"I AM" Statements

   On December 17th 2010, I was having a very hard time falling asleep... i had a lot going on in my mind and it wouldn't turn off.. we all know how that goes! I knew that something was coming and the Lord was preparing me for it.  I had been asking the Lord to help me be more Obedient and to rely on him more, so i knew that my answer was coming soon and i could feel it! at around 1:30am i finally got out of bed and went to my desk and started reading the scriptures... I'm sure you are all thinking that i am going to say something profound, but I'm not.  i read for awhile and than felt like i just needed to write my feelings down.  i started by writing what i was thinking about, which at the time was transfers... the dreaded transfers! eventually my fear turned to me writing my testimony! I wrote how much I Love this gospel, my companion (sister Fulton) and how grateful I am for this Gospel and all that it does for me.  I  wrote about how grateful i was for my family and the support and love that they give to me! and last but not least how I was grateful for the Scriptures!
   I'll get back to my story but I have to give a brief history on something from my life that I've learned.  For about 5-6 years now I have been doing the photography for a convention called SendOutCards. the owner Cody Bateman based his company off of following promptings and creating what he call's "I AM" statements, so most of my goals are in the form of I AM statements.
 

 So as the minutes kept passing I started my list of "I AM" statements. I wanted to share them with the World of Blogging!
I AM: Obeying with exactness.
I AM: Giving all my might, mind and strength to this work!
I AM: A leader
I AM: Healthy
I AM: Beautiful
I AM: A disciple of Jesus Christ
I AM: A successful Missionary.
I AM: Precious to my heavenly Father.
   I know that as I remember these things that i will become them, and believe them full hardedly! I love creating I AM statements! they help to keep me thinking positive! and stay strong in my faith.  So here comest he challenge! I would like everyone that reads this blog to create new "I AM" statements for the new year.  Let it be your theme for this next year.  Become what you want!
 I LOVE YOU ALL! May the Lord bless you in all the things that you do!

Becky Kelley - Where's the Line to See Jesus - OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

This song is so perfect for the season!
I've been learning so much about my Savior lately. Today for District council i was asked to talk about the savior's earthly ministry and Atonement. I loved preparing for it. i love reading about my Savior and what he has done for me! he truly is just amazing in all aspects. I hope that you all will enjoy this song. It mean's alot to me. it is CHRISTmas time. the time we celebrate our savior's birth.
I feel so blessed to have my heavenly father answer my prayers, this last transfer or 6 week period, I have been struggling with following the spirit and teaching by the spirit, so in one of my prayers i asked him to help me be more obedient and rely on him more, so this transfer I "whitewashed" into a new ward, its where they take the 2 missionaries serving in one ward and take them both out and put 2 new missionaries in the area! its very hard to do. So the Lord answered my prayers! and I am grateful for it! I'm super excited to be serving in the Rincon Valley ward here in Santa Rosa! I love this time of year and for all that it brings people to do!
GOD BLESS

What are you willing to pay?

    
     What are you willing to pay to be closer to God? that has been sister Fulton and I theme for the day.  yesterday as we were planning for the next day (today) and we pulled out a book on the heritage of the early saints of this church.  I was reading about there trials, the triumph's, and there victories! they were so courageous.  In the Book Our Heritage in the 6th chapter it talks about a man who crossed in the Martin Handcart Company and he was over hearing 2 people talk about the leaders of the church and criticizing them for making them come when they did.  the man listened till he could bear no more, he turned the the 2 men and spoke with such great emotion saying:
   "I was in that company and my wife was in it... we suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism?... We came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.  "
  " I have pulled my handcart when i was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that i could hardly put one foot ahead of the other.  i have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and i have said, i can go only that far and there i must give up, for i cannot pull the load through it... I have gone on to that sand and when i reached it, the cart began pushing me... i knew that the angels of God were there. was I Sorry that i chose to come by handcart? NO. neither then nor any minute of my life since.  The price we paid to become acquainted  with God was a privilege to pay, and i am thankful that i was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company."

