LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT.

 As a missionary, we have days where we see TONS OF PEOPLE, teach tons of people and see huge miracles... or you have epic days where you plan to see tons of people, teach tons of people, and you see... None of them. Where you make these beautiful plans and every single one of them falls through. You come home dead tired and even a little discouraged.

Some times I feel like Nephi...

"2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

  

3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry."

Have you ever had one of those days where you can feel you will either be in the best mood ever or the worst mood ever? I had one of those days.. yesterday. I woke up and I instantly felt this urge to just be grumpy. To yell at every one I laid eyes on and to just march around or go hide in a garbage can like Oscar the grouch. I was cranky with out reason. So I began singing church songs as I laid on the floor and stretched and attempted to work my arms out. I went through every funny memory in my life talking to sister Dimick doing my best to just keep swimming and not be a jerk. 

We had an incredible morning after this with two beautiful lessons. We returned home for lunch and my same grumpy self was hovering just waiting for something to set me off. I AM A MISSIONARY. I CAN'T BE IN A BAD MOOD!! 

Yesterday was one of those days. One of those days where we had a million epic plans. We walked until our feet were numb from being cold, we knocked doors until our knuckles wanted to fall off and the only one that answered was less than welcoming to our chipper smiling faces, as she denied us I felt my eyes slowly filling up with tears... "Don't do it hermana... don't you dare cry.. keep smiling with hope" Here in New York there is a phrase that all missionaries are familiar with. "I am all set" The phrase that you often here before the door is slammed. The phrase you often hear before you even open your mouth to speak. The phrase you hear as you glance in the general direction of a passer by.

If only these people knew what they were saying no to... THIS IS YOUR ETERNAL HAPPINESS!! 

As we drove to our next destination my heart was a little low. I was in serious need of a pick me up. So we continued onward to put air in our tires... As we walked into the auto shop every one scattered as they saw two smiling faces dressed in church clothes wearing Christs name over our hearts! At this point I was ready to give up. Finally a worker greets us with an attitude of "great. All my coworkers jumped ship and now I have to do this." He directed us to drive around the building and told us some one would be out shortly to help. At this point we drove around the building and STILL NO HELP. Now my heart is crushed. Next denial or avoiding me like i am leprosy and I am done. I am going home. I am going to bed and I AM NEVER LEAVING MY ROOM AGAIN!!!!  

This is when I realized my attitude was disgusting. I was becoming cynical and almost laughing at the fact of how many people had rejected us. I could feel this was going to be a Nephi night, we would return home and my tears would water my pillow because of the hardness of the hearts of the people. 

Our last stop was to visit a member from our ward who is in the hospital. We knew his always smiling personality is exactly what we needed. As we arrived in his room his face was beaming with joy! Instantly my heart was soaring! We had a really neat experience as we made connections with his nurse. TURNS OUT SHE KNOWS A MORMON! and he is a missionary too! It was really cool. 

 Look for the little things. As we drove away from rejection street and the corner of disappointment a kind man stopped and waved us into traffic so that we wouldn't have to wait for ever. The older guy walking his dog smiled and waved at us and talked to us for a small moment. 

On the drive home my spirits were a little higher. We began to talk about what makes us happy in life.

We started to recognize the tender mercies in our lives. As we started talk about the gospel, about our families, and the miracles we see each day we were now smiling and even a little laughter was shared. Before we knew it we were happy, we were feeling successful. We were feeling that we did the best we could, although nothing worked out, everything fell into place making us better today than we were yesterday. 

“But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Ne. 1:20).

Look for the little things each day that show the lord is watching out for you. As you stop to think about the small blessings you will realize how many the lord provides each and every day. 

Every one has had that day that seems like it was an epic failure, the only way we can fail is by not trying at all. So get up tomorrow and try again. There is no such thing as a bad day. There are only bad moments in a day. We choose how they will effect us. You either become bitter or better. 

Find the small things that make you smile and focus on that. Look for things to laugh at. Yesterday everything in my head either became a rock song or a rap. I had to do what it took to smile. Whether is was singing a Christmas song to sister dimick humming lion king song over and over again or singing a song about a black and yellow Camero. FIND WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. Change your thought process and find the good. There is good and bad to every situation. What will you focus on?

