Tuesday, May 31, 2011

just a little faith.

"And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.
"Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works."
[emphasis added.]

It's pretty amazing how just acting in faith and obedience to the commandments of God brings about so much good--so many miracles. I mean seriously, the Book of Mormon is 642 pages [in Spanish] of amazing things.
Amazing things happen when we have faith in God and when we're obedient.

Amazing things like:
miracles.
guidance.
revelation.
blessings.
strength.
charity.
comfort.
deliverance.
peace.
patience.
hope.
safety.
diligence.
protection.
happiness.
love.
liberty.
freedom.
faith.

If I missed something, feel free to add more.
But pretty worth it, right?

Monday, May 30, 2011

rain.

So the other day my companion and I were walking out of our dinner appointment and the sky was grey [like it always is right now] but it was a relatively light grey.
As we left I checked our cell phone.
We had missed a phone call.
So I called it back.
Among other things, the missionary on the other line informed me that there was a rainbow in the sky and that I needed to look at it right now.
I was walking up a rather muddy hill and it was rather hard to walk and talk and try and look up and not fall, all at the same time.
I decided it was best to not try and do all of them.
So when I got to the top of the hill where our car was parked I looked up into the sky expecting to see a rainbow, but instead, I was met by a giant raindrop in my face.
After the steep, muddy climb, it was definitely not the happiness I was expecting.
And by the time we got to the car, it was pouring.
And there was definitely still no rainbow.

Sometimes this is how life is. And, sometimes to our dismay, we don't always end up getting what we're expecting. The road may have been long, and we may have worked hard, but sometimes we're just met with more hardships.
Now, I definitely realize that this is a rather dramatic parallel, but my point is, that the sun always comes out.

As we drove to where the phone call had come from, the rain subsided.
And by the time we got to our destination, the rain had completely stopped.
We were only about two miles away from where we had been, but it was a completely different atmosphere.
And as we got out of the car, we saw that although the sky was still black where we had come from,
there indeed was a rainbow.

Sometimes, I guess you just have to step back, turn around, and
change your perspective.
Look at where you're standing from someone elses point of view.

A little while later, we got back in the car and drove back to where we had been.
Now that we had seen the rainbow, the black sky we were driving towards didn't seem so menacing.
We knew that there was good and not just darkness, and we kept our eyes on that the whole time.
And as the sky around us got darker and darker, the rainbow got brighter and brighter, and we could see more of it. Until eventually, we could see the whole thing. Beginning to end and every color in between.
We hit the rain eventually,
but it didn't matter.
Because we were filled with the memory of the brightest rainbow either of us had ever seen.
And eventually, the sky cleared.

And such is life.
It gets hard, but it always gets happy again.

But if you're remembering the story, you'll be saying to yourself,
"But you hit rain again. Even after you saw the rainbow."
To which I will reply,
"Yes. We did. But the changing of our perspective and the rememberance of the happy makes the rain that will inevitably come again, worth it."

Saturday, May 28, 2011

take a second.

Have two minutes and thirty seconds?
Go here.
Scroll down.
And watch "Life".

Thursday, May 26, 2011

disciple.

"He aqui, soy discipulo do Jesucristo, el Hijo de dios. He sido llamado por el para declarar su palabra entre los de su pueblo, a fin de que alcancen la vida eterna."

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."


Last night we set our second baptismal date of the week.
It was basically amazing.
Diana is amazing.
I wish that I had as much trust and faith at 16 as she does.
It's been a long road, but she got there.
Her and her little sister are getting baptized in a month.
And a week later her family is getting sealed in the temple.

That's what this is all about.
Eternity.
Families.
Covenants with God.
Happiness.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
And how great is my calling.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

lesson from a 10 year old.

So the other day I was struggling [like always] with bearing my testimony in Spanish.
We were spending the afternoon contacting in this trailer park that we're in a lot and trying to find more people to teach, and we went back to our car feeling a little down because we were just frustrated at my lack of Spanish abilities.
Then we ran into Getsemani, a ten year old girl who's a member of the branch we serve in. She's just awesome. She's always willing to share the gospel with her friends at school and tell them what she believes.

We posed the question:
"How do you know the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet?"

She answered:
"Because God's always the same. And He's always called prophets; so Joseph Smith was a prophet because he was called by God, and the Book of Mormon is true because he was a prophet."


"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
-Matthew 7:20 (15-20)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

why we do what we do.

It's simple.

