Look Not Behind Thee

Elder Holland gave a talk at BYU and it was exactly what I needed to hear:

"Try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before,

I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays,

however good those yesterdays may have been.

The past is to be learned from but not lived in.

We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes." -Elder Holland

This quote hit me and I realized I had been dwelling on days that are now gone

I would never be able to go back!

But how I wished I could.

I didn't have to forget it and give it up completely,

I could still find the Joy and Love from those memories!

Realizing the Joy I felt, I wouldn't trade those memories for anything!

I was holding on to those memories and not realizing,

that I was missing the ones that were happening right in front of me!

"And when we have learned what we need to learn

and have brought with us the best that we have experienced,

then we look ahead,

we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future." -Elder Holland

The future is incredible.

Look forward to it and find joy!

I can testify that Christ gave us the miracle of being able to be forgiven

not for us to mourn and dwell on the events of the past,

but to look towards the future with hope and faith.

Look FORWARD.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

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Feeling the Spirit-Through the Priesthood

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have the blessing of holding the Priesthood.

What's the Priesthood?

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

It is the power that God gives for us, his children, to do all things necessary for salvation.

Jamie (name has been changed) is somebody who hasn't heard of the Priesthood before.

She recently needed help painting her house.

She was blessed to get ahold of four missionaries to come help her.

Coincidence? of course not.

While painting she shared something with us.

She told us that she was starting new treatments soon in hope of improving her health.

The concern was very apparent as we were told what she would be going through.

We relayed to her the fact of the restoration of the priesthood,

the eternal truth of her divinity as a daughter of God,

knowledge of the awareness that Christ has in all of our lives,

and the profound non-coincidental event that brought us into her life right at this time.

Something stirred,

we could see her comforted as the Holy Ghost bore truth of what we taught.

The sister missionaries continued to teach her and we received a call that she wanted a Priesthood blessing.

Excited we hurried over to her house.

As I layed my hands upon her head and spoke the words that I knew Heavenly Father was putting there,

I couldn't help but feel the spirit stir inside of me.

Concluding, "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen,"

I took a step back and watched as tears streamed from her eyes.

She knew that the priesthood was working miracles in her.

She knew that her Father in Heaven loved her dearly.

She knew that He was reaching out to her once more.

Miracles happen every day.

Our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles.

Just like in time of old he continues to miraculously bless our lives.

He knows you.

and He works in your life daily.

I know this to be true.

Christ truly is your Savior, He is the only way to salvation.

And the only way back to our Heavenly Father's presence to live with Him for eternity.

Seek the  Priesthood in your life and I promise the Spirit will fill you abundantly,

and most importantly,

tell you of the simple truths that make life as Joyous as God meant it to be.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

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Take it One Step Further

The ward I am serving in now just came out with a ward mission plan,

It's something I had heard but as always the refresher was great!

If you are comfertable with smiling at someone, take it one step further and say hello.

If you are willing to say hello then take it one step further and ask how their day is.

With this fresh in my mind I took it to heart and decided to try it myself as a missionary.

I recently had a minor surgery which lasted from when I entered the hospital at 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

I had plenty of time to talk to the nurses that were working with me :D

I made it a point to at least mention that I was a missionary and really get to know them a little bit also.

The first nurse was thrilled and mentioned that I made her day that she was able to talk to another "brother in Jesus."

The second nurse went forward to ask about my missionary service and told me all about her garden at home!

My anesthesiologist, as I woke up, mentioned that now she knows what we're all about the next time we knock on her door she'll let us in!

Not sure if that was caused by something I said while I was out, or awake... :D

I left at the end of the day a little dazed but really thrilled at what the day turned into.

We simply need to take it one step further and we will have the world unfold in front of us.

There are some really cool people around us.

Those that are starting gardens!

Those that have a strong belief in Christ and are thrilled to talk to others with the same belief!

We'll never be able to talk to everyone around us,

but we can always take it one step further.

Think about how you can take it one step further,

then do it!!!

The nurse that was with me the whole time came back before she left and shook my hand and thanked me for being so kind.

We don't know the affect we have on people until we try.

Smile, then take it one step further.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Green Wood

Getting the opportunity to serve people are some of my favorite moments on my mission.

There was a specific person that we would move wood for.

She would keep her wooden stove running when it got cold to stop her pipes from freezing allowing her to have water in the house. 

