Bugs

Every morning.  Every night.  A couple of times in between.  I have discovered I have developed a rather healthy habit.  It is constantly bringing me great refreshment.  Now I do find myself praying that often, but that is not what I am referring too (although prayer brings great happiness to my life).  No, I have a love for brushing my teeth.  Just so clean and fresh.  As a missionary my toothbrush has made its permanent residence in its travel case.  Each time I pull it out of the bathroom drawer I am reminded of the kind of person that I want to be.  Yes, a person that values good hygiene, but more than that.  Before you think I am too crazy let me share a story...

A little over a year ago I was preparing to leave my home to make my way here to Tennessee to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  There was about a million things to do.  The day of goodbye drew closer and closer and my to do list did not seem to be getting any shorter.  It was full of little tedious tasks.  As my mother and I were busy packing my little sister, whom I lovingly call Bugs was anxious to help.  I gave her one of the random tasks; washing out my toothbrush holder.  Weird I know.  With all of her six year old love she went to work.  She was willing and anxious to do what she had been asked.  She did not complain or argue because the job she had been assigned was not the coolest.  She happily went on her way and did what she could to serve.  Mom and I went about our work.  Nearly a half hour later Bugs returned with a practically new toothbrush holder.  Each of the several times a day I go to brush my teeth I think of that experience.  I think of the Christlike characteristics of my little sister.  The admonition of Christ to "becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things" becomes clearer to me and I am reminded of who the Savior wants me to be (Mosiah 3:19).  I am grateful to the wonderful example that I have in my life, and that I get to see each day as I learn from the little ones.

"And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation." Moroni 8:17

Clean Windows

This morning I came across a talk given by President Thomas S. Monson the Lord's prophet on the earth today.  I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves us enough to give us guidance and counsel so we can stay on that path that leads us back to Him.  President Monson's guidance here teaches us a great lesson about charity. 

A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash. “That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”  John looked on but remained silent.  Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.  A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”  John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”

Tonight I’d like to share with you a few thoughts concerning how we view each other. Are we looking through a window which needs cleaning? Are we making judgments when we don’t have all the facts? What do we see when we look at others? What judgments do we make about them?

Said the Savior, “Judge not.” ¹ He continued, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” ² Or, to paraphrase, why beholdest thou what you think is dirty laundry at your neighbor’s house but considerest not the soiled window in your own house?

None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions.

There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”

Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” ⁵ The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” ⁶ I ask: can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa: no, we cannot.

I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.

There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.

Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited. The American educator and politician Horace Mann once said, “To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is godlike.” ¹¹

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.

Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.

"Charity Never Faileth", President Thomas S. Monson October General Conference 2010

For full text...click here

Reupholstered Cupcakes

In my recent weeks of getting reacquainted with technology I have noticed a few things.  One I am computer illiterate.  Two I don't got no grammar skills no more.  For that problem I apologize.  It was not my forte to begin with.  Aside from that I have realized how detached from the world I am.  As I have studied to figure out how to be a better blogger I realized that I have no experience in things like reupholstering an entire living room set in order to match my favorite outfit.  And I for sure have no skills that allow for me to cook sweet tasting cupcake remedies.  It left me feeling quite uncertain about this blogging adventure.  I suppose that being so removed from reality is not a bad thing.  Despite my unadequate blogging knowledge here is what I do know:

1.  Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world
2.  We are all Children of a loving Heavenly Father
3.  The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ
4.  There is a prophet of God on the earth today
5.  Families are Forever
6.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to lasting happiness

To learn more click here

Disneyland vs Bethlehem

There are many reasons why I love being a missionary.  One of them being the adventures that come as I drive the long country roads of Tennessee.  They are each just jam packed with a story to tell.  The thing that one must understand about Tennessee roads is that they do not always make sense.  A road could end on one side of town and pick up on the other side going the completely opposite direction.  Intersections often result in street name changes and house numbers can seem as random as a bingo game.  This causes for great confusion in my mind.  Were it not for my GPS I would be stuck in the middle of nowhere, cold, and hungry.  Recently however these confusing roadways taught me something great.

