Where are you going?

Optimism v. Pessimism.  Two polar opposites which we face daily.  The world throws many different views on this.  Like the one shown just to the left in this picture.  Why be optimistic? 

Optimism shows faith.  Optimism shows a hope in the futures and what one cannot see.  Optimism shows a faith and hope in the Savior of the world.  

Moroni, in the Book of Mormon says," And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith(Ether 12:6).

Being optimistic or having a hope for the future and a faith in Christ shows that faith and hope in the unseen.  As we show our faith and hope in Christ we will be able to dance in the rains and storms of life.  We will see the eternal perspective and have the dirt and mud scraped away from our windshield. 

Let us not see and focus on the couple of dark clouds in the sky and miss the gorgeous sunset on the horizon.

To speak or not to speak. That is the question?

Have you ever had one of those experiences when you say something and the second you say it you wish you could take back.  Many embarrassing and hurtful experiences start just that way.  The power of what we say seems to penetrate to the very core of one’s soul.  You might say it does not affect them?  Think again!  Russell Wilcox in an article called Is Anyone Laughing said, "People might put up with put-downs and manage a chuckle for the sake of saving face, but deep down, negative humor hurts. No matter how perfect the timing or how smoothly executed the joke, usually the only ones laughing are those who are afraid they may be your next targets."

Let us follow the savior's words by being "holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1:15) and having our "words tend to edifying one another" (Doctrine and Covenants 136:24).

Why is it important to always uplift those around us through our words?  Christ said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40)

This scr. tells us that when we put down and say something negative to one of Christ's children we are saying it to him.  Let us uplift our language and in the process come closer to our Savior, Heavenly Father, Spirit, and be a greater instrument in the hands of the Master.

 

Let your light so shine

In Christ's Sermon on the Mount He says, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16 ).

Light is wonderful.  It gets brighter the closer to the source one gets.  Light when not prohibited will light up the area it is into different degrees.  When a "bushel" for example covers it the light is blocked from lighting up its surroundings. 

What bushels do we put over our light?  It could be the fear of rejection, popularity, acceptance, or something being too hard.  Might I suggest we remove those things which keep the light of Christ from spreading to every heart, people, family, city, and country.

Marianne Williamson in her poem Our Greatest Fear I think says it best.  

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of

God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  As we do we give others permission to do the same.  Christ lives and wants us to shine forth the light of Christ that is in each of us.

Faith without works

One Sunday afternoon my companion and I were tracting.  We knocked on a door and a man in his 40's answered the door.  He invited us in and sat us down at his kitchen table.  He proceeded to explain he was reformed Lutheran, and then jumped right into asking us questions and explaining to us what he found wrong in the "Mormon" church.  Over the discussion we talked a lot about the plan of salvation.  He explained to us that he does not believe in a pre-earth life and that works do not matter.  We are automatically saved. 

I have thought a lot about this.  I testify there is a loving Heavenly Father, and because he loves us he provided a way that we can be like him.  Before we came to earth we were spirit children of our Heavenly Father.  One of the major differences between us and Him was that He had a body of flesh and bones.  The Lord wanted us to have bodies like him so he provided a way that such could happen.  The Plan of Salvation was presented and Christ was chosen as our Savior (Abraham 3:27).  The plan included us coming to earth and being tried and tested.  A test is given to see if you will choose the right answer.  This test we are a part of is all on the job.  We are here to see if we will choose Christ and liberty or Satan and destruction (2 Nephi 2:27).  Christ said this on faith unto works in his Sermon on the Mount, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 7:21). 

Let us do the will of the father.  Let us do what he has commanded us, and we shall find our Savior and eternal happiness. 

 How grateful I am for the opportunity we have to come to earth and experience the good and the bad.  The Lord truly does love us and that is why we are here.  We are saved by grace after we try our hardest through faith and works (2 Nephi 25:23).  This is done through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Christ lives and loves us.  We are here to gain our salvation.  Let us follow our Savior and King. 



 

Faith to Let Go

There was once a young man who was hiking along a trail which followed the edge of a cliff.  The young man slipped.  As he fell over the cliff, he grabbed onto a root sticking out of the side of the cliff.  There he hung helplessly.  Christ came to him and asked, "Do you believe I can save you?"  The young man replied, "Yes."  Christ left and came again asking the same question, "Do you believe that I can save you?"  Again the young man answered in the affirmative.  Christ left a second time and returned asking the same question with the young man answering, "Yes."  Christ then looked at the young man and said, "Then let go."

