The Power of Prayer

Not many people other than my close friends know that my mom is a cancer survivor. During her battle with cancer, I learned what it meant to truly plead with the Lord for the desires of your heart. As anybody that knows me can attest, I’m kind of a Momma’s boy. My mother is one of my best friends and I love her with all of my heart. The thought of losing her was unbearable to me. I couldn’t even think about it without crying. At first, I plead with God for a miracle. I wanted her cancer gone immediately. I didn’t want her to suffer through any more treatments than she had to. I couldn’t bear to see her so weak and in pain. I had the faith that she could be healed, too. I knew God could heal her, but He didn’t. God had other plans in store for me and my family.

After countless prayers for a miracle, I shifted to praying for acceptance and understanding. I prayed that I would be able to accept God’s will for my mother. Instead of begging for a miracle, I humbly prayed that my mother would be able to make through the day. I promised my Father in Heaven that if He let my mother live I would love her and care for her for as long as He blessed me with her presence. I promised that I would obey her and follow her counsel and advice, as I had sometimes struggled to do so before. I prayed for the patience and strength to be a support her and the rest of my family during this time of trial. I distinctly remember one night where I had been pouring my heart out to God wanting to feel at peace and to know that everything would be OK. Up until that point I hadn’t gotten any answer to my prayers. It was frustrating. At some points I doubted that God was there and that He cared. But I knew that I couldn’t stop praying and I couldn’t lose faith. That night I received my answer. After months and months of sorrow and pain and heartache, I finally felt peace. I knew that God had heard my prayers. He did not forsake me. He enveloped me with His love. I don’t remember ever feeling more at peace and more loved than I did at that very moment. I still didn’t know if my mom was going to live or not, but I knew that God loved me. I knew that no matter what happened He would be there to strengthen me and support me through anything.

A few months after that prayer, my mother was cancer free. God had answered my prayers along with countless others’. Since then I can’t remember a single argument I’ve had with my mom. I know I wasn’t as exactly obedient to her as I could have been but I tried to do the best I could. God blessed me to keep my best friend, and I will always be indebted to Him for doing so. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank Him for blessing me with the greatest mom anyone could ever ask for.

God loves us with a love that we cannot comprehend. I know He loves us. I know He cares for us and knows us each by name. We are His children. He will give us all of our righteous desires. Please, do not be discouraged if God does not answer your prayers right away. His timing is perfect and I promise you that whatever happens will be for the best. Looking back, if God would have healed my mother right away my faith wouldn’t have grown as much as it did. Through the pain and the suffering I learned to be strong and to know that God has a plan. Be at peace with God’s will. He will never forsake you through times of trial and He will always love you. This I know with all of my soul. 

Obedience

Let’s be honest, being obedient is hard. It stinks being obedient sometimes. Not many people like being told what to do and let’s face it, obedience is not a natural thing. It is part of the natural man to want to do what we want to do, not what other people tell us to do. So, why is obedience so important and what’s in it for us?

Well, let’s think about it for a second. Obedience is a principle of happiness. We are only as happy as we are obedient. Let’s face it, we all know that when we obeyed our parents they were usually right. Not to mention we didn’t have to go through the suffering of being grounded or punished. I know that when I obeyed my mom and dad we got along, our love for each other increased, and they trusted me more. With obedience comes trust. There was a time in my life where I was a rebellious teenager. Shocking, right? It was miserable. The more I disobeyed my parents the more privileges they took away from me. Finally, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth I finally got it through my thick skull that in order to be trusted and in order to be happy I had to be obedient. It took a long time, and a lot of humbling experiences, but eventually I got back on my parents good side. They blessed me for being obedient. 

Just like with everything, there exists a spiritual parallel with my life experiences. Obedience to our Heavenly Father’s commandments are not always easy. However, His commandments exist for our benefit. He loves us enough to give us these rules to keep us out of harms way. We would be wise to follow them. It is through obedience to the commandments that we can avoid many of the pitfalls of this life. And, in turn, we can be happy. Happiness is not something that just happens to us, it is a choice. When we choose to be obedient we choose to be happy. Through our faithful obedience, God blesses us with His love and countless other things. Whenever we receive a blessing, it comes directly from obedience to a law or commandment that God has given us. We cannot be blessed if we are not obedient. Yes, obedience requires sacrifice and is not easy. But I testify that the blessings we receive from God as a result of our obedience will always be greater than the sacrifice it is to be obedient. Our short term suffering will give way to eternal blessings. Stay strong, keep the faith, and never give up. Your obedience will always be rewarded.

