Become

Recently my thoughts and experiences have caused me to reflect on the true meaning of life. I had realized that in the course of my mission I had become preoccupied with things of little consequence. As a result of my actions I had inadvertently distanced myself from God. My true purpose in life had been forgotten. This week I have begun to reacquaint myself with this truth. This blog will reveal what I have rediscovered.

The purpose of life is for us to come here, gain bodies, make choices, and to return to life with God. Living in the presence of God is called eternal life, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God (D&C 14:7). Those who recieve eternal life inherit all that God has (Romans 8:16). That's a great purpose that I hope we all can remember. Remembering this helps us to live our lives in a way that will qualify us for this gift.

Dallin H. Oaks, an Apostle of the Lord, taught us what is required to qualify in this parable:

"A wealthy father knew that if he were to bestow his wealth upon a child who had not yet developed the needed wisdom and stature, the inheritance would probably be wasted. The father said to his child:

“All that I have I desire to give you—not only my wealth, but also my position and standing among men. That which I have I can easily give you, but that which I am you must obtain for yourself. You will qualify for your inheritance by learning what I have learned and by living as I have lived. I will give you the laws and principles by which I have acquired my wisdom and stature. Follow my example, mastering as I have mastered, and you will become as I am, and all that I have will be yours.”

He goes on to state that:

"The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become."

What is the purpose of this life then: to become like our Heavenly Father. How do we achieve that purpose: through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is important therefore that we focus more on what we are becoming.

I know that this is true because the spirit has born witness to me as I wrote this blog. This truth has changed the way I think and act. I had been doing all the right things on my mission, but I was not becoming what God wanted me to be. I now understand what Paul meant when he said:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-2)

Charity is a measure of what we become. It is the pure love of Christ. Paul emphasized that it doesn't matter what skills he has, if he has not become like Christ those skills mean nothing.

I know that this is true. It has changed my life. I invite everyone to remember their purpose in this life. May God bless us as we strive to become what we are divinely appointed to become. May we all develop charity that when we will stand before Christ to be judged we will be like him. (1 John 3:1-5)

Click here to have missionaries over to your home to learn more about the Purpose of Life.

Click here to order a free Book of Mormon that teaches us the purpose of life.

Progressive Post: Trust in the Lord

I am so proud to be a missionary serving in the California Santa Rosa Mission. I love the hills, the diversity of flowers and fruit, and the redwood trees. California is a beautiful state. It is rich in landscape and in people. I have especially loved and appreciated the people of California. I am currently serving in Vallejo and I agree one hundred percent with what Elder Jones has said about this area. My brothers and sisters here have taught me so much about perserverance and about holding to the simple truths of the gospel.

Rather than restate everything that has been written about Vallejo, I want to talk about my experiences in the Northernmost city of our mission, Crescent City. It is the first area I have served in therefore it will always have a special place in my heart. Having gotten the pleasure of serving in both wards all the members in that city are family to me. It is no different with the people I taught and contacted. I love them and I appreciate what they have given me. I've never met a more humble city than Crescent City. Above all that I was taught the main lesson that I learned from my five months stay was to trust in the Lord.

I'll let Alma the Younger sum it all up for me: "I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. And I would not that ye think that I know of myself—not of the temporal but of the spiritual, not of the carnal mind but of God. Now, behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things" (Alma 36: 3-5). Not only was I born into the mission in Crescent City, but I experienced a spiritual rebirth. That rebirth was a result of the trials and challenges that I faced as a new missionary.


Before I came on my mission I would often back down from a challenge. There were many opportunities in my life that I missed because I was afraid of failing. Rather than manning up and seizing the moment I cowered and withdrew. Fear had always overpowered my faith. For the first time in my life I buckled up and got to work. I seized every opportunity I could to serve others and to teach. I worked myself into the ground for the people there. I stood up for what I believed and I lived what I preached. Because I chose to exercise my faith I was able to accomplish miracles. The biggest miracle however was my own spiritual growth.

