Cleansing Effects of Fire

      Growing up I learned the importance of opposition in all things. I have learned that opposition is all around us. When you start to get on top someone decides it is time to try and knock you down. When you try to do what is right, the doors open for you to do wrong and you have to make a choice. There are things in our lives that can be used for good and bad depending on how we want to use them. For instance Fire. Fire has been a blessing to man from the beginning of time. It gives us light. It gives us a way to sustain life through warmth and cooking food. I remember sometimes during the spring we would use fire to burn grass in the ditches or the lawn, to clean any impurities from it. This would allow the water to run freely through the ditches and the grass to grow greener. Whenever I had a sliver I was taught to burn the end of a needle to clean it before useing it. So many times fire can be used for great purposes. However, in opposition to those uses come consequences if used wrongly. If we let the fire burn the grass too much it wouldn't grow back. If I touched the fire it would burn me which has no possitive effect. Careless use of fire can cause great destruction in wildlife and communtities.

                                                                              

      Recently I learned of a fire burning out of control near my home in Arizona. Supposedly the fire was started by careless campers who left their fire to go on a walk. The winds caught some embers and caused the surrounding area dry from lack of rain to catch fire. It took no time for the heavy spring winds to quickly spread the fire.

       Currently the fire has burned 339,000 arcres and has 0% containment. Over 8,000 people have been forced from homes with over 3,000 people being prepared to evacuate. There are over 2,500 people along with many pieces of machinery fighting the fire. It is crazy to think how something so useful as fire can yet be so destructive. It can be a great aid to humanity, yet it can be a great downfall. There are things in life that we must learn to control and use for the purposes they are intended for.

        There is another type of fire that is talked about in the scriptures, and that is the baptism by fire or the Holy Ghost. Just like fire, the Holy Ghost has many uses in our lives. Just like fire the Holy Ghost works in ways of opposition as well. He works in our lives according to our obedience and ways that we live our lives. Just like we must be careful when using fire we must be careful to never lose the fire of the Holy Ghost. If we follow the teachings of the scriptures and modern day prophets we will have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. So what does the Holy Ghost do for us, and what specificaly must we do to have him with us all the time?

The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, along with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is one in purpose with the Father and the Son, but is a separate being. Through Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed:(2)

  

The special mission of the Holy Ghost is to testify of the Father and the Son, to reveal the truth (Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4,5), to comfort us (John 14:26), and to sanctify us. He is a divine guide and teacher.

"Almost everyone has felt the Holy Ghost at some time. But there is a difference between experiencing the occasional influence of the Holy Ghost and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Although the Holy Ghost may temporarily comfort someone or reveal truth to them, the gift of the Holy Ghost is reserved for those who have been baptized and confirmed into Christ’s Church. This gift is the privilege of enjoying the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost conditional upon keeping the commandments.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is given when a person is confirmed a member of the Church after baptism by someone having priesthood authority from God. It is given by the person having authority laying their hands upon the head of the person who was baptized and giving them a blessing to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-18). Whether or not we then receive this great gift depends on our keeping the commandments of God."(3)

    Like fire, the Holy Ghost has a cleansing effect on us. Just like we must be careful when using fire we must be careful to never lose the fire of the Holy Ghost. When we sin the spirit is driven away from us because it cannot be in unholy places, but when we repent and live the gospel standards we feel clean and pure. I know that through repentance we can receive the fire or feelings that the Holy Ghost gives us. When we do what is right we receive feelings in our heart.
       The Scriptures Teach:

  But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your ^dbosom shall ^eburn within you; therefore, you shall ^ffeel that it is right.

  But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a ^astupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is ^bsacred save it be given you from me. (Doctrine and Covenants section 9:8-9)

      I know how much the Holy Ghost can and will help us in our lives if we will take the time to allow him to. God works in us through the Holy Ghost. As we strive to be obedient to God's commandments we can have the "burning" feelings of the Holy Ghost at all times to lead us to always make the right choices and do the right things.

Power Through The Priesthood

          When I was in the sixth grade I had an accident that helped me gain a strong testimony of the power of the Priesthood. I had just woken up from a nap and had to go feed the cows before dinner. I hopped on my bike to ride down to the barn. As I was coming around the corner there was a big pudle of water that I tried to avoid, but because of my speed my back tire slid out from under me and my handle bar hit my stomach and knocked the air out of me. After what seemed forever I got my breath back and staggered back up to the house. I laid on the couch for awhile and my mom thought I was just being a baby. She told me to go upstairs and lie down. She told me that I just needed to suck it up and I would get better. Around 11 O'clock that night my parents decided to take me to a family friend who was a doctor. He checked my stomach and thought it would be good to go to the hopital. Before we left my Father and the doctor who both held the Priesthood authority of God laid their hands on my head and gave me a Priesthood blessing.


       Now I am sure that some of you are wondering what the Priesthood authority of God is and why it is so important in the world today?
   