Brother's and Sister's, what are we willing to pay to become acquainted with God? are we truly giving of ourselves? are we helping the people we need? are we following the promptings of the Spirit?
  I am so thankful for the pioneer's who came across the plains so that we would be able to worship our God freely! I love this gospel with all my heart! I am trying to do everything i can to become more acquainted with my God. 

Hi, I'm Stan, I create high-thrill amusement rides. I enjoy time with my...

I love Stan, he is so amazing! He is an example of what Jesus Christ teaches us in the scriptures, "repent ye" he hit a rocky path in his journey and fell off his horse, what he did is was amazing! he got up, dusted off his knee's and got right back on that horse! we should all do the same thing. We can all fall off sometimes but that is why we have Jesus Christ, for the act that he performed! from taking upon himself all of our sins, to prepare the way for us to be spiritually healed! I'm so proud of Stan and think that we can all learn from him.

Sisterhood

    Last week we had our sisters conference, It was just amazing to be around all of the sister's in the California Santa Rosa mission.  there was about 40 of us there and I have never felt that much love and of a connection to any group of girls than I did them.  There is a link between all sisters and as the scriptures tell us we are all sons and daughters of God which makes us all brothers and sisters.  we are bound together because of our choice to serve a mission. Sister's are not required to serve mission's but can do so if they choose, our mission is full of Elders so sisters are few and far between. 
  at our conference we were asked to share an experience or a trial that we had on our missions and a scripture that helped us get through it.  the "theme" i guess you could call was inadequacy or weakness, we shared our experiences and the scripture, for every girl that got up and every experience they felt, I have felt, every scripture they shared was what i needed to hear.  I felt like every sister was talking to me.  I'm pretty sure that every sister in that room felt the same way.  some of the sisters shared scriptures from the Book of Mormon, Alma 7:11-13, Alma 40:11-12, the Bible: Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 8:15-18.
   In my family I am the only girl out of 5 kids.  for growing up in a family of mostly boys I am pretty girly and I have my mom and dad to thank for that.  my dad never let me mow the lawn because its a boys job, or pull weed's.  but i was taught how to clean the house and cook food.  It is something that I enjoy doing now (not so much the cleaning part, but having everything clean).
   I am so grateful for this gospel and for all that it teaches me to do. I am so grateful for all the sisters that i serve around, they all teach me so much, I am grateful for all of my past companions and future ones.  i have learned so much from each of them.  I love my savior and my Heavenly Father and all that they teach me.  I'm so glad that i was prompted to serve a mission and that i was called to serve in the CASRM.  I'm grateful for parents who helped instill my womanly nature.

www.lds.org
 www.mormon.org

why I'm a missionary!

Why I'm a Missionary

My Journey to being an online missionary started way back on May 4th 2009 when I went with my best friend Dianna to have breakfast at IHOP at about 11 O'clock at night.  I asked her all about her mission that night, I don't know why but i was very curious about her life as a missionary, so my questions began and didn't end till about 1:30 in the morning.  I had felt the spirit prompt me to prepare for a mission, when I got home I woke up my mom to tell her what the spirit had told me.  She perked right up and we talked for about another hour in my room about what all this meant.  I had later talked to my bishop and had gotten discouraged, he didn't seem as excited as i was at the time.  So i put it on the back burner.  I found out 3 weeks later that my dad had take a job offer in Salt Lake City Utah and was planning to move up there with the rest of the family.  i prayed to see if I needed to go, the spirit confirmed to me that I needed to go, so reluctantly i moved with them to Holladay Utah.  I quickly made some new friends and came to find out that most of them had served missions, big slap in the face right there! I need to serve a mission... and i wasnt getting out of it. 
  In August of 2009 I set up an appointment with my newly called bishop and we began the process together. I finally got my paper's in the week after Halloween and received my call about 2 weeks later, my call said that i would be serving in the California Santa Rosa Mission, I  was so excited to serve in California! i was born in southern California and felt that it was were I was needed.
   I got to my mission field on March 2nd 2010 and instantly connected with President Bunker and Sister Bunker, I told them that Las Vegas is where my heart is! and quickly became a favorite, after being out for 2 transfers I got the call that i would be training a new missionary right out of the MTC (missionary training center) and i was SCARED! I was still a new missionary myself but President Bunker knew that  I would need challenges here, so i trained Sister Nestman, who is an online missionary too, after I was transferred to Fortuna California (way north) I was invited to a leadership meeting, I was super excited because I've been to them before and they were amazing! Than......they dropped the bomb (great bomb to be dropped if there was ever going to be one) that there would be 18 missionaries from our mission that were being called to be Online Missionaries, we talked about it than President Bunker announced the names of those missionaries... I was one of them. At first i felt like I was breaking rules, but it got easier, I felt inadequate to be doing this, but i kept on.  i now love being an online missionary and look forward to talking to people everyday online about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  So now I've been blogging and talking to people on facebook for a few months.  I LOVE doing this.   I communicate with my investigators, less actives and recent converts! its such an amazing tool to use.
    I was recently transferred to Santa Rosa-Peterson Lane ward and absolutely love it! the members here are so strong and willing to help us in anything that we do.  They support us and do all they can to help us.  I feel so blessed to be a part of this online missionary work! I know that through my efforts and the efforts of all 200 online missionaries that we are taking the gospel to places it's never been heard! and to people that need this gospel! I love being a missionary! i will be a missionary for the rest of my life.  Every member a missionary. 

