A French Miracle

I visited home last weekend for a very special family occasion. My little brother was going to the temple to recieve his Endowment! (https://www.lds.org/topics/endowment?lang=eng)

Before we entered the temple we stopped by the visitors center to look around. Right before leaving, my dad told me he heard a sister missionary speaking French, so I walked up to her and started speaking French with her. I learned that she only knew basic vocabulary but it was still cool. 

After we went back outside to take pictures in front of the temple, we were shorty followed by two sister missionaries from the visitors center who wanted to talk with us. They told me that two French people had just walked into the visitors center with limited English, and they wanted me to come help teach them! It was the perfect timing!

I was able to speak with these two young French guys about the restoration of the gospel and how it could be a blessing in their lives. The reason that the came to the temple while on vacation was because they saw this huge, beautiful building on the hillside and they were just drawn to it! And now they have a greater understanding of who we really are and how Christ is at the center of all we do. They even know where to go to contact the missionaries in France to learn more!

I am grateful to a Heavenly Father who looks over us and guides us to be in the right place at the right time. I know He loves us and wants us to be happy. The ultimate proof of this love is manifested through Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. 

Want to learn more about anything you learned on this blog or any other topic?

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Why Mormons Do Genealogy: a testimony from Darci Crandall

Darci Crandall writes:

Since I was young, I’ve loved learning about different peoples and cultures.  One thing I’ve noticed is that in pretty much every culture there exists the idea of honoring one’s parents and forefathers.  In Spain, Mexico, and many South American countries, there is the “Dia de los Muertos,” where people remember and pray for their friends and family that have passed on.  Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, originated from the same root idea.  In Confucianist Asian culture, the concept of filial piety plays a large role--which is showing reverence to one’s parents and ancestors.  And many languages from across the globe have lower and higher forms, to distinguish and recognize those who are older as ones we should respect.

"A Family Tree" -by Norman Rockwell

It’s intrinsic in every culture—to honor one’s forbears.  And in my mind there is no greater way that I can honor my ancestors than to offer them the saving ordinances included in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

In the scriptures, the Savior declared that “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  Christ himself was baptized (see Matthew 3:15-17), and the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi added that “if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” (2 Nephi 31:5).

 

Because baptism is such a necessary ordinance, and not all people have the opportunity to hear the gospel during their mortal lives, God has provided a way that His Will may be accomplished.  Through a latter-day prophet, God has once again revealed how ordinances are to be performed for those who have died.  These ordinances take place in temples and are performed by live proxies. (See also 1 Cor. 15:29)

 

The ordinances, (for example, baptism by immersion, or confirmation to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost), are performed in behalf of those who are dead so that if they choose they may receive those ordinances as their own.  When Mormons perform temple ordinances for our ancestors, it is not forced upon them.  It is not something that can be forced upon them.  What we are doing can be likened to opening a door.  We open the door, but they must choose for themselves whether they will enter.  We do hope that they will choose Christ and His Way.  And so we offer that opportunity of choosing to all that we can. 

 

We offer it to them because we love them—because they’re family.

 

In the Latter-day Saint faith, we believe that Heavenly Father is the literal Father of our spirits.  We lived with Him as part of His Family before coming to the earth.  Only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can we return to live with Him again.  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to return to their presences because They love us.  They love us because we are Family.  Heavenly Father wants us to have everything He has, and I believe that is why He organized us on this earth in families. And our families can be together forever when we are sealed in holy temples.

 

Want to know more about how family history and genealogy can bless your life?

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Courage

This week, guest blogger Kristina Murri shares some wonderful insights. She writes:

At this time in our lives, "the decade of decisions," we face many very important decisions, and some of these decisions will be quite hard.

 

In the past couple of weeks, I have decided to attend graduate school for Statistics and also earn my PhD., so that I can become a professor. While I am quite excited about the opportunities that this choice will offer, it now requires quite a bit of hard work. I will have to take the GRE this summer, fit in a few extra Stats classes before I graduate, while continuing to improve in my classes.

 

At times, it would be easy to back out and say what I am facing is too hard and too difficult or not worth it in the long run, but during these times is exactly when I must demonstrate more faith and even - courage. Courage is doing the right thing even though it may be the hard thing. While I may face much work ahead of me, I hope it will be worth it and so I will continue to press on. Courage is continuing to exercise faith even when the odds may be against us.

 

During this day and age and phase in our lives, we must develop the attribute of courage. We must stand strong for our beliefs despite the outcomes that lie ahead.

 

That's why I love this video about courage. It shows Queen Ester as she approaches the king in behalf of the Jews. To stand before the King without being called was to face death, yet through her fasting and prayers and the fasting of her people, she goes in unto the king.

