General Conference

I love this time of year for many reasons. One main reason is General Conference. A simple explanation for thoes of you who don't know what General Conference is...  It's when the Prophet and Appostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints address the world. So if you have ever been interested in hearing what the Lord is telling us today, this weekend is a great time to find out. Four Sessions over a two day period will take place. The schedule goes as following

 Saturday     10am-12pm  &   2pm-4pm 

      

Sunday     10am-12pm   &    2pm-4pm

General Conference is a great time to get answers to questions that have been on your mind. Write these questions down and pray about them. I can promise you that as you do, and watch all 4 sessions of General Conference (because you never know which one will have your answer) the answer to your questions will be given. God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever which is why He has reached out in love to his children by calling another Prophet on the earth today and restoring the exact same church his son, Jesus Christ, set up when he was on the earth. The way you can know for yourself is by watching General Conference and praying to know if the things you hear and see are true.

Planting Seeds

"Pray for a good harvest, but continue to hoe" is posted on a billboard in Kalispell. It has been food for thought running through my mind this last week and made me realize life in general is like a garden. In order to be successful or to have something to harvest there are steps you have to take. You can't just walk out to find a green luscious garden. You first have to prepare the ground. This may include tilling, plowing, fertilizing ect... You have to make rows and most importantly you have to plant seeds. And the seeds you plant take time to grow. From experience, you can't plant tomato seeds and walk out the next day to see a vine with ripe tomatoes ready to be picked.  There have been many incidences in life when I've gone to "my garden" to find it half completed. And for some reason am disappointed or question why nothing grew!.... The same goes for our spiritual growth. We have to plant seeds, water them everyday, and pull out the weeds. The process is NEVER over. As long as you want something to harvest from that garden it takes some form of effort everyday. We have to read our scriptures, pray, and look for the Lords hand in our lives every single day. Not once a year, once a month, or even once a week- but on a daily basis. I have seen a difference in my life when I've taken the time to complete all the steps instead of skipping one or two steps to get ahead. Success in anything comes with time. Sometimes remembering that can be the hardest part. But if we didn't have to work for something how would we know the joy that comes from succeeding? How would you know what fresh tomatoes from the vine taste like if you didn't continually water them? You wouldn't experience the sweet relief of finally accomplishing the goal you have been working so diligently towards. So don't give up! Keep sowing those seeds and one day your garden will be more luscious and plentiful than you ever thought possible. Pray for a good harvest, but continue to hoe!

Putting On Your Shoes... Everyday

Sometimes it is easy to disregard the things we know we should do. And most times, those things we don't want to do aren't hard, it's just that we don't want to do it. Be it out of peer laziness or the fact that it isn't very convenient at the moment. The example given in the video is prime. How hard is it to simply put on a pair of shoes? Had the boy taken the few extra minutes to put on his shoes he could have saved himself and his parents a lot of pain and suffering. I have learned a couple lessons in life the hard way just like this young boy. I have a testimony of doing the things we KNOW we need to be doing, even if it doesn't seem easy or what is convenient at the time. By taking a few extra minutes everyday to "put on your shoes", whether it be reading the scriptures or saying morning or nightly prayers, the spirit can and will be with you to help warn you of danger and save you from a lot of physical and spiritual pain and suffering.

One Year

One year and two days ago from today I left what I knew as "my life" and reported to the Missionary Training Center. I chose to serve my Heavenly Father for 18 short months and received my call to labor in the Montana Billings Mission. What an experience these last 12 months have been. I have learned new things about myself, this world, and God. I have stretched and grown and have done things I never thought possible... I know the reason I was able to do those things is because of God. He is our Loving Heavenly Father, and has sent us to Earth for a reason. Part of that reason is to learn and grow, to become more like Him so that one day we can return to live in His presence. I am trying to learn and grow to become the person He needs me to be. Thank you to all of you who have made this possible, for your love and support and for all those who have been a part of it thus far. I couldn't have done it with out you!

A Believer

Two words " A Believer" have been in my mind a lot lately. We read in the Book of Mormon about all the people who were told that Christ would come and after waiting what seemed forever some started loosing their faith. But as with everything, not everybody lost their faith. There were some who kept the faith knowing that someday HE WOULD COME. Several times I've put myself in their situation. Would I be a believer? Would my faith go dim as so many has?... And most importantly- Am I a believer today? Even though I don't see God and Jesus on a daily basis or just because I have never seen them, Am I "A BELIEVER"? As I've thought about this different responses have come to mind. To me A Believer is more than just believing. It's who you are and is part of your everyday life. A Believer is...

Always

Being

Enlightened...

Living

Intuitively... and

Enduring

Various

Endeavors

Regularly

Even those who did keep the faith went through their fair share of trials; just as we all do in this life. But as we endure the various endeavors a remarkable thing can occur. We can change and grow into the person Heavenly Father knows and wants us to become.

Don't Get Caught

I remember listening to this talk in General Conference and the spirit confirming the truthfulness of the message to my heart. I know these words spoken by Elder M. Russell Ballard are true. I know Satan does not want us to be happy and will do ANYTHING in his power to make us miserable like he is.

 

Here's a few helpful hints to help you NOT get caught in one of his lures... 

• sing a song to make you happy or change your thoughts
• watch a Mormon.org message
• get out of the situation A.S.A.P (As Soon As Possible)
• read the scriptures
• say a prayer

Don't get caught in one of Satan's false lures. You are better than that. Don't fall for the trap

I am His Daughter

I heard this song for the first time the other day and it touched my heart so I thought I would share it with all of you. I know the words of this song are true and we are ALL children of a LOVING Heavenly Father.

the photos in the magazines
don't dictate who i'm supposed to be
the world can't recognize, all that i am inside
but i know in his eyes, i am a part of, the bigger picture,

there's so much more to me
he helps me see that i have so much to offer
i am his daughter
he loves me the way i am,
he's my strength when i stand
he is my king, and my father,
i am his daughter.

the people on the tv screen,
the leaders, rulers, and queens
i watch them shape the world,
and though i'm just a girl, i still know for sure,
that i am a part of, the bigger picture

there's so much more to me
he helps me see that i have so much to offer
i am his daughter
he loves me the way i am,
he's my strength when i stand
he is my king, and my father,
i am his daughter

and when i'm feeling small,
and wondering if i'll ever, find courage to stand tall
through his love i remember

there's so much more to me
he helps me to see that i have so much to offer
i am his daughter
he loves me the way i am
he's my strength when i stand
he is my king, and my father,
i am his daughter

click on the link to listen to the song     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKh3wF7DBPk