Sunday, December 25, 2011

One Ring to SAVE Them ALL

This is a Ring of POWER.
Created by Sauron.


One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all
and in the Darkness bind them.


Gandalf knows that this Ring is Evil and Breeds Destruction.
He Seeks to Destroy the Ring and bring Light and freedom to Middle Earth.


Jesus Christ (Gandalf) has already won the Fight.
Satan (Sauron) may have power, but only if we let him.
Frodo (each of us) was strong enough to endure his trials.

Sure he got lost a few times along the way.
He was stabbed by a Ringwriath.

He even didn't trust Sam for a bit there in the End.

But overall, Christ has promised Each of us that:

"God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it."


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Addiction Recovery

There is always a need to have something to latch onto in life.  Some people latch onto reading books as a way to deal with stress.  Many turn to video games.  Others may turn to harmful drugs or Alchohol.

I turn to Sprite!


We all have those things we enjoy, that help us to deal with high stress situations.  The Lord has promised us that if avoid Harmful Substances and Anything that causes an Addiction, we will be blessed.  By not having Drugs or Alchohol, we not only stay out of trouble with the law, we are more Healthy and much more Happy because we can spend our time (and Money) with our family.

Occasionally I am told that I am addicted to Sprite.(see picture below)  So in order to make sure that I don't cast away my agency I make sure that I only buy Sprite when I am eating out or for special occasions.  This year I bought 36 cans of Sprite to decorate the apartment and build a Christmas Tree.  Elder Burnham also got a 24 pack of Ski.

 Elder Burnham drinks the Ski and I drink my Sprite. (Sprite is the Elixir of Life)


These Can are all being used for us to build a Christmas Tree, as it was cheaper to buy something we would use and then recycle it into something else that would bring Happiness.

While I had more cans to drink, I drank them all about a week faster than Elder Burnham drank his Ski.  This again brought to mind the words of my family who so often tell me that i drink too much Sprite.

Basically if there is any addiction that you struggle with just know that our Heavenly Father can help.  Christ has suffered everything for all of us.  Even though I love my Sprite, I know it would be better for me to not have it very often and not have a large amount.

Please avoid any addictive substance, that you may better feel the Words of the Spirit.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Cristmas Presents - What are We Really Giving ? ?

What are we really giving at Christmas time when we give others presents?  Is it simply a thing?  Is it something that as great value?  Is there a lot of stuff they have to get themselves in order to use it?  How long did it take us to get it?

We should be giving a piece of our Heart to those who we love, including the Savior.  These presents, though they might be temporal objects, should never be just another thing for them to have, but something that they will enjoy and treasure as a gift and memory from you.  There should be no need of telling them to find other supplies in order to feel of your love for them.  We should take the time to put care and love into our Gift, and not just find something as a last minute thought.

This link has a song of a poor young boy who only wanted to help his mom be happy.

The Christmas Shoes

We should try to help others find true Joy and and Happiness all year, but to celebrate the Birth of the Messiah is a very Special time.

Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

May we each find a way to help those who may not have a 'fulness of Joy' this year as we celebrate Cristmas.

Joy to the World




.

How many Doors Guard our Soul ? ?


The following is a parable teaching what matters most.

"Among the news items of recent date was the report of a burglary, some incidents of which are unusual in the literature of crime. The safety-vault of a wholesale house dealing in jewelry and gems was the object of the attack. From the care and skill with which the two robbers had lain their plans, it was evident that they were adept in their nefarious business.

They contrived to secrete themselves within the building and were locked in when the heavily barred doors were closed for the night. They knew that the great vault of steel and masonry was of the best construction and of the kind guaranteed as burglar-proof; they knew also that it contained treasure of enormous value; and they relied for success on their patience, persistency, and craft, which had been developed through many previous, though lesser, exploits in safe-breaking. Their equipment was complete, comprising of drills, saws, and other tools, tempered to penetrate even the hardened steel of the massive door, through which alone entrance to the vault could be effected. Armed guards were stationed in the corridors of the establishment, and the approaches to the strong room were diligently watched.

Through the long night the thieves labored, drilling and sawing around the lock, whose complicated mechanism could not be manipulated even by one familiar with the combination, before the hour for which the time-control had been set. They had calculated that by persistent work they would have time during the night to break open the safe and secure such of the valuables as they could carry; then they would trust to luck, daring, or force to make their escape. They would not hesitate to kill if they were opposed. Though the difficulties of the undertaking were greater than expected, the skilled criminals succeeded with tools and explosives in reaching the interior of the lock; then they threw back the bolts and forced open the ponderous doors.