As missionaries, we do what we do [teach the restored gospel, pray, study, ride some bikes, have some fun, bring people unto Christ] because we know the truth. It makes us happy.We want other people to be happy like we are. We want them to have the same opportunity to return to our Heavenly Father that we have. And the more of our brothers and sisters have that, the happier we'll all be.
It's that simple.

Everything worth it in life has to be worked for. Trust me when I say that there is no harder work than this, but also, that there is no more important work than this.
Joseph Smith was just a man, but he was called to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And I'm just a girl, but i've been called to preach it.

Christ lived a perfect life, he died for us, and he lives again.
That is why our message matters.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a special book. A book truer than anything else. A book that can change more lives than any other single thing. That is why we share it.

My testimony is simple. But,
I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that he suffered and died for the trials, sadnesses, illnesses and sins for everyone that has lived, lives and will ever live. And I know that also rings true for me personally.
I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet called of God and I know that he translated the Book of Mormon by power from Him.
I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know it because I've read it. And I know it because I've prayed and asked. I know it's true and I love it.

That is why we're missionaries.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

we will follow Christ.

This morning I was reading some notes from a talk I heard in the MTC.

"The most fundamental issue in our life is if we will follow Christ. It was the issue before we came here, and the fight is still going on. The arena has changed, but it is still the most important thing we will ever decide."
-Elder Jeffery R. Holland

Our loving Heavenly Father has created a plan. A plan for each of us. One that is designed to each of us individually. To each of our strengths, talents, and abilities. One that lets us use those gifts that He has given us to enrich the lives of others and bring them closer to Him. It is our great privilege and responsibility to testify of Christ and to follow Him.
He also takes into account our weaknesses and He makes it possible that we turn them into strengths. He gives us challenges and trials in life that will make us humble, that will stretch us, that will make us pliable so he can mold us into who he needs us to be and fulfill our potential.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then i will make weak things become strong unto them."
Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Central to this plan--and to everything we believe--is Christ. The Son of God. Our Savior, Redeemer and friend.
We chose a long time ago [before we came to this earth] to follow him. And when we were sent here, we forgot all of that. But it's still a choice we have already made. We have already chosen to follow Christ. Most of us have forgotten that promise, but we all still have to make the choices every day that we will continue to follow Him.
It continues to, and always will be "the most important thing we will every decide."

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

pray your guts out.

Can I share a little secret about the fantastic language of espanol?

it's hard.

Today I was being sort of lame and not wanting to study because spanish is rather frustrating.
Then the zone leaders came over to drop off my bike and we were talking about how yeah, spanish is hard, and yeah, I'm not going to know everything right now, or understand everything [or sometimes anything...].


Their words of advice? 
-When you don't know what else to say, bear testimony.
 It brings the Spirit and then He can say what I can't.

-Don't worry about saying things wrong.
It doesn't matter if I say 'fish' instead of 'sin'.

-And most importantly--first, foremost, last, and in between--

"Pray your guts out."

[Trust me. I am.
We all should be.]

because our Heavenly Father loves us and He wants to have to unique, special relationship with us that we can develop and strengthen through prayer.

Friday, May 6, 2011

the book of mormon.

is true.

More true than anything I've ever read before in my whole life. I'm a chemistry major and a lot of things can be scientifically proven, but the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is different. It's more than just a thought. More than just a feeling. More than just a book. It's a way of living and being just because of how true it is.

The Book of Mormon is an ancient book of scripture--a record comparable to the Bible about the people of the ancient Americas. It was translated by Joseph Smith, who, as a boy, was called to be a prophet of God and restore His true church back to the earth--the same church that was given to Adam and Noah and Moses; the same church that Christ established.

This church is based on the doctrines of Christ and He stands at the head of it. It's the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Now, you might be asking, "Well, how does this 21 year old girl know this?"
I'll gladly tell you.
At the end of the Book of Mormon, there's a promise.

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
-Mosiah 10:4-5

I acted on the promise. I read the Book of Mormon and I asked my Heavenly Father in prayer if this is all true. And just like it says, the truth of it was made known unto me. The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet. There is a living prophet today--Thomas S. Monson. This is real and I know it. This book is the most important thing anyone could ever read. It testifies of Christ.

I know my Savior lives.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

welcome.

Who am I?

I'm a 21 year old girl from Southern California.
I'm someone who loves laughing, roller coasters, guitars, baseball, falling snow, tulips, and life.
I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I'm learning Spanish.
I'm a missionary in Nashville, Tennessee.

Want to know more?
Keep reading.