Continue In Patience

"... Patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen - patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn't appear instantly or without effort.

Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can - working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!

Ultimately, patience means being 'firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord' every hour of every day, even when it is hard to do so."

President Uchtdorf gave this awesome talk in the priesthood session last conference in April. I guess I really need to learn more patience because it seems as I study in the scriptures the word patience often stands out to me. I don't think I realized how active we need to be while being patient. Often times I think of patience as being passive and just waiting but obviously that is not the case! I am grateful for this godly attribute of patience and that we are given the opportunity in this life to try and gain it. I know that when we work towards acquiring this attribute to become more like Christ we are truly blessed. I am so grateful to have the prophet and apostles to speak to us and remind us how we can better ourselves. I am really looking forward to conference in about 2 weeks and being able to hear the things I should be doing. We are so blessed to have modern day prophets and that we can receive revelation for our day!

Voice of the Spirit

I loved this and wanted to share!
I testify that the gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the most precious gifts from our Heavenly Father. The world is very LOUD and the spirit is so quiet... but it IS there. And it is through that small voice that your life can be guided by the Lord. Remember that the Spirit is such a gentleman it will not go anywhere it is not invited, so I encourage you to strive to always be worthy to have the spirit with you.

Don't Leap with the Sheep

By S. Michael Wilcox

I feel like I could write about a hundred posts on this book and it still wouldn't be enough. I have learned so much as I have read and studied the teachings in this book. I would recommend it to everyone! The way that he teaches, and explains gospel principles is amazing. It is simple, yet so profound. He has helped me remember what is truly important in life and why it is so important to live the gospel and be an active member of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite parts of the book talks about being born with the fruit in our hands. He tells about his friend who left the rod and the tree to visit the spacious building. His friend was not gone long before returning, but he knew enough of both worlds to teach a powerful lesson. "There is nothing in the building you want!" his friend would remind him. "You already have the best there is in the world! You don't have to search for it. Don't be deceived as I was." His words were always spoken with great earnestness.

Brother Wilcox goes on to say, "Perhaps the most powerful, mist-clearing truth is the assurance that we already have the most desirable thing in life. We don't have to wander in a vain pursuit of happiness. Many of us were born with the fruit in our hands. We sometimes hear the expression, 'How sweet it is!' This is usually spoken in the context of some worldly pursuit or pleasure. But we have that which is sweet above all things. As Alma testified, 'It beginneth to be delicious to me.' (Alma 32:28.) Nothing in life will give us more joy than that which we now possess. There simply isn't anything more precious we can obtain. Our eyes have already looked upon the greatest beauty."

What a wonderful reminder! We have all been so blessed to have the gospel in our lives. We really have the BEST that this world has to offer. Nothing will bring us more happiness. I know this is true. I know that my Savior lives. I know that He loves us. We can return to live with Him. I love this gospel. I love you all.

Alisha

BE YE SEPARATE

57 And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the ^agood shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and BE YE SEPARATE and touch not their unclean things; and behold, their names shall be ^cblotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people;

We are told to "be ye separate." We can only do this by separating ourselves from the world and its influence. We have to make the simple choice each day of who we want to follow. When we choose Christ we are setting ourselves apart from the world. At times it might seem difficult to choose Christ because we feel as though we might not fit in with what everyone else is doing. Satan makes it very easy to feel that way and makes it seem like it is a hard choice but its not! We know who will win this war in the end and if we can make the choice to follow Christ each day in all aspects we will have the spirit with us and it will help us to make the right choices every day. I am so grateful for this gospel! We are called to stand out and be witnesses of Christ! I know that as we make the choice to BE YE SEPARATE and choose to stand on Christ's side we will be blessed to have His spirit with us and we will be numbered among the righteous so we can return to live with Him again!

I can do all things

Philippians 4:13::

"I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."

