The Gift of My Parents

It was nearly thirty years ago that my parents were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Even though these two college students were married on the darkest day of the year they have enjoyed a successful marriage. I haven't ever and will never doubt whether my Dad truly loves my Mom. The same goes for my Mom because I know that they care about each other and will do anything for the other. My parents have been the best of partners and the greatest example to me and my siblings.

My Mom has always been the kind of women who tries to help everybody no matter what condition she herself might be in. As a child I watched her service to the people in the community. My Mom would spend many hours working and maintaining flower gardens at the local elementary schools. Hours that were already going on top of the many hours she spent working on the extensive vegetable and flower gardens that my family maintained at our home. On top of this my Mom helped to drive kids to school every morning and from the time I was in first grade to my senior year of high school she packed me a lunch everyday.

When I was in elementary school my Mom decided that it was time to return to college. She had been a student at the University of Utah when she and my Dad had met. But when my parents started having children my Mom left her education behind so she could focus on raising her family. With both me and my brother in school the time to finish her studies had come. This time in my Mom's life was one of the toughest that she had ever experienced and a time that made me appreciate my Mom even more.

I can remember my Mom would drop me and my brother off at school every morning and would then make the drive from Brigham City to Logan. She did this pretty much everyday of the year even when the canyon was filled with snow. While at school she filled her time with many studies as she earned her degree in photography. My Mom spent many long nights at the Utah State campus developing film and working on projects that she put her heart and soul into. When she was done with those projects she would then return home to see her family that she loved so very much. Despite everything my Mom was doing at school she still made time to be a Mom and to help out with whatever school projects me or my siblings seemed to be doing. I can really say I don't think I would have passed any classes if it hadn't been for my Mom.

I know that my Mom's return to school was very stressful on my Dad. When he was a student at the University of Utah he had fallen madly in love with my Mom. The two of them had married with the hope of spending their time together. With the majority of my Mom's time being spent at the college my Dad found that he wasn't able to spend time with the redhead he loved so much. Yet my Dad knew that school was where my Mom needed to be and that it was important to her and that he needed to help her out. Everyday my Dad would finish his teaching and coaching duties at school and would hurry home to help take care of his children. For several years it seemed as if my Dad exclusively made all the meals at my home.

I know that the years my Mom spent at college were hard times for my Mom and Dad as they missed the companionship of each other. Yet these times have been a blessing for them and for their family. Me and my siblings grew to love my Mom for the time and effort she spent to help us out even if it meant even later nights than she should have been doing. We also grew to love my Dad for the things he started doing for us in the absence of our mother. Yet the people who were blessed the most were my parents who were able to see just how much they loved each other during those years.

I and my siblings are grateful for my parents and for what they have done for all of us. Because of their brave examples all of us have turned into pretty good kids. My Sisters were both married in the temple and my brother is now preparing to serve his mission. I'm thankful for my parents and for them for raising my family in the Gospel.

Joy to the World

Two thousand years ago in a little town called Bethlehem a birth occurred that would forever shape the world. In the town of Bethlehem was born a little child name Jesus. Jesus was born in a destitute situation. Born among animals to a virgin mother and a father, who was a carpenter. To the world this birth would seem insignificant. No child born in this kind of situation could amount to much and wouldn't be able to change Judea let alone the whole world. But this was the most significant birth ever.

Little did the world know how much of a role Jesus had already played in their history. Little did the world know that thirty-three years from the birth of Jesus would occur the most important event in all the eternities. The birth of the baby Jesus had been looked forward to for millenia. When He came all history was marked from His birth and even today we look forward to His coming again. Everything in our world revolves around this baby, who was born in a stable. But why is He so important?

The first man, Adam and the first woman, Eve both looked forward to the coming of Jesus Christ. Because of their transgression in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve had fallen. Man was now vulnerable to sin and to physical death. Because of sin man was separated from God and could not on his own pay the price needed to return to God. But our Heavenly Father knowing that the Fall was essential for the growth of man had already provided a way for the redemption of mankind. That way was through His Son, Jesus Christ.