Christ is our Light

 In the Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi 17:13 Nephi is commanded to build a ship that will take them to the promised land.  Nephi doesnt question the Lord, he just ask's where he should go to find the tools he need's to build this ship.  He gets started right away.  How often do we ask questions before doing what the Lord tell's us to do? I know that I am guilty of this... but I am repenting and striving to become more like Nephi and Moroni and more importantly my Savior Jesus Christ.  just doing what I need to do.  Christ tell's us that he will be our light.
13And I will also be your ^alight in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the ^bpromised land; and ye shall ^cknow that it is by me that ye are led.
    After they built the ship and they start on there journey to the promised land, Nephi's brethern start sing and dance in much rudeness and Nephi is bold with them and telling them to stop... Nephi's older brothers dont like this so they tie him up and he is bound for 4 days while this very bad storm is upon them.
Later on in 1 Nephi 18:15-16 Nephi says:
15"And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to ^asee that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.   

 16Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did ^apraise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions."

what I love about this is that no matter what happened to Nephi, he was always quick to remember his Lord.  He knew that Christ would deliver him if he was faithful, and Christ did. 
  I know that if i am faithful and follow the commandments, Christ will be my light, he will guide me to where i need to be.  I love this gospel, and I am so excited to be a missionary! I love being able to help people see Christ hand's in there life!
LET US ALL LET CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT.

Attitude of Gratitude

Sister Fulton and I just got the November Ensign of conference and looked up President Thomas S. Monson's talk from the Sunday Morning session where he talk's about Gratitude. I just wanted to put some things on that i loved about his talk.  Since it is the time of Thanksgiving what a more perfect opportunity than this to share an amazing talk on just the thing?
    "To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven."

     A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”¹²

     "This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.
We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”⁸
How can we cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude? President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, provided an answer. Said he: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.” He continued: “Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”<sup>9"

  I'll just leave you with my testimony about gratitude! I am so greatful for this opportunity i have to teach the gospel! and to learn so much! I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, for his loving sacrifice and his life that he gave for me and for everyone that will accept him and follow his teachings! i'm grateful to be in the California Santa Rosa Mission! Its the best mission on earth, in my opinion.  I'm grateful for President Bunker and Sister Bunker and the love that they have for us and accepting us at there own! I'm grateful for my wonderful companion Sister Fulton! she is such a blessing to me! She teaches me so much!</sup>

