No Weekend Visits

 I think we have all heard the term Sunday mormon. Should we be more then a one day a week church goer? The answer to that is simple, no. We are part of a great church. If all we do is go attend church meetings on sunday and then do nothing else, then what is the point of going to church? to improve our self? I believe that no matter what religion you belong to, you should not visit God just on the weekend. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want to have us visit them often. How do we do this? We pray every single day (personal, family, morning, noon, night, over every meal, etc.), studying the scriptures every single day by yourself and as a family. Going to the temple at least once or more a month if possible, serving those around you, actually thinking of our Savior in all that you do, thanking God for all He has given you. There is so many countless ways to visit God daily that there should be no excuse, in my mind, of why we cant visit God daily. Going to church helps us learn more about Heavenly Father and Jesus the things we have forgotten because of the veil that was put over our mind when we came here to earth to be tried and tested and found worthy to live with God in his presence FOREVER. We can only be found worthy if we visit with God each and every single day and not just on the weekends.

Knock and it will be open to you

I actually really love this scripture is Matthew 7:7 because it shows us that Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ will never leave us alone. Yes the door may be open when we get there but I personally believe that most of the time, we must knock, seek, and keep knocking. If we are going to visit a friend or family member are we just going to knock once and if they don't answer right away do we just leave?? Usually not. We might peak around the side of the house to see if we can hear or see them out in the back yard if we know the person well. We might send a text or call them. And if that doesn't work we might try knocking again. Why is it any different when we are trying to talk to God? He wants us to visit Him and to get to know Him as he knows us. How do we do this? By DAILY personal and family prayer and scripture study. With scripture study, I don't just mean the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. I want to include your patriarchal blessing, the Ensign, New Era, and Friend magazines. Scripture study doesn't have to be reading a set number of chapters a day. Do you really learn what the Lord wants us to learn by reading 1 chapter a day? I don't. I learn the most when I take the time to actually study, not read the scriptures. I would also include any material for Sunday School, Priesthood, and Relief Society as scripture. If the First Presidency wants us to be taught in church about these things, then shouldn't we study it as if it is scripture because in my mind, it truly is scripture.One of my best friends told me that sometimes we need to plead on our knees before we get an answer because we need to show Heavenly Father that we really really want it. As I have thought about this, I have come to the conclusion that its not to show Heavenly Father we really really want it, but to show our self we want it. Heavenly Father knows everything that our heart desires and that is why I say it is for us. My challenge to you is to knock, seek, and keep knocking until you get an answer from Heavenly Father. Dont forget there are three different answers He can give, yes, no, and no reply at all. I had a different friend tell me that this last response from Heavenly Father is Him trusting us enough to make the choice. It could be all the options/choices in front of you are good ones for us and He already knows the choice we will make will be the best one for us, but do we always know that without struggling some?

Tithing

Tithing is a simple thing that can make the biggest difference. Tithing is giving 10% of your income back to the Lord. 10% of your gross or net is up to you, but i have heard someone say something to the effect of, do you want normal blessings, or great blessings? I have a testimony of tithing. Things just ALWAYS have a way of working out when tithing is one of the first things i take out of my check each payday. This year, i haven't been the best at paying my tithing each payday this year and it has been a bit stressful to say the least in trying to pay my bills. Each time i actually do pay my tithing, i am able to pay all my bills and have a little extra for me, but more importantly, i am happy. I know that as we each faithfully pay our tithing, things WILL work out. It may take a tiny bit of time for it to happen since Gods ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), but it will work out. 

