Repentance is real

I remember when I was younger I ended up dropping a rock on my heel (don't ask how I managed that) and I got a pretty good gash on it. We rushed to the hospital to see what would be needed. My mother kept saying that it was likely I would get stitches. I didn't like the idea of getting needle and thread put through my cut and then later having them cut the thread out. When we arrived, they determined to put stitches in. I was worried. The nurse assured me that she would put numbing ointment on it so I wouldn't feel it. I did. It didn't hurt too much I am sure, but at the time, I thought that it hurt a lot! I left with 7 stitches and I was feeling pretty good that it was all over. Then I remembered! I remembered that they would have to cut the stitches out when it had healed! When I vocalized this concern my mother reassured me, "They actually won't have to do that because the cut wasn't very deep! These stitches are dissolve-able!"
"Dissolve-able!" I thought, "That's genius!"

During the following weeks I was careful to not disturb the cut and to keep it safe. The stitches slowly faded and became part of me! I was amazed!

Upon reflecting on this I realize that when we are hurt spiritually, the Savior Jesus Christ can heal us. No matter how deep the cut is, no matter how worried or hurt you are about it, he will make it right. All it takes is us going to get His help. If I had stayed there with the cut and ignored it, it would have gotten infected and to the point that I wouldn't be able to ignore it any longer. Yet, very often that is the case today. We hide our cuts and tell ourselves they will go away. They hurt us and weigh us down but we trudge on...

As Nephi of the Book of Mormon states " Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."

We cannot be OK with these cuts. They can be healed. The healing power that is used can even become part of us- just as my stitches did. Christ did die for us and it is through him that we are healed.

The Atonement is real.

Examine your life. Are there unresolved cuts? Do you need to be healed? If unsure, ask God in prayer. He will answer you.

Love is found.

Why do you love the people you do? They are just another human being...just another person in the world. What makes us love?

People often look to the world for love. Satan would have us believe the world is where love is found. A friend of mine explained it like this "The world is like living in saltwater, the more you drink- the thirstier you get."

Life is made to be hard. We are here to be tried and tested. Those trials and tests come in many forms. For me, when I feel low, it is usually not from others- but from myself! However, I have still been able to feel love. That love only comes from God.

The love of God is something far reaching. Love breaks down boundaries. It blows away barriers (alliteration is awesome.) It goes far beyond any outward appearance and reaches to the soul. It is key to this life to feel loved.

How can you feel this love?

God, being the ultimate source of love, has given us a way. Through prayer, scripture and applying the teachings (or Gospel ) of Jesus Christ, we can come closer to God and feel that love. We can turn away from the world and change ourselves for the better. We can improve!

"Forgiving ourselves and others is not easy. In fact, for most of us it requires a major change in our attitude and way of thinking—even a change of heart. But there is good news. This “mighty change” of heart is exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The truth is, when you apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you can in turn- share that love.
"There are two kinds of people in the world; those you love and those you don't know yet." -Anonymous

Scripture Power!

"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh" D&C 1:19

When I read this I read it in a few possible ways:
1) The weak things being us as people breaking mighty people down who trust in themself.
Or
2) The weak things being small actions that lead strong people to become weak.
Or
3) The idea of many people (however weak) breaking down something bigger than themselves.

This is a very small (and very limited) demonstration of the many messages you can get from scriptures. Scriptures are unlike any other book in the world though, because the scriptures speak to our soul. Scriptures speak to us through the Spirit of God. As I have read from scripture, I have felt that spirit lift me and help me know what to do in my life. I have been built up by my diligent study of them and continue to be guided by them.

I know that this can be the case for you as well. It is through the scriptures that you can feel of God's love for you. God knows you and the things you are going through and wants to help. I pray that you will let him- through His scriptures.

Give up, but don't give in.

 I have been pondering on the importance of sacrifice. A lot of us sacrifice time, talents, money and much more for something. It really goes back to what and where our priorities are. When we want something badly enough we will give anything to get to it. That may mean giving up sleep to get that A in class. It may mean shooting 100 freethrows to get a consistent shot. It may even mean cutting off our arm to gain freedom.

