Missionaries for YOU, YES YOU!

All of the new products coming out are all about giving the customer something that is aimed to them personally.

Businesses are all about customer service and catering to the needs of the customer.

Well guess what else is catered and here just for you?

Missionaries! :D

We dedicate 2 years of our lives to come and be your missionaries, yes YOUR missionaries.

We are here for you!

How personal is that?

No matter how hot!

No matter how cold...

No matter what project...

No matter what question, whether deep or simple, 

We can help!

Just ask!!

Find out who your missionaries are and get to know them! 

Click Here to get in contact with your missionaries.

Do it! Do it now! I promise you wont regret it! :)

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Saying Goodbye's

As a missionary we get to call home on Christmas and Mother's day, so it being Christmas this last week, I Skyped home!!!!

The hardest part about the whole call was saying goodbye.

I really really really REALLY don't like saying goodbyes! (I'm not going anywhere, so this isn't a creative way of saying goodbye, just got to get that out of the way.)

Before I came out on a mission I was sharing my dislike of goodbyes and they came up with a good point.

We need to say goodbyes because that's when we realize what they meant to us.

I didn't truly realize what my family meant to me until I said goodbye and walked in to the MTC.

Every day out here I realize more and more how much they mean to me.

Think about it, when we say goodbye and realize that we are really going to miss that person, we realize why we're going to miss them.

From then on you miss them for all the reasons you liked being with them in the first place!

You realize right then how much they truly mean to you.

That's why goodbyes are so hard!

We come as close as we can on this earth to realizing how much we truly love them.

I've seen this happen every time I left an area and moved to a new one, they each hold a special place in my heart for a special reason!

Imagine what the goodbye must have been with our Heavenly Father when we left his presence and came to this earth.

He knew perfectly well the pain and hardships we would go through and he knew that we may not return.

Step in to your Heavenly Father's shoes, imagine how hard that would be!

Our mortal minds can't even comprehend the love He has for us, yet I know my heart would break if I had to say goodbye to my children and send them to have an earthly experience knowing that some wouldn't return.

However I know that same love would push me to allow them to go, because I knew they would have teh chance to grow and benefit from it.

Our Heavenly Father misses us!

His heart aches when we go through hardships as I'm sure His heart ached when He had to say that goodbye.

We are His work and glory.

We are a huge part of his Joy.

The next time you kneel think of the love he has for you. Thank him for loving you enough to say goodbye for a short time.

Then let him know that you are trying your hardest to return.

And then do it. :D

He is waiting with open arms!!!

Keep this in mind and love your God and Heavenly Father above all things!

That's what he asks.

Love him!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Am I on a Mission?

My last companion,

Elder Willis, always said something that I loved and find myself saying now,

"Are we on our missions?"

It really hit me every time he said it, heck yah I'm on my mission!!

And how epicly cool is that?

No matter how hard the time we were going through at that point I couldn't help but smile.

I was on a mission. Did I really have a reason to be discouraged?

When we fully grasp where we are and who we are, do we really have a reason to be discouraged?

Are we children of God? Does God really have a plan for us? Do we really have loving Heavenly Parents?

YES!

Don't get discouraged and if you do let it be a small moment

Ask yourself, Are you here on earth?

Because you are. ;)

Which means there is a God, and He loves you and I.

Pray to him! Fervently!

He loves you.

Realize where you are and who you are.

And let it change you!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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'Tis the Season (Christmas Post)

Christmas time!!!

This is my first Christmas away from my family.

As I put up a mini Christmas tree and put up lights I couldn't help but miss putting up the lights with my brother back at home.

Fun story,

We would put up the lights on the edge of the roof that had a big drop off if we were to slip.

Being the natural geniuses we are, we came up with this idea:

The way the house came to a point, the cord/trusting rope would have stopped me because of my brother on the other side (or at least we liked to think it would).

When I think of how much we rely on Christ, he really is our anchor and he has told us and showed us the way to get that extension cord bound to him and us.

We wont always be able to stay at the point of the roof, sometimes we have to walk down the roof towards the edge and trust Christ that that cord will hold.

And he's confident that it will, much more than my Brother and I were.

He has created the extension cord (Atonement) and is our loving  brother to get on the roof with us to be our anchor.

Take hold of the cord and know of a surety that as long as you are doing as he asks, you will always have him anchoring.

You will have him as your foundation!

Christ was born into this world for you and me.

How great of a blessing it is to know this!

This Christmas season, find those miracles in your lives, and share them!

Pray for inspiration

Act on inspiration

Share the miracles that come from acting on inspiration!

He is our rock and salvation!!!!

Have an absolutely wonderful Merry CHRISTmas!! :D

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People in our lives

It's great how the Lord put's us with people for a reason.

We all are unique and each were made differently.

Think about how many people have lived on this earth and will still live, none of them are the same!

Think about how many people you interact with compared to the insanely huge number of total people who will live on this earth.

You are meant to be with those around you.

It's part of God's divine plan!

His Plan of Happiness includes all of us.

We are happy because we learn to love those around us and they learn to love us!

Charity is Joy!

I have been so blessed to spend the last 6 weeks with such incredible missionaries!!

They have taught me so much and brought me so much joy!

I wouldn't be the missionary or person I am right now without knowing them.

God prepared all of us to be in Canandaigua at that time.

