Wind Beneath My Wings

So, a couple of days ago my last companion Sister Beckwith and I were tracting one of the streets in Broomall. Sister Beckwith and I think alooot alike. She's one of my best friends and we pretty much almost always know what's on each other's minds. You can say we are very much unified. So we knocked this one door and this woman answered. She wasn't interested.

As we walked away Sister Beckwith was like, "she looks that one woman in Beaches"-- "Bette Midler" we said together. 

Two seconds later you could hear "did you ever know that you're my heeeeroooo... you're everything I wish I could beee... I can fly hiiiigher than an eeaaagle, cause you are the wind beneath my wings". If you know this song you know what I mean.

I've been thinking about that experience lately. We really meant the words as we were singing it. I thought about my family and how they really are my heroes. I thought about the soldiers particularly the ones I know who are the wind beneath the wings of this country. I thought of the leaders in Church who do so much to serve God's children.

Then my thoughts were directed to my Savior. Does He know that He's my Hero? Does He know He's EVERYTHING I wish I could be? Does He know that I can fly higher than an eagle because He is the wind beneath my wings? I am grateful that I can say YES with confidence to all these questions. Jesus Christ is my Hero. He is everything I strive to be and unlike Bette Midler's words, I don't have to "wish" to be like Christ-- I can work towards being like Him. The more I let Him help me, the higher I'll fly.

I find no other way to be like Christ than by obedience to His gospel. His gospel is that of faith, repentance, baptism by proper authority, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. With this as a part of my life, I know I can fly higher than an eagle because my Savior is the winds beneath my wings. Wouldn't you like to find out how the gospel can carry you to your highest?  

Psalm 91: 4

 4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy ^ashield and ^bbuckler.

I know that his truth is His gospel restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know from experience it is my shield and buckler in this life. As we embrace His truths, we'll soar as high as the Savior of the world.

  

Families are Forever

Questions need answers. Those who have soul searching questions all have something in common. That "something" is yet another question. That common question is where do I find answers? If I were on the outside looking in, if I did not know where to find answers, I think my questions would almost always revolve around my family. What happens to my family after this life? Where will we go? Will I get to see them again? What do I have to do to be with them again?

I was reading a couple of days ago the definition of "family" in the Bible Dictionary. The very first line was this: 

Family. The Bible is family oriented.

The one thing that stood out to me the most was this part:

Latter-day revelation confirms all that the Bible teaches about the family and adds the most important truth that through the gospel of Jesus Christ the family can be sealed together in a permanent relationship for time and all eternity (D&C 132).

The most important truth on the earth today is that families can be together forever through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can be with the crazy people in my life that I love so much only through Jesus Christ and His gospel. That is how we carry these relationships in the next life and to the next level of greater joy and happiness. Lovely!
Jesus Christ is the answer. His teachings, His gospel is where our soul searching questions can receive answers. He has provided a way for us to return home to Him and to our Father. God's House is on the earth so that families can enjoy peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.

Today...

There are numberless benefits that come from living the standards of our Heavenly Father. The real standards of life. The true way to happiness and safety. The journey to higher ground is always somewhat bumpy and rough. Yet, it is where we can feel most safe and secure-- in the arms of the Savior. The time to start or continue on that journey to higher ground is now-- not tomorrow, not next week... today is the day :) 

Procrastination is a dark hollow pit that once you get stuck, the road back up can be slippery. There is so much truth in the old man's saying "time and tide wait for no man". It is in our nature to not want to change. We sometimes like ourselves "just the way we are". Some of us see and recognize the need for change but tend to put it off. Why? Maybe because the process of transformation is hard. Yet, the results feel sooo good. I think the sooner we stop the bad things we're doing the more time we'll have to actually "enjoy" life.

I've been told by a very wise man that time is deceiving. I've often pondered that and looking back on the past year of my life, it's gone by so fast it's not even funny. Time is so short and if we aren't careful with it, we'll live with a bunch of regrets.

The time to repent is now. Today is the day to start the best rest of your life. Today is the day to start on that journey to safety and freedom. I have learned the importance of time on my mission especially since it's not my time. I love President Kimball's quote, "time cannot be recycled". Time should be invested on things that matter most-- God, Family and loved ones. I've always felt that when I put God first in my day, more time is added somehow to do other things.

What's most important is that we are not stuck in the procrastination pit. It's dark and disgusting. It will stop us from progression. When we recognize  what needs to be done, we need to act on it ASAP.

http://lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng&start=13&end=24#2009-09-37-choose-this-day

Stay Fresh :)

The world is constantly changing with time. Lifestyles change with almost each year or each decade. I'm a product of the 80's :) Depending who you are, I might be old, or young or too young but for me personally, I feel good ;)

I didn't spend too much time in the 80's but I know it is far different than how it is now. It is far different now then how it was when I was growing up in the 90's. There weren't many crazy shows that was "unsafe" for kids to watch. Lyrics weren't explicit as they are now. The media was pretty "mild" with things they shared. Everything has changed.

Change is contant-- "that's just the way it is, things will never be the same". Times are different. We never stand still. Our minds change, our thoughts change, our lives change. Lifestyles change all the time. We change.

