Achieving Perfection the Lord's Way

"For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7) This is a true statement because our desires shape our actions, and our actions shape who we become. Therefore the greatest desire we can have is to emulate the life of Jesus Christ.

As Latter-day Saint Christians (Mormons) we take the Savior's charge to be perfect seriously (see Matt. 5:48 & 3 Nephi 12:48). However, we also acknowledge that on our own this commandment is impossible. Only through the Saviors help can we accomplish such a grand feat. However, being perfect is not an instantaneous occurrance; it is a process.

Christ's Grace is Sufficient!

Many people have misconceptions about the Latter-day saints (mormons) understanding of grace. The root of this stems from the truth that "faith without works is dead" (see James 2:17,20). They often feel that we are trying to earn our way to heaven by our works, rather than relying upon Christ's grace.

I have found that I am not the only one that has encountered this before. Brad, another Christian Latter-day Saint, had the following conversation with one of his Christian friends that I have decided to share with you today because I feel it sheds light on this common misunderstanding...

Christian friend: "You Mormons are trying to earn your way to heaven."

Brad: "No, we are not earning our way to heaven. We are learning heaven. We are preparing for it. We are practicing for it."

Christian Friend: "Well, have you been saved by grace?"

Brad: "Yes. Absolutely, totally, completely, thankfully-- yes! Have you been changed by grace?"

He later commented that often, "[others] are so excited about being saved that maybe they are not thinking enough about what comes next. They are so happy the debt is paid that they may not have considered why the debt existed in the first place. Latter-day Saints know not only what Jesus has saved us from but also what He has saved us for."

What's in a Name?

name: a word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known.

Have you ever thought about your name? Where did it come from? In most cases it came from your parent(s).

Let's say your name is Joseph. Have you ever asked your parents why they gave you that name? Perhaps, they just liked the name but usually there is a deeper connection than that. Perhaps they hoped you would emulate someone else they already knew with that name?

Helaman, a Book of Mormon prophet, named his children for that very reason:

   "Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

   Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them." (Helaman 5:6-7)

However, the name that is brought up in the book of mormon more frequently than any other is Jesus Christ. I have found no other book that teaches so powerfully and so frequently of the Savior. It is a modern witness that Jesus is the Christ which is the most important name because:

    "...Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved; wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day; wherefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father." (D&C 18:23-25)

May we continually remember him and be grateful for his sacrifice so that we may return to our Father in Heaven is my hope at the close of this month of thanksgiving.

Rescue missions (Final): World's Greatest Rescue

Can you think of a time where you were rescued in life? I know I can!

Although I was a very young boy at the time, I can still remember my father cautioning me to stay away from a pit of coals as I ran by in a hot pursuit of tag. I remember vividly the pain of, later, sliding right into home plate (also known as the previously noted pit of hot coals). My father leaped from his chair and pulled me out within a matter of seconds. The pain was excruciating and the damage was instantaneous. Yet to this day, I distinctly remember the feelings of inexpressible joy and love for my father, as he lifted me out.

Leaving others to Serve the Lord

Among the many difficult moments that a missionary experiences is heeding the Lord's call to serve new people in a new location. Recently the spirit of the Lord called me away to Laurel, MT. So in loving memory of the wonderful experiences that took place, I thought I would share a few of them with you.

One of the more memorable experiences of service was helping fix the sewage/ holding tank at our homeowners place! It was a tough job but with the help of everyone we got the job done relatively fast (roughly 45 minutes).

Fixing our homeowner's sewage system

I was praying hard that they
wouldn't drop me!

Rescue Missions (Part 2)

Some rescue missions are a successful and some are not. When and why do they fail??? I know of at least one reason, in which Elder Carter and I were involved.

It was a normal sabbath morning... or so we thought. We prepared for the day and went to church like always. When we got there Elder Carter and I noticed that there were quite a few members missing from the congregation, along with most of the bishopric. Half way through the meeting the only bishopric member on the stand, left the meeting and never came back.

Crazy, I know.

So we ended the meeting on our own; singing the closing hymn and having the benediction. After the meeting was over Elder Carter and I soon discovered the reason why there were so few members at church and why the Bishopric was no where to be found. The boy scouts and their leaders had never returned home the previous night from their 20 mile hike.

Rescue Missions (Part 1)

The other day Elder Carter and I were knocking on people's doors in an effort to spread the message that God speaks once again through modern day prophets and apostles! Upon arriving at a certain house we heard a peculiar noise...

What was it? The answer... a kitten stuck in a tree!