Now I go to Lancaster and know that I will grow and find a unique joy that I can find nowhere else!

God is great and loves us enough to put us exactly where we need to be.

Ask him why you are where you are and why your with the people your with.

It's definitely not coincidence :)

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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Well it's Snowing...

It snowed! :D It was really exciting!

 Then it snowed again.

 and again.

  Then it got cold.

Can you feel the excitement diminishing?

However it made for a great conversation starter,

"So, what do you think of the snow?"

I've gotten a wide range of answers, there were two answers that reached the two ends of the spectrum however.

It's dandruff falling from the sky and it's angels feathers falling from heaven.

Pretty opposite huh?

However it's the same snow storm.

How do we see the snow? How do we see the events in our life?

True happiness doesn't come from changing events, but rather changing how you view them.

Be thankful for who you are and that YOU, YES YOU! Has a Heavenly Father that knows you and loves you.

He has a hand in our lives and always will lead us towards true happiness if we let him.

Most of us, who seek after good, do a pretty good job at this.

But do we thank him for it?

Do we thank him even for the snow storms?

Tonight, when you're on your knees, thank him and let him know how much you appreciate him.

He is our Father and loves to hear how much we appreciate him. We are his work and glory!

Let's take time this season and give Thanks.

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Blessings through Others

One of my greatest joys on my mission is being a tool in the Lord's hands of blessing another's life and being an answer to prayers.

Time and time again we have been in the right place at the right time, very far from coincidence.

We were tracting at one point and knocked on someones door. She answered and didn't seem too interested in our message so we offered our help and she was taken back a bit.

She told us that she had huge stones she wanted to move and her neighbor who was going to do it for her hurt his back.

"But the problem is you are going to need a truck."

We smiled and pointed out the Chevy Colorado that we drive and she couldn't believe it. We set up a time and moved all the rocks for her.

The whole time she couldn't believe that two young men showed up on her door step offering to do this for free.

She kept pointing out how great God was to her.

How great is our Heavenly Father to all of us?

Especially when he provides us with the direction to be a blessing in the lives of others.

Seek the direction from the Holy Ghost.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Eternal Families

My second day in Canandaigua I met a recent convert and he touched me with his testimony. I leaned over to my companion and mentioned that we should really try to teach his mom.

6 months later:

And what even was more miraculous:

 

 

The recent convert, her son, baptized her.

 

The whole journey has been miracle after miracle and the many missionaries that brought them through the sites on tours and the many who met them in serving knows of the incredible miracles.

 

The joy they felt was overwhelming. Her son just kept telling her how proud he was of her.

 

There was an experience a few months ago when we were at their house teaching them a lesson when her son get's a guitar out and tells her she should play for us.

 

She began playing songs that she had sung to her son while he was growing up. His face lit up as he sung along with her.

 

Families are ordained of God.

 

The truth that Families are not only ordained of God but are also meant for eternity hit me harder than it ever had before.

 

They are the basic and most important unit.

 

They are so important that God has provided a way that we can live with them for eternity.

 

I have seen the miracles of a righteous family not only in this family but in my own too.

 

As my mission continues, it becomes more and more obvious that I would not be here if it wasn't for my family.

 

I know that we have a Heavenly Father and a Brother, Jesus Christ, who made the sacrifice for all of us.

 

Look towards your family and learn how to strengthen your own.

 

Pray to know what you can do to make your family more of what God meant it to be.

 

Have the influence on your children/spouse that will last into the eternities.

 

He will always strengthen us to serve his children, seek his love and grace.

 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 



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Hope, Even When All Hope is Lost

I was sitting in church and was trying not to be discouraged as none of the people that the missionaries had been teaching came that Sunday.

About half way through the first meeting my attention was diverted as someone came and sat down next to the missionaries in front of us.

One of the missionaries leaned back and asked us to save the seat  next to us so when their investigator came, he would have a place to sit.

I was stunned.

It was half way through the meeting and this missionary kept the faith and hope that he was going to show!

He never did show and I never did see that missionary become discouraged from it. She kept the faith and hope until the very end. And then when it didn't pan out, transferred that hope and faith to the fact that he will come next week.

We pray for things.

We hope for things.

We have faith that things will happen.

But when they don't it seems like the world is crashing down and we allow ourselves to get frustrated at our Heavenly Father.

He knows much more than we do and a lot of times tests us and directs us to reach our full potential.

Keep the faith and keep the hope.

As long as you are taking care of what He wants you to, everything will work out for the best.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Famine in our Lives

The most memorable moment in the MTC was that first evening.

They had 50+ missionaries all in one classroom teaching one person. We all have had been missionaries for only a few hours and we were expected to work together to teach a person the Gospel of Christ that we have a testimony of.

I didn't know what to say.

I grew up living this gospel and I honestly could not come up with an answer to this person's questions.

I wouldn't say I was discouraged that night, because I knew the Lord would strengthen me, but I definitely realized I had a long way to go.

I realized how much of a famine in my life I had to overcome to help those in my mission.

Now don't get me wrong, my parents taught me extremely well and I graduated from seminary, I had all the scripture mastery references memorized, I did my homework, but I still was missing something.

