Physiology of Runners 4: Heart

Thump.......Thump.......Thump..... Well, It sounds like my heart is still beating, for now. The heart is one of the most interesting of our bodily organs. It circulates the blood oxygen mix through our bodies, which in turn helps us push out our daily runs.  The heart has many different parts that help it distribute the blood, veins, and arteries are the main ones.  These help the blood flow the the different muscles and organs that need oxygen.  I like to think of them as roots that just help the tree get bigger and stronger.
I think we can all agree on the fact that the heart is a pretty important part of running, now, just like the heart is important, a testimony of the gospel is just as important if not more.... well, at least for our spiritual journey.
So what is a testimony and how do we attain one?  Well, the dictionary says that a testimony is evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof.  How can we have evidence of God?  Well, lets look around us for a second.  Look at all the pretty trees, the beautiful mountains, the people all around us, those are little pieces of evidence that God is there.  There is a more definite way that we can know God, and that is through his spirit which touches our.... you guessed right, Heart.  In Moroni 10:5 we are taught that "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of ALL things."  That is how we gain a testimony of the gospel and grow to know God.  Testimonies keep us deeply rooted in the gospel and help us in our stony paths of life.  The best way to gain that testimony is to read the scriptures, attend church meetings, and to pray always.  I call those the primary basics.

So next time your out on your long run, think about the testimony you have of the gospel and what it means to you.

Physiology of Runners 3: Muscles

MUSCLES

All of you out there who are interested in cars, you will recognize numbers like... Chevy's 350 small block, or the 440 Magnum.  These are some popular engines in classic muscle cars; and they are named "muscle" cars for a definite reason. They have got alot of MUSCLE. Well, so does our body's, especially runners.

Your muscles are composed of several types of muscle fibers.  You have probably hear the terms "slow-twitch" and "fast-twitch" fibers. As you might have guessed slow-twitch muscles are trained by doing longer runs.  These muscles give you the endurance and stamina you need.  Fast-twitch muscles are the speedy Gonzales muscles, and are trained by shorter distances at a intense rate of speed that forces your body into lactate mode. So a basic summary would be, our muscles are important when running and we need to train and condition them to perform the best for us, and we get faster and stronger.
Just like muscles we need to train our minds to understand the scriptures and the instructions that the Lord has given to us to make it back to his presence.  How do we do that........ well, as the primary song that I sang when I was a young boy, "Search, ponder, and pray are the things that I must do..."
We recently listened to a great talk by our mission president at zone conference about reading the Book of Mormon. No, feasting.... on the Book of Mormon.  He talked about a piece of Chocolate cake that was really really good.  Now, would you just scrape the top of this chocolate cake, or would you just dive right into it?  Feast!!!  I know that as we read the Book of Mormon and Bible our testimony's of the restoration of the gospel will increase and we will know that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is his prophet in these the latter days, and that this is Gods kingdom once again established upon the earth!
Lets get out there and train our minds!!!

Physiology of Runners 2: Core Muscles

GRUNT....1....GRUNT...2.......

What is the point to all of these gut wrenching sit ups?  All that i did sit ups for was to have a washboard stomach so I could get more dates.  But there is much more to doing sit ups than meets the eye.  In fact the gospel of Jesus Christ has some similarities to core exercises.

There are a few important part of a runners core that people dont usually think about.  I often thought of my core as my abs and obliques, however the key features of a runners core includes the pelvis and its various other bones and ligaments,buttock and gluteus maximus,obliques, and abdominal just to name a few.  The way that we are stabilized when walking, running, jumping, basically anything with movement is from our core muscles, bones, and ligaments.  They all work as a team to perform their functions.

Now for the application to the gospel.... any guesses.... Well there are actually many ideas that i was thinking about.  But I have chosen the God Head.
We believe that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy ghost are 3 distinct individuals that are united in purpose.
Doctrine and Covenants sheds a bit of light on the subject of the God Head....
D+C 130:22
 22 The ^aFather has a ^bbody of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of ^cSpirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not ^ddwell in us.
As the verse points out God has a body, and so does the son.  But the spirit doesn't have a body, were it not so he couldn't dwell in us and burn doubt out of our hearts.
There is quite a bit of controversy on the subject of the Trinune God and what is really meant in the scriptures.  You will find verses all over the bible as well as the book of Mormon that state that God and the Savior are one.... But careful examination of the scriptures shows that they ( God, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost) are one in PURPOSE.  How confusing would the scriptures be if we took that phrase literally.  When the Savior was baptized did he talk to himself from heaven and said this is my beloved self in whom I am well pleased? No, he was addressed by his father in heaven.
Now just as the God head are one in purpose, so are our core muscles one in purpose, though distinctly separate muscles.

