Easter Freedom

     Hey, this is Sister Fulton! Sister Kenemore asked me to do a blog today and I am so excited to share one of life's greatest lessons. Since the time I was very young I would hear comments like, "It's a free land-you can't tell me what to do," or "I'm free to be whatever I want to be." Freedom really is a gift and one that's overlooked way to often. My dad has always been very passionate about the American flag and what it truly stands for. He's done many flag ceremonies and even flag retiring that have made me come to love the flag and the precious ideal of freedom it holds.  Hundreds and thousands of courageous and brave men and women have given their lives to bring freedom, and now after so much war, we can finally stand and say we live in a free land! Even the sound of that makes us so happy.  We really are so blessed to live free.  but even while being so blessed, living in a free land doesn't give us complete freedom.
  So many times we all experience heartbreak, sorrow, frustration, guilt, shame and there is only one key that would unlock the chains of the soul and bring us incredible peace and joy. That is in turning back to Christ, our Master Healer.  At this happy Easter time we can remember Christ and His Atonement and Resurrection.  He died for us so we can all live again, but he also suffered for us so we can live free and happy.
  As described in the bible dictionary under "Atonement," when we sin, we lose control over our own will and become a "slave to sin" and that's what gives us all the those bad feelings.  But whats amazing is that through Christ's sacrifice, if we have faith in him, Repent, be baptized by immersion, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can be made completely clean and pure.  now this is freedom.  Christ lived for us, He suffered and died for us, and now lives again for us. 
  So during this Easter time, lets remember the cause of our freedom and the incredible joy it brings, and as said in Galatians 1:5:

"Stand Fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

What's your glass look'n like?

   I LOVE getting the Ensign magazine.  A week ago Sister Beefelt and I got our Ensign, secretly we fight over who gets to read it first, this time I was lucky enough to sneak it onto my desk to read (mwahaha).  The first thing that caught my attention was the "First Presidency Message" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  the first counselor to the Prophet Thomas S. Monson.  the title of his message was "Looking for the Good".  He says in his message "Have you ever noticed that people can usually find whatever they are looking for? look hard enough, and you can discover both good and bad in almost anyone and anything.  People have done the same with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its beginning.  Those who look for the good will find a kind and compassionate people-a people who love the Lord and desire to serve him and bless the lives of their fellowman.  But it is also true that those who look for the bad will certainly find things that are not so ideal." 
  So my friends... I ask you, how are you viewing your life? your family? your community? this world that we all live in? Is your glass half full or half empty? are you looking for the Miracles that God gives us, or asking why me?   I know that as we change our view about God, ourselves and the world that we will see everything in a brighter light! We will see the good in everything!  I know that God gives us Miracles daily but its up to us to find them!  I pray that we may all be able to see the goodness of God in our lives more fully, and to always give thanks to him for what he has done!

Truly Converted

  Yesterday morning I was doing my personal study, and was looking in the Bible Dictionary, boy do I love it!  I came across Conversion.  The definition is "Denotes changing one’s views, in a conscious acceptance of the will of God (Acts 3:19). If followed by continued faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism in water for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, conversion will become complete, and will change a natural man into a sanctified, born again, purified person—a new creature in Christ Jesus (see 2 Cor. 5:17). Complete conversion comes after many trials and much testing"

  As I thought about this I was thinking about this scripture in Ether 12:6 "... faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith"  Sometimes its scary to think about things that are going to test us, that might cause us pain. I try to always remember that all the trials that I go through are for my own benefit,  that Heavenly Father will never give me anything I cant handle!  I know that sometimes we don't remember that principle as we are going through the pain but after it's over and we look back and see that God's hand truly was with us, and makes the trial seem not so bad!  For example:  way back yonder about a year and a half ago I was prompted to go on a mission...and followed through with it.   As my report date for my mission neared my immediate family and I went to go visit some family in St. George Utah.  My dad and I went for a joy ride in his truck and I wasn't telling him how nervous I was, that I knew it was going to be hard and I was second guessing my decision...  He gave me some great words of council about when he join the Military and was scared too, but that the Military helped shape and mold him into a better father, husband and worker.  He told me that my mission was going to do the same for me! It will help mold and shape me to be a better mother(when the time comes) a better wife, and disciple of Jesus Christ.  I am truly grateful for his words of wisdom! they have stuck with me since the beginning.  I know that this has has changed my life, even though I have faces many trials and challenges.   I can honestly say that I am truly converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that makes me happily endure all my trials!

What's your Goliath?

   I've often thought of things that seem much bigger than I am, things that I don't think I can handle, or thing's that are just to big for me to be able to tackle alone! I Love the story of David and Goliath, how courageous David was to go up against someone much bigger than him and not fear him at all because he knew that he had God on his side.  "One man’s Goliath may be the stranglehold of a cigarette or perhaps an unquenchable thirst for alcohol. To another, her Goliath may be an unruly tongue or a selfish streak which causes her to spurn the poor and the downtrodden. Envy, greed, fear, laziness, doubt, vice, pride, lust, selfishness, discouragement—all spell Goliath."

  Even though we all go through things that are bigger than we are, or we don't feel like we can handle it, we can.  David was a Shepard boy, very small in stature, but had a mighty heart.
  I recently read a talk given by President Thomas S. Monson titled Meeting your Goliath.  In the talk, David prepares to fight against Goliath the giant, who has been in battles and wars since he was a youth. David is given all this armor to wear and cant seem to do much with it on,  so he takes it off. Goes and  finds 5 smooth stones from a small brook,  to use with his sling shot.  these 5 stones can help us in our fights with our own Goliaths.
STONE NUMBER 1: "The stone of COURAGE will be essential to your victory. As we survey the challenges of life, that which is easy is rarely right. In fact, the course that we should properly follow appears at times impossible, impenetrable, hopeless."
STONE NUMBER 2: "Next, I select the stone of EFFORT—mental effort and physical effort....

The decision to overcome a fault or correct a weakness is an actual step in the process of doing so. “Thrust in thy sickle with thy might” was not spoken of missionary work alone."

STONE NUMBER 3: "Then there must be in our selection the stone of HUMILITY, for haven’t we been told through divine revelation that when we are humble, the Lord, our God, will lead us by the hand and give us answer to our prayers?"

STONE NUMBER 4: "And who would go forth to battle his Goliath without the stone of PRAYER, remembering that the recognition of a power higher than oneself is in no way debasing; rather, it exalts."

STONE NUMBER 5: "Finally, let us choose the stone of LOVE OF DUTY. Duty is not merely to do the thing we ought to do, but to do it when we should, whether we like it or not."

  These 5 stones coupled with our sling of faith can help us to conquer ANYTHING that stands in our way.  I testify to these 5 steps.  I know that they work, I know that if we use them, we can meet any Goliath that stands in the way of our happiness! I've tried this! I've seen it work and I know that it can work for anyone who is willing and open to letting the Lord help them in any battle.

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!

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!

"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

 

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.