When I first came out I had some fears and doubts about my ability to be a successful missionary. The Lord took care of that fast. I was nailed time and time again with experiences where I had to choose to act in faith or cower in fear. Never before in my life did I go through that many challenges all at once. It seemed like there was no end to the trials I was facing. I had to rely on something other than myself to make it through. I quickly learned that I could trust in God. Each time I put it in the Lord's hands everything worked out. Relief came and miracles happened in every case. God provided for me. His "grace was sufficient"(Ether 12:27). That lesson has helped me through all of my trials since. I have learned to face trial with faith. From my first months in Crescent City I have had the capacity to enjoy every moment of my mission. This is because I know that I can put my trust in the Lord.

I believe His words to Alma and his people when they were delivered from bondage. The Lord told them "this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."(Mosiah 24:14) I know that that is true. I am so thankful for the privilege it was to serve in Crescent City. I now have the faith to do all that the Lord requires of me. I know that He will go with me as I strive to deliver others from their afflictions and bring them into the waters of baptism. This is Church is most definately true. I love the experiences I have had while serving in the California Santa Rosa Mission. I'm excited to hear from Elder Trey Williams about what he has learned from his experiences on his mission. Keep following the Progressive Post.

"How Firm a Foundation"

We hand out a pass along card that has a picture of the Salt Lake Temple on it. On the back are a few questions of the soul and an invitation to visit the website mormon.org. I love the Salt Lake temple. Many people that we give the pass along card to are astonished by the beauty of the building. I admit it is a wonderful sight to see. What is even more astonishing however, is the temple's construction.

The Salt Lake Temple took 39 years to build. The foundation of the temple took 14 years alone. President Young said he wanted to see the temple built so strong that “it will endure through the Millennium”(lds.org) That is why so much time was spent on building the foundation of the temple. If the foundation will hold and stand so will the work on top of it. A sturdy foundation enables the rest of the building to function as it should. A house with a weak foundation will not stand. However, a house with a strong foundation can withstand the rains, floods, winds, earthquakes, and other tests that confront it. Brigham Young and the early saints understood this concept and took it into consideration as they built the temple. In fact, after 5 years of building the foundation the Saints had to completely restart because a crack was found in one of the foundation stones.

When Christ had established his Church he also established it on a firm foundation. We read in the Ephesians that the Church was "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." When the apostles were martyred the foundation was destroyed and the rest of the Church was affected. Eventually that Church fell. God understood the importance of that foundation and in our time he has built a new one. That is the reason why he called Joseph Smith to be a prophet and under his hand ordained 12 Apostles. With that foundation restored God once again brought His Church back onto the earth with the promise that it would stand until Christ will come again.

The Salt Lake temple is a testimony of the faithfulness of the saints and of the importance of this Latter-day work. It stands as a witness to all nations that Jesus is the Christ and that he leads and directs the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. He does this through living prophets and apostles. This is the same foundation that the original church was built upon. I know that this is true and I am grateful for the foundation upon which this church is built. I know that it will never fall. The Lord stated through His prophet:

"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

Til the end has come the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will stand as the Lord has promised. This is because of the foundation upon which it is built "which is a sure foundation, whereon if men build they shall not fall."(Helaman 5:12) That foundation is the same as when Christ had originally formed his church. It has been restored and it will not fall. Of this I testify as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ.

Beans and Crackers or Feast and Music

I am so excited to finally be able to read Conference in the Ensign. It is such a great blessing. We get to read the words of modern day prophets and apostles over and over again. This morning I studied President Uchtdorf's talk titled "Your Potential, Your Privilege." As I read, I remembered when he delivered this message in April. He began his talk with this story:

"There once was a man whose lifelong dream was to board a cruise ship and sail the Mediterranean Sea. He dreamed of walking the streets of Rome, Athens, and Istanbul. He saved every penny until he had enough for his passage. Since money was tight, he brought an extra suitcase filled with cans of beans, boxes of crackers, and bags of powdered lemonade, and that is what he lived on every day.

He would have loved to take part in the many activities offered on the ship—working out in the gym, playing miniature golf, and swimming in the pool. He envied those who went to movies, shows, and cultural presentations. And, oh, how he yearned for only a taste of the amazing food he saw on the ship—every meal appeared to be a feast! But the man wanted to spend so very little money that he didn’t participate in any of these. He was able to see the cities he had longed to visit, but for the most part of the journey, he stayed in his cabin and ate only his humble food.

On the last day of the cruise, a crew member asked him which of the farewell parties he would be attending. It was then that the man learned that not only the farewell party but almost everything on board the cruise ship—the food, the entertainment, all the activities—had been included in the price of his ticket. Too late the man realized that he had been living far beneath his privileges."

