Can you really eat the Titanic?

My companion Elder Hunt, he is a great guy. He is one of my best friends out here on my mission right now. Elder Hunt has this thing however. He is convinced that you can eat as much food as the Titanic is big before your stomach and at the same time, you, would explode! Now don't get me wrong. Elder Hunt is an amazing guy who is pretty much my hero in many ways, but I gotta say that I have an extremely hard time believing this. I mean the Titanic is huge! I can eat enourmous amounts of food but I have to say that it is seemingly impossible that it could be done.

This got me thinking however, in terms of the Gospel, everything does now and days. Why was I so skeptical? I was thinking about when the Apostles were fishing and when they looked out upon the water they saw a being walking upon the water. Immediately they were panicked and started to think of any other possibility than it being the man who was capable at doing the impossible. They believed it to be a ghost or spirit and it wasn't until they heard his voice did they believe.

Something that was seemingly impossible happened. No one had ever done it before and no one could prove it couldn't be done yet Jesus Christ did it. often times in our lives I think just because it has not been done before, nor does it seem possible, we immediately begin to disbelieve. As a missionary I find this out for myself all too often from others as I get to share a message about a young man, who stepped into a grove of trees and was visited by Our loving Father In Heaven and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Why are so many quick to believe that it just could not have happened?

My plea to the world is to believe that all things are possible. I am not one to just believe but I am doing my best because if you limit your belief then you will miss out on some of the most amazing experiences anyone could ever ask for. We must always have our hearts open. Elder Hunt, I don't know how it can be done, but I sure as heck will do my best to eat Titanic Size food one day and prove you right my friend!!!

Don't worry, be happy!!!

Worry seems to be the funniest thing I run into on my mission. Its okay to worry but sometimes I have to think hard about what people are worrying about these days. I worry. We all do. When the mission President puts you in a brand new area and have to train on how to lead as well as continue the work that the previous Missionaries had been doing so well with, and tyring to bring happiness to others can make you worry just a little bit.  But because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and this incredible support given me by the constant reassurance of God through the Holy Ghost I worry for but a moment then just trust that no matter what happens it is the Lords will and I am doing it the best I can.

The funny thing about life is that as I have been knocking on doors and talking with complete strangers for almost two years now and the one thing that seems to be a constant theme is woryr. Life is full of things to worry about, but not to the point that we lose all hope completely. I often come across many people who are so worried and so scared that life is going to end due to whatever reason and I truly do worry myself for these individuals. One thing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints has taught me is not to worry about the things that Our Heavenly Father can Control. We have been promised that if we abide by our Heavenly Fathers laws or commandments, then we will be taken care of. We have been taught repeatedly about what we must do to sustain life here and we need not worry if we are keeping his commandments and following his counsel. We must worry however if we are not doing everything we can to follow him. We must think about the choices we are making and then when we feel we have worried to much about those things that weigh us down in life we must act and choose to stop worrying and follow God more closely than ever before.

One of the funniest things I have come across on my mission has been when I knock on a door and I get the response "Oh I am already a Christian." or "No thanks I already know Jesus."  and then I get the following question far to much "But what do you think about this whole 2012 thing." I think to myself, what a silly thing to worry about when you have a faith in God and Jesus Christ. He is in control of all these things and we can not worry about it if we have that faith in Him that he knows best. Whether it comes of it doesn't, worry about if we are prepared for that great and marvelous day to meet our God, our Creator, our King. We in the Church of Jesus Christ have come to know that We on this Earth can be sealed to our families for time and all eternity. God has given us this great blessing and I have no worries about whether or not I can see my family again or what lies ahead of me in this next life. It is the greatest thing in the world.

Enjoy life. Enjoy the challenges and overcome them.  Have a great day, and an even better week!

   I have been thinking a lot recently about the early pioneers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What incredible love they had for what they believed in. I often think to myself do I have the same desire as they did? As we know, the Saints were driven from their homes and from their lives countless times, due to persecution from mobs and unbelievers which fortunately has ended today. They were often left with no option but to grab a covered wagon and head somewhere else with no real knowledge of what was to come. But with unexplainable persistence and faith the saints held strong to their beliefs and kept moving forward not backwards. 

