Almost Is Not Enough

Right before I came on my mission I found out that I had Celiacs disease. The only cure: don't eat food containing Gluten! I did just that. I gave up Gluten in my diet, or so I thought. I have recently discovered that my Celiacs disease restricts me more than I thought. I couldnt believe all the stuff that Gluten is in. At first I was reluctant to eliminate all the foods I was supposed to be avoiding. I have already given up everything that I used to enjoy and now I was asked to give up even more. It was difficult to act even though I was promised that I would feel healthier once I kept the diet. I didnt feel like my health was too bad anyways. I was feeling great. At the constant nagging of my companion, however, I was convinced to go all the way.

The results were not immediate. I woke up the next day and felt the same as I normally did. If it werent for my companion I would have quit right then and there, but I kept living the diet. After a couple of days my health began to improve. I began to feel more energized and the complexion in my face began to change. I could think clearer and it was much easier to concentrate. Because I went Gluten free all the way I have been blessed with great health and I'm much happier.

There is always something more we can be doing in life to draw us closer to our Heavenly Father. While on this earth we all suffer from spiritual Celiacs. We all are alergic to sin. Whenever we make a bad choice we poison ourselves and our spirits are grieved. The cure: stop making bad choices because "wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10)

When I go shopping for food I dont buy food with Gluten in it. Common sense right? Similarly one way to avoid sin is to not surround yourself with temptation. If you place yourself in a situation where you will be tempted you are in essence shopping for food that you are allergic to. That doesnt make much sense does it? So don't move yourself into a position where the adversary has home court advantage.

Also, the longer I'm Gluten free the more I know what I can and cant eat. Thus, the longer you avoid sin the easier it is for you to make correct choices. Through experience we can learn right from wrong.

Before I choose to eat anything I first look at the labels to see if there is anything in my food that contains Gluten. Before you make any decision you should look to the scriptures and the words of the prophets. They are the labels for our lives. They teach us the commandments and how to live a happy life. Through them we can know what is good for us and what is bad for us. Aren't you grateful God put a label on life so we can see the ingredients! It would be foolish not to look at them. If in doubt, search the scriptures.

Reccounting my recent experience we sometimes may not feel the difference immediately. The commandments are the same way. Righteousness is a lifelong pursuit. The longer we live the commandments the stronger we become. Richard G. Scott of the 12 Apostles stated: "A consistent, righteous life produces an inner power and strength that can be permanently resistant to the eroding influence of sin and transgression." The longer I live my diet the better I feel. You may not feel the difference at first, but the blessings do come.

I'm so thankful that I've found out that I have this disease. I was sick but I didnt know it. So many people are sick and they dont know the cure. My whole life I ate things with Gluten. I lived with it. Life was good. Nevertheless, I still had Celiacs. Thats something I can never deny. Had I kept eating like that I would have suffered permanent damage. Everyone needs to know they are sinning. It is so important. If they dont find out they will suffer because they know not the truth.

For those who think they can choose to live only certain commandments you are damaging yourself spiritually. Gluten is Gluten no matter what it is in. Almost living the diet is not enough. I'm still poisoning myself. It is the same with Sin. It is so important to strive to live all the commandments. We forfiet the blessings when we choose not to live certain commandments.

I hope we all choose to live the Celiac way and keep the diet. Avoid sin. Choose to live righteously. I know that as you do you will be happy and you will recognize more and more the importance of keeping the commandments.

"To Choose or Not to Choose"

I have been thinking a lot lately about how our choices affect us. A Book of Mormon scripture teaches us that all, "men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil." (2 Nephi 2:5) We are all born with the Light of Christ which teaches us right from wrong. Since we are all children of God "we are instructed sufficiently" thus we each are going to be accountable for the choices we make. If it were not so "God would cease to be God."(Alma 42:22)

Every parent knows the importance of accountability while raising a child. Every teacher knows the importance of establishing rules and consequences in establishing order within a classroom. All Managers establish guidelines for their employees to live by to ensure efficiency within the workplace. This principle is not new. It is the most important principle in governing anything. It is how we learn.

It is no different in heaven. God will hold us all accountable, however he lets us choose. He gives us commandments, yet he lets us act for ourselves. Agency is important in Gods plan. In the "For The Strength of Youth" pamphlet established by the church we learn about agency:

"Your Heavenly Father has given you agency, the ability to choose right from wrong and to act for yourself.... While you are here on earth, you are being proven to see if you will use your agency to show your love for God by keeping His commandments.While you are free to choose for yourself, you are not free to choose the consequences of your actions. When you make a choice, you will receive the consequences of that choice. The consequences may not be immediate, but they will always follow, for good or bad. Wrong choices delay your progression and lead to heartache and misery. Right choices lead to happiness and eternal life. That is why it is so important for you to choose what is right throughout your life."

It goes on to say:

"You are a child of God with great strength. You have the ability to choose righteousness and happiness, no matter what your circumstances."

I add my testimony that these things are true. It is so important to make good decisions. However, I also know that no body is perfect. That's why God sent His Son. I know that through our Savior Jesus Christ we can be cleansed from the mistakes we make. When we stand before God to be judged we will be guiltless before the Father. We have to follow him and keep his commandments. We must repent, be baptized by one holding the authority, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through this we can inherit Gods kingdom. Without it we are left to suffer the consequences for our actions.

The prophet Nephi teaches this clearly: "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."(2 Nephi 2:27)

It is either liberty and eternal life or captivity and death. Very simple. I think I'll chose the first one. I know that as we follow the commandments we can be happy and we can return to live with God. It is so important to exercise our agency righteously and choose to obey rather than rebel.

Obedience = Happiness

Disobedience = Unhappiness

Sin is so destructive. I cannot say it enough. We must do as Nephi says and "look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom."(2 Nephi 2:28-29)

These things are true and I speak boldly of them because I know so. We cannot allow sin to destroy us. The righteous use of our agency will bring eternal life which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

Let It Snow

My companion saw snow for the first time today! He is from Fiji so for his whole life he has only seen rain and sunshine. Never before has he seen snow. He has never made a snowman or a snow angel. He has never went skiing or snowboarding. He has never been sledding. He has missed out completely on the experience of snow.