I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.

“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed some one's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”
― Marjorie Pay Hinckley

This is a quote from the wife of the late prophet Gordon B Hinckley. It has changed the way I view my life. We read in the book of mormon,  in Alma 34:32- For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. This life is about preparation in meeting our maker. Shiny sports cars, beautiful clothes, and beautiful outward appearance are nice. But in the big picture don't mean a thing. I want as Sister Hinckley wants the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.

Seeking for higher ground

    I seem to be finding all my ideas from talks I have recently read. That's probably cause Apostles and Prophets say it better than I do. But it is a talk given by Elder Patrick Kearon. It made me think of how I have been in the smog before, lost with no direction. My only way out was to seek for higher ground. Elder Kearon says this,

    "Last Christmas while serving at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, I encountered a local weather condition called an inversion. An inversion is a condition in which the air close to the ground is cooler than the air higher up, the opposite—the inversion—of the usual condition. Inversions are not unique to Salt Lake City, but they are more pronounced in effect because the city is located in a valley bounded by high mountains. This traps the city smog and holds it against the valley floor, covering the city and surrounding area in a thick, dark, freezing cloud. The smog is hazardous to the health of those with breathing difficulties and affects the morale of many others, as the air feels dirty and the sun is obliterated for days, even weeks, at a time.

      A short drive up the mountains, however, reveals that the smog is only a few hundred feet thick. In a few minutes, you can be in bright sunshine, breathing crystal clear air, staring at pristine, snow capped mountains. The contrast with the valley below could not be starker. As you climb farther up the mountains, you look down on the smog you have left behind in the valley, and it appears like a dirty blanket beneath an azure sky.

      There are times in our lives when we figuratively find ourselves stuck down in the valley, under the gloom of the dark, smoggy haze. Because of poor choices we have made, behaviors that offend the Spirit, or simply the painful and stretching decisions and challenges common to mortal life, we feel mired in thick, smothering fog. We can’t see clearly, we feel confused, and we sense that we have moved ourselves away from the light and warmth of our Heavenly Father’s love. We forget that the pure light of the Lord awaits us, beckons us, and is only a few steps of faith away. We must recognize that we have the power and capacity to take ourselves out of the filthy air of the valley and into the bright sunlight of the peace and hope that is found only by coming to the Savior."

    I would like to echo the testimony of Elder Kearon. I have witnessed it myself. Being in smog and darkness and filthiness brings no happiness. The happiest I have ever been was when I applied the Atonement in my life, changed, and through the Savior became whole again. I'm grateful for the Savior and his sacrifice for my sake, allowing me to change and be better. I invite all who are reading to seek the eternal. Seek for higher ground and you too can feel the Saviors love more abundantly in your life.

Spiritual Crocodiles

   A talk given by President Packer in 2002. It taught me a great lesson. President Packer took a trip to Africa with his wife. Instead of animals being in cages and them getting to walk around and see them, they drove around in a big truck that had a cage and the animals roamed free. It was a very dry season in Africa and the water whole nearby was very popular with all sorts of animals.
   President Packer explained the experience."The antelope, particularly, were very nervous. They would approach the mud hole, only to turn and run away in great fright. I could see there were no lions about and asked the guide why they didn’t drink. His answer, and this is the lesson, was 'Crocodiles.'

    I knew he must be joking and asked him seriously, “What is the problem?” The answer again: “Crocodiles.”

“Nonsense,” I said. “There are no crocodiles out there. Anyone can see that.”

    I couldn’t see anything except the mud, a little water, and the nervous animals in the distance. Then all at once I saw it!—a large crocodile, settled in the mud, waiting for some unsuspecting animal to get thirsty enough to come for a drink."

   President Packer had a very neat experience. He related this unseen crocodiles to "spiritual crocodiles." Not just the big, gray lizards that can bite you to pieces, but spiritual crocodiles, infinitely more dangerous, and more deceptive and less visible, even, than those well-camouflaged reptiles of Africa. They can destroy your peace of mind and the peace of mind of those that love you. 

   He finishes his address by saying this. "Fortunately, there is spiritual first aid for those who have been bitten. The bishop of the ward is the guide in charge of this first aid. He can also treat those who have been badly morally mauled by these spiritual crocodiles—and see them completely healed.

   That experience in Africa was another reminder for me to follow the Guide. I follow Him because I want to. I bear witness that He lives, that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He has a body of flesh and bones, that He directs this Church, and His purpose is to see all of us guided safely back into His presence."

   I also bear my witness of these crocodiles. They truly can ruin lives. An area that may appear safe when not looked upon by spiritual eyes can destroy you. Study the situation. Don't let something that is only a little bit bad grab hold of you. If it already has, seek divine help. It is never to late!!!

