The Power to Change!

The older I get the more I see how much change is a part of life.  There is no way around change.  People change, situations and circumstance change, we change, everything changes!  An old Proverb says, "The only constant is change."

I am finding this statement to be more and more true, especially being a missionary.  You would think that each day for a missionary would be the same thing, but the exact opposite is true.  Each day is an adventure and the day never goes how we plan.  Plans change.  I find that the moment I become comfortable or set in my ways Heavenly Father changes it up.  Being on a mission has truly taught me the importance of change and why we need it.  Without change I can not become who Heavenly Father knows I can be. 

Change requires us to try knew things, be comfortable with the uncomfortable, and it requires us to have patience.  Through change we grow!  We all have potential to be far greater than we know, but if we don't allow ourselves to change we are denying ourselves a chance to grow. 

 I have been on my mission for a while now and I look back to the person I was when I first started and oh how I have changed so much!   My pride has taken a hit and I have been humbled quite a few times, but every time I am humbled I change and I grow and I have become a better missionary and person.  When I choose to change for the good, even when it's hard, or when I make a change I don't want to make I am becoming more like the Savior. 

One of my favorite people in the Book of Mormon is Alma the younger because he understood what it meant to truly change and become Christ like.  As a teenager he was so wicked committed so much sin.  But after seeing an angel, he turned his life around and changed.  He devoted his life to Heavenly Father and became one of the greatest missionaries.  In Alma 5, Alma is preaching to the people in Zarahemla and he poses some great questions.  I love what he says about change in verse 14: 

"14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"

I often ask myself when life circumstances change and hard things come up; "Am I willing to trust God and Heavenly Father transform me into what He wants me to be?  I am in control of my life and my happiness.  I can become who God knows I can be.  I can alter my way of living and constantly become better than I am.  I want to be more like the Savior, and by constantly changing who I am I can become more like Him. 

I have experienced a mighty change of heart on my mission as I have come to truly know Jesus Christ.  We are all children of God.  We have great potential and I know that we can change through repentance.  I have included a talk titled, "The Power to Change" by President James E. Faust that really has helped me understand that God loves me so much that He wants me and all of His children to change.  We need to change!

The Power to Change 

By President James E. Faust

Keep it Positive

Yesterday we were driving in our area to an appointment.  As we were driving we passed this one light pole and I noticed that someone had painted on the pole this phrase, “Keep it Positive.”  I thought that was a nice thing to write and did not give it anymore thought than that.    A little while later we were driving on that same street and I read on the pole again, “Keep it Positive.”.  This time I did a little bit more reflecting on that short but profound phrase.

Everyday we receive some type of bad news.  There is just no way to avoid negativity.  Some days we receive bad news from home, other days people choose to be mean to the missionaries, or we come in contact with people who are just down and out and have no hope.  And some days it just flat out dumps a bunch of snow, which makes my feet very cold! So yes, bad things happen but we can keep it positive!

I was really thinking about how can we keep it positive?  I really starting reflecting on my own life, and how I keep it positive, and every time it comes back to the gospel.  I am most happy when I do three things:

1. Go to Church

2. Pray everyday

3. Read the Book of Mormon

 King Benjamin tells us in Mosiah 2:41, "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

King Benjamin puts it all into perspective.  I get to choose whether or not I want to be happy.  I choose whether or not I want to keep the commandments.  If I choose to keep the commandments and continually go to church, pray, and read I will find happiness. 

It has taken me a long time to realize King Benjamin's promise, but I have finally recognized and know that each day that I am faithful in following the example of Jesus Christ I am happy.  Yes, somedays things are really hard and I really get down, but then I remember how truly blessed I am to have the gospel in my life and to have the Book of Mormon as a guide to help me in this life. 

Rising to the Occasion

 "I don’t know all the answers but I do my best
       To live up to the rising that won’t let me rest"

Lyrics by: Jason Deere

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, " God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability."

 After a humble prayer and sincere question of which church was true, Joseph Smith, a 14 year old boy in upstate New York made himself available to the Lord and was called to be a prophet in these latter days.  He restored Christ's one and only true church to the earth once again.  I can only imagine that Joseph often asked how he was supposed to do all that the Lord asked of him but he trusted that the Lord would qualify him for the tasks he was called to do.

Like Joseph Smith we all have important things we will have to do in life.  We may not be called as a prophet, we may not have to go through the things Joseph Smith did, but each and everyone one of us will have  to rise to the occasion at one point or another in our lives.

