Things as They Really Are

Cease fighting against God..

                         
Yes everyone, I am back to blogging! :) I wanted to share this video! It touched my heart and I hope that it does yours as well.
We can all learn a powerful lesson from this video and I know that we can all relate to it!
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy says (in the video), ".. I disregarded what I knew to be right, I ignored what my parents repeatedly told me, I had been both lazy and rebellious and I paid a price for it. Disregarding what we know to be right...always brings undesirable and spiritually damaging consequences. We find healing and relief only when we bring ourselves to the feet of the create physician Jesus Christ. We must cease fighting against God and instead give our whole hearts to him, holding nothing back then he can heal us, then he can cleanse us from the vemonise sting of sin."
How many times do I disregard what I know to be right? I know that I have done this, we all do from time to time. I know that I can be lazy at times, and a lil rebellious. I don't want to be like that anymore, I don't want to fight against God anymore. I know that He can heal us, but we have to let Him, I know that when I listen to the things He tells me to do, and to do the best I can he will help me. No matter how much we get caught in that trap with sin, He will always help us find a way out. Because He loves us! He loves Me! I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way we can find true happiness. That's when we are truly free.
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Hello! So... I'm going to be taking a break from blogger.. BUT you can follow me on Facebook.. I will be posting things on there.. Thanx for the love and support.. :)

Ah, another Great Change!

The time came again!! Yes 6 weeks, a phone call all us missionaries wait to get! The 6th week of the transfer is always crazy, it seems to be all we talk about and try to guess where everyone is going. Then Friday comes, the whole day we have butterflies in our stomach and just wait for Friday to end so that we can know whether we are staying or going. Then Saturday comes.. We await the phone call, cant seem to do anything. We cant sleep, cant study, cant eat.. Oh intense right? Ya well that's how it is for all of us missionaries..
Now, the change..

Santa Rosa was a GREAT area.. There were so many things that I learned, about the gospel and about myself. I'm grateful for the companion (friend) that I was able to serve with to help me with my struggles and helped me to become a better disciple of Christ.

I have only been here in Fairfield a few days and I'm already starting to love it.
Sometimes I think why things have to change.. Why do we have to get transferred from place to place and be with different companions?
I love what Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley says, "Everything you are learning now is preparing you for something else."
I know this statement to be true.. Everything that I have learned in an area, I take it with me and apply it to what I need to.
Kinda like our purpose of why we are here on earth. It says in the scriptures that everything we learn here we take it into heaven with us, and apply those things when we get there.

I have to remind myself everyday that I will always learn something new, I will never know everything.

I am grateful for the Spirit helping to recognize what things in me and my life that I need to change. I know that I wouldn't be able to be a better disciple of Christ if it weren't for the different areas and companions! I'm so happy the Lord gives us So many opportunities to change and become the person that He knows and wants us to become! 
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Need Medicine?!

A couple weeks ago Sister Lewis had this really bad ear ache. We talked about it, and tried to figure out what we could do to fix it, or make it feel better. We went to the store and looked at some things that we could poss get to help. The options that we had weren't bad, but they didn't really fix the problem. We finally came to the conclusion that we needed to call the mission nurse.

We did, and after the conversation we had with her on the phone, she told us to do something totally different then what we were going to do or plan on doing..
So where am I going with this? Well let me try and explain....
There have been many times, in my life when I have had a problem.. Somethings that I try and figure out. I find that when I try and do it myself it is hard and I cant ever seem to solve it. When I put my trust and relying on my Heavenly Father, the problem doesn't go away, but with His help I seem to figure things out.

He gives us things to help us with our everyday struggles and challenges. For example the scriptures... What an AMAZING thing!! I can read them, and find answers to questions and concerns that I have.. Another one is a Prophet and other church leaders.. Like the mission nurse, she was able to tell us right then and there what we needed to do.

The leaders that we have, have been set apart with certain callings to help us.. Aka the Bishop, Mission President, Relief Society President, the Prophet. I am so grateful to the Lord for giving us these people to help us in the things that we need.
I know as for myself I need to learn to put my trust in the lord and His trusted servants.. When I do I will be able to face any challenges that come my way.
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Remember, Christ was resurrected.. We will be to! :)

This morning we visited with one of our investigators. She told us about some news that she heard about a young girl passing on. She expressed to us how she felt about the situation and about death.

