His Hands

The Lord has a hand in all things. Our trials are for a purpose, and even when the damage done is self inflicted and has a selfish motive behind it, we can still learn from it. These are opportunities given to us so we can grow, and if we don't embrace them then we be stuck, wallowing in our own unhappiness and self pity. Watch for the messages He is trying to get to you. Go forward with faith. 


"Increased faith is what we most need. Without it, the work would stagnate. With it, no one can stop its progress." -President Gordon B. Hinckley

“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you”
-Matthew 17:20

With Every Setback There's A Chance To Come Back

The Lord works in wonderful ways. I can't express the gratitude I have for Him and for all the blessings he has sent my way. For all the times that I felt so alone and He was there to comfort me. He knows me, and because He knows I am observant and well aware of the protection He provides me He likes to comfort me with small things, little details that he knows I will catch. I have been struggling with a certain trial for some time now, one that I keep trying to avoid and forget but just can't seem to shake off. Sometimes I feel like I've failed my Heavenly Father, that because I have been disobedient and have done what I know I shouldn't, he is disappointed in me and doesn't want anything to do with me. I feel like a lost cause. But tonight I turned my computer on to check my email, just like I do every night before bed. I opened up YouTube to look for a song to play while I worked, and as I clicked on the video I wanted one of those annoying advertisements popped up. But instead of pressing the "skip" button after the countdown on the ad had ended, I felt impressed to keep watching. The advertisement was for the insurance company Liberty Mutual and featured a war-wounded veteran turned Paralympic Sled Hockey Team member. The traumatic story he shared was very moving, but the story of his recovery and how he was able to push on and overcome the anguish he was experiencing was incredibly inspiring. In the last few seconds of the video, the phrase "With every setback there's a chance to come back" appeared on the screen. Those words truly hit me hard. It may seem a stretch for some, but I recognized that God was communicating with me through this small video. My Heavenly Father wants me to see that I have a choice. I can either let what is troubling me drag me down, or I can use this opportunity to open other doors. Just because tragedy seems impossible doesn't mean I can let it to denote who I become. I have to remember that repentance is not designed for us to experience pain but is there for us to be forgiven. The sooner I repent, the sooner I can begin to make my way back and find the peace and joy that come with forgiveness. If I delay repentance then I can lose blessings, opportunities, and spiritual guidance that I may otherwise have received. I just need to have the faith to turn away from my sin and step forward. I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Liam'a Baptism, The Spirit As A Guide

Today I had the privilege of speaking at Liam Oldham's baptism. What a wonderful and spiritual experience it was. The testimonies and talks given were some of the most thoughtful I had ever heard. The comfort of the spirit truly was felt there. For me, it's always a daunting task to stand up in front of a large group of people and speak. It's nerve wracking and makes me very uncomfortable and jittery. However, this weakness serves as a constant reminder to me of just how much my Heavenly Father cares for me and that he he knows me and recognizes the struggles I deal with. It allows me to build up my testimony of prayer and the gospel and helps me to draw closer to my Savior. I get nervous and even begin to shake and choke up when charged with oratory. Because of this I like to say a prayer before I go up, asking Heavenly Father to have the spirit with me. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly The Lord can work. I'll haul my anxious and jittery self up to the stand, sweat starting to form on my hands as I nervously wring them together. And then the spirit takes control. An overwhelming feeling peace comes over me. My voice comes out smoothly, loudly, and professionally with not a bit of hesitance or unsurety. I am able to deliver my message to the multitude I stand before with confidence and poise because I have the spirit with me. I recognize that what I say has an effect on others, and I'm so grateful that my Heavenly Father is there for me, sending me his spirit so that I can perform my duty to the best of my abilities. He is there for us and will help us the best he can with our daily struggles. I know this, and share these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Listening To The Spirit To Benefit Others

A very faithful woman in my ward bore her testimony last Sunday. She spoke on trials and tribulations and bore witness to the promise that "we are not alone in the challenges that we face." She also reminded the congregation that "the goal of the hardships we face is our spiritual growth." This is very true to me and I took her words to heart immediately. However what she shared got me thinking. I know that we can receive help from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through personal revelation, our prophet, teachers, and other church leaders, but is there anyone else? Of course. There is me.To fulfill my role as a priesthood holder I need to ensure that I am doing everything in my power to serve the ward and ensure their eternal happiness. 

