Wear Your Life Jacket

When I was in grade school almost every summer I attended swimming

 lessons. At the beginning of every swimming season we went over the rules of swimming as a class. One rule that is a little catchy and has stuck with me is, "Don't just pack it, wear your life jacket."

Wearing a life jacket significantly increases your chance of having a safe, fun filled day on the water. They float, keeping you on top of the water. Having a life jacket on when the river gets rough could make all the difference in preventing a disaster. From my experience wearing a life jacket sometimes has felt a little constricting. Sometimes I feel like I'd rather be more comfortable and not wear one, but it's also my experience that wearing a life jacket gives me much more freedom on the river. Freedom from worry that I may drown and also makes me feel free to navigate the river as I choose.

Many principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be applied to wearing a life jacket, the commandments especially. Just as I sometimes viewed wearing a life jacket as constricting and not as fun, we sometimes view the commandments that have been given to us by our Prophets as being the same. In reality the commandments give us true freedom, freedom from worry, guilt and shame. Keeping the 

commandments keeps us happy, safe and free to navigate life with the help of our Father in Heaven.

You wouldn't want to run a river without a life jacket and you shouldn't want to live life without the blessings of keeping the commandments. 

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

We all have weaknesses, but the Lord promises us here that they can become our strengths through his help. There is always hope. I know that as we do our best and focus on living the commandments, and not just knowing them, we will receive Heavenly Help and gain the added power we need to change. Living the commandments brings blessings in this life and in the next. Don't give up and keep pushing forward!

Which Jersey Are You Wearing?

"The FUTURE of this world has long been DECLARED; the final outcome between GOOD and evil is already KNOWN. There is absolutely no question as to who WINS because the VICTORY has already been posted on the SCOREBOARD. The only really strange thing is that we are still down here on the FIELD trying to decide which TEAM’S JERSEY we want to wear!"
                           --Jeffery R. Holland

WHICH JERSEY ARE YOU WEARING? 

He Lives: Testimonies of Jesus Christ

I love the power and the truth that this video contains. Hearing these apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ testify of our Savior helps me to know that he really does live. I can echo the words of these Apostles in saying that He lives and that he loves us. He is always there for us and He is always inviting us to come unto Him.

The Touch of the Master's Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer 

thought it scarcely worth his while

to waste much time on the old violin,

but he held it up with a smile;

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,

"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar; then two!" 

"Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three?

Three dollars, once; and three dollars twice; going for three.." 

But no, from the room, far back,

a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; 

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings,

he played a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,

said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.

A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? 

Two thousand! And who'll make it three? 

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

 and going and gone," said he. 

The people cheered, but some of them cried, 

"We do not quite understand, what changed its worth?" 

Swift came the reply: "It was the touch of the Master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin,

 A"mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. 

"He is going once", and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." 

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand 

the worth of a soul and the change that is wrought 

by the touch of the Master's hand.

                                                                                       Myra 'Brooks' Welch

I have found this poem to be very useful on my mission. Many sometimes fall into a trap and are 'auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd', but just as the poem says, the Master steps in and something beautiful happens. I've seen it happen to others and it's happened to myself. We are changed, we are made better and made whole through the love of our Savior Jesus Christ. I hope that we can all invite him in by doing the small and simple things, like scripture study, praying and attending Church, to bring the Master's touch into our own lives.

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FOOTPRINTS

One night a man had a dream.
 He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
 Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
 he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that at times of his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that these were the lowest and saddest times in his life.

This bothered him, and he asked the Lord,
 "You said that once I decided to follow You,
 You'd walk with me all the way.
But during the most troublesome times in my life,
 there is only one set of footprints.
Why, when I needed You most, did You leave me?"

The Lord replied,
 "My son, I love you and would never leave you.
During those times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I was carrying you."
                                                                                                                      -Anonymous



I love this little poem. It's so true... I think that almost everyone in retrospect can think of different times when you couldn't have made the journey alone. He truly is there for us. I know that when we choose to follow Jesus Christ that we have the promise of added strength and capacity to endure trials. It is my hope that everyone would tap into His support and care.  Than may we be grateful and acknowledge his support and thank Him. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prophets of God walk the earth today and give us guidance from Him. The Book of Mormon and the Bible have been given to us to help us come to know our Savior and contain His words. This is my testimony.


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Life's Artificial Lures

 I absolutely love fishing. It is a great release from everyday life and is a great stress reliever. I have to admit that I'm not the greatest fisherman though. I blame it on bad luck. There have been quite a few beauties that have escaped my grasp. Just so everyone knows that I have caught a few, I included the picture on the left. Here in Montana there are loads of beautiful rivers and lakes that are great for fishing. I love to hear all of the 'Fish' stories. Many like me seem to have just missed landing the BIG ONE.

In order to catch a fish, hooks are made. The hooks are then covered in something that looks like a fish would normally love to eat. The fisherman tries to trick the fish with something that looks real, but is not.  They are barbed so that when the fish does bite it, the barb sinks in deep and makes the hook difficult for the fish to spit out. That's when the battle begins.

Much like the fisherman tries to catch the fish with something that looks great, but could prove fatal, we have artificial lures around us that could prove harmful and even fatal. These artificial lures surround us on a daily basis. Things that cause addictions fit into this category. Addictions get us hooked and soon we are at their mercy and find it difficult to escape. Things that provide pleasure for a moment, but leave us unhappy in the long run are all things that can fit into the artificial lure category. Even small things like watching too much TV or playing video games can ensnare us. I must admit that fishing could even be a not so good thing if it's keeping us away from our families or attending church on Sunday.

We need to focus on what's most important in our lives. We need to decide what is real and what is fake so that we can find what will truly bring happiness and keep us in control. The Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us what these lures are and how to avoid them. We have been given commandments to keep us happy and safe.

Of course the great thing is that if we have been 'hooked' and are in trouble then there is always the opportunity for heavenly help. The 'Good News' of Jesus Christ is the way to complete healing.

So in conclusion let's all watch out for artificial lures and help those around us who have been 'hooked'.
Thanks for Reading.