Tradition!!

Hi Again!!!
So I've been thinking a lot about this wonderful holiday season that is upon us and the different traditions that come with that.
Christmas time is one of my most favourite times of the year. Everyone is so full of love and goodness toward everyone else. It really is magical.
In my family, I love some of the traditions that we keep. At a young age I was reminded of the true meaning of Christmas. In the traditions we keep, we try to keep our focus on the spiritual things rather than the material.
So I have a simple request on this fine December day; look at your families, and those that you love.
Now take a moment and think of the last time you thought of the true meaning of Christmas, of your Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Between the hustle and bustle of holiday crowds we sometimes crowd out the true reason for this wonderful season.
Your Saviour and mine came in peace and simplicity. And with simple and peaceful traditions we can remember Him not only now, in this time of celebration, but everyday of the year.

CPR!!

Hey Y'all!!!
So my dear sweet companion, Sister Stevenett, and I have been talking about what I should post about.
Something that we talk and teach a lot about is what we call CPR. No, not like the doctors. Unlike that CPR, which is for your physical body; this CPR is for your spirit.
Whenever we see someone fall away from the church or their testimony it is because they are forgetting one of the three things within CPR. Without the basics or the fundamentals we will never become masters at anything.
So if you haven't figured it out yet, CPR stands for: Church, Pray, and Read.
Church attendance is so crucial. There is a great friendship and strength that comes from attending church. The most important thing though, is being able to partake of the sacrament and remember the sacrifice of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Pray. How easy is that? And yet sometimes it is just so hard. But it shouldn't be. All it is, is us talking with our Father in Heaven. He just wants to know how you are doing. He loves you so much!!
Read! One of the greatest ways that God will speaks to us is through the scriptures. By reading the words of the prophets we are able to learn God's plan for us.
I know that when we do these things that we are greatly blessed. We will find answers to our prayers, guidance, and peace. As we read in the book of Alma 37:6 " 6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." As we change our attitudes from these things being something that we have to do and a chore to complete; into an attitude of something that we want to do and we crave, greater blessings will come. 

The Prince of PEACE!!

Hey There!!
I'm super happy to be back on the blog this week.
I've been trying to think about what to post this week and I finally think I figured it out.
There is a lot of chaos in the world today, and if you don't believe me, go watch the news. As such people everywhere are searching for peace.
Why is it that people crave peace so much? Is it simply because the world is full of chaos? Or are there other reasons?
Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "Many voices from the world in which we live tell us we should live at a frantic pace. There is always more to do and more to accomplish. Yet deep inside each of us is a need to have a place of refuge where peace and serenity prevail, a place where we can reset, regroup, and reenergize to prepare for future pressures."
Where is the world can we find this place that he talks about? This place of refuge? This place of peace? 
I would like to suggest that we can find it anywhere. Look around where you are at, right now. Where are you? Are you sitting at home? Or maybe at work? You could be at school? Or maybe you are on your way somewhere? 
Take a moment, pause, listen to what is going on around you. Think about the holiday season that is coming. Why do we even have this season? Think of the reason of this season. 
Jesus Christ. Our Saviour and Redeemer. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6, 2 Nephi 19:6)
I testify that through Christ we can find the peace we are all searching for. And it does not matter where we are, we can make each place a place of peace.
Merry Christmas!! (Check out this site for a wonderful Christmas video!!)
https://www.mormon.org/christmas

Pray, He is There.

Hey-o!
Hey Family, Friends, and Everyone!
I wanted to post a bit today about the power of prayer.
First off, what is prayer and why is it so important?
Prayer is a two-way communication between us and our Father in Heaven. Prayer is important as we are able to receive answers to our questions, peace and comfort in times of distress, and guidance when we are lost in this world.
Being able to pray to my Father in Heaven has brought me such joy and peace. It has to be such an act of humility to get on your knees and pray.
There is a quote that I love about what prayer can do for us. There is so, so, so much that God wants to give us. And all we have to do is ASK! That's it! when we ask in faith, then He will answer.
I have seen so many answers to prayers. So many little miracles. I know and I testify that God knows each of us. He knows YOU by name! And when you turn to Him in faith, He will be by your side to guide and direct you.
He will give you the strength you need everyday.