What was it that motivated the saints? I am not going to talk about beliefs persay, for this is not a religious debate on what is true,  but more what did they have that made their beliefs so valuable as to be willing to loose everything they had including their lives, just to be able to practice their religion and find freedom and peace? I was greatly pondering this question when I came across a scripture in The Book of Mormon. I was reading in the 2nd Book of Nephi, Chapter 33 which reads:

"And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.

 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.

 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen."

As I read this scripture, I was taken a back by the great prophet Nephi's powerful decleration. I found within my reading the most powerful expression of faith I have ever witnessed. Nephi knew exactly what he believed in with not a single ounce of doubt. He believed it. He knew what was true and he was not willing to back down or sugar coat or deny any part of truth as he knew it. This was it to him. To all else all he could hope for is that everyone else would come to know what he knew to be true as well. He would not excuse himself for anything.

I was struck hard within my heart as I realized this is the faith that we must have. The faith that the saints of old had. I read and watch various things that demonstrate the faith and trust The early pioneers had in what they believed. They knew it to be true. Isn't that worth fighting for? Isn't that worth dying for?

My plea to all who may hearken unto this post is to look within yourselves and find out if you truly have this same passion, this same faith, this same way of life that these brave men and women had, and do have today. I find it fasinating that the saints Faith was not another apendage to their lives, rather their faith was their lives and everything else was just added upon to support this mortal journey. I know what I believe. I make no excueses as Nehpi did not.

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Can A Leopard Change his spots?

I contemplated a lot about what I should write. Its only fair to say that I don't ponder so hard about a lot of things. But since I get the wonderful opportunity to blog then I figured I shouldn't just make these useless random messages but something I really wanna talk about.

Normally in life I am pretty much a slacker. I have always just put things off and very rarely do I ponder, prepare or think a ton about tests, or talks or anything that should really take some time and devotion. I usually will wait until the very last possible moment and then just lock n' Load and bang bang. Go with whatever comes out and hope for the best. Maybe say a little Prayer before hand and wait to see what would come. Usually I will get mediocre or fair results. I can't complain.

But I was thinking a lot about this and how I really don't wanna be that guy anymore. Ever since I have been on a mission I have realized that, that kind of attitude is not to helpful in life. If anyone knows me at all, they know I am just a laid back, easy going guy who occasionally likes some excitement. But Since I have been out here I have wanted to change who I am. Not everything about me but specifically this one attribute that I have that weighs me down. Why though? What Motivation did I have?

As I was reading in the Bible I found a great scripture in Malachi that says "I am the Lord, and I change not". Wow. It hit me. It clicked. My whole life is about becoming better. God Is perfect. He is the end result. He is the change. I Wanna be as best as I can be here in this life and I realize that the only way I can do that is by constant change. You must always be trying to be better. We all have things in our life we wish we could change. So why not? Change them. This time of year  is all about change. We all make those wonderful resolutions and then say "Dang, that's gonna require work". Of course it is!!! Life ain't that easy.

"Be ye therefore perfect." Said our savior Jesus Christ. Perfection can not be achieved in this life. But we can single handily change one aspect of our lives and perfect it!!! We can do it. I am like a totally different person then I use to be. Now hold on there partner. I am in no way saying that I am perfect. But I am in the Life or death battle with myself in trying to become better then ever before. I may never reach perfection but I can make perfect change if I choose too. That is what God expects. Perfect change.

In The Book of Mormon we read about a man known as The Brother Of Jared. he is a very righteous man who is leading his people to the promise land. He demonstrates great faith. But after letting making some mistakes he receives chastisement from the Lord and instead of just feeling like garbage. He decides to change. He acts. He is not acted upon. He then goes on to demonstrate perfect faith and the Lord reveals many great things to him. He was not perfect at that moment. But he Perfected an attribute he needed to work on and great things came about. We can do this as well. Act my brothers and sisters. Change what needs to change in order to become a better friend, a better son, a better daughter, mother, father neighbor. A leopard can change his spots.