Isn't it cute!

Due to the fact that it was a complete stranger's home and because I was afraid the poor thing was going to keep climbing higher, as they often do, I quickly raced up the 10-15 ft of branches to get it down; rather, than take a picture first. So instead I took a picture of a different kitten that lives at our home.

I can still hear the mew's of detest at this frantic kitten's plight. As I reached up and heroically grabbed the kitten, it immediately began to fight and protest. However, upon reaching the safety of solid ground the kitten began purring and rubbing back and forth against my leg. Delighted, I took roughly thirty seconds to embrace the new found devotion. Elder Carter and I walked up to the owner's door and knocked. Meanwhile, the kitten shadowed my every move and continued to rub against my leg.

When no one answered we decided to continue with our original plan of sharing the marvelous news that God has once again restored his true church on the earth today! Jokingly, I pointed to the kitten and commanded it to wait for its owner. To my great astonishment, it did precisely just that.

Like that kitten, we all find ourselves needing to be rescued in life. The Savior has provided the way for us to be saved from sin. Through his suffering we can wash away feelings of doubt, shame, or guilt that comes with sin and in its place find faith, joy, and confidence. Jesus Christ has provided a way for us to be rescued and brought back into the prescence of our loving father in heavern (God). When we experience this relief of being rescued from sin, we too feel those same feelings of devotion to the Lord as that small kitten. We will follow his commandments because we have full confidence that he only wants what is best for us!

He has also allowed us a wonderful support system through his church. We can receive an added measure of faith, peace, joy, etc. through the Lord's servents- his prophets and apostles. Furthermore, we can receive these feelings through our fellow church leaders and members who will continue to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ. We can feel at home!

Chrono Trigger: Alternate endings

The concept and story line for Chrono Trigger makes it one of the best video games EVER! As you may have guessed from the picture above, throughout the game you find yourself traveling through different time periods; traveling from 1000 A.D. where the game begins to 600 A.D., 2300 A.D., back to 600 A.D., to 12,000 B.C., etc. 

The game starts as Chrono, the main character, is spending an ordinary day at the fair with Marle (princess of the kingdom). While there they find Lucca and her father demonstrating her new teleporter at the Millennial Fair. When Marle volunteers to be teleported, her pendant interferes with the device and creates a time portal that she is drawn into and disappears in a rift between time. Their journey to rescue the princess leads from one thing to another until ultimately they are placed in a position to save the world from utter destruction.

Throughout the game you are posed with different dilemmas and how you respond to them actually changes the final ending to the game. Our life on earth is similar.

The key is in the "p"

The phrase watching your p's and q's has been passed down for generations.

For little children this phrase reminds them to make sure they haven't switched the letter "p" with the letter "q" and/or vice versa.

For more experienced writers in the English language, it helps us remember to check our work before we turn it in; it helps us prepare for the grade that we will receive.

However, the letter "p" plays a much more prominent role in our lives than you might, at first, suspect. Check it out!

Overcoming Unexpected Changes in Life

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by change? I know I do!

This week in Greybull, Elder Carter and I had a pretty unexpected change in our everyday routine of being a missionary; we hit a curb and blew out our tire! After getting our heart rates to drop back to normal we called our vehicle coordinator, Elder Ives, to receive council and wisdom on how best to proceed. In the meantime, we had a jack and spare tire to help us get by until our car would receive a replacement tire.

The Plunge

Ever jump off a really high cliff? If so, than you have experienced the nervousness that accompanies your first attempt when jumping a new cliff. Your heart beat starts racing as the adrenaline pumps through your body. A battle begins to take place within yourself as what you will do. 


Either you will gain the exhilarating experience of plummeting, through the air, into the water or you will walk away, the same as you came.

 
Committing 100% when cliff jumping is imperative. If you don't fully commit during take off than you risk the possibility of hitting the cliff side or other undesirable obstacles, before reaching the water. Furthermore, if you are jumping from high enough, than you had better point your feet down or dive appropriately so that you will emerge from the water unscathed. You must be committed from take off, through your airborne descent, and finally upon entering the water itself.

How do YOU Walk on Water?

So the idea for this post all started as I thought about one of my favorite stories in the new testament; Jesus Christ walking out on water to meet his disciples. He of course, performed such a miracle through his faith. As he approached his disciples he told them, "be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

Peter, like so many of us, answered by saying, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee..." Upon hearing the master bidding him to "Come," he proceeded to walk on water. The winds blow and Peter's faith begins to decline and with it, so does he. He then cries out to the Lord saying: " 'Save me.' And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him..."