We all have that day where nothing goes as we planned. But remember, you did your best, just keep trying. Miley Cyrus says it best "No body's perfect, you live and you learn it, again and again til you get it right" 

Get up, chin up and never give up. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain" 

By the end of the night last night we were laughing until we were crying and we knew that we tried, we gave the lord our best and that was enough. "Just keep swimming" pushing on with hope that tomorrow people will want to listen, that your plans will go smoothly, that tomorrow can always be a better day. 

"25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."
 2 Nephi 2:25

Find joy in every moment. Find peace even when you want to give up. Smile until your cheeks hurt. And remember that we weren't sent to earth to be miserable. We were sent to earth to learn. Some times growth hurts. I remember when I was little and growing my legs and arms would hurt and my mom referred to it as growing pains. Some times the lord stretches us a little so we will have to feel "growing pains" and rely on him more. Trust in him and know that all is well because your life is in his hands. When we get to the point of knowing that he is taking care of us we can find greater peace. peace in the little things. :) LIFE IS GOOD. Life is what you make it.  

"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive." Alma 7:23

Your body is a gift

Hello I am sister Carlson, I have a sufficiently healthy body. One that gets me through I suppose you could say. Some times. I gain a lot of weight. some times I lose weight freakishly fast, and not a moment passes that my stomach is not in pain. I am not writing this for pity or for sympathy i am writing this to tell every one in the same type of body that our bodies are one of the greatest gifts from our father in heaven.

" 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/6.19?lang=eng#18

Days I become frustrated and angry with myself because I cant push myself as much as I desire. I cant walk for hours on end, I can't run and at times it even hurts to breath. My diet right now consists of spinach, tomatoes, raspberry's, blackberry's, yogurt and cereal. why? Because every thing else makes me intensely sick.

Some days I just want to stay in bed and forget that I exist. But I can't. So what do I do? I get up and put my smile on and I thank the lord for giving me hands to feel, eyes to see, a mouth to smile, and a nose to smell. I thank God that he loved me so much that he wanted to me to become as He is. So he sent me here to earth. To gain experiences, that at times bring sorrow, that are painful, or that are complicated to understand.

I am thankful for these experiences. Especially the ones that seem like they are the worst. Why? Because often times after the storm passes God gives us rainbows. He brings in the light, and greater happiness than we can imagine comes together.

So if God has such a great plan for us, then why is it so hard to act upon the answers to our prayers and to follow his council? Why do we often times feel like we are where we are supposed to be and nothing we do seems to work out? Why do we feel so certain we are in the right place and then God completely turns things around? This video has brought me great comfort in knowing that God knows where I am. He knows what I am feeling. He knows where I need to be and how to get me there.

My mission is the BIGGEST BLESSING OF MY LIFE. Every day has been a blessing. I have enjoyed every moment of it. My body and it's minor complications has taught me to understand the atonement in a way that I would never have understood with out the complications I have passed through and continue to over come. When I get up and put on my best smile and get to work the Lord provides the strength I need to perform the labors he needs me to perform that day. He pushes me through when I feel like I can't do it on my own. He picks up my heart and he teaches me to be stronger. With out receiving our perfectly imperfect bodies.. we wouldn't be able to make it home to our heavenly father and Jesus Christ. With out our experiences we can never become as they are.

Whether you feel like you are too tall or too short, too thin or too wide... YOU ARE JUST THE WAY GOD MADE YOU TO BE. When you are in pain it's because God knows you are strong enough. If you aren't strong enough, he will teach you to be stronger.

Have you ever received a gift from some one you love that you absolutely wonder why on earth they gave it to you? Maybe a hideous sweater, or something you would never dream of wearing? But because this person loves you so much they gave you the best they could because they wanted you to know they were thinking of you.  They hoped so much with all their heart you would stay warm wearing that sweater, or that you would wear it until the sleeves are ripping off. They gave it to you in hopes that you would feel their love each time you looked at it.