Physiology of Runners 1: Water

I have been contemplating these past few weeks on something that i could blog about.  After trying a few ideas and not having them work out the way i wanted, i decided to check out a book to help me out.  This book is called Running Anatomy.  I have now decided that i want to discuss a few things about the human body as a runner, the physiology if you will, and compare it to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
One thing that I would like to start out with is this fact.... The human body is made up of about 60% water. We can all agree that there probably isn't anything better on a hot day than a cold class of ice water.  It quenches our thirst and keeps our body functioning in the way it should be.
 The energy burned when running produces heat, and it is by the mechanism of sweating that the core temperature is maintained; and we sweat from the fluids that we have taken into our body. So this points out that water is crucial for not only our running, but our survival as humans.
I would like to now compare water to the living water that the Savior talked about to the woman at the well.
In the John Chapter 4 Verses 11-14 the account states:

 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

I begin to wonder what it would feel like to never thirst again.  I wouldn't have to worry about spending money on water, milk, pop, cool-aid, juice etc. Wouldn't that be nice. 
 But I do know what it is like to never thirst after the truth.  Being apart of the true restored church of Jesus Christ brings a peace that cant be explained. Now remember after your next long run when you reach for you bottle of water that there is a way to never thirst again, and that is through Jesus Christ.

Standing Idle

I remember back in high school running on the cross country team. One thing that was drilled into my head over and over from coach Holt was, if you find your self comfortable in races, your not pushing yourself hard enough. You need to make a move, bring on the pain just a little bit more to achieve greatness. How does this relate to the gospel... well... I often think of being a member of the true church of Christ much like a race. Lets first read from........
2 Nehpi 31:19-20
19. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay......20. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Now, as Nephi counsels us once we are baptized and receive the gift of the holy ghost is everything okay... are we done... can we just say "okay ive been baptized, im saved.".... Or from a runners perspective.... Your in the middle of the marathon and you think "Ive done my training, and eaten right, got plenty of rest, I think Im all taken care of to win this whole race now." NAY. We must endure to the end. Push our selfs.
We must always be making those moves in races to push our selfs to the best time possible. We must also be making those moves to make us progress closer to our father in heaven. Scripture study, church attendance, magnifying our church callings and priesthood duties are all ways we can make those moves to further our progression.
I know that this is Christ's true church on the earth. Now lets get out there and win the race.

Injuries, Currant Bushes, and the Gospel??

Come on, you have to be wondering what running injuries, current bushes, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ have to do with each other. Well, bare with me and you just might find out.
On a runners journey to greatness, there are often bumps in the road known as injuries. But needless to say it is almost guaranteed for us runners to run into these road bumps.  Yuck! Even writing about them reminds me of the countless hours spent in physical therapy and down in the basement of my high school icing my shins and foot. I would be so heart broken that my progress and training had gone to naught because a simple hurt foot. I found out shortly that tears could not heal the injured tendons in my foot and shin. I felt like i had been cheated by some one who should have been there for me when injury was about to emerge. (My coach, myslef, even my father in heaven)
That's where the story of the Currant Bush comes to mind.........
Elder Hugh B. Brown gave a talk in the 1973 issue of the Ensign titled The Currant Bush

I was living up in Canada. I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and clipped it back until there was nothing left but stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. I was kind of simpleminded (and I haven’t entirely gotten over it), and I looked at it and smiled and said, “What are you crying about?” You know, I thought I heard that currant bush say this:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’”

I think i may know how that little currant bush felt like. I would often ask my self very bitterly....

 "Why did this happen to me! I was making such wonderful progress. I was almost as good as the other runners around me and this injury has slowed me down! Every runner in the state will look down on me because I cant run as fast as them! I thought you were a runner here?"

In one of the most real ways that heavenly father has made himself known to me is through this talk, an answered prayer.....

"Look Austin, I know what i want you to be. I didn't intend you to be a national champion, or a state champion. I want you to be Austin .......... and some day Austin, when you are laden with tons of accomplishments and wonderful memories you will say thank you, for loving me enough to cut me down."

