The Family

I saw one of my dearest friends a week ago. You may be thinking, you're on a mission, you aren't supposed to run into friends... it's kind of a different thing when your mission is a historical site for the Church. Kaylie happened to be here for a wedding. She was here with her sister, her husband LJ and her baby Gabriel. Look at Gabriel! Isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen? Honestly... it's a little ridiculous how adorable this baby is..

All the fuss over Gabriel's cuteness aside, it really made me think about the family. The family. I mean, my friend Kaylie has a family, she is a mother. The opportunity to have a family is such a blessing to many in this life. But, why?

The family is the most important social unit in time and in eternity. We believe that through temple marriages, or sealings, the family can be together forever. Christ gave to Peter the power to do this explaining to him in Matthew 18, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Through the restoration of that sealing power from Peter to a prophet in our time that wonderful power to be sealed together as a family is on the earth once more.

Another dear friend of mine, Becky had twins recently. She told me in an email how grateful she was that she and her husband had been sealed in the temple. When their boys were born she knew that had any of them lost their lives they would be together forever after this life. How reassuring! What an amazing knowledge to have! Tragedies may happen but through the temple we can be together with our families forever.

Although I haven't been sealed to my parents yet, I know one day we will be... I know the temple brings so many blessings that we can't even comprehend them all fully. I'm so blessed to be serving right next to a temple, something that I often forget. It's easy to take it for granted, but the temple really makes all the difference not only in this life, but in life after death as well.

If you'd like to read a little bit more about LDS Temples you can look here.

Fruit of a Prophet

Jesus Christ said when speaking about prophets to come, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." How important this instruction is from the Savior. He knew that in these days more prophets would be called, but there would also be "false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." He told us a way to distinguish false prophets from true prophets.

The Book of Mormon is the fruit of the prophet Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God, the Book of Mormon is truly ancient scripture that testifies that Jesus is the Christ.

An apostle today, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained in a recent General Conference the importance and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

I know the Book of Mormon is true because I have read it and prayed about it. I also know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. As missionaries we are here to invite all to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. If you have not, you can get a free copy here and ask me any questions you may have.

“Through all of these years critics have tried to explain it. They have spoken against it. They have ridiculed it. But it has outlived them all, and its influence today is greater than at any time in its history.” — President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), 15th President of the Church

What a Day!

Today has been an interesting day. The day began as every Sunday does, 7:30am sacrament meeting. After that Sister Farmer and I had the chance to do some missionary work here at Temple Square before a couple of us headed to speak at a local branch. The branch is called the Orange Street branch and those that attend it are women from the Orange Street Halfway House in Salt Lake.

Wow. These women have been through a lot in their lives, many out of prison for only a few months, but they are trying to do better, to become closer to their Savior, to live greater lives. To these women that have been through things in life that I pray I never have to experience I had the chance of sharing the thing that can make it better, the Atonement. I shared with them what the Savior did for them, how He felt every temptation, every hurt, every addiction that they have ever felt so that He can truly comfort them in their time of need.

Being at the Orange Street branch was a humbling experience. I was so better able to look past their appearance, past their history, to look at who they truly are to the Savior-daughters that are trying to know Him better, to feel His presence in their lives. I hope to always be able to look at others for who they really are, children of a loving Father in Heaven, precious beyond anything in this world, worth more than all the gold and silver combined.

To say the least I was a tad bit spiritually exhausted after our trip to Orange Street- but the reward in a change of perspective made everything worth it.

After we had the chance to call home to our families. My family made sure to fill me in with details of their lives and the exciting things they are experiencing... including the new Harry Potter movie. My mother threatened to send me a copy and I begged her not to-don't want to break mission rules. I love my family, it made me feel even more blessed, even more grateful. Indeed it made me want to work extra hard in the short time I have left to serve the Lord in this capacity.

So, what a day! What a wonderful, exhausting, spiritually uplifting Sabbath Day.
Wow, I'm so happy to be where I am right now. The Gospel is true and only through our Savior Jesus Christ can we find everlasting peace and happiness. I promise you that it is available.


Matthew 11:28-30

Forgiveness

Wow. This story of the power one man had because he relied on the Savior is incredible. Honestly, I can't imagine responding the way this man, Chris, did. But, it truly shows that in this life we are able to give it all to the Savior, to let Him work through us. Please, watch this. Let it change your perspective. Let me know what you think.
Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light