It really hit me hard when I was reading in Genesis and the plea of the people to Egypt for the want of food, "Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate." Genesis 47:19

 They knew how much of a famine they were in. They realized how little they were without food I realized that night in the MTC how little I was without the spirit.

They wanted to give of their lives and all they posses to recieve that food they needed to live. That night I wanted to give of everything to have the spirit so I can help those I know i'm going to grow to love.

When I'm becoming frustrated I find myself reflecting on this humbling experience.

We are all in a famine and the only way we can quench our hunger is to bring the spirit more fully in our lives.

The gospel of Jesus Christ isn't just for Salvation after this life but rather strength and happiness during this life also.

Realize how much of a famine you are in, allow the hunger to grow in you, and then feed the hunger.

As you do this you will feel joy.

"The Lord gives us His Holy Spirit in this life as a foretaste of the joy of eternal life." -Bible Dictionary 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Fast Sunday Miracle

Once a month the LDS church has fast Sunday, in which we don't eat or drink for 24 hours or two meals.

As a kid I tended to dread fast Sundays because of the torturous pantry that would taunt me all day.

However being out on a mission it has changed my view quite dramatically.

This last Sunday was fast Sunday and I made it a point, the night before, to kneel down and begin my fast with a true heart and a reason to fast. With those I'm fasting for in mind I went to sleep that night.

I woke up and used the extra hours in the morning to study a few verses.

Dinner time was beginning to loom over us as we realized our meal appointment that night canceled.

Our stomachs weren't looking forward to our own cooking, we kept a bright outlook and moved on with faith!

As we were talking to people after church we had someone walk up to us and tell us that that morning she had put dinner in the crockpot and for some reason not known to her she put the whole bag of chicken in!

She found out that all six of us missionaries were without a dinner appointment and invited us over for dinner!

She truly was inspired!

My favorite part about this whole experience is not only did I enjoy fasting today as it brought me closer to my Heavenly Father, but he also blessed me with a tender mercy to not have to suffer through my own cooking!

Our loving Father in heaven is pleased when we follow him with a true heart and honestly seek after him.

He want us to be happy! and will bless us in little ways to show that he's there and wants you to feel his love.

Seek his love and honestly follow what he asks of you.

With a sincere heart and contrite spirit.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Boogers or Kit-Kats?

We had the opportunity to teach Elder's Quorum this last Sunday and with it had an object lesson.

We had two volunteers and two cups with different candies in it. The first was a candy that looked like boogers:

 and the second was a Kit-Kat bar:

We gave the one volunteer the first cup with the boogers in it and told him to convince the other volunteer to eat whatever is in that cup. As he struggled to describe the "boogers" in the cup he managed to convince him enough that the other volunteer ate whatever was in the cup without even looking at it!

We gave him the second cup and he convinced him to eat it with ease. It was chocolate with a crisp cookie on the inside!

What was the difference between the two?

He knew what a Kit-Kat bar was and had tasted it himself and could easily explain without restraint how good the Kit-Kat bar actually was! The boogers was another story.

As we feel the joy through the gospel we can easily express that joy to others. When we know the gospel and have strong emotions about it, we can more powerfully convey a love for the gospel and touch people's hearts that no one else can.

But it all starts with your own conversion.

Ask what the prophet Alma directs: Can ye feel so now?

Feel so now.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Things Unseen

When I was attending BYU-Idaho, I had the privilege to have my brother come out and visit me!

He came right after a snowfall so we decided to go sledding on the sand dunes (which were bigger than any hill we had in Wisconsin.)

Finding a well trodden path we jumped on the sled. I watched them go down and glanced over my shoulder to see a completely untouched side of the dune. I set my sled in the snow, pushed off, and flew down the hill.

I eventually reached the bottom and stood up calling my brother to follow me down stating how "epicly awesome" it was.

I glanced up at the hill and called for him to stop. I realized looking from the top down it was impossible to see the rock faces that jutted out of the sand creating mini cliffs. I had managed to make it to the bottom avoiding every rock face. However my brother was not as lucky!

He made it to the bottom in quite a bit more pain and looking back he realized the rock faces in which he hit nearly every one.

Yes, we can make it through this life as we hold on to the scriptures and prayer. However we can make it through our lives with a lot less pain as we listen to those whom have gone before us.

"Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land."-1 Nephi 17:55

We have had role models put into our lives to follow, seek their counsel and be humble enough to follow what they council you.

They are at the bottom of the hill and can see the masked dangers. They themselves have hit the "rock-faces" on their sled ride and they know how to avoid them much better than the one sitting at the top of the hill.

Follow the counsel we are so blessed to receive

Especially the counsel received from our Savior.

In the name of our savior, counselor, and brother, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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Can I See Your Permit?

Walking through a town we saw a man whom we had taught before. We sat down and were helping him understand some verses in the Bible since he had trouble comprehending.

As we sat there the man who owned the house walked up and asked if we had a permit. Confused I asked what he meant? He explained that in this town we had to have a permit to do things like we were doing...

Realizing that I had a certificate in my pocket I pulled it out and showed him it.

After studying it he asked, who signed it?

The president of our Church, I responded.

Laughing he took a step back and through a very long explanation ended with saying that "Jesus doesn't give permits out, that we needed one from the city."

Recognizing he wanted us to leave I politely apologized and we excused ourselves. Still excited over the opportunity we had to show our "badges" I thought about what he had said.

