Mrs. Grouchy Saved Me

My family moved down to St. George Utah my senior year of high school. That meant I had to get to know a whole different ward, a group of people that attend services at the same time. Well I remember meeting one lady that I thought was simply a grouch. She always looked kind of mad and I didn't feel that her tone of voice was always the nicest. Well luckily for me, or so I thought, she worked with the older ladies and I was still in the youth group age so I didn't really have to associate with her very frequently.

Fast forward a couple of years. My family is still in the same ward in St. George and I am just on my break in between semesters from college. That fall break was the hardest one that I had ever gone through. Towards the middle of it I had just broken up with someone I really cared about. I felt very alone and lost. At the same time our ward boundaries changed and I knew hardly anyone which made me feel even more alone. One Sunday when I felt really alone and just having a hard day I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and it was the lady that I thought was really grouchy. Well she started to ask me how I was doing and just talked to me. Because of that conversation I felt loved. I felt that God really was aware of me but more importantly people around me were aware of me.Instead of just passing me by and thinking that someone younger could comfort me she took the time to talk to me. I think back on how much she blessed me that day and how much more I could have been blessed by her if I just had taken the time to get to know her instead of thinking that she was the grouchy lady.

President Monson said this about judging others "Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: 'If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”' The Savior has admonished, 'This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.'  I ask: can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa: no, we cannot."

So let us take the time to get to know people and the situation before we judge. Let us learn to love all those taht are around us.We may never know they could be the exact person that we need some help.

Here is just a fun clip based on President Monson's talk. Hope you enjoy!

Walk With Jesus



Boise, Idaho



If

By Carma Salvesen

If I could go to Galilee

And walk where Jesus walked

And sit in tender grasses

On the hillside where He taught.

If I could sit and ponder

On a rock that knew His hand,

Or walk along the seashore

Where His feet had touched the sand.

My spirit yearns within me,

But it doesn’t seem my fate.

I’ll never walk where Jesus walked.

I’ll never see … but wait.

I worship in His temple



Where I know He’s walked before.

Have His feet been down this hallway?

Have His fingers touched this door?

Has He stood here in this very room

And looked at what I see?

Rexburg, Idaho

In the beauty of His temple

I can feel His love for me.

I close my eyes and picture Him,

My worries melt away.

I don’t need to go to Galilee

Or travel far away.

For my tender heart is filled

With what He wants me to be taught



And my testimony burns within—

I’ve walked where Jesus walked!



I can truly testify that this is true. I, most likely, am never going to be able to afford going to Galilee and so as of right now I can't walk there. But I do know that when I go to the temple I feel the presense of the Lord. There is just a special feeling that you get when you enter into the house of the Lord.

So if you want to have the opportunity to walk where Jesus walked and walks but can't afford to go to Israel then work on going to the temple. There are many different ways to go to the temple. If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and older than 12 you can go and participate in ordinances for yourself and for others who didn't have the opportunity to participate in those ordinances in this life. 



St. George, Utah



If you aren't a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but would still like the opportunity to go to a temple there is still the chance for you. Before any of the temples are dedicated they are open to the public to go through and see what they are like. The soonest temple open house is in Kansas City Missouri. Here is the link for more information on that (Kansas City Missouri starting March 12, 2012 http://www.lds.org/church/temples/reservations?lang=eng)

But if you don't want to go inside a temple at least go and see where the nearest one to you is and just go and walk around the grounds. You can have a very special experience with walking on holy temple ground. Here is a link to see where the nearest temple to you is http://www.lds.org/church/temples/find-a-temple?lang=eng.

In any case that you can I stronly encourage and ask you just to go to the temple. You will find that it will change your life. You will find peace and joy by being able to walk where Jesus walked.

You're not alone

We had a piano growing up and my mother had all of us younger kids learn how to play the piano. I am not really for sure why we had a piano at first because even mom didn't learn how to play until I was probably 8 or 9. Well anyways we always had a piano and we always had a ton of piano music. Once I got old enough to play I could start picking out some of my favorite music. I remember one of my most favorite songs, even at a young age, was "You're Not Alone" by Michael McLean. It really hit a chord with me. God is always there for us. He will never leave us alone. He loves us so much that He won't ever ignore us. How wonderful and amazing is that! President Monson said about our Heavenly Father "To you He speaks the heavenly and divine assurance: 'I am with you; you are never alone.'” So don't ever forget that our Heavenly Father loves you so much. He is there for you when you need Him. He is the one person that won't ever let you down.

Heres a little song,
to help you get along
it will see you through
when your feeling blue
and though its not profound
when your feeling down
so down
sing this little tune
and you'll feel better soon

Your not alone
even though right now your on your own
you are loved in ways that cant be shown
your needs are known
your not alone

And when you cry,
your just letting go a heartache deep inside
so tommorow there'll be sunshine in the sky
and love close by
your not alone
and I know that its not easy
but I know it wont last
coz one that loves you more than me

is sending blessings fast

Your not alone
say it one more time I am not alone
even when its hard to find the words
your always heard
your not alone

Your not alone
say it one more time
I'm not alone
even when its hard to find the words
your prayers ARE heard
your not alone.

