Half Full or Half Empty...

  I have heard this question asked many times in many different ways... Is the glass half full or is it half empty? There are many different ways to look at it or different parts to argue but here is my two cents on this topic. I saw this and it brought this question to a whole new light for me. When you see the glass you can see how much water is actually in the glass, but what about all of the stuff in the glass that you can't see... like the air!

  

  We so often just look at what we can see and don't focus on what that we can't see. We can apply this to what Christ does for us in our lives. We can do all we can to try and "fill" the glass that is our life full of good things, but there will always be a bit more "water" to be put in or better things that we could have done. But the same way the air fills the part of the glass that we can't see, so Christ does for our lives. Just like this scripture from the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 25:23 where it says, "...to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."God knows we can't do it all on our own, and He doesn't expect us to do it all. He just wants our best. One may feel he has done everything that he needs to do and yet to another they see the empty parts but Christ is there to fill it up. So when you are filling empty or think that you are doing pretty good by yourself just realize that there is someone filling in for you! In the end the glass is always full.

Montana...

  I have been thinking a lot about the great love that I have for the great state of Montana. I heard this quote that describes my feelings quite well. Its by John Steinbeck, entitled Montana, “I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love. And it’s difficult to analyze love when you’ re in it... " I have a great love for my home here in California, but there is something about those big sky's that made the name God's country feel like home. 


  There are more things than I could possibly talk about when it comes to my feelings on the state of Montana, but one of the reasons for my great love, is because thats where I was able to gain a greater love and understanding of The Gospel of Jesus Christ! The line talking about how its hard to recognize love when your in it makes me think to the life of Jesus Christ, how some knew He was the Christ, but it took until after He was gone to grasp the fuller meaning of what Christ had done for the whole world!


  I am so grateful for the time that I was able to spend in Montana, for the wonderful friends I was able to make and the work I was able to preform for the Lord, and see His great hand in my life and also in the lives of many others. God lives and wants to help us all find that love for His gospel, and brighten all of of lives. I know these things to be true, and I leave it with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Easter

  I normally can at least think of a few things to say about the things that I post, but today all I can say is WOW!!! Watch and you'll see why. Don't forget to follow the one that saved us all...

Buffets

  The other day we went to a buffet and I thought to myself, "Wow all things really can realate back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!" Even eating at a buffet. The reason for this idea was because at a buffet there are so many things that we like and they can satisfy that hunger we have and so does the Gospel!

  In some people's lives they may not realize that they are missing something on their "plate of happiness." They may have their favorites, so they are not willing to look or try things that are unfamiliar to them, so they pass something really good by. We all have times where we do this in our lives. We see something and we think that is gross or think no I don't want to talk to them when it may be something that will change their life forever, for the better. True if you find a new food that you fall in love with it may not be for the better because it may cause you to gain lots of weight, but the gospel will never make you fat unless you are like the Prophet Nephi form the Book of Mormon and say, "come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness." 2 nephi 9:51

  There are so many messages in the scriptures that will bless us in our lives or bring a new love for the scriptures we did not know was there. Don't be afraid to feast upon the words of Christ because they will teach you what you need in your life to be happy.

How Bad Do You Want It?!

  I have had this topic on my mind a lot these last few weeks. There are many things in life that we have, or more like get to choose how much, or how bad we "want" them. We get to choose how much effort we put into sports, or class, work or how much effort we put into following the Master, Jesus Christ. A great deal of how well we do in these things, or whatever it is that we are working towards in life, depends on how bad we want it! I know for me putting effort in my school work was a struggle because I didn't care for the work and at the time I didn't see what I would get out of it. But when it came to working with my hands I would gladly give all that I could. And now that I have been able to build such a greater relationship with my Savior, and I want to follow Him!


  We all my see different types of blessings or rewards to how much effort we put into things. For the same reason that all of us get different things out of what we read or the jobs we do, because we are all different. But one thing that will always be the same is that God will love us. The scripture comes to my mind from the book of Matthew chapter 11 verses 28- 30:  "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." We all have the different challenges different interests and the different things we enjoy as our reward to a job well done, knowing that you have given it our all. The reward that we know will be the same for the work that we put into it is, if we put all of our trust in the lord and "serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." I know this to be true because this is what the Lord has promised us. So ask yourselves a question, How bad do you want to live with God some day? Then get to work and do what He asks of you, you know your best and so does He. When the road gets hard and the journey seems like it will never end, He will give you rest. This is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.                                                 

The Book of Mormon

  Today I would like to talk about one of my favorite books, and that is the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable with the Holy Bible. It is the evidence that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet, because if the Book of Mormon is true than Joseph Smith is a Prophet because Joseph did not write the Book of Mormon he translated it by the power of God.

  The Book of Mormon liked the title says, it is indeed another testament of Jesus Christ. It tells of the ancient people in this, the American content. It begins around 600 years before Christ was even born. It tells of Gods dealings with the people who lived here and of their prophets and the people that lived here and the ways that God was able to help them. It starts by telling of a family that had to leave Jerusalem because it was about to be destroyed. So they left and God was able to guide them to eventually come over to the Americas. It tells of this peoples rise and fall. How when they would listen to the prophets they were blessed and were able to prosper and when they rejected the prophet they had hard times.

  I could go on and on talking about what is contained in the Book of Mormon but it would be much better if you read it yourself because these men truly were inspired by God to write the the very words they did, because they are able to help us out so much today. God has spoken again to prophets and as He always does, God won't force us to listen, He puts the information out there and wants us to do a bit of testing and come to find out for ourselves if things are true by asking Him. Like I have talked about prayer before, that is the only way to know if something is true or not, is by going to the ultimate source of truth, God, and ask Him. And to not take another person's word for it who may of read the Book of Mormon, is go strait to the source and check it out for yourself. I know these things are true because I have asked for myself, and God told me, Elder Kevin House that the Book of Mormon was true. And because the Book of Mormon is true that means that Joseph Smith is a prophet and all that he was able to do to restore the church is to help us out today. I know this will work if you try it. I say this is the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Jesus is the Way

  Recently, I was thumbing through my scriptures and read these verses and I thought I would talk about how grateful I am for the knowledge that Jesus Christ made it possible for ALL of us to return to God's presence. The verses that I read were these from Acts Chapter 4 verses 10 and 12. "10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

  I love how powerful of  a testimony was given by two of Christ's apostles, Peter and John given here. Telling us, this is of how, and where our salvation comes from. That Christ came and the people rejected and crucified Him, but God still brought Him back from the dead, so Christ could fulfil the rest of His divine mission, and save man kind and be resurrected.

 I have often wondered, what is the meaning of the word apostle? So, I read the definition of the word apostle in the LDS bible dictionary, and it says, apostle means sent forth to share their witness as a special witness of the resurrected Lord. That's is exactly what Peter and John were doing. Sharing their own special witness that they had seen the Lord again! That Christ was indeed resurrected, that not only did He live, but He still lives now. And that they knew that there is NO other way or name where by man can be saved. It is only through the name of our dear Master Shepard and eldest brother Jesus Christ we can be saved. Because of His endless love for each of us we can be saved. I wish to add my testimony of this as well, that I know that Christ will save us all as we believe His name and follow Him. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.