"Jesus doesn't give permits out..."

I recognized what he meant but isn't that exactly where we want to have our teachers get the permit?

Isn't that the most important permit that anybody could recieve?

The priesthood power, the power of God, was restored through a prophet called of God, that's the ultimate permit!

That is why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only church with a true "permit" given from God.

Listen to the comforter in whom's influence can be felt by all.

As members of the church we are all given a permit to share the gospel, may we ever live up to the responsibility to share the gospel!

And experience the Joy that is promised to all who are faithful.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Blessings in Disguise (Part 2)

For those of you who haven't read part 1, click here.

My body immediately went into shock so I don't know if the stick broke off or if I broke it off,

but nonetheless, there was a stick stuck up my nose.

I immediately called out for my brother and he came rushing back.

I didn't know who was freaking out more, him or I!

After making a phone call to my Mom and trying to explain the situation, she said she would meet us there.

I managed to walk to the road and sat down against a tree waiting for my mom to come.

I was cracking jokes trying to lighten the situation but my brother wasn't really having any of it.

We ended up going to the emergency room and they took a picture of the nasal passage, which is the picture above.

You can see the stick on the left of the picture, it was 1 mm from my brain and managed to go all the way up without breaking any bones.

How miraculous is that!

Yes, I was in the hospital for quite a few hours before it was taken out, and yes it was incredibly painful, and yes, I couldn't quite get myself to ride a bike for a few more months, but look at how perfectly it happened!

How many times do we miss the blessings in life because they are coated by the fact that theres a "stick up our nose."

Bad things happen, yes. People have their agency. But because of the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ he allows those rays of light to be with us the whole way, not just the small speck of light at the end of the tunnel.

Pray to see the miracles even among the mud that you feel you are wading through.

It is possible, and his grace is always sufficient to all who come unto him.

Find those miracles, they are always there, even if sometimes the adversary likes to camouflage them.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Don't Even Go There (Part 1)

Any story that starts out with my brother and I can never be good, but here it goes!


My brother and I were biking through the woods at a nearby park. We got to this huge hill and we both just went for it. At the bottom of the hill it curved off to the right and we both barely made the turn and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

So we did it again.

I got to the top of the hill and decided there's no way I was going to try that again. I watched my brother go down and waited until he was out of sight, then I walked my bike half way down the hill.

I still didn't feel like it was a good idea but I did it before, and I was half way down this hill so it would be easier and safer!

I jumped on my bike and as I got to the bottom I realized I wasn't going to make the turn.

I went into the forest and cringed as I saw a downed log right in front of me.

I prepared myself, my bike hit the long, and I supermanned over the handle bars of my bike landing on my hands and knees.

I didn't get one scratch, except...

A stick went straight up my nose.

The rest of the story is going to be told in the next post ;)

I knew that going down that hill wasn't a good idea. However I ignored that feeling as I watched my brother do it.

I still didn't just go crazy after that, I did a little part to make it safer, and then went down the hill anyways.

I knew I shouldn't have done it and I found out why!

When we feel something in life and we receive the prompting to not do it, then DON'T!

Even if you feel you can make it through, or make it a bit "safer."

Satan is the king of rationalizing. Don't rationalize.

Just don't do it.

Be in tune enough to receive the promptings and have the courage to follow them to the letter.

Seek, Knock, Ask

and then Act.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

(Stay tuned for part 2 :D)

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Seeing things as they really are

It was a beautiful day outside and we had the chance to teach a lesson out on the lawn.

Mason had his dog running around and I couldn't help but smile as it spazzed out and ran in circles like dogs do.

The dog finally chilled out so I averted my attention from the dog to the lesson.

Mason starts laughing and I look at my companion who has a huge smile on his face, I looked down and saw that my bag was wet.

I laughed and asked if the dog licked my bag. My companion didn't say anything, at that moment I realized that it wasn't drool and my backpack wasn't as water proof as I thought.

I quickly adverted disaster and removed my scriptures. I threw the bag in the back of our truck to avoid the very distinct smell of urine.

Yes, the dog peed on my backpack.

I still remember that moment when I realized what it was. A flash of anger came but quickly diminished as I took a step back and realized how ridiculously funny this situation was!

When we look at situations in life, and how they really are,  life is pretty awesome.

We know why we are here.

We know what tools we need to get through hard times.

And when we don't allow satan to skew our view on reality, we truly can be happy as we come unto the Lord!

I had a choice, to dwell on the fact that I was going to have to pay to wash my bag in the washer when I got back and would have to make do with just my scripture case,

Or

Focus on the fact that a dog really just did urinate on my backpack out of nowhere and that it'll be a pretty epic story to tell later!

Laugh at the frustrating times and always allow the spirit to bring things back into view of how they truly are.

It's the Adversary who wants our vision to blur.

Keep a clear course, read the scriptures, pray, and partake of the sacrament.

Keep the Savior and his atonement in clear sight.

Always have a clear vision of where you and your Heavenly Father want you to be.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Vanilla Vs. Syrup

Everybody likes a good batch of chocolate chip cookies, it's just a fact.

My brother and I had a craving for them and decided to make a batch. Since my parents were out on their date night we decided to go for it with no supervision.

It went really well! We were working together, having a blast, and then we got to an ingredient: Vanilla.

