I've been home from my mission for a couple of months now. Life has changed dramatically for me. However, one thing has not changed, and that's the fact that the Gospel is the SAME no matter where we go. With that in mind, I want to talk about some of the lessons I have learned since being home. It's a long way up this new mountain of trials and lessons. Are you ready to climb?
"A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her." ~David Brinkley
"Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right." ~Henry Ford
" You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them." ~Michael Jordan
I'm the type of person that tries to fix and do everything at once - sometimes, it's a good thing. Other times - not so much. I have so much in my life that I'm trying to figure out right now - School, career, family, guitar, piano, weight loss, other interests, and especially personal weaknesses - it's a lot to keep control of and to work on changing all at once!
I sat down on my back porch the other night. I had my guitar in my hand and I just sat on my back steps. It was absolutely frigid, but I didn't really feel it. I'd just kind of had a rough spot occur and I was feeling kind of down. I looked at the stars, though, and I was amazed about how bright they were. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the moon shined more brightly then I'd seen in a long time. I messed around on my guitar a little bit, then set it down and looked at the stars some more. There's something about star-gazing that puts you at peace. I'm still not sure what it is - but I had plenty of time to rest and ponder on what it was exactly that I was doing with my life. I don't really have any metaphors that go with star-gazing - I did have something important, though. I had some revelation there that was priceless beyond belief.
I learned that Satan is going to do anything to get us down and to stop us from achieving our true potential. He wants us to fail - and he's going to do anything to make it so that we do. He'll have us believe that our beloved ones have abandoned us. He'll have us believe that we cannot do what we dream. He'll have us believe that God has forsaken us. None of this is true. None.
Instead, we must fight for what we have. I realized star-gazing that the last couple of months, I had kind of fallen out of what I learned as a missionary. In the field, I would do anything to get people to accept the truths of the Gospel! So what was I afraid of doing now? I was afraid, for some reason, of doing what I needed to do. I needed to establish what I wanted, and I needed to work at accomplishing it. So I set some goals for myself - something I should have done when I first got home. Goals are what make me. Goals are what I will achieve.Goals will make me what I want to become.
And I'll climb to the top of this mountain I am on.
And it will have been worth every moment of the climb.
"If you think you can win, you can win. Faith is necessary to victory." - Anonymous
One of my favorite talks in the October 2011 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. In a talk entitled "You Matter to Him.", he said:
"Moses, one of the greatest prophets the world has ever known, was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter and spent the first 40 years of his life in the royal halls of Egypt. He knew firsthand the glory and grandeur of that ancient kingdom. Years later, on the top of a distant mountain, far removed from the splendor and magnificence of mighty Egypt, Moses stood in the presence of God and spoke to Him face to face as a man speaks with his friend. During the course of that visitation, God showed Moses the workmanship of His hands, granting him a glimpse of His work and glory. When the vision ended, Moses fell to the earth for the space of many hours. When his strength finally returned, he realized something that, in all his years in Pharaoh’s court, had never occurred to him before.
“I know,” he said, “that man is nothing.”
Ponder that for a moment. We are nothing. Tiny specs on an unlimited amount of space. I was thinking about this the other day while I was trying to catch a fruit-fly in my kitchen. I thought to myself "How is it that the Lord can know what the heck is going on with this fruit-fly?" It was so small and insignificant. Just like we are. I thought myself that that must be how we are to God - just little small specks floating in the wind.
President Uchtdorf continued:
"The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him."
One of the things I have had an increased knowledge of since being home is how much I need the Lord to know me, and even more so how much I need to know that He knows me. He is so concerned with how I live my life and what I do. It's the same with all of His children.
Since being home, I have come to know fully the lies of Satan. "God doesn't know you. God doesn't care. You shouldn't pray. You did your time. Just move on and forget about Him. He's done with you now that you've finished what He required." Sometimes, these lies seem to surround me, just as he tries to surround everyone of God's children.