As I listened to her talk, I tried to see and feel what she was feeling. There have been times when I have thought about death and it has made me nervous at times.

I blogged about a few of my friends that have passed away and my feelings on that.
I've noticed that this subject does frighten alot of people, but should it?
Through the atonement of our Savior He didn't just suffer for our sins, he also died for us, 3 days later He was resurrected. He was resurrected!! And because of that, we will be too! Because of Christ, we will be made alive..
So what does happen to those who pass on?

In Alma 40:11 it says," Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection-Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life."

What a great blessing, our loved ones who have passed on, they are OK. They are at peace, and we will see them again. I'm grateful to have this knowledge, it has brought alot of peace to my heart.
I know that life doesn't end after this one, we continue living. We will see our loved ones again. I promise you that they are OK, our Heavenly Father is taking good care of them.

ScRiPtUrEs ArE AWESOME!

This morning I read Alma 29, which is an AMAZING chapter..
In Verses 9-10," I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hand of God to bring some soul unto repentance; and this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do remember hi merciful arm which he extended towards me."

When I read this this morning I thought to myself, wow, Alma is glorying in the commandments of God. Why don't I do that?  The Lord has blessed me and has helped me in so many things I think the least I can do is do what the Lord asks of me..

Yes, I'm not perfect, I don't think that I can be completely perfect at following the commandments. But I want to express my gratitude more to the Lord and His commandments.. I know that when I do, I will come to understand why they are important.
Remember who you are and what you stand for

The Only True God & Jesus Christ Whom He Has Sent

                       
I watched this video this morning, and as time started going by.. Ive been really thinking about it. I just want to say my testimony about our Savior Jesus Christ.
He is central to the message that we have to share as missionaries and as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It is through Him that we can be cleansed of our sins. He is the way..
We (Sister Lewis and I) were role playing this morning and there was a verse in the Book of Mormon that really stood out to me this morning.. I've read this verse over and over again, but I just felt the spirit so strongly as I read this this morning. "And the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do."
What a great example our Savior was and IS, He was baptized and we are to follow Him and do the same.
I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior! I'm grateful for His love and example.. He is the center of the message that we have to share.. I have come to understand the Atonement, and that is why I am serving a mission..
Remember who you are and what you stand for..

I love being a missionary!

                              

I've been reading in the Book of Mormon and as I was reading, there is something that really stood out to me.
This part of the video can be found in Mosiah 28:5-8.
I love how Mosiah asks the Lord if that is His will to have Ammon and his brethren go and teach the gospel to the Lamanites.

The Lord answers Him with the most peaceful answer. The Sons of Mosiah then go to the land of the lamanites, and before they separate they say a prayer together. I love the sons of Mosiah and enjoy reading about their adventure, and that the Lord does "deliver [his] sons out of the hands of the Lamanites." 

Being a missionary I really look to their examples. Just as the lord says in this video, "Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." Alma 26:27
They are great examples to me about being patient in their afflictions and trials. We all go through them, but this was a desire that they had, to teach the people of the Plan of Happiness that our Heavenly Father has for us. They wanted the Lamanites to receive the same happiness and joy that they have felt.
When you study and study for a test, you take that test, and pass it. Don't you just go around sharing it with EVERYONE?! WHY?! Because your happy, you studied and studied and you got a awesome score.. EVERYONE should know this right?!
This is how I feel about the gospel. I studied it and studied it, I wanted to know if the things that I studied are true. I found my answer, I went through tests (or trials) and found that the gospel of Jesus Christ truly does bring joy to my heart. He helps me get through my trials and struggles, and I want everyone else to feel of this same joy that I have.
Ammon said, "..for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo." This is how I feel about my mission.
I love the scriptures, I'm so happy that we have them, that we can read and learn from them. I'm grateful for the living prophet we have on earth today that helps lead and guides us.. I'm so happy for all the missionaries around the world teaching our brethren about our Savior Jesus Christ and His atonement.
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

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

Love music?

