Look to the temple.

I was thinking, why do people say this phrase all the time, to "look to the temple." Those against the church say it's a way of brainwashing and manipulation towards its members. The church says it is because of the sacred ordinances thereof. 

The church is right, it's because of the sacred ordinances. But there is a greater purpose behind why we look to the temple besides the ordinances. 

It's because when we look to the temple, we are looking to Christ. Christ looked after others, not himself. 

Members of the church go to the temple most of the time to complete ordinances for people who have already passed on. 

We are baptized members of the church outside temple walls. Inside temple walls we baptize and confirm others who did not have a chance to do that while on this earth. (See John 3:5)  We are not looking to ourselves when going, but are looking to others. We are helping them do something, and they can accept it. Even if they have left this earth. 

Another ordinance members perform in temples is the endowment. Endowment means gift, or bestowal. It is a blessing recieved from on high. We complete this ordinance for ourselves in the temple, and after that, for others. The same for the sealing (eternal marriage.) 

In the beginning of the book of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon it speaks of a great prophet by the name of King Benjamin. He had 3 sons and one of them was named Mosiah. Mosiah was chosen as King. Mosiah made a proclamation throughout the land that people gather and hear the great words of Benjamin. A great number of people came to the temple to hear him speak. So many that there wasn't enough room in the temple to instruct them all. 

They pitched there tents around the temple. Every man having his tent with the door towards the temple. (Mosiah 2:6) Looking to the temple. Looking towards the prophet. Looking to succor the words of Christ. 

I don't think the people in the land of Zarahemla just put the doors toward the temple to sit to listen. It was because they wanted to look unto the temple. Every morning the first thing, to walk out and see it there. To remember it. 

Today we all don't have the luxury of having a temple across the street, or even being able to see it often. But we can remember it in our lives. We can ponder every day what we have felt in the temple, and what we look for every time we go. The temple can be within us. 

So remember the temple. Study the teachings of it. Look towards it always. It will be your beacon of Light in the midst of the things of the world.

(www.ldschurchtemples.com)

Happy Fathers Day!

Today is Sunday and I didn't go to church. I know...you're probably asking why since it's the sabbath, and partaking of the sacrament is super important, but I had something more important to do. Spend time with my family, and in particular my daddy! I love my dad, he's not a member of the church if you can't already tell, but spending time with him is one of the most important things I can do! I don't have much more time with him all the time since I'm moving up to Idaho for college. I love my family. I was put with them for a reason. I learn from them, grow from them, learn from there mistakes (haha :) and are super blessed. Some days I feel sad how I don't sit with them at church every week, and how we're not sealed in the temple. But then I remember: how great is our God?! To bless me with a family that he knows is what I need. I think about the future, and you know what, they may never join the church while they're here on earth but all I can do is love them! I'm so thankful for the plan of salvation, and that God knows EVERYONE. There hearts may not be prepared to hear it right now, but in Heavenly Fathers time they will. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

(Jeremiah 29:11)

Becoming Better.

I do wrong all the time. I mean no one is perfect here on earth! Every day I have come into the habit of praying on my knees in the morning and in the night. It's something I think everyone should do! (It makes your day better I think, by starting and ending your day with Christ.) 

Every night when I'm reading my scriptures before bed, I tend to reflect upon my day. What I did, how I did, and how I impacted other people based on my actions. Every time there is at least one thing I did wrong (most of the time A LOT more than that!) 

The first thing to do is pray about it. Ask Heavenly Father how I can do better (and through little things, he will show you!) It's crazy how faith can help you. And Heavenly Father understands your mistakes. 

That leads me to repentance. 

I have noticed some people beat themselves up when they do something wrong. You shouldn't do that, we're all human and make mistakes. But do you know what's amazing? The atonement of Jesus Christ. That you have the power to be forgiven! 

The atonement makes us better people if you use it properly. Noticing your mistakes and wanting to correct them teaches you not to do them again. And when you have that sincere desire to follow Christ, you will do everything you can to follow him. 

For me, the desire to follow Christ has grown. It just doesn't come all at once. But when you start and see how it brings happiness and comfort into your life your desire will grow! 

We're not perfect, but through Christ we can be made better. 

Paul told us:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

(Galatians 2:20)

May 2015 Bessemer Stake Conference Talk

I'll begin with sharing a little about myself and in the process about my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and what I've learned with facing trail while following Gods light. 

