Charity: An Example of the Believers

 

An Example of the Believers.......wow how could I ever show that i'm a true believer of our lord and savior?  After watching this video I feel so humble I can't even explain how I want to be an example but, who knows if I am or not.  Some of the things I've realized on my mission come to mind when I really focus in on it.  Service without any intention of recieving payment is one of the most amazing acts of a "Believer".  Sharing our faith and the truths that it teaches the peace that it can bring.....and all the other blessings from a firm understanding of who we are and what we can accomplish is such an amazing gift I don't know why anyone would not want to share it with the whole world.  I hope that I can continue to be an example of the believers after my mission during my mission and forever because I know that someone will need a gift some sort of Charity and, I know how to give them what they need more than anything else.

The Bright Side of a Dog Bite

The Bright Side of a Dog Bite

By Tara Stringham

In the summer of 2009, I was bitten on my face by my friend’s dog. Unfortunately, the bite split my lip open, and I had to get stitches.

Following the injury, I was very downhearted. I allowed adversity to take over my thoughts, and I felt like my whole life had been ruined. I was self-conscious about my lip and didn’t want to go out in public at all. In my mind my plans for piano, volleyball, church, swimming, and school were crushed by my injury.

But whenever I prayed, received priesthood blessings, talked with my parents, or had visits by my family and friends, my spirits were lifted and I felt happiness at a time of sadness. I soon realized that if people were thinking about my injury, they were feeling compassion.

This experience helped build my character, and I learned not to be as worried about what other people thought about me. I was also blessed because my injury helped me realize that I should think less about myself and start caring more for others. My spirit was greatly strengthened during this time.

I learned that adversity is a part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us. If we look for the good and not the bad, we can overcome adversity, become a better person, and let the experience strengthen our testimony.

So I came across this talk today and it hit me like a ton of bricks....and puppies.  I often find myself consumed by what other people think of me and it holds me back from sharing the full love of the Gospel.  Tara Stringhams story has opened my eyes and helped me realize I am on this earth to serve the Lord and, only he can judge me!  As I read the scriptures this morning one stood out to me from St. John 21:15

"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs."

What I take from this is that the "lambs" are the children of the world and for us to truely love Christ we need to share(feed) the gospel with our fellow man. 

We all have a greater purpose in this life and when we find it even if it's just a glimmer of it we can be truely blessed and enjoy the happiness of this life.

Mormon Messages: What Matters Most

The answer is yes....yes I could.  I feel the need to express my love for everyone in my life.  I don't often express my true love for the people who help me in life but I do.  My Parents especially this video is so moving because it's true I could have done all of those things so much more. The Scriptures say "Ponder in your hearts" more than the message the scriptures contain but the way we can apply them to our lives.  The lord has blessed us with minds that can ponder and, when we use that blessing it can really change the people around us and ourselves.

A Work in Progress

Growing up it's strange to think that goals will shape you into who you become.  It's also strange to step back and look at the sacrifice that a parent will make to help their child achieve their goals.  Growing up with parents who weren't a part of this Church when I made the decision to serve this mission I was scared that they were going to have issues with it but, oh was I wrong.  Love and comfort was all I recieved from them no anger no questioning they understood that it was a goal I had set for myself to become a better man and they helped me as much as they could.






I thought of all of this because this video.  His parents helped him achieve his goal that put in the time and they helped him remember the goal. The Scriptures show us this so often. 2 Corinthians 12: 14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I ^aseek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
 Parents sacrifice so much to ensure the joy and happiness of their children.  Time + Sacrifice + Love = Parents I'm sorry to say that I only learned this not long ago. 

I am not a hero, I am just a man.

This video just shows how amazing we can be if we choose to be nothing more than a man. I find in this video a life long goal to just follow the example i've been given by Christ and be a man of love and charity.  Things that change peoples lives the most are the simple things they will remember.  The father in this video didn't change the world but he changed the lives of his children and the way they see it. We don't have to wake up and try to be the big winner the hero that everyone will see. The most important thing to do is just be a man, provide, love and, cherish every moment and thing we are given.

Oh the Sabbath Day.

It's so strange to think back now that i'm on my mission of the importance of church attendance but, it's all come into perspective here in a short ammount of time. There is a talk given by James E. Faust called "The Lords Day" I won't put the whole talk on here but i'll put up some of it that I feel is very important.

"My brothers and sisters and friends, for some time I have pondered what I might speak about today. I seem to have been led in my thinking by a concern that so many in our generation are missing great blessings by not honoring the Lord’s day.

I confess that as a young boy, Sunday was not my favorite day. Grandfather shut down the action. We didn’t have any transportation. We couldn’t drive the car. He wouldn’t even let us start the motor. We couldn’t ride the horses, or the steers, or the sheep. It was the Sabbath, and by commandment, the animals also needed rest. We walked to Church and everywhere else we wanted to go. I can honestly say that we observed both the spirit and the letter of Sabbath worship.

By today’s standards, perhaps Grandfather’s interpretation of Sabbath day activities seems extreme, but something wonderful has been lost in our lives. To this day, I have been pondering to try to understand fully what has slipped away. Part of it was knowing that I was well on the Lord’s side of the line. Another part was the feeling that Satan’s influence was farther away. Mostly it was the reinforcement received by the spiritual power which was generated. We had the rich feeling that the spiritual “fulness of the earth” (D&C 59:16) was ours, as promised by the Lord in section 59 of the Doctrine and Covenants."

"Jesus reaffirmed the importance of the Sabbath day devotion, but he introduced a new spirit into this part of worship. (See Matt. 24:20.) Rather than observe the endless technicalities and prohibitions concerning what should and should not be done on the Lord’s day, he affirmed that it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath. (See Matt. 12:12.) He taught us that “the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” (Matt. 12:8) and introduced the principle that “the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27). He performed good deeds on the Sabbath, such as healing the man with palsy (see Mark 2:1–12) as well as the man with the paralyzed hand (see Matt. 12:10–13). So the divine mandate of Sabbath day observance in our day is now more of a manifestation of individual devotion and commitment rather than a requirement of civil law."

The great modern-day revelation on Sabbath day worship is contained in section 59 of the Doctrine and Covenants: “And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

Here is a Link to reading the full talk....

http://lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/the-lords-day?lang=eng

I can't believe how much this talk in full has changed my perspective.  Going to Church and striving to keep the sabbath day as holy as possible can have such a great effect on our lives. Key points for myself have been highlighted in this talk and, I would invite all to read the talk in its entierty.  I just know that the simple things in this life can have the greatest reward and i'm so thankful for the chance I've been given to understand these things.

Wowza!!

So ya sorry for everyone who has looked at this or is looking at this haha it's just starting out I hope to have some good info and some cool stories to share soon just keep the faith! Take another gander here in a few days and we'll see where we're at!