I've Got A "BLOG" Of Thanksgiving To Do...

     I don't even know where to begin. There are so many things in my life that I am grateful and I don't know if I could put into words how I feel. In today's world their isn't a shortage of things to be grateful for: Internet, cell phones, air conditioning (just to name a few). Also, there are other things probably more important like, family, friends, faith, knowledge, and scriptures. I could make each of these lists go on and on, but I want to share with you all what I am grateful for especially at this wonderful time of year. A time of Thanksgiving!

     I would like to share just a few things that I am particularly thankful for at this time. 

• I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. That He came and lived, suffered every thing (Alma 7:11-12), died, and rose again, so that through His perfect example I can live, be relieved and comforted of the shame and guilt that comes through my day to struggles, and that when I die I will live once again. For all of this I am filled with gratitude.

• Next, I am thankful for my wonderful family. God has truly blessed me with an amazing family and it took me way to long to realize how blessed I've been. I think we all sometimes take for granted the people that are closet to us. I love my parents. They have done so much for me and still continue to do so everyday. I am grateful for my brothers and sisters, they have been an example to me all my life: in standing up for what is right, helping others, and how to have fun. Even if at times I would say that I couldn't stand them. I wouldn't give up the lessons I've learned and the memories I have with them.

• I thank God for all the many people that He has placed into my life, each of you have in some way changed my life for the better. I would like to take a second to thank the Wheeler family back in Idaho. Ya'll have blessed my life so much, thank you for all you have done and continue to do. As well to the Timmons and Shepherd Families, thanks for all things that you have done for me and my family I can never thank you enough. Also I want to thank all that I have met so far on my mission. THANK YOU!

• I am thankful for Temples and Eternal Families. Temples are where we can go and be sealed to our families for all time and ALL ETERNITY! I think that is just amazing and I am thankful for God and His love for His children to allow us all that opportunity.

• I am thankful for my God given talents. The ability that I have to play sports and to get up and walk each day. The coaches and leaders that have helped me to improve and become better. 

     I could ramble on all day about all the many things in my life that have been a blessing, but I would like to turn the time over to ya'll. What are you thankful for? How have these things blessed you in your life? Please leave this things in comment form below, so that we can all be lifted in the spirit of Thanksgiving together!

God is good, God is great, let us thank Him for our lives!

If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear

I would like to share a story with each of you of a time when I was scared, cold, excited, nervous, tired, sweaty, under pressure, and then moments after all I could feel was happiness, and warmth.

It was about four years ago, I was a junior in high school and I was on the varsity football team. Now my team was pretty good and we played well enough throughout the year and found ourselves in the midst of a state championship. We had battled all game back and forth until at the end of the 4th quarter the score was 22-22 a dead tie. Now we couldn't end the game with a tie, so the game went into overtime. The opposing team got the ball first and scored on their 4th down, and at this point they made a decision to go for a 2 point conversion to make the game just a bit more interesting. They failed on the conversion which gave us the ball now with the score 22-28. We scored within the four downs and now it was up to our kicker all he had to do was kick a one point (P.A.T.) field goal. If you have ever watched a football game those kicks are almost automatic. So we have in the bag right!? Well turns out I was that kicker, and I can tell you all my kicks were not automatic, so I was feeling pretty scared, pretty nervous, and felt the pressure of the entire game on my shoulders. We ran out onto the field, as I lined up for the kick I took a deep breath and whistles blew, as the opposing coach called a timeout (a tactic known as icing the kicker). This gave me a lot of time to think about the possible outcomes, either I would make it and our team would be victorious, or I would miss it and we would have to keep playing and possibly lose. With so many things going through my head my coach looked at me and told me to keep my head down, look and the ball and kick it, just like I had practiced. We ran back out on to the field and the ball was snapped and it was soon sailing right down the middle of the uprights. We had won. It was an accumulation of hard work and lots of practice by our whole team that prepared us for that moment.

Now prepare... that reminds me of a scripture, in the Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 "Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land. I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Going back to that football game it wasn't just a spur of the moment dice roll, but it was months and months of practice. During our practices in summer and all throughout the season, we wouldn't kick through the field goal post for practice. Instead my coach had us kick at a power pole next to the field. Each day I kicked and got more and more consistent to where the ball would bounce off the pole. At the time of that most crucial kick I only did what I had been doing all year long. I found my target (power pole) right in the middle of the field goal posts, and as I did the same steps the same routine which worked many times before, that is when I was without fear, I knew that I was going to make it. Just as that scripture says, "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear!” That applies to all things that we each face in our lives.

We each need to prepare now for that time we will be called upon to act. So that we can do so without a hint of doubt, we need to, as an Old Testament Prophet says, "Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." (Joshua 3:5) We can find ourselves prepare as we study the Doctrine of Christ, and brings our lives in harmony with His will. Then I promise you all, you will find happiness! Isn't this what we all strive for? Happiness come only in and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it literally enables us to improve the quality of our lives. I testify of the redeeming and changing power of the Atonement. It will allow us all to be prepared for the marvelous day when we are all called home.

HEY! Who Put This Wall Here?

     Have you ever thought that as you were going about your day? You had your plans set then all of the sudden your scrambling, and everything falls through and you find yourself stuck with no idea what to do. Well from many experiences over the last 6 months I can tell you, it happens! 

     As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I get to go and teach people about Jesus Christ. It is very rewarding in every way, but like I said before over the last 6 months I have wondered why, if I am doing this work for the Lord would so many things get in the way of slowing me down. For example, we ride bikes every other day and the past week we have seen more flat tires then miles we traveled... o.k. maybe not that many, but quite a few. Each time this happens we have to stop and fix it and it  ends up changing the whole day. Just yesterday we walked down to the bikes and mine was flat so I carried it up and patched it pumped it back up put it back on and we were out of there within about 15 minutes or so, so it wasn't that much of a set back. We biked hard and made it on time to our appointment, and after we finished came out and the same tire was flat! I thought it was just the patch leaking so I decided I would pump it with my little hand pump, but literally as fast as it went in it was going out! I was frustrated! This has been a reoccurring nightmare for us each week and I couldn't understand why. I took my frustrations to the scriptures and found that, HEY! Opposition is necessary!? What? Yeah that's what it says, "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility." (2 Nephi 2:11) So your telling me that these things that slow us down test our patience are essential for us to be happy? 

      This may be hard to grasp at first, but I can testify that these things that come in our life that slow us down, maybe even stop us for a time, will all be for our good and that if we endure it well, God will bless us and help us! I know these things are true and as we trust in him we find joy in the journey.