Service

To serve is to love, and is one of the most rewarding things that we can participate in in this life. However, like all rewarding things it is hard. There is no getting around it. I know for the most part I would rather sit on the couch and watch college football all day rather than go out and rake leaves for somebody or any other type of service. But, whenever I got my rear end off the couch and went out to help others, I have never regretted it. It is through the time I have spent serving others that I’ve come the closest to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

If you think about it, all Christ did in His mortal ministry was to serve others. He always served out of love, never out of obligation. Our greatest joy comes when we serve others out of our love for them. However, serving others begrudgingly is better than not serving at all! I have a strong testimony of that. I know that if we exercise the faith to go out and serve no matter our original attitudes our hearts will be softened. My dad was the greatest example to me of diligent service. I don’t think I have ever heard him complain about being asked to serve others. He was always the first to volunteer and to ask what more he could do. My father always put others before himself. It is because of his example that I am on a mission today. Through my father’s example, I have grown to develop a strong testimony of the power of serving others.

As a missionary, I have dedicated two years of my life to serving God and my fellow men 24/7. It’s hard. I’m not going to sugar coat anything, it is stinkin’ hard. Serving a mission has been the most difficult thing I have ever done. But through my service, I have come closer to my Savior than ever before. When we serve with love, we recognize our Savior’s love for those we serve. We learn to see them as God sees them; not as they are, but as they can become. At some point along the way, we realize that this love that we feel for those we serve is the same love that God and Jesus Christ feel for us! Once I realized that, I was extremely humbled. And my love for Them grew exponentially. It really strengthened my testimony of why we serve others. Service is not only for their benefit, but for ours as well. I know that through consecrating our lives to helping others as the Savior would we will come closer to Him than we ever thought possible. What better way to gain a better relationship with our Savior than to live a life like His? It has been amazing, the more I give of myself to the Lord the happier I become. I know it is because I am doing God’s will and extending His great love to His beloved children. Whenever you feel like you are having a down day or don’t feel like anybody cares, try to find ways to serve. Instead of turning inward and saying wo is me, turn outward and ask who can I help? I promise that as you do so your joy will increase and eventually you’ll forget why you were so sad in the first place. 

When all else fails, serve with love. Loving service brings miracles.

Humility

I feel as though humility is one of the most misunderstood traits. Humility is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. It is hard to be humble! It really is. I know it is something that I have struggled with a lot in my life, and many of you that know me will probably laugh when you read that! In the same breath, the hardest things in life are often the most rewarding once accomplished. It’s exactly the same with being humble. Now, how on earth could being humble be something that is rewarding? Well, let’s take a look.

When we are humble, we realize that we don’t, in fact, know everything. As shocking as that is to some people, it is true. Humility comes with a knowledge that others may have a better understanding of this life than we do. When we are humble, we have the strength to swallow our pride and to obey the counsel of those individuals. I know when I was younger I thought everything I did was right. I didn’t think my parents knew what was best for me at times. Now, I’m eating my words. I wish I would have been humble enough to follow their advice in so many different things. We all have a Heavenly Father that loves us and knows us perfectly. He has a plan for our life and knows what is best for us. It is so crucial that we have the humility to put His will above our own. I’m not going to lie, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve had to learn to do. And I’m still learning to do it, too. However, once we develop that humility and obey without question, we will find a greater peace in our lives. We will know that everything happens for a reason and we will have the strength to carry on when all seems lost.

Think about how Christ acted. Was He humble? Indeed He was. He, who held the power to heal the blind, cast out devils, and raise the dead never once boasted of Himself. Always He gave the glory to His Father in Heaven. He recognized that it was through God that He received that power. All that He had and would ever gain came from God. And so it is with us. Never should we lift ourselves above another. We should constantly be striving to uplift and strengthen our brethren. Christ had the humility to dwell among those that were esteemed to be unclean and unrighteous all the days of His ministry. He never once worried about what others thought of Him. Too often our pride of our status prevents us from serving those that truly need our presence. 

As we dedicate our lives to giving humble service to our God, the quality of our lives will dramatically increase. We will find solace in service, joy in obedience, and the strength to endure.

Faith

I love faith! It is probably one of my favorite gospel topics, because it is so incredibly important. Faith is what precedes everything. We cannot get through this life if we don’t have faith. Now, faith is not just a passive belief in something; faith is an action word. When our faith is sincere we must act! However, we must not attempt to run before we can walk. Faith grows little by little and needs to be nourished in order to grow. So, in what should we first plant the seed of our faith? The source of all good things on this earth, even Jesus Christ. As we develop our faith in Christ we will want to become more like Him and desire to get to know Him personally. As our faith in Christ grows, it will branch out into all areas of the gospel.

