mountains to climb

I watched this Mormon Message and was so touched. There were so many great quotes to offer peace, strength, and comfort to those who are going through a difficult time.

I have a couple people in my life who I know are going through trails. Lately it seems it's never ending and it's been quite the year...

What I do know is that holding on to the faith that you do have during this time is the single most important thing you can do! Staying close to the Lord and Savior is the only way to find true and lasting happiness and peace.

Some quotes from President Eyring's talk:

Read the whole thing here: Mountains to Climb:

-----------------------

"Many of you are now passing through physical, mental, and emotional trials that could cause you to cry out as did one great and faithful servant of God I knew well. His nurse heard him exclaim from his bed of pain, “When I have tried all my life to be good, why has this happened to me?”

“And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

“Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.”

"There seems to me no better answer to the question of why trials come and what we are to do than the words of the Lord Himself, who passed through trials for us more terrible than we can imagine."

"You and I have faith that the way to rise through and above trials is to believe that there is a “balm in Gilead” and that the Lord has promised, “I will not … forsake thee.” That is what President Thomas S. Monson has taught us to help us and those we serve in what seem lonely and overwhelming trials."

"If the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble."

"...acting on even a twig of faith allows God to grow it."

------------------------------

We have to build a solid foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes that takes days, weeks, months, and even years... We have to continually choose Him. Even if we start with faith as big as a seed, it will grow. But we have to water it, give it sunlight, and sometimes the lawn mower might run in to it and chop it down. So we give it more water and more sunlight. 

Same thing with our faith. Sometimes we get knocked down but we have to continue building and letting our faith grow. Continue to pray, go to church, live as God wants you to live. You will find peace. You will find happiness. He is there waiting for you to turn to Him.

We have to know that everything we experience in this life is to help prepare us to return back to Him. 

He's helping us learn and grow. He's making us into who He knows we can become. 

When you're in the midst of a trial, it can be hard to realize this, but know that it's true. The Lord loves you and wants you to turn to Him always. He will give you peace and comfort. He will give you answers. 

But you have to act! Faith is an action word.

I know that Heavenly Father knows you personally. I know that He sent His only begotten Son to the Earth just for you. I know that Christ lived and died for you. So that when you are suffering, when you hurt, when you feel like you want to give up... You can turn to Him and He knows exactly how to help you because He's been there before. I know that He loves you and He's waiting for you to turn to Him. Turn to Him. Have faith and don't give up!

Thanks for reading!

www.mormon.org

#UseTheInternetForGood 

praise to the man

"...who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere."

Today marks the 169th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

I watched this clip...

...and reflected on; my testimony, how much Emma and Joseph sacrificed, watching her watch her husband ride away knowing he wouldn't come back broke my heart... I can't imagine....I thought about what it means to me to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

I'm forever grateful that a young man with a lot of questions did as James directs and he asked of God. I'm forever grateful that Christ restored His church back to the Earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Giving us that proper authority to perform saving ordinances. He was ridiculed, beat, and hated.... still is. But he went on. He never once denied anything. Neither did the witnesses. He lived and died for truth! I'm forever grateful for his sacrifice that would bring millions the peace and happiness that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings.

I know he was a true Prophet of God and because of that I have more tools to bring me closer to my Savior Jesus Christ. More scriptures to read, the fullness of the gospel, the Priesthood of God in my home, the plan of salvation, and so much more...

The gospel of Jesus Christ has given me so much peace, happiness, faith, hope, and assurance in my life. Life changes, a lot sometimes, but the gospel never does... it's always been there for me! My Savior's always been there for me! It fills my heart and soul with joy. 

It makes me want to be a better person. It makes me want to love as Christ loves and forgive as Christ forgives. It makes me want to live life to the fullest. It makes me want to learn new things and grow. It makes me want to travel the world and see all different walks of life and serve. It makes me want to be successful. It makes me want to have a beautiful family that knows and loves the Lord.

Thank you Heavenly Father for giving us a Savior, an example and friend. Thank you for restoring His gospel and giving us all the tools we need to live a happy and successful life. Thank you for paving the way so that I can return to You.