Diamond in the rough

Have you ever wondered where diamonds come from? I have. I remember asking my mom about 15 years ago and her telling me, that it is just a piece of ugly black charcoal that has been put under tremendous stress and pressure that has held it well and is transformed into a beautiful  diamond. As C.S. Lewis said hardships really do prepare us people for extraordinary things. We can look at the prophet Joseph Smith Jr. He has an infection that lasted for several months and ended up settling into his bone marrow that they ended up cutting out of his leg WITHOUT any kind of anesthesia what so ever, he was persecuted from age 14 on when he told people he saw God the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove. Joseph and Emma lost 4-6 of the their children in infancy for different reasons. He was tarred and feathered several times. He was thrown into jail on false charges several times. He was chastised for asking to lend Martin Harris the 116 pages that ended up getting lost. He was murdered in his late 30's or early 40's (cant remember which) all to bring about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in these the latter days. What Joseph went through has literally brought MILLIONS to a restored knowledge of Jesus Christ and his gospel, but even more importantly, it allowed Joseph to turn to God our Heavenly Father in his trials and struggles. It allowed Joseph to find who he was and what he was willing to give up to help spread the gospel even farther in the world. 

We each go through trials and struggle with different things for many reasons to help us turn to God. It allows us to prepare for eternal life in the presence of God. Yes, life is hard. Yes we ALL struggle. Yes some give up. Yes we need to TRY again and again and again. Jesus Christ gave his life up for us, even if we do not partake of this amazing blessing. How many of us would be willing to die for every single person who has come, is currently on earth, and has yet to come to earth, no matter if they are male or female, no matter if you are white, black, chinese, japanese, indian, mexican, spanish, no matter what sins or crimes you commit in life??  The point of life is to turn to God in all our troubles and trials and to allow them to shape us into a person worthy to life with God for eternity. Dont give up. Dont give in. Turn to God always and he truly will direct your paths back to Him (Proverbs 3:6).

Divine Nature

I am trying to update more often, but time gets away from me so quickly. I want to take a moment and share my testimony today about a few things. It is pretty awesome to know we are not spiritual orphans! I know each of us comes from Father and Mother in Heaven and that we lived before we came to earth and had relationships there as we do here. It is a amazing feeling to have found at least one of my friends from our pre-mortal/pre-earth life. She is one of my best friends in the whole world. If you haven't found one of your friends from before, that is ok. You will know very quickly after meeting them. She has helped me and I have helped her as well. We may live almost a 1000 miles apart but we are close as friends because we both know we have a divine nature and relationships before this mortal life.



There has been days while working when i have listened to some coworkers complain and gossip and after a while of this i was starting to do the same and i noticed it was affecting me so i decided to get away from them and try my hardest to look for the good in people and not allow gossip to affect me like i was. By changing this small thing, i have been able to attract positive things again into my life and it is a wonderful feeling to know and feel happy again.
I know that what President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said is true. You really dont have to cross the finish line to receive his blessings. He is just waiting to bless us. We are also meant to shine out and NOT blend in. We carry a light others can see in us and it helps them out much more then we know. Life is just about readjusting the sails because we cant direct the wind.
Fatherhood is just as important as motherhood. I know i wouldn't be who i am without my dad. He has been a great example to me. He is very hard working and so willing to help out where he can. He has given me countless blessings when i need them.


We need to teach and educate children to be happy rather then be rich. When we die we will only take our knowledge with us and nothing else and this is why it is important to serve those around us. We should be using our talents to glorify God and none else. When it does rain, it does pour but i have never heard of a storm NOT ending. The rain will stop, the clouds will go away, the sun will shine again. dont give up and better days are on the way. We do need to surround our self with those who we are willing to comfort in the dark, guide them through it, and celebrate with them when they reach the rainbow on the other side.

Just a reminder, I take no credit for these photos. I have found them on facebook and believe they are worth sharing again. I am trying to only use photos that has the authors's name on it to try and give credit to who it belongs to. If you find one without credit, I dont know who the author and if you know please let me know so i can give credit where it is due. Thank you.

Never Give Up!!!!!!