 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2221439363001

 

This video teaches that whatever our individual circumstance, we will be called to face the difficult tests. The choice is ours to show courage or to falter.

 

This is what President Monson says about courage. "Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but also a determination to live decently. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well."

 

Most of all, I know that courage will allow us to prove our faith. We will become more like Christ and in the end, we will be glad that we have chosen the high road and not to falter. Courage gives us the ability to practice other Christ like virtues. Exercising our courage will transform us into people of strong character.

 

I am choosing to have courage!

-Kristina Murri

Want to know how you can gain more courage through Christ? Chat with a Mormon here:

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Discipleship

What does it mean to you to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? 

Elder Neil A. Maxwell said,

"God’s greatest gift—eternal life—will be given... to... those who respond to Jesus’ invitation, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22)."

When Christ called out to peter and his brother Andrew while they were fishing, "they straightway left their nets and followed him "(Mathew 4:20). There is great meaning that can be found in the reaction of these two noble men.

What are the "nets" that we must drop in our own lives in order to follow Him? They can come in many different forms.

"Jealousy, resentment, and self-pity can all keep us from becoming alive in Christ."

"We [should] also be much less concerned with our public image and with what “they” think, being, instead, much more concerned with having Jesus’ image in our countenance."

Whatever nets may be holding us back, there is no sacrifice that's not worth making that would allow us to follow Jesus Christ more fully.

"There is no greater calling, no greater challenge, and no greater source of joy—both proximate joy and ultimate joy—than that which is found in the process of discipleship. This process brings its own joys and reassurances. We must not, however, expect the world to understand or to value our discipleship; they will not. In a way, they may admire us from afar, but they will be puzzled about the priorities resulting from our devotion."

In order to withstand the pressures of the world, our discipleship must come from us. It must be a true, ongoing effort summoned by our own use of the God given gift of agency. It takes more than sitting and listening and feeling good. It takes learning by faith.

When I say learning by faith I mean, for example, that nothing that you will read in this blog post will have any lasting effect on you unless you take what the Spirit of God has whispered to you and go and have your own, personal experience with the Savior's atonement. Same goes for us with any talk, or doctrine, or ordinance. 

"So it is that discipleship requires all of us to translate doctrines, covenants, ordinances, and teachings into improved personal behavior. Otherwise we may be doctrinally rich but end up developmentally poor." 

When we start having more and more personal experiences with the Savior's atonement shaping us into better disciples, we begin to see things clearer. One thing we see clearer is who we really are. We really start living.

"Discipleship turns on our spiritual sensitivities. It increases the “aliveness” in each of us. These sensitivities are enhanced, not diminished, with discipleship. It’s part of what the scriptures call becoming “alive in Christ because of our faith” (2 Ne. 25:25; see also Rom. 6:11; 1 Cor. 15:22). In contrast, there’s a dullness and a sameness about sin. With discipleship we learn to act for ourselves rather than merely letting ourselves be “acted upon” by circumstances (see 2 Ne. 2:13).

The more we act and learn through personal, faith driven experiences and tap into His power, the more we see who the Savior truly is.

"Shouldering the yoke of discipleship greatly enhances both our adoration and knowledge of Jesus, because then we experience, firsthand, through our parallel but smaller-scaled experiences, a small but instructive portion of what the Savior experienced. We come to know him better and better. Knowledge alone, however, is not enough for true discipleship."

Which brings us to maybe the most difficult and ongoing test of discipleship: The battle to conquer the natural man.

I think that one of the most powerful tools the adversary uses against us is the slow, and sneaky way he gets us to just go through the motions. It's true, we are stripped of power when we take for granted the amazing tools Heavenly Father has given us to grow. I have felt it as I just read my scriptures nonchalantly and pray without fervor. I've felt it when I give service without love in my heart. I've felt it when I've tried to take the easy way out of trials before learning what Heavenly Father needed me to learn. The natural man is ok with easy sailing, while the holy man inside is starved.

 When we strive to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, "then we can learn the great lessons about the relationship of righteousness to the powers and the joys of heaven.

It is left to each of us to balance contentment regarding what God has allotted to us in life with some divine discontent resulting from what we are in comparison to what we have the power to become."

Brothers and sisters, nobody is perfect and the Savior knows that. He knows better than anyone! And for that reason He blesses us for every single effort we give. Discouragement is never His desire for us. However low we feel, it's His hope that He yearns for us to hold on to.

"So, the lingering question should not be, How many imperfections do I have? but rather, Is my discipleship sufficiently serious that I am working patiently and steadily to overcome my weaknesses, perhaps even changing some of them into strengths? (see Ether 12:27)."

