Let's Talk About Weaknesses

Raise your hand if you have something about yourself that you would like to change. A weakness perhaps? 

*Raises hand* 

Heaven knows I do. I wouldn't be able to count all of the flaws that I have there are that much.

But life isn't about dwelling on those flaws. Sure, it's important to recognize that you have flaws. None of us are perfect. And as soon as we think that we are that is when we start the slippery slope to pride. 

But as I was saying it's important not to dwell on your imperfections. Our Heavenly Father sent us on this Earth to be tested. And how valuable is a test if we don't learn anything from it? And how can you learn if you are not tried with imperfections? The answer is simple. You can't. 

God has given us flaws so that we can be humble. But the process to get to humility is not very easy. I usually get stuck at the part where I recognize that I have a flaw. I recognize it, but then I dwell on that part and focus on nothing else. But if we truly want to try to change ourselves to become better people we have to ask Christ to heal us through His Atonement. Once that happens we may not be "fixed" immediately. But it is then that we just keep asking for our flaw to either a) be turned into a strength or b) be used for the benefit of others. It is then that we gain humility and become more like Christ.

So don't dwell on your weaknesses. Instead find out how they can be shaped to be a benefit to you or others. 

Families Can be Together Forever

How many times has your mother had to repeat something she asked for you to do because you didn't do it the first time? Well, growing up with my childhood she had to do that for me a lot. And why do you think she felt the need to repeat herself? Because whatever she asked for me to do she thought was very important. 

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

One of the many places you will find this verse is in 3 Nephi 25:5. This is the only verse that is repeated in all works of scripture. This includes the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. This scripture is talking about the sealing of families so that when we die we may still live with the people we love for all time and eternity. The fact that this verse is repeated in all works of scripture shows just how important our Heavenly Father thinks families are. He places families as the most important unit for His church. 

Families are here so that as we go through this difficult journey, known as life, we may be able to support and love each other. Our Heavenly Father knew just how difficult this Earth life would be for us and that is why He placed us in families. 

I love my family with all of my heart and I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has placed me in such a wonderful, kind, supportive, and loving family so that I may be able to live this life with happiness and joy. I love my Heavenly Father for creating a plan to where the people we love on this Earth we will still be able to love and live with when we die. I am grateful that God is ever-knowing and that he is aware of my struggles and triumphs. And because of God's plan I know that families can be together forever. 

All He Asks

"And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost..."

This scripture is in 3 Nephi and this is the most sacred part of the whole Book of Mormon. At this point Christ has resurrected and He is visiting all of the Nephites. As he is visiting them he is giving them council as to how they should live their lives once he goes back to heaven. One of the councils/commandments he gives them is he does away with the law of Moses because it has been fulfilled through him. And this scripture is their new law. 

The thing I love about this is that it's such a simple request. No longer is Christ asking them to sacrifice any animals or only eat certain foods on certain days but he is only asking for a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." When something is broken it is torn or bruised or hurt but willing to be fixed. I don't think Christ wants our heart to be bruised constantly, instead I think he means for our heart to constantly be in a state where we are willing to be fixed through the Atonement of Christ. If our heart is in this state then we will be willing to be molded by Christ's hands so that we can better ourselves to become like him someday. 

This gospel is not hard. It's the world that makes it difficult to live. But I know that if we stay true to what Christ has asked of us we will be able to become as Gods someday and we will live with Christ again. 

The Perfect Missionary

"Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments."

This scripture is from Helaman 10:4. And I absolutely love it. I love it so much because when I read this scripture I think of the kind of missionary I want to be. And how I want to be the best I can possibly be. 

While I am on my mission I hope to preach the gospel with much vigor and excitement. I love going to my mission prep class because I always get so excited to some day preach the gospel of happiness to the people that need it. I also hope that I will teach and not get weary. I hope to convey the message of joy that this gospel is and even on the 18th month of my mission never grow tired of it. I also hope to never grow tired of teaching the same lesson. Because I know each time I teach I will learn something just as the investigators will. 

I hope that even after my mission I will still want to share the gospel with others. I wish that from now on and forever I will not fear the people and what they may think but fear God instead. Instead of fearing people, I hope I can learn to love them and want to make them happy just as I am as I live this gospel.

I hope to forever serve the Lord and have the courage to accept His will, to always listen and obey. 

Don't Worry, Be Happy

We as humans are such sensitive creatures both emotionally and physically. If our internal body temperature drops or rises only a couple of degrees then we cough, ache, throw up, and feel awful. And when somebody says a few words that strum our heart the wrong way then we feel offended. We live in a world of extremes where things are either  right or wrong; where we feel bad or good; happy or sad. In this world of extremes it is important to dwell on the things that make us feel good and let go of the things that don't. If we remember to not get wrapped up in unpleasant feelings and to remain happy then life will be more fulfilling. 

In Alma 60, Moroni writes a letter to Pahoran laying out clearly the hardships his army is having to go through. And then he lays out in a very clear concise way what the government (mainly Pahoran) is doing wrong. Now Moroni had no idea that the government was at that time being overthrown by some awful people. So while Moroni was fighting a physical war Pahoran was fighting a war of power. One of the things Moroni wasn't being provided with was proper supplies such as weapons and food. He blames Pahoran for this without any prior knowledge of what was going on with the government.

