Do you have a willing Heart? Mind?

I've been thinking lately about, well alot of things.. I kinda can be a worrier from time to time.. Try not to be but it happens.
This morning I read a talk in the Ensign titled, "The HEART and a willing MIND" by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom. He talks about the heart being "symbolic of love and commitment." We can see that, in the world we celebrate Valentines Day, a day we express our LOVE to our loved ones. 

He says," We make sacrifices and bear burdens for those we love that we would not endure for any other reason. If love does not exist, our commitment wanes."  

He later says," having a willing mind connotes giving our best effort and finest thinking and seeking God's wisdom. It suggests that our most devoted lifetime study should be of things that are eternal in nature. It means that there must be an inextricable relationship between hearing the word of God and obeying it... We demonstrate a consecrated heart and mind by consistently following God's commandments no matter how difficult the circumstances."
He then gives 5 ways we can really sincerely seek to give our heart and mind to the Lord:
1-Gain and constantly nurture your own testimony- "..if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them..that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 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.
2-Honor priesthood ordinances and covenants- "When we live by covenant (promise) rather than by convenience, we direct our lives toward our heavenly home."
3-Root out duplicity-Do we act a certain way in public then act another way in private?
4-Continually study the doctrine-"When we know the commandments of God and 'liken all scriptures unto us' we will change the way we think and act."
5-Establish a life of service-"By serving others we emulate the ultimate act of service offered to each of us by the Redeemer of the world."

I learned alot from this talk, its important to have a willing heart and mind to the Lord. I know that when we do, we will be able to receive all the blessings he wants us to receive.

I know that when we submit ourselves to the Lord and His will, we shall see that everything else will fall into its place..
I know that God is literally our Father in Heaven, His son Jesus Christ is our brother, our Savior. I know He lives, this is His gospel. 
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

He Chastened them, Because he LOVETH them

This past week has been an interesting one. Ive been thinking about ALOT of stuff.. Just things that, at this moment, don't really matter. I've been wondering what I can do to be a better disciple of Christ.
Ever had a question or concern about something and when you receive the answer you feel as tho you are being chastised?
Oh goodness this is how I felt the other day.

Me and my missionary companion talked about this, this morning during companion study.

Why do we get chastised? Its funny how when other people are honest with us and tell us what we can to do be better we get upset, but when its God that does it we listen and follow His counsel.
In the Book of Mormon it talks about how the Lord chastised the people for not repenting. "...yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them." Hel 15:3
He loves us, he wants us to be happy.
My parents yelled at me, when i did something wrong. All parents do, Why? because they love us.
I hate getting yelled at, I hate getting into trouble. But I know that when I feel as tho I am getting chastised, its because the Lord knows I need to wake-up and get my butt back into gear.
One of my fav verse in the Book of Mormon is in Ether 12:27,"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 will I make weak things become strong unto them."

So many things can be learned in this one verse, at least for me. I know the closer we come to God that we recognize our weaknesses more and more. Not going to lie, its hard I hate recognizing what I am doing wrong. But that's when I need to humble myself and ask the Lord to help me to be better.

I know that that is a life time process.. and we need not fear of recognizing our weaknesses. What a great blessing to see those and to be better and become more and more Christ-like. That is what we are here to do.
I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful that he does hear and answers our prayers.. I know He loves each and every one of us.
Remember who you are and what you stand for.

pRogRessive post: What matters most?

Thank you Elder Williams.. Napa indeed was and IS an amazing place..
We truly do meet alot of great people here on the mission and they do become our families..

Its amazing to me to see how much these people come to be so important to us. Its the love that we have for the gospel and Jesus Christ, that brings us closer together.

That's the way that it should be right?

Being here on the mission I've really had to think about what really matters to me. Sometimes we think we left alot of things behind, job, family, bf/gf's, friends and school this list can go on. I know I had to sit back and think about what truly matters. Yes, all of these things are important, but as for me and I'm sure for many of you out there, God is your number one. He should be right, He is the one that gives us life.. In Mosiah it says," I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another-I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."
It is our Heavenly Father that gave us life.. "..all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments.."
What is important to you?
This gospel is very important to me, but I have other things that are too. I know what matters most to me is Heavenly Father, and His will for me.

