This life is built around friendship.
As children, our family becomes our best friends. We grow older, branch out and make new friends, and eventually marry our best friend. And why shouldn't it be built around friendship? The Savior Himself has often called Himself our friend, and it is usually through others that our prayers are answered and our needs are met. And yet we demean the value of friendship, not serving when when we ought, not giving when we can, not using talents for others as we should. Often, we even become friends with those who may try to break down our standards. They are not "friends." To call someone a friend is to give them a title that the Savior has given us to even use for Himself. A true friend will honor your standards, answer prayers, and guide, direct, and comfort you. While we can hep others and be friends with those who do not share the same standards as us, we must not allow ourselves to be pulled down by those that call us friend. A friend is an angel, on either side of the veil, that cares for you and respects and honors you. Never take such a friend for granted, and continually strive to be such a friend yourself.
What will I remember when I look back?
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Collections
I remember growing up, always wanting to have a collection. Kids at show and tell would bring their stamp collections, their card collections (Pokemon and Yugioh were the biggest hits in grade school to collect), their penny collections, sticker collections... Collecting something was a big deal back then.
I started, I tried. I collected rocks (they multiply, I swear they do. I threw them all back outside - the only ones I regret doing so with were my fossils). I collected pennies (then I spent all the pennies :) ). I collected Pokemon cards (and battled with them, and acquired quite the deck before my friend took it to Ohio with him). I collected sea shells (I still have those :D ).
I still collect - shells, quotes, and books. I also seem to be collecting, as the years go by, talents.
Quite the pack-rat, I also collect letters that have been sent to me, notes of appreciation, etc.
I started, I tried. I collected rocks (they multiply, I swear they do. I threw them all back outside - the only ones I regret doing so with were my fossils). I collected pennies (then I spent all the pennies :) ). I collected Pokemon cards (and battled with them, and acquired quite the deck before my friend took it to Ohio with him). I collected sea shells (I still have those :D ).
I still collect - shells, quotes, and books. I also seem to be collecting, as the years go by, talents.
Quite the pack-rat, I also collect letters that have been sent to me, notes of appreciation, etc.
Adversity
"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days." - D&C 24:8
It seems no matter where we go in life, we can never escape the bumpy roads ahead. Just when things seem like everything is going perfectly and we let down our guard, we come across another storm. While caught in the storm, it is easy to let yourself become confused, to feel like you're not good enough, not strong enough, and that no one is there for you. Some even lose their grip on the iron rod during these trials, and let themselves be swept away by the mists of darkness (1Ne8:23, 1Ne12:17). Some, once off the straight and narrow path, feel like there is no way back, that they are lost, and that there is no hope for them anymore. This is not so.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has Atoned for our sins and and loves us. He has already paid the price; it is NEVER too late to return if we have lost the way. His arms are outstretched to us, and your price to him is beyond measure. He will never give up on you, He will never leave you alone, and He will always be there for you.
We are promised that we will not be given burdens heavier than we are capable of bearing. That doesn't mean we are incapable of losing our way. It just means that we have power over Satan, and that we have the ability to choose to give into the storm or hold on no matter what. Satan cannot MAKE us do anything. We are beloved children of God; we have the strength and power to overcome all things, great and small.
Trials, though hard, are able to be overcome and/or endured, and even if they seem to be too difficult for us to bear, it is because we must continually be strengthening ourselves. The way back to our Heavenly Father requires more than a passive endurance. There will be times that we will struggle, we will have to fight to continually work towards our end goal, the Celestial Kingdom. Trials are for our benefit and growth (D&C 122:5-7), for they strengthen us.
Many times, in the meantime, we cannot see the purpose that having trials gives us, and it can make going through them extremely difficult and frustrating for us as individuals. However, God is over all, and He knows what we are going through, and there is a purpose in all things. "For I, the Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of heaven; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while and ye shall see it, and know that I am..." (D&C 84:119)
Many people mistake the message that we have the strength to get through all our burdens, and try to carry all of the hardship on their own shoulders. Heavenly Father has never intended for us to walk these roads alone, and it is His yolk, which when taken upon us, will make our burdens light and easier to bear. Angels attend us, on both sides of the veil.
"I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.
... My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.”(Moroni 7:36) On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal."
-Elder Jeffery R. Holland, The Ministry of Angels
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." (D&C 121:7-9)
It seems no matter where we go in life, we can never escape the bumpy roads ahead. Just when things seem like everything is going perfectly and we let down our guard, we come across another storm. While caught in the storm, it is easy to let yourself become confused, to feel like you're not good enough, not strong enough, and that no one is there for you. Some even lose their grip on the iron rod during these trials, and let themselves be swept away by the mists of darkness (1Ne8:23, 1Ne12:17). Some, once off the straight and narrow path, feel like there is no way back, that they are lost, and that there is no hope for them anymore. This is not so.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has Atoned for our sins and and loves us. He has already paid the price; it is NEVER too late to return if we have lost the way. His arms are outstretched to us, and your price to him is beyond measure. He will never give up on you, He will never leave you alone, and He will always be there for you.
