What I Believe Part 1

It has recently come to my attention that I have a lot of friends who are non members reading my blog. I have also learned that some are worried about offending me by questioning my beliefs. For today's post I have decided to share some of the things I believe as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints aka Mormons.

I believe that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I believe it to be the word of God. With that being said I also believe the Holy Bible to be the word of God. When we use the term scriptures we are referring to our Book of Mormon as well as the Holy Bible. Many of us have them all combined into one book.

I believe that Joseph Smith received a vision in the Sacred Grove. I believe Joseph Smith translated the Gold Plates he received and those Gold Plates. Those Gold Plates are now the Book of Mormon.

I believe in the Priesthood in our church. That all worthy men can hold the priesthood.

I believe Jesus Christ died for us. He died and felt all the pain we have felt. He did this so that we may return to live with our Heavenly Father.

I believe that we lived in the pre-mortal existence. We were asked to take this test and come to Earth to again return with Heavenly Father.

 I believe that when we are married here on Earth it is "til death do us part." It literally is until we die. However I believe that if you are sealed in the Holy Temple that you can be together for eternity.

I believe that we can return to live with Heavenly Father. We will be judged on our works and that will determine where we will live in the after life.

I believe in the Word of Wisdom. This means no coffee, no black tea, no smoking, no alcohol, no drugs.

I believe in treating our bodies as a Holy Temple. Dress modestly and cover up.

I believe in the Law of Chastity. This law states that we should not have any sexual relations before marriage and once married we will be completely faithful to our spouse.

There are so many other things that I believe, but for today I want to keep it simple and not overwhelm those who are non members. I hope that if any of my friends have questions about my beliefs that they will ask me. I am not afraid to explain why I believe certain things. I know the fact that I believe many of these things is hard for some to grasp because it is a complete 180 from where I was prior to joining the church.

I believe this is the true church and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Missionary Work

  With missionary work expanding so quickly it got me thinking about these young men and women that are spending two years expanding this gospel. One of the missionaries who had a huge part in converting me has been staying with us and it has really had me thinking if these young men and women realize the impact they are making.

   I was not willing to accept the gospel and I sat down with many sets of missionaries. I didn't enjoy their lessons and the fact that I felt like I was being preached to. It wasn't until I met a couple of missionaries that changed my view on the church. They didn't try to just teach me, they tried to be my friend. Once we had more of a friendship I was more open to listening to their lessons and I was much more open to being baptized.

  I hope all the missionaries and return missionaries understand that they are changing lives and giving people  a chance. Without those young men that taught me I would not be where I am today. I would not be sealed to my best friend and I would simply be married until death. However because they chose to go on a mission I can now spend eternity with my family. I know that Heavenly Father sent certain missionaries in my life. I know that I often worry that maybe I was baptized too soon or I wasn't fully converted yet, but I know they changed my life. I am eternally grateful to them for what they did.

  To all those who are thinking of serving a mission please do! People like me need you and without your work it might not be possible! And to those missionaries who changed my life: Elder Redpath, Elder Choate, Elder Bowers, and Elder Akina I am eternally grateful for all of you because my life would be no life at all without this gospel! I am so thankful that you believed in it enough to leave your families for two years so that I can be with mine forever!

  I have a testimony of missionary work and even if you don't serve a full time mission you can still be a missionary! My life has been touched by many that have been missionaries every day! I know that if you serve a mission Heavenly Father will bless you for the work you do and the lives you change!

Stepping Stones to Christ

I was asked to give a talk today at church about Stepping Stones to Christ...heres a copy of what I said =)

I want to start off by reading a poem by DeLynn Decker called Stepping Stones.

---

There I was,

Hopscotching on the rocks

In the turbulent stream

Until suddenly

There weren’t any more,

And I stood forlorn,

Feeling stranded.

In stillness He assured,

Be patient.

When it is time

For the next step,

There will be a stone.

