Stand UP!

Stand up!
Be counted. What are you all about? What is it that means the most to you? Find out then shout it from the rooftops.

The greatest gift that we have been given is the Savior.
The Atonement has made it possible for all things impossible switch to possible. He gives us hope. He shares with us the gifts of conquoring death and sin. How great is that?

We have a loving Heavenly Father that has our needs,desires at the forefront of his mind. It is his desire to have all of us come back to him. The only way to have that happen was to send his Son. His son, came to earth to as the hymn says "suffer bleed and die for man." another hymn reads"For Jesus died on calvary that all through him might glory be."

The great message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that because he came to earth we can return to our heavenly home.  His selfless act helped both the Father and us. The Father because it is "his work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Us, because we are helpless without the atonement. We are nothing without divine help.

It is our responsibility to recognize what source we are to look for redemption and Salvation. Then we are to look for the bright light of the spirit in others and bring them to the knowledge you have received. "Let your light so Shine."

When you feel run down, your batteries need a little boost. Look to the light of Christ to buoy you and carry you til you may stand on your own.

The importance of being one

Imagine for a moment that you are apart of a outlying community. A messenger comes to your door asks you to gather all your belongings. He tells you that you must bring all of your animals, all of your provisions to last you. You ask him what anybody would ask, why. He only tells you that the prophet has ordered it and it will be until further notice leave nothing behind. 

He leaves you to pack and goes on to the next home.

When you get to town all of your neighbors are there. You notice that there are a lot of people. Your leader and prophet stands so all can hear and tells you of the great danger. He tells you of the great strength that you are as one. 

Those who sought to harm you come out of their hiding places and try to lute but there is nothing for them in surrounding communities so they have to come to you. Because of your strength in numbers they do not overtake you.

Like those who come out of their hiding places there are many who seek for power, for honor, for success without putting forth the effort. They want the reward and will lie cheat and steal to get it.

Our defense is to turn inward. Shelter ourselves fortify, guard ourselves from the Gadianton robbers that are all around us. Seek the blessings of heaven. Learn the things that will bring you back into the presence of the father. Gather all your belongings spiritually and stand together. Stand up and fight for the things that you hold dear.

The opportunity is now to share with others what we know.  Seek out those whose arms hang low. Seek out those who need. Help them, pull them in and fight together to come off conqueror

Seeking The Kingdom of God

This life is a time for us to prepare to go back home to our Heavenly Father. Everything that we do in this life should be geared to that goal. That is our Father's goal. That is his work, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).
How do we go about helping the Father in this work? We seek the kingdom of God. We seek the will of the Father. Where need we look? The scriptures have everything that we need. We seek him through prayer. I love the saying if you want to talk to God you need to pray, if you want God to talk to you, read your scriptures.
We need to be anxiously engaged in building up the kingdom. What does that mean? It means establishing righteousness. Loving our fellowman. Sharing with others the light and knowledge that we have received. What a great work. Paul taught that we must love our fellowman, treat every man as the Savior would treat them. Strive to see and build up the light of every man (Eph 5:2).
Now more than ever we must seek out and find the good in everyone we see. Help them see the potintential that led us to them. As we follow that spirit we are able to rejoice with them in the kingdom of our Father.

Study the life of the Savior

The life of the Savior. One of my favorite Christmas Carols is the Little Drummer Boy. He too made his way to the new born king. He desparetly wanted to give the child something. So, humble, so sweet was the innocense of this boy. All he had to give was his talent. He played his drum for him. He played his best for him.

We learn a great truth from this wonderful carol. We learn that humility is key to returning to our Father. Humility helps us to serve. We are to seek to be led. Led by the Holy Spirit of promise. The spirit then guides us back to the savior.

The Savior, from a humble birth. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. He was as many of our parents accused us of being born in a barn. From that humble birth to teaching of the Father. He truly had no guile as he called us all to repent and come unto the Father. He taught to repent. He wanted from the very beginning to do the will of his Father. His goal had always been the same; to bring all men to the Father.