I grew up Catholic. People told me the Catholic Church was true because it was the first one established. I was always confused about religion, and why it was a big deal.

I attended Catholic Sunday School, but by the end of it I didn't even know how to find a verse in the Bible. I never really cared about going to church.

My junior year of high school, I got to know a great kid named Daniel in Jazz Band. I found out he was mormon and started asking him crazy questions. 

 I started looking up everything I could find about the church and was drawn to learn more. I watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the restoration. I was enthralled by it. Joseph Smith was someone who desired to know the truth. And at the time, maybe I didn't even know it, but I desired to know the truth also. 

When I first met with the missionaries I wanted to know everything. It felt as they taught me like I already knew of this doctrine, I was just being reminded of it. I read the Book of Mormon, and desired to know if it was true. 

The promise in Moroni 10:4 shocked me. Asking for myself if something was true. It seemed crazy for me to think a 17 year old girl from Alabama could pray directly to Heavenly Father and receive an answer. But I did. I felt such an overwhelming spirit I started crying, something I never did. I knew it was true. All of it. 

I had just turned 17 at the time. My parents were against me going to church and thought the Mormons were the farthest thing from Christianity. I tried to explain to them how these things were of God, but they did not want to listen. 

The day I told my dad I wanted to join the church was the hardest day of my life. He was the one most against it. When I told him he said : "you might as well leave our family if you're going to do this." He wouldn't talk to me for a week. My mother said this was hurting her and our family. 

Time went on and I would sneak out to go to church and to meet with the missionaries. What brought joy to me more than anything was going to church and reading the Book of Mormon. Times got tough. Some days I would ask myself "if this is what God wants me to do, than why isn't this happening?" 

My parents told me they thought they had failed as parents. They would not let me get baptized, something I wanted more than anything ever in my life. 

After over a year of waiting and numerous trials of my faith, they let me get baptized 3 days before my 18th birthday after a lot of prayer and begging, and on  April 11, 2015 I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but the best thing I will ever do. 

Sometimes you have to forget about yourself, and fall into what God has prepared for you. It's already there, you just have to follow him and accept it. 

What got me through numerous trials during that time of my life was faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was holding fast in the hope in Gods light. It was knowing this was what I needed to do. The happiness I feel that comes from the church is something that couldn't come from this world, but from the power on high.  The contrast is HUGE. And the difference is REAL. 

I learned so much in the year I had in waiting to be baptized. Things that if I didn't experience the trials, I wouldn't have learned. This is why Heavenly Father had me wait. 

These trials were actually blessings.

I learned 

patience, to understand that sometimes what you want is small compared to what God has for you later. That what you are experiencing is always temporary, and trials are actually for your benefit, and you just have to wait for the blessings. It may take a while, but as long as you press forward they will come. 

(I learned) Faith, to hope for the best in all things regardless of the circumstance you are in, and to know everything will work out Heavenly Fathers way. Walking in Faith, not knowing what is going to happen, but knowing it's right.

 I learned If you keep His commandments you will grow in faith and in hope. That you will be given strength to overcome all of life's trials. 

(I learned) prayer, that I was able to turn to God at any moment, and that he understands my trails and pain.

(I learned) the power of the atonement, the power to be forgiven of all of life's mistakes through repentance, and slowly becoming a better person through that. 

 

I learned how important the scriptures are, and the blessings and important lessons that come from them. That the scriptures themselves are a blessing to all of us here on earth. And that there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.

I learned to NEVER take the gospel for granted. 

And the most important thing that I gained was A STRONG TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. A TESTIMONY THAT THIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH.

It says in Luke chapter 6: (Luke 6:48)

"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."

The answer to laying your foundation upon a rock is simple. It's like Alma did "knowing these things for myself" Knowing Christ. Making your testimony an anchor of your faith. 

Brothers and Sisters, you will experience trial in your life. That is part of the reason we are on this earth. 

The way to overcome it is your testimony. It's the strongest and greatest thing you will ever possess in this life. So no trail can take you down. 

I have felt the blessings of this gospel. My parents hearts have been softened a lot since I started investigating the church. My mother actually attended my baptism. I will be attending BYU-Idaho in the fall, and plan on serving a mission a year from now. Things do work out in Gods time. 

I testify to you that this is the true church.

That's why I plead with everyone, to ask. To know for yourself. For to stay on the "straight and narrow path and to "stay on the iron rod" is to know. To have a testimony where all you want to do is follow Him and feel of his love.