I love origami. It makes my heart beat to see a fresh piece of paper cut into square. Its seems to ask, "What shall I be in your hands." You begin by setting out your basic folds. They become the foundation for you eniter piece, little mistakes at the beginning will effect the finished product.
Eventually you create what is called a base. A base is the point where all the points of paper are there, and its ready to be shaped. It really doesn't look like much, but any base can turn into a huge array of different animals and figures.
As you shape and mold the paper its actually becomes something. Some take hours of shaping and additional folding, others come together quickly and simply, but the end result is always worth it.
God looks upon each one of us, and sets to shape us and mold us to be more than what we started. We may start with a piece of paper and end with a crane. God may start with a sinner and finish with a saint. We may be young and fresh or old and already folded up, but we can allow ourselves to be molded by the master's hands.
My missionary companion and I were walking in a nieghborhood when we stopped to talk to man. We had a conversation that lead to him asking if we had girlfriends. I said no, and my companion said yes. He started to ask some really awkward personal questions, and the people around us also started to ask questions about our sexuality. Its was interesting because they all felt that they couldn't control themselves, but they admired that we had self-control. It reminded me of the example of Joesph and Potipher's wife from the book of Genesis, and the control he had.
I really like this video because it shows the blessings of living God's commandments, power of self-control, and happiness that it brings.
Its that time of year again!!! Time for the Hill Cumorah Pageant!! Come feel the excitment!!! Every year our church puts on the largest outdoor play in the United States. Its all about different stories and scenes from the Book of Mormon. There is song, dance, and, action for the whole family. Its also a great way to feel the power behind the Book of Mormon, and the Spirit that it brings.
They build the stages right out from the side of the Hill Cumorah
There is water, fire, and the occasional Angelic vistor.
Dances and Drama.
And a cast of hundreds
But the focus is having fun as a family, and you just might see a missionary or two!!!!
My companion and I were walking by a medical office. And on door it said, "Emergency Visits by Appiontment Only." Think how nice it would be to be able to plan our emergencies and our trials. They have to come, but what if we could set them up like an exercise routine or a payment plan.
Even though I know I don't like to have trials they make us stronger and refine us. It remindes me of one of my favorite quotes by one of my favorite people, C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity.
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."
We may set a program for our own betterment. But God has us on his plan, the Plan of Salvation, so that we can become far more than we wanted ourselves to be. He tells us in the scriptures,"For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). That is His purpose and ours.
A couple weeks ago we went on a Preparation day to Letchworth State Park. Its called the Grand Canyon of the East. As we walked along side the mighty Genesee River I thought of what Joesph B Wirthlin, a modern-day Apostle, said, "Those who stand at the threshold of life always waiting for the right time to change are like the man who stands at the bank of a river waiting for the water to pass so he can cross on dry land."
So I waited...
And the water never passed. It never even seemed to slow down. It just kept on its path. It really was a silly experiment, but it seemed to prove Joesph Wirthlin right. If we expect for life to slow down long enough for us make the changes we want to with ease, we will probably be waiting until we just give up.
Thomas S. Monson, another apostle, spoke about the master bridge builder, Jesus Christ. He has built the bridge of change for us to cross over. He has overcame our problems and challenges when he completed the Atonement. He built the bridges for us to cross so that we can be lead through change.
The bridge that we found at Letchworth isn't visible until you come right to it. You have to go through the woods, and trust the signs. But it makes it easy to cross the river. Just as in life we have to step with faith into the woods, and follow the scriptural sign posts.
In Thomas S. Monson's talk he quotes the poem "The Bridge Builder." I quote it with the changes he made.
An old man, going a lone highway, Came at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast and deep and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fears for him; But he turned when safe on the other side And built a bridge to span the tide. “Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near, “You are wasting strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again must pass this way; You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide— Why build you the bridge at the eventide?” “There followeth after me today A vast throng whose feet must pass this way. This chasm that has been naught to me To that great throng may a pitfall be. They too must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building the bridge for them."