I'm grateful for listening to the spirit tell me to come here and serve my God. It has made me happier and a better person. The Lord has opened my eyes to see the things that truly matter to me. I know it was something I needed to do.

"We would do well to slow down a little. Focus on the significant, lift up our eyes and truly see the things that matter most. Strength comes not from frantic activity, but from being settled on the firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most. Diligently doing good things that matter most, will lead us to the Savior of the world." -Pres. Dieter F. Uchdorf

So now I will pass this on to the dear Sister Kenemore!

Who is Jesus Christ to you?

This has been kinda lame, I have been trying and thinking about what to write and I just havent felt like I have been inspired on what to write.

I thought that I would share something that I have learned recently about Jesus Christ.

I have been having alot of questions lately. Yes, indeed I do have questions. We went to get something at one of the senior missionaries home, I asked the Elder some of the questions that I had. He answered some of my questions and then asked me questions. These questions were very simple and yet, I had a hard time answering them.
He asked me questions about Jesus Christ and who He is. I know that He is our Savior and our Redeemer, but is that it?
This senior missionary helped me to see and understand just a little more about Jesus Christ.
We all know that God, or Heavenly Father, is the father of Jesus Christ. It says many times in the scriptures that Christ is the Son of God, and we are as well right?
We refer everyone as brother____or sister____, because we are all "..offspring of God.." (Acts 17:27-28)
There are SO many names that we have for Jesus Christ.. Advocate, Creator, Good Shepard, Holy One of Israel, Jehovah, Lamb of God, Lord, Messiah, Only Begotten, Redeemer, Savior, First born, Son of God, I'm sure we could go on for a long time on what He is called in the scriptures. One in particular caught my attention. First Born.
Heb. 1:6 says, "And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him."

"..God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everylasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." -John 3:16-17

Two scriptures together, but I like these ones because it takes about Him [Jesus Christ] being the first born and Gods Son. So He is Gods son, we are all sons and daughters of God, that would make Jesus Christ our Older Brother. 

This just strengths my testimony on families. Because Jesus Christ is our older brother, He was willing to come down here and make the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.. His brothers and sisters, so we could return to a loving Father in Heaven and be together. 

I think about the older brother I have today. He is great, he has always been there for me, even when we were younger. He has helped me so much, and was prob more excited for me when I told him I was coming on a mission to serve the Lord. He talked about it with me all the time, and helped me prepare myself for this day. I think about the love that he has for me, this gospel and the Lord and I can feel a glimpse of the love that Jesus Christ has for me. 

I am grateful for these 2 brothers that I have to help me in every way possible, and that Jesus Christ was willing to suffer for my sins and my pains so that I could repent and be forgiven and not suffer.. 

Remember who you are and what you stand for.!!

Family.. Isnt it about Time?

As missionaries we visit and talk to families everyday. This weekend we visited with an investigator and her grandson, he is about 2 years old. We were talking to her, having a great conversation about our Heavenly Father. She turned to her grandson and said.."Who do you love?"
No he didn't say grandma, mom or dad. But he said,"Jesus!" She then said, "Yes that's right, we love Jesus don't we? These girls here love Jesus too." 

When she said that I couldn't help but to feel the spirit. I just read in the Bible John 15:26 which says,"....the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me [Jesus Christ]."

Later that week, we went to dinner with a family in our ward. They are a beautiful family. As we sat and ate dinner, I just sat and watch how the family acted. Let me paint a picture for you..
A mom, a dad.. A daughter, and 2 sons. The daughter and the son just sat and laughed at each other the whole time during dinner. 

As I watched I couldn't help but to feel that families are forever and that that is Gods plan for us all.

I know that families are forever, and I am very grateful for that. Ive seen alot of families here on the mission. Ive seen how the gospel truly does bless the families and we can and will be together forever.
Remember who you are and what you stand for