I testify with all my heart that He can and will change weaknesses into strengths which brings a joy like no other. A joy that is more personal than anything else.

"Of course, when it occurs in our lives, emancipation from various forms of bondage brings no celebrating parades, nor does it make the evening news. But it is big news because we “come off conqueror” (D&C 10:5)."

Now if you've felt something today in your heart, remember this quote:

“Now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:10). Such is still the test. Deeds, not words—and becoming, not describing—are dominant in true discipleship."

And let's remember to be patient.

Life may be full of disappointments, unexpected changes, or even bad timing or blown chances but, "in an ultimate sense our individual developmental schedules reflect God’s timetable, not ours, for God will not withhold from us certain growing experiences that He, in His infinite wisdom, allows us to undergo for our eternal benefit. His timetable, if followed, prepares us incrementally for the journey of discipleship and for going home."

So let us drop our nets, exert the necessary efforts to learn by faith, and strive to conquer the natural man. I testify that in doing so the blessings of heaven will be poured down upon us. I know that Christ lives and He knows His sheep by name. 

Want to know more about how becoming a disciple of Christ can change your life for the better?

Click here to chat with a Mormon missionary :)

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Quotes from this blog post came from here:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/06/becoming-a-disciple?lang=eng

The Parable of the Vacation

Recently I had an amazing blessing of being able to return to France and Switzerland where I served two years as a volunteer missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I went all alone and it was a true adventure! I came back with more than just another trip to Europe under my belt. I learned some special lessons that I would like to share with you all! See if you can see how the people in my story can represent the Savior in our own lives.

Getting to Europe was a challenge. I knew it would be hard but I knew it would be worth the effort. The first day I tried to get on a plane with my standby ticket I wasn't able to. I hoped for an available seat for the next day but when I woke up the next morning I learned that the planes for that day and for the following days were all full. There was little chance I would get there if I kept trying to go to Paris. I also learned that morning that there was a chance I could catch a  plane to London! I rushed to the train station that took me to the airport but even with this haste I missed the checkin deadline to catch the flight. I wasn't sure what to do until I saw a man who looked like he was in charge. I told him I was late and asked what my options were. He said that I missed the deadline but he could make a call and see what he could do. To my great joy he said that they would let me through! Woot woot! I ran through security and barely made it to the gate to get the last spot before takeoff! 

I got to Europe at about 12pm which is 3am in California and I hadn't yet slept. With no access to internet or portable communication, I dragged my luggage around London for a couple hours until I finally decided to buy a bus ticket through the EuroTunnel to Paris. Unfortunately there were no available spots on a bus until the next morning! I was stuck in the very expensive town of London with no place to stay. As I laid on the grass in a park I had no idea what I was going to do. Despite the menacing doom of my current predicament I had a feeling that all would be ok. I was determined to reach my goal and I wouldn't give up. I found strength to lift my tired body off the floor and kept going. Finally I was lead to find an Internet Cafe where I paid to use the internet. There, to my surprise, a message from a friend I made as a missionary was waiting for me on Facebook. It said, "mate, are you in London??? :)" (he saw a post my mom had tagged me in saying that I was going there.) I told him I was and he explained that he had been living in London for the last three months and that I could stay at his place that night! Saved!

With a full stomach and great night's rest I set off the next morning to take the train that would take me to the bus going to Paris. To add to my difficulties, all the trains were closed that day for a strike! Yikes! I was guided to a bus that would take me to the same place. I nervously waited, wondering if I would be late and have to pay for another ticket and hope for another open seat sometime soon. I got to my destination and ran to the station where I made it just in time to catch my bus that took me to Paris! My suit was a little worn out and my legs were barking but I made it to Paris. I found my way to the train station through the metro system and I was finally at my destination that night at 10:30. 

It may have been the craziest and most tiring trip I have ever taken but it was all so worth it. Later that week I was able to witness a family that I love be married for time and for all eternity in a temple of God in beautiful Switzerland. The joy on their faces filled my heart with gladness and peace and I forgot all the troubles I had gone through to get to were I was. I know I could never had reached my destination alone and I am so very grateful! 

It doesn't matter how we get there, as long as we never give up. Heavenly Father is there every step of the way to guide us and lift us up.

LDS temple in Bern, Switzerland

How to Unleash Our Inner Awesome

We are so awesome! When I say we I mean everyone in the whole world. Every single one of God's children. The thing is, whether we recognize it at first or not, we sometimes act or think in certain ways that cause us to forget or lose sight of our amazing potential. A couple of weeks ago I reread an amazing talk that was given at a 1996 BYU devotional by F. Enzio Busche called "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit." In this talk he listed the following bullet points as ways to help us be a better disciple of Christ. I like to see it as a guide on, "How to unleash our inner awesome." I hope they change your life as they did mine. :)

-"Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.

