Highlights of Hawaii Trip

I was able to have the opportunity to travel to Hawaii with my family for about 10 days. It was a blast, well worth it. All my life I had dreamed of traveling there and now I have lived a dream and it sure was paradise.
Here in this picture, My sister Jill and I went for a walk on Waikiki on Sunday Morning.

In the following picture, there is Jill, I, Cali and my Aunt Laree which is out on the balcony of our hotel over looking Waikiki.

In this one we had traveled to the North Shore and went to get the best shaved ice in Oahu which is called 'Matsumotos' here is my mom and me eating some yummy shaved ice with ice cream and sweetened condensed milk.

Here is where we went snorkling, its at Hanama Bay. Which was a lovely day, Snorkling is a blast, I was even able to see a Sea Turtle.

In this one was overlooking a blowhole which is close to Hanama Bay.

In this one we were at Pearl Harbor, we went to the USS Arizona Memorial. Which was amazing to be able to see these things.



In this picture is My Dad and I in a Botanical Garden in Honolulu.

In the following is with my brother Daniel and I in front of the Pali Road Hike.

This is me in front of the japanese temple

This is the Blumels Ladies out shoppoing at Waikiki.

This is of me and my mother in front of the Laie Hawaii Temple.

I am in front of some Falls at the Polynessian Cultural Center

This is with Jill, Aunt LaRee and I on the beach our last night at our timeshare. What a beautiful evening it was though.

This is on one of the cliffs by our timeshare overlooking the ocean with my parasol

This is on a hike to Manoa Falls

Conference

This past weekend we had General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and it was one of the most amazing conferences that I have ever been to. I am ever so grateful for having living Prophets and Apostlesl. Some of the talks that really helped me and became some of my favorite talks were
1. Elder Jeffrey R. Hollands talk where he talked about the Atonement, and it was the most amazing talk that I had ever heard on the atonement. I was pretty much crying through the whole thing, the spirit struck every chord in my heart and through everyone that was watching it. The things that I really enjoyed that he talked about was that there was no rest for Christ. AS time got closer for him to be crucified his circle of friendships had got smaller and smaller, He knew that they wouldnt stand with them in the end. Although the Women stayed with him as much as they possibly could. He hadnt comprehended the loss of support on both sides of the veil. But he had to know what it was like to be alone-as what happens when we commit sin or transgressions. Even though He pleased the Father perfectly. But Jesus held on and pressed on even in a state of anguish. However we dont have to walk alone, we have many companions because of the Atonement and the Gospel. Lets all be committed to be disciples of Christ. Lets stand by Jesus Christ in all things, all places even unto Death.
2. Alan F. Packer talked about how we need to practice and apply the gospel principles until they become natural to us. Testimony is to know and feel, Conversion is to do and become.
* First we must have the desire
* Seond we must experiment upon the word (Alma 32:28)
* Third we must study and learn
* Fourth we must ask for a testimony of truth, to apply the doctrine in our lives.
3. Pres. Dieter F Uchtdorf talked about how the gospel is Good News. it has the answers to all of our questons. its the ultimate formula to happiness. The more we are filled with the spirit of God the more we reach out to others. We need to nourish the seed, to get root and to grow and then partake of the fruit. Discipleship is a journey. The Gospel is the Gsopel of Transformation. The Lord needs our talents and our abilities. It has the power to fill any emptiness and heal any wound. Its always he right time to walk in His way.
4. Pres Thomas S Monson told this story of this woman who lived in Prussia and was kicked out, she had four small children and her husband had been killed in the war, and through the journey slowly her four children had died. She dug their graves with her bare hands. Which was hard from the cold. But the one thing that got her through was her Faith in Christ, it had strengthened her and fortified her.
5. Elder Perry talked about how we are the shepherds to find the lost sheep and bring them back in the fold. We are to find those whom the missionaries can then teach. Great things are going to happen and it should be with great earnest. We can give them hope and courage and embrace the gospel. Its centered on the Atonement to heal and cleanse us. All mankind is invited to be rescued. All of us need to teach this message. We must testify to others, open your mouths and they shall be filled. There are 3 Ways to do that:
1. Declare our beliefs in Christ and the Atonement
2. Tell the story of the First Vision with Joseph Smith where the true nature of the Godhead is revealed on the Earth.
3. Testify of the Book of Mormon which compliments the bible. We are his sheep, the Savior is the Good Shepherd. He has the power to rescue us when we are lost.
These are just a few of the amazing conference and I am so grateful and feel so blessed for this Gospel for it has blessed my life beyond measure.