The other day we were doing choir practice at the church with some of the missionaries in our zone. We were practicing a hymn that we are going to be singing on Sunday. 
As we were practicing, I couldn't help but watch everyone. I noticed how we were all laughing and smiling and having fun while we were practicing. After practicing the hymn one of the elders went to the piano and started playing songs on the piano. Before I knew it we were all gathered around the piano singing along.
During the time that we were practicing I felt so much love within that room. Later that night I thought about why there was so much love in the room and so much happiness.
The next morning for my personal study I wanted to know and understand why we have music. There are many things in the Bible that talk about music, even the people in the Bible times laughed and enjoyed singing and playing music.
"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.." (Doctrine and Covenants 25:11-12)
We were singing a hymn, which is "a prayer unto [God]".
This was the Lord speaking to the Prophet Joseph Smith, for his wife Emma to put hymns together.
As a missionary, I teach how the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families and draws our family closer together. This night at choir practice was just another testimony to me that this is true. I am miles away from my mom, dad, brother and sister. However, the people I meet here, and the missionaries, I consider my family. This night being gathered together singing hymns just drew us closer together.

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ does indeed draw family and friends closer together! I love the comedy show "I Love Lucy". There are many times in the episode when it show the four friends singing together, happy and joyful songs. It is those happy, joyful, and uplifting music that brings us closer together. I know Heavenly Father wants us to be close and I know that music is a great blessing to have.

Do you sin? Guess what?!.. SO DO I!!!!

I've blogged alot about challenges and hard times. We all have them right? We don't have them once or twice a year.. We have them ALOT...

Sometimes people think that to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints you needs be perfect. Some might think that there are to many rules, and we aren't free to do the things that we want to. How do you feel?

I can say that, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints you do not need to be perfect. When I was a teenager I thought that I had to be perfect all the time. When I was about 17 years old, I got sick and tired of it and chose to rebel. I still had a testimony of Jesus Christ, I knew that He was indeed my Savior but I just purposely did things to make others mad or do something to give someone something to talk about. I was a not so happy person.

I thought I was happy, I laughed, I smiled but deep down I was SO miserable and angry.
Now, that I am a missionary I think back on the things that I have done and said to others and I'm not proud of it at all. I have felt SO much guilt, and often thought of just giving up.
I think about how I felt back then, and how I feel now. There is a HUGE difference!
We are to remember the sins or mistakes that we have done, so that we can be reminded how it felt and not do it again. It takes a long time to heal, "healing blessings come in many ways." Remember that the Lord reveals to us our weaknesses so that we can be stronger and strive to be more and more like him. Sounds like alot of work yes? Well, I love what Elder Packer said this general conference. He said.."If someone is looking for a church that requires very little, this is not the one. It is not easy to be a Latter-day Saint, but in the long run it is the only true course." I know this comment to be true. I know that other people have had it worse than I have, but looking back on my decisions and my way of thinking was no bueno. Ya it was easier but I wasn't going anywhere in life. This gospel of Jesus Christ is the way of life! It is mine! Its one of the greatest things that I could have. I will not go back to the person I was because I see what is important. My Savior Jesus Christ is important to me. He was willing to suffer for not just me, but the WHOLE world just so we wouldn't have to. So when I make those sins and mistakes, because we ALL do, I can kneel down and ask Him to forgive me and learn from those mistakes that I made.

I don't know everything about the church of Jesus Christ, and I wont know everything here in this life. What I do know, is that it changed me to be a better person. I know this gospel does bring much happiness into peoples lives, I am a witness of this. I've seen many lives change here in California. Its been one of the greatest things that I have seen, and I feel very blessed to have witnessed these miracles. I thank my Father in Heaven for helping see the things that matter most in life. I thank Him for never leaving me, even when I was a rebellious teenager and a brat to my family. We all sin, but there is ALWAYS repentance! "..as oft as [you] repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent [you] were forgiven." (Moroni 6:8)

Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Monkey Trap

How many of you have heard of a monkey trap?
Well, if you haven't allow me to explain.. Like this picture there is a box, and in the box are bananas, apples, all kinds of fruit, something that is appealing. The hole in the box, however, is just big enough to get the monkey's hand in the box. When he grabs the food he isn't able to get his hand out. The monkey just doesn't want to let go of that fruit so he will try and try and TRY to get his hand out, and isn't able to and becomes trapped. We can see that as the monkey is trapped his freedom is taken away, and can no longer do anything else.
Think about whats going on in your life... What are your banana's? Apples? Or other fruits? How long will you hold on and not let go? 

