the young women of the church and all over the world. I found this talk to be so profound and remarkable in understanding for the young women that I would like to share bits a pieces with you today. All girls want that fairytale like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Jasmine, or even snow white. We all want the prince to come and sweep us off of our feet and go off into the distance of " Happily Ever After" and President Uchtdorf is teaching that we ALL CAN have that in our lives and that if we follow God's map for us that we couldn't expect any less.....

"Aren’t those wonderful words to begin a story? “Once upon a time” promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope, and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words “And they lived happily ever after.”"

"Isn’t that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and, in the end, to live happily ever after?"

"On the first page of your Young Women Personal Progressbook, you will find these words: “You are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Father, prepared to come to the earth at this particular time for a sacred and glorious purpose.”"

"Sisters, those words are true! They are not made up in a fairy tale! Isn’t it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father knows you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love? In fact, His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of “once upon a time,” complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”"

"“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map." .....

Now to close I find it very appropriate to share a video with each of you in regards to such a wonderful talk (see green colored link to direct you to video). This was produced by Jenny Phillips herself and wrote this song for the youth for divine inspiration from this beautiful talk. I hope you can enjoy this and that this talk may be of worth to each of you young women. The week is coming to a new start and like I always say make it good! :)

Happily Ever After - Jenny Phillips

The Grandeur of God

"Of the many magnificent purposes served in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, one great aspect of that mission often goes uncelebrated. His followers did not understand it fully at the time, and many in modern Christianity do not grasp it now, but the Savior Himself spoke of it repeatedly and emphatically. It is the grand truth that in all that Jesus came to say and do, including and especially in His atoning suffering and sacrifice, He was showing us who and what God our Eternal Father is like, how completely devoted He is to His children in every age and nation. In word and in deed Jesus was trying to reveal and make personal to us the true nature of His Father, our Father in Heaven." - Jeffrey R. Holland

Speaking of Christ, "To come to earth with such a responsibility, to stand in place of Elohim—speaking as He would speak, judging and serving, loving and warning, forbearing and forgiving as He would do—this is a duty of such staggering proportions that you and I cannot comprehend such a thing. But in the loyalty and determination that would be characteristic of a divine child, Jesus could comprehend it and He did it. Then, when the praise and honor began to come, He humbly directed all adulation to the Father."- Jeffrey R. Holland

"So feeding the hungry, healing the sick, rebuking hypocrisy, pleading for faith—this was Christ showing us the way of the Father, He who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, long-suffering and full of goodness.” ¹⁴ In His life and especially in His death, Christ was declaring, “This is God’s compassion I am showing you, as well as that of my own.” In the perfect Son’s manifestation of the perfect Father’s care, in Their mutual suffering and shared sorrow for the sins and heartaches of the rest of us, we see ultimate meaning in the declaration: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”."- Jeffrey R Holland

As in my life, the ministry and life of the Savior, Jesus Christ is very important and means a great deal within our hearts and minds. May we all remember that Christ was directing His purpose and life toward our Eternal Father in Heaven! May we all take the time to get to know our Heavely Father more as we study the ministry of our Savior. We were all created in the likeness and image of our Heavenly Father. We are all God's Children and He wants us to know Him. I know that He send his Son, Jesus Christ to live the rigor of life and teach us the importance and manner of our Father in Heaven. We live in a day and age where we are fortunate enough to have the WHOLE gospel of Jesus Christ and it's entirety within our lives. It is my prayer that we take that very literally and do something with it. We are a chosen people and our Father in Heaven loves us more than we can ever fathom. When you get some time this week I strongly encourage you to read the entire talk. I have shared just a very small portion of the talk and I learned the reality of our Heavenly Father through this talk. It is title The Grandeur of God and was spoke of by Jeffrey R. Holland. Do your best this week! Make it good!

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Be of Good Cheer

(Sunshine Through the Clouds- Shantell Giles)

My heart is full and is begging for some release to this blog. I hope that the things I write from within my heart have helped you in many ways and I feel that my message today may benefit us all wherever we may be in our lives. I hope to change my life today and to work harder!

“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.” (D&C 68:5–6.)

From this scripture we can see that the Lord has given us an invitation to be of good cheer. This is a commandment given to each of us to be of good cheer in each of our lives. Honestly, how often is this commandment broken? How often in the midst of trial and tribulation do we forget that the Lord asks to be of good cheer? I feel that there is no greater need at this point in the world for us to exercise this principle in our lives than there is now.  The Lord has promised us that as we are of Good Cheer that He will be with us and that He will stand by us.

"Good cheer is a state of mind or mood that promotes happiness or joy. Some like to think good cheer is found in a bottle, a six-pack, an injection, a pinch under the lip, rationalization, or self-deceit. Incidentally, it has been my observation over the years that those who try to drown their sorrows with drink only sicken their tomorrows. With God’s help, good cheer permits us to rise above the depressing present or difficult circumstances. It is a process of positive reassurance and reinforcement. It is sunshine when clouds block the light." - Marvin J. Ashton ( April 1986 General Conference) I find this statement so profound and utterly true and I feel that it is so blunt that it takes care of many things that are eating the people of this world today. We all know that none of us are perfect. God never promised that we would be without trial, suffering, or tribulation, but he promised that through Him we could find that good cheer and peace would radiate within us.