TOUGH TIMES

"Let the Tough times DEFINE you, not DEFEAT you."
i was first introduced to this by a former missionary Elder Korey Fras.  he was my district leader and always had good quotes to start out district coucil.  I often think of this quote, being a missionary we go through very tough times, but more than just us, our people! the People of the California Santa Rosa mission go through tough times and its our job to lead them to Christ, who suffered for all our sins, weaknesses, failures, everything! Elder Fras also said that adversity is a gift from God, this is how we experiance joy, love, peace, happiness.  we cant experiance any of these things without feeling the opposite.  in Mosiah 23:20-21 the people are prospering and they had built a city and everythings, sometimes the Lord see's fit to chasten us, he chasten them.  he tried there patience to help them in all things.  In Mosiah 23:22 it says that whosever puteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day.
   We all have trials, how we deal with them is what the Lord is looking at.  Do we always wonder "why me?" or "couldnt this happen to anyone else but me?" or do we think: "what can i learn from this?" "what is the Lord trying to teach me?" this is how we learn to bare our trials.  God promises that if we endure all things well, we shall be lifted up! that's a great promise.  I know that this church is true, i know that God is loving and will never give us anything we cant handle.  May God bless us in all that we do, and may we all rely fully on Jesus Christ.

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

The Climb

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

Zig Ziglar"

   I love this quote, its great what we become in the end of our trials or on the road to reaching our goals, but whats most important is the journey we take to get there. Our life here on this Earth is a trail of our faith, its a probationary time, A time for us to grow, a time for us to experience life.  no one ever said this life would be easy, they only said it would be worth it! i have found what makes this life "worth it!" its family, love, Jesus Christ, knowing that i will live again after this life, and more importantly knowing that one day i will return to live with my Father in Heaven! that's what make's it worth it!!

 

there is a song by a famous artist that pop's into my head as i think about life, as i think about the journey that I'm on to eternal life!

"I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah)
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah yeah ea ea)
Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith"

Miley Cyrus
 Life is a climb, its about moving and about faith. we are either progressing or digressing.  I love my life, i love everything about it, including my trails.  our trials, our infirmities,(personal failings) are not in vain... Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, suffered for our infirmities so that he may know how to succor(run to the aid of) his people.  I love this gospel, I love the Book of Mormon and all that it teaches me. 

GOD BLESS EVERYONE!

VETERANS DAY!

Today i wanted to talk about veterans... for hundreds of years people have fought for this country, people have died for this country, people have stood up for this country and today is the day that we pay our respects to them!
  I am truly grateful for our VETERANS! the one that is closest to me is my brother, his name is Corey Kenemore he is in the Marine Corp. he has been through so much to become one! through 13 weeks of training that breaks you down and builds you up! Corey has served honorably for them for about 5 years now and has had the opportunity to serve in Iraq to fight for my freedom, for our families freedom, for YOUR freedom!
   There is an amazing hymn that i love that is titled We are All Enlisted.

1. We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by.
Haste to the battle, quick to the field;
Truth is our helmet, buckler, and shield.
Stand by our colors; proudly they wave!
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

[Chorus]
We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by.

2. Hark! the sound of battle sounding loudly and clear;
Come join the ranks! Come join the ranks!
We are waiting now for soldiers; who’ll volunteer?
Rally round the standard of the cross.
Hark! ’tis our Captain calls you today;
Lose not a moment, make no delay!
Fight for our Savior; come, come away!
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

3. Fighting for a kingdom, and the world is our foe;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Glad to join the army, we will sing as we go;
We shall gain the vict’ry by and by.
Dangers may gather—why should we fear?
Jesus, our Leader, ever is near.
He will protect us, comfort, and cheer.
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home

I am so grateful to have such an amazing country that i live in! i love the freedom to choose what religion we want to be a part of! I'm grateful for that freedom that so many men fought and died for so that a young boy can have the opportunity to go into a grove of tree's and pray to know what church she should join.  I know that the gospel is true! i know that this church is true! i know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and redeemer.