That thy confidence wax strong

      I was reading this talk given by Richard C Edgley titled, "That Thy Confidence Wax Strong." It impacted me because of the experiences I've had in my life. Bishop Edgley speaks of Jeff Hornacek a fantastic free throw shooter. When he was traded to the Utah Jazz mid-season he set a new record for 33 consecutive free throws made. Jeff Hornacek shot with great confidence. Every shot got easier because of his prior success.
      
      When Bishop Edgley was just in high school he was playing basketball against his rival team. He set a record himself. He missed 18 consecutive free throws. He explained after every shot he missed the rim seemed to keep getting smaller and smaller. After the 13th and 14th misses it appeared the rim as the size of a hole on a golf course. But when Jeff Hornacek kept making it and making it, the rim may have appeared to be the size of the ocean. Edgley's confidence got slimmer and slimmer with every miss.

       Every time we have to make tough decisions whether great or small, it is as if we are stepping up to the free throw line. Based on our prior success may determine how much confidence we have and how easy the decision is. "Our spiritual confidence is largely determined by our prior spiritual successes and, unfortunately, by our prior spiritual mishaps. Our prior choices will greatly influence how our spiritual basket will look, large or small, the next time we are at the line."

      "When David went to battle against Goliath, he was discouraged by Saul, who reminded him that he was just a child and was not able to go against this giant, Goliath. David replied: “Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

“And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth” (1 Sam. 17:34–35). David had made his previous foul shots, and he saw the basket as very large."

   I echo the testimony of Bishop Edgley. Let us stand a little taller and "make our foul shots!!!!" Everytime we step to the line for a free throw or for a decision to make, may our confidence wax strong in the presence of God. Thomas S Monson our beloved prophet said, "decisions determine destiny."

        

The Touch of the Masters Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,
but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only
two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three
dollars twice; going for three.." But no, from the room, far back, a
gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow. A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A
"mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is
going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

Myra 'Brooks' Welch

The worth of any soul is great in the sight of God. The Atonement or "The Touch of the Masters Hand," can change a soul and change a life!!!!!

Look at your life through Heavens eyes

"Look at your life, look at your life, look at your life through Heavens eyes!!!" This line appears in a song on the movie, Prince of Egypt. I was recently listening to the song and it actually dawned on me. Often I find myself singing a song or listening to it and not paying attention to the real meaning. What if we ALL looked at our lives through Heaven's eyes? In the song it also says, "So how can you see what your life is worth or where your value lies? You can never see through the eyes of man. You must look at your life, look at your life through heaven's eyes." None of us can ever truly look through the eye's of man. When we do we become of the world. We look at ourselves as the world sees us. Heaven sees great potential in us all and the choice sons and daughters of The Most High that we are. The song goes on to say, "So how do you measure the worth of a man? in wealth?or strength? or size? in how much he gained? or how much he gave? the answer will come to him who tries, to look at his life through heaven's eyes!!" There is power in the song and pondering on the words can bring you greater perspective in your life. Take the advice of Jethro, take a look at your life through Heaven's eyes!!!!!

Mitt Romney, his faith.

      Now as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we are asked to not get involved in politics. So my intentions of writing this blog aren't to be involved in politics but clearing up false comments, false belief's, and false accusations about our religion. I belong to the same church as Mitt Romney and I don't know much about the current election. But I do know that there are people in the wrong that profess what they believe Mitt Romney believes.

     The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints, is in fact, a Christian religion. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and redeemer. An apostle in the church that represents Jesus Christ bore his testimony of the savior. Elder Dallin H Oaks said, "So what does our testimony of Jesus Christ cause us to affirm? Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God, the Eternal Father. Through His incomparable mortal ministry, He is our teacher. Because of His Resurrection, all who have ever lived will be raised from the dead. He is the Savior, whose atoning sacrifice paid for the sin of Adam and opened the door for us to be forgiven of our personal sins so that we can be cleansed to return to the presence of God, our Eternal Father. This is the central message of the prophets of all ages.

     I solemnly affirm my testimony of Jesus Christ and the truth of His gospel. He lives, and His gospel is true. He is the Light and Life of the World (see D&C 34:2). He is the Way to immortality and eternal life (see John 14:6). To me, the miracle of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is incomprehensible. But the Holy Ghost has given me a witness of its truthfulness, and I can rejoice that I can spend my life in proclaiming it."

    Once again I do not want to be involved in politics at this time. I just want to clear up any falsehood's of our religion that I can. Because of how much it has blessed my life. I know that anyone who applies it in their life can be blessed beyond their comprehension. Please don't take any one's word for it, not even mine. Find out for yourself the truth of the everlasting gospel. I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!!!!!!!!!!