Happiness... truly.

I think most people find themselves in a position of "Happiness". A lot of times this happiness never seems to be enough... a good job, enough money, etc. But what happens when we feel true happiness... happiness that doesn't fade after an afternoon. I love how Alex expresses that true happiness has changed his life. 

This One Time...

This one time I had a __________. Isn't that crazy, I had a real __________ (purchased from __________ in downtown __________). Kind of a __________, but it was always__________ to have a __________. Not gonna lie... we were __________. We __________... two __________. The best part about my __________... I named her __________.

Don't you just love that story! It's SOOOOOO good. It's probably my favorite story to tell! Did you understand everything I was talking about? I hope you did, a few of the words got mixed up but you got the basic idea right? Good, at least you got a bit of what I was trying to say! ... but seriously, confusing isn't it! What the heck was I talking about?!?!?! well, I didn't just waste your time with some random words, but I do want to make a point. How often do we feel like we don't have all the details, or like we can kind of figure out what is going on. A lot. Right? How much of the truth do you have? Does it feel liek you have some? Is it enough? As I teach people about the restored gospel I see that they feel like they have a bit of the truth but they're looking for those important details that REALLY complete the story. Do you have all the truth, is it all there or is some of it missing?

Oh and here's the whole story if you're interested.

This one time I had a pet chicken. Isn't that crazy, I had a real pet chicken (purchased from China Town in downtown LA). Kind of a crazy story, but it was always my dream to have a pet chicken. Not gonna lie... we were best of friends. We bonded instantly... two peas in a pod. The best part about my chicken... I named her Goose.

Me and Goose, back in the day.

Thanks Heavenly Father (Post 1)

I try something on, take it off, try something else, can't find a sweater that goes with it, where's that brown belt I haven't worn for a year but would go SO well with this. How come I always end up wearing these shoes and not those ones. What is this stain? Dang Gina... why can't I have a different wardrobe!
Sometimes I waste SO much time looking for an outfit... it's a bit ridiculous.

Thanks Heavenly Father, for the days when I can pick out an outfit, it just makes everything easier.

How I wish my closet looked.

Womanness

Read This

What a great subject! This something that sometimes gets mixed up and turned inside out by those who don't know much about the church. Many people believe that because men hold the Priesthood, women are not valued within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. negative. Not only are we valued but we are essential to Heavenly Father's Plan... and in his Church.

As a way of helping women around the world recognize their needed and most wonderful calling the church has come out with a book called:

Daughters in my Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society

This book should be distributed by the church to all women as a way to help them prepare them be an example to their peers and families.

I challenge those who are members to share this book with those who may not know of their divine calling.

Those who do not have access to the book may simply download the pdf at this link:

http://lds.org/relief-society/daughters-in-my-kingdom?lang=eng

Click on the button that say DOWNLOAD below the picture of the book on the left hand side.

Now go out and share this message!

Scripture.

Book of Mormon, how I love thee! I learn so much each day from the Book of Mormon, I can't describe how much guidance I've learned to find in the Book of Mormon... but I'd like to focus on ALL scripture and its importance not only to me but to everyone.

After Christ was killed his apostles went out preaching to the people... sadly they were rejected just like Christ was rejected and pretty soon the power of God was no longer on the earth (they were killed off, if you get what I'm saying). So this left those who had rejected the Word to fend for themselves. They were given a chance, but had taken the truth for grantate. Pretty soon churches starting popping up all over the place, each teaching basically the same thing, but with a bit of their own twist. Each of them looking for this truth.
This was known as the Great Apostasy. And one of my favorite subjects!

The time between Christ and Joseph Smith's time was a time of uncertainty and a battle of religious beliefs. We believe that Christ Church was not on the earth at this time... but... there were still inspired people working for our Heavenly Father to help prepare the earth for when it would again be ready for the fulness.

This clip is a represenation of one of those who sacraficed so much... without having even a full truth for themselves. However, they knew what needed to be done in order to bring forth scripture, so that mankind could recieve guidance in this time of darkness and confusion. That is why scripture is so important, it is something that the Lord has preserved for his people.

Enough about me!

So when I feel tired of using myself as an example... I'm grateful for the opportunity to use someone else.

We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet!

Conference is coming up and I am sooooo excited to hear from our prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. Just as we had prophets in the Bible who led the people of their time, we have have a prophet of our time who leads us in what we need to do today! Isn't that most excellent?! So I decided I'd let those of you who haven't met him before... meet him! And what's even more excellent is that we get to hear from him in a few weeks!

Baptism. Simplified.

Sometimes... I'm lazy. I know it's hard to believe... but I do have some faults. Today I'm going to be lazy... in a good way (if that's possible). I'm going to give you the run-down on baptism, what it is and scriptures that go with it. But... instead of having me write it (this is where the laziness kicks in), I found the most perfect article from the Friend (a church magazine for children) that explains it even better. Pretty wicked awesome, huh? (Don't forget to click on the link an actually read it.)

https://lds.org/friend/2008/08/questions-and-answers-about-baptism?lang=eng

Easy as...that.