I used to view my body like that sweater. Until I came here, until i put on my black badge that wears Jesus Christ name on it just underneath mine. Every time I look in the mirror the first thing I do is look at my tag to see his name and to remember he lives within in me. That he gave me this body in hopes that I would love it. that I would use it to the best of my ability each day. That I would take caution and care for my body, to not harm it, or put anything in it that could be hurtful, toxic or addictive, he gave me this body in hopes that i would build it up and make it stronger.

Now when I look in the mirror I see the saviors love for me. I see that I am his. That even when I don't wear his name over my heart he will still be with me each day. My mission has been the most pivotal moment in my life. It is Gods way of putting me on the right road in the quickest way possible so that I would know that I am heading in the direction he wishes for me to go. It has taught me to first love my savior, then love my self, then to love others.

I know that one day when Christ comes again my body will be resurrected and made perfect.

(The Resurrection consists in the uniting of a spirit body with a body of flesh and bones, never again to be divided. The Resurrection shall come to all, because of Christ’s victory over death. Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected on this earth (Matt. 27:52–54; Acts 26:23; 1 Cor. 15:23; Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5). Others had been brought back from death but were restored to mortality (Mark 5:22–43; Luke 7:11–17; John 11:1–45), whereas a resurrection means to become immortal, with a body of flesh and bone. LDS.ORG)

My body is a testimony of Gods loves for me. It is a perfectly imperfect gift that with him will become whole and healed. Through his son Jesus Christ We can ALL be healed and made whole. Through Jesus Christ we can pull through the times that we wish to give up and give in. As the video clip above said, don't jump ship, don't freak out, hold on and keep working. Keep trying and keep your faith.  

" God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. In the scriptures God’s plan is called a merciful plan, the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of salvation."

" Life on earth is an opportunity and a blessing. Our purpose in this life is to have joy and prepare to return to God’s presence. In mortality we live in a condition where we are subject to both physical and spiritual death. God has a perfect, glorified, immortal body of flesh and bones. To become like God and return to His presence, we too must have a perfect, immortal body of flesh and bones. However, because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, every person on earth has an imperfect, mortal body and will eventually die. If not for the Savior Jesus Christ, death would end all hope for a future existence with Heavenly Father.

While we are in mortality, we have experiences that bring us happiness. We also have experiences that bring us pain and sorrow, some of which is caused by the sinful acts of others. These experiences provide us opportunities to learn and to grow, to distinguish good from evil, and to make choices. God influences us to do good; Satan tempts us to commit sin. As with physical death, we cannot overcome the effects of sin by ourselves. We are helpless without the Atonement of Jesus Christ."
https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/what-do-i-study-and-teach/lesson-2-the-plan-of-salvation?lang=eng 

We truly are helpless with out the Atonement of our savior Jesus Christ. He lives and he heals, he provides strength safety and solace in times of need. Trust in him :) 

setting your boundaries.

we live in a world of many temptations, things that appeal to us, things that are fun for but a moment. It is easy to walk the line between what is right and what is wrong. it is easy to lose sight of our end goals and to be mixed up in temptation. Satan doesn't come at us in obvious attacks, he slowly lures us in. He finds our weaknesses and does anything he can to get us to cave.

I have a very wise brother. at one point in my life i was very frustrated. I felt like no matter what i did or didn't do Satan was there waiting anxiously to knock me down. I was crying to my brother about it one day and he said "crash how do you feel when you play a sport like basketball and you have some one guarding you the whole time trying to knock you down" uh FRUSTRATED DUH! and he said "I feel good, because then I know I am a key player, that person is intimidated by me making the basket, he is doing all he can to stop you from making the hoops. Your are key player"

YOU ARE A KEY PLAYER. Gods laws are not to be pushed, they are not soft advisories or strong suggestions. In the world we live there are laws, if you break those laws, you pay the consequence. Whether it be a fine, or doing some time.

 Gods commandments (mormon.org)

When we don't follow Gods laws there are serious consequences to be paid. Not literally of course but spiritually. We must build up our walls, and strengthen our weaknesses through christ. It is a time that we can't afford to play with the fire of sin, a time to no longer walk the line of justification.