When we allow the Lord to come into our lives, cheer honestly lights the way. As we talk of Christ I find His words touching, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33.) All in all He has promised to stand by each of us. He has invited us to bear record of Him and to be of good cheer. He has overcome the world.

I feel strongly that there is one last thing I should share and its something dear to my heart. Today I had the opportunity to listen to and feel the testimony of a dear friend and hero of mine. Sister DenBoer is an incredible woman who has the desire to share her feelings for the Savior and her deep love for Him. She has always been an example to me and when Christ asks in D&C to bear record of Him she is someone I think of. All of this matters in being of good cheer, but its what she said today that hit me. She asked what is it that defines us? What is it that sets us apart as Daughters of our Heavenly Father. ( In the case of this blog... What sets us apart as Daughters and Sons of our Heavenly Father?) With emotion she said, " It is our Testimonies. It is our Testimonies that defines each and everyone of us."  The spirit that radiated through the room today touch my heart and filled my mind and changed my life. I am grateful for the words she had expressed because I believe it is so true that my testimony is what defines me in this world. I love the Savior, Jesus Christ with all of my heart and with all of my soul and I know that as I bear testimony of Him and also of His love for me that I may grow closer to Him and He will stand by me. Be NOT afraid to bear testimony because you never know whose life may be affected by your words and the spirit! Let us all be of good cheer! Let us all be ready to answer as to why we are cheerful. It is because of Jesus Christ and who He is to each of us that we feel of good cheer! Have a wonderful week and remember to smile and to be happy :)

To Walk with Heads Held High

September 2010 New Era Magazine, pg. 11

 As I am now coming upon more time in my life to do those things I continually hunger for as part of my study of the gospel, I have come upon many talks that have really warmed my soul. I have learned a lot of things recently and I feel as though bursting with feeling for Jesus Christ and testifying of His Gospel and Divinity as Our Savior. I know that through genuine love and devotion we are given trials and weaknesses by Our Heavenly Father so that we might be strengthened in the process. After being baptized and confirmed it is our Duty and Destiny to endure to the end in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We may all know that life here on Earth is not merely our final destination, but is a journey. Life is a journey that will lead us home to our Father in Heaven if we choose to endure to the end. This thought today is one that I find very helpful and true. 

"For those who eschew evil and live good lives, who strive for a brighter day and keep the commandments of God, things can get better and better even in the face of tragedy. The Savior showed us the way. From Gethsemane, the cross, and the tomb, He rose triumphant, bringing life and hope to us all. He bids us, 'Come, follow me' (Luke 18:22).

"President Thomas S. Monson has counseled: 'If we are to walk with head held high, we must make our contribution to life. If we are to fulfill our destiny and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must keep His commandments and pattern our lives after the Savior. By so doing, we will not only achieve our goal of eternal life, but we will also leave the world richer and better than it would have been had we not lived and performed our duties' (Thomas S. Monson, used with permission)." - Keith B. McMullin, "Our Path of Duty," Ensign, May 2010, 13

We must live with our heads held high and if we do so we must make our contribution to this life. We have been given a course to follow. Let us all seek after the light of Christ and live with our head held high. Smile at someone you don't know this week and make your contribution to this life so that your future may be brighter in the life to come! Continue with a great week! Make it good! :)

Who You Are Becoming



(Lost and Found © Greg Olsen)

The last year has come and gone and it's time for a new year. As I have thought long and hard the last week I have questioned who I am becoming and where I am going. As I start off this new year I would like to share with you a couple quotes that have hit home the last little while. I received a wonderful book for Christmas called Saying It Like It Is by Sheri Dew and as I have read through some of the quotes this is what I have found.

"Ultimately we will become what we give our hearts to, for we are shaped by what we desire and seek after. If we love the Lord such that our hearts are changed, His image will fill our countenances. But if we love the world more, we'll slowly take upon us those characteristics." - Sheri Dew

From the beginning God has seen us by who we really are. He knows us more than we could ever know ourselves and His love for us has no end. We have been so blessed to live in this time where are are continually preparing for the return of Our Savior. We are all very special and there is a special purpose for each of us. This last quote has shown me a lot about who we all are in God's eyes. You decide what it means to you...  " Noble and Great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless. That is who you are and who you have always been. And understanding it can change your life, because this knowledge carries a confidence that cannot be duplicated any other way." - Sheri Dew I hope that each of us can feel this way about ourselves in one point of our lives or another. We are all God's children and no matter how many times Satan makes us feel otherwise we are and we can feel that through peace. Peace is something Satan can never feel and he can never replicate it. We are determined to overcome him and we will each day as we remain faithful and fearless. I hope that I can do better at remembering who I can become and where I really want to go. I hope you all have a great week! Make it good :)