It's such a simple scripture! But it has so much power! I love love love (need I go on?) this scripture!!! It's so true, I can do all things through Christ. I can! And, Christ strengthens me to be able to do it! I am so grateful that Christ loves me and you, so much that He makes it possible for us to do ALL THINGS! Whether it's finding something, or getting through a bad day, or getting along with someone, preparing a talk, giving a lesson, helping others, finding a job, making payments on time, paying your tithing, he helps us with everything!! And I am SO grateful! I love this gospel, and I LOVE finding new scriptures everyday! I love reading them everyday and learning something new! And, we all can if, we just have the desire! I love this gospel sooo much!
I love you all tons!!
And, I miss you all!! :)
Chels

Trust in God

Mosiah 24

14 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.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did ^astrengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with ^cpatience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

I know that as we have trials if we turn to the Lord he will make them LIGHT, that He will strengthen us so we can bear them with ease. As we submit cheerfully and have patience to follow the will of the Lord He will then DELIVER us from our trials. We must show our commitment to follow Him and His ways before He will fully deliver us. We can not expect to be immediately delivered from our trials; we have to remember that the Lord knows all and we need to trust his time table. We are sent to earth to go through all different experiences. I am grateful that we have the Lord's help as we go through our trials and that we are not left alone here in mortality.

Good Things To Come

Let Us Be Men

Multiplicity of Blessings

D&C 104:42
"And inasmuch as he is faithful in keeping my commandments, which I have given him, I will multiply blessings upon him and his seed after him, even a multiplicity of blessings.

I feel like we are always telling our children to listen... follow the rules... obey. I often say to them, don't you realize that if you follow the rules and obey everyone will be happy and that you will get so many things that you want? Then of course I get frustrated because I think they don't understand because they are just not getting it. Well, I can only imagine what Our Father in Heaven thinks of me at times. I am sure he is saying to me, don't you understand that if you follow & obey my commandments you will be happy and I will bless you with all you need. He must get frustrated and think, that Brittney she obviously doesn't understand.
While I was reading this chapter in the D&C it was amazing to me how many verses said these words, (vs 35)..."and inasmuch as he is faithful I will multiply my blessings upon him." (vs 38)..." And inasmuch as he is faithful I will multiply a multiplicity of blessings upon him." (vs 46) ..."And I will multiply blessings upon the house of my servant Joseph Smith Jr. inasmuch as he is faithful, even a multiplicity of blessings.
How do we be faithful? I think that it is amazing that our counter attack to Satan and his temptations are "the primary answers" Pray, Read your Scriptures, Keep the Commandments, Keep your Covenants, Go to the Temple, Follow the Prophet....etc. By doing these things we are building our Faith and preparing ourselves to receive those multiplicity of blessings.
I think that as we read and study the scriptures we gain the blessings of knowledge and the spirit. As we pray we humbly plead with the Father to help us and bless us and we know that He will answer. When we take a moment and we recognize all that He has done for us our faith increases and we know that our Father in Heaven loves us.
We may all have a little rebellion in us if we get up and start the day without prayer and scripture study. It is as if we are saying, "that is okay, I know that you could bless me and that the day would go easier, but I want to do it all by myself today."
For me I look at my stewardship that I have with my husband to raises these children in truth and light, and I need nothing more than a multiplicity of His blessings to help me along the way. I am not perfect and recognize that I need to do better. I do know that I do not need to do this work alone, because all in all it is His greatest work and that He is always there. I know that I need my days to go easier, to have the spirit with me always, and receive that multiplicity of blessings daily.
I know that He will give that multiplicity of blessings to us all if we do our part and if we are faithful.
Love you all!

The Love of God

"Don't get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don't feel downcast or despair if you don't feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible-and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you." President Uchtdorf, 2009 Oct. General Conference

Life isn't easy. It is challenging, stressful, discouraging and just hard sometimes. We are going to have difficult times and trials, but because we have the knowledge of the gospel and of the plan of happiness we don't have to let the hard times get us down. Just try. Try to have faith. Try to choose the right. It's that simple. I know that when I am living the way that my Heavenly Father wants I am happier, and that he blesses me with the things and experiences that I need. Life isn't about being perfect. We will never reach that in this life. We aren't expected to. It is about trying, believing, and knowing that when we do all we can, He will step in and be there. I know this is true. I love reading the words of our living Prophet and Apostles. They will lead and guide us in righteousness. I know my Savior lives. He atoned for my sins, your sins and everyone who has ever lived. It truly is a miraculous gift. We are so blessed to know, and to share with others how to obtain happiness in this life.

Alisha