Hasn’t it always

Been so?

Isn’t it true that there will always be another stone? Heavenly Father would never let us fall. As this poem describes stepping stones that is what I was asked to speak on today, stepping stones that will lead us to Jesus Christ. I believe that we are given all the stepping stones, but it is ultimately up to us whether we cross the stream on these stones provided for us or if we attempt to cross the turbulent stream without.

When I was asked to talk on this subject I sat down many times to ponder what I might talk about. Of course I feel as if I have had many stepping stones that brought me to Jesus Christ, but how much should I share and how much have I already talked about previously? What is considered a stepping stone? I feel as if everything in my life has brought me to closer to Jesus Christ. When I first starting thinking about this topic I thought maybe the turbulent stream were my mistakes, my sins. But as I think about it more those things is what has brought me closest to Jesus Christ.

I think that everyone has different stepping stones that leads them to Jesus Christ and many of us share a lot of the common ones, but I can best explain these steps by explaining the steps I took to get me to Jesus Christ. I had good solid stones growing up. I had two wonderful parents that I know I was put with for a reason. They helped me become who I am today. They were a solid foundation for me, but as we all must do I grew up and had to face life on my own and I was lost in life. I was raised Catholic and went to church every Sunday, but as soon as I had a chance to decide for myself I stopped attending. I went years not believing in anything. I spent almost all of my time with people who were Atheist and it was easy to get wrapped up in that. I went years where I felt like there were no stones and that I was almost drowning in the turbulent waters. I know now that there were stones there all along, but I chose to go thru the water without them.  I started to think that maybe there was more. I went to many churches and never felt quite right. Then Heavenly Father put out a big stone for me to see. He gave me a dear friend who was an amazing example of love and showed true charity. She loved me even when I made fun of her for drinking water as I sipped on my coffee from Starbucks. She loved me when I made fun of her beliefs. She loved me enough to feel that I was worthy enough to be like her and sent the missionaries to talk to me. I am very straight forward about how I treated the missionaries. I was not a nice person and I would hide from them. I would make up excuses to avoid having to talk to them. Their life was not the life I wanted to live.

 Then Heavenly Father gave me another stone. He put some missionaries who took the time to get to know me instead of just try to teach me. I finally opened up and took the lessons. It took me a year and half to finally take the biggest step of my life to the next stone. It was a solid, large rock. I felt there was no way I could fall off. The day I stepped on this stone was the day I was baptized as well as the day I received the Holy Ghost. I thought I was safe on this stone. I stayed on there, but I again was missing so many other stepping stones to get across that I stayed in that one place. I stayed in the middle of the turbulent waters on this large stone. When the adversary came in with the worst waters I had ever seen I fell off that stone head first into the waters. I made the worst decisions of my life and pulled away from the church. I could not find anything to grab on to in the waters. I thought for sure I would drown. There were days it felt like it might be better if I did because I didn’t know how to get out.

  But Heavenly Father had a way. He always knew the plan. He had given me my Savior. He had given me the Atonement. I had heard this lesson so many times before. I could be forgiven because Jesus Christ died for me. He died and felt all the things I was going thru. He had always provided me ways to get out of the waters. He had provided ways for me to quickly get across, but I didn’t see them. It was then I realized if I stayed on the stones that they were so closely together that they almost made a bridge. In Doctrine and Covenants 88:63 it says, Draw ^bnear unto me and I will draw near unto you; ^cseek me diligently and ye shall ^dfind me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. “There was no reason that I needed to go near the waters. As long as I draw nearer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ They would draw nearer to me. However it took me falling in to see that.