From Adam on down the prophets and followers of God testified of Christ and preached of Christ. They looked forward to the coming of Christ knowing that He must come. The prophet Nephi wrote about Christ so that future generations might know that Christ would come to redeem mankind (2 Nephi 25:26). Can it be too big of a surprise that at the birth of the Son of God that angels appeared to herald the birth? (Luke 2:8-14) Or that a star appeared in the sky and made the night as day? (3 Nephi 1:15) Or that wise men came bearing kingly gifts? (Matthew 2:1-12) It is not when the mission of the Babe is laid before us as it so clearly is in the scriptures.

For the next thirty-three years the Son of God worked in the flesh among the children of men. He performed miracles, the greatest of sermons, and went about doing good to everyone that He met. Yet His own people reject Him and crucified Him. It would appear that the Son of God had failed His mission based on earthly means. He established no earthly kingdom (John 18:36), didn't deliver Judea from Roman oppression, and was killed (John 19:30). But the death of Christ wasn't the end of His mission, it was just part of the greatest event in history, the Atonement. For on the third day after His death Christ rose from the tomb and signaled the defeat of death and sin. He had paid the price for every sin ever committed by mankind. Because He did this man was now able to live again and to be freed from the guilt and suffering that comes with sin. Man was now redeemed.

The mission of Jesus Christ continues today as He continues to strengthen us and allow us to do all things (Phillipians 4:13). We can look to Christ and know that everything will be okay as long as we live the Gospel in our lives and gain faith in Him. To gain a testimony is simple is to read, pray, and then act. That is the message of Christmas as we approach this time of the year. So remember that over two thousand years ago a little baby was born in a stable and that because of Him we can all be happy.

Follow the link to learn more about the birth of Christ.
christmas.mormon.org

Equality

Oftentimes in life it can seem as if things just aren't fair. All of us at one point or another have wondered, "Why is that person blessed with that gift and not me?" We might even say, "If God is a loving God and if He is a fair and Just God, why is He letting that person have it easy, while I'm having such a hard time?" It may appear to us mortals that God plays favorites with His children. In all actuality God loves all of His children equally and doesn't favor one over another.

In a world where there are very poor people and very rich people, people with incurable diseases, and people being treated cruelly and unfairly it can seem as if God doesn't care. But there is nothing farther from the truth,

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Moses 1:39

Everything that our Heavenly Father does is centered around us and about making us better. Just like earthly parents should want the best for their children our Heavenly Father wants what is best for us. And what's best for us is having eternal life and being able to live with Him for forever.

The way that God had made it possible for us to receive eternal life is through the gift of His Son.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting 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

God gave us the gift of Jesus Christ, a gift that allows all of us to be able to live again and to receive all of the blessings that our Heavenly Father has promised us. 

The gift of Christ is greater than anything else that we could receive and as said before allows us to receive all of our Heavenly Father's blessings. Riches, good health, and popularity as important as they may seem are nothing when compared to the happiness provided through Christ when we live His Gospel. What does it gain us if we own the whole world, but do not live the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Does anything matter if we don't have faith in Christ, if we don't repent, if we aren't baptized, and if we don't endure to the end? Nothing matters if we don't have the Gospel. For the Gospel is eternal while everything in this life ends.

Now I can't say why bad things happen to good people and I don't know why it seems as if some people are more blessed than others. But I do know that:

...the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is...