I just want to take a quick moment and update again. I am going to really really try to update more often. I kinda slack off at times because i am so tired after work i dont want to do much other then relax. Anyways I just want to say never ever ever give up! There has been so many times that i have wanted to just give up because it seems too hard but i just suck it up and stick with what i am doing (work or personal) and things always have a way of working out for the better when you just stick with it. I found all these pictures on facebook and i take no credit for them. I absolutely love this first one! We should not compare ourselves to the person next to us. the only person we should compare ourselves to is our self. As long as we are even ever so slightly doing better then the day before, then you have improved. That is all we can ask of ourselves.   I have yet to find that i have expected too much of myself. I put my best foot forward (sometimes with a little grumbling sadly even as an adult) and try to do better then the day before. Setting goals is a great way to improve your day to day life. Do it to help you be a better father or mother or spouse. Just get out and do something. :)

It may seem at times that trials wont end but remember that trials make our faith stronger. Remember were you come from and never forget it. We are each a beloved child of God. I know this. I know I wouldn't be who i am without that knowledge. Set a place for those who are suppose to be in your life. It is a great support system. I am pretty blessed because i have so many friends and family i can go to when i need help or an answer. You and Heavenly Father write your life. Dont let other peoples opinions/views destroy your life. You can choose to be offended or to forgive them. Sometimes it takes a LOT of time, but never give up.  Something I am still working on (and probably will for my whole life) is waiting patiently for my life to align with Heavenly Fathers timing. I get so inpatient at times and it really does take all my energy to tell my self to just hold on and dont jump the gun. It is frustrating at times but it is helping me to become more patient for future events (whatever they may be). 

Missionary work is something else I have a testimony of. I have watched my friends go out and come back a totally different and spiritually mature person. I have also had to the opportunity to watch my younger sibling's friends go out and write a few of them and its been really neat to watch them grow. Now i get to watch my cousins go out over the next decade.  Last year i got to watch the first cousin prepare and put his papers in and i was able to be there and watch him open his call and I have no doubt in my mind that this is what he is suppose to be doing right now. The waves of missionaries going out is staggering to me! You dont have to have a missionary name tag to share the gospel. This blog is my way of sharing the gospel the best i can. Another way is to just smile and acknowledge every single person you see. Even it is that person you dont get along with or like. 

We are so technology absorbed that i believe we often for the Lord. Cell phones, Ipads, Itouchs, computers, internet are all just a means of distracting each of us from finding the gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan is extremely cunning. He is trying harder and harder and harder to pull each of us, member and non-member alike away from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. If satan uses technology, which he does, to his advantage, then why not us? We have countless free and cheap gospel books and apps that allows us access to the gospel books, manuals, music, and countless other material to help us learn the gospel better and share it as well. I have started to re-memorize The Living Christ. I memorized it almost 6 years ago and havent really done anything with it and I am using a free app that helps you memorize scripture mastery and a few other short articles (the living christ, the family: a proclamation to the world, declaration of independence, etc) and i am using it when i am on break or lunch at work instead of watching TV.  

Start each day new. Wake up with a smile and share it. Trials will come before the blessings. Miracles come after the trial of your faith so dont give up. Its getting late and i need to get to sleep so, have a awesome day and remember you are a precious son or daughter of God. dont forget.

Who's side are you on?

Here are some pictures i have found on facebook and would like to share them. i know we aren't suppose to be too busy for God. i know that i belong to the true church of God. We must always be trying to move forward and to do that we have to give up some things. We become who we want and choose to be. I know i wouldn't be who i am without Heavenly Father in my life. i am eternally grateful for Them and all they do to help me in my mortal life. There are times in each of our lives where it feels as if there is no end to the tunnel of  darkness we are in. Don't give up no matter what! After the trial comes the blessings.Great things really are in store for each of us if we are willing to submit our will our eternal Father in Heaven. We have the scriptures to help us as we are passing through the dark and wearisome tunnel. The more we partake, the more light we will have. There are also times when all we need to do is take the jump. Combining prayer to  scripture study will also help us in our journey. God is my refuge. If i stay close to Him, then i cannot go wrong. i know this to be true.  I also have just a couple of quick little things from Disney. they pretty much are just food for thought because they are things we can live by if we choose.