Bearing One Another's Burdens

The other day when I was driving I saw two horses. At first I thought that one of the horses was biting the other one on his back, but then I realized that he was really scratching his back. I don't know why this touched me so much, but I thought that is how we all should be.

Why are we all so prone to be the "natural man" instead of spiritually minded? We are naturally a selfish people who look after our own needs. Why is it so hard for us to continually or consistently look after the needs of others? Many times we just need to be listened to.

A title in the January Ensign grabbed my attention. It is called "Carrying Others to the Pool of Bethesda." It specifically talks about meeting the needs of others just as the Savior does. 5 examples from the Savior that were talked about in the article were:
1. He looked for the one in need.
2. He listened without criticism.
3. He often gave anonymously.
4. He understood and acknowledged grief or disease.
5. He followed up with the sufferer.
I also liked the quote, "Finally, no tragedy happens in a vacuum. Every person experiencing a life-threatening disease, natural disaster, or grief has family members and friends who are directly affected. They too need help and healing."

My goal is to simply listen, call someone when I think of them, talk to someone at church or work who looks like they need a smile or hug. Everyone needs to know that they are thought of or cared for regardless of their circumstances.

Count your blessings instead of sheep!

I hit a rock bottom low this week and nothing really helped. However when I started thinking about the gospel it all came down to gratitude. I have written about gratitude before and know that having gratitude helps with every aspect in our lives, plus we are commanded to have gratitude. I think we are commanded because it takes the focus off ourselves.

I was watching White Christmas this morning and realized that Christmas is all about gratitude. Gratitude for our Savior, lives, families, jobs, etc... I thought of this when Bing Crosby was singing about counting his blessings instead of sheep. If you haven't heard the song or watched the movie its a great one to listen to.

In Mosiah we read "Oh how we ought to thank our Heavenly King...If you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to posses...I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants(Mosiah 2:19-21)." I know I do not always thank my Heavenly Father and need to do better. Maybe next time I am struggling I should start writing down all that I am grateful for right away.

Be of Good Cheer

Life is hard and it just seems like it is getting harder. That being said, there is so much to look forward to or there is someone that helps us through the hard times.

I started reading 3rd Nephi this morning and felt EXACTLY as Nephi did. I have been traveling for the last two days and have felt every emotion, been out of my comfort zone, and had my testimony of Christ strengthened because of all of this. I felt completely surrounded by wickedness, yet the Lord's words to Nephi filled my soul with the spirit of peace.

He (the Lord) said, "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets (3rd Nephi 1:13)."

Recently the Provo Tabernacle burned down and they pulled a painting from among the ruins. This is pictured above. It illustrated to me that although things may get harder and we will have to go through a purifying(burning) process, Christ is there and is the ONLY one who has saved us! Words cannot express my feelings of gratitude towards the Savior for His sacrifice for me. When I am not at peace I simply must turn to Him for that peace and trust!

All Good Comes From Christ

Recently I read through the December Ensign magazine. It has been awhile since I have read as much of it as I did, but I couldn't stop reading. I found myself thirsting after the things therein just as I do with the scriptures. I had an overwhelming feeling of HOPE! I tend to get distracted in things of the world, comparing myself to others through looks, salary, and fun things they get to do and I don't. When I read of Christ and those who follow him it reminds me what really matters.

There were so many articles I would recommend. One of my favorites was "Three Generations of Christmas: A String and a Tuna Fish Can."

Anyway the point I want to make is Christ is what brings us happiness, hope, love, joy, the feeling of light, and peace. It may come through the scriptures, Ensign, communication with him, etc... I just love to feel the light from Him in any manner! I guess the best way for me to feel that is by keeping His commandments and serving my fellow men. Wish I could be with Him now, but for now I will try to keep that "Christmas" kind of feeling with me.

Also enjoyed this clip, hope you do to!

Gift of Working Miracles

On Sunday we had an amazing Relief Society lesson about gifts of the spirit. The teacher asked us to study about two of the gifts, either ones we possessed or wanted. I have always wanted or thought a lot about the gift of working miracles, in my life and helping others. However upon further study I was truly humbled.

I looked up a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 24:13-14 and the parts that stood out to me were..."Require not miracles except I shall command you...And these things ye shall not do except it be required of you by them who desire it." I further read in Matt 17:20..."If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed...nothing shall be impossible unto you."

