Here's Me

       So today, I'm writing a more personal and out of the ordinary (for my blog) type of post.  Most of what I've written is ideas I've had, things I've always wanted to get out into the world, or just plain gibberish that I've happily emptied from my mind.  Today, I'm gonna post what I consider to be a "normal post."  I feel it is time to just talk about where I'm at, and express the best I can in words, how thankful I am to my Father in Heaven for my wonderful life and people that make it that way.
     I'm now about 17 months into this 24 month ordeal, and blown away at the experience that it is.  I absolutely Love being a missionary.  It is full of so many things that just don't compare to anything else I've ever done.  I've never lived such a strict routine, and I love it.  I love seeing such changes in myself and others when consistent goal setting, plans set, and action really occurs.  It's amazing!  I love the gospel.  My testimony of this church and of the restoration is more solid than I ever thought it could be.  I can say "I Know..." and mean it.  I'm so thankful for this.  I've been blessed so much I sometimes think it is unfair.
     The parable of the talents has been on my mind a lot on my mission.  One guy got 5, another 2, and another 1.  The guy with 5 used them and made 10, the guy with 2 made 4, but the guy with 1 hid it away and lost the one he had.  The part to this that I've been realizing is that God gave me many talents.  I have an obligation to use them.  The more talents we are given, the more additional talents we then must gain and use for God's work.  I equate this to more than just actual talents, but also blessing we are given in life.  The more we are blessed, the more we should use those blessings thankfully to further God's work.
     I've been thinking a lot about relationships we have in this life as some of those blessings, or talents per se. The people around me, and the relationships and memories I have with them, are the best part of my life.  Time = Love, and Love is what it takes to make a good relationship, so good relationships require time.  I think that is why my mission is so great.  We spend all our time building these relationships with anyone and everyone that will hear our words.  No wonder I've grown to love so many people so much in such a short time (on the calender).  Whenever I first get to a new town, I think, "Eh, this place is ok... I don't really like the weather, or geography or... I doubt I'll want to come back here."  And then after a relatively short time, I meet so many wonderful people, build these amazing and inspired connections, and now I can't fathom Not coming back to visit.  It's happened everywhere I go.  Take away the people, I doubt I'd ever go back.  But with those faces, memories, and life-changing moments in both mine and their lives, I must go back to visit.
     Well back to my other train of thought, I've been so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life, and right now I want to take a moment to tell the world about the most important relationship I have in this life.  My Mom.  She has spent more time on me than anyone I know.  She has given more of herself to making me who I am than I even realize.  Words can't express the amazement I have for who she is, what she's done, and the great example she has set for me.  She served her mission to Italy, and her testimony has never wavered in the tiniest amount.  She's always stood by me and sometimes I don't even understand why I deserve to be so lucky.  "Because I have been given much I too must give."  My mom's love is spreading to the people of California.
     Now that little Momma's boy is done, I want to say that so many relationships in my life have given me knowledge, experience, happiness, and growth.  These are what make me me.  I have been given so much, that I'm duty bound to use that for the benefit of God's work.  I'm so grateful to do it in this capacity.  I'm so glad to have learned what life is truly all about.  I know that I will be doing this my whole life, whether I have a badge on or not.  I've been shown a lifetime of love and blessings, and if I don't use them to do the same thing, I'd be hiding them away.
     This didn't go quite where I thought it would go, but in the end, I just want to tell the world, or anyone who may stumble across this blog and make it through my un-illustrated posts to get to this point, that I Love Life.  This is such a wonderful place to be right now.  I have so many wonderful blessings that I'm eternally grateful for.  The main one being Christ, My Savior, My Redeemer, My Lord, My Friend.  I'd be lost without him, and I'm eternally in his debt.  As we celebrate his coming into the world, I express my joy and hallelujahs for his birth.  He has shown more time and love than any being before and since for every single individual on this earth, me included.  I Know He Lives.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Allow Remembrance

Helaman 5:5 For they remembered the words which their father Helaman spake unto them. And these are the words which he spake:

 6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem [Lehi and Nephi]; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

What does remember mean in this context? Helaman went so far as to give his sons specific names to help them remember who they stood for and what they had been taught.  What did Helaman want them to remember?

 9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Helaman wanted them to remember the teachings of Christ.  He wanted them to have that with them When the hard times come; When the storms hit.  Why did Helaman want it?

14 And they did remember his words; and therefore they went forth, keeping the commandments of God, to teach the word of God among all the people of Nephi, beginning at the city Bountiful;

Because they did what their father had asked.  They built their own testimony and went out to teach.  So what happened?  

18 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach unto the Lamanites with such great power and authority, for they had power and authority given unto them that they might speak, and they also had what they should speak given unto them—

 19 Therefore they did speak unto the great astonishment of the Lamanites, to the convincing them, insomuch that there were eight thousand of the Lamanites who were in the land of Zarahemla and round about baptized unto repentance, and were convinced of the wickedness of the traditions of their fathers.

All because they remembered what they were taught!

So how can we remember?  

I love the example that Nephi and Lehi set for us all to follow.  I love seeing their efforts and results from them.  I think the way to help us do the same is to allow ourselves to remember. 

We allow ourselves to do many things in a day.  Maybe it's allow one more snooze of the alarm, or allow one more piece of candy, or one more missed opportunity.  Why not allow one more chapter of reading for the night, one more phone call to a friend, one more kind word, one more smile.  I know we have it within us to do what is right, and we have the desire and promptings to be an instrument in God's hand.  Just Allow It!  If we all allowed one more gift at Christmas, one more kind word, one more......  how much of a change could we make?  I know the Holy Spirit guides us and we have the choice to act upon it or shrug it off.  Allow yourself one more today.  Make the world happier for one more person, and make one more moment brighter. 

(All verses from Helaman chapter 5 http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/5?lang=eng, italics added)

Give Oh Give, Give Oh Give!

As this Christmas time is here, I'm reminded of the lyrics to a childhood song I used to sing.

Give said the little stream,
Give oh give. Give oh give.
Give said the little stream,
As it hurried down the hill.

I'm small I know but wherever I go,
The grass grows greener still.
Singing, singing all the day,
Give oh give away!

Simple, yet profound.  The stream gave what it had.  Although small, it's contribution was obvious and it saw the grass grow greener wherever it went. 

At this time of year, all we have to do is give away our little song, our little smile, out little time and love, and the grass will grow greener.  The love will reciprocate.  I know we all have something to contribute.  I know Christ's love is real, and for anyone who has felt a glimpse of that, there is a light within to share with others.  Give of yourself this Chrsitmas, and watch the grass grow greener in others lives, as well as your own.  That's the beauty of giving, all parties lift. Give oh give away!