 There is a story from the book of mormon that I love. The lamanites are people who don't believe in Christs church and they persecute any who follow the true doctrine and teachings there in. here we have an amazing story of a time that the lamanites were coming up to battle against the nephites:

 7 Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.

 8 Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land.

 9 And in their weakest fortifications he did place the greater number of men; and thus he did fortify and strengthen the land which was possessed by the Nephites.

 10 And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians.

 11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;

 12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.

 13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.

Alma 48 

Moroni is a true follower of Christ, a man who follows God. He prepares himself and his people to go to battle against their enemy. He strengthens them in Christ and where the walls are the weakest he places his best men to defend and fight for their families. 

We have to set up walls, where we are the weakest we must back ourselves up with the strongest spiritual support.  Jesus Christ is on our team as long as we will allow him to be with us. He promises to be our friend if we keep the laws he has provided. What greater friend than that!?

We are human and we make mistakes on a daily basis, all day. every day. When you fall down GET BACK UP. Repent and return to Christ. become one with God again and bury your weapons of sin deep. Never give room to return to an old sin. 

 9 And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed.

 10 And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.

 11 And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain—

 12 Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren.

 13 Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.

 14 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.

 15 Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby.

 16 And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved.

 Alma 24

Be as these people in the book of mormon who have gone from being a murderous people fighting simply just to be wicked and find that mighty change in your heart to turn away from the things of the world and reach out to Christ. Once you have repented move forward, take the lesson you learned and move forward with your life. Don't look back and wish for a do over, don't look back in regret or with the wish to be in that time still, let go and be forgiven, pray for the forgiveness and seek to truly repent, then let go and forgive yourself. letting go of the things which once held you bound. Move forward with hope and faith in Jesus Christ. 

 26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

mosiah 27 

Become a new creature through Christ and let go of who you were so you can become who God needs you to be :) He loves you, He wants you home. Take his son by the hand and be cleansed through the atonement. 

Beacons of light.

Today as I got ready I thought to myself  "I AM BLESSED." So why am I blessed? Let me tell you why I am blessed.

"As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are blessed to be led by living prophets—inspired men called to speak for the Lord, as did Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, Nephi, Mormon, and other prophets of the scriptures. We sustain the President of the Church as prophet, seer, and revelator—the only person on the earth who receivesrevelation to guide the entire Church. We also sustain the counselors in the First Presidency and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators."

www.lds.org (PROPHETS!)

 

I am blessed because I live in the last dispensation when the Lord has promised to never again take his priesthood power from the earth. We will have truth until he comes again.

 

Dispensations

A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood and the keys, and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. When this occurs, the gospel is revealed anew so that people of that dispensation do not have to depend basically on past dispensations for knowledge of the plan of salvation. There have been many gospel dispensations since the beginning. The Bible suggests at least one dispensation identified with Adam, another with Enoch, another with Noah, and so on with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus with His Apostles in the meridian of time. Paul writes of “the dispensation of the fulness of times” in which the Lord will “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth” (Eph. 1:10). The fulness of times is the final dispensation and began with the revelation of the gospel to Joseph Smith. It is a dispensation of restoration and of fulfillment of the Lord’s plans and purposes since the world began. There are also things reserved for the fulness of times that have not been revealed previously (D&C 121:26–32; 124:41). It is a glorious time, the time in which we live today (see Acts 3:19–21; D&C 27:13; 110:11–16; 112:14–32; 128:18–21; 136:37–40).

 

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/dispensations?lang=eng

 

Because of the simple prayer of a 14 year old boy, we have the truth again on the earth.

 

 

"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."

 

We live in a world that is becoming dark. A world where it is easy to be lost. Because God loves us and he wants us all home he gives us prophets to help guide us and give us extra direction to make it home.

7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Amos 3:7

 

We live in a time where we are still receiving scripture. We have the power of God again on the earth. The ability to grow closer to him and to not be lost.

 

"9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?"

Mormon 9:9

 

"23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."

2 Nephi 27

 

If God is the same yesterday today and forever wouldn't it make sense that there would be prophet in his church? Revelations only ceased because of the lack of faith that Gods children had.