We didn't have any vanilla.

Stumped we thought about what we could do. Neither of us could drive, and instead of doing the sensible thing and asking the neighbors for some, we substituted it with another ingredient...

Syrup.

They looked the same right? They both tasted pretty darn good.

The dough got EVERYWHERE.

Because of the substituted ingredient the dough was ridiculously sticky.

My parents soon came home and were flabbergasted at what we had done. Who in their right mind would substitute syrup for vanilla????

After scraping the dough off of the counters my mom kindly shared with me that syrup does not substitute for vanilla.

I look back at this experience and find a spiritual parallel.

To my young mind, who was very new at cooking, Syrup and Vanilla looked the same, so it should be okay right?

My mom knew beyond the surface and beyond the looks of the ingredients and knew that it wouldn't work.

As spiritual children we are constantly learning and realizing the Adversaries traps. However some of his attempts are taught by prophets today, so we don't have to learn the hard way.

We are spiritual children who need guidance from our parents. The more we study the words of the modern day prophets and the prophets in the scriptures, the more we'll know to avoid those follies of Satan.

Study the words of your Heavenly Father that he shares through his prophets.

Pray to know that we have a prophet today in whom we are continually given guidance.

Know the difference between Vanilla and Syrup, so when the time comes, you can enjoy some delicious chocolate chip cookies and avoid the scraping of dough off the counters.

I close in the name of Jesus Christ, who makes it possible to escape any dough-scraping experience, Amen.

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Manner of Happiness

I know I've already posted a blog post about happiness, but I found a scripture that really brought out a whole new point that I just couldn't help but share!

"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." 2 Nephi 5:27

They were happy! Who likes to be happy? I guess the real question is who doesn't like to be happy??

I absolutely love being happy, pretty much the best thing ever.

Earlier in the chapter it described what the manner of happiness is. It boils down to four steps. I related it to myself and here's how all four steps brought me happiness:

1.Hearken unto his words.
      Before I came on a mission my professor in college challenged us to read the Book of Mormon for 20 minutes every day. I took the challenge and only missed one day the whole semester. It is the reason why I am on a mission. It is the reason I had the strength to leave my family and walk into the MTC on March 13. Without it, I would not have had the faith. It is the reason why I am happy today and every day.

2.Keep the Commandments
      Looking back and going through elementary and high school I always was the happiest when I was obedient to my parents, both on heaven and on earth. Now on my own I have many "darn, mom was right" moments that make me appreciate the lesson's I have learned on the importance of obedience. Always hearken to the counsel from your father above.

3.Work
      Someone told me growing up that a blank mind is a blank stage that the devil can put on any act that he desires. However when we keep the stage full, he has no time to put on his acts. Out here on a mission we fill every single hour of every single day with plans. I learned that the best way to get over something hard, is to work at it! or just simply work!

4.Kept the temple in their sights
      I had the privilege of working in the temple right before I came out on my mission. Once a week I would spend all of my morning working in the temple. I found I had more strength than I ever had to fight against the onslaughts of the evil one. Now on a mission I can't attend as often, but as I do I find my view shift daily to  become more Christlike and to truly feel an enduring conversion to a happier way of living. The temple is sacred and special, as you allow it to change your schedule, it will change your life!

The devil wants us to be miserable, don't allow him to win. When we think of the power he truly has compared to the power our loving Heavenly Father has, he's rather pathetic.

Don't let him deceive you, look towards the light.

Always ask yourself, am I happy?

Because we're meant to be.

In the name of the one who brings everlasting Joy to my life, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Adversity and Righteousness

In a youth stake meeting, President Mortimer whom is in the stake presidency, said a line that has really stuck with me since,

"Don't let the test deter the decision."

Deciding to go on a mission was a decision I made a long time ago, however the test didn't come until right before I left.

I can look back now and see every test that the adversary threw my way. I have never been tested more in my life then right before I had to walk through those doors into the Missionary Training Center.

Satan knows us very well, and knows what choices we are going to make.

He's been doing this since the beginning of time and then some.

He knows the power that we have and how minute his power is in comparison. He wants to take away our freedom of choice.

When we make a righteous choice, he tries his hardest.

Be conscious of the reality of Satan, and also know and study the reality of Christ who died for us and his grace.

His grace is sufficient for us to get through any test and stay true to the decision we know is right.

Do the program: Read. Pray. Take the Sacrament.

There will be tests, but there are always promised blessings to the righteous. Satan's power is pathetic to the power we are blessed with through God's grace, and his Son's grace.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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Power of God

"The Priesthood is the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children."

The Priesthood is the result of the restoration of the true church of Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, on this earth once again. It makes baptism into our church a key to salvation and allows to have a prophet of God, President Thomas S. Monson, to guide and direct Christ's church on this earth today. 

 God allows us, his children, to hold the priesthood and be able to act "all things necessary for the salvation of God's children."

I recently had the opportunity to do just that!

There is a sister that has decided to get baptized and the only thing in her way is her addiction to smoking. 

Having faith, she asked us to give her a priesthood blessing for strength to be able to overcome this addiction.

Walking in to her house she mentioned that she really had an urge for a cigarette and it was taking all of her will power not to go outside and satisfy the addiction. 

Through the authority of the priesthood we pronounced a blessing upon her.