Fall in Love with Jesus...Again

It is never to late for us to rekindle our relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. Here are some movies that go over His life. They are great for personal reflection as well as getting your family to get to know the life of Christ a little bit better. New videos are constantly being put up and they are great because they quote directly  from the Bible (the King James Version). So I encourage everyone to check them out and I promise that you will feel uplifted. Remember everyday to fall in love with our Savior!

Living Water

John 4:5-29

Widows Mite

Mark 12:41-44

Mary and Angel Gabriel

Luke 1:26-38

Mary and Elizabeth

Luke 1:39-55

Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem

Luke 2:4-7

Shepherds and the Angel

Luke 2:8-18

Jesus being presented at the Temple

Luke 2:22-38

Wise Men

Matthew 2:1-2, 11-15

Tires and Charity

Flat tire. I really don't like flat tires. On cars they are fine, I feel confident enough that I could change a tire on a car. Now I am not so confident on a truck, they are just to big. Well we got one. Yep a flat tire on our truck. Yuck. Our options were to try to change it ourselves or call someone for help. We called someone for help. Then it turned out that our windshield whipper was broken as well. Through the kindness of people I have learned what really makes someone a true christian.

1st person: We called him to help us with our tire and he came right away. It was pretty cold that day and he could have came up with excuses to not come but he didn't. Then he took care of the whole thing himself and paid to get our tire fixed. When we tried to pay him back he wouldn't let us.

2nd person: After we got our tire fixed we went to the nearest automotive store. We explained that our windshield whipper was broken and we needed to replace them. The employee there was wonderful. He found the right sizes and then changed them for us. When we went to pay he said that it was on him. Again another kind act.

As I think of these two people I am awed by their kindness and charity. Not once did they think, "What is in this for me?" They served out of love. They are true Christians. They did exactly what the Savior would do, the reached out to people in need. When we serve others we are also serving God. Mosiah 2:17 "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

So my challenge to you this week is be a Christian. Look for opportunities to help others and then do it. I guarantee that it will make your week 100% better

Who we really are

When you look in the mirror what do you see?

I see a girl with redish hair and premature smile wrinkles. I see a girl who is shortish, has pretty white skin, has some freckles, and brownish eyes or as some people say fish eyes. Sometimes I see as girl who is full of spunk, who loves to laugh and have fun. I see a girl who won't back down when she knows what is right. I see a girl who has many faults, who is prideful and makes a billion mistakes.

Luckily for us we don't have to live life based on what we see of ourselves but of what God sees of us.

"God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him." President Uchtdorf

What God sees:

A divine daughter that is a princess.

Prayer! What is it?

According to a dictionary.com

prayer

1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.

2. a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

3. the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.

4. a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying: the Lord's Prayer.

5. prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.

What does prayer mean to you?

 Here is what prayer means to these people. 

 Sister Asendente: "Prayer is a line that connects us to our Father in Heaven. It is a line that doesn't get busy. So you can call Him anytime."

 Emily Wray: "Pray to me is a connection to something bigger than human, a light that is in all of us, and feeling, brightness. A relief that when you pray, God hears. A connection that not only God see's but what other people can feel."

Elder Sabin: "Prayer to me is like having the ability to communicate with somebody who knows all the answers."

Sister Mace: "Prayer is what keeps me sane and gives me the capacity to keeping going, even when I think I have reached my limits. Prayer is my source of strength and is a direct communication with a loving Heavenly Father who not only listens and hears every word, but answers all of the fears, concerns, frustrations, and questions that we all have. Prayer is also how we can give thanks for all of the many blessings, patients, love and understanding he has given each of us in our times of need."

Sister Green : "Pray is vocalized Faith. It is the opportunity to talk to and recieve guidance from a perfect Father. It is the will of us aligning with Him and allowing us to recieve the blessings he wants to give us but is conditional upon us asking for them."

Lacey Griffiths: "Prayer is a moment that I can take, anytime, anywhere, any way I get a face to face moment with God. In those few precious moments I am am not judged, ridiculed, nor am I passed judgement! I cherish each moment I get with my Lord and Savior to ask for and thank him for the blessings bestowed upon me and my home!"

Jessica King: Prayer is proof to me of a loving Heavenly Father. He has provided a way for us to communicate with him at any time. He is always there when I need him, always within listening distance. It just shows me how much He loves me.

Laura Lehman: Personal prayers are my favorite. I can completely let down my guard and have a conversation with my Father in Heaven. I also have the time to listen for, and feel the answers.

Sister Tuckett: Prayer gives me peace, it lets me know that everything will be alright. I know that I can pray and that God will answer and that I can have strength. He has been there for me so many times in my life.

Prayer is one of the most special gifts that we have been given by God. It allows us to know that we are not alone and that someone loves us unconditionally. If it has been a while since you have prayed talk the time to open up your soul to the Lord and come to know that He is always there for you. Then think about what prayer means to you.