Now or Later

There are two attributes I have always wanted to have: charity and humility. I can't even count the number of times I have prayed to be more charitable and humble. Year after year I pleaded for Heavenly Father to help me know how to attain them and make them a part of me. Many times He has helped me but I always felt like I just wasn't getting there. Sometimes I wondered if I would ever improve. But I continued to try and seek God's help.

Then I was given the opportunity to spend a lot of time with a person who was extremely charitable and humble. As I watched her it greatly influenced me. I found myself caring more and serving others. I thought less of myself and more of others. I was willing to share and sacrifice. I had charity and humlity. It was wonderful! God had given me an amazing opportunity to improve and grow.

I still have a lot to improve with being charitable and humble, yet I know God will help me. He will answer my prayers but it will be in His time and in His way. I just have to be patient.

To read the rest of the speech by Robert D. Hales, click here. 

An Ensign to the Nations

Next weekend is General Conference and I am so excited! We get to listen to a prophets and apostles. What a blessing! We get to hear what the Lord has to say through His servants. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the twelve apostles gave a wonderful talk last year about the gift that it is to have modern revelation. I want to share it with you.

If you want to watch General Conference click here.

Meaningful

Prayer and faith, they just naturally go together. Like peanut butter and jelly or Oreos and milk. Alone they are good, but together they are AMAZING! Lately thought I only seem to be getting one or the other. I came to realize it when I was reading The Book of Mormon and found this verse:

"O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him." (Mormon 9:27)

I wasn't doing both and therefore wasn't receiving the full help and blessings I could. So I made a change and what a difference it has made. I find my prayers are meaningful and that I have the Spirit with me more often. I am able to accomplish the work that I am called to with greater ability and success. It is wonderful! So what are you going to do to make your prayers more meaningful?

“As we speak of prayer, I emphasize the word meaningful. Simply saying prayers is quite a different thing from engaging in meaningful prayer.”

Elder David A. Bednar

It Will Show

Here is another story and you get to watch it!!!! This one comes from Elder Quentin L. Cook

This young woman's purse clearly showed what type of person she was. The same is with us and our actions. As we make choices we show what kind of people we are.  If we truly love our Heavenly Father and Savior than it shows in what we think, say, and do. So today will you show that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? 

We Have Each Other

I really enjoyed my last post and so I am going to continue with sharing stories for awhile. So here is one from Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

On August 15, 2007, Peru suffered a massive earthquake that all but destroyed the coastal cities of Pisco and Chincha..... Four days after the earthquake, Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy was in Chincha helping to coordinate the Church’s relief efforts there and met President Conde. As they talked about the destruction that had occurred and what was being done to help the victims, President Conde’s wife, Pamela, approached carrying one of her small children. Elder Nash asked Sister Conde how her children were. With a smile, she replied that through the goodness of God they were all safe and well. He asked about the Condes’ home.

“It’s gone,” she said simply.

“What about your belongings?” he inquired.

“Everything was buried in the rubble of our home,” Sister Conde replied.

“And yet,” Elder Nash noted, “you are smiling as we talk.”

“Yes,” she said, “I have prayed and I am at peace. We have all we need. We have each other, we have our children, we are sealed in the temple, we have this marvelous Church, and we have the Lord. We can build again with the Lord’s help.”

(Click here to read the rest the talk) 

This sweet woman understood what truly mattered. She had the gospel of Jesus Christ and her family. And even more reassuring to her was that she knew her family was sealed for all time and eternity. I also know my family is sealed together and that even after we leave this earth we will still be a family. It is gives me so much peace. I am extremely grateful for my Heavenly Father and His love for me and my family. Do you want to feel His love and have an eternal family. Learn more here.

I just love my family!

Then What Else Matters

Today I read a story shared by Elder Neil A. Anderson and really liked it. So I am sharing it with you:

"Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of meeting a young naval officer from Asia. The officer had not been a Christian, but during training in the United States, he had learned about the Church and was baptized. He was now preparing to return to his native land.

President Hinckley asked the officer: “Your people are not Christians. What will happen when you return home a Christian, and, more particularly, a Mormon Christian?”

The officer’s face clouded, and he replied: “My family will be disappointed. … As for my future and my career, all opportunity may be foreclosed against me.”

President Hinckley asked, “Are you willing to pay so great a price for the gospel?”

With his dark eyes moistened by tears, he answered with a question: “It’s true, isn’t it?”

President Hinckley responded, “Yes, it is true.”

To which the officer replied, “Then what else matters?”"

(Click here to read the rest the talk)

I love what the officer said at the end. The gospel is true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored church of our Savior. And that is all that matters.