Its my testimony to you that i know that God is in our lives and that he knows what is best for us. Though we may not understand why he does what he does, he does it because he loves us. Never in my life had a felt so much love from my heavenly father when i was injured and at a low point in life

. I never went on to be a nationally ranked runner, or even a state champ, but i have thousands of memories on running in high school and loving every second of it.

Injuries, Currant Bushes, and the Gospel??

Come on, you have to be wondering what running injuries, current bushes, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ have to do with each other. Well, bare with me and you just might find out.
On a runners journey to greatness, there are often bumps in the road known as injuries. But needless to say it is almost guaranteed for us runners to run into these road bumps.  Yuck! Even writing about them reminds me of the countless hours spent in physical therapy and down in the basement of my high school icing my shins and foot. I would be so heart broken that my progress and training had gone to naught because a simple hurt foot. I found out shortly that tears could not heal the injured tendons in my foot and shin. I felt like i had been cheated by some one who should have been there for me when injury was about to emerge. (My coach, myslef, even my father in heaven)
That's where the story of the Currant Bush comes to mind.........
Elder Hugh B. Brown gave a talk in the 1973 issue of the Ensign titled The Currant Bush

I was living up in Canada. I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and clipped it back until there was nothing left but stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. I was kind of simpleminded (and I haven’t entirely gotten over it), and I looked at it and smiled and said, “What are you crying about?” You know, I thought I heard that currant bush say this:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’”

I think i may know how that little currant bush felt like. I would often ask my self very bitterly....

 "Why did this happen to me! I was making such wonderful progress. I was almost as good as the other runners around me and this injury has slowed me down! Every runner in the state will look down on me because I cant run as fast as them! I thought you were a runner here?"

In one of the most real ways that heavenly father has made himself known to me is through this talk, an answered prayer.....

"Look Austin, I know what i want you to be. I didn't intend you to be a national champion, or a state champion. I want you to be Austin .......... and some day Austin, when you are laden with tons of accomplishments and wonderful memories you will say thank you, for loving me enough to cut me down."

Its my testimony to you that i know that God is in our lives and that he knows what is best for us. Though we may not understand why he does what he does, he does it because he loves us. Never in my life had a felt so much love from my heavenly father when i was injured and at a low point in life

. I never went on to be a nationally ranked runner, or even a state champ, but i have thousands of memories on running in high school and loving every second of it.

Why do you run??

Why do you run?
Because an Alaskan winter isn't my weakness, its my strength.
Because I have to believe, even if they don't.
Because knowing I gave my Everything, means Everything.
Because of my father, because of my son.
Because I had to try... Again.
Because It's more than just a line on the road, and we are more than just finishers.
Because when I do, there is always the chance to be extraordinary.

How often in life do we find our selfs in a hard situation? I would ask that we liken our "race" to life....
 The story that really touched my heart was the story of Derek Redmond, the sprinter in the video who's dad helped him finish his last 400 Meeter race.

Derek Redmond was prepared for the 400m semifinal race at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992. He felt he was in the best shape of his life. Despite 8 operations on his Achilles tendons over the past 4 years, he felt very confident. His father Jim, sitting in the stands, also had high hopes. Jim and his son were very close and he made it to all of the championship races.

Derek gets off to a good start. Coming around the first bend in the track, tragedy struck as Derek’s hamstring went. Initially he thought he had been shot because the pain was so great. His leg would not function. London’s The Guardian newspaper quoted him, “Everything I had worked for was finished. I hated everybody. I hated the world. I hated hamstrings. I hated it all. I felt so bitter that I was injured again. I told myself I had to finish. I kept hopping round. Then, with 100 metres to go, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my old man.”

In our own lives sometimes disaster strikes and we find our selves bitter and unhappy. We have a loved one pass away, or a financial situation comes up, its hard to find peace in situations as such. But I can promise you  that our Heavenly Father is ALWAYS there for us in our times of trial to help us finish our race. Just like Derek's father was there in his time of need on the track to help him finish the race. 

I love the clip of the iron man womens finishers crawling across the finish line. Such heart is displayed by these two athletes. And how appropriate is that quote in our race to heaven. Because heaven  is more than just a line on the road of heaven, and we are more than just finishers.

From a Runners View

So I came up with a new idea that would probably be more fitting for me. Im going to do a lot of posts from the view of a runner. Seeing that I am a runner im going to relate the gospel back to things that involve running.