One thing I'm truly grateful for is that despite the changes in the world, I am still a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. My identity will never change. He never changes. His standards will never change. They will always be high which is why I'm glad that I don't have to conform to the ways of the world to know who I am and what I can become.

The world's opinion and judgement cannot change the fact that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. There will always be change, but one truth I know stands true no matter what is God is my Father, Christ is my Savior and living the gospel of Jesus Christ will bring true joy in my life no matter what the world offers.

Dear Mother...

“And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”

I remember growing up in the island of American Samoa, everyone looked forward to Mothers Day because the primary children (ages 3-11) took care of the Mothers Day program each year in sacrament. As a primary, we were each given short talks from the scriptures or inspiring quotes about mothers or personal testimonies to share with the ward. It was just so cute. I would be in my white dress with every other girl in the primary. Some dresses more poofy than others.We'd have our white dresses on and if you had one, a big white bow on your hair. I might've had one one year but I wasn't a big fan of those. We would look our cutest. I think we looked like little angels :) Primary presidencies prepared for months for this program and we had practices during the week as well. Songs were sang, beautiful things were said and the Spirit was felt. There is something about motherhood and divinity that hits the heart and brings out tears. Although I'm not between the ages of 3 and 11 anymore, I will always remember the feeling of standing on the pulpit, singing my heart out for my mom. I meant everything I said up there all those years and although I do not remember what words I spoke, the words of my heart are still heard and felt by her. At least I feel they are :)

A mother's touch is tender yet so deep. Much of my confidence and faith comes from my mother's unwavering faith in me. I would think most, if not all mothers do not doubt the potential of each of their children. My mother has first and foremost, no doubt in God her Eternal Father, and the Living Christ. Her testimony is a tangible as that of my right hand. I've heard it. I've felt it. I've seen it. I admire her powerful testimony because she lives it. She is in every sense a disciple of Jesus Christ.

LG :)

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. I think that was in a commercial I might have watched a long time ago. Now, I don't watch tv and life is good. I don't know that I know how tough I really am until I get to the end of a task, look back, and say wooow with a big smile on my face. The smile is to remind me that my achievements are not of my own. My efforts are but a size of a pebble. My reliance and strength, my virtue comes from the source of all virtue, Jesus Christ.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies" (Proverbs 31: 10). The word virtue is a synonym for strength not morality. It was virtue that had gone out of Christ which healed the woman with the issue of blood. We need strength from Christ to get through this life.

Change is the only constant we have. I like changing as long as it's for the better. President Henry B. Eyring said, "Time has taught me. As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient will not be enough. And whatever growth in spiritual strength we once thought was possible, greater growth will be made available to us. Both the need for spiritual strength and the opportunity to acquire it will increase at rates which we underestimate at our peril."

The strength that I have right now is not good enough to face the challenges I'll be facing next week. My bucket of virtue needs to be filled time and time again by striving to "always" remember Him who has it all and is willing to give it all. We have an unlimited supply of virtue from the Master Himself. Virtue received from the Savior, acquired and converted for our benefit and healing is promising. We need to constantly be drawing virtue from the Savior to heal us especially when the going gets tough. Life is good :)

I am a Child of God

I think it's very interesting that most people walk the earth not knowing who they really truly are. The world is a bossy place--it's confusing--it's demanding--it's deceiving. The world likes to define individuals. People think they need to be in the world to "find themselves". There is one sure identity for all who walk the earth and that is we are all children of God. This definition of oneself makes all the difference in the world.



 Do I know who I am? The answer is YES! Let me echo the words of a primary song we sing as children, young or old. Even if you're 78, you're still a child... a child of God.



"I am a child of God, and He has sent me here--
Has given me and earthly home, with parents kind and dear.
Lead me, Guide me, walk beside me. Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do, to live with Him someday".

and that's just the first verse. This is the foundation of all of life. When you come to know who you truly are, everything changes. Some or most people know this fact. They say they are a child of God, do they believe it? maybe intellectually. A conviction of this divine truth is required to experience true joy in this imperfect world. I think sometimes too as missionaries we tend to forget who we are as children of God--we get scared, we worry, we get discouraged, the natural man takes over. Of course that will be the endless battle of mortality but as we hold true to our identity as children of God, we'll come to feel His hands bearing us up. We see that when it rains it pours, it pours miracles. No matter what, you are a child of God--No matter what! If you can eat, sleep, cry, laugh-- you are a child of God.

The longer I have been out on my mission, the more convinced I am of the love for the "one". I'm not talking no significant other kinda one. I mean the worth of one soul in the sight of God. When we look around us we see tons of people, hundreds of thousands of people. In the world there are billions of people. That's what it seems like. When God looks down upon us He does not see groups, He sees individuals. He knows each one by name. He loves each one the same. He is the Father of all. How amazing is this truth? How loved are you by the most supreme Being of all the universe. How much you matter to Him. It's amazing! It's mind blowing! It's such a beautiful thing. No matter who you are in the eyes of the world, you are everything in the sight of God.