This concept of sacrifice and it's importance was brought to me again in my studies today. I was reading in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma. Chapter 15:16. It says "And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;"

After reading that I was astouded by Amulek's dedication and love for the word of God. He was willing to give up everything for it! He even gave up his family and friends (let alone all his wordly possesions) for the word of God! He knew it was important and he gave everything to it.

Now I ask- What stops us? Why do we continue to hold on to things we know are not of worth? Where are our priorities?

I invite you to find something to give to the Lord as a sacrifice. It will be hard, but it will be worth it.

The most wonderful time

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year. I've always loved the snow and the seeming peace and quiet it brings into the world. I love that everyone feels good and wants to spread that holiday cheer. I love the time with family. I love the traditions and treats.It is all beautiful.

I used to always think it had to snow around Christmas to make it a real Christmas. I have found that is false.The spirit of Christmas is still here whether (get it?) there is snow or not. California is awesome and I really am happy to be out here. The spirit of Christmas is the same here as I am sure it is back home.

Really, it all goes back to Christ. Christ is universal. He is the key part of CHRISTmas. As I have been out on a mission I have come to realize that more and more. I love it. It brings me comfort to know that there are people who follow Christ. It brings me comfort to know that we can gain strength from Him. And most important, it brings me comfort that through Him we can be made whole. This truly is a time to celebrate! He was brought into this world to help us and He can- as we let Him in our homes and our lives.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

When we're helping, we're happy.

I like to help. I always have. Growing up, when any of my friends mentioned having a problem, I'd be right there with anything I could offer. I found often times, I was occupied with just listening to people or becoming a sounding board for people.  I always wanted to be that person to help others in any way I could. I found satisfaction in helping even if it meant spending  personal time or other minor (and sometimes major) inconvieniences. This not only improved my listening skills, but also helped my desire to serve.

The problem is, I am but one person and  I have found many things are way over my head. I often wondered how a lot of my friends dealt with some of the issues they had. I loved them to death though and still wanted to help! I think of all the advice I could have given, the best advice I could offer was to pray about it.

Why does prayer help? It is because God is a loving Heavenly Father. If you love someone you want to communicate with them. You talk to them in any way possible to let them know your thoughts and feelings. You grow close to them and learn to rely on them. In this case, relying on Heavenly Father instead of an earthly friend is much better because unlike your earthly friend, your Heavenly Father has ALL the answers.

In fact, it is part of why I am out here serving a mission today. I have prayed a lot throughout my life and have that desire to serve. It has been that constant prayer that has helped me through many trying times in my life. It had been through praying that I have found counsel and advice that has helped me in my life. It is through prayer that I have really gained a testimony of truth and know that my Heavenly Father is there and not only is there, but intently listening to what I have to say.

"By small and simple things...."

It's funny some of the things our memory can bring out. Sometimes it's odd what we remember. As I look back I can of course remember the main events in my life (baptism, graduation, college, mission etc.) but I find even more joy when I can remember those little snippets of memory that just come to you seemingly at random. Something just triggers them and then it all floods back in.


It's sweet.


It's nice remembering the exact feeling of pulling a bow across the string of an upright bass and listening to the sound reverberate through the house. Or the feelings you had when your friend just stops by to see you when he returned from a long time away. I am thoroughly convinced that it truly is those small moments in time that matter.


It brings to mind on of my favorite scriptures. It's in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma the prophet. It says in chapter 37 verse 6: "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. " 


We are building all these little actions, all these memories....really, all that we are. We are heading somewhere but I challenge you to examine where that is. If it is not in a positive direction, if it is not toward Jesus Christ and his Gospel, there is no anchor to our life. I can testify that Jesus is key. As we strive to be like Him and improve ourselves we can find joy in those small and simple things as we progress toward true happiness. And that is exactly where Jesus Christ and His Gospel will take you.