Jumping for happiness!

So I love to take jumping pictures, because well they are awesome! It just shows how excited you can be about life. We can even be happy during times that are hard. All we have to do is just choose to be. Yeah sometimes it is hard and I am not perfect at it, but as I try and put the effort into focusing on the blessings I have and the positive things that happen it is a lot easier to be happier. So I plan to write down blessings I see each day to help me be happier, because as we are happy we can make a difference in all the people's lives around us!

The great outdoors!

Jesus Christ created the earth under the direction of our Heavenly Father. Which I am very grateful for because I love the outdoors! I love the summer, winter, fall and spring. I love enjoying the outdoors with my family and friends. Being outdoors for me is a place where I can feel the love of my Heavenly Father and enjoy the company of my family and friends. Don't take your family or friends for granted! Take some time and do something fun and build an everlasting relationship with them. Go enjoy the outdoors that were created for all of to enjoy!

 

Happy Halloween!

Well since Halloween is coming up I thought I would share a few pictures from my last halloween. All holidays are a great opportunity to spend time with your family!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is not just for sinners

“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people” (Alma 7:11–12).

In these scriptures is tells us that Jesus Christ took upon Himself  our pains, afflictions, temptations and sicknesses.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ isn't just there for my sins but there to heal me spiritually. As I go through afflictions, as I face temptations, and I am sick I know that I am not alone. I know that Jesus Christ knows how I feel and that through Him I can learn and grow from all the experiences I go through. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ my burdens may be light.

And I will also ease the ^aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as ^bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their ^cafflictions. (Mosiah 24:14)

I know that as we turn to Jesus Christ and apply His Atonement into our lives we can be spiritually healed. I know that our life here on earth is when we are suppose to prepare to me God and go through expereiences and learn. I know that it is only through Christ that we can return back to our Heavenly Father.

I know that as we trust in the Lord and follow His commandments we can handle anything. I am so grateful for The Atonement in my life. I am so grateful for the love my Heavenly Father has for me and you, that He sent His son to suffer and die for me and you!

Finding comfort in losing a loved one

On September 9, 2011 I received a phone call from my mom and dad. A phone call from your parents shouldn't be an unusual thing, but as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church it is. We only talk to our parents twice a year and email once a week and communicate through letters, reason being so we can stay focused on the Lord's work! So receiving a phone call was very unusual. At first they just asked how I was feeling, since they knew I had been pretty sick from having a bad gall bladder. Then they got to the point of why they called. They told me that my brother, Frank had passed away.

At first I wanted to respond with anger and yell and say that its not possible, but I couldn't because the Spirit of God comforted me to know that things will be ok.

The scripture  John 14:18

"I will not leave you ^acomfortless: I will ^bcome to you." 

has become very real to me since that moment I found out about my brother had passed away.

Don't get me wrong though, every day has been a struggle and I sometimes catch myself thinking about the things my brother will miss out on. In those moments I have to refocus on the faith that I have in my Savior, Jesus Christ and know that through Jesus Christ I can find comfort in losing a loved one.

Some of the ways I find comfort:

*Reading the Book of Mormon and Bible

*Serving others

*Teaching about Jesus Christ

*Obeying God's commandments

Mosiah 15:7-9, 20-23 reads:

7 Yea, even so he shall be led, ^acrucified, and slain, the ^bflesh becoming subject even unto death, the ^cwill of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.

8 And thus God breaketh the ^abands of death, having gained the ^bvictory over death; giving the Son power to make ^cintercession for the children of men—

9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon ^ahimself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and ^bsatisfied the demands of justice.

 20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.

21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a ^afirst resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.

22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.

23 They are raised to ^adwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has ^bbroken the bands of death.

I know because of The Atonement of Christ that all of us will live again!! I know that I will see my brother again and that I will be able to live with him and my family for eternity. I know that if I listen to the Prophet's words and follow the commandments of God that I will live with my Heavenly Father and my family. I know that my brother will live again and that I will see him again. I am human and so I know that I will at times feel sad and miss my brother, but because I know God's plan, I have hope. I know good things are to come here on earth and when I return back to my Heavenly Father.

I know that The Book of Mormon as well as the Bible are the word of God. I know that Joesph Smith translated The Book of Mormon through the power of God. I know that Joesph Smith is a prophet called of God and that since him there has always been a prophet called of God here on earth! I know that Jesus Christ's Church that he set up on earth has been restored today. I know that The priesthood authority that Jesus Christ has, the Prophet Thomas S. Monson has it. I know The Church of Jesus Christ Of latter-Day Saints is Christ's church and has the authority to act in God's name.  And I know that you can know that by reading The Book of Mormon and praying to God and asking him if its true.