Day Three: You Have to Act

Day Three: You Have to Act

Now this was nothing that I really read today, but it was something that I have seen twice this week and today I saw a little lesson that could apply in our lives. The university that I go to has something called an institute of religion. This is a building that the LDS church has built a building where there are many courses from all the scriptures. There are courses on the Book of Mormon, Old Testaments, New Testaments, Modern day Teachings of the Prophet(since we do believe that there is a prophet of God on the earth day just like moses, or Noah). It is a great way to keep everything in line and to have that spiritual boast to you day. But moving on, at the institute I go to there is parking for  students that attend. But like I told you I have seen something twice this week and it has been in the parking lot. I have seen a cop two different times be giving someone a ticket in there. Now I would assume that the people getting the tickets were speeding through campus and turned in to park. But something hit me on how this can apply in my own life.

How it can apply is that, we can not just be apart of the church and find protection. But we must active in the church and more specifically in the gospel. As Christ said " Ask, and it chall be given you, seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be open unto you." (Matthew 7:7) All the invitation he gave were ones of action. Knock, seek, and ask. I'm not saying we work out our own salvation but we do need to put effort in our testimony of Christ. From reading to praying to service and even bearing our testimonies to others. Action seem to always follow with our love for the savior. As we actively participate in the Gospel and church then we will find the blessing we need and a better relationship with Christ and others. 

Day one: What matters most?

Day one: what matters most? 

When I was reading in the Book of Mormon today I was reading the account where Christ comes to the americas, fulfills prophesies, establish his gospel and church like he did in Jerusalem (Christ comes in the 3 Nephi 11-26) He sets up his church just like he
did on Jerusalem with his 12 apostles. After he leaves there are still some questions by many of the church. The apostles pray and fast that they may receive answers and one of the question they had was what should the name of the church be, The savior responds by saying "And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing?.... And how be it my church  save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel." But then he goes on to explain what matters most and that is what is the gospel

 "Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

 14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

 15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

 16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.

 17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father." 

I feel that in this life we often times focus on such a little thing and not on the bit thing at hand. When we focus on the little things in our lives that are most important then we will be able to find the most happy and the most purpose in this life. We need not worry about the things that matter less, and we need to focus on what matters most!

Little do I know!

Little did I know!

This last winter I had a situation happen to me, I found it very interesting of how it all happened that I had to write about it. I am a college student who loves sports, I know shocker. Well on a Friday I was at a pick up soccer game, which I shouldn't have since I was a completive swimmer for ten year (lets just say fish do not do very well on land). I had been recovering from a recent sprained ankle, but finally felt good enough to play on it. My soccer game was right after work, I had only enough time to pick something up on my was home hurry and change and then fun to the game. As I was picking up some dinner I had a feeling to ask a friend who was a the sport medicine program at the local college to see if she could tape my ankle (just to be safe). She said she could, and that she was actually already go to the game for a friend, we decided that we would just meet there and that she would tape me up then. When I got there I only had a few min to get ready, I told her in the rash that it was fine and that my ankle was good. She ask me if I was sure, and I told her I was. But right when I was about to turn and wait for the game to start I had the feeling that I should have her tape it for me. So I turned around and asked her again and she did, it was the best taping job I had ever had.
As the game started we were playing hard by the half we were down by one. We felt good and knew this was the best game we had played in the last week or so. As the game went on my competitive nature started to get the best of me and I felt like the whole game depended on my. As I decided to play harder I felt like I was Lionel Messi or something. I sat the ball coming towards me and had the idea to head it way since it was by the goal. As I went up I
completely missed the ball and landed directly on the

side of my foot and heard a pop and knew that it was not good. As I limped off the to the side I was feeling like I was going to throw up from how much pain was in my ankle. I couldn't put any wait on it and I barley could move it. When I got home I went on got a priesthood blessing of healing from some friends and iced and rest it. I could barely lay around with out it hurting. Anything I did hurt even if a fly landed on it! that is a little extreme, but you get the point.
As I went to the doc he told me that I needed to be on crutches for 3 weeks, a hard boat brace for 2-3 weeks and then a soft brace until I have strength. As I heard that news it was hard for me to swallow since I love playing sports.

