Why I Need God in My Life

Yesterday, in a regional church meeting (Stake Conference), someone who recently got baptized shared a bit of his "conversion story" (why he decided to join the Church). He talked about how he really didn't have any huge challenges in his life, so he didn't see why he needed God or religion. But he received an answer to his prayers and decided to be baptized. Since then, he said, only good things have come into his life.

So why do I feel like I need God in my life?
Life can be terrible. There's depression, failure, setbacks, death, illness. If I didn't have hope in a Power that was looking down on me and helping me through those trials, they could be unbearable.
Life can be beautiful. Peaceful sunrises, laughter with friends and family, inspiring music, adorable animals, warmth and comfort, baby's smiles. I have somebody that I can thank for all of those amazing things. And I can take them as a personal message of love meant just for me from my Heavenly Father.
Life can be stressful. College, rent, dreams just out of reach. But I know that I can kneel down and pray, take some quiet time in nature, or sit in the Lord's house to find peace and answers.
Life is full of promise. My belief in God tells me that He has a plan for me and for all of us. There is a way to live that brings us happiness. There is a path back to His realm-- our home.

This path is His Plan of Happiness.

I know that God lives and loves each of us personally. He created a plan and sent a Savior to help us become the best and happiest people that we can be.

Peace be unto You Because of your Faith

This week, I posted the scripture Helaman 5:47 on my wall.

"Peace, peace be unto you because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world."

Today in family scripture study, we read about Alma (senior) and his people living peacefully before the Lamanites came and captured them. Someone pointed out that Alma and his people were righteous and listened to the Lord whenever He commanded them to do something. On the other hand, King Limhi's people (the ones who stayed behind when Alma and his followers fled) were sketchy at best.
But both groups were brought into bondage. The good guys and the not-so-good guys.
Why would following God's directions lead Alma's people into bondage?

When I think about the differences between these two groups, a few things stand out.
First of all, because each of these groups was brought into bondage they were motivated and given the opportunity to get back to Zarahemla to join the rest of the Nephites.
Secondly, while the people of Limhi were in captivity many of them died because of the many wars they fought. But the people of Alma were close to the Lord and knew the correct actions to take. When the people of Limhi were finally humbled and converted, they didn't have anyone with the authority to baptize them or receive revelation for them. But the people of Alma were almost all already baptized and close to God.

As we have a foundation of faith, I know we are able to find peace in our trials.

Thanks Giving

I think it's time for a thanks-giving! A time to give thanks.

I am thankful for a bedroom with a bed and a dresser. I'm thankful for my family and for the sacrifices they make for me (especially my grandma, grandpa, and uncles this past week).
I am thankful for pioneers in history and now days who blaze trails for me to follow.
I am thankful for modern day technology, and the gift it is to the gospel and to friends and family. I am thankful for people who reach out to me.
I am thankful for our cat Noemi (no-Amy) who is happy at our grandparent's house, but who still loves me. And I am thankful for our new kittens Noemi jr. and Tsunami. I am grateful for ribbons (and so is Tsunami :)).
I am grateful for yarn, crochet hooks, and the art of crochet.
I am grateful for examples in my life: Joan of Arc, Carmody, Uncle Tom, Captain Moroni, Megan, Sis. Edwards, Joseph Smith, Mom.
I am thankful for the scriptures and the truths they hold. I am thankful for the many places I can find the scriptures and words of the prophets.

What are you Thankful for?

(comment below)

Charity

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and enviethnot, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easilyprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (Moroni 7:46)

To truly understand charity, I'd like to look at each of the aspects mentioned in the scripture.

And charity suffereth long, ...

...and is kind, ...

...and envieth not, ...

(sorry for all of the videos, but they are such a great way to teach and to illustrate a point)

...and is not puffed up, ...
https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/32506/32506_000_057_08-thecycle.pdf
--This is a cycle noted not only in the Book of Mormon, but in other histories as well. How does charity fit into the cycle? Where would you put it? How could we end the cycle in our lives? Does it take charity?