Alma 61 is Pahoran's reply to Moroni's letter. And he surprisingly is very calm, and understanding of Moroni. Pahoran understood that there was no way that Moroni could have known what the government was going through. And instead of being offended by having the finger pointed at him, he simply says, "I am not angry..." 

There is a lesson to be learned here. If we are more understanding of each other and understand that everyone is going through some sort of trial then relationships and friendships will bond. And lots of people would get much less offended. 

Starting With Myself

In chapters 43-60 in the book of Alma in The Book of Mormon are known as the "war chapters." Usually when those who are reading The Book of Mormon get to the war chapters they moan and groan and try to get through them as quickly as possible. Which I think is ridiculous because I LOVE THEM. The book of Alma can get pretty lengthy at times so that is why I always look forward to the war chapters because it's a nice change of pace. And I find the war chapters to be extremely applicable to the spiritual war I fight every day. 

One of the most influential men in the whole Book of Mormon is a man named Captain Moroni. Throughout the war chapters he leads the Nephite army to defend themselves against the Lamanites. He is the best example for any leader I have ever seen. He does an excellent job of making sure the Nephites are well protected from the Lamanites. The first thing he does to ensure this is in Alma, chapter 43, he protects the individuals of the Nephite army by armoring them with brass shields, breast plates and armor that protects the vital organs of their body. Next in chapter 49 he makes the city of Noah, which was well known for its weak protections, become strong and defensive. It doesn't say specifically exactly what he did except that he built "fortifications." Which I assume means that he built walls and kept people there to defend the city. But Moroni doesn't stop there. In chapter 50 he then takes those fortifications and makes them even stronger. And instead of focusing on destroying the Lamanites he focuses on keeping the Nephites from being destroyed. 

We can apply the things that Moroni has done in protecting his army to our own lives. Notice how Moroni first makes sure the individuals are protected. And then focuses on the cities. It is important we do the same. In order to help others it is important for us to reflect deep within us to fix ourselves. Once we  do that then we will more effectively be able to help people. This is exactly why you are to repent all of your sins before you leave for your mission. Because if you still have those sins on your conscience when you leave for the mission field then you are not able to help others as you should. 

It is so important to fix yourself first before you start finding the faults in others. Once we do this then service may be more efficiently displayed. The gospel is true and I can't wait to go on my own mission some day where I may be able to bring others the joy I feel from living the gospel. 

Epiphany!

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true!! It's true it's true it's true! I love the Book of Mormon and I love my Heavenly Father. I love how aware He is of everything I do. All of my needs and righteous desires in life can be fulfilled if I keep the spirit of the Holy Ghost with me. 

So on to the topic of my forum this week. Today I read from the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma chapters 43-49. I love the war chapters. They give you a nice break and sense of excitement and entertainment from the spiritual chapters previous to these ones. And yet, even among all of the excitement, I still have found a way to find the spirituality of these chapters. That is one of the beautiful things about the Book of Mormon. If you listen intently to the spirit of the Holy Ghost while reading you can learn to apply anything you read to your own life. The Book of Mormon was written a long time ago but it is still applicable to today. It's amazing. Only a book that was truly inspired by God could be this way. I mean think about it. How the heck could any of the ancient prophets from this marvelous book even begin to know exactly what to write about that would benefit our lives today had they not been inspired by God? It is simply unfathomable that anybody could believe that Joseph Smith made up what was in The Book of Mormon. I'm sorry I'm kind of ranting. Back to the war chapters.

So what's happening in The Book of Mormon right now is that the Nephites and the Lamanites are basically at war with one another. And the Nephites have begun to be boastful and haven't relied on the Lord for awhile. Whereas the Lamanites have been severely humbled and have had to learn to rely on the Lord. The Nephites only want land and they want to just be rulers over everything. So they are on the attack. Attacking Lamanites so that they may try to rule over them. In contrast, the Lamanites are on the defense. Defending their honor, liberty, families, and religion. But because the Lord is on the Lamanites' side they are continually winning battle after battle because their intentions to fight and defend are righteous and honorable.

This is incredibly applicable to today and here's why:

It is a common occurrence in today's world for people to get bored with their life. They see those who are out drinking and partying and getting wild and on the surface it looks like they're having a blast. And maybe they are. But how long do you think that fun lasts? I can tell you it doesn't last very long. And so when the feeling of brief happiness slips away they go looking for more things to keep them happy. And those viewing on the outside only see what they want them to see: fun. So in order to have fun and get "happy" they go looking for things to do. Of course with the enticing of the devil. Is this no different, in essence, what the Nephites are doing? They go out and look for ways to feel happier by attempting to take peoples' lands. Because without the gospel in their life they are always going to feel a sense of void and wondering, "does it get better than this?" 

Those who live the gospel can tell you that there is more than that. Life's sole purpose is to become like God. To live in such a way that you will be able to live with your Heavenly Father one day. With that goal in mind it easy to see why Latter-Day Saints live the way we do. 

I love this gospel because it makes me a better person and makes me feel like I live a full, complete, and happy life.