Amazing Grace!

This is such an awesome song. I love to listen to this one all the time. Sometimes its just because I love to hear the orchestra in the background. But whatever the reason is the message is still the best. After we have given it our best our heavenly father will make up for the rest with his grace. But we know we have to put forth the effort to atleast try to do the best we can. That doesn't give us the excuse to just do whatever we want and just say oh god will give me grace. We have to put forth the effort to try to be perfect. We know that we can never be perfect but the effort we put in will help us out. Then God will give us mercy based on the effort we have put in to trying to be perfect people. Im thankful for the grace that God has given me so far in my life. I know that he has done a lot for me so far in my life. I know that if I put in more effort that he will give me more grace.

There is Hope!

When we are going through times of trial thats when Satan can easily get us. He feeds off of us when we are lost or are struggling rally bad. He knows our weekness and knows how he can get us. His temptations turn into rails of sin. But through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can look ot the heavens and we can look to the skies. WE can find redemption starring into our eyes. That is because of th esacrifice that Jesus made for us. We can be forgiven because of him. We have to repent of the things we have done. WE have to promise not to do them again. But we can be redeemed through him. Theres victory in the Lord, cling to the Father and his holy name. We have to keep the commandsmnets that he has given us and be worthy members of his name. We have to do the things that are pleasing to him. Satan is just waiting on our hearts to say "lt me ride on that long black train." He doesn't want to work to make corrections in ourlives. He wants us to give up and get on that train and take the easy way out. "It sounds so good but i must stay away." We need to remember th is. It will always sound good to give into whatever temptation we have that might seem to bring us temporary happiness. Bu thats all it is. Temporary. We must stay away and clong to the Fathers name. In this there is peace.

Livin On A Prayer

This song has a lot of truth in the lyrics of it. It is describing a love story but deep sown in it it has another message. A message that really displays all of us found here on the earth. While here on earth "we have to hold on to what we got, it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not." We have been given the gospel and now we have to hold onto it so that Satan wont get us. He trys to get us in any possible way that he can. And by dang it he has some clever ways. However "we are half way there, livin on a prayer." Thats what we are doing. Every day we are living on a prayer. we pray in the morning and at night and however often we need to during the day. We pray to our heavenly father to give us strength and courage and peace throughout our day. Then as we pray earnestly with all our faith then god will reach down and say "take my hand we'll make it I swear." He will lift us up. He loves us and wants to help us after we have tried our best. We can pray to him always. I hope this song has helped y'all out there to see it in a different way. "Livin on a prayer!"

Praise To the Man!

Praise to his memory he died as a martyr; honored and blest be his ever great name! Long shall his blood , which was shed by assassins, Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame! 
Joseph Smith is the man who restored the church. He gave his life for this cause. His own blood and sweat to restore this church that our father in heaven has established. He will never be forgotten because of the impact that he made on the earth. Millions shall know "Brother Joseph" again. His name will be known among the World before the end of the world comes. The verse that I have written on here describes just how important he was in the use of the Lords great plan. He sacrificed everything to do the Lords will. Is it hard for us to sacrifice the small things to do the same? I look forward to the chance I will have to meet and shake his hand in the next life. I know he was called of God to restore the church. I know that he saw The Father and The Son. That everything he went through was for this cause of the church. I know his name will ever be praised! Blessed be his ever great name!

Planting the Seeds!

This is a picture of a newly planted grain field. As one looks at it, it clearly portrays how the little grain seed has sprouted underneath the soil and has started to grow up out of the soil. The result is a field filled with the light green aurora of the little blades of grain starting to grow up from the soil. Below the surface a vast system of roots are being to spread wide to retrieve the water and nutrients in the soil to provide its growth. In the next few weeks the plant will grow taller, and its roots will expound under the ground.





  Now the Wheat is "in the boot." Which means it is starting to head out. The plant has reached its potential height and the beards of grain are forming and are starting to show themselves. Now where does this all come into play as members of the church? We are the ones who are planting the seeds in the hearts of our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers, and our families. We have to be the ones who shares our thoughts, and beliefs of the gospel with them. Ask them questions that makes them reflect on the things that they believe. Or ask questions that gets them curious about the gospel. Then you have to keep watering them and give them fertilizer to help them grow better. Just like you have to do to the wheat. They then have to take time on their own to study what they have learned about for themselves. They have to pray to our loving Heavenly Father to know for themselves. But we have to continue to help them and to keep contact with them so they don't quit and die. We have to prepare them to mature.





