Hero's!!!!

When you hear the word hero what comes to your mind? To some it maybe a sports icon, a singer, or an actor or actress. Others may think of super hero's. I have to admit that my favorite super hero is Superman. That is not what comes to mind for me though, when I hear the word hero. When I think of hero's, I think of the many men and women in my life that have helped me learn, grow, and helped build my faith and testimony. The first one that comes to mind are my parents. They have set such an awesome example for me, and their sacrifice for their children is something I am trying to do for others now. They are my number one fans, and I love them very much. Other hero's include Young Women leaders, Bishops, all parents, and other's that are sacrificing for others. To me a hero is someone that is willing to sacrifice for the benefit of others. I have run into many of those people, and each have helped me become the person I am today. Jesus Christ is the ultimate hero, because of his perfect example and unconditional love for everyone. He gave his life freely for the benefit of others. At this time of year and all year may we constantly be grateful for those special people in our lives who have helped us in any way. May all the hero's that don't get recognition know that they are loved and that they are doing so much good. You never know who may think of you as a hero, so let us live more like Christ and do good continually. That way we will able to help those that are in need of our help. If we all do that we can all be hero's.

Forever Friends!!!!

How many of you have heard someone say that they will be friends forever? How many of us have told that to someone? I know I have, and for a while I thought that was just a way of telling someone you wont forget them, but if you don't keep in touch you will still be friends. I believe that is true, but I have found a much deeper meaning of having a friendship that can last forever. In Alma 17 verses 1 and 2 says:

1 And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of ^aManti, behold, to his astonishment, he ^bmet with the ^csons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.

  2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel ^afirst appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had ^bsearched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

 

I love the part in verse 2 where it says that what added more to his joy was that they were still his brethren in the lord. That is such a powerful line about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can form friendships that can last forever. I know that to be true. I have made many dear friends who have similar beliefs and I know that those friends will truely be my friends forever.

What is Conversion?

When you hear the word conversion what comes to mind? Do words like hard, long, and time consuming come to mind. I don't know about you, but when I think of conversion I think of my favorite story in the Book of Mormon about Alma the Younger. From Alma the Younger's stroy we come to find out what conversion is. Alma the Younger was the son of the prophet, and he went about leading people away from the church with 4 of his friends. Then one day an angel appered to him and told him to stop what he was doing and to go about doing good and seeking to build up the church. Alma was then struck dumb and for 2 days and 2 nights he lay not moving at all. After those 2 days he stood up and told the people what had happened in Mosiah 27 verses 23-26.
23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of ^atwo days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:

  24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been ^aredeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.

  25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be ^aborn again; yea, ^bborn of God, ^cchanged from their carnal and ^dfallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his ^esons and daughters;

  26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in ^anowise inherit the kingdom of God.

Conversion includes a change in behavior, but it goes beyond behavior; it is a change in our very nature. This kind of experience doesn't happen often. Most of the time conversion is a process that happens over time. When we come to understand the atonement of Christ and truly want to help others, then we are converted just like Alma. After we have been converted we need to strive to do our best to live the way we need to, so that we can have eternal life.

Diciples of Chirst!!!

One of my friends gave me a quote that I absolutly love. It is titled "The Fellowship of the Unashamed." It was given by an african preacher who was killed not long after saying it. " I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recongnized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, ore meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear." I hope to have the same conviction as this man. We are all diciples of Christ and I hope that we will do our best to be like him.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!

What is the gospel of Jesus Christ? That is a good question, and have wondered that myself. Here are a few principles that the scriptures tell us about what the gospel of Jesus Christ really is. In John 3:16-17 it states:

16. For ^aGod so ^bloved the ^cworld, that he ^dgave his ^eonly begotten ^fSon, that whosoever ^gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have ^heverlasting ⁱlife.

17 For God ^asent not his Son into the world to ^bcondemn the world; but that the world through him might be ^csaved.

 

How do we show that we believe in Christ? Christ is not with us on earth today and to have faith means to believe in something that you can't see. We also know that faith leads to action, because faith without works is dead. The way we show that we believe in Christ and are truly wanting to follow him is by Repentence. What does it mean to Repent? It simply means to change. We first need to admit that we have made a mistake and feel sorry for what we have done. Then we need to make it right and apologize, but that is not all after we have done that we need to do our best to not do it again. We need to constantly be repenting and changing. The next step in showing that we believe in Jesus Christ is to be baptized by proper authority. Jesus went to John the Baptist, because John had the proper priesthood authority. The only way for us to be able to enter into the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is to be baptized like Jesus was. Once we are baptized we have Priesthood holders lay their hands on our heads and give us the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The gift of the Holy Ghost can bring us comfort, peace, help us make the right choices, and warn us of danger. Baptism and recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost is not the end, we need to Endure to the End. We need to strive to follow Christ until the end of our lives. I know that if we do we will be able to live with him again.