There is always a choice...

When I was younger (Age:9-12ish) and getting angry, I used to yell at speak very politely with my mother,

"You're making my ANGRY!"

"I can't make you do anything," she would respond, "that's your choice!"

Looking back, I've come to appreciate the fact that, though we may not have much control over the circumstances we are in, we always have choices, no matter the situation.

That small lesson from my mother had lasting consequences.

I know that because of that, I can choose for myself how I react, even if the situation is not in my favor.

Even if the world seems like it's falling apart.

Even if my body is fighting against me.

I have a choice.

This is a chance given to me by my Father in Heaven.

My choice is to get up when I feel down, to continue when all seems lost.  I want to keep going, to keep moving, I don't want to stay still and admit defeat.  I don't want to be beaten by the natural man, my internal voice which says, 'I can't'.

Sometimes it's a battle, sometimes, an easy victory, but every step forward is in the right direction.

I know that my Father in Heaven has given me the opportunity to change, to choose and if we truly want it bad enough, we can move forward because,

If we want to progress.  We can push on.  God will always put at our fingertips resources that we can use to change ourselves or use so that we can continue to progress.  We just need to look around us.

If we want to.  That's the wonderful thing about the plan that our heavenly father has given us.

Even if we no more desire to change and/or progress, our Heavenly Father will help us find the proper tools.  There's a scripture that I think about whenever pause to ponder about change/progression:

"...behold, if ye will awake[!] and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can believe..."  -Full Reference-

If we believe that we can do it, or at the very least try to believe, it could happen! (Believe in the me that Believes in YOU! [A gold star to whoever gets that reference])

I'm not saying that every challenge can be overcome by pure willpower or the resources that God puts at our disposal.  Sometimes, we have to simply endure.

Just like Elder Richard J. Maynes said in his speech, The Strength to Endure,

"Many of the challenges we face in life can be solved and overcome; however, others may be difficult to understand and impossible to overcome and will be with us until we pass on to the next life. As we temporarily endure the challenges we can solve and as we continue to endure the challenges we cannot solve, it is important to remember that the spiritual strength we develop will help us successfully endure all the challenges we face in life." [Emphasis Added]

By enduring our Earthly Trials, we grow spiritually.  We become more than we were before.

I guess one of the tricks of life is determining which trials are the ones that we can change and which ones we can't.

A mental illness or chronic disease is one of those things that I don't think you can change, regardless of how much you rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ(which is there to help strengthen us anyways). As I heard a fellow missionary recently describe it,

"Jesus is not some magical repairman who you call when something is broken(whether it be physical or just the situation).  He is our Savior and Redeemer."

We can call on Him when we are in trouble, it's true, but he is with us from the beginning and will strengthen us to face our problems way before it even comes to the point where all we have left is Him.

I'm not a physician or a psychiatrist so I'm just relying on my own perceptions (so I could be wrong), but from what I've seen is that God gives us trials based on us individually. They are very personal to us, and are there to help us become stronger and learn to rely on Him.

Because we've overcome those trials and gotten stronger, I think it must be Human Nature to want to help others surpass similar circumstances.

We want to help others who are going through those hard times, but we can only see their troubles through the filter of our own experiences.  That doesn't mean that we do not have something constructive that could help them and their problem.  We most certainly could but everyone is different(If only just a little bit)!~

We don't know their thoughts, we might only be seeing the tip of the iceberg, for all we know, they could be fighting the hardest battle of their life.

That's why I think it's important that we do not compare our individual trials to another persons.  It can lead to thoughts such as, "Why is this so hard for me when others can do it so easily," (for those undergoing said trial) to "Everybody else is so weak, I went through it and I'm fine!" (for those undergoing a similar trial, but past it with little effort).

From what I've seen, the best help someone can give is just listening, giving support, and being there for someone. (Of course, everybody is different so that might not work for someone else; Remember the Languages of Love!)  Sometimes, well-meaning advice can be harmful without us realizing it.  We might not have a grasp on the entire situation.

I really like the way this comic below portrays advice given without fully understanding the situation, (I think it was specifically made with reference to Depression)

Personally, I think advice is always welcome[!]~ but sometimes it's important to try and see it from another point of view before passing on the advice...

