2014 Challenge

I posted about this on facebook, but I also wanted to post it on here. So our Bishop challenged the youth and leaders starting January 1 to beat him at reading the Book of Mormon by October. I love this challenge however I felt that I wanted to go a bit further. I decided that I would get a copy like the missionaries give out and cover it nicely on the front, read it cover to cover, mark it up, leave notes, and last leave my testimony in it. I will then pass it on to someone who is a non member that I think can benefit from it (although I think everyone can benefit). This is my challenge for 2014. I have been trying to track down as many copies of the soft cover books I can find...and no such luck! Lds.org is sold out and backordered! I also posted on facebook and so far have only found someone with a couple. I need so many more that I can redo and give out to people to do this challenge. I want to make it big so that we can all be missionaries...the more we can pass on the better! So please help if you have any laying around please let me have them I will love you forever!! Thanks...and Happy New Year!

Think Before You Speak

Guilty as charged!! This topic is something that has been weighing on my mind because I am guilty at doing this: not thinking before I speak. I remember a conversation with a friend when I simply told a friend that atimes are not good right now as we owe our Home Owners Association fee which is a lot of money. I did not think much of what I was saying and although this comment would probably have some friends agree with me I was not thinking of the person I said it too. He replied that he could not wait until the day he had to pay a home owner's association fee because that would mean he would finally own his own home.  I instantly felt horrible. Here I was complaining about something that he could only dream about. I put this in the back of mind and tried to watch what I said to others.

  In Doctrine and Covenants 78:19 it states, " He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious." We must always remember to be thankful for our blessings and also remember to find the true meaning of our trials. Keep in mind that others are fighting battles too. I think everyone needs to vent at times and that is perfectly acceptable. What I am suggesting is that maybe we be more careful about how we vent or complain. I once read a book that suggested you pick one person you vent to and that is the only person you vent too. I have tried this is my own life and I have one friend that I tell everything too. For the most part I keep my struggles to myself aside from telling her. This helps to ensure that I will not offend anyone with my complaints about life's struggles.

  We must keep others in mind at all times. Think before you speak. Think could this person be offended by my complaints. Remember that although you might not be in love with your house layout that there are those who would just love a home to call their own; that you hardly have money to do anything fun there are those who can't even pay all their bills; that your kids are driving you crazy or you never have free time that there are those who would give up all their free time to be able to have children. These are just a few examples of simple things that you might say that could hurt other people.

 I strive every day to keep my life positive and I know that I am blessed because I do so. We must always be thankful for everything we are given in life and even those things we are not given. Heavenly Father knows what we need and He will provide for us. I urge everyone to just think next time before you speak negatively about something if the person you are saying it too could take offense to it. I urge everyone to pick a venting buddy! It is good to get out life's frustrations. Pray to Heavenly Father for guidance. He is there to help you.

I've Repented: Now What?

   Repentance is defined as one of the first principles of the gospel and is essential to our temporal and eternal happiness. It is much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments.

  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints there are some situations when part of repenting is confessing our sins to the priesthood authority such as Bishop, Stake President etc. We must repent of all sins because we can not be in Heavenly Father's presence if we are unclean. We must repent, abandon sin, and get on the path of living a righteous life. What happens when we have done all of these things yet others have not forgotten?

   In Doctrine and Covenants 58:42 it states,  "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." Often when we sin our sins can have a negative effect on others so when we have repented and the Lord remembers our sin no more how do we move on when others still remember?  And more so how do we move on when we have asked those for forgiveness and not yet received it from them.

  We must stand strong and know that we have done what the Lord has asked of us. We have confessed and repented. We have changed our hearts and abandoned those sins. We have put ourselves on the righteous path. We will not be able to please everyone in this life and there will always be those that will judge us for our past transgressions. We must remember however that we have been forgiven by the only one who truly matters, our Heavenly Father.

 I know from personal experience how difficult remembering that simple fact can be. I had to repent of my sins and although I was told I was forgiven. Others had not forgiven me as quickly. I have struggled over that fact for many years until I realized that I was letting the judgment of others define who I was. I wanted to be on the righteous path. Satan will pull you in his direction any way he can. He will convince you that because others are judging you and that because others haven't forgiven you that maybe Heavenly Father has not. Do not give in. Stand strong and know that if Heavenly Father has forgiven you and others have not then it is on them. We are commanded to forgive those as Heavenly Father has forgiven us.

  I have a testimony of the repentance process. I know that if we truly repent and abandon the sin that we can and will be forgiven. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and wants what is best for us. I know that we most only remember what He feels and not what others feel about our sin. We must move on and become the righteous being we came here to be.

Prayer: It is for You

  I had a talk with someone recently that has brought some thoughts to my mind. We discussed remaining calm when upset or frustrated. When I was alone later with my thoughts I wondered how do I stay calm when I am upset or frustrated. We are all human, but how is it that I stay positive and calm? I used to have a very bad temper and I would fly off the handle over little things, but today that is not who I am. You might wonder what has changed and that is my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I learned how to pray.

 This topic is for everyone. We can all pray to our Heavenly Father and the more we do it the easier it becomes. We should not only pray in time of need, but also to give thanks for all the blessings we do have. When I first joined the church I disliked praying. It felt uncomfortable and I felt like my prayers sounded silly. In fact the first time I prayed out loud in front of anyone I told the missionary, who requested that I say the prayer, that I hated him. I said it in the middle of my prayer. Not a proud moment, but a view at how much I disliked it. Over the past couple years I have learned to pray to my Heavenly Father.

  How does being frustrated and upset all the time have anything to do with prayer? Well every morning my husband and I say a prayer together. It is typically about the same things. We are thankful for our blessings, our good night rest, we hope to get to work and return safely, and that we will each have a great day. Simple and to the point, but I have a testimony that those prayers are what get me thru the day. There have been days when I am in a hurry and run out the door without saying a prayer. I can feel the change in my attitude and my outlook on the day.

 Our rule is that we pray daily at least three times. We make it a rule so that eventually it will become a habit. I challenge everyone to make prayer a priority in your life. Even those of you who are not members of the same church as me can still pray. We can all use the guidance and we must learn to talk to our Heavenly Father. How will He ever know what you are seeking if you do not ask? He will listen to everything you have to say and remember it always. My challenge to all this week is to get on your knees at least once and say a prayer to Heavenly Father, even if the prayer is silently in your own head while on your knees. You will feel a change start to happen and if you make prayer a priority then you will see a change in your life. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.