" He is not here, but is Risen."

                                

As a kid, my brother and I would always watch the "Living Scriptures" videos. I'm a visual person so these videos help me out alot when I read my scriptures!
This one is/was one of my favorites. How do you feel as you watch this video? Do you feel a burning sensation inside your body, have tears of sadness and joy? I know that the spirit will testify to you that Jesus is the Christ as you watch this video.  

"...Those who have lived and died, those who now live and one day will die, and those yet to be born and yet to die had just been rescued." -Pres. Thomas S. Monson

"He is risen! He is risen! He hath opened heaven's gate. We are free from sin's dark prison, Risen to a holier state. And a brighter Easter beam. On our longing eyes shall stream."

I was not in the crowd when He came, but I know He lives. That Jesus is the Christ. I have no doubt in my mind that He is Risen!

I know He will come again, and like the little boy in the video, I will be watching!

Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Need a "friendly" reminder to pray?

Prayer Rock

"I’m your little prayer rock and this is what I’ll do.
Just put me on your pillow till the day is through.
Then turn back the covers and climb into your bed
And WHACK … your little prayer rock will hit you on your head.
Then you will remember as the day is through
To kneel and say your prayers as you wanted to,
Then when you are finished just dump me on the floor,
I’ll stay there through the night-time to give you help once more.
When you get up the next morning CLUNK…I stub your toe
So you will remember your prayers before you go.
Put me back upon your pillow when your bed is made,
And your clever little prayer rock will continue in your aid.
Because your heavenly Father cares and loves you so,
He wants you to remember to talk to him… you know."

Remember who you are and what you stand for...Little Rock..

JUST DO IT!!!

"Bianca, will you do the dishes?" "Ya ma, in a min.." 10 min later, "Bianca, DISHES." "Coming...." (still in my room, doing.. not the dishes). 30 min go by and I hear the dishes being done, by... not me..

Have you ever said you were going to do something and then end up not doing it? And because you ended up not doing it someone else had to do it. How did you feel about it?

I am the FIRST to say that this happened(s) to me ALOT and my family are all witnesses of this.

How many times have we said we're going to do what God has asked us to do, and I end up not doing it? I'm sure many times.

There is a parable in the Bible that relates to this. Matt 21:28-32

...A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

The first son, said he wasn't going to do it at all. He felt bad, repented and went and did what his father asked. The second son said he was going to do it and ended up not doing it.

Is it better to say you will do something or to actually do it?

My mom always said in our house, "If you say your going to do something then by heck you gosh darn better do it." Pretty intimidating phrase yes?

When I say I'm going to do something and then end up not doing it, this phrase comes into my mind.

What about the promises that we make to our Heavenly Father? Maybe the promises that we made to Him when we were baptized, or the promises we made when we entered the temple, or what about promises we make to him in our prayers? Maybe that we would be better at missionary work, not yell at our family members, or that we would try and read our scriptures everyday?

I know that when I don't keep my promises that I made to Him that I don't feel very good. The spirit will always help remind me of the promises that I make to him, but its up to me to keep my promises.

I know its important for us to do the things that we say we are going to do. We are able to be trusted by our family members, friends, co-workers and most importantly the Lord.

Its a great feeling knowing that these people trust you because we do what we say we are going to do.

How can we be better at this? JUST DO IT! Ask the Lord for guidance and a friendly reminder.

Remember who you are and what you stand for! 



GPS or The Spirit?

Meet Shanane! Yes, she is my GPS. There used to help us find our way to our destination. Very cool and useful invention.

On Sunday night we typed in this address to go visit a family. I thought one last house before we head home for the night. Well, the house ended up being in the boonies somewhere in Santa Rosa. After searching for this house, in the dark, not being able to find it I type our home address and started heading home. As we started heading down the mountain Shanane told us to take a turn. A turn we didn't take coming up this mountain. I knew that that wasn't the way back to our home, it didn't feel right. As the turn was coming I was debating whether or not I should turn. I thought well, Shanane is a GPS she must know what she is saying, so I turned.

We started going further and further into the mountain and further further away from home, or so I felt. I decided to turn around and start heading down the other way.
Shanane told us to take another turn, once again I listened. We ended up going towards the house we were trying to find earlier, back up the mountain. I checked my GPS to make sure I punched in the right address, yes it was the right address, so why is she taking me through all these turns? 
I finally decided to stop listening to her and listen to the Spirit and what I felt to be the right way to go. I turned around again, trying to remember the way we came. Shanane told me to make a turn, I decided NO not this time and went straight. I found my way out of the mountain and we were able to make it home.
If I would've listened to the spirit the first time in what way to go we would've avoided all those other wrong turns.
How many times in our life do we debate to do what we feel is right to doing what the world says it right? Something that is so good, and seems so harmless took us further and further away from our destination.

Being here on earth, our destination is to return to live with our Father in Heaven. How many things do we see that try to take us away or lead us away from that destination?

I realize just how important it is for me, to follow what I know and feel to be right. Yes I will go off the path and stray, but hopefully only for a short time. I'm grateful to have the spirit to lead and guide me and help me in those times that I do tend to take a wrong turn.
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

*!!Happy Birthday Savannah!!*

Conference=Amazing! Indeed this General Conference was just what I needed to hear.

One talk in particular really touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Sister Jean A. Stevens, spoke on children. She spoke on how little children are "humble and faithful." She said,"Our children are the key to helping us be more like Christ.. They come to us with believing hearts. They are often the first to love and the first to forgive." She explained to us the importance it is to be as a little child.

My dear sister just turned 18 on Friday. Yes, indeed her birthday is on April Fools Day. Even tho she is 18, she is still like a child. My sister has slight aspergers syndrome, a form of autistic behavior. She continues to live a everyday high school life. She drives (my car) haha, she goes to dances and continues with everyday life.

She is a great example on how to be Christlike. No, she isn't perfect, BUT she always is that "first to love and the first to forgive."

When we were younger, we did alot of things together. Of course, like all siblings do we would fight. I remember getting really mad at her one time (when I was little) and yelling at her, and then 2 seconds later I asked her for candy. She didn't say no, she gave me candy. 

I don't know how, but she always had candy stored somewhere in our room. 

Mosiah 3:19 reminds me of my sister,"..putteth off the natural man...and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to His father."

She is willing to put off the "natural man" and do what the Lord will have her do. I don't even think she realizes it. Its almost like its just natural for her, like that's what its about. Isn't that how it is supposed to be?
I'm grateful for my younger sister, and for her Christlike attributes that she shows. I love her dearly and I do see and appreciate her for who she is.

I hope you had a very Happy Birthday Vannie. I know that Heavenly Father loves you and that He is proud of you! I'm happy your staying strong through these awesome teenage days. I love you and miss your face! Keep the Faith, and Keep smiling!

We are all daughters of Our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him.

Remember who you are and what you stand for!