Prayer

This picture brings such a smile to my heart!! If you couldn't tell by the picture, today i wanted to write about prayer, and how powerful it is.  today, 2nd day in my new area, went to the cutest ladies house to talk with her, her name is Michele and she has had a lot of challenges in her life.  She was in a car accident when she was 3 and was thrown out the window of the car and was in a coma for 4 1/2 months... the doctor's told her mom that she wouldn't survive, but she did, she obviously has some side effects from it, she has a great memory, she is a little slower than most people and her speech isn't all that great, but she is truly AMAZING!
  As we talked with her we asked her how the Lord has blessed her in her life,  the first thing she said is that she is alive! that's so true, we should all be grateful to be alive! to live and have more opportunities to follow Jesus Christ, and more opportunities to live the commandments and receive blessings. 
  When she was praying she TALKED to God, not at him, or as if he is a million miles away, but to him as if he was in the room! it was such a beautiful prayer! at the end of her prayer she said: " thank you very  much, i love you and I cant wait to meet you."
  It's truly amazing how much she loves God, and was made evident to me that i need to do better in my prayers and to think of God as being in the room with me, to talk with him and converse with him as if we are face to face!
  if you have the chance go to lds.org and find the bible dictionary and look up PRAYER.  the definition is amazing!!

SMILING!

"Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."
— Mother Teresa



A long time ago when i was in young woman's, a group for girls 12-18 to help them be better woman of society, and help us to be strong and have good moral values, we were having a lesson and the only thing that I got from it is that we should smile at people because we never know who's watching.  so that next week was semester finals and no one ever likes to take a test... but I went to school thinking about the lesson we had just had and wanted to share my love with everyone.  so as I walked the hallways to my classes, I smiled! and our principle who was out in the hall way's saw this and asked me why i was smiling... I told him because its a great day to be alive, and that I was just in a good mood.  He watched me interact with other people and smile at them and the smile became contagious and soon other people were smiling! it was a great thing for me to witness and for other people to feel that love that I had for them, even if i didnt know them. 
CHALLENGE: smile! no matter where you are or what is going on in your life! see how it changes not only your attitude but the people around you as well! i've tested this theory and now challenge you to do the same!

TRANSFERS!

 So every 6 weeks we have the opportunity to be transferred to a new area of not.  what happens is we spend anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months in one area teaching the gospel and helping people draw closer to Jesus Christ, than at the end of that 6 week period, our mission president (President Bunker) prays and seeks to find out whether we should be transferred to a new area or stay in the same area.  every 6th Sunday of the transfer we got a call from our Zone Leaders telling us if we are staying or going.  we got our call this morning and i was told that I am transferring to Santa Rosa in the Peterson Lane ward.  I am super excited to meet the people in Santa Rosa, but also super sad to be leaving Fortuna.  I've spent the last 4 1/2 months here serving the people and loving them!  I am so grateful for the people that i was able to meet here.  they have each taught me so much and helped me to gain a greater love for my savior.  I'm ready to embark on a new part of the California Santa Rosa Mission (CASRM) its going to be a rollercoaster of fun the next few days!!

Rock Foundation

Today i wanted to talk about ROCKS! yes rocks...  Rocks start out as loose gravel and than once in a place for a long period of time changes to a hard surface.  making it sturdy and immovable.  In Matthew chapter 7 verses 24-27 it talks about a wise man and a foolish man. 
24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

  25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

  26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

  27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

to be a "wise man" we must do thing things the Lord Tell's us to do, we can find these commandments in the scriptures.  a wise man who built his house upon a rock  is immovable, so when Satan throws things at us we will NOT move from our place.  Satan will try everything to get us to move from it, to make us think that we can't handle the things he throws at us, but we can! as long as we say our prayers, read our scriptures and follow all the commandments to the best of our ability!

to be a "foolish man" who built his house upon the sand, who didn't read and pray and go to church he is who will be swept away when Satan tempts him and tries him! how are we doing on building our faith on a rock? are we reading our scriptures daily? are we on our knee's every night and every morning pleading to the Father? if not, we need to do a self evaluation and re aline your priorities!
to read more on Matthew chapter 7 visit: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/7

Courage not to judge

President Monson gave a talk titled: "May You Have Courage." He's talking to the young woman of the church but I think it applies to everyone! he talks about 3 ways to take courage...
 First, the courage to refrain from judging others
   He quoted Mother Teresa saying: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
Second, the courage to be chaste and virtuous

  The commandments of our Heavenly Father are not negotiable! Powerful is this quote from news commentator Ted Koppel, host of ABC’s Nightline program for many years. Said he:“We have actually convinced ourselves that slogans will save us. ‘Shoot up if you must; but use a clean needle.’ ‘Enjoy sex whenever with whomever you wish; but [protect yourself“ No. The answer is no. Not no because it isn’t cool or smart or because you might end up in jail or dying in an AIDS ward—but no, because it’s wrong.…

Third, the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness.