However, I know that the Lord is so concerned with us. He cares about what matters to us, and what troubles we're going through. He cares like our best friend cares. He truly is our Father. Even when it seems like those who we trust and care about most seem to abandon us (one of the devil's tricks is to make us think everyone is out to betray and forget about us), He is the best friend we can depend on. He will never abandon us. He will never say "You don't matter." Because you DO matter. You matter to Him!
So if you have rough times in the weeks ahead, which you probably will, just remember that there is someone you can turn to in those times of need. He cares. You MATTER to Him.
Sometimes things just seem backwards and confusing. Like this photo, instance. This was taken by a good friend of mine, a couple of days before I left Tennessee, on his iPad. Using just a simple program, we were able to turn everything inside out and come up with this complete craziness of a picture! It's not a normal picture, yet we though it looked cool because instead of looking at it as "Hey, this picture is messed up!", we chose to look at it as "Wow, look at all the cool things this picture shows."
I've been thinking a lot about a glass of water. There are 2 different ways to look at a glass of water - it's either half-full, or half-empty. In all honesty, it's the same. What makes it different is our attitude. To a person who chooses to look at the positives, that glass of water is half-full. Better to have a half-full glass then nothing at all, right? To the person who wants to bask in the drama and bitterness that could be construed in life, the glass is half-empty. Which person is getting hurt more? The one who isn't focusing on the blessings already given.
Since being back, I've come up against many trials and setbacks that have been, admittedly, frustrating. However, I find that I have learned SO MANY LESSONS because of these trials and struggles! There are many blessings I have been given. Sometimes, the Adversary tries to make things seem so unseemingly impossible, so messed up in my mind, that it seems like life is going crazy. However, I just make a conscious decision every day that it's going to be a glass-half-full day. No matter what. As I do this, I know the Lord is blessing me, and I know that I'm making a positive influence on myself and those around me. That makes life GREAT!
What can you do to make your day/month/ LIFE a glass-half-full kind of life?
One of the strangest things for me to do is adjust to my home life. When I ended my mission, I thought I was ready to step back into the real world and just jump back into the way things are before. I have determined, however, it's not that easy. It's been a learning experience as I have so many things to focus on now - getting a job, getting ready for school, losing weight, strengthening my relationships with my family - it's a lot to focus on and work with.
I have thought repeatedly about how much I wish I was back in Tennessee, doing the Lord's work. However, after prayer and study, I've realized that the full-time mission aspect of my life is done. I now have other things that the Lord wants me to do with my life. I don't know quite what those are yet - but I have to figure them out and deal with them! I have to submit my will with the Will of the Lord.
One of my favorite hymns of all time is #270 - "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go". It is the way I have been feeling the past few months - getting ready to come home, and then actually coming home. It constantly reminds me that if I do what the Lord wants, I'll come out where I need to be and do what I need to do. I'm grateful for that truth in my life.
I am so impressed with the people all over the world who live the Gospel. I was visited today by Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, of the Presidency of the Seventy. The Seventy are the people who help the Apostles in the affairs of governing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Elder Gonzalez is Latino. Yet - he and I know the same Gospel. The same principles. The same Savior - the Savior Jesus Christ. It is amazing that the Church is worldwide and that it is the same wherever you go.
Just like Church members are alike, there are a lot of people who also share the same views, and look for something greater and better than what they have. The videos below prove to me that all are trying to look for their way home, and that they really want to know the Savior. Everyone is looking for something - and it can be found by pointing our lives to the Savior.
You've all been there. You know how they feel. Feelings so deep, no one could possibly understand them - not that you could explain it to them, either. Feelings so deep that you can't imagine how you're going to get out of it. Who could possibly understand? Who could know what you're going through? Does anyone?
President Boyd K. Packer explained it best when he said that all people endure trials, and they may be more equal than we think they are. He explained that there was only one person who "descended below all things."
I think of the Prophet Joseph Smith while he was in the Liberty Jail. His cry to the Lord was this:
"O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?
How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?"
The Lord responded with this reply:
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.
Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job."
The Lord then told Joseph Smith of the Great Atonement. He went on to say:
"If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?"
The Savior Himself, Jesus Christ, walked the path so that he could carry us through our trials and sorrows, and all cares and problems that we face. He really does know us - through and through, 100% - He understands. So turn to Him, and let Him help you and heal you.