To Conclude:

I know that we have a choice.  It may not be a choice that we like, but it's always going to be there. I know if we are in too much pain, we can cry out to our Heavenly Father and He will send help.  He wants us to succeed in this life and in the life to come.

I do know that we can look up during our trials, our personal tests, and search our hearts for the answer,

because we are all Children of our Heavenly Father[God] and he will never leave us comfortless.  

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Complimentary Video Excerpts from Jeffrey R. Hollands' Talk :  "An High Priest of Good Times to Come"

Just PICK one!

Have you ever had trouble making decisions?  I have trouble all the time.  I feel SO indecisive some days.

Decisions sometimes are really important like whether or not you get married, or who you get married to.

Sometimes the decision does not make a huge impact on your life.  Choosing to eat cheerios over cap'n crunch might be that decision. (Sorry if you are very opinionated about your cereal and I just offended you.)

In this life we have decisions to make.

I had to make a decision whether or not I will take time out of my day as a missionary, stopping work in the area I am in, to go see two of my friends from one of my past areas get baptized.  I counseled with my mission president.  He wants me to stay in my area.  I talked with one of the two friends who are getting baptized.  He wants me to go to his baptism.

Have YOU ever needed to be in TWO PLACES in ONE TIME?  The sad fact is I can only be in one place at a time.  I feel like this happens to me SO OFTEN.  I'm just glad I'm not making a life or death decision. 

I feel like these decisions are the hardest to make because most of these decisions really are just choices between doing something great or doing something better.  UGH! Hard choices.

We choose what we say... every day... What we say is really important.
We choose what we do.... every day....What we  do is really important.
We choose what we think every day... What we think is really important.

~All these things effect who we are and who we become~

2 Nephi 2:27 explains bigger choices.

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Joseph Smith was a 14 year old boy who wanted to know how to be saved.  He had a decision to make. He was trying to decide which church to join.  The video is great at explaining what happened to him.  God answered Joseph's prayer.  I know he will answer yours.

Maybe it will help you know which church YOU should join.  :)

Why we need a Prophet

Many people I have talked to lately don't feel the need for a prophet and/or new revelation when we already have the Bible, and the truths that are in it.

I will answer the question using the Apostle Paul's words to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:5 says "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."  That was the church of Jesus Christ, back in the days of the Bible.

Ephesians 4:11-14 says this about the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

We need a prophet who receives revelation from God to keep us unified in the faith.  Much of the New testament is about how the Apostles went about to different areas of the church and had to make adjustments to the church because

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the household.  A cornerstone lines up the foundation, so the foundation is in place.  The prophets and apostles are the foundation.  A foundation holds up a house and gives it a strong base.  The saints are the household.  We can be saints if we align our will with God's will by being obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

There are so many churches who perform different ordinances and preach different laws, that it can be difficult to tell which church is God's one true church.   One Lord, one faith, one baptism. This is because there has been a great apostasy.  My testimony is that I know that God has reached out in love for his children and he has called another prophet to the earth, and He has given Him all the keys of the priesthood.  He has been given that divine permission and revelation as to how to restore His church.  Joseph Smith was that prophet.

I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God.  I have heard his word and I have prayed to know if he was a prophet.  By the power of the Holy Ghost, I have come to know that he is the prophet today.  If we heed his word, we will not be led astray, but we will be led to be the people God intends on us being.  God loves us, so he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, and he has always called prophets.  Why wouldn't he send one now when the world needs one most?!?  The answer is that he has.  

I invite you to hear the message he declares on April 5th and 6th of 2014 in General Conference.  

In fact, I invite you to check out anything you'd like on the General Conference page.

This is the message that I bring to the world: God speaks.  Not only does God live, but he speaks through a prophet just as He has in former days, He does now in the latter-days, and it will bless your life.  Pray to know the truth of this message for yourself.  God will answer your prayer if you are sincere, if you pray with real intent, and have faith in Christ.  Go into General Conference with a question, and leave with an answer.  "And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things." -Moroni 10:5

Here's what Thomas S. Monson said at the last General Conference.
The talk is titled "Love- the Essence of the Gospel."

The Holy Ghost: a story of boys

On January 1st, 2001 (yes that's 1-1-01), I  got baptized.  Shortly after I was baptized, my Father confirmed me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then said "receive the Holy Ghost."