  Heavenly Father had many stones to remind me of the Atonement and many things that brought me closer to my Savior. He had given me the scriptures to read daily so I would always remember, He gave me the sacrament so that every week I could renew my baptismal covenants, He gave me my callings so that I could serve, He gave me prayer so that I could speak to him, He gave me a Prophet and all the presidency in the church to hear from, my patriarchal blessing. With these things I slowly walked across. I started to do all these things to ensure I would never come close to drowning again. We must always remember that Heavenly Father has promised to help us. In Alma 36:3  He gives us this promise, “And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their ^atrust in God shall be supported in their ^btrials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be ^clifted up at the last day.” We have the support. We have the Atonement always. It is for us to use when needed and we must never be afraid to use it.

  Heavenly Father has more plans for us than we could even imagine and that’s when he threw another stone my way that I wasn’t expecting. I wasn’t convinced that the Single’s Ward was where I belonged, but I thought I’d give it a try. It wasn’t too many weeks later that Heavenly Father blessed me with one of the largest stones in my life. He sent me someone to be my eternal companion. Someone who has become my best friend. When asked to give this talk on stepping stones the first thing that came to my mind was Clint. Clint has made it easy to follow Jesus Christ. From day one I have wanted to be the wife he deserves and he is the main reason I stay on the straight and narrow. I am afraid that if I budge that I would not be worthy of him. He is my life and if it weren’t for him I would not be up here today. Heavenly Father saved me by sending me my husband. We strive daily to ensure we walk across the waters together. We pray together, we read scriptures together, we do family home evening together. We ensure that our home is centered around the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is comforting to walk hand in hand with someone across the waters. I am clumsy and sometimes stumble, but Clint is always there to hold on tight so I don’t fall in.

  As we walk we have had so many amazing stepping stones. We stepped on to the next stone as quickly as we could. We went to the temple to be sealed for all of eternity. This stone is place all across the waters as many of the others are so it is there to help us all the way across. We step on it often as it is the best way to be close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We have had our callings that keep us busy and have made us lots of good friends. Both have kept us going across. Our trip on Trek was a huge stone and it was one we tried to jump over. As much as we wanted to go we knew the hardships we might face once returning home, but Heavenly Father kept putting the huge stone in our way. We realized it was so large that we could not jump over it and so we went. It was life changing. That is the best way I can describe it. Aside from the no showering and porter potties I wanted to stay there forever. The Spirit I felt there was like nothing I have felt.

Going forward we don’t know what other storms and turbulent waters we may face, but what we do know is that Heavenly Father will put stones for us. We are only part way across, but we have faith once we get to the other side of the water that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will reach out their hands to help us out.

 I have always been very open about my progression in the church with all who know me because it is so important for all to know that even if you fall there is always a way back. I know that we can be forgiven for our sins and remember them no more, but it is remembering how I felt during all of these times that keeps me on the straight and narrow. Recently I was talking to a close friend about some things I have gone thru and I explained to her that those mistakes and how I felt have made me scared to budge on anything. I am afraid that if I give the adversary even a little bit that he will somehow take a whole lot. Sin doesn’t start out in a huge way, it starts out little by little and then Satan slowly chips away at you. I let him do this to me once before and I never want to feel that way again so I follow to straight and narrow path. When I need reassurance I find it in Isaiah Chapter 41 verse 10, “ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” We must always remember He is there to help us, but we must be willing to take his help. It is with this assurance that I step from stone to stone and try to not even get my toes wet. As I have progressed in the church the stones have gotten closer and closer. I don’t feel as if I am jumping from one stone to the next with fear of falling in. I don’t have this fear because I do the things that are asked of me. I try to be faithful to my Heavenly Father. I try to show my appreciation to Jesus Christ for all He has done to save me.