We all go through them. Trials are the way of life. Maybe someone died. Maybe you lost your job. Maybe you suffered a breakup with a significant other. Maybe that person doesn't want to be your significant other. Maybe it's a health issue. Maybe its poverty. It might possibly be the trial of abundance!
Whatever it is, we all go through trials. We don't really know what each person goes through - people are very good at hiding on the surface what is haunting them inside. We tend to fault other people because of their trials. We generally refuse to believe that we are in our own trials.
A lot of the time, we also don't see the end of a trial. We think that whatever it is that is bothering us, we are in it for life. I remember the first time I was in my mission field in Tennessee. I had been a missionary for about 3 weeks. I was driving with my missionary trainer, and I was just staring out the window wondering how in the world I was going to make it for 2 years as a missionary. 2 years seemed like my entire life.
I like to look at it this way. A lot of music player apps such as itunes or Windows Media Player have a little toolbar that goes from one end to the other when playing music. Look at the diagram below.
We can see the little music thing is going from the beginning to the end, without any trouble. This is like our trials. Now look at how it compares.
As we can see - there is a beginning and an end to all trials. We're in a moving time when we will see the blessings if we endure and do what we know to be right. How do we endure? By keeping the commandments, even when it seems most difficult to. Accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Reading the scriptures. Praying. Going to church. Doing the little things that we know will invite the Spirit. Most of all - believing on the name of Jesus Christ to help us through our trials.
At the end of trials, we know that there are blessings. Those blessings can be all types of things. Knowledge, comfort, temporal benefits, etc. Who knows - it is different for each type of situation. But the prophet Moroni promised us:
"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."
The trial of your faith is what you are currently in - and the Lord will give you many blessings if you endure well. We go through trials so we can learn and grow, and those are also blessings we receive. If you are having doubts or troubles, just remember that you can always pray to our Heavenly Father, and He will send you the aid and help you need to endure well.
I have been thinking a lot lately about how patient I am being. Am I really being as patient as I need to? I have some things that I would like done, that I would like changed, and I want them right now! So why do I have to wait then?
Simply, I think when we have to wait, we appreciate it more and give it more time and thought. We learn the lessons that we have to, and learn that it is not about us, but about others. I have been trying to increase my patience and to look forward to the day when I achieve what I hope to achieve. It will be more worth it to me then than it is now.
One of the biggest things that has been weighing on my mind lately is some of the dumbest things I have done in my life. Its obviously not good to dwell on these - that's not what I have been doing. Instead, I have been dwelling on how the changes from those things to the things I am doing now have taken place. What on earth was it that happened to me that challenged me to decide to make a change? What was it? These are the things I've been wondering, as well as the question ---> Is change possible? Is it worth it?
It is worth it. I want to tell a little bit of my story without going into details. Before I came out to Tennessee, I wasn't very good about applying the Gospel in my life - I even had a few challenges with it while being out here on my mission! There were certain aspects of the Gospel that, to me, didn't have much room or importance in my life. It affected a couple of people that were close to me, although it distorted my view of how things really were.
That's where repentance comes into play. I was sitting in my room and I was just sick of feeling like the things that were affecting me weren't really affecting me. I was lying to others, and worse - lying to myself. I decided I couldn't do that any longer, and I talked to someone very close to me about change. I talked to him for a few hours, and then he helped me talk to someone else about the changes that needed to take place. That was a representative of Jesus Christ.
In making this confession, I feel like I need to say (like Joseph Smith did in his history) that there isn't anyone who needs to think I participated in any big sin. However, my mistakes did affect a couple of my friends, who I tried to reconcile with, and who I will have to face in the future - but I can stand before them and tell them that I am sorry. I also can tell them, more importantly, that I have changed. What joy that will be - their choice may still be not to associate with me, but I can stand there with the satisfaction that I have changed for the better. I believe that change is so possible.
Why is it that when we need change, we turn to the Savior? What does he have that is capable of causing this change within us that others do not?