...seeketh not her own, ...

(I just love these Thai videos)

...is not easily provoked, ...
Janie's 70 times 7

... Slowly Janie stood. OK, she thought. I’ll forgive him seventy times seven. But then he’s really going to get it! She went to her bedroom and sat down at her desk. On a piece of scratch paper, she multiplied seventy times seven. “Four hundred and ninety times!” she exclaimed, dismayed. She opened a notebook and wrote “Number of times I’ve forgiven Jimmy” on the top of the first page. Underneath, she made two slashes. “That’s two,” she said aloud. “Only four hundred and eighty-eight to go.” ...

...thinketh no evil, ...
Why would having charity require you to "think no evil"? Can you steal and have perfect charity? Can you lust and have perfect charity? 
Can you allow unclean thoughts that involve God or others into your mind and have charity? Are any thoughts unclean that don't include impure thoughts of God or others?

...and rejoiceth not in iniquity ...
"Love the sinner, not the sin." I've found that to be a very important, but a very difficult maxim.

...but rejoiceth in the truth, ...

God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. ...No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!For what we love determines what we seek.What we seek determines what we think and do.What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become.

-Pres. Uchtdorf

...beareth all things, ...


...believeth all things, ...
Faith, Hope, and Charity. You see them together a lot. Can you really have one without the other? It makes sense that in order to have charity, you need to have hope and faith. When you can believe in the eternal identity of others, and the amazing potential they possess it becomes so much easier to love them.

...hopeth all things, ...
Loved Back into Activity (activity=attending church and fulfilling callings)
Along with this story, I think of the story of Alma the Younger (see Mosiah 27, or this article)

...endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; 

but the greatest of these is CHARITY.

7 Ways to make Today a Great Day!

In Sacrament Meeting today, someone shared 7 things they do each morning to help their day go well. I was really excited, because I'm tired of feeling sad and grumpy in the morning. Unfortunately, I didn't write the things down :S. So here are my own 7 things to do each day, and how I'll get them in in the morning:

1.Stand up for my beliefs; post here :) (btw, sorry I haven't posted in forever. Life got to me, I guess :S)
2. Remember who I am; listen to a beautiful song from Youth Music, and share it on my Remembrance blog.
3. Remember Him; pray (with a question, preferrably), read my scriptures, and journal about what I've learned.
4. Smile!
5. Lift someone up; send an email, write a note to someone I'll see that day
6. Fulfill my responsibilities; make a list of things to do that day.
7. Look up, and see God's hand in my life; journal a gratitude list.

Here are some other lists that people use.
Ways to be Happy:
1. Smile
2. Say something nice about someone
3. Do something nice for someone.
4. Thank God for as many things as you can
5. Become an anti-complainer
6. Spend time with someone happy
7. Do unto others

Behaviors that can make you Happy:
1. Listen to or read something that inspires you.

2. Make your body stronger and more resilient.

3. Review and hone your plans for the future.

4. Do at least one thing that's worthwhile.

5. Help somebody less fortunate.

6. Spend 20 seconds appreciating what you have.

7. Record at least one good memory.

If you'll notice, all of these lists have two things in common: gratitude, and service.

This makes sense, if you think about it. If you're forever grumbling about what you don't have, or not realizing how blessed you are, you won't find any reason to be happy, either. 

Along with that, if you're always centered on yourself, you don't get a chance to feel real happiness. Service allows you to step outside of yourself. There's a story about a girl who had a really hard time with her self esteem and happiness until she went to Zambia. While there, she saw how happy everyone was, even though (by our standards) they had every reason to be unhappy. That helped her put things into perspective.

I know that even if you don't officially set aside a time to do 7 things, if you at least have an attitude of gratitude, and take opportunities to lift others up, that you'll have a happier and more fulfilled life.

