"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—" -Joseph Smith, D&C 76:22-23

we are beloved sons and daughters of our heavenly father

We do not walk alone 

when we choose to follow Christ.

healing by brian kershisnik

"And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone;
for I do always those things that please him."
John 8:29





last supper by simon dewey

"No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love. ... Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!" 

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Forget Me Not."

by rose datoc dall

winter dancing by brian kershisnik

"Guard Him, Joseph" - 21 December 2011

nativity, brian kerschisnik

Why I Decided To Serve A Mission: The Complete Story

Summer 2009





The thought of serving a mission initially came to me during the summer of 2009. Initially, I entertained the thought, as I had never had such an impression or desire before. It was the big "What If!" But, as I was dating someone at the time, and I was quite comfortable with the way things were, I ultimately shrugged off the idea.

The break up happened in early autumn of 2009, and then commenced the hardest year I've ever experienced up to that point. It was one thing after another. I'd be kicked down so low, build myself back up, then get kicked down again. This happened about three times during the year. I isolated myself from others and just really, really loved being alone. If I were alone, then I couldn't hurt anyone, right? That was the reasoning, and I grew quite comfortable with that.

In the summer of 2010, driving home to California from Utah, I stopped in St. George and made a quick trip to the St. George Temple Visitor's Center. As I walked in, I noticed a lot of sister missionaries around, guiding guests and being available to answer questions. It was then that it clicked: These young women were my age. Outside of their missions, they, too were probably going to school, had their favorite movies and rock bands, and like to hang out and waste time, just like I did! They weren't perfect. They were just like me, just in a different situation. At that moment it clicked, and that idea of serving a mission came back.

One night about a week later, back in California, I knelt down to pray before bed, and asked Heavenly Father if He still wanted me to serve a mission, and that if He did, I would be willing. The Spirit was so strong as I prayed, and I knew that He still wanted me to serve. An undeniable peace came into my life as I finally made that decision.

Without telling anyone, I met with my Bishop the next week and began working on my application to serve a mission. A couple months later when they were completed and submitted, I finally told my family. In October 2010 I received my mission call to serve in the Tennessee Nashville Mission. I never would have guessed that's where I'd serve, but it was so right.


Spring 2011

Looking back, I know I was supposed to serve a mission at exactly that time. If I had gone the year before, I wouldn't have had those trials in my life to build me up to that point. If I had left even a couple months later, I wouldn't have met some people who I know I had to meet on my mission. They just wouldn't have been there, for reasons of military deployment, health issues, or whatever. The timing just would have been off. I know that God sent me on a mission to the right place and at the right time. God sees a far bigger picture than we can see, and I'm so grateful.

If you are thinking about serving a mission, pray. God will guide you. Even if a mission just isn't in the picture for you right now, there are plenty more opportunities to serve. Pray to be able to see those opportunities. They will come as you have the desire to serve!






Update: Check out these other sister missionaries' stories:
Sister Jensen (and part 2)
Sister Anderson

A scattered post about trials, pain, and the hope we find in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ

Get Ye Up into the High Mountain, O Zion

by Minerva Teichert, 1949

Last week baby Afton Jean Bigler passed away. It broke my heart. I'm not totally up to date on blogs, as I'm most importantly a missionary, not a blogger-- but this is one that I've tried to keep up with. I've read NoBiggie since before my mission. I remember when Kami shared her struggles with infertility. I remember the joy I felt when I found out that she was pregnant, and that the baby was doing okay! And I was shaken to the core when I logged onto blogger one day to see two new posts from Kami-- one about Afton being born, and another about Afton's death. But I know, as Kami knows, that families can be together forever. That is such a key principle of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and it's what pulls me through the tough times-- the hope and knowledge that we can be together forever with the people who matter most to us.

It is also such a comfort to know that God has a plan for each of us, His children. Afton needed to be on this earth as long as she was, but she just has work to do elsewhere. God has a bigger plan for her than we can understand.

Seeing even a glimpse of an eternal perspective is incredible. There are so many people who just wander through life, not knowing why they are here, how to live now, and where they are going after this life. Hard times just come and go. My friends, there is more.

In times of hardship, I am reminded of the early pioneers. Because of religious persecution, they traveled hundreds of miles across the plains to establish and settle in Salt Lake City, Utah. They faced unimaginable trials because they knew that this gospel was true, and they had already found the eternal peace that such a truth provides.

A glimpse of their hardships, sacrifice, and subsequent blessings is found in the book Daughters in My Kingdom:

At the October 1856 general conference [in Salt Lake City, Utah], President Brigham Young announced that handcart pioneers were stranded hundreds of miles away. He declared: “Your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains, and attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal duties, otherwise your faith will be in vain.”

Sister [Lucy Meserve] Smith recorded in her autobiography that after President Young’s exhortation, those in attendance took action to provide relief for their brothers and sisters. Women “stripped off their petticoats [large underskirts that were part of the fashion of the day and that also provided warmth], stockings, and every thing they could spare, right there in the Tabernacle, and piled [them] into the wagons to send to the Saints in the mountains.”

They continued to gather bedding and clothing for Saints who would arrive with only a few belongings in small handcarts. Sister Smith wrote: “We did all we could, with the aid of the good brethren and sisters, to comfort the needy as they came in with handcarts late in the fall. … As our society was short of funds then, we could not do much, but the four bishops could hardly carry the bedding and other clothing we got together the first time we met. We did not cease our exertions [un]til all were made comfortable.” Sister Smith said that when the handcart companies arrived, a building in the town was “loaded with provisions for them.”

This gospel is truly the gospel of happiness. Despite the pain, sadness, and uncertainty that this life certainly brings, we have hope in our Savior, and a firm knowledge that He has already provided a way for us to repent of our sins, be clean, and return to live with our Heavenly Father again. We can endure life's trials because we understand God's plan, and that there is more to this life. We can endure life's trials because we know that we are children of our Heavenly Father, who loves us. All is well, all is well!

Gratitude!

I am grateful for my restored gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.
I am grateful to know that I am a daughter of God.

I am grateful for the chance I have to serve a mission and to share what I know to be true.

I am grateful for the knowledge that I can be together with my Heavenly Father and my family forever.
I am just so grateful to be here.

What are you grateful for?

The Book of Mormon and the Native Americans

by Minerva Teichert

Did you know that the Book of Mormon is a record of Christ's relationship with the Native Americans?

And while the Native Americans kind of got the raw end of the "First Thanksgiving" which we now celebrate annually, we can still remember their people through this record.

Find out more about the Book of Mormon here.

that time I hand-quilted my testimony

"We thank Thee for every blessing

bestowed by Thy bounteous hand"

He Lives!

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

-The Living Christ