Preach of Christ

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26)

In mere months I will be a missionary with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I will be serving wherever the Lord wants me to serve, and I know he will send me somewhere I will be the best missionary I can be. I know God has a plan for me and He loves me. He loves me so much He sent his Only Begotten son to suffer for my sins and weaknesses, die, and live again all for me. He lives so that I may also live. I talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, preach of Christ, and prophesy of Christ that He will come again, and in His grace we are made whole. I bare testimony that God has not left us, and that it is our job as missionaries (or at least soon to be ones) to flood the earth with this knowledge. The Holy Ghost will guide you if you let it. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Promised Blessings

My Patriarchal Blessing is so amazing. The other day I was reading it again and found something I hadn't noticed before and it brings me to tears every time I think about it. It makes everything make sense. My trials, my hardships, my opinions on certain things, will bless me in this way. I don't feel comfortable sharing it on the Internet, but I know that each of us has certain blessings in store that aren't just temporary, they are eternal. As we follow God's commandments and listen to our Patriarchal Blessings, our blessings will be without number.  I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Officially finished reading all of the standard works for the first time :)

I just finished the New Testament for the first time all by myself. Phew!! It is a beautiful book and admittedly it was hard to study, but I'm grateful I did it. I have great admiration for those first apostles and I am so grateful we also have apostles today.i was surprised how comforted I was by the book of Revelations. It's very hopeful for the righteous, and that's what I plan to be. I know that God hasn't left us and that He still speaks to us through his apostles and prophets. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Cure with Sonlight

"But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?lang=eng)

During the winter I struggle with something that is called SAD, seasonal affective disorder. The lack of sunlight and warmth gets to me and I am depressed, sluggish, and lose my will to little things. Exercise helps, as does eating right and getting enough sleep, but the "cure" is Spring. Here in North Carolina winter is awful, not because it gets super cold, but because it gets relatively cold, extremely cloudy and gloomy, and it doesn't snow here. At least snow looks pretty; here it rarely snows, so everything just looks dead and depressing. 

Anyway...

Spring has come and everyone has said that they have seen a dramatic difference in me. The sun has come out and stayed for the most part, the weather has gotten warmer and warmer, and the plants have come back to life. The first day it was warm and sunny outside again I wanted to cry because it felt so good. It felt like a weight melted off of my shoulders. It was wonderful and terrifying at the same time. 

Many times in our lives we seem to be lost in a gloom, wandering with no direction. Sometimes we may not even notice how lost we are, until we get a taste of sun. The sun is the light of Christ and a new sense of purpose. Even when we have grown up knowing Him, we oftentimes become desensitized to His presence, and sometimes don't notice when we just wander instead of following His direction. I know that the sun is one of the most wonderful of God's gifts, such a huge but small tender mercy.

I testify to you that I know that Christ lives and loves me. I know that if we redirect ourselves and align with what God wants us to do, we will feel His presence and walk into the sun. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.