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Saturday, February 21, 2009

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.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

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!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Fun at Institute!!


I have always loved attending institute, but this semester, I feel it was so right for me to take the classes that I am taking now. I am taking Book of Mormon and Teachings of Joseph Smith, and I am really enjoy both. They are both night classes and are each an hour and an half. They are both pretty big as well, but the teachers are pretty amazing and inspired. This past week I have really come to love the Teachings of Joseph Smith, we talked about him as a person about his feelings toward his family. There was one thing I though that was interesting about him. There was a journal entry that was found not too long ago. It was found by a friend of my institute teacher, this journal entry basically said that Joseph Smith had built a tomb for him and his family, at the time his father and his two brothers had passed away. So it was in Kirtland( I think) Anyway and so a couple people went over there and they found one. They say it was big enough to house everyone of his family. I thought that was very intersting, and I had no idea about that, I think its a more recent thing about him though. But it was great to hear all these interesting facts about him that I had no idea. The church has taken on a project called the Jospeh Smith Papers. Its a pretty big project, its about 30 volumes-500 to 700 pages each, all information about Joseph Smith. There are so many things about the gospel that we can learn from and apply to our lives.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Importance of Goal Setting


Last sunday we had the most wonderful Sacrament Meeting, the spirit was so strong, and the topic was how vital it is that we set goals in our lives. Sometimes at the beginning of the year we set yearly goals and we attempt for a week or just a little more but we never accomplish it most time. Why is this? What keeps us from keeping our commitments to accomplish these goals. First we have to have the full desire in our minds and hearts to want to set that goal and accomplish that goal. Second we need to say a prayer to our Heavenly Father and ask him to help us to accomplish this goal, to be able to have his support and his love in this endeavor. Our goals also need to be specific. We also need to have a plan on how we are going accomplish the goal. We also need to have reminders where we most commonly are. Such as our mirror and fridges and desks. Our goals need to be sincere, from the heart and something that can be accomplished. They need to be within reach, to be righteous goals so that we may have God's help in accomplishing our goals. God's goal for us is to find Joy in our lives, as we set to accomplish this goal he has for us we will be blessed and feel his love.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

A Covenant People

On Saturday and Sunday I had the opportunity to go to stake conference and Elder Perry was there. On Saturday I was able to shake his hand and I was surprised at first how tall he was. My dad used to tell me that he is really tall, but I didn't realize how tall until I talked with him. In the Adult Session he talked about the Plan of happiness and about temples and how important it is to hold a recommend, even if you arent near a temple. That there are four priorities we need to have. 1st-our family 2nd- fathers preside and provide for the needs of the family. 3rd to serve in his kingdom and to do that we need to be fulfilling our callings to the best of our abilities. 4th to have time for ourselves- to study, to meditate, to plan and prepare, to see who we are and to progress in the way we should. To see where we stand with our Savior, Jesus Christ and with our Fathers Plan.
On Sunday he talked about how this is the information age, but we are short in testimonies of Christ that burn within us. There are four cornerstones: the first is that we have a personal witness of Jesus Christ. The Second Cornerstone is belief in Joseph Smith- that the windows of heaven were opened unto him and what a marvelous work and wonder that is. That we can rely on the messages found in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Third Cornerstone is the Book of Mormon. We can read and study it, He declared the Godhead, the priesthood restored on this earth, gave Joseph Smith powers from on high to decalre unto the world the restored and fulness of the gospel. He was guided by the holy spirit. Its another testament of Jesus Christ. Cintaing the fulness of the everlasting gospel. A new living witness of Jesus Christ and a guide on how we should live. The Fourth Cornerstone- the restoration of the Priesthood, all things are upheld and sustained, its the power of God. Its the perfect government on Earth. We have the privelage of prophets through the power of the priesthood. We have prophets to lead and guide us.
After conference was over, I had the opportunity to reflect on what I had heard. I am ever so grateful for the blessings that we have received.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Dreams

Feeling the crisp air filtering through my hair,
I slowly close my eyes, shutting out God's beautiful masterpiece...
Supping in the moment, my mind flows down my arms.
How, with such blessed amazement surrounding me
can they remain empty, vacant of love's embrace?
Opening again, my eyes linger upon the winters' day end


and again, are amazed...
Amazed at the love shedding itself from heaven's canvas
painted and chilled by cloudy brushes.



Smelling the crisp air in motion, love's empty contrast
sets itself into my heart.
Weakened by years of effort in truth, silenced by emptiness.



I exhale.



Seeing crystals of my breath in the air
immediately brings vibrant colors...
shaping themselves into diamonds
set on a beautiful white dress.



Taken back, the pain comes vividly and catches itself
momentarily to a glorious goddess.
Dressed in diamond white she looks longingly,
almost painfully to the disappearing sunset.



Then, as quickly as she had come,
she fades as my breath dissipates to nothing.



Looking down, the snow becomes warm and fragrant...
Pillows of beauty beneath me - choking out the reality
and setting the perfect picture for
a dream come true.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Lights at Temple Square


I was able to have the opportunity to go with my amazing roommate to temple square with some of her family. I always love going there, especially at this time of year. Its so beautiful and amazing there. There are so many things to see, one of the things that I loved, was that there was so many different nativity scenes from different cultures, and I thought that was pretty cool! I had an amazing time and Sarah's family is really great and we had alot of fun!!