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!

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.