When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, he took them to the Red Sea, which then obediently parted. The miracles of Manna and quail, water from the rocks, wicked being wasted, and scene on Sinai were only some of the many happenings that followed the wanders for 40 years.
But why 40 years? Why were still so disobedient after all that time that they couldn't have all the Lord's promised blessings? They lusted after the food and security of Egypt (Exo 16:3). They brought the idols of Egypt with them. In other words, they couldn't stop thinking of home.
As a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I have left home and its comforts, and I sometimes feel like I'm wandering around an unwelcoming and bitter desert. I miss my Mommy on those days, and I want to return to my Egypt (home) where things were safe and comfortable.
I knew that there was someone here to lead me through my wilderness. Christ has been my pillar of fire and my cloud guiding my sluggish feet. Instead of looking to the things back home that brought me comfort like food, friends, and the occasional zombie blasting video game, I have tried my best to keep my eye focused on the Saviour. It not easy to keep an eye single to God, and you have to remind yourself to keep looking forward.
Its hard to continually put our faith in Christ so that he can lead us. And its harder still to do that over and over again. But I think that is what faith is, even when we doubt or fear, we still go forward, forward in faith. I think the Lord said it best to Joshua, "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Josh 1:8)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Dear blog,
Sorry that I have deserted you for such a long time. You may have been far from my fingers, but not far from my heart. Things have been crazy. Its not an excuse, but it still is a fact. I have moved now to the city of Rochester, and I'm working with the Spanish population. I'm back with a pervious companion, Elder Henricksen.
We have had many adventures already. Walking in rain storms, talking with drunk people, fighting off dogs, and watching drug deals. They are all far more entertaining in Spanish. This is the life.
Life works in a funny way. When things are the hardest and the most down heartening is when you see the blessings of God the best. As it says in Isaiah, "I form the light, and create the darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." (45:7) In order to have have light, we must have darkness. To have peace, there must be evil. In order to have good times, you must have bad. And I have a good life.
Last weekend we had the honor to be visited by Elder Richard G. Scott. He is an Apostle just like when Jesus had in his church. You could say he is a modern-day Luke, James, John. It really was a fantastic experience.
He is a short portly fellow. He's getting up there in years. As we were able to see him in an intimate setting, it was interesting to see his weakness' and how human he is. His tie was dirty, he coughed a lot, and the remnant of his hair was wild after coming in through the snow.
But at the end of the time he spent with us. He bore his testimony, not as the man, but as the mantel. He have his apostolic testimony that Jesus lives. Christ is the head of the Church and the real leader of all that happens. He then said with all the conviction that could be imagined that, "I KNOW him." Of all he said and taught, the power of that man's testimony and conviction is what I will remember the most.
I know that my work out here as a missionary is true, and that the only way to find true, lasting happiness is through Christ and his Atonement. I want to know Christ as well as Elder Scott does, but I'm not quite there. But I know in my own little way that Christ lives, and is the center of all my work as a missionary.
I have always loved music, and the prophet Joesph Smith. So music about Joesph Smith is really great. One song that I really like is the "Rising" by Nashville Tribute. It really makes me wonder how when things got the best they also got the worst. As the Heavens sent out revelations the gates of Hell sent its worst slander. I know Joesph was a Prophet called of God to begin the Latter-Day work. He isn't a perfect, and had flaws (the only one who didn't was Jesus Christ). But prophets are imperfect people called to do a perfect work.
I told my mother what troubled my heart I saw the worry as she took me in her arms I told the preacher, and he looked at me And I saw the rising that never let me be
Oh the rising From weak things the great things Are rising, rising The persecution, the spirit, the peace
The spirit of God like a fire it spread Calling the nations put a price upon our heads Running through darkness and running to light Praying on our knees for one more day every night
I don’t know all the answers but I do my best To live up to the rising that won’t let me rest
On Preparation-Day we missionaries try to find something cool to do together. Its often sports or playing games together. Something that we have done a few weeks now is going to a little creek with some waterfalls called Hi Tor.