I had a wonderful coach in high school. He taught us how to accel in anything. One of my favorite quotes he told me was "The only way to get better at running, is to run"

-Ryan Hall 

 The only way to accel in anything, is to actually do it. You want to be good at piano, play the piano. You want to be good at basketball, play basket ball. You want to

be learned the scriptures, read them. Just try...

The Savior, as you remember the story of the talants, said to the faithful servents who improved their talants...  Mat 25:21

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

So when we "just try" to improve our talants, the Savior will make us ruler over many things. So when we "just try" to improve ourselfs at running, we get better and have the "joy" of being a great runner.

How To Gain A Testimony

As we go through life we gain experience and learn how to do things. Some one might learn how to paint, or build cars, or teach. We were all given the freedom to choose, or as we know, agency. We make choices that always bring a consequence weather good or bad. But the question that intrigues me the most is "How do you know?" That brings another question to mind....

How does one personally gain a testimony? Well, I think a better way to start this out would be to know what exactly a testimony is.... A testimony ( according to dictionary.com ) is evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof.

People often ask missionaries how we "know", i came across a scripture the other day while reading in the doctrine and covenants stating....
D+C 46:13-14

 13To some it is given by the Holy Ghost  to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.

 14To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

I know that the book of Mormon is the word of God, because i have received that spiritual witness by the holy ghost. Yes, i didn't "know" for a long time if the book of Mormon was true. I built my testimony and faith on the faith of my parents. But now i know for my self that it is true, because i have read and prayed about the Book of Mormon. I know that He Lives!! For i have felt his love and guidance in my life. I wouldn't be any where with out my savior and Redeemer. That is my testimony and invitation to you to read and pray about the book of Mormon.

Ill Go Where You Want Me To Go

It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle’s front

My Lord will have need of me.

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I’ll go where you want me to go.

Hymn 270

In the short time i have served as a missionary i have found out first hand that the lord does lead his children to those who are seeking the gospel, we just have to trust in him. Even in daily life we find that we are lead and guided to the things we should do. You might ask, how do i receive this guidance in my life?  Nephi sheds some light on the subject in answer to his fathers question....

7. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

So if we "Go" and "Do" the things that the Lord commands us to do we receive that guidance in our lives, and what a blessing that is.

To Kill A Mocking Bird

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Many of us have read the classic novel "To Kill A Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee. Whether or not we read it in school or on our own we can learn quite a lot from this book. I love this quote from Atticus that talks about us not judging others till we know exactly what their situation is. As I thought about this for a moment, i made the connection that Jesus Christ is the only one who knows exactly what our point of view is.

Alma, as he preaches to the people in Gideon relates in a very real way the Savior's understanding for us.

Alma 7:11-12

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Be Ready at All Times

One night while spending an eveing with my friends on top of a parking garage in beautiful St. George Utah, I received a very humbling experiance from one of our local law enforcement officers. Unbeknownst to me, it is not lawful to "hang out" on the top floor of a parking garage after dark. After talking a short while to the officer about the usual questions they ask. Why are you here, what are you doing, and are you in posession of any alcohol or drugs? I answered him that we were just enjoying the night view that is given from the top of this parking garage. The question was asked by the officer "Dont you have more important things to be doing?" Trying to be "cool" i replied, "Why yes i do. Im going to serve a mission soon." I was followed up on that question by "What is a mission?"..... Words left me. What was a mission? How was a suppose to explain what a mission was to some one who didnt know? I thought for a moment, then said some thing like "Ummm its a thing for my church for two years...." Failure. I failed at explaining what a mission is.
I came across a scripture the other day that really toutched my heart.
1 Peter 3:15

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. (emphasis added)

I know now that I have an answer for that cop. A mission is a wonderful oporitunity to share the beautiful message of the restoration of the gospel! And we have a purpose, which is to help everyone receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ.

Be prepaired at all times to give an answer to that hope that we share. As our savior reveals to us in the 15th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the most important thing we can do is serve the Lord and bring his children back to him.

Come unto me....