This is the wheat in its ripe stage! See how the beards are formed. They contain the hard seed that is the kernel of the grain, the wheat kernel. That is where we have to get our investigators to. They have to get to that stage where they are ripe and hard and ready to be harvested. They need to be in that golden stage! That's when they are all ready. They have done the research on their own that has been needed to be done. They have received the personal revelation that is required of them to know for the truths themselves.



This is the end result. The grain is being harvested. All of the little grain kernels are being collected. As missionaries that's what we do. We go out and harvest and collect the kernels. We do that by baptizing by the immersion of water. That is how we collect the seeds. Now at first things might seem smaller but in time they add up. Look at how many members of the church there are. Over 14 million members. Thats a lot of kernels collected. May we be more diligent in preparing our friends, neighbors, and co-workers for the gospel so that the missionaries out there in the world can do the harvest that they have been called to do.

Son of Man

"On this journey that you're making, there will be answers that you'll seek, and its you who'll climb the mountain, its you who'll reach the peak." This life is a journey that we are all making as an individual person. Heavenly Father has put us here to be tested. We have to climb the mountain. We are the ones who will make it to the peak. Wheres the peak though? I feel that the peak is actually back in the presence of our Heavenly Father who resides in heaven.
       "But with faith and understanding, you'll journey from boy to man." Faith is the first principle of the gospel. We have to have faith in Jesus Christ. He is the one who has made it possable for us to return to our loving Heavenly Father. We couldn't do it without him.
      "In learning you will teach and in teaching you will learn. You'll find your place beside the Ones you love.
      " What a great phrase. As we are children being taught by our parents we learn to do the things that we are to be doing as members of the church. They teach the things that we need to know about Jesus Christ and the gospel. But as we teach the kids that we have we continue to learn ourselves. Its a never ending chain of learning!
        "The time is drawing near now Its yours to claim it all." The time is drawing near. We are in the last days that have been prophesied of. Its our time to claim it all. We can have it all if we are baptized by water and by the Holy Ghost. Then we have to remain worthy by keeping the commandments of the Lord. If we do this then we can remain worthy of all our Father has to offer us. I know that this is true.

A Wonderful World!!

This song is such an amazing peice of inspiration to me. Really take the time to reflect on the words that it says. "I see skies of blue...clouds of white...bright blessed days...dark sacred nights... and i think to myself what a wonderful world." Heavenly Father blessed us with this wonderful world. I think to often our society takes this wonderful world for granted. I walked out the door today and just couldn't help but think what a beautiful area that Nashville area is. It is so green and has lots of rolling hills. It makes me realize the beauty of the area I have been put into. I wish ya'll could be here right now to see it. It is such a pretty place. Im so blessed to be in this area. It truely is one step closer to heaven. I sure am enjoying it here.

Mothers Day!!!

Its finally here! Mothers Day! Now I get to share with you my thoughts about the wondrful Mothers out there. So I was raised by a wonderful mother who I love very much. Sadly I did not share that with her very much. Since I know she will be reading this I leave these words. "I love you very much mom! Happy Mothers Day! Your the greatest person in the world!" I want you to know that. 
 So why do we need mothers? First, mothers are the most amazing creatures in the world. They go through they pain of bringing us into the world, or so Im told. I really dont see how they can have pain if they are full of drugs that numbs them. Anyway beside the point. They then got the wonderful privilage to raise us up. The mothers job is to nurture. She spends her days raising us up and caring for us. Personally they get the crappy job if you get what im saying. They get to change dirty bums and all that fun jazz. But their job is to teach us while we are young to be good citizens and members of the church. They teach us to be obedient and to listen. Not to steal. How to respect others and help others out when someone is in need.
Sometimes being a mother isn't easy though. I would like to share an example that I have seen out here recently with  a new convert that we have teached. Jennifer is a mother of two little boys. Jordan who is four and Jace who is one and a half. She isn't married. Her ex whatever he is doesn't pay his child support. She has no job. Has nobody to watch her kids so she can go find a job. She has faced eviction from her apartment. Has had her water turned off. Barely has any food for herself, let alone her two little boys. It is very heart breaking to see. She has to do all of the parenting skills now. But she has been blessed and is being blessed. Things are looking up for her.
 Mothering isn't always going to be easy. But women are blessed with that calling and I see why. They help prepare us and shape us into what we can become in the future. Just kind of like how a potter shapes clay into a design. Our mothers do the same. Lets take some time this Mothers Day and really thank them for the things they do for us. Because we really would be in trouble without them to guide and teach us.  Mothers are a fine commodity. Happy Mothers Day Mom. I love you!