    (1)  The priesthood is the authority to act in God’s name. The same priesthood authority that existed in the original Church established by Jesus Christ exists in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. The Church is directed and led through this authority. All male members of the Church who are prepared receive the priesthood in order to help lead the Church and serve Heavenly Father’s children. A man with the priesthood might serve in some of the following ways:

• Leading congregations of the Church
• Performing the ordinances of the Church, such as baptism
• Blessing those who are sick

      I was one of those who was sick after having my bike reck and I was able to receive a blessing. We arrived at the hospital and they ran tests on me to see what was wrong. They found out that I had lacerated my liver. Because I lived in a small town and resources were tight I was flown to a major hospital in Phoenix Arizona. There I was put into the ICU. One night I wasn't doing very well. I had a fever and was in a lot of pain. The doctor's came in and decided that they would do surgery. They left and prepared the room for me to have surgery and returned again thirty minutes later. They decided to check me again just to make sure I needed surgery. In that thirty minute time span my liver had healed just enough to where I didn't have to have surgery. The liver is the only internal organism that heals by itself. However, I know that it wasn't just luck that kept me from having surgery, but it was the Priesthood of God that healed me. I was still kept under close watch, but was released from the hospital a few days later.  

           I know that the Priesthood authority works in the world today. God has a living prophet on the earth. The Priesthood is a blessing in our lives. through it the necessary ordinances can be performed and we can experience many miracles.

Do you want to be Happy?

“Do you want to be  happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. . . . Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ.”  President Gordon B. Hinckley

Service allows us to practice doing what Jesus would do. It connects us to those we serve and gives us a kind of satisfaction that self-interest can never offer.(1)

Serving like Jesus Christ has a cleansing effect on us. It helps us understand the idea that our time, talents and possessions are not just our own.(2)

The way to show our love for God is to serve each other. Luckily, the different ways we can bear one another's burdens are almost limitless. Think of all the financial, emotional, physical and spiritual help we can offer others. Think of your own talents. Maybe you're good with numbers, you're very creative, you don't get angry easily—whatever. Think how much those talents mean when you share them with someone who needs your particular brand of expertise. Even the little things we do, like helping someone in their garden or holding open a door, can make life a little easier for someone else. A person doesn't have to look far to find opportunities to donate their time and energy. The beauty of following Christ's example is that we don't need to evaluate who, when or how we serve, we just act. Service can be planned or spontaneous, for someone we know or a stranger. Christian service shies away from recognition, accepts no reward and its only motivation is love.(3)

 “He who lives only unto himself withers and dies, while he who forgets himself in the service of others grows and blossoms in this life and in eternity.” President Gordon B. Hinckley(4)

   I know in my life, the times I am happiest is when I am serving others. I know that if you want to find happiness in your lives then reach out to others. Find someone who is struggling more than you and lift them up. I know that as you do this you will forget about you own struggles and find greater happiness in life.

Choosing Happiness At The Crossroads

Do you ever hit a point in life where you don't know which way to go? Do you ever feel no one is there to support you or help you make important decisions? Do you ever think there is more to life than what you are doing? Do you ever feel like there is more happiness to life, but you don't know where to find it? At some time or another in our lives we will come to a crossroad where we are looking for something more. Something that will help us be better people. Something that will help us find the most happiness in life.

        We have a loving Heavenly Father who loves each of us and will help us find the path that will bring us the greatest amount of happiness. This happiness comes from his restored gospel. I testify that the True gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth through a prophet once again.

 

The Restoration of The Gospel on Prezi

What Do I Do To Be Happy?

Daily Life as a Missionary on Prezi

Downfalls To Triumphs

My companion and I were at a member's house the other day and he showed us this video of The Canadian Tenors singing Allelujah with Celine Dion. This song talks about how even some of the greatest people have faults, but no matter what happens in their lives they still sing hallelujah.  

I feel this song teaches us a great lesson. We all have downfalls in our lives, we all have struggles and challenges, but we can choose to either dwell on the bad or look for the good.

 President Thomas S. Monson has given us his prophetic witness. He said: “I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments.”

President Monson continued: “My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”(1)

Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.”(2)

There is another kind of pain for which we are responsible. Spiritual pain lies deep within our souls and can feel unquenchable, even as being racked with an“inexpressible horror,” as Alma described. It comes from our sinful actions and lack of repentance. For this pain too there is a cure that is universal and absolute. It is from the Father, through the Son, and it is for each of us who is willing to do all that is necessary to repent. Christ said, “Will ye not now return unto me … and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3)

I know that Jesus Christ can heal each of us and help us triumph over our downfalls. Life isn't always easy, but if we put our trust in God and have hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ I know we can be healed.

Dayton's Legs

"Have you ever felt lonely? Do you notice those who are lonely, living in a black-and-white world?" (1)

Out of love, a 13-year-old boy in Arizona pushed himself to the limit so that his friend, who has cerebral palsy, could participate with him in a triathlon.

President Thomas S. Monson taught us how to interact with our peers and everyone we meet when he told the young women of the Church, “My precious young sisters, I plead with you to have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued.” (2)

I love this video because it does exactly what President Monson encourages us to do. To not judge others, but to treat them with kindness and make sure everyone feels included.