For many, raising children, will require people to rise to the occasion.  I am sure my mom can attest that raising teenagers required a lot of patience and diligence.  Hours of homework, projects, soccer games, and piano practices; I really don't know how my mother did it all.  But she rose to the occasion and I think I turned out alright  :)  

                 

Parenthood, moving to someplace new, starting a new job, going to school, talking to a stranger, being called to be a prophet; whatever the situation, we all will have things in our lives that will require us to rise to the occasion.  The great thing is, that we can do it. 

In the Book of Mormon Nephi gives us the promise that we can do whatever the Lord calls us to do if we will just exercise faith in him.  Nephi says, "Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?  Wherefore, let us be faithful to him." ( 1 Nephi 7:12)

I am so grateful that each day when I get out of my bed that I get to pray to my Heavenly Father and ask for his help to have enough faith to do whatever it is that He asks me to do.  The longer I am out on my mission the more I find having faith gets easier and easier.  Each day I find myself believing and seeing more miracles.  The Lord is helping me rise to the occasion of being the best missionary He knows that I can be. 

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord: Missionary Life: What's not to Love?

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord: Missionary Life: What's not to Love?: "On St. Patrick’s Day 2010 I never expected my life to change so drastically for the good, but it did, for that was the day I entered the mis..."

Greatest Gift

I have a lot of thoughts going through my head right now.  But Christmas is getting very close and I have been thinking a lot about home and all the Christmas traditions I will be missing this year, and a part of me is sad about this, but I am so excited to be here and share Christmas with my new mission family in Philly. 

I received a card from my sister yesterday and she so gladly wrote me a whole card filled of Christmas memories and traditions that I am missing this year.  I was laughing pretty hard at the silly things we have done, or gifts we have gotten, but I was also so grateful for some of things she mentioned. 

One of our favorite Christmas traditions as a kid was to act out the Nativity Scene every Christmas Eve at our Grandpa's house.  I remember being so excited every year to get to participate with all of my cousins and play an angel, or Mary, or sometimes a sheep or wisemen.  It didn't really matter we just liked to have a part.  My sister also mentioned that I am missing the 4 million nativity scenes that my mom has collected and placed all over our house. (And we're not kidding when we say she has a million.)  I was thinking about how each Christmas every shelf, table, and wall space is covered with nativity scenes.  I have my favorites but I love that when you walk in our home you cannot forget what Christmas is really about.  We are celebrating the birth of our Savior.

In that humble setting over 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.  I am so grateful for this time of year to really focus on the gift the Lord has given me.  I know that He died for me and that He Lives.  It really is amazing to reflect and think without the Savior we cannot find true joy.  I am so grateful, for the life He lived and gave, because that truly is the greatest gift of all.

Devoted Sisters

"SISTERS, SISTERS. THERE WERE NEVER SUCH DEVOTED SISTERS."

Yesterday was my younger sister Taylor's birthday. As I was thinking about her and this Christmas season I was reminded of two Christmases ago when her and I watched the classic film "White Christmas" for the first time because we had a friend who loved to sing the "Sister's Song" to us.  It's a funny jingle and the memory of me and my sister joking about that song made me laugh.  I also wanted to let her know that I love her and am so grateful to have such a devoted sister!  :)

I also have been reflecting a lot on the Christmas season and how everyone around tends to show more love this time of year.  I wish the way people acted at Christmas time would continue even after the holidays.  We are all brothers and sisters.  We are all children of God.  He loves us so much and I know that our Heavenly Father does not like to see us fight, disagree, and argue one with another.

I am especially grateful for the Christmas season because it appears that more people are following what is said in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

Let's spread the Christmas love and extend it for the entire year.

SUCCESS!

Miracles!  It's really hard for me to not want to turn this blog into a journal of miracles or funny stories.  But I just had to share this experience we had today. 

So we had an appointment fall through and so we had to do some rearranging in our schedule for the day.  After some prayer and pondering we ended up driving to an area we felt we should go to, but had no idea really where we were going.  So I saw a street sign that said "Houston"  And I said to my companions, "Houston we have a Problem!"  We just laughed and then we decided that we were where we needed to be.  So we stopped and started knocking a few doors.  No one interested.  So after a few doors, we see a man walking across the street. 

We flagged him down to talk to him, and come to find out, he just moved here, and used to meet with missionaries!  We set up an appointment and gave him a Book of Mormon.  It was a miracle!  Each day little things like this happen in missionary work and I realize that the Lord's Hand is in this work.

And the best part about this contact; was the man's name.  His name was Success!  And truly meeting him was a success!  I am so grateful the Lord answers prayers and leads us to where we need to be.