1 Nephi 9:6

So I know  that whatever happens in this life that it will be for my best interest. I also know that all that is unfair about this life will be made up in the next. For remember the greatest gift of God is that of His Son and that gift is available to each everybody. All it takes is to find out more and to live the Gospel. By studying from the Bible and the Book of Mormon we can learn more about this gift and realize how true the words of the prophet Nephi are when He says:

...for [Christ] doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

2 Nephi 26:33

I testify that this is true in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Strong Finish

During the four years I spent running cross country I ran a lot of different races. Now when I refer to different races I am not referring to the course alone, but to how I ran the race. Because as I found out no matter how many times I ran a course my experiences were always different than they had been the time before. In fact the first cross country meet I ran I did very poorly at and had to hobble along to the finish line. The second year I ran the race I finished second place. Then the third year I ran the course I had a terrible time. From running that one race three times I was able to find out that there would be times when I could run a race easily and times where it would be a struggle just to finish.

Every single race was absolutely different regardless of time of year, the amount of experience I had under my belt, or how the last race I had run went. But no matter how the race went I knew two things every single time I ran. The first was I would be done running in at least twenty minutes if not faster. The second was that no matter how I started the race the most important part was that I finished the race and that I try to finish strong.

Some of the races that I had in high school were pretty terrible. In some of my races I wanted to give up within the first mile. But I always hung on and never gave up on the race no matter how tough the first couple of miles went. By the time I hit the last mile and half or the last quarter mile I would try my best to run my hardest and to finish strong. I knew that if I could sprint in down the homestretch that I would feel good about my race and would be willing to go out and run my next meet with a little less apprehension.

From my experiences with cross country I learned to liken mortality to a race. There are some racers who float along with ease and post really good times. These people could be likened to those who have the Gospel in their lives and have somehow always made the right decisions. Some people have started out the race slowly, but are gaining speed as they learn the Gospel and start living its principles in their lives. Yet there are some who maybe started the race strong and given up on the Gospel or maybe even those who have never heard the Gospel in their lives and feel like they are failing. There are many different racers in this life just like there are many different runners in a 5k.

Now a cross country 5k is relatively short race and takes a small amount of time to run. Life is the same way and just like a 5k it can be discouraging. As we run this race of life we will oftentimes seem as if people are passing us by. We flounder at the back of the pack trying to keep pace while others move on ahead as if they are Olympic marathoners. At times like this it can seem as if it might be better to just drop out of the race and say "Well I tried, but it just wasn't for me."

When the race gets tough it is best to remember that unlike a real 5K we are never truly out of the race and that we can finish strong. The Gospel of Jesus Christ allows us to use the enabling power of Christ's Atonement to receive the extra boost that we need to finish the race. As we build our efforts upon faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end we will be more confident in our lives and in the things we are doing. We will know that at the end of this race we will not be ashamed by our "finishing place".

Rely on Christ and He will help you to overcome the obstacles and challenges that you face in this life. He will not let you down and when you get to the end of this life you will be satisfied with your experience. For in the end we will all receive the same reward and it matters not how we started, but how we finished.

Complications

As a young child my parents would read to me every night before I went to bed and every Sunday too. As I grew older I started read on my own more and more. Gradually I went from picture books, to a few chapter books, and then onto full length novels. I loved to read and would oftentimes stay up late into the night reading. Many nights I could be found asleep with a book by my side and the lights still on. I loved reading because of the knowledge that I gained with every word and every paragraph.

The main reason I read was because I loved the things I learned. I had a decent enough memory that I could read something once and remember all the details of what I had read. Once something was in my head it wasn't leaving and I immediately wanted to share what I had read in the encyclopedia, from a book on the French and Indian War, or from a fantasy book. It didn't matter what it was I just wanted to let people know what I knew.

As a fifth grader I participated in a Geography Olympiad. It was during this time that my knowledge of things kind of got me into trouble. In one of the events at the Olympiad we were asked a series of questions. The first person to buzz in and give the correct answer received points for their answer. I knew the answers to every single question that was asked in the event and was the first one to respond to every single question. On one of the questions I buzzed in and gave the correct answer, but then I continued to elaborate on the answer and by the time I was finished the judge was too confused that she gave the other team a chance to answer. The other team then gave the answer I had given with a lot less added detail. That was the only time they scored.

