Many Mighty Miracles

I have seen miracles. Not the ones where the seas are parted or individuals raised from the dead. But the truly mighty ones where hearts are softened and lives changed. So many miracles that I will never forget. I thank my Heavenly Father for each one and praise His name forever.  

Read Alma 26 for those who also saw these miracles. 

Never Ending

Opening a letter or email from my father is one of the most exciting things from me on my mission. It always makes me happy and leaves a smile on my face. I treasure them like gold. Each one is a sign of his love for me. They tell me about his life and how he is doing. They encourage me and keep me going. I am so grateful for what he has shared with me. 

But does that mean I don't want more? 

Goodness no! I always want to be in touch with him. I love reading what he says or listening to his advice or stories. I always plan on being close with my father. And I know that he feels the same way. He will always be there for me. He will always counsel, guide, and love me.

So why would it be any different with my Heavenly Father?

It wouldn't be and isn't. I talk to Him every day and He responds back. God answers my prayers because He loves me and wants to lead me in the correct path. I receive inspiration that I cherish and am grateful for. We are never done talking. I will never stop needing Him and He will never stop leading me.

And am I the only one?

Nope. Each of God's children can pray and talk to Him. And even more, God has called a prophet through whom He speaks to all of His children. God has called many prophets throughout time to lead His children and He continues to do so. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he reveleath his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) I testify that God has called a prophet of God and speaks to him. We can receive personal revelation through prayer. Our Heavenly Father is not done speaking to us and never will be. He loves us.

Click here to read about the prophet and what he has spoken.

The Wrong Note

As a child my wonderful mother attempted to teach me how to play the piano. I say attempted because I was not the best student. The problem was what happened during our lessons. I would practice all week and then it came time to play what I had learned. All went well until I hit the wrong note. I could not move on from that wrong note. It required me to start over and over. Eventually I would start crying and give up. I could not get it right and so I was done. I wanted to play perfectly. 

And that was (and sometimes still is) the problem. I expected perfection now. If I cannot get it right, why even try? Because in the trying and practicing it is that we learn. Perfection is not automatic. It is a process of changing and refining my heart and soul. I am here to become like my Savior.

Such a Time as This

Have you ever noticed how things happen to work out perfectly? That for some reason you are in the right place, at the right time, with the right person, and have exactly what is needed. I have experienced this a lot on my mission. And sometimes I just call it a coincidence. But when I really look at how well everything worked out, I realize how very wrong I am. I see how clearly that God had His hand in it. That everything was perfect because of Him. Then I am filled with so much gratitude for my Heavenly Father. It makes me think of the story of Esther. Everything was perfect so that she might save a nation. I love what her uncle, Mordecai said to her, "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14). Esther was sent to the kingdom for that time and because she acted in faith many lives were saved. Heavenly Father places us where we need to be and if we are willing He can work through us. Are you where you need to be? Are you doing what the Lord is asking of you? Are you saving nations?

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Questions

Something I have come to love is questions. They are a daily part of my life. I ask and others ask. I am pretty sure I prefer a question mark to any other punctuation. But why? (a question!)


Because they are challenges. They are adventures. They reveal the truth. They reveal knowledge. They are the beginning of change. 


Almost every morning that I study I write down questions. But theses aren't factual questions or deep doctrine questions. No, they are soul searching questions. Questions that cause me to think, to ponder, to evaluate. To take a look at myself and see where I am at. Am I like my Savior? Is the Lord happy with me? How can I improve? And as I ask myself these questions and think, I receive guidance from the Lord. He helps me answers those questions and sometimes the answers are painful and hard to accept. But that causes the change. The longing to do better comes. To find the peace that I am doing as our Savior wants.

So, my challenge today for you is to ask those soul searching questions. To look at your life and improve. Make those changes that your Savior wants you to make. Will you do it?

Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

-3 Nephi 14:7

(And if you need help coming up with great questions read Alma 5. There are over 30 questions in there.)

Broken Bowl

I feel like in the past 17 months I have dealt with so many personal problems. That I have had to face things I have pushed away and didn't want to face. It is hard to figure them out but goodness it is wonderful. It is like I am this shattered bowl that I fixed nicely with duct tape but my mission has stripped the tape off one piece at a time and I am having to be fixed correctly. That Christ is restoring me to perfection. Not just patching me together with tape. It is scary to realize that I'm not as stable and whole as I pretend to be. But facing it is better than pretending nothing is wrong. I am coming to see that everyone has struggles and it is okay. That they don't have to be hidden. I can take then to Heavenly Father and through Christ they can be fixed. 

Crazy But Wonderful

I have been thinking about my family a lot lately for many reasons. Probably because they are so awesome. 

And so I want to share them with you.

 These are my amazing parents. Just last month they celebrated their 32 anniversary. Honestly they are the best people I know. My father is extremely hard-working but loves to laugh and have fun. He has a sweet and spiritual side to him that I love. My mother is the most Christ-like person I know. She loves everyone and does all she can to help them. She is the definition of charity. I hope to be like both of my parents.




The siblings. They are my best friends. The ones I will always love to be around. Just seeing them makes me happy. When I would come home from college on the weekends all I wanted to do was hang out with them. My favorite memories in life include them.





I was blessed with two sisters, Ann (right) and Val (left). Two girls who have guided and helped me. They have loved me with all my weirdness. I am grateful for their examples. Ann is so giving and loving. She has a knack for teaching I could only hope for. Val is patient and sweet. I admire her strong will and endurance.

I only have one brother and that is too many. Just kidding. He is the best. Andrew always makes me laugh. And he seems to be there for me just when I need him. I am grateful for the things he has taught me. 

Andrew married Missy and I am sooo glad. I just love her. She is fun and happy. I love what she adds to our family.












When Val first met Joel I wasn't so sure about the skinny stick she was dating. But I have seen how great of a husband he is and I know he takes good care of my sister. Having another brother isn't too bad.







This is little Stella. She was only two months old when I left on my mission. She is adorable though and super smart. We are going to be the best of friends when I get to see her again.











And this is Katie. She was born while I have been on my mission and I have never met this cute little thing but I am so excited to. I just want to kiss those chubby cheeks.

So that is my family. Crazy but wonderful.

And the best part...

we are forever. 

“And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory”

-D&C 130:2

You can have an eternal family also. Find out more here.