   My beloved young sisters, with the courage of your convictions, may you declare with the Apostle Paul, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.”Lest you feel inadequate for the tasks which lie ahead, I remind you of another of the Apostle Paul’s stirring statements from which we might draw courage: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

  We must keep our feet firmly planted on the Rock.  In 3 Nephi 31 the entire chapter is about the doctrine of christ and talks about if we build upon the rock of Christ, the gates of hell shall not prevail against us.  That is an awesome promise!!

to see more please visit:

http://www.mormon.org/

http://www.new.lds.org/

 or talk to me at on facebook!

Our True Identity

I love this message! we are all beautiful in the eyes of God. If we know and truly understand that we are son's and daughter's of the most high God, we will know that we are beautiful and see Christ in our reflection. "WE ARE GLORIOUS SON'S AND DAUGHTERS OF A MIGHTY GOD" President Uchtdorf.

Sharing the Light of Christ

There's nothing we cant handle without God with us.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13
 "13There hath no temptation ^ataken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be ^btempted above that ye are able; but will with the ^ctemptation also make a way to ^descape, that ye may be able to ^ebear it."
   I was studying Corinthians this morning for my personal study and I read this scripture, I've always heard the saying that God never gives us anything we cant handle... and provides a way for us to bear everything we do.  I know this to be true.  There have been times in my life that i felt like i couldnt handle things or that i would ever get out of the situtation i was stuck in.  But the Savior provides a way for us if we will but trust him and know that he will guide us to eternal life.  This also reminded me of this scripture in 
2 CORINTHIANS 12: 7-10  7 And lest I should be ^aexalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a ^bthorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

  8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

  9 And he said unto me, My ^agrace is sufficient for thee: for my ^bstrength is made perfect in ^cweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may ^drest upon me.

  10 Therefore I take pleasure in ^ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in ^bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am ^cweak, then am I ^dstrong.

  So this is Paul talking and he has a thorn in his side and he ask'd the Lord to remove it from him. we all have thorns in our side, it is to keep us humble, to help us and remind us to rely on the Lord in all that we do.  Paul says that he took pleasure in the infirmities, the persecutions, and was brought to his knee's and when that happen's when we are weak and call upon God, than he will lift us up and make us strong.

"Swashbuckler"

ITS ALWAYS FUN TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY!

FAVORITE SCRIPTURE!

  11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

  12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

  13 Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

 

 

 This is my favorite scripture!! the first time actually read and understood it was with my companion Sister Darley.  She was studying  and shared this scripture with me and she told me what the definition of infirmities, infirmities are our personal failings...so every time we fail, Christ as felt it...every time we are sad, Christ has felt it, EVERY TIME we sin, Christ has felt it.  This scripture makes me think of all the sin's I've committed in my life, a song that i love says "which drop of blood did i make him shed? did i put the thorns onto his head?" I think of that often... the best thing about it is he did this to "blot" out our sins, and to know how to "succor" his people.  To succor is to run to the aid of.  Christ suffered all things so he would know how to help us, he is the only person who has felt everything we have felt, so we never have to be alone in this world.

   I am truly grateful for this gospel, for the knowledge of knowing that my savior Jesus Christ has suffered all things that he me be able to help me. as long as i follow him, have Faith in him, repent of my sins, renew my covenant with him weekly after i was baptized, i rely on the Holy Ghost constantly, and Endure To The End!!

 

for more information on this scripture please go to http://www.new.lds.org/ or you can chat with me on facebook www.facebook.com/sisterbrookkenemore.com

 

Book of Mormon.

2 NEPHI 33:10-12
one of the members in our ward shared a funny story with me tonight over facebook, her Daughter was following her step-dad around the house reading this scripture over and over again to him.  She is only in 3rd grade and she understands te scriptures enough to quote that scripture to her "not-yet-a-member" step dad! i say not yet because I wont label anyone, there is always hope!