Love

Hey again!
Sorry its been a while!
So in light of what has been happening in the world I figured a post about Love would be a good idea (And because the other post I've been working on is driving me crazy!).
How does one define Love? Is it a thought? A feeling? Is it tangible? How is it expressed? How is it felt?
Why is something so incredibly wonderful and needed in life so hard to explain?
There is a song that the Primary children sing called Jesus Said Love Everyone the lyrics to which are:
" Jesus said love ev'ryone;

Treat them kindly, too.

When your heart is filled with love,

Others will love you."

Its amazing how the simple words to this song can mean so much, and teach us so much! 

Jesus Christ showed us the greatest form of Love in the world. We are not called to die for those around us. We have been called to serve, teach, guide, and protect them. We have been called to show them Christ-like Love. Christ was the ultimate example of Love. He showed His great Love for us by giving up His life for all of us. He died so WE can live. As we read in John 15:13 " 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

When we put ourselves in the shoes and places of our brothers and sisters we cannot help but Love them. 
Love changes so many things. It will soften the hard heart. It will heal the wounded heart. It changes a bad day into a good one. 
Love will bring so many blessings.
I know that when we Love and serve those around us we will be blessed to Love them at a deeper level. I know that while evil and hatred may run wild in the world; we can still show that Christ-like Love. Times will only get harder, but as we show faith in Christ we will be strengthened to endure all that we are called to endure. And we will come through stronger and filled with the Love of Christ. 

Humility

Hello World!!
Well its good to be back on the blog.
I'm so grateful to be here in Canada on my mission. It has already brought me so many blessings and I have learned so much.
Each week I am able to pick something that I want to work on, whether it be a certain lesson, technique, or Christlike attribute. Last week I chose to work on Humility.
Humility is probably the hardest and easiest to be misunderstood attribute. There is a popular quote that says, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." It is entirely possible to be humble and self confident. Too many people believe that to be humble they have to put themselves down.
In Alma 37:6-7, in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, we read about the teachings of the prophet Alma to his son Helamen he said, "Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

“And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.”

When we put our faith and trust in the Lord we will be given the strength to work miracles. In strength of the Lord we will be able to do all things. He has the power to do all things. When we are humble, He is able to work through us. Be humble. Trust in the Lord. Watch what happens when you do. 

My Call to Serve.

So I'm back! I know its been a while. On August 5, 2015 I received my call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been called to labor in the Canada Winnipeg Mission. I report to the Provo MTC on September 30, 2015.

I have had a lot of mixed feelings upon opening my call. Many of my family and friends guessed that I would serve in South America or out in the Pacific somewhere. Pretty much the guesses were:
1. Warm
2. I would stand out as a Redhead
3. Foreign
I only got one of those. I was with the majority of guesses in my own thoughts. So when I read Canada Winnipeg it sounded strange. I knew I was called by an apostle of Christ and that Canada was were I was supposed to go, it just seemed foreign compared to the guesses I had received and the thoughts I had been having.
So now I'm 19 days from entering the MTC and I know that Canada Winnipeg is were I am supposed to be going. I know and I have been called by an apostle. I was so disappointed in myself for not having a great spiritual confirmation when I opened my call or even that night as I prayed. It has taken weeks of study, searching, and seeking to have the confirmation I was seeking.
My heart is filled with a great love for the people of Canada and for those that I will go and serve. I am so excited that I have been chosen to represent my Savior Jesus Christ. As inadequete as I feel at times I know that through His help and strength I will be strengthened to be the best I can be. I know He lives, I have felt the power of His atonement in my life. I know He loves each and everyone of us and as we rely on Him, He will help us in any situation we find ourselves in.
I'm not going on a mission in 19 days. I am simply expanding the one I've already been serving. I've been a missionary my whole life, now I will get to share that all day everyday.