I have a testimony that if we use the stones that are provided for us that the adversary will not pull us in. We must stay on the stones and trust that Heavenly Father has put them there for a reason. He has put them there to bring us closer to Him and to Jesus Christ. I have a testimony of the Atonement. I know that Jesus died for us and that He felt all that we do in the Garden of Gethsemane. He died so that we may live with our Father in Heaven. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and know that if we read our scriptures daily that we will draw closer to thee. I know that President Thomas S.  Monson is a true Prophet of God and that if we hear his words and live by them that we will be blessed. If we stay strong and do all that has been asked of us we will get across the turbulent waters safely and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Trek 2013

   I wanted to share the experiences I have had over the past four days because it was life changing. Clint and I were called to be a Ma and Pa of a family for the youth trek to Martin's Cove in Wyoming. We road the bus for what seemed like eternity. It was hot and cramped. We reached our camp site the next morning and we set up camp. We started the day with a short one mile hike and square dancing. I was having fun, but spiritually I was a bit disappointed and worried that maybe I wouldn't feel what I thought I was going to. The next day we woke up very early and started our 10 mile trek. We had 7 kids and a baby (a baby doll). During the beginning each kid took turns holding the baby and about 4 miles in our family was the first to lose our baby. We stopped and buried her, said a quick prayer and had to move on quickly just as the pioneers did. We soon reached the Willie site and we heard stories about pioneers. We stopped and ate lunch and then our family took the lead of all the handcarts. We reached the bottom of a steep hill and they had the men's call out. This was to represent the women who lost their husbands and had to do the trek alone. We watched as all the men walked up the hill and out of our sight. We said a prayer and we started up the hill. At this point the sun decided to finally come out and made it very hot. The girls did amazing and we kept pulling. Finally we were able to see the guys they had to watch us walk thru them as we struggled. Many had tears in their eyes knowing there was nothing they could do. We reached the top and we were exhausted, but instead of resting we ran back down the hill and helped the other sisters to the top.

  We continued on our journey and we got to another hill. We were told to go to the top and the missionary said we were going to see a reenactment of a story. The story is that a wife who was 5 foot and the husband who was about 6 foot were on the trek. He became weak and stopped to sit. He told his wife to go on without him and instead she put him in the cart and pulled him herself. We quickly realized at the bottom of the hill was one of the ma and pas in our group. She was a dear friend of mine and it was hard to watch. We watched as she tried to move the handcart and it didn't budge. At this point I had blisters all over my feet and could barely move, but I walked to the man and asked if I could go help. At first he said no and it broke our hearts. A few minutes later he said to go help her. I ran as fast as I ever had down the hill without even noticing the pain I was in. She was my sister and I needed to help her. Quickly other people joined us and helped push the cart up. This by far was one of the hardest things to watch. It made me realize though we are all children of God. We are all brothers and sisters so much that we look out for each other without even thinking of ourselves.

   We continued on and it started to rain and lightening. I was deathly afraid due to my fear of lightening. We put on our water shoes and went to cross the river. The missionary warned us we would face some mud and that was the biggest understatement of the trip. We came to a mud pit and started to put of handcart in. We could hardly move it. Others jumped in to help us and when I stepped in I got sucked in and the mud was above my knees. We slowly got out and watched others go. When one person was pulling the ricksha it started to tip so I jumped back in the mud to help it from tipping over. I fell and became even dirtier. It was so much fun to see all those helping and all those hands there to pull you out. Everyone got thru and we got to the river. We crossed the river quickly and when we got out it started to hail. It was decent sized and it stung. We were cold and dirty. I was a wreck due to the weather. A good friend of mine talked with me and helped keep me distracted from the lightening. The missionary said to me just remember you are on sacred ground and you are safe. After that comment I felt a calming feeling and the next time it started to lightening I didn't even notice. I have been dealing with that fear my entire left and there it just left me. We made it back to camp safely and exhausted. It was amazing that we faced so many different types of weather. Most agree that we would not change it because it was the closest we could get to how the pioneers felt.

  The next day we drove to Martin's Cove. This was a 6 mile trek and this day was hot. I could barely walk from the pain of the day before. Some offered for me to sit on the ricksha and as nice as that would have been I wanted to feel the pain a bit to get a glimpse of what the pioneers did. We walked to Martin's Cove and the it was beautiful. We stopped at the site that the pioneers camped and then where they buried all their dead. There were many groups besides ours so we were moved around quickly. It was spiritual, but nothing compared to what we faced the day before. We went back that evening and held a family testimony meeting. It was amazing and very special to us to listen to "our children."