The Family

The Family seems to be being attacked lately. As our society speeds up and moves toward the future many of us are just running around. Here is an example. Sometimes a father or mother is running sons or daughters from school to some sport practice then to some club or organization meeting, then to another meeting or a friends house. It seems like there is no family time anymore. Everybody is always coming and going, rushing from one event to another. The result ends with familys sometimes being broken up by the result of divorce. The parents are so busy running each kid to from different activities that they loose track of there spouses interests and feelings. It is sad to see yet it seems to be happening more and more frequently. Families need to spend time together. I see Family Home Evening as a good way to strengthen each others relationships. It helps everyone in the family. It is also a good way to teach children what we want them to know. We teach them how they should act and the things that we should not do. We teach them while they are young. But it shouldn't stop there. We need to have it all the time. Even if it is just sitting down and watching a movie together. Family time is important. Elder L. Tom Perry made this statement: "In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan." We need to make sure that we place our families first then the rest of the things later like sports and other extra things after. We have time for extra things then do them but make sure we are making our familys first. Being out here has helped me see how important families are. I am surprized at how many broken up families there are. But not only will families be strengthened sibblings will learn to get along better with each other. They wont fight as much and will learn to become great friends with each other even as they develop their own lives. Im blessed to have the wonderful family that I do. They are just awesome

Finding the Lost Sheep!

Missionaries in the church consist of 52,225 elders and sisters out in the mission field spreading the gospel. So here are my thoughts on missionary work. In Alma 5:49 is reads, "And now I say unto you that this is the ^aorder after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be ^bborn again." As missionaries we are called to preach to the brethren. Our brethren consists of basically everyone in the world. We are here to share it with them. It is meant to be dwell in the land so basically everyone gets the chance to hear it. Everyone gets too! Whether you be old, middle aged, or a youngster that is growing up. The gospel really is for all of us. As missionaries we are here to bring our brothers and sisters closer to our Heavenly Father. We do this by inviting them to repent and be baptized. In the purpose as a missionary it states we "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in
Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance,& baptism." That is there first Covenant. To be baptized by water and by the Spirit. In Alma 5:60 it says this "And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed." 
 We can be protected from the ravenous wolf, the devil, if we come unto the fold by harkening unto the voice of the shepherd. The shepherd is the overseer of the flock. He can spot the danger that may be coming. So if we listen to his voice; he will gather us for protection. All those who aren't members can get the protection from the devil by repenting and being baptized.

The People of the Land

This week has been a struggle to blog about. I really dont have much to share. So I want to take the time to just share about the people here. Last week we baptized to youngsters. We had Blaine who is about 20 and had Kain who is about 18. These two young men are just amazing. They both like to come out with us and is a very special way for us to teach our investigators. These two young men get to share their testimonies with everyone they meet. It is a good way to show our investigators how these two young men decided to take the discusions and why they chose to join. Whenever they share their testimonies there is a special spirit that comes into the room. I really love the fact that they keep asking us if they can come out with us. It shows me how they are truely converted. They want to come out and help us help others. I cant believe the enthusiasm that they have for the church. It is simply amazing. This Church has to be true because Heavenly Father just doesnt prepare these people for no reason. Im so thankful to be here in Murfreesboro to meet these two young men who have helped change my life being out here as a missionary.

Angels Amoung US

One of my favorite songs is Angels Among Us by Alabama and goes as follows: I was walking home from school on a cold winter day
Took a shortcut through the woods, and I lost my way
It was getting late, and I was scared and alone
But then a kind old man took my hand and led me home
Mama couldn't see him, oh but he was standing there
And I knew in my heart, he was the answer to my prayers

Oh well I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love


When life held troubled times, and had me down on my knees
There's always been someone to come along and comfort me
A kind word from a stranger, to lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend, just to say I understand
And ain't it kind of funny at the dark end of the road
That someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope.
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/alabama-lyrics/angels-among-us-lyrics.html]


When we get lost for whatever reason I know that we can say a prayer and that Heavenly Father will answer us by sending an angel. Most of the time we wont physically see them but we can feel in our heart that they were there. They were guiding us.