As we wandered the other night through the dusty trails of Sparta we came to an intersection.  At this particular junction is the clash of two roads.  To the left, Disneyland Road.  There to our right, Bethlehem Road.  Now I am kind of a visual gal.  I pictured each road leading to their namesake.  Then I got to thinking..."if I had the choice right this very instant which way would I go? Would I choose to go enjoy the temporary splendor of the most magical place on earth, or decide to learn more of my Savior by visiting the place of His birth?"  Then I really got to thinking of the moments that come every day where I stand at similar, figurative, crossroads.  Chances to choose actions of fleeting happiness or of more eternal reward.  Too often I know that I have decided to take the road of greater appeal.  But at the end of the day I know that it is choosing the roads that lead us closer to the Savior that are going to produce the end result of which we all desire.  That is to return and live with Him.

Choosing Christ

Grace

At church on Sunday there was a talk given centered on the subject of grace.  The speaker made some really good points that have had me thinking all week long.  I decided that what I needed was a better understanding of the word grace.

Grace: divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.

A story was shared of a three year old girl.  She wanted so badly to help her mother bring the groceries in from the car.  Her ultimate goal was to carry in the milk jug.  After several failed attempts the mother picked up the little girl and the milk and hauled them into the house.  The girl exclaimed loudly to her father, "look what I have done all by myself!"  Oh how very often, I have realized, I pronounce the exact same thing.  Truth be told there is very little we can do without the grace of Christ.  It is only through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that any of us really accomplish anything.  Through faith in His atonement and repentance we each receive the divine assistance necessary to do good.  Grace is an enabling power that allows each of us to grasp on to that all desirable reward of eternal life.  However, grace alone is not sufficient.  It is required that each recipient gives there best effort.  "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" 2 Nephi 25: 23.

What a simple explanation of a great work.

The Book of Mormon

There is nothing that brings greater hope into my life than the Book of Mormon.  It is the anchor to my soul.  I know that the promise it contains to bring each of us closer to Christ is true.  The Book of Mormon contains the answers to questions of the soul.  It helps us to better understand where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going.  The best part is that you do not have to take my word for it, or anyone else's.  The final prophet to write in the book gives this promise: "when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost" (Moroni 10:4).  Putting that challenge to the test is how I received my witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon from God.

The Gospel Blesses Families

The Gospel of Jesus Chirst blesses our families in so many ways.  It provides us with greater spiritual strength and stronger relatonships.  The family relationships we have here are available now and in the eternities through the restored gospel.  I am so grateful for the gospel and the blessings it has brought into my family.  There is peace in our home that comes from knowing who we are, why we are here, and where we can go together. 

"Families are ordained of God, they are the most important social unit in time and in eternity.  God has established families to bring happiness to His children, allow them to learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and prepare them for eternal life" (Preach My Gospel). 

Proclamation to the Family

I am a Child of God

One of the most fundamental doctrines, and reassuring facts, about my faith is that I am a Child of God.  I know that he is the literal Father of my spirit and as such He is extremely aware of me (Romans 8:16).  Because of that relationship I know that I can communicate with Him daily through prayer.  He is anxious to hear from each of us, and wants to help in any way we are willing to let Him.  The ultimate expression of God's love came in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ we are able to be free from the burden of sin, and are given the faith necessary to face trials.  We show our love for God as we are obedient to His commandments. 

The Love of God
God is our Father

It all started when...

I sealed my fate of becoming a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when I was in the ninth grade.  Through a series of events a couple of friends and I decided that it would be a novel idea to start what we called "Sister Missionary Day".  One day every few weeks where we would dawn skirts, make cookies, and interact with our classmates on a more bubbly level than normal all in hopes to promote happiness in our school.  Kind of silly I know, and even though it required willingly wearing a skirt, I found great joy in it.  There is a great reward that comes as we share the things that matter most to those around us.   As life continued on the idea of devoting a year and a half to wearing a skirt and preaching the goodness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ still lingered in my mind.  When the time actually came that a decision had to be made I could not help from knowing that it was the right thing to do.  Although I have been blessed enough to have been raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my conversion and testimony has come over the years.  Daily testing of the things that I was being taught by my parents and teachers in my own life had helped me come to understand the truth of the restored gospel for myself.  I can not deny what I know.  If I was not willing to share that with others then I would be quite ungrateful for all that my Father in Heaven has given me.  My decision to serve the Lord by sharing His teachings has brought me to beautiful Tennessee.  Daily I get to watch lives change as people come closer to the our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Despite the fact that I am now wearing a skirt every day, and thousands of miles away from home there is nothing else I would rather be doing. The Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives.  It gives all of God's children purpose and direction.