In the Book of Mormon, Alma (a prophet of God) talks about the things the Savior did while he was on the Earth. This was a prophecy given a hundred years before Christ was even born. It means a lot to know that what the Savior did would go so far as to count for every single person involved, every situation, and every mistake and sin.
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions and btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
"And he will take upon him adeath, that he may bloose 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 csuccor his people according to their infirmities."
This scripture means so much to me. It should mean the same to you. Because he suffered those things - for us - we can change. He knows where we are, where we've been - and he knows how to put us where we need to be going. I have a FIRM testimony that we can change. We CAN change. No matter where we are in life! I urge you to turn to the Savior for help. He suffered so that we could know where to turn to.
I have a friend who is currently not sure where she is in life. I have been trying so hard to help her recently - but I know that the only way she will receive help is through the Savior Jesus Christ. We are truly on the path where only he can help us get to the end destination. Converse with Him - let Him help you. I promise that change is possible.
Best Friends in the world - clockwise from top:
Scott, Dano, Nate, Jon, Ben, Jake - and me in the middle.
I heard a quote once that if a man had 5 friends that he could count on to stick with him through to the end, through thick and thin, through every trial of life and never turn his back on him, he was a lucky man. When I heard that, I started thinking of my friends and what they meant to me. I counted out my best friends - the ones that never ever turned on me or blamed me for my (very many) mistakes that I've made, and I realized that I am indeed very lucky to have my brothers in the Gospel. I have a lot of other good friends as well, but my friends Scott, Dano, Jake, Jon, Nate, and Ben - they are the 6 who have helped me through my trials, and always been there for me whenever I needed it. Even on my mission, I have felt their support and strengthening.
What makes a friend? I like to think of it that its someone who holds you to your true self, and doesn't try to change you to fit to society's standards. I've always been blessed to have friends who have supported me in my decisions, and who have always helped me become better. Even though we're thousands of miles apart right now, while we are serving our missions, its still amazing to me how my friends will build me up and support me while I'm here in Tennessee. I know these guys have my back.
The other important thing is that they help me live the Gospel. I have standards, and they know it, and I know their standards. We help keep each other up, and I know that if I have a problem, I can depend on them. Choose friends who are going to do that - and not bring you down. A "friend" is not someone who puts you to shame because they think you should be something better. A true friend is going to help you become the best you can be.
I love this video that LDS.org just released - it describes how friendships can exist and help us come closer to the Gospel and the Savior.
"Jacob Cody Pratt "Jake" - The bright candle that was ignited on August 29, 1989 when Jacob Cody Pratt was born to Jessica Jensen Pratt and Donald A. Pratt was extinguished in a tragic automobile accident during the evening of May 27, 2005. Jake's incandescent smile, cheerful outlook, and genuine love have blessed the lives of all who know him. Jake died at age 15. He would have graduated from the ninth grade at Farmington Jr High on the day of his viewing. He was looking forward to sophomore football at Viewmont High School this fall. He loves his long, naturally curly hair, making music with an acoustic guitar, his many friends, and literally everyone he meets. He has no enemies because he makes a friend of anyone who tries to be his enemy. Jake is so very greatly missed by his Dad, Don Pratt, his Moms; Jessica Barona (and her husband Pascual Oscar Barona) and Jennifer Pratt; his brothers, Jason and Colton; his sister, Mikayla; his grandparents Isabel and Lyle Jardine, Jody and Pete Pratt, and Lynadale and Ken Powell; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends."
I remember getting home from a trip to Idaho to visit my grandparents - I went in and checked my email and saw an email that said "In Memory of Jake Pratt." I thought to myself that it was probably just a joke. But as I read through some more emails, I saw a couple of links to a statement that was related to a teenage girl getting killed. I thought that it didn't make any sense, and it didn't. I called a friend and he said "Dan, Jake got killed in a car accident on Friday."
My heart sunk. I wasn't blood-brothers with Jake Pratt, but I knew him and talked with him and had hung out with him a few times with some other friends. He was a good kid. I had gotten along well with him. And now here, 4 days before the end of my Jr. High experience, I was being told he had died, and that another other friend, Eric, and a girl that I didn't know who was riding in the backseat, were both in critical condition at the hospital.