Angels are sent to us to comfort us and to guide us. I believe that they are assigned to us to help us. Heavenly Father knows who can help us the most and he personally think he chooses the ones that he knows that will benefit us the most. I know that in our darkest hour that they will be there to help us along our way. They, as it says, "show us how to live" & "guide us with the light of love." I really love that part. They guide us through the power of love.


My favorite part is the second verse. "When life held troubled times and had me down on my knees; theres always been someone to come along and comfort me." Life is full of troubled times. It happens to all of us. We have a death in the family, loose a job, our life just falls apart for whatever reason, etc. Thats when we we need to get on our knees and humbly pray for help. Don't get me wrong. We always need to pray. But thats when we need to pray for extra help. Thats when people come to help us. Thats how Heavenly Father helps us. He sends strangers, or family, or friends to help and comfort us.


It might be a kind word from a stranger, or just someone lending us a hand like from a neighbor or friend. It might even be a phone call from a friend who justs is there to listen to us. Just for the sake of having someone to talk to. "And ain't it kind of funny at the dark end of the road that someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope." What a powerful phrase. Sometimes we dont think we will make it and then we do see that light at the end of that dark road  with a ray of hope. They show us that we can make it to the end and they encourage us to make it to the end.


I personally think that Heavenly Father blesses us with angels from heaven, but that he also places people on the earth at our time to serve as angels. I have had personal experiences that I have seen to comfirm this thought. I have angels in my life right now and I honestly don't know where I would be with out them. I know that when we have troubled times that we can pray for help and that God will send us Angels.

The Crossroads!

Sometimes the path isn't always clear on which way we should go. We have to pause and study out the direction we want to go. Like in this picture we have to make a choice.  Do we go down the path on the left or the one on the right side? Its the same with our lives. At times we come to a point where we have to make a choice on which direction to go. Every choice has a consequence. Whether it be good or bad it has an outcome. As we are all human we tend to make mistakes. Sometimes we make choices that takes us down the wrong path. We tend to get lost and aren't happy with where we are going. We are lost and confused on where we are going. We have to recognize that we don't like the road we are going down and have to make that U-turn. But thats ok. We recognized we made a wrong turn and have corrected it and are trying to get back to the right one.
 


There are a couple of good quotes by Dr. Suess that are helpful to us. "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You'll look up and down the streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you'll say, I don't choose to go there. With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street." At times we know that going down that not so good street is bad for us so we just have to choose not to turn onto it. But sometimes we dont recognize it 'til we have turned onto it. So we must make that U-turn and get off of it. Through the Atonement we can make those U-Turns and get back to that right road. I know that we can do it if we just will.

The Book of Mormon

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we believe in two important books. The Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon. In the introduction to the Book of Mormon it simply states " The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible." Notice it doesn't state that it replaces the Bible. They work together. They need each other. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. They support each other. Being down here in the South many people call the book of Mormon the Mormon Bible. That is falsely incorrect. In no way does it ever replace the Bible. The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel as does the Bible. Joseph Smith translated the gold plates in to what is known as the Book of Mormon. They are the records of the ancient ancestors of the inhabitants of the Americans. I like to think of it as the ancetors of the Native Americans. But through the will of God Joseph Smith was able to translate into what we have today as the Book of Mormon. Pres. Boyd K. Packer made this statement in General Conference  back in 2005 "We do not have to defend the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ will defend him for us. Those who reject Joseph Smith as a prophet and revelator are left to find some other explanation for the Book of Mormon."

What a great statement he made. The Book of Mormon really does defend him for us. Many people have tried to prove the Book of Mormon wrong but ALL have failed! If anything they come to know of its truthfulness. To hear more of this amazing testimony of the Book of Mormon check this talk out at: http://lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/the-book-of-mormon-another-testament-of-jesus-christ-plain-and-precious-things?lang=eng&query=book+mormon. I testify that the Book of Mormon is another witness of Christ and that it was translated by Joseph Smith through the will & mighty power of Heavenly Father.