Thank you Facebook for reminding me of this anniversary and giving me the chance to reflect and fill my heart with the spirit, joy, and gratitude.

See, Facebook is good! :)

Thanks for reading!

www.mormon.org

#UseTheInternetForGood 

"Lord, I believe".

Yesterday I taught Relief Society! Maybe I'm a little weird... but I love teaching & talking in sacrament meeting. It gives me an opportunity to share what I know to be true & I love that!

Well here is my outline for my lesson... Enjoy! 

“Lord, I Believe” by Jeffrey R. Holland

Does anyone remember this talk? What stood out to you?

READ STORY
‘On one occasion Jesus came upon a group arguing vehemently with His disciples. When the Savior inquired as to the cause of this contention, the father of an afflicted child stepped forward, saying he had approached Jesus’s disciples for a blessing for his son, but they were not able to provide it.’

Why is that? Why weren't the disciples able to provide a blessing for his son?

·         Turn to MATTHEW 17:19-21
19 “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
21 “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

So why couldn’t the disciples provide a blessing for his son?
Because of their unbelief.

What does this tell us about believing?

‘If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed.’ Is a mustard seed big?

FINISH STORY
‘With the boy still gnashing his teeth, foaming from the mouth, and thrashing on the ground in front of them, the father appealed to Jesus with what must have been last-resort desperation in his voice:
“If thou canst do any thing,” he said, “have compassion on us, and help us.
“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
‘With no other hope remaining, this father asserts what faith he has and pleads with the Savior of the world, “If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” I can hardly read those words without weeping. The plural pronoun us is obviously used intentionally. This man is saying in effect, “Our whole family is pleading. Our struggle never ceases. We are exhausted. Our son falls into the water. He falls into the fire. He is continually in danger, and we are continually afraid. We don’t know where else to turn?’

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like you don’t know where else to turn?

It continues: ‘Can you help us? We will be grateful for anything – a partial blessing, a glimmer of hope, some small lifting of the burden carried by this boy’s mother every day of her life.’
“If thou canst do any thing,” spoken by the father, comes back to him, “If thou canst believe,” spoken by the master.’
“Straightway,” the scripture says – not slowly nor skeptically nor cynically but “straightway” – the father cries out in his unvarnished parental pain, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” In response to new and still partial faith, Jesus heals the boy, almost literally raising him from the dead, as Mark describes the incident.’

I love how it says, ‘in response to new and still partial faith, Jesus heals the boy.’ I know that as we have faith no matter how new or how big or small, Jesus will be there for us. 

What does that mean to you?

Elder Holland gives us 3 observations from this story: who has #1?

#1 “When facing the challenge of faith, the father asserts his strength first and only then acknowledges his limitation. His initial declaration is affirmative and without hesitation: “Lord, I believe.”

What does that mean to you? How can we apply this in our life?

Elder Holland also says: who has #2?

#2 “In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited.”

“When those [hard] moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.”

Why is that important to ‘hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes’?

The second observation that Elder Holland makes is: who has #3?

#3 “When problems come and questions arise, do not start your quest for faith by saying how much you do not have, leading as it were with your “unbelief”. That is like trying to stuff a turkey through the beak! Let me be clear on this point: I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have.”

Why is that important? How can we be true to the faith we do have?

And then he says: who has #4?

#4 “So let us all remember the clear message of this scriptural account: Be as candid about your questions as you need to; life is full of them on one subject or another. But if you and your family want to be healed, don’t let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle.”

IPAD – SHOW CLIP OF TALK

What stood out to you?

“In this church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.”

“Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we.”

The last observation Elder Holland makes is: who has #5?

#5 “When doubt or difficulty come, do not be afraid to ask for help.”

Why?

#6 “If we want it as humbly and honestly as this father did, we can get it. The scriptures phrase such earnest desire as being of “real intent”, pursued “with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God.” I testify that in response to that kind of importuning, God will send help from both sides of the veil to strengthen our belief.”

