Does God Have His Hand In Our Life?

With how busy and hectic our lives are these days, it can be difficult to find the time to sit back and think about how our day went. When quickly looking back on our day it can be easy to overlook God's intervention in our daily lives. Listen to a modern Apostle's advice on how to recognize God's hand in our lives.

I learned to notice my Father in Heaven's intervention in my life at a very young age. As I was growing up, soccer was easily the most important thing in my life. It was all I thought about and dreamed to do. One of my leaders growing up once shared with me "2 Nephi 32:9" and told me that Heavenly Father cared about the things that I cared about and would help me with them if I asked him. It says "...in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."

Ever since then I prayed before, after, and often during each soccer game I played in. Many times as I would look back on games that I had played well in, I would realize that certain things I did came because of small thoughts telling me where to go or what to do that were completely unnoticed during the game. Those thoughts were promptings from my loving Father in Heaven helping me with what I asked him. It hit me so hard to realize that my Father in Heaven loves me enough to help me be the best soccer player I could be. That's how much He loved me. 

I testify that our Heavenly Father knows each of us personally and that He cares so much about each of us that He wants to help us with what is important to us. He will help us, but first we have to ask him, and I promise He'll hear you. 

I encourage all of you to take a moment and think about all that your Father in Heaven does for you. Think about how much He truly loves and cares for you. If you feel comfortable please comment and share some of the things He has done most recently in your life to show His love for you.

Have you seen His hand reaching out to touch you?

Lifting Burdens: He Can Heal Us

Without the atoning sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ nothing would be possible. We would never be able to overcome our weaknesses and live with our Father in Heaven again. But He did atone for our sins, and this video shares the message of what that means for us. 

 In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Alma prophesies of Jesus Christ with these words. "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 according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12)

  Our Savior suffered all things according to the flesh so that He would know exactly how we feel. No matter what situation we are in, what burdens we have to carry, He will lift us up and give us the strength we need to go on, if we will but ask. As part of life's journey we are to learn and grow and gain as much experience as we can. But it is so comforting to know that we have a Best Friend who is always beside us to give that ever needed support. 

Although we don't completely understand how the atonement works, we do know that it works and that we can all experience it's transforming power in our own lives. The atonement isn't just about overcoming sin, it's about becoming who our Heavenly Father knows we can become. As we allow His spirit to enter our lives and to cleanse and purify us from sin, we are changed from the inside out. Our nature changes, our habits change, our desires change, and we become more in tune with our Heavenly Father's will. "...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23) As long as we try our very best and give our all, our Savior will make up for the rest and we will enjoy eternal life, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

Inviting All To Come Unto Christ

As a missionary I'm asked frequently why I decided to leave home for two years to become a missionary. This video is a perfect answer and explanation for my decision, watch it!

This story reminds me a lot of the Tree of Life vision that Lehi has in (1 Nephi chapter 8). As Lehi goes forth and partakes of the fruit he says "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit." (1 Nephi 8:12) This fruit that Lehi partakes of is symbolic of the gospel of Jesus Christ or the Atonement, which was the fruit, or action, of our Savior. Once Lehi is filled with the joy that was found in the fruit, he instantly wants to share it with the rest of his family! He knew that he had the most precious fruit so why would he not want to share that with those that he loves? 

This is the same reason that we as missionaries choose to set aside our lives to share the gospel with all the world. After experiencing the joy and happiness that comes from exercising the power of the atonement and after being filled with comfort from the sweet promises and knowledge that His restored gospel brings, I would be tremendously selfish if I did not do everything in my power to spread that knowledge. That's why I'm here, to testify that Jesus is the Christ and that Joseph Smith was His prophet who was called to restore the fulness of our Savior's gospel to the earth once more. To invite others to partake of this fruit and come unto Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

What is Motherhood? It is an eternal partnership with God. Mother's have the special responsibility of nurturing their children in the home, watch this video to see how great moms are!!

I am so grateful for my mom and for all that she taught me as I was growing up and for all that she continues to teach me now. A great example of the influence mothers have on their children is when Helaman says this about the stripling warriors to Moroni. "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." (Alma 56:47-48) The wisdom of these mothers shaped these young men into who they were and in a similar way everything I am or everything I hope to become will be tremendously influenced by my loving mother. Thank you mothers for all you do and don't forget that God is always with you in your divine partnership. I love you mom!! Happy Mother's Day!