“And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel.”

-D&C 84:26

It's my job to help others through any trials or tribulations that they may be experiencing. People need to feel needed and wanted in order to be happy. I recently;y had an experience where one of the members of my seminary class was having a difficulty with bullies at school. She called me one day after school, sobbing. She was scared and didn't know how to handle the situation, feeling she had no one else to turn to. I calmed her down the best I could, reminding her she has lots of friends and family that care for her. I then let her know I too love and care for her and that if she ever needs to talk to someone or even just someone to be with then she can count on me to be there. I told her that she should pray, to "counsel with the Lord" and ask him for help. I gave her a few scriptures to read that I thought may help her to feel better and then said goodbye, but not before promising to pick her up for seminary the next morning.

I recognize that because I had kept myself worthy I was able to act as a vessel for Heavenly Father so that he could talk to one of his children through me and comfort her. If I had not been righteous and aware that my example has an influence on others actions I would not have been able to help my friend. This experience not only helped her to draw closer to Heavenly Father but also helped me to build up my testimony even stronger. 

Fast and Testimony Meeting

I regret to say that sometimes I get lost in repetition and forget the meaning behind the job of blessing and preparing the sacrament. Fortunately, through the lessons taught in my Sunday school class, the examples set by my fellow Priesthood holders, personal revelation, and even the hymns the congregation sings, I am able to recognize my mistake of taking the sacrament for granted. As Brother Wright bore his testimony this past Sunday he reminded me of just what sacrament really is, a special time in which we can become renewed by the atonement of jesus Christ. It really is a privilege to say that I am worthy to perform such an essential task. 

“This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.... This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” 

-Luke 22:19-20

As I perform my duty of administering the sacrament and truly focus on what was done to allow me this opportunity, the sacrifice that was made for us so that we may be made clean again, I feel the spirit very much so within me. I experience a joy and peace passing the sacrament that I am not able to feel at any other time. I testify that staying worthy brings rich blessings and that if we partake of the sacrament and do as Christ said and "do this in remembrance of me" then we will enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels.

Life Eternal And My dog, Beau

“And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal”

-Moroni 7:41

         The worst things an animal lover will experience is to see their pet undergo pain. Late last night, my 14-year-old companion suffered a neural attack due to what we think is a brain tumor. I held him for a good half hour as he convulsed and cried out in pain. He was scared and didn’t have any idea of what was going on. It was an awful thing to go through, though quite memorable in that it helped me to remember our loved ones will not be with us forever. At least not here on earth. 

At a certain point, everyone and everything will expire. As people, we get to where we must pass into the spirit world and be received into the Kingdom of Heaven. Recognizing this, it is critical that one spends as much time as possible with those they love. People want to feel loved - they need it. Whether it’s my grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, friends, aunts, uncles, you name it, it's our own responsibility to see they get the affection they deserve. I need to love them unconditionally just as our savior loves us.

My dog, Beau, has gone with me through some of the darkest and most challenging times in life. He has always been there to give me the love and sympathy I may not necessarily have deserved but felt I needed. Though it may sound cheesy, I truly believe that Heavenly Father has been working through my dog, sending the spirit to be with me when I need the guidance and support of an angel to pick me up and carry me through my own personal trials.

I testify that Heavenly Father truly does care for us. Eternal Life is what we should have our sights set for. We will see the loved ones that have moved on to the next life again if we are willing to stay righteous and do as our Heavenly Father wants us to. God is merciful and He wants us to return to Him again. I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

All These things shall give thee experience

“Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good”. 

-D&C 122: 7

    We should never go out looking for trouble, but when we do encounter temptation and we fall into its snare we can always learn something from our mistakes. These lessons will help keep us from experiencing the same downfall in the future as well as help us to understand just how loving and merciful our Heavenly Father really is. No matter how far we’ve fallen we can always return to Him because of the atonement and what our Savior, Jesus Christ, did for us.

“Fear not what man can do, for God will be with you forever and ever” 

-D&C 122: 9

    I testify of the truth of this scripture. He is always there watching over us and we will always have Him to turn to. If we keep our thoughts and intentions and actions focused on Him then we will live a happier life, one of peace and filled with the rich blessings of the gospel. I share these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.