When I was baptized, I was only eight years old, but I knew right from wrong, and I knew that getting baptized was a good choice, and that I was following Jesus Christ.

My parents taught me at an early age about the wonderful Gift of the Holy Ghost. (click here and scroll down the page until you see "The Gift of the Holy Ghost," then click on that) They taught me how it would protect me, comfort me and how it would warn me of dangers.

One night, within one or two years of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, I was spending the night at a friend's house.  He had some cousins over.  We were having plenty of fun like all boys do, running around, wrestling, making messes, playing video games, eating junk food, watching movies, not caring much about anything at all :)  Life was perfect.

My friend and his cousins wanted to go out in his backyard and play outside during the night-time.  I knew he had some horses in his backyard, but I hadn't really been out there and I got this feeling that it was unsafe.

He and his cousins said that everything would be fine.  After a bit of them trying to convince me, I went along with them outside.  The light from the backyard porch was the only light we had.  It was dark.  We were hanging out outside, playing tag or whatever.  I remember we were running around.

All of a sudden, both my friend and one of his cousins start screaming.  I went to my friend to see what happened.  He had stepped on a two-by-four with a rusty nail sticking out.  The nail went right through his shoe and into his foot.  Oddly enough, the same thing happened to his cousin... at the same time.  It was strange.

I ran inside and told his Mom what had happened.  His mom had to carry them both inside and treat them.  I remember him sitting on the closed toilet with his shoes off just crying and crying.  He told me that he should have listened to me, and that it wasn't a good idea to go outside and play when it's dark when you can't see anything.  I have learned two things from this experience.  One: Listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  Two: If it is dark outside, it is harder to see.  "well, yeah!"

That second one makes me laugh. :)

The gift of the Holy Ghost has helped me to make right choices.  Those who are baptized by immersion for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Both of these ordinances are done under the proper authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Since my story had to do with light, and how more light would have been helpful, here's a video about light.  David A. Bednar is the man speaking.  I hope you enjoy it.  There are 2 other parts to go with it.  Watch those too if you have time.  SO good. :)

And remember kids, don't do drugs.

Have a great week. 

Friends; A Great Asset or an Eternal Detriment!?

Let me put this out there;

I love my friends.

If you're my friend and you truly need something: I'll try to get there as soon as possible (whether metaphorically or physically).

Of course; I'm also kind of forgetful.  And easily side-tracked.

If I don't write something down, it's out of my head within five minutes, so sometimes I just forget...  I've let down a few people because I've forgotten something important...

But that's not the main point of this post!

With that said; the stage is set(!)  Let the post begin~

Something that I've noticed;  That the company we keep has a great effect on who we are(usually the effect happens over time).  Sometimes we act differently around different people, sometimes we act a certain way to get a certain response.

It's almost like we're playing a part in a play.  When we're around our 'friends', we play our part;  but once we're off the 'stage', we take off the mask and resume life as usual (or maybe we move to another stage!)

That's something I've been trying to improve myself over the past couple of years, being who I am, no matter what company I keep.

The scriptures have examples of pretty much everything, even this-

There was a King in The Book of Mormon, his name was Noah, and he decided to go against the commandments of God, so he made a lot of bad choices in his life and in his kingdom.  I guess you could say he surrounded himself with people whom he thought of as his friends (I call them Henchmen or maybe Cronies)

A prophet named Abinadi was preaching to the people, telling them to that they had turned from the right way.  They didn't believe Abinadi and brought him before King Noah.

He began to preach to King Noah as well and the king was suitably cowed (as one would be when facing a prophet)-

 "And now king Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him."  -Full Reference-

But then, sadly, King Noah's buddies began to speak up-

"But [his friends] lifted up their voices against him, and began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain."  -Full Reference-

 In about two seconds, King Noah goes from letting Abinadi go, to deciding to kill him(!)  all because of his friends.

I think that's why we've been given council to watch what friends we keep from a religious and psychological standpoint.  Whether we want them to or not, they affect us, they define us, they 'help' us define our moral compass.

Not to say we should shun those who don't share our beliefs or standards, but just be aware that there will come a time when you must choose for yourself what you believe, even if you don't choose to hang around those who do not share your beliefs...

Scriptures have got examples everywhere~  You just need to know where to look!