How often in our lives do we live beneath our potential? If we understood our relationship to God we would come to see that our potential is limitless. The fact that we are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father testifies to us that we have divine potential. God's purpose is to enable each one of us to recieve the blessings he has and to live with Him through the eternities. That was the reason we were sent to Earth in the first place. This life is our time to prepare to meet God (Alma 34:32) How would we feel if at the end of our life here on Earth we discovered that we lived far below our potential? We would be unprepared to meet God because we didnt use our time here wisely. Instead of enjoying the abundance of joy that life has to offer, we sat in our room and ate beans and crackers. We would feel much like the man in President Uchtdorf's story.

President Uchtdorf stated: "We live beneath our privileges when we fail to partake of the feast of happiness, peace, and joy that God grants so bountifully." There are many people out there who are living below their potential. It is not any fault of their own. "For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." (D&C 123:12). Guess what? We know where to find it. The only way to enjoy fully the blessings of God in this life and in the eternities is found through the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is because the Gospel in its fullness has been brought back onto the earth. There is no other way.

We are all on this cruiseship together. It is our responsibility to help everyone live up to their potential. Would we let our brothers and sisters sit in their room and eat beans and crackers? For me that answer is no. It is up to all who have been warned to warn their neighbor. I will do all in my power to help others reach their divine potential.

Spread the word.


Read President Uchtdorf's full address, "Your Potential, Your Privelege"

Called to Serve: On the Other Side of the Veil

This last week I heard from a friend that someone who meant a lot to me had passed away. I was shocked when I heard the news and thankful that I had been informed. It was a great blessing to have heard because I have been away from him for 6 months. This man and his wife had joined the church a year ago. They are stalwart saints who have powerful testimonies of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When I served in their area they treated me like family. I love them and they will always be a part of my life. Here on the earth and in the eternities. I want to tell you a bit about his death and bear testimony of the life after.

I Will Follow You

This weekend was a very special weekend for me. I got to be a part of a few baptisms. After the first baptism I gave a talk. At the beginning of the talk I asked her how she felt. Her response: "I've never felt this good in my life." I have ran those words through my head time and time again. It was special for me to hear her say that. Baptism is such an important event. It marks the beginning of a new life as a follower of Jesus Christ. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4) Everyone who is baptized by priesthood authority experiences rebirth and is cleansed from their sins. This is exactly what happened to our recent convert.

Following that baptism we had another baptism. This was a young man who was 18. I got to have a one on one interview with him. He is a special kid and is going to do a lot with his life. During his baptism he spoke. While he spoke he read this poem that he wrote:

"I go through stages of obesession and depression no doubt self inflicted

the wind in my sails has all but vanised

im stuck

not up nor down here nor there

but no where

after lifetimes of self defeat from the stress i finally realize

who cares where i am or where im going

im here and i have you to help me through

then in less than a moment my sails have been filled

FULL SPEED AHEAD

but yet something is still left unsaid

even with the horizon in my midst

the past a dream forgotten

i shutter

and the seas themselves begin to quake

was it a mistake

i put my trust in you

and now the waters shake

i tremble and curse your name

even though i am the one to blame

now again

im stuck

in a rut

but...

mabye

just mabye ill ask you one more time to fill my sails take them as you will

no matter that be rough, or smooth seas

just to get another glance of the land on the horizon when my fear forsook you

my mind be the sails i ask you to fill

my heart the compass to direct me

i will follow you!"

He is a follower of Christ. He showed that by being baptized in the same manner Christ was baptized: by immersion and by someone who held the priesthood. What a sacred and holy event. I'm grateful I got the privilege to attend. These things are true, baptism is real. The authority has been restored. The examples that my brother and sister have set this weekend by being baptized has changed my life just as it has transformed theirs. I thank them.

Small and Simple

I have a very sporadic personality. For me it is easy to pick up new things and drop them fast. I love change and I used to get uncomfortable with consistency. It has always been in my nature to expect big results in a short period of time. To put it simply I'm more of a sprinter than a long distance runner. Rather than being able to conserve my energy I like to get it all out in quick bursts. This pattern of thought and behavior unfortunately is not in harmony with God's way. It is a symptom of the carnal mind, a result of our temporal existence in the flesh.