Now what if I did not have the knowledge that I could live with my Heavenly Father again after this life? What if I did not know that because Jesus Christ lives again, I can also. My friends and family can also. If we keep the commandments and live with the peace the Gospel brings, we can know that. It would save a lot of heartache for a lot of people.
It is sad to see someone pass away. But I am a firm believer and I know that because our Savior lives, we too can live. I know that. It brings peace to me.
WHABOOMMMMMMMM!! <------ That is the sound I have been hearing quite a few times the past few days.
If any of you have been watching the news, you will know that Tennessee has been getting some pretty interesting weather lately. Lightning, high winds, rain, tornadoes...Its been an interesting few days. Last Tuesday, I was with my 2 companions and one of the other missionaries in the mission. We had gone to bed to a reasonable light rain, and it didn't look like much of a storm was going to happen.
Well, I guess I was wrong. About 1 a.m., I woke up to the tornado sirens going off. In my apartment, I sleep on the couch right next to the window. I poked my head up to see what was going on, and it didn't look very bad outside so I just closed the blinds and tried to go back to sleep. 10 minutes later, the sirens went off again and I opened the blinds and looked outside. It looked like the movie "Twister." Wind blowing, trees trying to hang on, and lots and lots of rain. So I yelled at my companions to wake up and we ran into the bathroom, brought in the mattress, and sat in the bathtub. Right about that time, the power decided to go out. So it was dead silent... and we could still hear everything beating on the apartment building.
We were joking around before-hand about how if we saw a tornado or got caught in a tornado, how cool it would be. But right there, at that time, I started to shake really badly. Yeah, heck yeah, I was scared senseless. Every time I hear the wind blow after, I can still feel my self getting a little bit edgy. But anyways, as we sat there, listening to what sounded like the world getting destroyed, something told me just to say a little prayer and that everything would be alright. And so we did. We said a prayer, and it turned out to be alright. A cool lightning storm occured after, and it took a little while for everyone to get to sleep again, but things were alright.
I was reminded of a storm last year that happened in May 2010. I was in Kentucky at the time, but Nashville got hit bad. It was the worst flood recorded, and it took out a lot of homes. Even a few people were killed.
A lot of people ask themselves why God allows things like this to happen. Why is Mother Nature allowed to roam free sometimes? To be honest, I don't know. I do know, however, that God has a plan for us - a plan that we accepted before we came to this Earth. I also do know that God has a purpose for everything, and He loves his children. Sometimes when we experience trials, it makes us more willing to listen to what our Heavenly Father wants us to listen to.
Our trials make us stronger and more willing to help others out. Think of a story you have heard when someone has helped someone else out in the midst of a crisis. How has that person been uplifted, and how in turn were YOU uplifted as you listen to that story?
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared the following story:
"On August 15, 2007, Peru suffered a massive earthquake that all but destroyed the coastal cities of Pisco and Chincha. Like many other Church leaders and members, Wenceslao Conde, the president of the Balconcito Branch of the Church in Chincha, immediately set about helping others whose homes were damaged.
"Four days after the earthquake, Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy was in Chincha helping to coordinate the Church’s relief efforts there and met President Conde. As they talked about the destruction that had occurred and what was being done to help the victims, President Conde’s wife, Pamela, approached carrying one of her small children. Elder Nash asked Sister Conde how her children were. With a smile, she replied that through the goodness of God they were all safe and well. He asked about the Condes’ home.
“It’s gone,” she said simply.
“What about your belongings?” he inquired.
“Everything was buried in the rubble of our home,” Sister Conde replied.
“And yet,” Elder Nash noted, “you are smiling as we talk.”
“Yes,” she said, “I have prayed and I am at peace. We have all we need. We have each other, we have our children, we are sealed in the temple, we have this marvelous Church, and we have the Lord. We can build again with the Lord’s help.” "
I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of us. I know that he wants us to learn from everything - even if it isn't the most convenient or fun to have to go through it. Its something we all go through - and the best we can do is to go forward with it.