A Righteous Self Respect

This following Article caught my eye and I really enjoyed it and helped me gain a better eternal perspective.


Certain products from the hair care industry are promoted with the catchy motto: "You're worth it." The implication is that the extra cost of the product is justified because the customer deserves it, or is "worth it."

We might be well advised to adopt a similar motto: "I'm worth it."

This isn't meant in a haughty or egotistical vein; rather, it's intended as a reminder of who we are individually: a son or daughter of God, a person of value, someone who really is worth something.

Some people make disparaging comments about themselves: "I'm stupid." "I never do anything right." "I'm not good for anything." The list of put-downs of the self is long. And so wrong.

A psychologist once said: "The first thing to be done to help a man to moral regeneration is to restore, if possible, his self-respect."

And an unknown Englishman of earlier days wove this prayer: "O God, help me to hold a high opinion of myself."

"That," said President Harold B. Lee of the Englishman's plea, "should be the prayer of every soul; not an abnormally developed self-esteem that becomes haughtiness, conceit, or arrogance, but a righteous self-respect that might be defined as 'belief in one's own worth, worth to God, and worth to man"' (Stand Ye in Holy Places, p. 7).

The most sure way to achieve a healthy sense of self-worth, self-respect or self-esteem is to understand our divine heritage. We know little about our pre-mortal existence, but we do know that we were valiant sons and daughters of God who accepted His great plan of salvation. Because of our loyalty to His cause, we gained the privilege of obtaining mortal bodies and coming to Earth as sons and daughters of worth.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves" (History of the Church, 6:303).

In our own day, we have this counsel: "Knowing who you are — who you really are — is closely tied to knowing God, for you are His children" (President James E. Faust, First Presidency Message, Ensign, March 2001, p. 2).

Latter-day Saint children sing, "I Am a Child of God," which helps them learn of their divine lineage.

The precept that we are children of God isn't new to latter-day revelation and teachings. From the Old Testament, we are taught, "All of you are children of the most High" (Psalm 82:6).

And the New Testament tells us, "We are the offspring of God" (Acts 17:29).

Jesus instructed His disciples how to pray: "Our Father which art in heaven.... (Matthew 6:9).

In an address at the most recent general conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve noted that negative speaking "so often flows from negative thinking, including negative thinking about ourselves. We see our own faults, we speak — or at least think — critically of ourselves, and before long that is how we see everyone and everything. No sunshine, no roses, no promise of hope or happiness. Before long we and everybody around us are miserable."

Elder Holland quoted from Elder Orson F. Whitney's conference address of April 1917: "The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things. The opposite or pessimistic spirit drags men down and away from God, looks on the dark side, murmurs, complains, and is slow to yield obedience."

We have just commemorated the Easter season, and in every sacrament meeting we are reminded of the Atonement. As we contemplate what the Savior did for each one of us, we must realize that He felt that we were worth His pain and suffering. He made that sacrifice so that each one of us "might repent and come unto him" (Doctrine and Covenants 18:11). He wants us to be with Him. He regards us as having worth.

Let us endeavor to recognize who every one of us is — a child of God. Knowing this, we can recognize not only our value, but also that of everyone else. We can have an optimistic spirit about ourselves and who we are. And, in our upward reach to improve our lives, and in acknowledging and expressing appreciation for the good things that come our way, we can say, "I'm worth it."