 

I am blessed because in a world that is shadow with evil and being swallowed up in sin that I have a beacon of light to look to to find Jesus Christ and to know how I can follow him more closely. We are blessed because there are prophets again on the earth. To receive Revelation to help us all along in our journey. We are blessed because Christ invites all to come unto him and to partake of the fruit and to grow in his church. This truth that has been restored is for each and every one of us.

 

President Thomas S Monson

I feel blessed to be serving here in Palmyra new york where the fourteen year old boy Joseph Smith prayed and asked heavenly father which of the dozens of churches surrounding him were true. To be here where God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to this boy as he prayed and told him that He was going to be the prophet and restore the true doctrine of Christ to the earth again. I feel blessed to be here in a place where heavenly father reached out for us one last time and called a prophet to be on the earth again today.

 

Before my mission as i received my mission call i was very fearful. I didn't know if i was qualified to serve in the place where the truth was brought back. I didn't quite understand Joseph Smith and I came on a mission to have my testimony of him solidified. To be called here where it all began I didn't know if i could stand on such sacred grounds and testify of something I wasn't 100% sure i believed yet. But as time passes and i study more about the life of Joseph Smith I see that that his work was Gods work. That his calling was divine. As I am able to testify of Jesus Christ my savior, God my heavenly father and Joseph Smith coming together WHERE IT HAPPENED my heart is filled with joy. The spirit washes over me and there is no doubt that it is true. Joseph Smith opened the last dispensation to prepare the world for the second coming of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. It it true. the book of Mormon is true. the priesthood power is again on the earth. (scriptures about the priesthood, explanation of the priesthood)

 

MORMON.ORG, Joseph Smith prophet of the restoration movie, More info about the restoration
 

 

 

 

 

 

Dont miss the mark!

There is a song i used to listen to i wont say who it is by... the words say something like this:

"I'd shoot for the moon, but I am to busy gazing at stars."



 

 DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH YOUR GOALS! IF YOU WANT THE MOON DON'T BE AFRAID TO SHOOT FOR IT!! THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN FAIL IS IF YOU NEVER TRY...

 

I read an incredible talk by Elder Jeffrey R Holland yesterday that has forever changed my prospective on the future and not being afraid of the potential i have to achieve so much more.

(The best is yet to be)

 

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

(philippians 3)

I press forward for the mark. So what is the mark?? To become like Jesus Christ. To walk with him each day of our lives. To enjoy each and every moment. to not look back to what we have left behind longing to be there. to not look forward wishing to be in another time. and to appreciate today.

 

Aerosmith=brilliant with the song "don't want to miss a thing" for the fear of blinking and missing a single moment. Don't be so caught up in the future or the past that you miss where you are today. I feel like I have spent the last 8 years of my life wishing to be living in a further date or to be in the past. 14 years old I longed to be 21 when I am 21 life will be better. 19-21 Rather than enjoying a space of time I wished for the future. First day of my mission. If I can survive to 6 months... I can make the rest. Here is sit... 11 months in wishing I would have spent more time living more in today. Here I am again wishing to be some where I am not.

The past is what it is and we have no power to go back and changed it. In elder Hollands talk i shared above he talks about lots wife. How when she looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt. it wasn't the action of looking back that got her. It was more likely the desires of her heart as she looked back.

"So it isn’t just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future. That, apparently, was at least part of her sin."

"So a more theological way to talk about Lot’s wife is to say that she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently, she thought that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as what she was leaving behind. To yearn to go back to a world that cannot be lived in now, to be perennially dissatisfied with present circumstances and have only dismal views of the future, and to miss the here and now and tomorrow because we are so trapped in the there and then and yesterday are some of the sins of Lot’s wife."

 

 

 



"There is something in many of us that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life—either our mistakes or the mistakes of others. It is not good. It is not Christian. It stands in terrible opposition to the grandeur and majesty of the Atonement of Christ. To be tied to earlier mistakes is the worst kind of wallowing in the past from which we are called to cease and desist."

 Don't stand in the way of the Atonement. Don't block the power of healing and remain bound in your chains of misery. Shake off the chains. The Savior promises that as we do our best to repent as fully as possible he will remember our sins no more. So why do we as humans continue to re open old wounds? To look back and wish for a do over instead of looking forward to a brighter future with unwavering faith to pressing forward with Christ with the knowledge we have obtained to not make the same mistakes over.

"Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is that charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. Don’t keep going back with your little sand pail and beach shovel to dig it up, wave it around, and then throw it at someone, saying, “Hey! Do you remember this?” Splat!"

let go and let yourself grow. Don't be afraid of what you can become. Trust that God has something bigger and better than you can imagine ahead and do your best to live learn and grow in the right now.

Don't become lost in the stars of yesterday, when you can be in the sun shine of today.

Don't over look the power of the Savior and the refinement he can do with you. We are all a little imperfect, yet God loves us so perfectly. He has the power to shape us and form us into something better each moment of every day.

It is like a scab. If you keep picking the scab it takes your skin longer to heal because you keep re opening the wound. At times infection sets in and the wound takes EVEN longer. Let the skin heal in the way God designed. Stop picking the scabs of your past. There is no need to reopen the sores. Don't let the infection of discouragement step in. Remember your worth to your father in heaven and step forward in faith.

"Look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future."

 

 



Embracing your seasons

 

"1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1

 
"5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

 No matter your season of life the Lord is watching over you. I am learning a lot here in New York. Over the course of my last year and a half. Pre mission life and life here on my mission; I have learned that there are consequences to each and every action. To those consequences there is no escape or excuse. All you can do is be accountable, look not behind thee and move forward in faith with Jesus Christ at your side.

Fact... Some of our choices lead to painful consequences.

Some times God sends us a wake up call. To teach us what we need to know.

And never let pride hold you back from what is true for you.

Poor choices doesn't mean no hope for your future. All though it may feel like all is lost. It's not.

Season: a period of the year during which a particular activity usually takes place in the human world.

It's a new season or a fresh start in your life. To plant new seeds.

"28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me." Alma 32

 When I think of spring I think of fresh new beginnings. Every spring my mom puts great effort into her garden planting new flowers and waiting for old ones to return. Once in a while my mischievous dogs will dig them up before they can become anything at all... It's not that they were bad seeds or anything.. I am sure they would have planted roots deeply and brought forth beautiful flowers... My dogs just have different plans for these flowers...

Some times.. I plant seeds in my life. Seeds that I think will bring forth delicious fruits. I come up with these epic plans in my head that I know will for sure not fail.  Most of the time... heavenly father digs them up and puts them on the side. This isn't because my ideas were bad or anything, it just isn't Gods plan. He has a bigger vision for what I can become.

 

90% of the time.. it hurts. and this is where the season of healing comes in. God breaks us down so he can build us back up.

 

Take a moment to weep over that which is lost, laugh and mourn while you are laughing. And dance your way into a new season. Even if you can't dance. It will make you laugh harder.

 

"61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

st Luke 9

 

Throw away that which is holding you back. Cast the stones to the sea and never look back. Give the things you can't control to Christ and start over new.

 

My new start is gather new stones. New friend ships and gathering in souls. Souls who are seeking for more. Souls who have become lost in life, souls who wish to find their way home. To embrace those around me I love and to soak in this moment. To not wish to change my past. and not to dream of my future... My season is to focus on what is here in front of me right now and to serve my Father in heaven with all that I have.

 

There are moments to sit in silence. Silence brings the spirit. God cant speak to us as we are rushing through the world buzzing like busy bees from flower to flower. Sit back breath in and let the spirit be your guide. Yesterday I spent two and a half hours getting an MRI. In that time I could not move or speak. I just had to lay there. I took that time to pray. To really think and open my heart to heavenly father. It was a moment he knew i would be still, a moment he knew he could open the heavens and reach me. A moment that has changed me. "Never let pride hold you back" pride, fear, ego... let it go. open to trust hope faith and humility.

 

Then speak. Speak to those you love, teach those in need of learning. Learn together and rejoice in the spirit together.