Have you ever just looked around you and took in all that our heavenly father has given us? What a beautiful sight it is. As i was looking around one day in a resturant i noticed a family that sat down just across from us. They looked like any other family in the world, but there was one thing that was troubling me. There just wasnt any joy in their faces. Sure i dont know what there situation might have been but i just kept thinking to myself "Man, the gospel could bring so much peace and hapiness into their lives."  I thought about what our savior taught us in the 11th chapter of matthew.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and i will igve you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for i am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

How easy is it to come unto christ. He has given us a promise that all that will come unto him will find rest unto your souls. This has to be one of my most favorite photos of all time. I cant wait for the day that we get to be embraced by our saviors arms as he says "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into my rest."
I humbly testify that i know that Jesus is the Christ the savior and redemer of the world. If we will but keep his commandments we can be happy forever.

Heres to the Heros

I cannot deny the power of the spirit when i think of those who serve our country in distant lands. There is not doubt that our father in heaven looks after and cares for our troops as he did in the times of captain moroni.  The story of captain Moroni and the title of liberty is very close to my heart. We find throughout book of mormon history that the lamanites persecute and rage war against the nephites numerous times. Moroni had finally had it with this..... Alma 46:12-13
12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it-In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children-and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
13 And he fastened on his head plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land.
Our troops are out fighting for our freedom, which gives us so many blessings. The blessing to worship the way we want, or to freely express ourselves! What a great gift our troops preserve for us.
The song "Here's to the Hero's" By the Ten Tenors is a great song that explains how grateful i am to our troops. May God continue to bless them and our country.

Here's to the heroes,
Those few who dare,
Heading for glory,
Living a prayer.

Here's to the heroes
Who change our lives.
Thanks to the heroes,
Freedom survives.

Here's to the heroes
Who never rest.
They are the chosen,
We are the blessed.

Here's to the heroes
Who aim so high.
Here's to the heroes
Who do or die.

Our Young Women of the Church

Through my life i have always been intrigued by the young women of the church. In the young women progress book it states, "You are beloved daughters of our heavenly father, prepared to come to earth at this particular time for a sacred and glorious purpose." I fully believe that those words ring truth in any ones eyes. Just in my life i have seen the wonderful examples that the young women have on the community. I serve here in Lander Wyoming and have grown to love the youth of the church here for their examples to everyone. Because of their radiant examples we have people wondering "what makes them so happy? Why do they act this way?"
One of my favorite scriptures is found in 3 Nephi 19:25,35-36, which states, "And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon the earth so white as the whiteness thereof. And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying he came again unto them: So great faith have i never seen among all the Jews; wherefore i could not show unto them so great miracles, because of their unbelief. Verily i say unto you, there are none of them that have seen so great things as ye have seen; neither have they heard so great things as ye have heard."
I directly relate that to the youth of the church. They are so faithful in keeping the commandments of God that their examples radiate much like the garments of Jesus. I bare testimony that i know that this church is Christs church once again upon the earth. And that the youth are carrying that sacred responsibility of sharing the message on their shoulders very well. I'm thankful for them and all that they do. I know that the book of Mormon has the fullness of the gospel and works "hand in hand" (Ezek 37:15-17) with the bible. I know that we have a prophet of God on the earth today, who leads and guides us in the things that heavenly father would have us do. This i know, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The blessings of the Temple

TEMPLE

On October 7th 2010, i recieved the oporitunity to go to the temple and recieve my endownment. It was an amazing and special spiritual experiance. My cousin Karinne Wignal and myself got our endownments taken out together. Our family members who held a current temple recomend join us on our amazing temple experiance. My temple experiance was an experiance that is beyond words that i know how to write. The temple is the most beautiful experiance i have had on my journey back to my father in heaven. The temple is where familys can be sealed forever! The knowledge of heavenly fathers plan of salvation becomes that much more real in the temple. I challange each one of you to strive to go to the temple and recieve the blessings promised therein.

Speak with the Trump of God

One of my all time favorite scriptures in the book of mormon is Alma Chapter 29 verses 1-3.
1. O that i were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that i might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
2. Yea, i would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
3. But behold, i am a man, and do sin in my wish; for i ought to be content with the things which the lord hath allotted unto me.

  I find my self in the shoes of alma quite often.  I wish that i could speak with the trump of God to declare the wonderful message of the plan of happiness and salvation. I wish that i could speak word of the lord in a way that would pierce the very soul of every man. But, behold i am a man, and do sin in my wish; and i should be content with the things the lord has given me. Im so thankful for the oporitunity to be here on a mission serving the lord 100% of the time. He has blessed me with the ability to speak and teach the message of love for every one.