Five

I'm joining the throng of women who will now sport Forget-Me-Not flowers on their blogs.   Why do we suddenly have these small 5-petaled flowers on our computer screens and in our homes? 

Last Saturday was the world wide General Womens Conference.  A prophet and apostle of the Lord spoke about these small flowers.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf related these forget-me-nots to the women of the church-and to the truths we must remember.  We are Daughters of our Heavenly Father.  He loves us, cares for us, and wants us to use our time on this earth wisely.  He wants us to bless the lives of others, and He will, in turn bless our lives. 

As I listened to these words, I felt a powerful feeling of love.  I know that God loves me.  He loves each of us.  The following day, I sat in a church pew with a sweet and kind-hearted woman.  She has been a member of the church for many years.  As we visited after the sacrament services, she told me how this talk about the forget-me-nots had touched her.  With tears in her eyes, she expressed her sadness and heartache as she had gone many years without feeling the love of her Heavenly Father.  She grabbed my hand and said, "But on Saturday, I felt it!  I felt His love.  I had not felt it in a very long time.  But then it came, and it was wonderful!"

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Under Construction!

I'm currently learning a lot about blogging.  This whole blogging world is amazing to me!  There are going to be lots of great stories to come, so be excited!  :)

As a Little Child

        A little over a year ago, I was photographing a friends wedding.  As I went to take pictrues of the cake, I spotted this adorable little girl, standing against this cabinet.  Her eyes amazed me.  I didn't touch this picture with photoshop.  Her sweet, innocent blue eyes were so pure, and so delicate, I had to capture a picture of her.  As soon as I snapped the first picture, she began to smile.  What a sweet face!  She then got embarrassed and hid behind her grandmother before I could take another picture.

Every time I see this picture, my heart just melts.  I'm reminded of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He truly loved children.  Christ taught His disciples about the Faith and Submissiveness of innocent and pure children. 

"Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

(Matthew 18:3-4)

As we turn to the Lord and become more Christlike, we literally become His Children.  When we are humble with undoubting faith, we are the children of His Holy Kingdom.

The Spirit of Courage

Madeleine



Growing up, I had this great friend, Madeleine.  I remember playing school with her a lot.  One of us would be the teacher, and one would be the student.  I was usually the student.  During one summer, we put our teaching skills to the test.   

The two of us during the awkward phase of Middle School

Young Women's Girls Camp in 2005

With flyers in hand, we walked around the street to all of the parents who had young kids.  We offered to teach their children and hold a "Day Camp" with them.  I don't remember exactly what we taught, or who even came, but I remember it was a lot of fun.  Even though she was a few months younger than me, she taught me a lot.  Some days I didn't want her to teach me anything-but I learned that everything she said was valid-it all made sense! 

I was a messy kid.  My mom would gladly invite Madeleine over to help me clean my room-because she was just SO good at teaching me how to clean!  One day I was too tired to clean, and she said, "You can make your room look cleaner if you make your bed and close your closet door!"  So we made my bed, and closed the closet door.  My mom came in and checked on the room.  Though it wasn't perfect, it looked a lot better. 

Fast forward about 10 years... 

Madeleine and Me September of 2009

The other day I rolled out of bed and said my morning prayers.  I then proceeded to get ready for the day.  As we were getting ready to leave our house, I looked into our room and saw my bed was not made.  It was a sloppy mess of comforter and sheets!   It was like I heard a little voice in my mind..."You can make your room look cleaner if you make your bed..."  Madeleine's voice chimed in at the perfect moment.  I smiled.  Then I remembered the rest of her advice, "And close your closet door!"  I then walked over and closed the closet.  Our room DID look much cleaner! 

The prophets have taught that the things we learn as a child will stick with us for years to come.  Many times I think we assume those are things we learn from our parents.  However, things we learn from our friends will create lifelong habits. 

 I'm grateful to Madeleine for teaching me the lifelong habit of doing the little things to improve the bigger picture.  God bless you!

One Stitch at a Time

I live a simple life. 

Wake up at 6:30.  Exercise.  Get ready.  Eat.  Study at 8:00.  Study with my missionary companion at 9:00.  Leave by 10:00.  Work.  Eat.  Work.  Eat.  Work. Come home.  Plan by 9:30.  Sleep. 

I live a simple life. 

However, the things I witness everyday are not simple.  Each day I am responsible for helping others come closer to Christ.  A few weeks ago, we met a woman who had a strong desire to follow her Savior. 

It was not easy.  The adversary knew how to pull her down.  Satan repeatedly tried to distract her from the things that were the most important.  But she knew what she must do.

She needed to continue to do the simple things. 

As she did the simple and small things, like reading her scriptures daily, saying her prayers--her life became complete.  She bonded with her Father in Heaven.  It was a miracle to watch her heart change.  Her life was suddenly filled with love and light.  She smiled all the time and prayed humbly.  I'm so gratefulI to have met this woman.  She has filled my heart with so much gratitude for my Heavenly Father.  I love her.  And I know the Lord loves her too. 

The gospel is like sewing.  You can't just throw fabric in a pile, mix it up, and pull a shirt out like magic.  You must cut the fabric, pin it together, and one stitch at a time, sew the materials to make a complete clothing article. 

As you slowly lead the thread with the needle, the fabric bonds together. 

As the Lord leads us through life, we become bonded to Him.  "That we may be one." (3 Nephi 19:23)

It's the simple things that bond us to our Father.  It is the simple things that will lead us back home to us.  As we stitch our lives in harmony with the Savior, the seams will be unbreakable.

The more simply I live, the more I focus on God.  The more I focus on God, the more I am aware of His divine hand in my life.  This is just one of the many examples of "by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass."  (Alma 37:6)

I am a missionary and disciple of Jesus Christ. 

And I live a simple life. 

O Lord, My God

I have a deep love for the Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma.  I have never worshipped Joseph-I only worship my Heavenly Father and His son, our redeeming Savior.  But I do revere Joseph Smith as one of the greatest men to ever have lived.  His sacrifice and testimony were sealed with his blood.

"On the afternoon of June 27, 1844, the little group of brethren sat silent and disconsolate in the jail. One of the men asked Elder Taylor, who had a rich tenor voice, to sing to them. Soon his voice was raised: 'A poor wayfaring Man of grief hath often crossed me on my way, who sued so humbly for relief that I could never answer nay.' ² Elder Taylor recollected that the hymn 'was very much in accordance with our feelings at the time for our spirits were all depressed, dull and gloomy.' ³

"Shortly after five o’clock in the afternoon, a large group of attackers stormed the jail, firing their guns at the men inside. Within a few minutes, the foul deed was done. Hyrum Smith was shot first and died almost immediately. Elder Richards miraculously received only a superficial wound; and Elder Taylor, though severely wounded, survived and later became the third President of the Church. The Prophet Joseph ran to the window and was fatally shot. The Prophet of the Restoration and his brother Hyrum had sealed their testimonies with their blood."

Quote Reference:
http://lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-smith/chapter-46-the-martyrdom-the-prophet-seals-his-testimony-with-his-blood?lang=eng&query=martyrdom+Joseph+Smith#2-36481_000_050