Its a really cool place to go. The water doesn't get much more than ankle deep, but there are about 4 waterfalls that are there are amazing, and the last falls are probably close to 50 feet tall.
So this last week we went there, and before I had happy to look at the large falls, but this week I really wanted to get to the top. I didn't climb the falls like most of my fellow missionaries, but went around climbing up the gully side. We found a rope to help us climb up the side, and we took it to make it easier and safer to down the falls.
After throwing some rocks in to the pool at the bottom we came down, and about 10 feet from the bottom the helpful little steps to get down and the rope ran out. So using the last few feet of rope, I tried to get over to a better run to climb down free hand. Right as I was going to get to the safety the rope conveniently decided to snap. I was lucky enough to only fall down a couple feet before I stopped myself, but that was scary to fall even that far unsure of where I would stop before the rock floor.
By the time the adrenalin rush wore off I started to think about what had happened, and if the rope had been long enough to make it those last treacherous 10 feet. It still would have been hard work, but it would have a simple trial.
I realized that Christ is like our rope. Unlike my short and weak rope, Christ has an infinite rope of infinite strength. We can rely on his help no matter how deep we are trying to climb from or how difficult our next pass is. And when the pass gets impossible to climb, when we have gone as far as we can, when we just don't have anything left to give he can carry us past those points.
As I have thought about and pondered the atonement I realize that is doesn't make things easy. It doesn't take away our personal effort, or even our responsibility. Rather it allows us to do the impossible, what we simply cannot do ourselves.
I really love this Mormon message. It really makes me think every time I watch it. Jeffery R. Holland is one of my heroes. He is passionate, he's had success in life, he has had a successful family, and he's a man of God. When he was pleading with his past self to not give up, it made me think, what if he had given up? What if he had just stopped, turned around, and forgot about the journey and goals he had set? Who knows where he would be. Its was such a small moment in a momentous life, but had he forgotten his purpose how lost could he have become?
I guess I shouldn't just talk about it, but here it is
I have been thinking of my faith lately. Its something that I seem to lack quite often. I have watched the video on forgiveness a few times now, and the man, Chris Williams, impresses me very much. As I consider what I might do in that situation, and I am not sure I could have the strength or faith to forgive as readily.
What is faith? We think of it being a belief. I believe many things, such as the earth is round, its bad to stick your fingers in power outlets, clouds are made out of water, and that cars don't run without gas. Because I believe these things I would sail across the ocean, I don't stick fingers in power outlets, I carry an umbrella on cloudy days, and pay part of my life savings to put gas in the car.
What makes faith in God different? Why is it considered so important that scriptures talk about it all the time, and its considered the base of all religion?
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is like the footprint that is left behind. People believe in Bigfoot because they have found big foot prints. They believe him even thought they don't see Bigfoot, all they see is what he left behind. God leaves his marks everywhere. "All things denote there is a God" (Alma 30:44) We don't have to see God to believe in him, we just have to see where he has touched our lives.
"Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (Alma 32:21) Hope, we hope the things that we believe are true. If we only hope for the things we know, then there isn't much to hope on.
"Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we cannot yet see." (Gospel Topics, lds.org) If we have a goal to lose 5 pounds (or 50) we start by trying to eat better and exercise more. Both are not much fun and can be rather painful. But we have faith that it will make a difference. We may have watched their effects on others, or watched the info-mercial with Chuck Norris testifying that is works. We exercise the faith that what they tell us is true because of his wash-bored six-pack testifying to us it really works.
For some reason when we see happy people, and they start talking about God, it doesn't have the same convincing power as Chuck Norris talking about the total gym. We might think is works for them, some way to tell themselves everything is alright. We can't take their testimony. But we too must exercise the faith that what they say is true, and they can have the Holy Ghost testify that it is true.
"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words." (Alma 32:27)
One of my favorite thoughts, one that awes me every time I think about it, is "the shadow proves the sunshine." It took me a while to understand it. To me it says basically that we know that there is a sun because we can see the shadows. Because of the darkness we can see the light.