A few weeks later I was sitting in the library studying for my finals when out of the blue this hit me. I was suppose to get hurt, it was God's will. You may ask how is it God's will? Well let me tell you what I believe was insight given to me from a loving Heavenly Father. I had been praying for weeks that I would be able to study for my finals and that I would do good. But for weeks I had increased my study effort very little. I felt the spirit testify to me that he had allowed, not caused, but allowed this to happen to me so that I would be guided to study more since before I would play sports at least two times a week if not three times a week. So by having that injury it caused took away some of those distractions so that I could make the better choice to study more. But something else hit me, that God wanted this pain and injury to last as little as possible and so he guided my friend that she would be at the game so that my ankle could be pre-wrapped and minimize the amount of injury caused to my ankle. Also by a one month and 3 weeks I was back to playing basketball, I know that was caused by the blessing of health working in my life!
I know that God does hear our prays and he does guide our lives, and that it may not always be in the way that we want it to be, but it will be in the way that we need it to be. I would challenge you to ask yourself this week, What might have been the hand of God guiding your life that you may have over looked. I know if you do look for his hand that you will feel his love more in your life and that you will have a stronger sense of purpose and love.

Finding yourself!

Finding yourself!

As a 22 year old kid I have found many people that I associate with who are trying to find themselves. They talk about how you need to explore the world and to explore yourselves before you can find out who you really are. As I have thought about this concept it has hit me on how it is true, but it matters how we do this. It matters what we explore in the world and in ourselves. 

How many times have you hear you are what you eat? If we looked at ourselves in that light what would we look like but what if we apply it to the our actions? You are what you think do and say? What would we look like then? I feel that to many times in this life we get caught up in the moment and influence of the world and we focus on what is around us. And at that point when we focusing so much of what is around us we lose our identity. 

One of my favorite phrase about losing your identity comes form the bible Matthew 16:25 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" If we see in this scripture the savior is talking and he indicates that there are a few choices in life but only one will help us the most. We can either lose ourselves in the world and forget about ourselves, or we can lose ourselves in the savior and be saved. Now I am not saying lets go out and sit on the street corner and tell everyone to repent, nor am I saying you can not have a life. But what I am saying is that when we focus on the savior He shows us who we really are, He helps us find ourselves. 

So it is true that we need to explore, and we need to explore the world, but we need to make sure it is line with the savior. He taught such things as not being in bondage to satan or addictive habits, He taught us to help those around us, and to increase in knowledge both enlightening knowledge of the world that can help us and especially of Him and our Heavenly Father.  As this picture indicates this swimmer is swimming to the surface and finding herself in the reflection of the surface. It always takes effort to raise ourselves the the high way a living but I know we can. 

The Unknown Face of a Friend

I had an interesting things happen to me last night. Now before I tell this story I do not tell it to brag or anything. But I had finished up my homework and I was on my way home around 12:00 am. On my way home I saw a guy with some bags walking down the road. I had the thought to give him a ride to wherever he is going, but I kept driving on. Then I had the thought again and I pulled over and thought to myself, "what if...", "It's late what if he tries to kill me?". But a thought came to my mind from the scriptures, "If it invites you do do good, then it is of God." (paraphrased Vers 16).  So I turned around and Found the guy and asked him if he needed a ride. I gave him a ride for a few blocks and had a good talk with him.

 But on my way back home I was thinking about how he was a good friend. How many times in this world do we look at someone and based a lot of think on how they are dressed? I learned that night that it is not how someone looks, but who they are inside that matters more. I hope that we can put aside looks and take time to do what is important to help and love those around us. I know if we do it that we will look at ourselves in a new light. In a light of respect and self-confidence knowing that today we can lift the burdens of somebody's load today. And by so doing that we will focus on someone else instead of us. Remembering that it does not need to be a ride it can be a simple smile, to some service like cleaning the dishes from family or friends.  :)