The Witnesses

Elder Jensen Nelson gave me the idea to make a post of this.  I have to give him credit.  In our last zone conference Elder Nelson, Elder Hunsaker and I sang this song from the musical called "Joseph Smith the Prophet."  This song is the testimony of the 3 witnesses; Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris.  In the beginning of each copy of the Book of Mormon is the testimony of the 3 witnesses.  Their testimony's are powerful and will stand until the end of the world.

I add my testimony to that of these men.  I know the Book of Mormon is true!

Friends and Family

When I was in my early high school years I had a pretty tight group of friends.  The friends that I had since I was knee high to a grass-hopper all went their separate ways, though we are all still fiends.  As time moved on our interests changed and I found new friends that were on the same page as me.  Eventually I started running with a pretty rough crowd and my parents were pretty concerned.  It is next to impossible to stand when all your friend's standards antagonize your own.  In the end I had to separate myself from those I called my friends.  In the time when I may have been the most lonely, I found my best friends...my family. 

Family is central to the plan of our Eternal God.  In our families we gain a sense of identity and characteristics.  I know not every family situation is ideal, but no matter our personal family situation, there is an eternal family to be had by all within the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm eternally grateful for the plan of happiness which assures us, as we are faithful, that we will be with those that we love for eternity.  This is done by the priesthood of God in His temples.  There is no greater joy than this!  It is my prayer that each of us will seek to secure our eternally family by showing the Savior that we love Him by keeping His commandments.

Sunlight to Warm the Soul

I'm from sunny St. George, Utah where we enjoy clear skies, calm breeze, and triple digits.  The winters are rainy and cold winter days are in the 40s or 50s.  I love the sun that seems to shine every day there in the desert.

This last winter was spent in Lander, Wy and Great Falls, Mt.  Needless to say the sun, even when it was shining, seemed dead or powerless.  Most days were spent in overcast and gloom.  Subzero temperatures dominated each day in what seemed to me to be a relentless choke hold that I was destined to endure for all time.

Often times many of us may feel that the adversary of all righteousness has a similar icy grip on our lives.  We know that we all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), but Paul also tells us "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."(1 Cor. 15:22)   Each of us at one time or another in our lives has felt that we were in a rut.  We know what we want to change but we struggle to make it happen.  We may feel down on ourselves at our lack of ability to move forward.  We may feel that it is hopeless and that Satan has won.

I testify that Satan only wins when we let him.  No matter our situation, no matter how terrible or hopeless, we can always use our God given agency or free will to choose to pray to our Father in Heaven.(2 Nephi 2:27).  "...for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.  But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint." (2 Nephi 32:8-9)

As we seek for help and guidance through prayer, we can know what we must 'do.'  By praying like everything depends on God and then working like everything depends on us, we will qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost to lighten our load and to lead us through the freezing winter, until we are brought to the warmth of the summer sun.  I also testify the seasons are a testimony of things as they are to come.  No matter how cold the winter, the summer will always come as we rely on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Soldiers, Mothers, and Jesus Christ

Recently I was speaking with a man who had just retired from the military.  He talked of his tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other middle east countries.  He relayed his interest in watching the way young soldiers conducted their lives.  They get away from home and they drift far away from their faith and morals, but as soon as they get shot at they want nothing more than Jesus and their mothers.

I speak of these young soldiers with the utmost respect and gratitude.  I am grateful for their service to keep America a free nation.I was interested at this example of the deep roots that our Savior and our mothers have within each of us.  It seems to me that two of the most important people in our lives are Jesus Christ and our mothers.

I feel that there is a strong connection between Christ and my mother in my life.  Through out my childhood my mother worked tirelessly to teach me correct principles.  She taught me to have faith in Jesus Christ and that by keeping His commandments we are blessed.  There are so many instances when I have had to revert back to the deeply ingrained teachings of my mother, and by doing so I have found so much peace and support in times of trial.

I express my gratitude for loving mothers who show us the way.  With the family being the central unit in the gospel of Jesus Christ, what role is more important than that of a loving mother who teaches here children to love one another and to follow our Savior Jesus Christ.  I am eternally grateful for my wonderful mother who taught me correct principles and continues to be an example to me.

May we each remember the love of our own mothers and seek to emulate that love in our daily lives toward our fellow men.