Immediately following she said in amazement that she had "No desire for a cigarette."

The priesthood is real and truly is the power of God.

There are countless stories of miracles that have been wrought through the power and authority that God blesses his children with that they may serve others.

Seek the power and authority of God, allow it to bless your life, and have the faith to ask for it's power in your life when you feel that desire.

Those who hold the priesthood, always strive to be worthy, always be ready to be God's instrument in his composition of salvation in his children's lives. 

I say all of these things with a testimony of it's truth and power, in the name of he who wrought many miracles with the same divine power, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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Trusting Completely

Following the promptings of the spirits are eternally important, and he speaks to each of us in a unique way.

We need to heed these followings and follow them immediately.

Recently, we were driving down main street and I saw that a concert was being played at the stage and I felt for some reason we should go.

The music was not going to be approved for missionaries, is it really a good use of our time to go and watch a concert?

It made no sense.

I spoke up and found that my companion felt the same. We parked then walked and sat down with the spectators.

Immediately we were noticed by a ward member who used to be a mission president, if anybody knew we weren't supposed to be here he would!

We found a seat next to one of our investigators. Shortly after we sat down she got up and left us there alone.

It made no sense why we were here.

A man next to me leans over and asks if we were Jehovah Witnesses. We answered no and it turned into a half hour conversation about the church. We were able to share the restoration and a message about the priesthood power that has been restored to this earth! He seemed very interested and gladly agreed to meet with us again.

We were supposed to be there, even though it made no sense at that time.

The Holy Ghost is always whispering in our ear, but are we tuned in?

Are we willing to listen even though it may make no sense?

Now always check a prompting with what you know is true in the scriptures. Always pay attention to how you feel as you carry out the prompting. The Holy Ghost will give assuring nudges as we take the steps towards the direction it brings us in.

The more we heed to the promptings the more the Lord can trust in us and the more the Lord can edify us as we become instruments in his hands.

Heed the promptings and act on His will.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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How do you Listen?

I have felt that I never really had a big Holy Ghost prompting as an answer to my prayers.

I've had a few lego story moments that I can remember, but nothing too major that I really felt was the Holy Ghost speaking and guiding me. 

I learned an important aspect of how the Holy Ghost speaks to all of us by a simple experience, right at the beginning of my mission.

My first day on my mission we stopped at a rest stop on the way to my area, went to the bathroom, and left.

A week later we were coming back once again and I was asleep in the passenger seat. I wake up to my stomach grumbling and I see Buy one, Get one Mcwrap. I smiled as I thought of the wonderful chipotle BBQ heaven wrapped in a tortilla. I pointed it out and guided my companion to stop at that McDonalds. We soon realized it was the same rest stop we stopped at just a week earlier.

Elder Guzik, having a gluten allergy, went to the gas station side and bought a dinner there. The cashier ended up talking to him and shared his story. Elder Guzik taught him the restoration, got his information, and came back to sit at the table with us.

As nosy missionaries we quickly asked what had happened. He related that the cashier, a week earlier, had said a prayer for a sign from God. That day that he prayed, we walked in to the rest stop, and he took it as his sign. However because of our haste he was unable to talk to us. That Sunday he attended a church in his neighborhood.

He was very grateful that we returned so he had a chance to speak to us. 

I quickly recognized how the spirit had spoken to me, to bring us to be in that rest stop at that time.

Buy one, Get one, Mcwrap. 

Was it a, "go into that gas station because there is someone who needs to hear the gospel and is waiting for Elder Guzik to share the gospel with him?" No!

It was a " thought of the wonderful chipotle BBQ heaven wrapped in a tortilla."

The Holy Ghost knew me well enough to know that a great meal like that would get me in there!

Sometimes we wait for those significant promptings, but we forget that God knows us all individually. He knows what will get us when and where we can serve him the best.

Always seek for the promptings from the spirit and never sell yourself short by feeling that he doesn't speak to you.

If you are reading, praying, and attending church, you are promised to feel the power of the Holy Ghost, and if you have entered the water's of baptism, you are promised to have the Holy Ghost guiding you always.

Be humble enough to be an effective instrument in the Lord's hands.

Seek the promptings in every aspect of daily life.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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You're Not Alone

A not so long time ago, in a not so far away state...

I was in Middle School! It was an ordinary English class in which we were reading a play.

We would take turns reading as different characters and it eventually came my turn to read.

As I read the lines I came across a swear word and nonchalantly grazed over it with a humorous censor "beep" and continued on.

My teacher stopped me and pointed out that I skipped the word and that I should just take advantage of the opportunity and swear in school without getting in trouble.

There I sat, with the class's eyes on me, waiting to hear that word come out of my mouth. People knew I didn't swear, but this wasn't too bad right? it was literature... I sat trying to decide what to do, as I spoke up I found myself defending myself and trying to just get past the fact that I didn't want to say it.

However the teacher continued to try to get me to just say that one word.

What would you do at this point? Honestly ask yourself what you would do at this point. Your teacher is challenging your standards in front of the whole class in whom all are probably agreeing with him. Was one word really that bad?

Luckily I didn't have to make that decision. One of my classmates spoke up and told the teacher that I don't swear and that I'm "not that type of guy."