Prayer! Communication with Heavenly Father

Prayer is the most amazing thing ever! We want our kids to call us and talk to us just like our parents want us to talk to them. Our Heavenly Father wants to hear from us. We do so by prayer. I know prayer can bless us in hard times as well as in good times. When we are struggling thats the best time to pray. Out here in the mission field I have to use it a lot. I might be having a bad day and just need some comfort. I might be praying to know what to study. I might need help to know who to study for.  When we pray we are talking with our Heavenly Father. He likes that. He wants us to do it often. We shouldn't forget to say gratitude prayers either. Just take the time to sit down and be thankful for everything we have been given and blessed with. Our prayers can be answered if we are very sincere with them. I know that.

Our Trials

Part of this life is being tested. These tests are often referred to as trials. In order to be strengthened we have to be tested. Sometimes they turn out to be major events that test us. Elder Orson F. Whitney said: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. I believe this to be true. Nothing that Heavenly Father does is wasted. It all has a purpose. I like this thought that Elder Paul V. Johnson gave in his talk this past General Conference. Some obedient Saints may ask, “Why me? I’m trying to be good! Why is the Lord allowing this to happen?”  Clearly we all have to be tested to grow. It also proves our obedience to the commandments that Heavenly Father has given us. Elder Johnson goes on to say "Not one of the trials and tribulations we face is beyond our limits, because we have access to help from the Lord. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us." How true that statement is. We can endure all things. We have the help from the Lord. I know this personally. When I was 9years old I lost my dad. Heavenly Father gave me the strength that I needed to move on. In 1 Peter 1:7 it reads "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." I like that scripture. Our trials are more precious than that of gold. I testify that through the power of Heavenly Father we can endure ever trial. That we can endure to the end.

The Waters of Baptism

We have some amazing investigators here in Murfreesboro. The work has been pretty busy. We have a baptism  date set with a kid named Blaine  Its been great because Blaine has been coming around with us as we go out and contact people and as we teach those who we have appointments with. He gets to explain why he he joining this church and the investigator gets to see an example of someone who is being converted and how it has changed their life. Its such an incredible feeling.
 So Blaine was with us when we had our first visit with Kain is this amazing teenager. Kain is really searching for the happiness of what our gospel seems to offer. 
 As we are teaching Kain a week later about the Plan of Salvation, we invite him to be baptized. He declines saying he really needs to pray and think about it. So we move on in our lesson and like a minute and a half later he randomly says he wants to be baptize. Me and Elder Heeb are freaking out cause we are so excited. Long story short he is saying he is thinking about serving a mission. Hes not even baptized yet. It is so amazing! The Lord is blessing us so much right now! Im excited for the excitement that Blaine and Kain are showing about being baptized and also about serving missions.  The Lord is preparing his children for greater blessings. Its great.

Warnings for Our Day!

Yesterday I experienced something incredible. It was my Preparation Day. I was at the Library at MTSU campus doing my emailing to my family at home. Over the intercom a voice repeats, "Attention everyone, a tornado warning has been issued for the MTSU campus. Everyone Report to the middle of the building on the main level." Everyone stops what their doing and starts heading down to the main level. We are all gathered in the library on that bottom level, away from any glass.

We were warned by a voice that we needed to stop what we were doing and immediately go down to saftey. We have just experienced a wonderful General Conference this past weekend. What a great experience it has been to hear from our beloved prophet and from the wonderful General Authorities.

Just as we were warned to go down to safety; we too are warned today. Our prophet and those apostles working with him warn us today! They tell us what we need to know about how to stay safe. Let us all remember to follow their council and warnings, so that we may be safe from the storms. We will be blessed if we do.

A Bad Night

So last night was pretty much the worst night ever. Me and my two companions are driving around town to different investigators houses and different less actives homes. It was a Friday night and no one was home. We tried like 24 dozen homes. And no one was home or would answer. So Im beginning to not like Friday nights. It was frustrating.

Called To Serve! In Cyberspace?!

As part of the Nashville Mission, we as a mission, have been called to use Facebook and our blogs for a hour or two everyday to share the gospel with those floating around cyberspace. The Lord is showing us missionarys new ways to share his gospel with others. We are one mission out of eight total missions that are testing this new tool. So please feel free to share these links with your friends and help us get the word out! Im so excited to watch General Conference this weekend! Its like the Super Bowl out here! Remember to watch it yourselves.