Sometimes that is what it takes.  Let go and allow the Savior to provide yet another miracle in our life.  In Genesis 22 we find the account of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. He did so humbly.  He took his son and hiked to the appointed location and put his son on the altar.  The Lord waited till the last moment to stop Abraham from killing Isaac.  Abraham proved that he was willing to "let go".  Because of that the Lord through an angel stopped Abraham and provided a ram to be sacrificed in the place of Isaac. Then the Lord in his infinite love goes on to bless not only Abraham and Isaac but all of his seed and posterity.  When Abraham was willing to "let go" and do what ever the Lord would have him do, he soured instead of fell.  The Lord will do the same with us as we “let go”.  There are some mountains which can only be climbed by letting go and allowing the savior to carry us by the wind to the top.

Reviewing the Past

A year ago I went on a church history tour with a bunch of my cousins and some other individuals who soon became our good friends. During this two week tour we saw many of the early church history sights such as Nauvoo, the sacred grove, and the Susquehanna River.  Along with visiting the church history sights, we stopped in Washington DC to look at some of our country sights.  As we arrived, we piled off the bus and quickly walked up to the famous fence to take pictures.  After taking pictures and talking to other people, we piled back onto the bus to go to our next destination.  When arriving at my seat I noticed my backpack was missing.  I ran up to the front of the bus, informing the driver of my dilemma and ran back towards the white fence in hopes of finding my backpack.  As I came into view of the fence I could tell something was not right.  Everyone had been pushed back, about 40 yards, from the fence.  I asked someone what was going on.  They informed me that there was a bomb scare.  I quickly looked towards the fence and there was my backpack, sitting alone next to the fence exactly where I had put it down to take pictures.  I then proceeded to leave the line of people and walk out, sheepishly, into no mans land in search of one of the policeman on a bike.  I told him that was my backpack.  He then proceeded to go through the process of clearing me to be able to get my backpack back.  After I was clear, I was allowed to open my backpack and show him what was in it.  I showed him a couple of empty water-bottles and a Book of Mormon.  After showing him this, I was permitted to take my backpack and leave.  As I was from no mans land back to the crowd of people, there were cameras flashing and video cameras rolling.  I felt like a movie star.  Once the pictures were over, I made my way through my new fan club back to the bus.  When I climbed onto the bus I was greeted with a standing ovation by the rest of the group.  After this experience, of course as cousins do, the teasing came.  I was informed that I was the best room clearer they had ever seen.  They chided me about being a terrorist and hiding bombs in my luggage. 

As I think back about this experience, I laugh now but in the moment to be honest I was scared to death.  It is interesting to note how when we are going through hard times we do not see the blessings that come from it.  I find the most growth occurs when the perfect amount of opposition is present.  The Lord knows the perfect amount of opposition to create the optimum growth.  In 1 Cor. 10:13 God says through Paul, " There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  The Lord knows what to bless us with so that we can have the optimum amount of growth.  Let us always remember that.  Then at the very end the Lord through Paul tells us that he will also "make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Let us move forward with a hope in Christ enough to turn to Christ and faith enough to walk into the darkness in front of us. 

Fear Not I am with you

In Doctrine and Covenants 84, Joseph Smith receives a revelation from the Lord.  During this time many missionaries were returning home.  In verse 88 the Lord says, "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  It is interesting to note that the Lord promises angels "before your face...on your right hand and on your left."  There is no specific mention of angels behind you.  This teaches me a lot about faith.  We have to move forward.  We learn of the importance of this faith to act when we look at the 2,000 stripling warriors.  Their fathers had taken an oath never to take up arms again.  In a selfless act they enlisted to protect their family, country, and faith. These young men showed incredible faith to defend their families against the enemy who was much better trained.  After one battle Helaman asked how many of his "sons" had died.  He said of this experience, "“to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds… we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God.”(Alma 57:25-26) Because of these young men's faith to act they were all delivered.  Let us moved forward with faith and the Lord will prosper and protect us.