Something I've Learned

I haven't really shared my thoughts on my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father on my blog yet. But I think it's about time to change that! Over the year I have been serving them in the mission field, my perspective has changed dramatically. I have actually started to comprehend things as they truly are. I have gained strong, personal testimony of the divinity and mission of Christ and of the love, care, and mercy my Father in Heaven has for me. 

What scripture better exemplifies this love of both Savior and Father than John 3:16 which states, "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." Heavenly Father, OUR Heavenly Father, sent His Son who willingly "...[suffered] pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind...that he may know according to the flesh how to succor to his people according to their infirmities," so that if we would only look to them, we would not fail (Alma 7:11-12).

That is love to me. They have given so much for us. And why? It's because they love us. All of us. I used to not know this. I knew about my Savior and I knew about my spiritual Father, but I didn't know them. I followed the things I had been taught because, truly, I did know that they were the right thing to do! But, I didn't understand WHY they were! I felt good when I went to church, when I served others, and when I drew closer to my family. That was my God and my Savior showing me their love. I felt better when I asked for forgiveness and when I changed bad habits. That was them showing their love. I felt these things, and could see goodness coming from the Gospel of Christ, but I didn't quite connect all the dots. Something was still missing, and I knew it! They were doing their part, and I was putting in the right actions, but my desire wasn't quite there yet. My desire to know them and to know without doubt that this was everything I was here on Earth to do! The whole plan was just a little to big for me at the time. I was still looking for what was in it for me?

I think I'm starting to get the whole picture now. Sloooowly but surely!! They love me, and now I feel I recognize their love and their gently influence in my life! As I serve as a full-time missionary, I have started to realize the WHY; why in the world I go to church every Sunday, and serve others, and ask for forgiveness, and read the scriptures, and knock on hundreds of doors, and give up two years of my life; why families are so important and how important it is to look outward and give everything of myself. It's because They love me I love Them too. My life as a disciple of Jesus Christ should be one giant showing of love. I think it's all starting to make a little bit more sense. I'm here in this life to learn how to love. To gain knowledge and understanding, start an eternal family, and give everything of myself because I love you and God loves you and our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, loves you. By doing so, I will finallly feel all the joy my deity want me to. We are all one big family! And what's supposed to be at the center of a family? The answer is love.

 Sometimes it just takes me a little while to get it, but don't worry, once I get it, it's here to stay!

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might livethrough him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

~1 John 4:7-11~

Gratitude

I am blessed.

I have an awesome family (if you know me you know it's true)! I was raised by two loving parents in a home filled with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have two brothers who are my best friends. I am in North Carolina, a place I've learned to love, helping others become filled with the love of Christ. I've lived in lots of places and met lots of people and realized that there are amazing people everywhere and that all the Earth is full of natural beauty created by a loving Heavenly Father. I have made mistakes that have helped me grow. I've also literally grown and can always reach the top shelf, so that's a plus. I'm happy and healthy. I've got clothes and food and a smile on my face. I don't think I could ask for a better life, actually!

But, I still struggle. I have times where I fail...fall short, miss the mark, come up shy. Where I'm not courageous enough, smart enough, or fast enough. Where things I can't control go wrong and life hurts a little bit. Sometimes, I get lost and confused because I feel like I'm so close to the prize but I can't find it anywhere. But, in every single last one of these moments, I ALWAYS have things I can be grateful for. THAT never changes.

"...gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us.

It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair.

It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter

as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer."

~President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I know that if we will look for the blessings in our life and hold them in our minds always, that we can whether any storm. Our Heavenly Father's loving influence can always be seen in our lives; we just have to take a second to look for it. If you do, I promise that you will live a happier life. Your joy will not be in a drought, but will be a beautiful lake.

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully 

do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be 

revealed."

~D&C 123:17

SORRY!!

Ok, FIRST I feel I need to apologize for not posting anything in such a long time!! What's wrong with me?? My bad, my bad...I'll do better in the future, I promise! It's been a crazy last few weeks though, not going to lie!

First of all, I GOT MY FIRST BAPTISM!!! It was an absolutely amazing. It went perfectly. It was of our investigator Victor. Here's a picture of it. And, of course, I have to have one of these as well! Anyways, he asked me to baptize him and it was such a powerful, spirit-filled experience to be able to be a part of such a sacred, eternal ordinance.

I was really excited to see Victor make such a wonderful choice, as well! He had been prepared for this day for sure. An honest, kind, caring, passionate individual whose greatest desire was to find what it was that his Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, wanted him to do in this life. He definitely found it! And I know that the rest of his life is going to be so much more vibrant and full of love, peace, and joy because of it.

The next thing I need to talk about is the fact that I got a new companion! You probably got that from the fact that you definitely don't know the new kid in that last picture. Yea, I don't think I've mentioned that yet, but Elder Garn has left and now Elder Poast is here! It's definitely a lot different! I mean, I only have to look down a few inches at him now instead of a foot. It's really throwing me off. He's an awesome Elder. Likes to work hard. Likes to have fun. And likes to have fun while he works hard. That's really all I could ask for! He says that the mission has changed him so much and that he has grown immeasurably already, but, that he knows that if he does everything he's supposed to, so many amazing things will continue to happen.

I'm excited for our companionship. We both want to get out there and help our ward find those people who are ready for the message we carry!

Other than that, only a lot has been going on. I am continually learning. It's unbelievable just how much I still don't know. I am in constant awe as I further and and more fully realize the depth and reality of both my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. There are a couple scriptures that have really struck me lately:
"...all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and it motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."
~Alma 30:44
EVERYTHING shows to me that there DEFINITELY is a God! We met a man, probably in his mid-twenties, a few days ago who said that he thinks that if there is no god and everything happened by accident, THAT would be a much bigger miracle than if someone had created it. I have to disagree with him. If we are sent here to start our journey to become like our Heavenly Father, I think it is much more miraculous that we can become being with such unfathomable abilities as to create worlds and universes!

Jesus Christ is my Savior, Heavenly Father love me, and this gospel is most definitely true.

Love Y'all!