I'm laughing to myself as I am typing this, because I can hear another major storm right above my head right now. We had a tornado strike less than a mile from my aparment 2 nights ago. I slept right through it, thankfully. We have had massive amounts of rain (including the rain we're getting right now) and it sounds like many things are flooding. As I sit here, all I can think about is the many blessings that I have received, and how I can count on those to get me through the storms of life.
As I ponder on the Easter Season, I am so grateful of the knowledge that I have to know that the Savior, Jesus Christ, lives and loves me. I hope that you feel the same as we ponder on His life this weekend. I want to just post several videos to help us all know that He does live and that He speaks through His prophets to us today.
1. President Monson tells the story of Arthur Patton, a boy who died in WWII.
2. The Savior Himself suffered these things for all.
3. President Hinckley testifies of the Resurrection.
4. Elder Holland in the Garden of Gethsemane
5. The Loneliest walk ever taken.
6. The Perfect Knowledge of an Apostle of the Lord: Elder Bruce R. McConkie
In the Spirit of Easter, I just wanted to take this moment and remember the Savior Jesus Christ. I testify that He lives, and that he died and suffered for us. Because of that, we are able to live with our Heavenly Father again.
I also testify that He lives TODAY. He leads and directs His Church, and He loves all of His children. The Resurrection is proof that He lives today and forever, in a perfected body and because of that, we can do the same. All of us.
Right now, I'm serving in Clarksville, Tennessee - right next to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky - home to the 101st Airborne Division (The Screaming Eagles.) I was psyched even before my mission when I found out the Ft. Campbell was even in my mission boundaries. Like many others, I had watched with awe and admiration the inspiring 10-part miniseries "Band of Brothers", produced by the movie-making business' biggest names, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. The show tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said of this company:
"Some years ago, Stephen Ambrose wrote a book describing the experience of a company of paratroopers during World War II.1 The army was developing a new kind of warfare the world had not seen before. They were training men to parachute out of planes—often behind enemy lines and at immense personal peril—to attack, and to meet strategic objectives critical to the overall success of the war effort.
"Easy Company of the 506th regiment, 101st Airborne Division, was one of those groups. Formed from volunteers, the 140 men began their training in 1942. They had been told that their training would be harder than any other in the military. In fact, it was so challenging that two out of three men couldn’t make it and either dropped out or were assigned to a regular army unit.
"The night before D day, Easy Company parachuted behind enemy lines. Their assignment was to take out a battery of artillery guns. But in the chaos of the drop, only 12 of the 140 men were in position to carry out the mission. Nevertheless, they knew that if they didn’t take out those guns, the Allied soldiers storming Utah Beach would suffer heavy casualties from the artillery.
Major Richard Winters
(Played by actor Damian Lewis)
"To make matters worse, the guns were manned and defended by more than 50 elite enemy paratroopers who had dug a series of trenches about the battery, heavily fortifying it against any kind of assault.
"In one of the most well-executed and heroic operations of the war, 12 men of Easy Company assaulted the position, routed the enemy, and destroyed the artillery guns.
"In later action, Easy Company took part in the ill-fated Operation Market Garden, facing enemy forces in Holland and Belgium. Later they were among the forces that held Bastogne against encircling enemy panzer units during the Battle of the Bulge.
"By the time the war ended, the highly decorated Easy Company had taken heavy, heavy casualties. Forty-eight of its members had died."
Major Richard Winters
I'm really touched by the stories of these men. Major Richard Winters and the men who followed him were the cream of the crop of the Army. They did it for their country, and they did it for their freedom. Richard Winters is one of the heroes of my life. I never met the man, but yet he stood for something that I really wanted to know about. He was a man of faith, and a man of courage.
Why do people do this? Why do they go and risk their lives, their time, possibly at some times their freedom? I don't really know. It takes some kind of inner faith in something better. Something pushes them to do what they need to so that they can protect their lives and their families.
In the Book of Mormon, there were others who did this same thing. Their names aren't known for each specific person, but together they are known as "The Stripling Warriors." They were led by a man named Captain Moroni, and they were led by their faith in the Holy One of Israel - the Savior, Jesus Christ. They knew that with faith in Him, and by keeping the commandments and doing the things they knew were right and true, they would be protected.