What makes the man?

1. Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of Kings.

Men of God must seek to serve. Service, helps us become like our Heavenly Father. We are helping where others need us. Service to God allows us to put off the natural man and brings us closer to him.

2. Rise up, O men of God,
In one united throng.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Men of God seek the good in all things. Finding joy in all things fills the room with light and brighten all around you. Finding the good is hard, yet it is all around us. The secular world fills our minds with the need to seek out the evil. The things that we call sin, the world glamorizes. The things that are noteworthy and good, the world calls that boring, old fashion, dumb and even flat out wrong.

3. Rise up, O men of God!
Tread where his feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

We must go to work. The work of the Lord is awesome. There has never been another time when it has been so important to be anxiously engaged in a good work. There is much to do. The gospel must be preached to all the world. The temples have much to be done. We must stand tall. Stand up, get to work and seek to teach the word of God.

It is time to come unto the Savior. Learn of him! Nephi taught, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Christ brings us to the Father. He seeks to bless us. He made it possible for mercy to have its claim on us. 

It is time to redouble our efforts and seek to come closer to the savior!

The Road Map

As I was preparing to make a cross country move I asked a church leader what I should do as I moved on. He replied to me that I should seek the spirit. Seek the spirit in everything that you do, he counseled.

I have reflected on that counsel a lot over the last year. There is a hymn that reads: Let the holy spirit guide, Let him teach us what is true. He will testify of Christ; Light our minds with heavens view. 

The spirit will guide those who seek him. The Savior taught that the spirit will guide us to him and he will bring us into the presence of the father, to receive celestial glory.

Right there is a road map for us to follow. As we seek the spirit we actively are doing things that qualify us to. Have the spirit with us always. Some of those things are: reading your scriptures, praying, temple attendance and family home evenings. Complete obedience brings us to Jesus Christ. He promised by his atonement to be our advocate with the father!

This gives me hope! A hope that I can make it back home. Hope that someone always cares about me. Hope for a new and much brighter tomorrow.

It is through doing those little things that brings us closer to the spirit. They allow us to recognize the spirit working inside us. The little things provide a savings account into the big things!  

Quiet Noise

Today during Church I was so distracted I could not think. I had so much going on around me (I thought). I felt that the kids were rather fidgety. I heard the bags open and close. I felt each movement around me amplified.
After Church Dedra commented about how good the kids were. I mocked her and said they had been awful. She asked me what meeting I had been in because the kids were great.

Satan, seeks to get at us every chance he can. Even if it means that he can catch you wandering in a church meeting.

The blows from the adversary are subtle. They come when we are not looking because if we were, we would duck rather than be smacked square in the face. I love the story of the frog and the boiling water. If a frog were to be placed in a boiling pot of water he would jump right out. However if the water were warm and the frog was placed in it and the water heated up to a boil. The frog would stay and die. Beware of being affected by degees.

How important it is for us to be ever watchful. People are hurting including those we meet those we rub shoulders with. Paul taught Lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees. Lead them to the waters of Christ.

The Lord Need Not Change

The Lord requires that we be obedient. That we search out his will concerning us and then put that knowledge to use. Sounds easy enough. Then why is it so stinkin' hard!!!! Everyday we fall short and have need to repent.  Why?!!! We are human. We are learning. The Lord knows that. He also knows the intent of our hearts. He knows where we are.

Where much is given much is required. As we learn we must apply.

In 1st Samuel 15 Samuel teaches that even when provoked the Lord is slow to anger. He is kind, and gentle. The way that he parents should be our model. Teach. Help others feel and recognize the spirit. As we do we will grow together and rejoice in the blessing of the Lord!

The Lord does not change for us. We must change to meet the Lord. When we turn our hearts to him we gain peace and happiness. We gain courage and hope for a brighter tomorrow.!