More Than Conquerors

As conference came and went I felt inspired by the Savior's messages to each of us. The Savior of the World came to tell us the things which we should do and remember to become more like Him. I know that conference has affected each of us in different ways and I hope within the next little while to refresh your memory with posting about such things.

A talk that really touched me and the one that I would like to start with is called "More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us." This message was given by Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy. I am grateful for the words that were spoken and I truly hope that we can all learn something from these few quotes. I think in the midst of trial and hardship we forget what it's all about. We forget that we are not alone and that Christ himself, as a perfect being, went through the worst trial and hardship so that he might be able to understand YOU and I and help us along the way.

"Earth life includes tests, trials, and tribulations, and some of the trials we face in life can be excruciating. Whether it be illness, betrayal, temptations, loss of a loved one, natural disasters, or some other ordeal, affliction is part of our mortal experience. Many have wondered why we must face difficult challenges. We know that one reason is to provide a trial of our faith to see if we will do all the Lord has commanded. Fortunately this earth life is the perfect setting to face—and pass—these tests."

Elder Orson F. Whitney said: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. … All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.”

Remember the next time that you have a bad day that it is all as trial of our faith to see if we will do all the Lord has commanded. Remember that when you have a bad day that trial and tribulation is there to bring us TRUE joy and happiness. I am grateful for this knowledge and I know that it is so true! Have a great weekend! :)

Walking the Path

"There is not a single loophole or curveball or open trench to fall into for the man or woman who walks the path that Christ walks. When He says, " COME, FOLLOW ME" ( Luke 18:22), He means that He knows where the quicksand is and where the thorns are and the best way to handle the slippery slope near the summit of our personal mountains. He knows it all, and He knows the way. HE IS THE WAY." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

It is such a comfort to know that Christ is the way. He is the way through the path and He is the one that holds our hand as we climb our personal mountains. It makes all the difference in the world to have the testimony that Christ knows each of us individually as He has suffered for each of us individually. Wherever you are in your personal journey remember that Christ IS the way and He knows where the thorns are and the quicksand lies. He knows you and is by your side every step of the way. Trust Him and Follow Him.

"The Savior has not only walked the course, but will walk it again with you every step of the way." - Elaine S. Dalton

Happiness

The past couple of weeks I have thought a lot about happiness and the nature of it. I have talked with many friends and family about the subject. I asked many questions life how they define happiness, what makes them happy, and where it comes from. I have been enlightened with so many different answers and ideas and I am fascinated with it all! I wanted to share a thought or two on happiness. (Not to mention, I just got back from Disneyland where you can't help but feel happy!)

I found a talk given by President James E. Faust a number of years ago called "Our Search for Happiness". In his talk he said a few things that I don't think we recognize on our own. President Faust said, "Having lived quite a few years now, I have concluded that since we don't always desire that which is good, having all our desires granted to us would not bring us happiness. In fact, instant and unrestrained gratification of all our desires would be the shortest and most direct route to unhappiness." 


The Prophet Joseph Smith taught,"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected by Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).


In closing this is a poem given in President Faust's talk with an unknown author:


Success is speaking words of praise,

In cheering other people’s ways,

In doing just the best you can

With every task and every plan.

It’s silence when your speech would hurt,

Politeness when your neighbor’s curt.

It’s deafness when the scandal flows

And sympathy with others’ woes.

It’s loyalty when duty calls.

It’s courage when disaster falls.

It’s patience when the hours are long.

It’s found in laughter and in song.

It’s in the silent time of prayer,

In happiness and in despair.

In all of life and nothing less,

We find the thing we call success.

Not Our Home

"This earth is not our home. We are away at school, trying to master the lessons of "the great plan of happiness" so we can return home and know what it means to be there." - Bruce C. Hafen

I find this quote to be so profound and enlightening to the soul. I love this reminder that we are here to master the lessons of the plan of happiness which could not be here without the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. But it's the last phrase that hit home. "so we can return home and know what it means to be there." Life may be hard and the world may be troubled but this is not our home. God has sent us here to TRY to master the lessons of His great plan so that we may surely know what it means to be there with Him at home.

Have a great weekend!:)

You Are My Hands

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a talk in last year's April conference entitled "You Are My Hands". This talk is one that teaches us the ways of the Savior and the love He has for each one of us. I wanted to focus on the importance of Love within the church. As quoted from the talk, "Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits; it is what led our Savior to the Garden of Gethsemane to make Himself a ransom for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the source of happiness, the ever-renewing spring of healing, the precious fountain of hope."(emphasis added)

It is very obvious that Love plays a key role in our existence and it also plays a role in our salvation. It is up to us to love others as Christ does. It is up to us to serve others with all purpose of heart and with charity. Love is more than a four-letter word... it is an action that we should be extending to all of God's children. This next quote gives us just a few of the blessings we receive by reaching out to others with Christlike love. "As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit." (emphasis added)

In closing, “Let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn.” I can testify that when I forget myself and go to work I can see just a minuscule of the love Christ has for me. I feel happier and I feel that my spirit is stronger. EVERYONE around us is walking on a difficult path and there are those that need our help. Let us extend our hands and our hearts.

Its a new week! Make it good :)

Good Vs. Evil

Done by John Fackler

" The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team's jersey we want to wear!" - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

I love this quote so much! It is so true! Who's side are you on....? We already know who wins so why are we still trying to decide which jersey to wear and which team to represent? God has give us His jersey... are we wearing it?

Look Unto Me... Doubt Not, Fear Not

D&C 6:36- 37 reads: 36 "Look unto me in every thought: doubt not, fear not." 37 " Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen."

A quote given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Concerning the Atonement from the book, Trusting Jesus: "As a reminder of those days, Jesus has chosen, even in a resurrected, otherwise perfected body, to retain for the benefit of His disciples the wounds in His hands and in His feet and in His side--signs, if you will, that painful things happen even to the pure and the perfect; signs, if you will, that pain in this world is not evidence that God doesn't love you; signs, if you will, that problems pass and happiness can be ours."

The theme for seminary this year has been D&C 6: 36-37 and as I came across this quote, this scripture theme immediately came into my mind. Christ has chose to retain those wounds in His hands, feet, and side to remind us that we are NOT alone. Even the purest and most perfect being, our Savior Jesus Christ, went through painful and hard things. May times when we go through a hard time, we think that God hates us or doesn't love us. Christ chose to retain those wounds so that we can remember that pain in our day is NOT evidence that God doesn't love each of us! God loves each of us in a way that we cannot comprehend in this life. He loves His son Jesus Christ and was willing to let Him go through the worst of pain so that we might be able to return to Him. I feel like the scripture theme goes so well with this quote because as we think of Christ's wounds we may be reminded that painful things happen to perfect people. Let us not doubt what Christ can do for us as our friend and as our Savior. Let us not fear the trials that may come our way because we CAN endure them and we are NOT alone. Let us not doubt the love that Christ has for each one of us. Let us remember that we are all here for a reason and here to make a difference. Remember, " God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son..."

Always remember Him... Its a new week! Make it good :)