And they were. Elder Wirthlin went on to say:
"Captain Moroni lived during a time when evil men were conspiring to destroy the liberty and lives of his countrymen. How did he rally the people of his day? He rent his coat and wrote upon it, “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12). Moroni knew the power of a great cause.
The Stripling Warriors
"Helaman, the oldest son of the prophet Alma, led the stripling warriors. As you remember, Helaman was the one Alma entrusted with the sacred records. I suppose Helaman was more of a scholar than a warrior. But he lived in a time of conflict and war, and when the 2,000 sons of converted Lamanites took up their weapons of war, they asked that Helaman be their leader. Every student of the Book of Mormon knows their story. These young men had great faith. They were obedient. “They never had fought, yet they did not fear death” (Alma 56:47). Their confidence in the Lord was unshakeable: “Behold our God is with us,” they said, “and he will not suffer that we should fall” (Alma 56:46).
After many battles, although every one of them had received wounds, not one soul of them perished (see Alma 57:21, 25).
"These young men knew why they were fighting. They understood the nature of their sacrifice. Helaman wrote that “they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives” (Alma 56:47). They knew the value of a great cause."
Heroes are the ones who will give their lives for liberty and justice. But there are other heroes who do every day things. The two top heroes in my life are my parents, Brad and Shawna. They both have taught me the right way, and to help me do the things I know are right. I know that there are many others who have touched my life in many ways. Each of these people leave a lasting impact on my life, and I know that all of you have your own heroes in your life. Take time to recognize and thank these people.
One other hero of mine is the Savior Jesus Christ. I don't know if that is the most appropriate term to refer to the Savior, but it is true. He died so that I could live eternally in the presence of Heavenly Father. Its the best thing that has ever happened in the history of mankind.
To my parents? Thank you. To Major Winters? Thank you for your heroism. To all the others who have touched my life in various ways? Thank you.
Now to one of the biggest heroes of all time - The Prophet Joseph Smith. He is the one who gave his entire life and even died to protect the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ on the Earth today. Through Joseph Smith, the Lord gave the Gospel back to the world, in all of its beauty and originality. Without the Prophet Joseph, we would not have the wonderful truths we have now. So to honor Joseph, the Nashville Tribute band wrote this song to their hero.
The Book of Mormon is the keystone to our religion. Have you ever seen a keystone? A keystone is what they use in an arch. It is what holds both sides of the arch together. Without it, the whole thing would just crumble. It would be gone without a trace.
Its the same thing with the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is what holds the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints together. I really like the Book of Mormon. To be honest, its way hard for me to read it sometimes, especially if I have been tired or just had a bad day, or whatever it is. But I can tell you the power that comes from reading the book. Its just so cool to know that because of that book, and because of the love of Jesus Christ, we can know that the Church is true. I know it, because I have read it, and I have prayed about it. There is no way that it isn't true.
There's a really cool movie called the Testaments. It tells the life of Jesus Christ in both Jerusalem and the American continents. (Kind of a cheesy movie.) There is one part at the end of that movie (and, go figure, kind of the key part of the Book of Mormon) when Jesus Christ appears to the people in the Americas, fulfilling a LOT of prophecies about his coming.
That part just tears me apart. Now, I'm not a big crying type of person, but for some reason I just get so teared up while he's talking to those people. I think it is because I wonder what it would be like to have been one of the blessed people to have been there when He was there. Could you imagine? I try to and I am just so glad that we have a record of that happening. Heavenly Father loves all of his children, and he made it possible for all of them to be able to receive the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Of course Christ loves each and every one of us, as well. That is why He blessed everyone and visited everyone. Even Christ Himself said "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring. And they shall hear my voice, and their shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
I really promise that the Book of Mormon is true. You as well, can know. I promise it will bless your life. It will bring happiness you never knew existed. One more thing - the Book of Mormon is either true, or it isn't. There is no middle ground. It is just up to you to decide whether or not you want to put it to the test. Read it and pray about it. That is the only thing you can do.