Even though I won the competition by a lot I was frustrated that I hadn't gotten all the possible points. I complained to my mom and asked her why I hadn't they given the points to me when I had given the correct answer? My mom taught me a very important lesson that day. She told me that if you want someone to know what you are saying then you should be simple. That way there is no way they can see things in the wrong way. She told me that even though I knew a lot of information that I should try to keep things simple and that way people would have an easier time understanding me. This lesson has helped me a lot a s a missionary.

As a missionary my purpose is to help other to come unto Christ by helping them learn more about the Restored Gospel. Now the Gospel of Jesus Christ when stripped to the bare bones is really simple. It is simply having faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. All of those are simple and easy steps. Yet oftentimes missionaries and members can over complicate the simpleness of the Gospel.

As members we first learn the Gospel very simply. We learn that through Jesus Christ we all can be cleansed from sin and live with our Heavenly Father. We know that we must change our ways, be baptized for the remission of sins, receive the Holy Ghost to help guide us, and then we must continue to try and be good people for the rest of our lives. As we mature in the Gospel we begin to learn more about why we do these things and we begin to learn more of the mysteries of God. We want to share these mysteries with the people around us and let them know what we know. But we often find ourselves scaring off these people as we teach them way more than what they are ready for. Confusion and fear will follow when this happens and will sometimes lead people away from the Gospel.

As members, as missionaries, and as disciples of Jesus Christ we need to keep things simple when it comes to sharing the Gospel with our family and friends. Because the Gospel is simple and has been made that way for a reason. The reason is that He wants all of His children to return to live with Him. As Paul said "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it..." (1 Corinthians 3:2) Start off with the simple truths then move onto the more complex things. If we keep to the basics then our friends will be able to learn and accept the Gospel more easily. Don't over complicate things.

As spiritual children we need to keep things simple.

Grateful for the Blessings of the Gospel

The month of November signals the return of many things. Pumpkin flavored beverages and cookies are seen commonly in this month. Along with the return of very early Christmas music and decorations. Even though all of these things are good reasons to remember November I don't want to spend too much time on any of those things. Instead I want to talk about Thanksgiving Day. Especially the attitude that holiday should foster in all of us. The attitude of gratitude.

Being grateful is something that all of us must do if we wish to truly be happy in this life and receive all of the blessings of the Gospel. During my teenage years I had a bishop who exemplified someone who was grateful and was happy with his life. My bishop was always thankful for everything he had. Yet he didn't have tons of things, he didn't live in a big house and he often made the comment that he had just enough to meet his needs. Yet it seemed like he had everything in the world because he was grateful for the things he had. My bishop was always willing to share what he had with others whether it be his time or the temporal things he had. He did all of this willingly because he knew the things he did have and he knew that they were from God.

That bishop I had in my teenage years is a man that I really look up to and I will always remember him fondly. The gratefulness that he shared with me and others was infectious. Along with that gratitude came a happiness that he shared with many people. Grateful people can truly help brighten the people around them. But the opposite effect can happen when people are ungrateful for the things that they have. I have met many people who seem to have everything nice cars, a wonderful place to live, lots of money and many other worldly possessions. Yet most of them are not satisfied with what they want. They always want what is new and what is better. This ungratefulness brings complaining and a general dissatisfaction with life. This attitude is sadly very easy to spread.

Even if we do not have all the worldly possessions that we want or that we think we need we can still be grateful for what we have. And even if that list is short there are even greater blessings that each one of us receives that we should be grateful to have. We can be thankful for our testimonies, eternal families, and most importantly God's Son Jesus Christ. When we remember these blessings that are always available to us then we can find happiness and see that we have more in those blessings than anything else this world has to offer. We have the love of a Heavenly Father who is willing to give us eternal happiness.