A BEAUTIFUL post by my mom

http://mylazarusquest.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-child-weeps.html

I absolutely loved this post when I read it. It reminded me somewhat of a talk in Church today that a missionary gave. He said that we often think of the Atonement just being there when we need to repent (which it is). But it is also there whenever we're in pain, or going through something bad. It's there for every negative cricumstance we may encounter, and it will help us get through it.

A Heart to Fill

Ellen Dibble Cox, Ensign Dec. 2001

It was turning out to be another rushed and harried holiday season.

When I was younger, I had envisioned peaceful Christmases filled with twinkling lights and glistening snow, with me seated before a fireplace and surrounded by my dream family.

To my disappointment, however, as a young adult I still had not seen the fulfillment of that dream. Instead, my time and energy during Christmas were being spent on my work as a schoolteacher and on various holiday-related activities. As my involvement in these activities increased and my to-do list grew longer, I felt more and more overwhelmed.

In the middle of the chaos came a request from a friend for our young single adult group to sing at a local nursing home. It was to be a family home evening presentation for the elderly patients there. I must admit that I didn’t really want to go, but I halfheartedly consented anyway.

Monday evening came, and when I got to the nursing home I was relieved that the hour had arrived—the service project would soon be erased from my to-do list.

A group of patients in wheelchairs had been gathered together in a cold, sterile room. A woman with silver hair and a tremulous voice opened our family home evening with prayer. She petitioned our Heavenly Father and sincerely and humbly said, “We thank Thee for all of our many blessings.” Blessings? I was puzzled by the thought. How could she see her world of wheelchairs, bedpans, hospital food, lonely days and nights, dependency, crippled limbs, and faded youth as blessings? The woman finished the prayer, and my thoughts were filled with wonder at her expression of gratitude.

Our group stood and began to sing.

Slippered feet tapped on foot rests, gnarled fingers kept time, and smiles appeared at the sound of the familiar melodies. Their expressions mirrored ours as we sang of Christmas delights and heavenly gifts. Something warm and magical gradually seemed to fill the room.

I gazed into the ageless eyes of the onlookers and found myself floating in their warmth and wisdom. They too had been teachers or carolers in a choir—married, single, parents, or childless.

The final notes of the closing song drifted softly around the room: “Sleep in heavenly peace.” A benediction was offered. My spirit was subdued and quieted.

My view of Christmas and of life began to change that night. For one moment I could see that I didn’t need to worry so much about what I felt was lacking in my own life. I sensed that within the withered physical bodies of those to whom we had sung were spirits filled with happiness, gratitude, and God’s love. No matter the person’s age or station in life, a portion of that love and happiness was there, if only I had eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to fill—with gratitude.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

For thanksgiving, feel free to post what you're thankful for!

I'm reading "Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl" right now. Anne Frank was hiding with her family from the Germans for more than two years. This is part of one of her entries: "And in the evening, when I lie in bed and end my prayers with the words, 'I thank you, God, for all that is good and dear and beautiful,' I am filled with joy. ...My advice is:... Think of all the beauty that is left in the world, and be happy!"
How inspiring! to hear that from a girl that can't go outside, wears worn out clothes, and eats nasty food. 

Here are some things I'm thankful for:
The gospel
Jesus Christ
The Atonement
The Book of Mormon
The Spirit
Books :)- Heidi, Joan of Arc, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Les Mis, Anne Frank (yep, I'm a big reader :))
Movies- Amazing Grace, the Hobbit/Lord of the Rings, the Ultimate Gift
Heavenly Father
Life
Agency
Technology- emails, skype
Letters
Writing
Paper
Pens
Money
Jobs.....

Challenge: Go for half on hour naming things you're grateful for. Also, whenever you're upset, or sad, make a "Gratitude List." I have a notebook that's full of them, and it's pretty cool.

