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.