Heavenly Help

Mark Mabry Photography: Reflections of Christ -Angels

Elder Holland profoundly said," I have spoken here of Heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments int he hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk and talk with- - here, now, everyday. Some of them reside in our neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

I believe in this with all of my heart and soul. I have no doubt in my mind that everyone has someone in their lives that is truly angelic! I am lost for words when it comes to the gratitude I feel for the people in my life who are like this. One person I know who really emulates this profound concept of angelic is always so close to God and so pure and so good that is scares me. Sometimes I think this person could just move to the other side of the veil at any given moment. I am so grateful for that person and the example that has been shown to me. I hope that all of us have people like this in our lives. I hope that there are angels around each one of you to bless and help you in times of need. I hope you walk and talk with many of them. I know that there are SO many of you out there that are purely angelic! I love you! I am grateful for you! (Thanks for the amazing quote! You know who you are and I love you!). May God bless each one of you!

Loneliest Walk

 heavenlyfathersplan.blogspot.com/2010/07/do-y...

He pushes up the board they've tied onto His shoulders

He bears, with dignity, disgrace

He hears the jeering and the wind is getting colder

Tastes the blood upon His face

His body bruised and back still open from the scourges

The consequence of wicked men

He knows no man on earth has ever deserved this

But still He bears it all for them

And He keeps moving up the hill to do His father's will

With each step He takes there's another to follow

and one more ache, one more tear to swallow

We all stand by and watch as the price is paid

Through the loneliest walk of His life

So we don't feel alone in the night

We can have His hand holding the light

Through the loneliest walks of our lives

Keep pushing through this lonely walk you're going through

Cause someones walked this way before

This song is one that I have loved for awhile. Life is hard for everyone and there is devastation, heartache, and loss all around us. We knew when we came here that it wasn't going to easy but that it would be worth it. The greatest thing about life is that Christ can be the center if we will let Him. Christ brings me hope and faith to keep going even when it is hard. I love Him with all of my mind, heart, and soul. Christ is my brother and my best friend. For me and for you, He suffered and died. "He knows no man on earth has ever deserved this, but still He bears it all of them." He did that for me and for you so that we don't have to feel alone. He loves us and I know that without a doubt in my mind. Someday I will be able to thank Him and kiss the hands and feet that were driven with nails for me. I hope that each of you will take 4 minutes and 34 seconds to listen to this song. I hope that through it we can remember that life is hard but it is worth it because of Christ. He loves us.

If you would like to listen you can find the song here.

Lessens The Power



Taken by Shantell Giles

"Every foundation stone that is laid for a Temple, and every Temple completed according to the order the Lord has revealed for his holy Priesthood, lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the power of God and Godliness, moves the heavens in mighty power in our behalf, invokes and calls down upon us the blessings of the Eternal Gods, and those who reside in their presence"(Millennial Star, 12 November 1877, page 743).

The temple alone in all of its beauty lessens the power of Satan on the earth because of its purpose. I am grateful for this truth that we know and very privileged to have a temple within walking distance. With every temple built Satan's power becomes less and the power of God increases! This is a remarkable truth that we each can see. What happens inside those sacred walls is an increase in power and the heavens are moved in mighty power in our behalf. I can't help but thing that what happens inside those walls is more than a physical description. What happens inside changes things for eternity and we are left speechless.

The temple is our way "out of the world". When we as members of the church are troubled or when decisions truly weigh heavily upon our minds and hearts we commonly go to the temple. While preparing for my talk last Sunday I came across this article by Boyd K. Packer entitled The Holy Temple.

President Packer states, "Sometimes our minds are so beset with problems , and there are so many things clamoring for attention at once that we just cannot think clearly and see clearly. At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can "see" things that were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known." He says,"Our Labor in the temple covers us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people."

I testify that this is true. I know that in the midst of our troubles the temple is the place where the fog and haze lift and the dust of distraction settles out. Our minds and hearts are open new ways through our troubles and trials. I can testify from my own experience that this is true. The temple is truly a place where we are out of the world. I am so grateful for the temple and the privilege I have to go and to feel of the power of God. I am so grateful for my testimony of the temple and its importance in my life! I hope that we can all be better at attending the temple and claiming the blessings that are ours! Have a wonderful weekend! :)

The Cart Began Pushing Me

Photo by Papa Michael

"We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Every one of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with Him in our extremities! " I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone to the sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me! I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the Angels of God were there." Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No! Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company." - Francis Webster, Martin Handcart Company

There are no adequate words to express my love and absolute gratitude for the pioneers. They suffered more than I can completely comprehend in my mind. They did all that they did because faith encircled their minds. They knew that God was in control and God lead their journey. Trek is just around the corner and I am grateful for the privilege to go and to gain a greater testimony of my brothers and sisters. This quote empowers me to try harder to be better! It pushes me to have greater faith in my journey. Life is hard and sometimes it feels like it never gets better. Sometimes it seems a trial lasts a life time and you can't do it anymore. Sometimes we see a patch of sand or a hill slope. We say we can only go that far and then we must give up because we cannot pull the load through any longer. Suddenly something else is pushing us through and we look back with praise unto our Heavenly Father for His mighty miracles and we thank Him for our trials. Life may be hard but with Heavenly Father and Christ our Savior it's worth going through! I hope we can all read this quote to ourselves when we feel it's just too much to bear and remember they didn't give up and they weren't worry for themselves!