 

"26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."John 14

 

As humans we try so hard to fight, to cling onto that which is familiar. Never letting go. When you fight there can be no peace, the spirit can't give the comfort you seek. Humble yourself and let go. For once let go. It's not about what I want or what I need. It's about what God knows I need and what He wants to give. Then His warmth embraces me. He lets me know that he is there. He is aware. And everything is going to be okay. Let the peace come in and change who you are into who some one capable of so much more.

 

"5 ¶Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

 

"You will be safe in his arms. His hands that shaped the world are holding your heart"

 

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 

 The sooner we embrace our season and face them with hope, faith, and trust in the lord... The quicker we can be healed, move forward, and build ourselves up with Jesus Christ.

 





 

Daughters of a king.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." or in my case. a sister.

Proverbs 18:24 

  I have been blessed in my life with some very close friends. Friends who have changed my life forever. That have made an impact. I have learned how important it is to surround yourself in good company. To always surround yourself with people who uplift you and that have common goals as you. Misery loves company, but so does righteousness. 

Meet my weirdos:

These are my "adoptive" sisters. We have all been through so much together. We have helped each other to stay strong.

All of these incredible woman have influenced me in very different ways. They are all so beautiful yet so sweet and so humble. I have more daughters of god that I would love to add to this list but I couldn't be creepy enough to get all their pictures. 

Friends will make or break you. You are who you hang out with it is so important to choose your friends with caution. To find those that will lift you, be true to what they believe, and help you to be true to what you believe. 

 These are the friends that you laugh until you are crying and that make you laugh while you are crying. 

"nevertheless, thou hast been brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and I know that thou art a true friend unto my son, Nephi, forever."
 2 Nephi 1:30 

We have become sisters through the gospel. Some of my best memories with these girls were spent watching Disney movies late at night on my trampoline, summer evening hikes, cosmic bowling, summer night drives to the temple, Bible/book of Mormon study on summer nights at the park or the front lawn of the temple, random McDonald's ice cream runs, road trips, sanity checks, insanity checks, all of the above at once.

These friends have helped me escape my Jerusalem as Nephi in the scripture above helps Zoram to escape a life as a servant to a wicked man. These girls have taught me very valuable life lessons as we have gone through young women's and primary together. we have had many girls camp and youth conference experiences to remember forever. Laughter is the best medicine, Find friends you can laugh with until soda is coming out of your nose :)

"20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Matthew 18:20

Find friends who have similar spiritual beliefs as you. Lexie was at my baptism when I was 8, my missionary farewell when I was 21 and she better be at my homecoming in August...  Friendships built on the gospel become eternal. A friendship built on Jesus Christ stays together. There is a sense of loyalty that comes as you share similar beliefs, spiritual growth, and experiences together.

At various times I have had incredible Gospel discussions with these beautiful daughters of god as we discussed our role in life, who we want to become and the different ways we have found Jesus Christ in our lives, and shared testimonies about our divine worth as being daughters of God.

 at some point or another all of these wonderful woman have been my support in going to church with me, teaching me to rely on Jesus Christ more, to let go of my will and to let Gods will and my will become one, to stay true to me and to be happy. These are some of the happiest people i know. 

"As daughters of God we are each unique and different in our circumstances and experiences. And yet our part matters—because we matter."
Elaine S. Dalton

Our experiences, our faith and our desires to follow God can strengthen others. We are all a part of gods family. we are all of infinite worth. Through these friendships I have felt a sense of belonging to Gods family.

"We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” https://www.lds.org/young-women/personal-progress/young-women-theme?lang=eng
 we are beautiful because we are daughters of God. You are beautiful because you are a child of God. He loves you. He provides many ways to strengthen you as you go through you life experiences. my mom sent me a quote that says

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience"
Life isn't about surviving. lets be real. no one makes it out alive. It is meant to become better, stronger and like our father in heaven. We are to find joy in the journey. To strengthen others as we go and to develop a relationship with heavenly father and Jesus Christ.

Last but most certainly not least i would like to post a picture of my best friend.

"12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."

The one who has helped me through it all. The one who can truly say "I know what you are going through" and mean it. The one who went through everything We have gone through to save us all. My best friend, my brother, my savior. Jesus Christ.

He lives, He loves, He knows you, and He understands you.

 

 

 

(To my family if you are reading this, there is one about you coming next :)