  It was time to return home, but first we stopped at Rock Creek. When we started to walk there was a fenced off area and when I entered it my eyes started to water. I felt the Spirit so strongly I could hardly contain myself. We listened to the missionaries tell stories of the 13 who were buried there 4 of which were under the age of 11. We listened about the second rescue. I can't put in to words what I felt here.

  I just want to end and say if there was any doubt anywhere in my life about this gospel it has passed. I know with everything I am that this is the restored gospel. I have such a strong testimony of what these pioneers did. They gave everything to go where they needed to be. They lost family and friends and some gave their lives. However, they would probably do it all over again if asked. I am changed and I want to be better so that what they did was for good reason. We are all pioneers and we need to take the work forward.

We are all Pioneers

Recently in my ward a member of the Bishopric gave a talk about being a pioneer. During his talk he mentioned me and a few others as pioneers of our time. When I heard this statement I found it odd that anyone would see me as a pioneer. A pioneer to me were those individuals who came across by wagons and handcarts in search for a better life. To me that was not what I was doing.

  I thought about his talk for a few days and then decided to look up the word "pioneer." Pioneer is defined as "a person or group that originates or helps open up a new line of thought or activity or a new method or technical development." How did that definition fit my life? I remembered that he mentioned that I was the first one in my family to join the church. This is how I came to know that I am a pioneer.

  I have opened a new line of thought and activity among my family. Although most of them have shown no interest in the church they are now more aware of my religion. They have taken the time to learn the standards that I live and are more open to accepting. Since being baptized my mother has been baptized and has followed suite. I have been a pioneer by living the standards and being faithful in the gospel. I have been a pioneer by sharing my struggles and my triumphs. I have tried to share my ideas on this blog so that others may see that no matter how strong my testimony appears I still struggle with the every day things in life. I struggle spiritually all the time, but I remain steadfast and strong. Sure I have no idea how we will pay our bills next month, but I will first and foremost ensure that I pay my tithing. There are days when I don't feel well and could easily skip church, but I get up and attend. I never feel like there is enough time in the day to study scriptures, do family history, or attend the temple, but I make the time as hard as it may be. I do these things because I so badly want to be blessed. I know that if we do these things that we will be blessed. 

   We are about to embark on a journey to Martin's Cove. We get to reenact a small fraction of what the pioneers from the beginning of the church faced. They were willing to give all their possessions and some even gave their lives for this gospel. I know and pray that spiritually I will be lifted. I need it so much right now. I tried to back out of going on trek because financially it's going to be impossible taking that much time off work. However when I prayed about it and asked Heavenly Father for a sign we received another calling to be a Ma and a Pa. I felt that I could not turn that down so I took that as my answer. I am going on trek and going to leave me stresses behind until I return. I know Heavenly Father will bless us for our diligence. I have a testimony that we can all be pioneers. We can share this gospel with everyone and anyone. We can change lives by being pioneers.

Not One Soul Left Behind

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.”

   I am sure that Heavenly Father put His plan in my life long before I needed it. I was just an investigator of the church and a fairly new one. I knew that geneology was something the Mormons did so I figured why not look up some information. My dad never spoke of his family and I knew the names of his siblings. I called my dad and asked him to give me more detailed information and he could only offer me his father's name. Luckily it was a name that was not common. When I entered in the name on ancestry website it opened so many doors. I found a distant relative that I was able to talk to and get information from. I became addicted to family history, but at the time I still had no idea why the people of the church were so interested in it. I spent days and nights doing the research on my family. I had found relatives back to the 1500s. I printed off all of the information and then tucked it away. 