Today as I was studying I decided I would prepare a talk for an upcoming event in our mission. We've all been asked to prepare a talk on three subjects and we'll randomly be called on to present our Talks. As I was preparing I took out my Preach my Gospel and began my talk on how Scripture give us the power to teach. It wasn't until I had turned the page and I saw that it talked about teaching simply, then I new that simplicity is what gives us the Power to teach. Christ lived a simple life, the gospel of Jesus Christ is simple, and the way we teach it is simply. Everyone deserves to hear the Gospel, its establishment is in simplicity.

The Spirit of God

As I've mentioned before... I spent some time in Germany before my mission. Most of my time in Germany was spent learning the language. I love learning languages and I love getting to know how people from all over the world live. Well, since being in New York I've been DYING to speak German... I just really want to keep it up and use it. Since I've been here I've always come a jump away from giving Germans a tour! Well today as we were on our way to the Hill Cumorah we got a call asking where we were and that there were two Germans at the Hill Cumorah. Perfect... we were almost there. When we got there I greeted them and they said that they were members of our church doing a Tour of all the Church Historical Sites starting in Palmyra. Wie Schoen! I was so excited to talk to them and to use my German and they were very kind. They even shared their testimonies and we had a great conversation together. The man said he could bear his testimony for hours about how much the Lord loves us. I was so grateful for the words he provided and that he knew that each and everyone of us were children of God. As we talked I thought about this very subject. I know that no matter where we are in the world... the Lord will give us blessings and he will look down upon us and recognize who we are. I know that when the Gospel of Jesus Christ reaches those in distant lands, they also feel this same love, and it doesn't matter where you are or what your culture is, that the Spirit of God is a language that everyone can understand.

Working Hard... or Hardly Working?

I was flying home from Germany this last May and right when I landed I started one of the busiest weeks of my life... not only had it been two straight days since I'd slept, but I was on a sleep schedule that was 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles... and this was only the beginning. Right when I got off the plane it was go, go, go. My sister was getting married and we had a lot to get done. During the next few days it was trying to stay awake, setting up for her reception, and family time. Not to mention I was still jet-lagged. 

By the time her wedding came around... the day never seemed to end... but once it was over the going didn't stop... we had a family job the following day in Central California, so after a 4 hour drive both ways, three days straight of work, and a lot of junk food. I was roasted. I was ready to sleep for the whole next week. I hadn't even had time to unpack my bags and I'd been home a week. 

So after I organized my stuff, took a shower, and ate... I slept, and I slept, and I slept... then I ate again. At this point it hadn't even been 24 hours since I'd started my veg and I was dead tired of doing nothing. For goodness sake there was plenty to get done, I didn't have much time before I would be leaving on my mission and I was sitting on the couch drinking Jarritos Lime Soda and eating peanut butter pretzels from Trader Joe's.

I realized that during this time I had fallen into the deep pit of "Hardly Working"... and oh how I wished to find a ladder so I could climb out. How often do we find ourselves "Hardly Working"... sure we work all day and then come home, but do we use our time wisely or do we sit in front of the Television for a few hours to unwind. 

Christ said: “I must work the works of him that sent me” (John 9:4)

Have we accomplished what the Lord has asked us to do? Are we working hard to maintain a solid testimony or are we relying on the words that inspired us a few months ago? Nourishing our faith is constant... and critical. It you don't milk a cow every day... you don't get milk... it's as simple as that:

Faith, Hope, and Charity

As I was studying the other day... I decided that I should study Charity. Before my mission my friends father once told me "Everyone yells and calls out peace. But they never talk about how was can reach peace. We can't merely say Peace and wish it to happen... we need to do something. Rather than claiming peace to world we should claim Faith, Hope, and Charity. Through these three things we can gain Peace."
In Ether 12:28 is reads "I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me the fountain of all righteousness."
We can bring forth peace through this righteousness, declare Faith, Hope, and Charity! 

The Great Healer

"Then he can heal us... then he can cleanse us from the venomous sting of sin."

Sometimes I think the world looks at repentance as a waste of time... but it's only because they don't know the powerful affects of it. We all do wrong... and we all feel guilty for what we've done... sometimes its hard to admit this wrong, we feel embarrassed or maybe that if we ignore it... it will go away. Why not be cleansed from these mistakes... why not reach out to our Savior and say... "I have done wrong... help me." Our Savior Jesus Christ did not die so we can merely speak of him but so we can use the gift of repentance through him. Each and everyday we can repent for th small things we do... we do not need to suffer with guilt.

At the end of this talk the speaker, Elder Kearon, says: "Not one of you has thrown away your last chance. You can change, you can come back, you can claim mercy. Come unto the only One who can heal, and you will find peace."