The teacher backed off and I continued reading with a new-found confidence in myself, my standards, and also those classmates that sat around me. That whole experience I felt as if the spotlight was on me, I had to make the decision, and I had to stand alone in front of the whole class.

However, I wasn't alone. I ask myself if my friend didn't speak up, would I have made the choice to stand alone? Because I had dare to stand alone within friendships and small confrontations, the choice in the end was much easier as my classmate stood up and defended the standards he knew I had.

As we dare to stand alone,

People will see your light and know that you "aren't that type of guy."

Always stand strong and always dare to be a beacon in this ever darkening world.

People will look to you.

They will one day appreciate that you were so willing to live your life in a way to guide others through the storm and ever darkening night unto the loving creator and Savior, in whom is the only source of true joy in this life.

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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The 9 Mile Bike Rides

Being blessed with a truck in our area has been great, and I didn't really appreciate it until I didn't have it anymore!

We had to take the truck in to the shop and were told that it would take all day. Not having anybody nearby to give us a ride on such short notice, we broke out the bikes and helmets and went on our way.

A little geography lesson on the Canandaigua area, at the moment we live 9 miles outside of our area, the truck shop is about half way between the city and our apartment. The ride to our area wasn't too demanding and we were able to bike around the town the rest of the day going to the appointments we had.

The day ended and that dreaded ride loomed ahead of us. Neither of us were physically built as bikers and our thighs felt the day's worth of biking, the nine miles home was achievable, but seemed a very daunting task.

We stopped at the church for one final drink of water before we set out on the ride back home, just as we did a member drove up and walked in to the building with us.

He proceeded to ask for a blessing and didn't see it as chance that we both came to the building at the same time.

We gave him a priesthood blessing and he was extremely grateful. While talking after he found out of our bike ride that we had ahead of us, he immediately grabbed our bikes. threw them in the back of his vehicle and gave us a ride home.

We all have those 9-mile bike rides ahead of us, we have faith that the Lord will strengthen us, and that we will be able to do whatever lies ahead.

This life is not easy, nor is it extremely hard, if we have an eternal perspective.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29

He has provided a way to endure to the end with joy! After this experience I fell down on my knees and prayed with a heart full of thanks. I once again received a strong prompting that the Lord really does loves his children and blesses us with tender mercies in our lives every single day. I know He lives and knows each one of our needs. He wont always take afflictions away, but every once in a while he blesses us with taking those 9-mile bike rides, and making them a bit easier.

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The Lego Moments

While we were sharing a dinner thought about prayer, one of the children of the family shared how he was missing a Lego block and couldn't find it. He knelt in prayer and asked that he would be able to find this missing piece. He stood up and found it very promptly.

The father then included that his son has had a lot of significant testimony builders through Legos.

I smiled, remembering a few of my own!

When it comes to the eternal scheme of things, does it matter if we find that missing Lego block?

Probably not.

So why does God bless us with helping us "find our Lego pieces"?

I noticed two things as this young man recited the story. He knew that his Heavenly Father answered his prayers and he was pretty darn happy that he was able to finish the Lego set.

We have a loving father in heaven,

"The title father is sacred and eternal. It is significant that of all the titles of respect and honor and admiration that are given to Deity, He has asked us to address Him as Father." -Quorom of the Twelve Apostles

He wants us to be happy! He cares about the little things! He cares about those Lego sets you wish to build. His work and glory is us!

He is always there, he sent his only Begotten Son to die for us so that we may return to him.

He wants us to return, and return happily!

Look for the Lego moments in your life, they will cause an ever increasing knowledge and testimony grow in your heart that you do have a Father in heaven, and that he does know you personally.

I testify that he does, and he yearns so much for a message from you.

Pray and council with the ultimate Creator, Ruler, and Preserver of all things.

And feel the Joy that is just a foretaste of what he has promised the faithful after this life.

In the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Standing our Ground

We were helping a member from the ward build fence on his horse farm and I had no idea of the lesson I would learn that day!

We had a section of the fence knocked down and the horses were gathering around. The farmer affirmed us that the horses wouldn't try to get out and that we shouldn't worry.

Continuing to work, the horses continued to crowd. One of his dogs nipped at one of the horses and a horse took off through the gap.

Because one escaped, the rest needed to follow. I was shoved out of the way as a horse jumped the fence landing on the ground with a thud, and the others breaking through the gap and fence.

I was left there as my companion and the other two elders rushed out to try to coax the horses back. The farmer handed me a board and told me that if any of the horses came charging at me, to wave the board and stand my ground.

I was left, a city boy, completely out of my element, with a board, and horses eying me to see how sure I was of guarding the hole in the fence.

I wasn't so sure.

However I did have faith that what I was taught would work, and I stood there holding that board and didn't move a muscle.

Soon the horses were back and I was relieved of my duty.

In this life, the charge to live righteously and to endure to the end may be similar to a terrified city boy holding a board with a bunch of horses eying him.

All we know is that we have to stand our ground, and no matter what, use the board (Scriptures, Prayer, Church, etc.) and never lose our ground.

"I am satisfied that there is no need to stand still and let the filth and violence overwhelm us, or to run in despair. The tide, high and menacing as it is, can be turned back..." -Gordon B. Hinkley

It CAN be turned back.

So turn it back.

Never lose your ground.

And never lose your hope.