" 10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also ^aJew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and ^bbelieve in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall ^cbelieve in Christ ye will believe in these ^dwords, for they are the ^ewords of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they ^fteach all men that they should do good.

  11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with ^apower and great ^bglory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

  12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his ^akingdom at that great and last day. "

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_ne/33

Mormon Myths - Made Simple

PLAIN AND SIMPLE! MORMON MYTH'S BUSTED! WATCH THIS VIDEO! SO AWESOME!

My Mom!

   Today i felt inspired to talk about my best friend, my mom.  (no I'm not home sick.) ever since i was a little girl my mom has always been there for me.  All the countless times i came home crying because someone hurt my feelings, she would do something special with me.  She has the BEST testimony ever! i know that if i ever had questions about the gospel, she would be the one to ask.  She is so valiant in her testimony.
   Some of our favorite times together where when my dad and little brothers would go on the trips and leave us at home.  We would go to sushi, go see a movie, stay up late talking.  she has always been a good listener.  With any problem i ever had, she was there.  When i need a shoulder to cry on, she was there.  When i just needed someone to talk to, she was there.  She never EVER judged me, or anyone for that matter. 
   She has always counseled me to do what is right, for example: I didn't want to serve a mission at the time, but felt the prompting too, and so did my mom. She told everyone that she thinks i should serve a mission and than i started getting phone calls from people says that there vote is "YES" for me serving a mission. The commandments tell us to obey our father and mother.  So finally I set up my appointment with my bishop and got going on the paper work.  and 9 month's later here i am writing about my best friend. 

    I feel so blessed to have the mother that i do.  she does so much for me and I'm not sure that i ever told her thank you for everything she does, so THANK YOU mom! you mean the world to me! I am so grateful to have you as my mother, and my best friend.  Not many girls can say that there mom's are there best friends but I am privilege to say that you are BOTH my mom and best friend. 

"THE DREAM!!"

 We are ALL somewhere in this picture,   No matter who you are or where you are from, you could be clinging to the Iron Rod, or in the great and spacious building or lost in the Mist of Darkness. Everything in this picture represents something...  in the scriptures it tells us that:
1- Tree of Life: Love of God. -1 nephi 11:21-22
2- Iron Rod: Word of God. 1 nephi 11:25
3- Great and Spacious Building: pride and vain ambitions of the world.- 1 nephi 11:36 1 Nephi 12:18
4- Mist of Darkness: The Temptations of the Devil. 1Nephi 12:17 

In Boyd K. Packer's talk in the August Ensign he talks of Lehi's dream. this is what he said about it.

• "Now to you, the one of two million, I speak individually. Just as the prophets and apostles in times past did, “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).

“Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:3).
And then Nephi added:
“Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.
“For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:4–5).
  We must follow the Iron Rod, CLING to it with all the strength that we have.  this will save us! bring us to Everlasting life, which is living with our Heavenly Father!

website for the talk by Boyd K. Packer:
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=7c1d1db6dca1a210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Book of Mormon reference:
1 Nephi 8   http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/8
1 Nephi 10 http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/10
1 Nephi 11 http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/11
1 Nephi 12 http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/12

God's Words Never Cease.

This video says it all. i love it! its goes along with yesterdays blog on the Safety for the Soul by Jeffery R. Holland. I love the Book of Mormon and the comfort and knowledge it gives to each and everyone of us. please watch this video. its amazing!

Safety For the Soul

This morning as i was studying i decided to read about the Book of Mormon.  Yesterday i was studying what the bible says about the Book of Mormon, and today i was studying the Book of Mormon itself.  As i thought about it, i was reminded of a wonderful talk by Jeffery R. Holland titled: Safety for the Soul.  he is truly an amazing speaker and every time i read this talk i get chill's.  its so powerful! I took this part from the talk, i would encourage everyone to read the entire talk.  it will reaffirm your faith in the Book of Mormon.

For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.”