Following Christ to Victory

Simon Dewey- He Lives

"Since we, each of us, are invited to follow the Christ to victory, it seems we should become vitally aware of how he fulfilled his mission, and seek to emulate his example. Surely we will never be able to do precisely what he did, partly because his mission and purpose is different than ours. He is the Savior; we are the saved. He is the Mediator between God and man; we are those for whom he mediates. He is the Redeemer; we are the redeemed. The list of differences is long, and possibly endless. The Master’s statement to Moses is a summation of his mission on earth: “My work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). The immortality portion of this mission he has already accomplished—the resurrection is a reality and all will partake."

"However, we are permitted, encouraged, even commanded to assist in bringing to pass the eternal life of man, which is, of course, the continuing part of his great mission. His promise to us of things which I do, ye can do, and greater things than I do, ye can do (see John 14:12) rings loudly in the ears, stimulating the amazement of everyone who reads the holy scriptures."

This talk was from the ensign many many years ago. I came across this marvelous talk while searching through lds.org. I highly recommend that each of you read this talk on your own because of the power of the entire message. 

I have been thinking a lot lately about what really lies ahead. I have thought a lot about exaltation and eternal life with my Father in Heaven and how important that is to me. I think about victory in that matter and how glorious that idea seems in my mind. I am moved upon by the spirit to realize that I can conquer and I can end  this life with victory. Victory over death because of the Savior Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for me. Victory over Satan by following the commandments and being obedient in following the Prophet. Victory by putting off the natural man and rising above the barrier of the world. And Victory with my own family because of the choice to go to the temple to make and keep sacred covenants with my Heavenly Father. There is power and understanding that lies within my heart that is so precious and simple that leads me to speak. These quotes given by a man called of God are true! Christ's mission here on earth was much different than ours may be. Of  course He is the one who leads us back home if we follow. His mission however is still continuing. As faithful members of His church it is important that we each continue in His work. We are all to assist in bring about eternal life to our dear brothers and sisters. Many may follow and seek the 99, but Christ went after the 1. May we all go after that 1 who may not be physically calling our name but may be seeking out in prayer for a friend or one to love them. We can go undefeated before the Lord if we choose to. Let us all go on in Victory!

I Will Rest in You

This video is shared in seminary quite often but it is one of my favorites. I testify that we can rest in God's love. We can rest from fear, doubt, sin, and all suffering by having faith in Him and believe that we can rest. Toward the end there is challenge to write in your journal. I encourage each person who watches this video to do so! I am so grateful for the knowledge I have and it helps to write things down. Enjoy! :)

Our Personal Portrait

Puzzle Hands

"The truth is, those who diligently seek to learn of Christ eventually will come to know Him. They will personally receive a divine portrait of the Master, although it most often comes in the form of a puzzle—one piece at a time. Each piece helps us to see the big picture a little more clearly. Eventually, after enough pieces have been put together, we recognize the grand beauty of it all. Then, looking back on our experience, we will see that the Savior had indeed come to be with us—not all at one but quietly, gently, almost unnoticed."- Dieter F. Uchtdorf April 2011 Conference

As I have read this talk over and over again I have been touched by it's message and the truth that it holds. I am simply drawn to the fact that if we will learn of Christ, we will know Christ. My testimony has grown as I have taken the time to learn more of Christ and His love for me. Christ may not appear to me as He did to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove, but I have reason to believe that He lives! I have reason to believe that He knows me and the things that I face everyday. As I have looked back on the past year and where I have been in my life I have come to understand that there are many puzzle pieces fitting together. I see trials, pains, and afflictions coming together to bring greater beauty. I see relationships, influence, and simple acts of kindness coming together to bring greater beauty to my big picture. Life is a big picture that can be seen more clearly as we move forward in faith and let those puzzle pieces come to us and be attached to our puzzle. When enough of those puzzle pieces come together we realize that the Savior has come to be with us and has come to help us. Trials come. It's not a matter of "If", but it is a matter of "when". When those trials and hard times come in your life remember that the Savior has come to you to be with you. Maybe not in an extraordinary vision or appearance, but quietly, gently, and even almost unnoticed. Jesus Christ lives. He is our Savior and our Redeemer. He is the only begotten of the Father. He loves me. He died for me and for you. I know that as I continue to seek diligently to learn of Him that I WILL know Him. I am grateful for this truth. I know it can be true for you.