As I have studied, I have realized that faith in Christ is a principle of power. For example, it was through Peter’s faith in Christ that he had the power to walk on water. Peter’s faith faltered and he began to sink, but it was that same faith that led him to cry out to his Master for help, to which Christ straightway lifted Peter from the water. Faith gives us the power to not only act on Christ’s words, but the power to call upon Him for help. Countless times our Savior has told someone that their faith hath made them whole. Faith provides the power to heal, and to be healed both physically and spiritually. Faith in Christ gives us a hope for a better tomorrow and strength to endure through trials. I know that it is through faith in Christ that we can witness miracles in our own lives and the lives of others. Never doubt, and never be discouraged. Your faith will carry you through. Faith and fear cannot be present simultaneously. When we are filled with faith we are filled with peace, knowing that everything will turn out in according with God’s will. We are filled with the strength and confidence to carry on, despite our sorrows and challenges. 

When trials, persecutions, and hardships abound, never falter from the rock from which you faith is anchored. Be steadfast and immovable in your faith in Christ. He will carry you through your darkest moments and be there to celebrate with you in your brightest hours. Have hope for a better tomorrow, continue with patience and confidence. Know that as you are obedient God will bless you for your faith. Miracles can and will happen. It is not the quantity of the faith we have that matters, but the quality. Always have faith, and never fear. When you are doing the will of the Lord, there is nothing to fear and everything to gain. I invite you to watch these videos if you need a faith-builder at this time, they will help you through whatever struggle you may be facing.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911029449001

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911029453001

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911104791001

Please feel free to Facebook message me if you would like to discuss more on the topic of faith or want more uplifting videos to watch. I would be glad to help!

The Kingdom of God, Knowing Christ, and A Few One-Liners

The Kingdom of God

Whether we seek out the Kingdom of God or stumble upon it by chance, we must give everything we know and have to obtain it. What other price would be sufficient? Yes, some may be able to give more than others, but if we are willing to sacrifice our time, labor, and finances to the Lord He will accept us into His presence.      Jesus the Christ pgs. 293-294

Knowing Christ

Coming to know Christ is more than just knowing who He is. Even the demons that Christ cast out of individuals recognized Him as the Son of God and knew that they must obey Him. We cannot allow ourselves to descend below those infernal creatures. Knowing Christ consists of not only acknowledging and obeying Him, but loving Him and serving others as well. We come to know our Lord most effectively in the service of others. The more we live our lives as He did, the more we will come to feel of His love for us and those we serve.     Jesus the Christ pg. 306

One Liners

God created everything on this earth to serve a purpose, including you.

The worth of a soul lies in its capacity to become like God.

This church is true, why would I, along with 80,000+ missionaries sacrifice so much if it wasn’t?

Faith is a principle of power.

This life is not just meant for us to get somewhere, but to become something along the way.

Asking the Right Questions, Parables, and Gaining Knowledge

Asking the Right Questions

We all have questions about this life. Life is confusing, complicated, and hard. But asking the right questions can help us live our lives with greater purpose. Too often our questions are centered inward. We are more worried about what we want. How different would our lives be if we asked what God wanted out of our lives rather than what we want out of our lives? I know that as we focus more on turning outward and asking what we can do for others and for God the joy and peace in our lives will grow. As we lose ourselves in the service of others we will gain the greatest blessings this life, and the next, have to offer.

Parables

Consider the parables of the mustard seed and of the leaven. In both parables something extremely small produces great growth. The mustard seed, when grown, brings forth enough seeds to plant an entire field. The yeast causes bread to rise, slowly but surely. Yeast is a living organism that develops and multiplies. No matter which batch of dough you put it in it will cause it to rise. How can we be more like the mustard seed and the yeast in the leaven bread? Are we growing where we are planted and doing our best to build and uplift those we come in contact with each day? We must lead by example and be the type of people that can be trusted to grow and build the Kingdom of God wherever we are. We should not need somebody checking up on us making sure we are doing so. Parables offer so many applications to our lives. I invite you to read and study these parables and ponder on how you can use the principles taught in them to better your lives.           Jesus the Christ pgs. 291-292, Matthew 13:31-33

Gaining Knowledge

It is not necessary or possible that we know everything, nor is it required of us to have an extensive knowledge of the gospel in order to provide faithful service. We must first come to learn and establish our faith on the core principles of the Gospel: faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Baptism and making covenants, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. If we try to learn at a pace faster than we are able we will do nothing but bring frustration into our lives. We must be patient and content with the knowledge and faith that we have. In the words of Elder Jefferey R. Holland of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, “what we know will always trump what we do not know” (Lord, I Believe). As we work diligently to increase our knowledge, we must be humble enough to accept that it will not come all at once. 