In this month we have a lot to be thankful for. We must let the spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude be something that we carry through this month and the rest of our lives. We must avoid focusing on the things of the world and remember the things of God. In this month also lies Black Friday a day that encourages us to go deeper into debt, to seek after things that are not important, and to be ungrateful. This day is the counterbalance to being thankful.Let us try to focus on what we have and the blessings that our Heavenly Father has promised us instead of those silly unimportant things. Because as we are thankful our love for our Savior will grow and so will our happiness. For in the end we can all be thankful for a loving God.

Online Missionary Work

Even though I have only been a missionary for a little over a year and several months I have seen a lot change in missionary work in that short span. During the first few months of my mission my companion and I would come in every night and spend thirty minutes pouring through the contact information of people willing to meet with the missionaries. When we had filled our day with actives we would then take up to another thirty minutes writing down the contact information of the people we had met with that day. Keeping this information up to date was always important in case new missionaries came in and needed to know who to visit. I can remember having to get really good at writing really small to be able fit in the needed information.

At the beginning of my mission I can remember spending a lot of time talking to people on the street and going from door-to-door looking for people to share the Gospel with. A lot of times it seemed as if our results didn't end in much and it could be very frustrating. I had been told right before I entered the mission field that soon missionaries were going to be able to use Facebook and iPads. I really wanted to use an iPad and a couple of times shared with my first companion that I couldn't wait until it would be announced that missionaries would get these devices. My companion was amused by my wish and told me not to worry too much about getting iPads and that we probably we're going to be using one.

For awhile my companion was right. For six months we went along using our old paper records and our old methods of spreading the Gospel. But at six months into my mission it was announced that we were going to be allowed to use Facebook for proselyting purposes. Then after Facebook was announced the missionaries were all given iPads. The iPads helped to take a lot of stress out of the stressful life a missionary. I can remember how much easier it was to keep records updated on the iPads as we could update it anywhere. We were able to make our bags lighter as we carried our scriptures around on the iPads and could now share videos with people. Most importantly the iPads allowed missionaries to be able to access Facebook so we could share the Gospel to an even wider crowd than before.

At the beginning of my mission we were pretty limited with who we could share the Gospel with. We were left talking to people on the street and on their front porches. Like I've said before it was very frustrating trying to share the Gospel that way. With Facebook we could now share our testimonies of the Gospel with people thousands of miles away. This has helped with missionary work considerably as people who might not answer their doors can now have the Spirit testify to them of the truth of the Gospel in their own homes as they scroll through their newsfeed. It's amazing to see the effect that iPads and Facebook have had on missionary work and it's amazing to think about how many more tools are out there to share the Gospel.

The best part about all of these tools that are coming forth to help spread the Gospel is that they aren't just tools to be used by full-time missionaries. Every person who has access to the internet now has the ability to share the Gospel with their friends around the world. Sharing the Gospel can be as easy as sharing a Mormon Message, a simple testimony of a restored truth, or a scripture. On top of that members can like and share others' statuses, or share their own testimony through blogs. The possibilities for sharing the Gospel are endless with a little bit of creativity and a free Facebook account.

Now people may wonder what good does it really do to share their testimony online or to invite others to learn more about the Gospel? The thing is sharing our testimonies online does more than any of us can imagine. The simple truths of the Gospel are more important to the world that "like my statuses for a truth" or random comments from our days. The simple truths of the Gospel are eternal and when read by those online give those people a chance to feel the Spirit in their own lives. Out of the 300 or more friends that most of us have on Facebook at least one of those people will feel something different from posts made about the Gospel and will want to learn more.

Sharing the Gospel is so much easier than it used to be. The Lord Himself said:

Behold I will hasten my work in its time.

D&C 88:73

Truly that time is now as the Gospel begins to sweep across the world into places that it has never been to before. The work will continue to hasten and to pick up speed and the Lord is giving us a chance to take part and to share the Gospel. Blessings will follow in our lives and we will experience great joy from laboring in the Lord's vineyard.