When thing have seemed the darkest and the hardest is when I have been able to see where the most light is. Even when I have hid myself in some dark crevice, God somehow seems to find me and show a little light. I still had to choose to hid even deeper or go towards the light.
The fact that there is darkness, pain and suffering in this world only shows to us that there is light, joy, and happiness. This dichotomy doesn't prove that God doesn't love us, it doesn't prove that he isn't there. It can show us even better that he is here. The shadow proves the sunshine. The good proves the light. Evil proves God.
Mormon can be kind of a big term that means alot of different things to different people. To some it is the guys in white shirts and ties, to others some crazy religion that did things worthy of a campfire story, and to others a friend, nieghbor, or family member. Whatever mormon means to you here's a little bit about what we try to be.
We try to be good people. One of the most gratifying things that I have heard said about us by others is that we actually live what we teach. We may talk and rejoice in Christ (because we are Christians) but we also try to be like Christ. We are still far off the mark and often mess-up.
We try to worship God in the correct way. With all the differing ideas about God its good to have some stability. We believe that we have a prophet that directs us just as prophets like Moses and Abraham directed people in their own time.
Our religion isn't a new American religion. We believe it to be the same religion that Christ brought to the earth, but now restored the way it was intended to be!!
I am a missionary for theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter DaySaints. I was born in to the church and have been active in it all my life. Somemay say that I have been trained by my parents religion. But I know for myself that it is true.
I remembergoing to churchas a kid and dreading it. I hated the stupid songs, three hours of boredom, and plenty of kids to pick on me. When we turn eight in our church is when we are baptized and officially become "members," and as I came up on that age I didn't want to be baptized. I didn't really believe it and I thought that if it was true I should I wait until I had something to actually repent of?After getting asked over and over I decided that I'd be baptized so people would stop asking me! Surely the annoyance was worse than actually having to repent on my own, so I was baptized when I was almost nine.
As time passed and I continued to go through the motions; church, singing, going to activities, until I started to get into middle school. It became apparent that I needed to know it for myself instead of following. So I prayed occasionally about it, not quite sure if God was even there or if my pillow just enjoyed the occasional conversation.
After months of just kind of wanting to know, I was at a wedding reception in the Joesph Smith Memorial Building. I remember looking at the cool statues and things around the main room especially a large statue of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I looked up at him and wondered about who he actually was and if he had a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ. As I looked at him a warm feeling came into me that he truly had been a prophet. I then had a flickering testimony given to me by the Holy Ghost
But I certainly didn't change my life, that would have been entirely too difficult. But I now believed. It wasn't until the following summer that I had another encounter with the spirit. It was at a camp called Especially For Youth that is put on by the church in many colleges. I attended classes, went to dances, and fell in love just about all the girls there. I noticed that a lot of my peers knew something that I didn't. They actually wanted to learn, they actually cared, and they wanted to do what was right.
The last night in camp we watched a video. It was the testimony of the Prophet Gordon B. Hinkley of Jesus Christ set to a dramatization of Christ's life. I felt a warmth come into me, a spiritual embrace, and a coming conviction. A true testimony had finally found me.
The reason I share this, with the world is because I want people to find the same thing I found. I firmly believe that truth can and will withstand honest investigation and questions. If Jesus truly is and was the Christ, if Joseph Smith was called by God, andThomas S. Monsonis called today by the same God, then you have the opportunity to embrace the greatest miracle in the world.
I know that God will never lead us astray. God, His Son, and the Holy Ghost can only testify of the truth. Mormonism doesn't ask you to forsake the faith and understanding that you have. It will increase your faith and add to the truth you already know. All I can ask is that you pray and seek for the witness that God has for us. See if you can find truth in theBook of Mormonby reading and praying about it. There is no better way to learn what the Book of Mormon teaches than to read it. There is no one better to ask if it is the Word of God than God himself.
Eventually you create what is called a base. A base is the point where all the points of paper are there, and its ready to be shaped. It really doesn't look like much, but any base can turn into a huge array of different animals and figures.