As we searched through her garage we were instructed to find the dry wood and avoid the green wood.

Standing, Confused, not being able to tell the difference between what really is green wood or not, we decided to bring it all in since it all looked pretty much the same.

She came out and assessed the wood, 

Bringing a piece of wood to her nose she smelled it and after shaking her head she set it down next to the main pile.

"That's green wood." She plainly said. 

Scratching my head, I asked how she could tell.

With a simple response she said, "You can smell it, It's green wood."

Being the city boy I am, confused and impressed at the same time, I accepted it and watched as she separated the green wood from the dry wood.

We don't know the follies of Satan.

The smell of green wood was not familiar to me, 

In consequence I made the mistake of collecting green wood that does not burn well.

Many times we are not familiar with the follies of Satan.

Many times without direction we make the wrong decision, not knowing, and fall into his trap.

 

Today we have a Prophet on this earth.

Who knows very well, through inspiration and preparation throughout his life, the smell of "green wood."

God speaks to us through a prophet today.

Don't make the mistake of collecting green wood!

Especially when we are given direction on how to pick out the dry from the green.

Satan is trying harder and harder and the world is becoming increasingly darker.

It will get harder to be able to discern between right and wrong.

Trust in the Prophet. 

Seek the light that comes from his inspired counsel.

Read of his words and listen to his direction.

And avoid the green wood.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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The Red Square

As missionaries we play basketball all the time.

And when I say all the time,

I mean every free moment that we could possibly play,

we play basketball.

At one point there was a missionary who became frustrated because they couldn't play quite up to what they wanted.

They never seemed to be able to win!

I watched as they practiced shooting the ball over and over again and improving,

but slowly.

Walking up to them I pointed out the red square above the basket.

Relaying how that can be used to aim to make the ball in the basket,

they were surprised and tried using it.

They then made 10+ shots without missing.

A couple of weeks later the missionary was able to beat the rest of the missionaries

and come out on top!

The goal they had set was accomplished!

How many times do we find ourselves frustrated at the lack of improvement?

Do we find ourselves trying time and time again to better ourselves,

but only to find the ball continuing to  miss the basket?

That square behind the hoop is the key to improving and accomplishing our goal.

Heavenly Father has given us this square!

We are blessed to be here on this earth at a time when Prophets of God have been called once again!

Just a recently we were able to hear from the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson,

and from Twelve Apostles of the Lord!

I am here to tell you that the secret to being happy and improving this life,

is listening to the prophets that are on the earth today.

God loves his children and once again speaks through his messengers, just like in Biblical times.

Read their messages

and find the red square and your key to reaching your goals.

I can testify that Christ lives!

Their is a special spirit this time of year as we near the time when He rose from the tomb,

and lived again so that we all can overcome death and come unto Him.

He is the Christ

and the Son of God.

I close in his name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Music

There is an incredible spirit that follows music.

It can break barriers and touch people's hearts in ways that nothing else on this earth can.

The question is how it touches us.

Recently I was at the church building and someone sat down next to me at the piano.

He began playing a familiar hymn

I matched his melody with supporting arpeggios and chords and it all came together in an instant.

We hit the last note and both looked at each other and couldn't help but smile.

At that moment we both felt it.

There is power in music.

 

"I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives who once was dead...

He lives and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there." Hymn 136 

"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

 

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

 

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand...

 

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand." Hymn 85

 

 

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart;

 

yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me,

 

and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads" D&C 25:12

 

 

Sing out and shout!!!! For great is the Holy One of Israel in the Midst of thee.

 

Think on the music that influences you and allow it to carry you towards the Savior and not away!

 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

 

 

 

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Family. Isn't it about, time?

With the new iPad's I have been able to watch the old commercials that used to air with the catchy tagline: "Family. Isn't it about, time?"

Here are some of my favorite ones:

God has blessed us with families here on earth to bring us joy!

When a family is centered on Christ that is when true happiness is found.

I have had the opportunity to grow up in a family with parents that constantly worked on having our family centered on our Savior. 

Was it always easy?

Were we always perfect at reading scriptures every day?

Did we have a perfect record of prayers as a family?

Never were we perfect!

But I can testify that when we tried our hardest we came together and the spirit of love was felt more than ever before.

The atonement of Jesus Christ can heal anything as we allow it and use it in our lives.

A family that prays together, stays together.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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