I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages—especially without accounting for their powerful witness of Jesus Christ and the profound spiritual impact that witness has had on what is now tens of millions of readers—if that is the case, then such a person, elect or otherwise, has been deceived; and if he or she leaves this Church, it must be done by crawling over or under or around the Book of Mormon to make that exit. In that sense the book is what Christ Himself was said to be: “a stone of stumbling, … a rock of offence,” a barrier in the path of one who wishes not to believe in this work. Witnesses, even witnesses who were for a time hostile to Joseph, testified to their death that they had seen an angel and had handled the plates. “They have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man,” they declared. “Wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true.”

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=cdf4ad2dbbb94210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Charity and Love

please watch this video. see how they are serving someone they dont know. i would like to send a challenge out to all that read my blog! do an act of service for someone that you dont know. It could be holding a door open for someone, or smiling at someone that look's down or even waving. be an example of Jesus Christ. help someone in need! and please post what you did as a comment. i would love to hear about everyone's experiance's.

The Transforming Power of Faith and Character. Richard G Scott

"Material things do not of themselves produce happiness and satisfaction and the joy of attainment on earth. Nor do they lead us to exaltation. It is nobility of character, that fabric of inner strength and conviction woven from countless righteous decisions, that gives life its direction. A consistent, righteous life produces an inner power and strength that can be permanently resistant to the eroding influence of sin and transgression. Your faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments will strengthen your character. Your character is a measure of what you are becoming. It is the evidence of how well you are using your time on earth in this period of mortal probation."     By Elder Richard G Scott in his talk titled "The Transforming Power of Faith and Character.

It's true, we can find fun and excitement through material things but lasting joy comes only in and through Jesus Christ and our OBEDIENCE to his Law's and commandments.  As we continue to develop our faith in Christ and are obedient to his commandments it will strengthen our Character and will mold us to what Heavenly Father would want us to be.  We all want exaltation! the best way we can obtain it is through our obedience to Jesus Christ....if you havent noticed i'm hinting at something...(obedience is key to exaltation) GOD BLESS YOU ALL! I love this work and the plan that God provided for us.

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-15,00.html  -link to the talk.

questions of the Soul answered.

Today during Preparation day sister Madsen and I decided to go to the local graveyard... it's interesting to think that people go there to mourn over there loved ones when all a graveyard is, is just a resting place for our bodies while we are in the spirit world... I didnt feel sad there even though there were a few recent graves, i felt excited! i was excited for spirit world missionaries to teach the people who werent able to gain a testimony of Jesus Christ here.  when i pass from this life, i want to be a missionary in the spirit world too! i got the below paragraph's from Mormon.org




Your life didn’t begin at birth and it won’t end at death. Before you came to earth, your spirit lived with Heavenly Father who created you. You knew Him, and He knew and loved you. It was a happy time during which you were taught God’s plan of happiness and the path to true joy. But just as most of us leave our home and parents when we grow up, God knew you needed to do the same. He knew you couldn’t progress unless you left for a while. So he allowed you to come to earth to experience the joy—as well as pain—of a physical body.
One thing that makes this life so hard sometimes is that we’re out of God’s physical presence. Not only that, but we can’t remember our pre-earth life which means we have to operate by faith rather than sight. God didn’t say it would be easy, but He promised His spirit would be there when we needed Him. Even though it feels like it sometimes, we’re not alone in our journey. 
http://www.mormon.org/plan-of-happiness/

---

SPAGHETTI

So today while pondering during lunch time, i knew that we were having spaghetti for dinner.  so I am a big fan of relating ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING to the gospel. so i thought and thought and thought some more.  This is what i came up with.... first we have the water (us in our spirit form) than you add the noodles (physical bodies) and we have to cook for awhile (our lives) while in the life we have certain things we have to do! such as have faith in Jesus Christ, Repent of our sins, be Baptized by the proper priesthood authority, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion, and keep the commandments to the best of our ability till the end of our lives. while all these things are necessary there is something missing...the sauce (Jesus Christ) it is only through him that the spaghetti is complete!

None Were with Him

THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING!

So this is the first time I've ever done anything like this.  So I guess I'll just share my feelings about the gospel.  I LOVE IT! i know with every fiber of my being that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's church once again established on the earth.  I know that Jesus Christ Atoned for not only my sin's but for the sins of the entire world, of all past present and future human beings.