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."

Something Wonderful!

Something wonderful is waiting to embrace you
I know when you're tired
and feel like fading
and there's nowhere left to go
When tears are falling down
and your heart is on the floor
Keep on walking my friend
cause something wonderful
is right outside your door

Something wonderful awaits you
to take you where dreams have never gone
And though you're still in this moment
holding on, just holding on
And no one knows what you've been through
or gone a miule in your shoes
Keep on walking my friend
cause something wonderful
is waiting for you

When the walls come down around you
and you want to throw the fight
and the mighty winds surround you
what an unforgiving night
keep looking up to heaven
and you will see the light
Endure the reasons why

Something wonderful is waiting to embrace you
and although your heart is on the floor
keep on walking my friend
cause something wonderful
is right outside your door
Something wonderful is right outside your door!

"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"

As I was reading in a book written by Cheiki N. Okazaki, she talked about this hymn that has helped both her and her husband through the trials and rough seas of life. As as I was reading it, it has started to take meaning for me as well.
" Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
oh, what needless pain we bear.
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
is there trouble anywhere?
we should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer

can we find a friend so faithful,
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows out every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

are we weary and heavy-laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge!
take it to the Lord in prayer.

do they friends despise, forsake thee?
take it to the Lord in prayer.
in his arms He'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find solace there.

Prayer Journal

On Friday I had one of my closest friends in the ward, Jenn Nielson, and she came over to visit me. She brought by this journal, and we visited for a while. After she had left I noticed that she had written in the first page, and she wanted to give me a special gift, its called a "Prayer Journal" and whenever I kneel down to pray, to just imagine that I am sitting next to Heavenly Father and just talk to Him about anything, and then while I am praying have the Journal close by to write down any inspirations that come to me or feeligns that I have through the prayer. That next morning I tried that and it was amazing the feelings that I felt was his powerful love for me. I started crying because the feelings were so overpowering that all I could do was cry, and I realized that He does love me so much, much more than I could ever realize. That he wants me to return to Him. I am going to endeavor to stand a little taller, serve a little better, and love with fullness of heart. I hope and Pray that the Lord will help to accomplish all that is in His and the Fathers will.

Stake Enrichment

Today we had a stake enrichment, and it was absoulutely amazing. There was the opening exercises with the recently called and recently released Relief Society President that gave a short talks. Then there were classes that we could take, and they were amazing. The first one talked about feeding our buckets with different variety of flowers with things such as scripture study, prayer, temple attendance, obedience to the commandments, service, ect. Then our spring of water to feed our buckets of flowers needs to be rememebrance, remembering Christ in our lives, our blessings, the atonement, and how remembering Christ in our lives helps bring peace to our lives. The second class that I took talked about having a home thats clean and organized. Such as the scripture says in D&C 88:119 " Organize yourselves;prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." Then in the last class talked about how each difficult situation that we have in our lives we have two choices: the first is we can worry, stress and have fear run our lives. The second choice would be to have faith, trust in God, and feel his peace and love in our lives.

Inviting the Savior into Our Lives

Inviting the Savior into Our Lives
One day when I was feeling very humble and thankful for what Jesus had done for me, I decided to invite Him into the home of my heart. He came without hesitation and filled my house with job.
I said to Him, “I hope you will stay and feel at home here,” He said “I’m sure I will. Why don’t you show me around,” the first room we went into was the Library. This was a small round room with very thick walls. It contained everything I had ever read, listened to or watched. Suddenly I felt very embarrassed over some of the trivia I had collected there. I’m sure he felt y embarrassment because he suggested that if we worked together, He could help me add more worthwhile items. He said “You know the Library is a very important room because it is sort of control room for the rest of the house,” Then He said He would like to see the dining room. I took Him into this big room filled with appetites and desires. I told Hi I had a hard time ever finding anything here that satisfied my hunger. He suggested a new diet and told me that if I follow it closely, I would never feel hungry again. I have had just a little taste of this new diet and I think He is quite right.
Next we went to the basement to see my workshop. I have a lot of tools in my workshop but I always seem so busy and everything just looks half done. Again I felt embarrassed and started making excuses about being awkward and clumsy. He said “ Would you like to be able to use the tools in your workshop better?” and I said “Oh yes, would you help me?” and He said “ I was wondering if you would ask me,” and so He stood behind me and put His great powerful hands over mind and guided them, and then He showed me how to use the tools in the workshop. I marveled at what we were able to produce together. “Will you always help me?” I asked. And He said “Yes, if you invite me to, but I never come unless I am invited,”
After the workshop we went to the Drawing Room. This is a small, quiet, peaceful place for deep thoughts and meditation. He seemed pleased with this room and was very comfortable. He said, “Lets meet together often here-at least twice a day. We can talk about your activities, plans an problem’s,” I thought that was a wonderful idea and I set the time for the appointments.
Now I was beginning to feel that his was a very one-sided relationship and so I said “Isn’t there something I can do for you; you have done so much for me?” and He said, “Yes, there is a great deal you can do for me. I was wondering if you would want to help me,” and then He told me of His endless projects and how some of them took money(none of which he had). I told Him I would be honored to serve on His projects and that He would be more than welcome to use some of my money. I could see right away that all of these projects were for the benefit of people just like me
Then I could tell something was bothering Him. He very kindly said “ There is a peculiar odor in this house and it’s coming from that locked closet. Why don’t we open it and see what the problem is?” Now this really made me made! Here I had let Him into every room in my house. I had promised to run errands for Him, let Him use my money and now he wanted to look in my secret closet. “It’s very small and the rest of the house if quite comfortable and very presentable so it shouldn’t make any difference what’s in the closet!” He said “ I cannot stay in this house if you do not give me the key to the closet.” And so He left.
I was so mad. Despair, gloom and depression came over me. Nothing seemed to go right. Because you see, once having had Him as a guest in my home, life was unbearable without Him. And so I went and tearfully pleaded with Him, “Please come back. I will give you the key to the closet. I will hold nothing from you,” He came, I have Him the key, and He opened it. Quickly and efficiently He cleaned out all that refuse I had been trying to hide, ignore or pretend did not exist. He fumigated, painted, and made the closet perfectly acceptable. I bowed my head and said “I feel so ashamed that you know what I have been hiding in my closet,” and He said “You know I have cleaned out so many closets I can never remember afterwards what was in any of them. It’s a strange thing. All I see here now is a house that is totally acceptable to me,” And then I knew why I loved him so much.
Later I got to thinking how much better everything would work out if I just signed the whole house over to Him. So I got the deed and did that very thing. He seemed pleased and did a lot of remodeling that strengthened the house and made it an all around even better place to live. He then told me that eventually He would move my house to another area but I was not to worry about a thing. He would take care of all the arrangements. I was not to even worry about the day or way it would take place. He said I would be thrilled with the new neighborhood!