I love the promise that people make when they get baptized. They promise to follow Jesus Christ all of their lives. It is the coolest decision a person can make to follow the example of the Savior and follow him into the waters of baptism by one holding the priesthood authority of God. I invite all of you to consider the blessings this will add into your life. I love the Gospel and how it blesses my life.
Baptism will cleanse you of all sin that has happened before hand. It will give you the chance to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is a chance to bury your old self and to bring your new life to a start. And the Lord will always bless you for that decision that you make. I promise He will. I have seen that in my life.
Lately, we have had the the task of trying to keep a few families together as some couples have not been able to "keep their marriage together." It has been one of the harder tasks for me, considering I haven't been married yet.
I take my example from my own parents. My parents were both in their 30's when they were married, and I came along a couple of years later. I was followed by my sister and brother, and today we make a great family. I love my family a ton. I love it because my parents were sealed in the temple, which means we can be together forever.
The Baker Family - August 2009
Families are the support and strength of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are here to help and learn from each other. Its the best thing in the world when I am having a problem to get the help I need from my family.
To those who are struggling... put the Gospel in your life and put those things that you are struggling with to the side. Don't destroy your family because of selfishness or mis-trust. If you need help, visit www.mormon.org and request the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We can help, and we want to help. There is a better way to help your marriage other than divorce.
I know how much my family has helped me and brought happiness into my life. I know how it will help your life. The diagram at the top of this page shows the when you come closer to God, you will come closer to your spouse. He will bless your family. I know this to be true.
I have a missionary companion that I am currently serving with who had the experience of flying to upstate New York to the Sacred Grove, where 175 years earlier a vision had taken place that would change the course of religion everywhere. In the Sacred Grove, the 14-year-old Joseph Smith - looking for an answer to a question and simply following scripture - excercised his faith and called upon God to know and understand which church was true.
This had stemmed from the religious confusion that had so heavily struck his family. His account is as follows:
"Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester, there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, a“Lo, here!” and others, “Lo, there!” Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist.
"...a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued—priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions.
"During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and astrife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was bright and who was wrong.
"In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be aright, which is it, and how shall I know it?
"I was one day reading the Epistle of aJames, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack bwisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in adarkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would bgive liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture."
So he did. He exercised his faith in God, and he went out into the woods and prayed. And the rest is history. In the same way that God had called the boy prophet Samuel, he appeared with his son, Jesus Christ.
Now, you're probably like "C'mon, Baker. Really? You expect me to believe that God appeared to a 14-year-old and called him as a prophet? C'mon."
That's exactly what I'm saying. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and told him of the things that he needed to know to be prepared to bring the true church back to the Earth. And because of that, we have the Fulness of the Gospel on the Earth today. I love the Gospel. I really do. If I could take the feelings that come inside of me every time I think of it and transfer them to you, I would.
And actually, it's possible for you to feel that. Just read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This was translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith through the power of God from Golden Plates. It is a record of people in the ancient American continent. Its the greatest book. And you can know = just read out of the book every day and ask Heavenly Father if the book is true. I promise if you really intend to act on the answer you get, you will know that it is true.
I really do love this message, and I love the things that Joseph Smith did to bring for the Gospel in this day. It has blessed my life a ton. Remember my missionary companion that flew to New York? He actually had the oppurtunity to kneel down and ask God if it was true. And he got his answer. I know you can to.
In order to help you feel the greatness of this message, I have a video that will help you feel the Spirit and know of the mission of the Prophet, Joseph Smith.
I sat down on my back porch the other night. I had my guitar in my hand and I just sat on my back steps. It was absolutely frigid, but I didn't really feel it. I'd just kind of had a rough spot occur and I was feeling kind of down. I looked at the stars, though, and I was amazed about how bright they were. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the moon shined more brightly then I'd seen in a long time. I messed around on my guitar a little bit, then set it down and looked at the stars some more. There's something about star-gazing that puts you at peace. I'm still not sure what it is - but I had plenty of time to rest and ponder on what it was exactly that I was doing with my life. I don't really have any metaphors that go with star-gazing - I did have something important, though. I had some revelation there that was priceless beyond belief.