-When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away fromyourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.

 -In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and there- fore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.

-First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don’t permit any- thing to detract you from this awareness.

-You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.

-Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grum- blings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

-Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appre- ciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.

-God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.

-God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us—everything will fall into its place.

-Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.

-When you cannot love someone, look into that person’s eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.

-Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.

-If someone hurts you so much that your feel- ings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.

-Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.

-Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.

-Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.

-You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.

-The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.

-And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better."

Here is the link to the full talk! :)

http://kevinhinckley.com/UserFiles/files/Busche_Fenzio_1996_05.pdf

I bare my testimony that God lives and He loves us so much. He wants us to be perfectly happy like He is. That's why He sent His Son. To learn more about how to find true happiness and healing through the gospel of Jesus Christ visit 

http://www.mormon.org/

Let Your Light So Shine

Its a new semester and we have a lot of new faces joining us in the Provo YSA 2nd stake! We will be having trainings in everyone ward soon once all the callings are issued to fill the spots in the digital mission committee. Right now we want to give an overview of what the digital mission is and how everyone can get involved with our efforts to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the whole world! Let your light so shine :)

❖First off, if you have any questions or suggestions you can go through your ward’s district leader or post it/message on the stake Facebook page. The contact info for your ward's district coordinator is in the "about" section of the Facebook page.
❖Get the word out! Share with the world. Especially your friends.
❖You can participate in every aspect of the digital mission! You don’t need a calling to do any of the things that the stake digital committee is assigned to do.
❖We need the expertise of the whole stake. Message in your ideas and suggestions.

❖Facebook page: headquarters of the stake digital mission.

Provo YSA 2nd Stake Digital Mission
➢Like it!
➢Share it with other members from all over and share with them how they could get involved with the digital effort
➢refer regularly to the stake page to find new blog posts, announcements, tips and other updates to the stake social media accounts

Every day there will be a new post on the page. Each day of the week has a certain theme. The daily post themes are the following:
Sunday - Missionary Moments & Stake Digital Mission Leader Blog Post
Monday - Weekly Challenge
Tuesday - Zone 1 & 2 Blog Posts
Wednesday - Digital Missionary Work How-To
Thursday - Zone 3 & 4 Blog Posts
Friday - Funny Friday!
Saturday - Updates & a Mormon Message

❖Blogs:
➢Subcribe!
➢Promote the blog by sharing it with everyone
➢Share ideas of good blog topics to write about
➢Volunteer or be invited to be a guest blogger
➢Invite others (preferably non-members) to be guest bloggers. 
➢Comment on the blog with questions or your personal testimony
➢Share the blog sites with friends/family currently serving missions so they can share it with their investigators when appropriate.

                                                      Blogs:
Digital Mission Leader Blog: http://adecadeofdecisions.blogspot.com/
Zone 1: 
http://greatthingscometopass.blogspot.com/
Zone 2:
http://letstouchamillionlives.blogspot.com/
Zone 3:
http://mormonshavefuntoo.blogspot.com/
Zone 4:
http://everydayconversion.blogspot.com/

❖YouTube: Let's Touch A Million Lives
➢Subscribe!
➢Share the videos with everyone
➢Create a video sharing our testimony, a talent or something else creative with your ward, FHE group or by yourself. Give these videos to the YouTube Zone Leader. Contact info in about section of this page.

❖Twitter: @mission1000000
➢Follow!
➢Retweet
➢Favorite
➢Introduce others to the stake twitter account
➢Suggest your favorite quotes to be tweeted by texting in to this number: (765) 387-9722 aka (765) 387-YSA2

❖Instagram: letstouchamillionlives 
➢Follow!
➢Like and comment on the pictures and quotes
➢Introduce others to the stake Instagram account
➢suggest/create pictures and quotes to be posted on the account

Text in tweets, questions, and suggestions here: (765) 387-9722 aka (765) 387-YSA2

Email here: provoysa2ndstakedigitalmission@gmail.com

Click here to sign up for the opportunity to write a post for one of the stake digital mission blogs:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoCixeJNLsIfdFF6MnFWSVVVa2RFVk1QbzZWaTNCa2c&usp=sharing

We testify that this is The Lord's work and sharing His love with our brothers and sisters around us brings great joy and many blessings into our lives. Welcome to the stake and we are happy to have you! Together we can touch millions of lives!