A marked Generation, As Children of GOD!!!!

We have been born

As Nephi of Old

to goodly parents who love the Lord

   

We have been taught and we understand

that we must do as the Lord commands

We are as the army of Helaman

we have been taught in our youth

and we will be the Lords missionaries to bring the world His truth

Remember......

This morning I was going through some of my notes from the MTC (Missionary Training Center). I found some scriptures and I started reading them. One caught my attention and goes along with my last post. Its in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 4:30, " But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not."

The word remember really hit me in the MTC.. As you can see the title of my blog is REMEMBER who you are and what you stand for. All we have to do, is remember the things that our Savior did, learn of Him and His commandments and live it. Of course Satan is against this and he will "..whispereth in their ears until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance." Satan will do everything he can to make us forget our Heavenly Father, and that He loves us. He will try to make us doubt the promptings of the spirit that we have. I've been feeling this way for a couple days. Just thinking if I made a right choice. I think about the time the spirit told me, that I needed to come here. I cant deny that Heavenly Father wants me to be here.  I have to trust that everything will be OK and trust that God knows me and knows what will make me happy.
I love the praise Remember, who you are and what you stand for! It will always remain in my head, and it helps me to truly remember who I am .. I know that I am a child of God.
So.. Remember who you are and what you stand for!

We are fighting a battle

Have you ever had one of those days where you can't stay focused? You have so many things going through your mind and can't seem to pay attention? Ya Ive been having one of those days. So many things have been going through my mind, things that don't really matter right now. My whole mission I've been really good on focusing and paying attention to what I am out here to do, and that is to teach the restored gospel. So why am I having such a hard time right now? Things that didn't bother me before are now bothering me and I cant seem to stop thinking about it.

Being an online missionary we often talk about Christ and His gospel and the blessings that come from living His gospel. Following Jesus Christ and His example helps us to be happy and to understand true happiness. I've never talked about the one that does not want us to be happy, he wants us to be miserable. Yes, I'm talking about Satan.

I read a weekly letter from our dear mission president that he sent us via email a couple months ago. As I read this letter I've been thinking about what Satans purpose is. In the Bible dictionary it explains him being, "..the enemy of righteousness and of those who seek to do the will of God... he does strive to lead men and women from the work of God... One of the major techniques of the devil is to cause human beings to think they are following God's ways, when in reality they are deceived by the devil to follow other paths."
Satan is really willing to destroy us, how does he do this? President David O. Mckay said, "The greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul." What does this mean to you?
Does Satan have power to place a thought in my mind? Yes!

Sometimes we think that it might be us ourselves and the way that we feel causes those feelings to come.

President Joseph Fielding Smith said, "We should be on guard always to resist Satan's advances. He has power to place thoughts in our minds and to whisper to us in unspoken impressions to entice us to satify our appetites or desires and in various other ways he plays upon our weakness and desires." See (2 Nephi 28:22).
Remember, Satan was in heaven with us before he was cast out. He does know our weaknesses and uses them against us. The things that have been on my mind is a weakness of mine. I've often thought if I really made the right decision to come here and serve the Lord. I know all of a sudden, Satan is putting putting this thought in my mind to distract me from the work I am here to do. Its been a challenge, I know though, that I have the Lord on my side, that the Lord also knows my thoughts and the desires of my heart. With the Lords help I can overcome Satan, and I will be able to not be distracted. Prayer has really helped me these past couple days to remember the thoughts and feelings I had in my decision in serving the Lord. I know that the Lord wants me here at this time, and no matter what, everything will work out. The Lord wants us to be happy, He sees the bigger picture. I love my Father in Heaven, I'm grateful that He sent us the Holy Ghost to help lead and guide us and to help us resist the temptations of the devil!
I know its an ongoing battle we must face every single day. I know that by follow the Lord counsel we can be able to win that battle against Satan.
I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He is our Savior. I know that Satan never gives up on us and he is trying his hardest to distract us from the things that matter most.
Remember we are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, He will never lead us astray!
Remember who you are and what you stand for!