Our Hearts, God’s Love, and Spiritual Mindedness

Our Hearts

Christ said “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Sometimes it is hard to pinpoint exactly what we treasure. In this case we may need to evaluate where are hearts lie. What do our hearts long for? What is it that we are truly passionate about? Is it sports, dating, school, or something like it? If so, we need to do some course adjusting. We should be most passionate about following the example of our Savior. Our hearts should constantly be turned towards Him and what He would have us do. We cannot afford to let the temporary things of this world distract from those which are of eternal value and significance.                                     Jesus the Christ pgs. 242-243

God’s Love

Though misunderstood and persecuted by men, Christ took solace in knowing that God knew Him perfectly for what He was. We would do well to do the same. As we are chastised, chastened, and rebuked by men we must call upon the knowledge of our Father’s love for comfort. He will embrace us with peace and love amidst the most trying of times. God’s love never fails. Call upon Him when times get tough, there is no better place to go for comfort than in the arms of an all-loving Father in Heaven.                           Jesus the Christ pg. 258

Spiritual Mindedness

“To be spiritually minded is life eternal.” Spiritual minded can mean many different things, but the result is always the same. As we keep a spiritual and eternal perspective throughout this life we will be able to more easily follow the commandments and do what is right. We will be able to always recognize the good things of this life, no matter how the day seems to go. I believe that most of us do not realize how much of an affect our thoughts have on the quality of our lives. If we strive to have positive, uplifting, and virtuous thoughts our demeanor and deportment will brighten. Do not let depressing or negative thoughts take hold of your mind. Those thoughts will do nothing but bring you down and limit your ability to live up to your potential. As we nurture positive thoughts, we will be able to reach our full potential with a smile on our face.                                       2 Nephi 9:39

God’s Will, Families, and the Scriptures

God’s Will

Everything that happens in this life is not necessarily God’s will. God does not want crime, dishonesty, or any other form of wickedness to exist upon the earth. His will is for us to obey His commandments and to live righteously. Evil on this earth is present because of man’s agency. If all people on this earth were to align their will with God’s there would be no evil doings. We must do our part to make this world a better place by eagerly aligning our actions with God’s will. It is through aligning our will with our Heavenly Father’s that we can find the peace and joy we all desire in this life.                                                    Jesus the Christ pg. 239

Families

Families are ordained of God. It makes perfect sense that this is so. Our Father in Heaven receives His greatest joy from us, His children. It makes sense that in order for us to become like Him we must experience the same joy that He does through having a family. There are few joys on this earth comparable to having a loving family. 

The Scriptures

The scriptures have been given to us so that we might have joy and find peace. It is through the scriptures that we learn how we can best follow our Father in Heaven. Through scripture study we more fully understand the blessings that come from obedience and the consequences that result from sin. There is no question, concern, or trial that the scriptures cannot help us with. They truly were written for our day. All we must do is liken and apply the principles taught in our lives. Too often we esteem the scriptures too lightly. There could not be a more grievous mistake. We can never underestimate how imperative it is that we read from them each and every day. The words written in each book of scripture have the power to change our lives. All we have to do is read and apply.                                                                                                                   2 Nephi 9:3

Principles, Salt, and Loving Enemies

Principles

The Law of Moses had over 600 rules to follow, but when Christ came He established His church on principles. Principles are the reasons behind rules. They are the “why” behind the “what.” Many times when we are asked to do something the next word that comes out of our mouths is “why.” When we ask why, we are asking for the principle behind the action or rule. I testify that if we follow the principles set forth by Christ that we won’t need as many rules. Rules are extremely limited, often only applying to certain situations. Principles, on the other hand, can apply to a vast array of situations and circumstances.  Jesus the Christ pg. 235

Salt

Christ compares us to being the salt of the earth. Salt represents fidelity, hospitality, and covenant. Salt is only of use when it is pure, and can never go bad unless contaminated by some outside filth. If we are to be the salt of the earth we cannot allow ourselves to be contaminated by the evils of this world. In addition, we must be faithful to Christ and His gospel. We must love all mankind with an unconditional Christ-like love. Most importantly, we must be a covenant people. We must be loyal and trustworthy to God and to man. We are of no use if we cannot be true to our word. It is impossible to progress in this life if we are not trusted with what we are given. Jesus the Christ pg. 232

Loving Our Enemies

God does not ask us to do anything He Himself has not or does not do. So when He asks us to love our enemies we know that He does as well. Think about it. God doesn’t withhold the warmth of the sun or the beauty of a sunset from anyone. He blesses even those that persecute Him with all of their might with a family, one of the greatest blessings this life has to offer. God loves and provides for us regardless of our belief or faithfulness to Him. So, too must we love and provide for all those we come to meet in this life, no matter how much they might persecute us.