Always Received With Open Arms

I was recently reading the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15: 11-32. Christ is telling the story to the pharisees of a young man who demands his inheritance from his father. The young man goes out into the world and wastes away his inheritance. At that time in the land there was a famine and the only work the young man could find was to feed the pigs of a "citizin of that country", and all he had to eat was pig feed. The young man knew that even his father's servants were fed and clothed better than him. He resolved to go home, and be a servant to his father, but when his father saw him from afar off he "ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." His father called for a feast and had his son dressed in the finest robes. The older son was confused, and angry as to why his younger brother was being treated so well, when he had done so much to hurt the family. The father responded to the bittered questions of his son and said: "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

Our Heavenly Father likewise is waiting to receive us with open arms. We all make mistakes, and are all lost at some point, but we can always come home. It has always been a comfort to me that I have a Heavenly father that loves me enough to always welcome me home when I am lost. His love is extended toward all of us who are willing to travel the road back to him.

Enduring the storm

In life we all must face different trials, some small, and some great. When faced with these difficulties, we may instinctively shut down completely, or try to power through it as fast as possible, but there is a better way.

If you were to fly a plane there are many instances that you would be faced with turbulence. Turbulence, like our personal trials, shakes us, threatens to throw us off our course, and potentially to crash. Some reactions to this situation could be similar to the reactions to trials we face in our personal lives. If we were to apply the tactics mentioned earlier the results would be disastrous. Dieter F. Uchtdorf said that:

"Professional pilots understand that there is an optimum turbulence penetration speed that will minimize the negative effects of turbulence. And most of the time that would mean to reduce your speed. The same principle applies also to speed bumps on a road.

Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions."

If we focus on what is most important we will be able to weather the storms life throws at us. Find what makes you happy like family, friends, the love of the Savior, and cling tight to those things. I challenge you to remember those things that are most important; to hold onto those things.

How Do I Love Thee?

Happy Valentines Day!

Trials vs Opportunities

Sometimes we see the diffulties in life as a broken escalater, and fail to move on, because of discouragement. It is better to remember that a broken escalater is just a set of stairs. There are times in everyone's lives that give us the option to stand on a broken escalater, or to climb some stairs. It may require us put forth a little more effort, but it is far more rewarding to climb stairs than to wait for a broken escalater.

Building our homes to be Fortresses

This past week I've been reading in the book of Alma, in the Book of Mormon. I'm at a point right now where two nations (the Nephites and the Lamanites) are preparing for war. Moroni the chief captain of the Nephite army sees the weaknesses in his cities, so in order to protect his people he begins to fortify the cities.

This is Moroni's account of his preparations:

"1And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.

 2And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.

 3And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.

 4And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them.

 5And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city.

 6Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land."

Just as Moroni made preparations to defend his people we too can make preparations for our own homes, to make them safe havens from the evils in the world. Some of the most powerful things we can do to protect us from the things that drag us down in life are the simplest.

Some of the things we can do to fortify our homes are to:

• Study the scriptures regularly. The words of God are a special gift that hasn't always been so readily available. If we study the scriptures for ourselves, we will grow closer to our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.
• Attending church. When we attend church we are surrounded by others who are seeking to improve their lives, and we can share of that spirit that comes from that desire, and become spiritually uplifted.
• Praying personally and as a family. When we pray personally we strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father. When we pray as a family we strengthen that bond as a unit.

These are only a few things, but there are many more. It is my testimony that when we work to fortify our homes, and strengthen our families that we are happier, better people. I know that we have been given families to strengthen each other in this life, and that it is our responsibility to protect that gift.  

Why I'm a Missionary

God called his apostles and prophets in ancient times to go and spread his gospel, and this is a sacred responsibility that continues to this day. The scriptures repeat that God is the same, and that his ways don't change. If this is to be true it would only make sense that this tradition of preaching his word around the Earth would continue. I have left my home for two years so that I may spread the joy I have felt through knowing my Heavenly Father, and his son, Jesus Christ. This message is for all, and the sharing of this message is the best thing that I can be doing in my life right now. I have seen the change that the gospel of Jesus Christ can have in people, and it motivates me everyday to get up and hopefully inspire people to follow their Savior, Jesus Christ.

In a talk by Elder L. Tom Perry he quotes:

"'Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.' (John 21:15.)

Then the question a second and third time. And finally, Peter, being grieved, replied to the Lord, 'Thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.' (John 21:17.)

Finally Peter understood: 'when thou art converted'—a condition carries with it a responsibility to do something with that conversion, to feed the sheep of the Savior. The real value of our commitment through our conversion is when it is interpreted into action, when something results from that which has occurred from knowing the Lord."

Missionary work is a outward expression of a individual's love for God, and their love for their fellow man. I want to show my love for my Lord and Savior, and so I serve as a missionary.