We are promised that we will not be given burdens heavier than we are capable of bearing. That doesn't mean we are incapable of losing our way. It just means that we have power over Satan, and that we have the ability to choose to give into the storm or hold on no matter what. Satan cannot MAKE us do anything. We are beloved children of God; we have the strength and power to overcome all things, great and small.
Trials, though hard, are able to be overcome and/or endured, and even if they seem to be too difficult for us to bear, it is because we must continually be strengthening ourselves. The way back to our Heavenly Father requires more than a passive endurance. There will be times that we will struggle, we will have to fight to continually work towards our end goal, the Celestial Kingdom. Trials are for our benefit and growth (D&C 122:5-7), for they strengthen us.
Many times, in the meantime, we cannot see the purpose that having trials gives us, and it can make going through them extremely difficult and frustrating for us as individuals. However, God is over all, and He knows what we are going through, and there is a purpose in all things. "For I, the Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of heaven; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while and ye shall see it, and know that I am..." (D&C 84:119)
Many people mistake the message that we have the strength to get through all our burdens, and try to carry all of the hardship on their own shoulders. Heavenly Father has never intended for us to walk these roads alone, and it is His yolk, which when taken upon us, will make our burdens light and easier to bear. Angels attend us, on both sides of the veil.
"I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.
... My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.”(Moroni 7:36) On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal."
-Elder Jeffery R. Holland, The Ministry of Angels
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." (D&C 121:7-9)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Gifts and Talents
"For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby," (D&C 46:11-12)
"Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost." -Elder Marvin J. Ashton
Even on top of these characteristic gifts, there are spiritual gifts that we may have, as described in D&C 46.
In this life, so many people get caught up in what they can or cannot do. As a Mia Maid, we were sitting in class learning about talents. The instructor, my Mia Maid adviser, had each of us go around and list what we are talented at before we would go on to learn about the lesson on Talents. The girls went around and listed a few. When it got to me, I was able to prattle off several without having to think about it too hard. My Mia Maid adviser went last, and she hesitated. "I can't really think of anything I am talented at, I've never been particularly good at anything, unless walking to go visit people counts." As the lesson wore on, the Spirit touched us, and my teacher cried and smiled, and we left feeling strengthened. However, one thing bugged me. That my instructor, now a grandmother and a righteous, faithful member of the church, could even think she had no talents. I went home with a self made homework assignment. The next week, I came up to her and handed her a piece of paper. On it was a list of talents I saw in her, as well as using the help of the quote by Marvin J. Ashton.
Four years later, I was discussing with a friend my seemingly endless list of talents and abilities. "List them for me," he requested, "even the ones I already know." As I began listing, I quickly reached 20 different talents. Satisfied that that must be all, I talked to my mom about it. She gave me a strange look, and said, "Just twenty? You have more than that. Lets see, did you include..." The list was lengthened, and I went to the Relief Society General Broadcast trying to create my own list of talents. As I began writing, I hesitated on some of the talents my mom had listed for me. "Kindness is a characteristic trait, Mom." I pointed out. "Is that even considered a talent?" My mom looked at me. "Where do you think your characteristics come from?" A feeling of peace came over me as I acknowledged my Heavenly Father's hand in my own traits and qualities. After all, He is the Father of my Spirit, where all of my attributes really lie.
We sat down and were listening to the broadcast, when suddenly a thought struck me, and I began writing.
"Heavenly Father would not have blessed me with all of my talents if He didn't know I would use them to help others, and enlighten and lift them, and they have all been given me for specific reasons and purposes throughout my life as I serve and stay receptive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. These talents, attributes, and my temperament are amplified best as I allow myself to be an instrument in his hands."
I believe this to be true. We all have been blessed with divine gifts and talents, even going down to so simple as just attributes and characteristics that are divine and from God, our Father. Some have other gifts and talents, like the ability to listen, to cry, and spiritual gifts such as bearing a testimony or having the gift of tongues. Others have physical talents, such as athletics, musical abilities, or home keeping skills such as sewing or cooking. But all of these talents will best be amplified, in a manner that we can use them to bless the lives of others, as we live in accordance to the will of our Heavenly Father.
"Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost." -Elder Marvin J. Ashton
Even on top of these characteristic gifts, there are spiritual gifts that we may have, as described in D&C 46.
In this life, so many people get caught up in what they can or cannot do. As a Mia Maid, we were sitting in class learning about talents. The instructor, my Mia Maid adviser, had each of us go around and list what we are talented at before we would go on to learn about the lesson on Talents. The girls went around and listed a few. When it got to me, I was able to prattle off several without having to think about it too hard. My Mia Maid adviser went last, and she hesitated. "I can't really think of anything I am talented at, I've never been particularly good at anything, unless walking to go visit people counts." As the lesson wore on, the Spirit touched us, and my teacher cried and smiled, and we left feeling strengthened. However, one thing bugged me. That my instructor, now a grandmother and a righteous, faithful member of the church, could even think she had no talents. I went home with a self made homework assignment. The next week, I came up to her and handed her a piece of paper. On it was a list of talents I saw in her, as well as using the help of the quote by Marvin J. Ashton.