  A couple years later as a member of the church and now a temple recommend holder I know the importance of family history. I know that my ancestors need a chance to accept this gospel. Since that time I have done more research and found many names of children, aunts, and uncles. I felt the Spirit so strongly when I watched the Young Women and Young Men be baptized for over 30 of my relatives. Without sharing too much of my patriarchal blessing it says that I should not waste time and I should be working on family history always. I never want to let down my Heavenly Father. I actively attend the temple and go thru for my family members. What a blessing to be able to do their work and give them the chance they never had.

   It is a great feeling to know that when I pass thru the veil one day that I will have a crowd of people waiting for me. My ancestors are given a chance to save themselves because of my diligence to family history. All of our families deserve this chance, but it is in our hands. If we are too busy watching tv, surfing the internet, going out with friends, then we are not using our time how Heavenly Father intended. We have been commanded to seek after our dead and we must do so. As Heavenly Father has told me and it can go for anyone else that He did not give me time to waste. We must use our time wisely and search out those ancestors. I don't want to cross the veil and learn of a soul I missed  because I was too busy for family history. 

 I bear my testimony that if we do our family history that our lives will be blessed. If we take time out of busy lives then we can save the souls of many. I will do whatever I need to do to ensure that not one soul is left behind. I say these things in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Be an example

   Be a good example…sounds easy enough right? In the world today there is so much temptation that we must stand our ground. As Latter Day Saints we live by much different standards than most the world. As a convert I still have people in my life that are not members and it is my part as a Latter Day Saint to be that example. How would it appear if I did not live the standards of my religion?

    It was not an easy task to start living the standards that are asked by our Heavenly Father, but they blessings are worth far more than a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, a one night stand, or dressing immodestly.  When presenting my beliefs it is much easier to say that I believe this church is true and I believe so much that I live by all the standards. We are not perfect, but we should always strive to be better. We must be a little better every day.

   When I first started investigating the church the missionaries were sent to my home because I questioned a member on why she followed the Word of Wisdom. When I would have parties at my house for my birthday that involved activities the church does not approve of she would stop by to show support as a friend, but then quickly leave. She was living the standards of the church and I often questioned why she did. After many times of asking she said that I should ask the missionaries and so I did. No one really gave me an answer other than it’s what we are told and it’s what we do. I laughed at this idea.  I wondered why anyone would live certain standards yet have no defined reasons why. Quickly I believed Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, but I could not grasp onto all the “rules” the missionaries said I must follow if I was baptized. I took the lessons and read the Book of Mormon, but continued living my life how I always had been.

    

    One day it all clicked to me that what these Mormons were doing was acting on faith. They believed that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and they followed his teachings.  I realized that if I believed in Joseph Smith I had to accept the standards and live by them even if I truly did not understand them. This is exactly what I did. I wanted to believe so I had my last drink of alcohol, my last cup of coffee, wore my last tank top and small shorts. I embraced the standards and it has been over two years since I have done any of these things.  I am not saying that I have lived the standards 100 percent all the time, but there are some that I have not wavered from.  

 

    I was so incredibly happy the first time someone said to me, “I knew by the way you lived that you were a Mormon.” This statement meant so much to me that because I lived a certain way someone recognized this. I had become a great example just like my friend had been to me.  I have been in the situation where it would have been easier to just do what everyone else was doing, but I did not. I stood my ground and lived the standards that I know bless your life. 

    I say to those who struggle to live the standards that if you get your life on the right path your life will be blessed. Be an example to your friends and to your family.  People are more likely to be interested in the gospel if you are interested.  Be interested in the standards you live so that when people meet you that they know you are a Latter Day Saints. Don’t be afraid to show it and live it. This gospel has blessed my life in so many ways. It is my happiness, my pure happiness. I want to share it with everyone and I want people to ask why I live by certain standards so that I can say, “Let me tell you about the Book of Mormon.” The best way to be a missionary is to live the standards and be a good example.