So essentially I am thinking, "Wow, I have been selfish and wanted to have miracles in my life for all the wrong reasons." That was reaffirmed this morning in my scripture study this morning when reading about the signs and miracles that Samuel the Prophet was telling the people of for the coming of Christ. It says,"Many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that these signs and wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men (Helaman 14:28)"

So the purpose of Miracles...all about believing in Christ and bringing people unto him!

Friendship

I have some pretty great friends, but recently I have been blessed with a very special friend. Many of you know I have just brothers and have always wanted a sister or a friend so close I could share everything with. It made me think of a scripture in Proverbs that says, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17)." Don't get me wrong, I love my brothers, they just are not like girls and thank goodness!

This special friend can best be summed up by this quote..."Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.” This person is not judgemental, patient, speaks kind and soft, has overcome more then anyone I know, and is always giving. Does this remind you of someone from the scriptures?

I only wish that everyone had a friend like this. It just seems like there are so many mean, judgemental, or selfish people these days. Wish we could all do what Matthew 16:25 says..."For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

Christmas Mormon Messages

It has been hard for me to get into the Christmas season this year and it finally happened yesterday! One of the reasons is below.

Last night I woke up and couldn't sleep, no matter what I tried nothing helped. So I decided to make use of my time and watch Mormon Messages, which I love! Last year I posted a video on my blog I love and because I love it so much I am posting it again this year. I was literally crying at 4:30 in the morning watching this!



This year I found another video that was recently produced that I also love. It really makes you realize that presents are not what the season is about! Enjoy!

Don't start fires, just build boats!

I heard a lesson from a peer the other day and have been thinking about it all week long. In 1st Nephi 17:12 it says, "For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not."

Nephi's family had been commanded not to make fire, which was probably part of their everyday existence before they left Jerusalem; they followed that commandment even though they did not know the reasoning and the Lord blessed them or their food.

Not building fire is such a simple thing. Simple things that we are asked to do in our everyday lives are praying, callings, reading our scriptures, and attending meetings. YET, it is those simple things that prepare us for the big things or trials that come along.

In Nephi's case the big thing that came along was the command to build a ship, something he had never done before or had any knowledge of. Some big things in our life may be a mission, marriage, or something that is just individually hard. Nephi had the COURAGE and FAITH to do the big task at hand because he had been doing the small things. So small and simple means lead to great things!

The 5 P's

So a couple of days ago I was in my Old Testament class and the teacher asked, "Why do you think so many return missionaries go inactive shortly after they return from missions?" This question was in response to a fireside our teacher had been in with Elder Perry a few months earlier. Elder Perry asked the same question and some of the answers that he gave those in attendance were RM's no longer set goals, kept track of their time, and had work ethic (they had more idle time when they got home).

So in response to this fireside our teacher taught us about the 5 P's in Numbers in the Bible. He emphasized that the theme of Numbers was "You can't walk on the straight and narrow if you are looking back to Egypt." Essentially asking "Am I looking back on my past? DON'T DO IT! Look forward! So those 5 P's without getting too detailed are:

1-Keep your eye on the Promised land (Numbers 13).Are each of us looking towards heaven or our eternal goals?

2-Keep your eye on the Pole or Serpent (Numbers 21). Is it hard for us to do the simple tasks we are asked to do by the Lord and the Prophet? The children of Israel just had to look at the serpent and be healed, but they thought it was too simple. Too many people die spiritually because they refuse to look to Christ.

3-Keep your eye on the Pillar (Numbers 9). Wherever the cloud and pillar of fire went (symbolic of Christ and the Holy Ghost) the children of Israel were supposed to follow. We need to strive to be where the Spirit is always.

4-Keep your eye on the Prophet (Numbers 12 & 16). Always listen to the prophet and never speak ill of him or those who serve with him. We need to hang out with the right crowds or good people. Elder Packer said, "Make changes in friends, even if you face loneliness and rejection."

5-Keep your eye on the Priesthood (Numbers 17). The priesthood is a living thing like an almond tree, blossoming and bearing fruits. It is an active thing in our lives and the church and should be used and honored.

These 5 principles opened my eyes to prioritizing in my life. I hope I can keep my focus forward towards eternal things and not look back and remember things of the past either.