Love the Rainstorms

Look at this picture. Remember the days when playing in the rain was fun? Well maybe for some of us those days are still now. But one thing that really stood out to me is how happy she looks. She isn't concerned that she is getting all wet or that the people are rushing to and fro around her. She is taking the time to be happy even during a time that might for some be a trial.

President Monson said, "This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." Amen!

So let us all take the time to find the joy even in the rainstorm. If you think about it we all need water.

Uphill Downhill

This past summer I have tried to ride bikes alot instead of driving the truck. I have different reasons why. One, the weather is nice. Two, it is quicker than walking. Three, it saves on miles (As missionaries you are only allowed a certain amount of miles that you can drive for a month). For the most part biking has been fine. I liked doing it in Conrad and in Fairfield. It was really nice in Townsend and we had really nice bikes. Well when I found out that I was going to be in a car share here in Helena and only have the truck half the week I thought no problem. I have been riding bikes this whole summer I am a pro. Oh how I was wrong.

The difference between riding bikes in Conrad, Fairfield, Townsend and now Helena is that those first areas were flat and Helena has so many hills.  Going down is a breeze but making it back up those hills is a real challenge.

I really think that life is like this. Sometimes in our life everything seems to be pretty easy going, pretty flat. We like it. It really doesn't require that much effort. Then something happens where you now feel like you are going up hill all the time. It is hard. Sometimes you just want to stop and take a rest. But the wonderful thing is that even though you have all those tough hills to go up going down them is so much better then staying flat.

We have to have some hard things in our lives to truly appreciate the blessings that God has given us. Lehi states this clearly in 2 Nephi 2:11. He says," For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things."

Now I still don't really like going up hill but I do enjoy flying down hill alot better then just riding on a flat road all the time.

Love Without End

Have you ever had one of those days where it just seems like the world is getting you down? I sure know that I have. It is on those days where I just want to crawl into my bed, wrap up in my favorite blanket, and lose myself either in a good book or a movie. Sometimes if I am feeling real bad I will actually go to someone to hug or to cry on their shoulder. This doesn't really happen a lot because I am not really that touchy feely person. Now the other day I read an amazing scripture Jeremiah 31:3,"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Christ will always love us and is just dying to let us know that He loves us. I really like that it says that we have His everlasting love. I don't know that I have anything else that is everlasting in my life. On those hard days He really does want to give us a giant bear hug. I think that He is one of the people that I am ok with doing that.

So when you are having a hard day and you are just dying to be hugged or to feel comfort turn to Christ because He is always there for you and just waiting to give you that hug you rightly deserve.

Prophet = GPS of Life

So lately I have been getting lost a lot. For most of my mission here in Montana I have been serving in small towns with the population no more than 3,000. I like it that way. I grew up in a small town and only having so many streets to have to worry about. If you did get lost you could probably walk the whole town in about 30 minutes or less and find out where you need to be.

Ok so I am used to small. So lately trying to figure out the crazy streets of Helena has left be confused. I have a map and we get a long fairly well but we sure do get lost a lot as well. People have asked me why don't I just us a GPS. Well for one I didn't have a GPS and two I am stubborn and wanted to see if I could learn the area better by using a map. But finally I caved in after getting lost one too many times even while using a map and borrowed a GPS. What a difference. Now I don't get lost. Miracle.

Wouldn't be nice if we could have a GPS for our lives. Sure we can get around fine just doing our own thing but if we something or someone to help lead us to where we want to go, heaven, it would sure make it alot easier. Luckily we do. We have a modern day prophet to help lead, guide, and direct us here on earth so that we can live with God again. Elder Neil L Anderson said, "In the confusion and commotion of our day and of the days ahead, we and our children need the power of revelation from the Lord’s prophets. The Lord has always revealed his will through his servants the prophets (see Amos 3:7), but as the world’s course diverges even more dramatically from the path of righteousness, our trust in the voice of the Lord through his servants (see D&C 1:38) will be even more critical to our knowing right from wrong."

So by following the prophet we have our very own GPS, guidence positioning system, for life. We can make follow the path that will lead us directly to God and back to Heaven. We have a prophet on the earth today, Thomas S Monson, and I suggest that you each take the time to see what he has been saying and apply it into your life so you can have a modern day GPS.

Families, Love Them Don't Hate Them

I love my family! I mean I really love them. Just look at them. How could you not love them? Each one brings a special spirit to our home. The greatest thing is that I know that they will always be there for me. Now my family isn't perfect but it sure is great. They are the ones that I can fully be myself with. My favorite times of the year always have to do on whether I am around my family or not. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday simply because that is usually when we all get together.

The greatest thing is that no matter what our family situation is like the Gospel of Jesus Christ can strengthen our relationships. "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." The Family: A Proclamation to the World 

How very true this is. If we just take the time to be with each other, to build each other up, to share the Gospel with each other, and to love each other then our families will start to be on the path of where we would like them to be.  We can start now. We can mend bridges or we can keep our ties strong as we follow the example of our Savior and love our families.

I am super excited to help my family grow closer together and to be with them for eternity. If you would like your family life to be a little better read the rest of The Family: A Proclamation to the World and try out the different things it suggest. I know it will bless you. 

God Loves You

Hey guess what? God loves you!

I think that this is the most important thing that any of us could understand. All other knowledge doesn't really mean a whole ton until you come to understand that God loves you.

But first before you can know that God loves you you have to know who God is to you. Is God someone who is close to you? Do you think that He is just some being up in the heavens that isn't really mindful of you? I can tell you that God is close to you and that you can have a very personal relationship with Him. In fact He is the father of our spirits. He created us. He knows everything there is to know about us. He even knows us better than we know ourselves. The scriptures strongly testify of who God is and how much He knows and cares for us. In Alma 18:32 it says,"...and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; fory by his hands were they all created from the beginning."

So God does know and love each and every single one of us. Knowing that He does opens all sorts of doors. For me the main thing that it helps me with is the understanding that He will and does answer my prayers. I just imagine how much my dad loves me and how he will answer my questions. God loves us even more than we can understand and if our dads will answer us then of course so will our Heavenly Father. "What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7: 9-11)

But you don't have to take my word for it. Look around and see God's love. Pray to Him and feel God's love. Everytime you read the scriptures I know you will be able to understand that God does love you.