Here is a Mormon Message about people listing things they're grateful for:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

Good Prayers

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, we believe in the power of prayer. But we pray a little differently than most other churches, as shown in this story:

Watoy paused under the colorful Filipino flag outside his school before heading inside.

“Good morning, class,” his teacher said. “It’s time for our morning prayer.”

All around, Watoy’s friends each touched their foreheads, chests, and shoulders to form the shape of a cross. Then they recited the prayer they always said at the beginning of class. As usual, Watoy didn’t join them. Instead, he closed his eyes, bowed his head, and said his own silent prayer. He prayed about different things each time, the way he was taught to pray at home and in Primary.

When he finished and looked up, he saw that his teacher was watching him with a confused expression on her face.

“May I talk to you after school?” she said.

Watoy swallowed and nodded. Was he in trouble?

When classes had ended for the day, Watoy’s teacher walked over to him.

“I see that you never cross yourself or recite our morning prayer,” she said. “Will you please tell me why?”

Watoy breathed a sigh of relief. His teacher wasn’t upset, just curious! He thought about how to answer.

“Well,” he began, “in my church, when we pray, we talk to Heavenly Father about many different things. And the cross reminds us of when Jesus died. But Jesus is not dead. He lives!”

His teacher thought about this for a moment and then nodded slowly.

“Thank you for sharing this with me,” she said.

As Watoy walked to football practice, he felt warm and good inside. He liked teaching others about Jesus Christ. (Friend Mar. 2013)

There is a short webpage about prayer published by the church. Here are some excerpts:

You have a Heavenly Father who loves you and knows your needs. As His child, you have the opportunity to communicate with Him through prayer. He does hear and answer prayers.
Through prayer, you can receive divine guidance, strength, and blessings from Him daily. Prayer can help you draw closer to God, receive comfort in troubling times, and know right from wrong.
While on earth, Jesus Christ taught that we should pray to the Father in His name (see John 16:23-24) Prayer should begin by addressing Heavenly Father and end with the statement "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
When praying, speak openly and honestly with God. Express gratitude and thanksgiving for your blessings, acknowledge your love for Him, and ask for help, protection, and direction according to your needs. Prayer is not complicated. You can pray anytime, anywhere—out loud or silently—with perfect confidence that God will hear you
My mom had a thought the other day about expressing gratitude at the beginning of the day. She's read this book called the "Jackrabbit Factor", and it talks about expressing gratitude for what we want to get as if we have it now. She'd always thought of gratitude as a finishing thing, like "I'm gratiful I did that, now I'm done." But now she feels as if it's a motivation.
 
Someone else learned a lesson in prayer from their mother:

One of the important lessons my mother taught me by her example was about praying with a plan. She said it was important to pray that Heavenly Father would guide me. But I should also do my part by having a plan to help my prayer be answered.

One day when I was about six years old, I learned what that meant. I had earned a nickel, so I decided to buy some candy. On my way to the store, I started flipping my shiny nickel in the air. On its way down, I missed catching it, and it fell into some tall grass. My nickel completely disappeared.

I felt very bad, and I decided to pray. I knew Heavenly Father would help me find the nickel. As I finished my prayer, I thought about what my mother had taught me. What plan could I make to help with my prayer?

Suddenly I had a great idea. I would go home and get another nickel. Then I would come back to the exact spot where I had lost my nickel. If I flipped the second nickel in the same way, I thought Heavenly Father could help me find my lost nickel.

I ran home and borrowed another nickel. Then I went back to the spot where I had been before. I flipped the second nickel, this time watching carefully to see where it landed. When I looked down, I saw both nickels lying side by side. I knew that Heavenly Father had helped me.

Heavenly Father loves me, and He loves you. When you have problems in your life, remember to pray and also to think about what plan you will have after your prayer. Heavenly Father will always guide you (-Carl B Cook, Friend Apr. 2013)

I know that prayer can change people's lives. Prayer can help us through trials, and can also help us communicate with Heavenly Father to show our gratitude and happiness.