Four years later, I was discussing with a friend my seemingly endless list of talents and abilities. "List them for me," he requested, "even the ones I already know." As I began listing, I quickly reached 20 different talents. Satisfied that that must be all, I talked to my mom about it. She gave me a strange look, and said, "Just twenty? You have more than that. Lets see, did you include..." The list was lengthened, and I went to the Relief Society General Broadcast trying to create my own list of talents. As I began writing, I hesitated on some of the talents my mom had listed for me. "Kindness is a characteristic trait, Mom." I pointed out. "Is that even considered a talent?" My mom looked at me. "Where do you think your characteristics come from?" A feeling of peace came over me as I acknowledged my Heavenly Father's hand in my own traits and qualities. After all, He is the Father of my Spirit, where all of my attributes really lie.
We sat down and were listening to the broadcast, when suddenly a thought struck me, and I began writing.
"Heavenly Father would not have blessed me with all of my talents if He didn't know I would use them to help others, and enlighten and lift them, and they have all been given me for specific reasons and purposes throughout my life as I serve and stay receptive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. These talents, attributes, and my temperament are amplified best as I allow myself to be an instrument in his hands."
I believe this to be true. We all have been blessed with divine gifts and talents, even going down to so simple as just attributes and characteristics that are divine and from God, our Father. Some have other gifts and talents, like the ability to listen, to cry, and spiritual gifts such as bearing a testimony or having the gift of tongues. Others have physical talents, such as athletics, musical abilities, or home keeping skills such as sewing or cooking. But all of these talents will best be amplified, in a manner that we can use them to bless the lives of others, as we live in accordance to the will of our Heavenly Father.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Moving Out
You find, when you move out, that there are lots of differences in life.
It's my first day here, in this four bedroom apartment, with only one other roommate, so the silence is very enveloping, as opposed to the constant background noise that you get when you have seven younger siblings ranging from the ages 4 - 15.
Also, my roommate is Chinese, so my first task this morning is to teach her how to make oatmeal. When I came in last night and met her, I'm not sure which she was most excited about; that she finally had a roommate so she was no longer alone here, or that I know how to cook. Promptly after seeing me, she started cleaning everything in the kitchen out so that there is now room for all of my supplies, and then went through all her food, chucking some things out, and asking me if I knew how to use a majority of the ingredients in my cooking. We'll probably be getting groceries together and switching off on cooking, since she does know how to make some Chinese food. With the kitchen spotless, we started trying to figure out a meal schedule on when we could eat together, then gave up until we could get our schedules entirely figured out together.
My roommate is also 26, which since she's already discovered I'm really mature for my age (and has complimented me on so) this is no problem, and I'm very happy and relieved to say that I believe we will get on very well. :)
My biggest challenges in moving out so far have been loneliness, boredom, and I'm sure very soon learning how to cook for only two people (as opposed to 12 or more people I'm used to cooking for) will become an issue I shall have to address. It'll be like learning to cook all over again!
I'm sure other differences will arise, since last night was my first night living here. But, I'm ready. So I guess bring it on, right? :) I know I can handle this. It'll be an adjustment, absolutely, but after all, the only consistency in life is change.
It's my first day here, in this four bedroom apartment, with only one other roommate, so the silence is very enveloping, as opposed to the constant background noise that you get when you have seven younger siblings ranging from the ages 4 - 15.
Also, my roommate is Chinese, so my first task this morning is to teach her how to make oatmeal. When I came in last night and met her, I'm not sure which she was most excited about; that she finally had a roommate so she was no longer alone here, or that I know how to cook. Promptly after seeing me, she started cleaning everything in the kitchen out so that there is now room for all of my supplies, and then went through all her food, chucking some things out, and asking me if I knew how to use a majority of the ingredients in my cooking. We'll probably be getting groceries together and switching off on cooking, since she does know how to make some Chinese food. With the kitchen spotless, we started trying to figure out a meal schedule on when we could eat together, then gave up until we could get our schedules entirely figured out together.
My roommate is also 26, which since she's already discovered I'm really mature for my age (and has complimented me on so) this is no problem, and I'm very happy and relieved to say that I believe we will get on very well. :)
My biggest challenges in moving out so far have been loneliness, boredom, and I'm sure very soon learning how to cook for only two people (as opposed to 12 or more people I'm used to cooking for) will become an issue I shall have to address. It'll be like learning to cook all over again!
I'm sure other differences will arise, since last night was my first night living here. But, I'm ready. So I guess bring it on, right? :) I know I can handle this. It'll be an adjustment, absolutely, but after all, the only consistency in life is change.
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