I love the message of this talk. Jesus said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

He didn't say, ‘If ye have faith as big as a mountain…’ 

It’s not the size of our faith that matters or how much we know. It’s having faith and believing.

Elder Holland says: “It is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.”

I know that as we show our faith and we believe miracles can and will happen.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord's kingdom once again established on the earth. What a blessing to have that knowledge! 

“Jesus said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and…

Nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue – it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.”

    – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe”

Thanks for reading!

www.mormon.org

#UseTheInternetForGood 

modesty

I listened to a podcast about modesty with Julie B. Beck. She talked about it perfectly! 

So many great messages and thoughts I got from it. Here is a recap. 

------------------

A lady asked a question about what do we wear to the Temple, is okay to wear this or that, or what do we say to people who are dressed a certain way for the Temple? What do we say? 

"Welcome to the Temple!" - Julie B. Beck

Many sisters are wearing pants to church these days? What do we say or do we leave that to the Relief Society President? What about flip-flops or sandals? What can we do to encourage better dress all around? 

"In the church we do not have dress police! We do not have the dress code police in the church. That's it. We are not responsible for policing each others behavior. Our behavior is between us and the Lord and the Bishop and he is the one we declare our worthiness to. That's the measure. We are expected to be a self correcting people!"  

"We can lead by example, we can love, we can teach principles, and we can be kind. We don't reproach. We're all in a different place in our covenant keeping."

"I have met sisters who come to the Temple with plastic bags on their feet. Why? Because they don't own shoes. They want to come to the Temple in a respectful way. It's that attitude the Lord is looking for."

"The rule of thumb which I have for myself is that where ordinances are taking place and covenants are being made, the standard of dress is higher. That's a sign that we understand the importance of an ordinance and a covenant and we're willing to reflect that in the way we dress." 

"I think in our culture that has become so casual in general we think that all events have the same important informality but they don't. We have formal places to carry on the Lord's work where we make covenants."

How can we accept people that are on different parts of the spectrum?

"We are all not in the same place. A lot of the time we learn from the new ones. There is much we can learn from each other."

She shared a story about a women who was sitting in the Temple in Paraguay in a beautiful white sleeveless dress. She went up to her and talked to her. She had been a member for 3 months and she's waiting for the day she can go in and make covenants. Sister Beck asked her, "Why are you at the Temple?" She said, "I love to sit in the Temple." Sister Beck asked her about her beautiful white dress. She said, "I knew that people wear white in the Temple so I bought it so that I could wear it here to read my scriptures."

"Here's a new member who doesn't know we wear sleeves in the Temple but by the time she receives her own endowments, she will. It was her heart that was beautiful." 

------------------

I love learning, pondering, and listening to principles about the gospel. I love strengthening my own understanding about why I do the things I do and why it's important. It's not because I was just told to do it, it's because it's important to the Lord. It's because it's an outward expression of my inner commitment to Him. It does show how committed you are to the gospel. 

So when we look at others we shouldn't look at them in a judging way, think less of them, or think I'm better. Our actions are a reflection of our testimony. Instead, we should think how can I help strengthen their testimony? How can I be a good example?

What do your actions say about your testimony and commitment to the Savior?
What does your dress and appearance say about your testimony?

Modesty is one way we can show the Lord that we follow Him.

Thanks for reading!

www.mormon.org

#UseTheInternetForGood 

should Christian women wear bikinis?

What do you think?

The other day I was looking through my news feed and saw this video posted by my cousin who is male. He said: "This is really well said. Great research that proves 'modest is hottest."

I love research! Especially information like this, maybe that's why I'm majoring in Psychology. 

I loved this. It shows what a man's brain does when they view women in modest and immodest clothing. Do we really understand what it does? Do we care? 

I loved his point that if a boy were to walk into a girls locker room and they were just in their underwear and bra, girls would scream and grab a towel to cover up. But at the beach they wear the exact same amount of clothing and it's fine. They may be comfortable but the male's brain stays the same.

What do you think? Should women wear bikinis?

Thanks for reading!

www.mormon.org

#UseTheInternetForGood