All things are possible through him.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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The Lord Prepares Us

The first night in the mission field was a whirlwind, only a few things truly stuck with me from that night.

Our mission president asked us all a question, "Why are you called to this mission at this time?"

He didn't necessarily ask for an answer, he concluded by saying that we should always be asking ourselves this question and hopefully by the end we'll have an answer.

I'm now almost 6 months out and pondering on the question I have begun to realize why I am called to this mission, at this specific time.

There are people that I have been able to connect with because I have had similar experiences,

One specific instance I could connect with a person because I have suffered in similar ways he had.

I started to realize that there isn't one answer to this question, rather, many answers through the form of miracles every single day.

I grew up with the family, friends, trials, weaknesses, strengths, so I could help people come unto Him, through me.

I was prepared to come to the New York Rochester Mission on March 26.

I was Prepared.

"Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings." (Mosiah 8:18)

God has prepared us all to interact with those around you, work miracles through God's power according to our faith, to benefit their lives.

You are You for a reason.

Pray for inspiration on those around you that you have been prepared to help.

You will become a light and beacon to many and you will provide the means for them to find the joy you love so much.

Have Faith.

Work Mighty Miracles.

And Become a Great Benefit to Others Lives.

In the name of him who worked the greatest miracle in all of our lives, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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Happiness: A Decision

Recently I had a quite an interesting day as a missionary!

We attended zone conference which is about a 25 mile drive and then we returned home. It wasn't until I walked in to the apartment that I realized we didn't have our phone, and that I left it under a tree back at zone conference. We drove all the way back and used 50 more miles just because I didn't remember the phone.

We helped a family with service that night in which I shattered a light bulb and then proceeded to sweep it all up.

Washed out the truck bed before we hauled things for a member in which we sprayed mud all over our white shirts and ties.

And finally we had clean checks the next morning so I had the opportunity to clean the toilet right before I called it a night.

Sounded like a pretty happy day, right?

Well let me tell you, It was an AWESOME day!

Looking back it made no sense why it was such a great day and as I thought of it more, I realized something.

The 3 hours we spent in the truck were some great times to talk to Elder Ipson and get to know each other just a little bit better! It also was a great opportunity to listen to uplifting music and really invite the spirit.

The family was very grateful for our help, even with the 10 cent broken light bulb.

We looked absolutely ridiculous at our meal appointment looking like Dalmatians from the mud and there was nothing I could do but laugh!

"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves." (Doctrine & Covenants 58:28)

"We are agents to act, not objects to be acted upon." -Elder Bednar

YOU make the outcome. Choose to act, take charge of your life, and stop allowing excuses for your bad days. Bad days will come, but every bad day is given so we can grow. Don't complain, Grow.

All things are possible through our Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement.

In His name I close, Amen. 

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The Title of Liberty of Our Day...

"In Memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children."

I had a missionary give this lesson before I left. He read the line where Captain Moroni rents his clothing and the missionary then got up and tore his white shirt off (having another shirt and tag on under it.) Needless to say it was a pretty unforgettable lesson! At that moment in my life, as I was preparing to go on my mission, the adversary was really pushing my every weakness. I realized I needed exactly that, a Title of Liberty.

While preparing I didn't realize truly what my Title of Liberty was, however looking back it's very obvious. I was called as a temple worker and the temple became that Title of Liberty that made it possible to make it on a mission. 

There are several parallels: "People came running together... as a covenant that they should not forsake the Lord their God." "And it came to pass that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower." (Alma 47)

Temples are being built constantly and in very diverse places, they are truly being hoisted upon every tower.

While attending the temple once a week for a few months before my mission I felt stronger than I ever had before. As the temptations and trials increased, the blessings increased in turn also. I felt His love and I never felt overwhelmed by the temptations, or the fact that I was about to leave on a 2 year mission!

As we keep the Temple in our eyesight and "hoisted upon every tower" we will find that we will continually have an eternal perspective. As we truly treasure up in our minds Eternal life it will become very real. 

We read in the Bible Dictionary that, "the Lord gives us His Holy Spirit in this life as a foretaste of the joy of eternal life."

Seek an eternal perspective, and seek the spirit constantly in your lives. Make the temple your title of liberty and constantly be working towards it. As you do you will feel joy, a joy in which is just a "foretaste of the joy" that is awaiting us after this life.

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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Perfection

"Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." 3 Nephi 12:48

We are told to become perfect. The key word in what I just said is BECOME.

"The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to BECOME better as long as we live." -Henry B. Eyring

We are saved through being perfect. How can we become perfect? Only through Christ's grace. 

How do we become worthy of Christ's grace? Through living his gospel. 

I get frustrated with myself every single day with the little things that I have trouble with. Why do I get mad at people? Why do I have a hard time talking with some people? Why do I not have enough courage to act on a prompting that I know is from God?

There are so many shortfalls in every day life that I am glad I can see, because even though they can become burdening, they always bring me back to relying on my Heavenly Father. 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27

His grace is always sufficient. No matter how far we stray, how weak we are, how imperfect we are. That goal is achievable. It's not achievable in the next hour or next day, but in the next life. Don't expect to achieve it in this life because we are not meant to. We are to feel imperfect so we can turn to our Heavenly Father in humility. Turn to him, and he will make weak things become strong. 

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whom makes it all possible, Amen. 

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