racing to repentance

So there I was flying down the race track at just over 100 mph, with the sun beating right down on me. Sweat dripping from my eye brow and the finish line just in reach I feel a jerk from something to my left and BAM.... I am sent back into reality. The race track faded and the noisy engines disappeared back into my imagination. Now faced with the real world I took off my stinky helmet and climbed out of the silent car.

Sometimes we find ourselves in imaginary worlds not ready or willing to face the reality and truth that is before us. We cover up sin, with rationalization or just by pure neglect to follow God's will. Whatever the case may be we send our minds into a universe that only we can see and hear. A place where we think no one can enter. Quentin L. Cook said, "Rationalization for bad choices will not be effective, but repentance will. Those who repent will be particularly blessed by the Atonement."

Repentance is real and it heals and blesses us as we allow Jesus Christ to come into our hearts. "And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance;" Helaman 5:11

Repentance is also hard. But I will be the first to tell you that it is worth it. Jesus Christ came to help us overcome our struggles and problems. The more I have turned to Him to allow Him to help me the closer I feel to Him. "Sincere repentance brings several results. We feel God’s forgiveness and His peace in our lives. Our guilt and sorrow are swept away. We feel the influence of the Spirit in greater abundance. And when we pass from this life, we will be more prepared to live with our Heavenly Father and His Son." (Preach My Gospel pg 62)

“Sometimes in our repentance, in our daily efforts to become more Christlike, we find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. As if we were climbing a tree-covered mountain, at times we don’t see our progress until we get closer to the top and look back from the high ridges. Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting.”  Neil L. Andersen

Remove the rationalization, over come the pride and accept that Jesus Christ can heal you from the guilt and shame that you might feel in your life. I have felt it in my life and I pray that you will feel His love as you sincerely pray to be forgiven. I know that He can help! Step out of the race car and into the arms of the one who knows you and your trials far better then anyone else. Because He has been there and He knows how to help! "...and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people...and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Alma 7:11-12

sticky notes of love

My mind is racing all over the place! It has been a crazy last few days. I have been out of my normal area and in Jacksonville. I was not used to all the traffic and the hustle and bustle of the city. I missed my little Country town. I missed the zillions of stars and the quiet, peaceful back roads. I was so thankful to be back into my own area. Coming back meant bringing a new companion with me. Fear soon settled into my mind and the thought of "starting over" played over and over in my head. It was not a thought that I wanted. But the tender mercies of the Lord were all over when we walked into our apartment.

My former Companion had put sticky notes all over my wall to thank me. Even though I didn't feel like I had done anything. On each note was something that she liked about me or something that I had taught her. Tears settled in and I could feel the Spirit testify to me that what I was doing was right. That is one of the best feelings ever. These last few days have taught me a lot about being humble. Preach my Gospel talks about humility. It says when you are humble "You are confident that you can do whatever the Lord requires of you if you rely on Him." I will not lie to you. I have a hard time being humble. But I am so thankful for the lessons that I have learned about this Christ like attribute!

I cant explain to you the exact moment that humbled me. I cant pin point my feelings that helped me learn this valuable lesson but I am so grateful that it happened. I have full faith and trust in my Savior Jesus Christ. One of my favorite Scriptures is Alma 26:12, "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak.."  I was trying to take on the world by myself, but was brought to realize that I am not alone in this. Through all the events and advice that I have been given the last week or so I have learned so much! James E. Faust said  "...It is the humility that allows us to accept and live with our own warts, without cosmetics to hide them.” Step back for a second! Think of the Lord and all that He has done for you. The marvelous things that He has planned for you and I promise that you will be brought to humility. You will come to know just like I did that I can not do it alone but with Him I can do all things!

one language

Last night we were teaching a man, we shall call him Steven. Steven is from Mexico and speaks very little English. I am from Indiana and speak even less Spanish. My companion luckily is from Colombia and speaks English and Spanish. What a blessing it is that she is able to translate. Usually when we meet with Steven I sit there praying for my companion to be instructed on what to say and I sit there smiling like I know what is going on. Last night as we taught him something was different and something changed. A miracle that I will not soon forget. A lesson I am so thankful I learned.

I have often read 2 Nephi 31:3. It says "For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding." I would always think to myself  "Hey self there is one God (Ephesians 4:5) and He knows how to speak all languages." But as we sat in that lesson last night with Steven a new meaning to this scripture came to me. Here we were, the 3 of us, sitting around talking about the Book of Mormon and we understood each other. We literally understood one another and it took little translation. We felt the Spirit! And the Spirit of God taught us and instructed not only Steven but my Companion and myself. Thomas S. Monson taught: “There is one language . . . that is common to each missionary—the language of the Spirit. It is not learned from textbooks written by men of letters, nor is it acquired through reading and memorization.... Proficiency in this language permits one to breach barriers, overcome obstacles, and touch the human heart” (Preach My Gospel pg 133)

I am not perfect nor am I close. But I know that what President Monson said is true. Last night we breached barriers and each of our hearts were touched. The Spirit of God is real! If we can feel the Spirit and all learn in a lesson where we dont understand each other perfectly, think of how much the Spirit can touch hearts when we all speak the same language. It is real! I know that the Spirit comes when we are speaking truth. Through my experience last night my testimony has grown stronger and is rooted deeper into my heart. This is the Lord's Church once again established on the earth.(Intro to the Book of Mormon) I am so thankful for the Spirit and all that it teaches me! I know the Spirit can touch your heart like it did with our's last night. 

Faith in our Savior Jesus Christ

What exactly does it mean to have faith. Ether 12:6 says that ^"faith is things which are hoped for and not seen." So we hope for Jesus Christ to carry us through our troubles and our tears but we do not actually see Him carry us. That makes sense. In Preach my Gospel, a guide for missionary work, it says that faith means we have full trust in Jesus Christ and we are confident that He loves us. We trust in Him enough to live His commandments and follow what He has asked us to do, no matter how hard we may think it is.

Why then is it so hard to have faith sometimes. All we need to do it believe that Jesus Christ will help us and act on what He teaches. That seems easy enough. But we all know that it can be difficult. Having faith is the easy part. Doing the rest is where it can be hard. Shall we all be like Nephi! His faith was so strong that he never second guessed anything he was told to do. "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7

I like Nephi know that we would never be given commandments that we wouldn't be able to follow. Lets all make a commitment to rise to a higher degree of obedience. I know in doing so that our faith in the Savior Jesus Christ will grow more and more each day. I know that the only way I get through my day is to follow my Savior and to have faith in Him. That is where it all begins and that is what will get us through. I know with all my heart that He loves me! I have felt His love all around me and in the sweetest moment its almost as if He wraps His arms gentle arms around me to comfort me. I know He lives. I have full confidence that His work will continue despite if we chose to act and follow Him or not. Let us follow Him and not be left behind!