Despite Peter's loss of faith I can not help but admire his efforts. He was willing to push forward with faith in Jesus Christ; to accomplish something that he had never before, set out to do. Each of us have similar experiences in our lives; where we are trying to walk on water through tumultuous times.

Music of the Soul

Few songs have touched me as deeply as this song: "Death shall not Destroy my Comfort."

Ever since I was a child I can remember hearing it performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and being overwhelmed with a love for my savior.

I felt that he knew who I was and that I meant something to him. He was aware of me personally. Like a red tulip against the backdrop of a hundred white lilies; I was noticed and I would be taken care of just the same as the other flowers.

I know that we are each children of our Father in Heaven who cares very deeply about each of us. He showed that love by sending his only Begotten Son to earth who would suffer on our behalf out that same love for us; his brothers and sisters.

The Ultimate Battery

"It keeps going, and going, and going!" 

This is the energizer bunny slogan. No matter what energizer bunny commercial you watch on television you will find that despite the conflicts, obstacles, or adventures- "it keeps going, and going, and going."

Just as the energizer battery continues to keep the bunny going, we must let our faith in Jesus Christ (The Ultimate Battery) propel us forward through the difficult times in our lives. 

I love the words of a modern prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson, who said simply enough: "My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith;" and so it is.

I know that despite the natural disasters, political concerns, and everyday trials in life; we can be assured that through our faith in Jesus Christ- we will be okay. In my personal life I have seen my family and myself endure difficult things and it has always been through our faith in the Savior that we have had enough energy to just "[keep] going, and going, and going." 

Those who exercise faith in Jesus Christ by keeping his commandments and enduring to the end- like the energizer bunny- will receive "the greatest gift of God..." (D&C 14:7)

Eternal life.

Honesty: do You have it?

May this be a reminder of what we already know. Integrity and honesty are invaluable. If everyone in this world was honest and had integrity the world would be a completely different world. Let us help that process by making sure we are and example to those around us.

The Lord's Team

Ever wonder what it would be like to be on the Lord's team? This video demonstrates that very concept as starting rival quarterbacks Teren Bingham (Thatcher High) and Brandon McEuen (Safford High) decide to serve on the Lord's team while still competing on opposite teams. Check it out!



Let us all do our best to reach out to others in a desire to bring others closer to Christ in all situations.

Why do we serve missions?

Part of Being a Latter-day Saint, is having a knowledge that you are led by a prophet who speaks with God personally. He is one who can receive revelation concerning the affairs of the world and helps in our efforts to receive personal revelation on our own from God. Here is his message on preparing to serve a mission. Why do so many young men and women of the LDS faith feel a desire to serve missions? The answer varies for each one of us, but most of them choose to serve out of a deep rooted faith that we can and should bless the lives around us with the good news of Jesus Christ.




Why I chose to serve a mission:

Growing up I have always been aware of the Love that my Savior has had for me. For as long as I can remember I was hearing stories about Jesus Christ and his love for me and how I could turn to him if I was ever sad or mad and he would help me to feel happy again. I knew that he was real and that he was my friend. That was my understanding of him as a child. 

The Women in our Lives!

Happy Mothers Day!!!

He Will Help You

This message was put together with the intent to help all those who are trying to or have had to cope with death. Whether recent or long ago this message of the resurrection applies to each and everyone of us. I love the scripture shared at the very end of this video: "The grave hath no victory and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ." I know that because of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, that all will rise again to live.

Listen to the words of a modern Apostle and Prophet of the Lord: "It is true. We live to die, and we die to live again. From an eternal perspective." May we all trust in the glorious truth that Christ took upon death so that each and everyone of us may live again. How full of love our God and Creator must be to provide his son, a perfect sacrifice to bear the burdens and pains of lives so that we too might live again if we follow him.

I also love this video because it shows a young man, Darren, reaching out to the Lord in anguish. It shows him struggling to overcome one of the hardest trials he will possibly ever encounter in life. Yet, through the grace and love of God he finds peace. He is assured through the power of the Holy Ghost that "Beans" is alright and that he just like our Savior wants us to live our life to the fullest.

I so testify with gratitude in my heart that this is true; in the name of our Mediator, even Jesus Christ.

Reflection; What do You See?

The ability to look at one's life and evaluate what he/she sees with honesty and integrity, is critical. All too often in life we overlook the things that are of true importance.
A wise prophet of God once stated: "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.¹" With that understanding we can see the importance of being able to look at the path we are on; the life, we are living.