What saw they within? Drawers filled with gems, trays of diamonds, rubies, and pearls, think you? Such and more they had confidently expected to find and to secure; but instead they encountered an inner safe, with a door heavier and more resistant than the first, fitted with a mechanical lock of more intricate construction than that at which they had worked so strenuously. The metal of the second door was of such superior quality as to splinter their finely tempered tools; try as they would they could not so much as scratch it. Their misdirected energy was wasted; frustrated were all their infamous plans.

Like unto one’s reputation is the outer door of the treasure-vault; like unto his character is the inner portal. A good name is a strong defense, but though it be assailed and even marred or broken, the soul it guards is safe, provided only the inner character be impregnable."


Saturday, December 17, 2011

How do I 'Digivolve' Myself ? ?


We all have different stages of growth.  We learn things as we go through life and they help us to deal with things we will face in the future.  Without learning and growing from trials we simply get frustrated and worried when faced with new obstacles.

This is a clip from Digimon, a show I loved growing up.
Patamon Digivolves into Angemon, and Angemon Digivolves into MagnaAngemon.


Out of all the Digimon of the First season Patamon was the last to Digivolve.  This is because he wasn't sure about what would happen when he did.  Only after he learned that he needed to in order to protect others was he willing to do it, and that willingness to serve is what gave him the strength to Digivolve.

Later on he learns an extra Digi-evolution and Digivolves into MagnaAngemon.  This would be impossible without going through some kind of test to make him stronger.

Just as steel is stronger when it is forged and put through the fire, so to must we each pass through a Spiritual Fire and grow from our trials.  (Numbers 31:23)


By learning from our trials we will be strengthened and increase our capacity to endure, and 'Digivolve' ourselves into a greater ability of obedience to the Commandments of the Gospel.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Where can someone find Peace in a world of War ? ?

There are many things in the world around us that can Torment, Torture, and Afflict the Mind.

The only true source for lasting Peace and Happiness is the Lord Jesus Christ.  We can find this Peace through reading the Scriptures, spending time with those we Love, and being Grateful for what we do have.

Here is a video with Elder Hales teaching us how  ...   ..   ....

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Purpose of Life

          What is your purpose in life?

Why do you have a Physical Body?          

Who is most important person in your life?       

We have all come to this Earth for pretty much the same reason....To be tested and prove ourselves worthy for Salvation and Exaltation.

How Do we accomplish this?  By learning of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, receiving the Ordinances of Salvation, and by Keeping the Covenants associated with those Ordinances.

What are the Ordinances of Salvation?  Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, and Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  Once we have received each Ordinance we must Endure to the End by remaining Faithful and always trying to do better.

Therefore, the Purpose of Life is to live in a way that would bless others, and be obedient to God's Commandments.

We have a Physical Body so that we can become more like our Father in Heaven.  Before this life we lived with him but we were Limited in our progression because we only had a Spiritual Body.  A Physical Body enables us to learn and Progress like our Heavenly Father.  The Ordinances of Salvation must also be performed with a Physical Body.


Last question...Who is the most important person in your life? 

Well for me it is my Family, Particularly my Dad.  I know that through a Priesthood Ordinance called a Sealing, that my Earthly Family can be together Forever.  These are the people that I have learned and grown with my whole life, and my Mom and Dad taught me how to grow up.

My Mom was there whenever I was hurt and needed help.  My Dad was there every time I couldn't figure out how to put something together.  My sisters taught me how to talk to Girls (this is quite handy).

With all these Experiences I hope to one day be not only Married until "death do we part", but to be Sealed for Time and ALL Eternity.

That is the Greatest blessing we can hope to obtain, is to be with our Families Forever.



Saturday, December 10, 2011

Killer Bunnies and the Pursuit of Salvation

So...not very many people know about Killer Bunnies. 
Not very many people have a Perfect assurance of Salvation either.

You see when you first begin playing Killer Bunnies you have the Starter deck, which includes the Blue and Yellow card sets.  You have two booklets to help you learn how to play, Six different colored, twelve sided dice, and Twelve different Carrot Cards.

Some of the cards can be rather difficult to understand how to play them, or even know what exactly they are supposed to do.

Once you begin getting better however, you have the option to add the Red Booster deck.


Plus a few other decks.


Which in turn adds a few more 'special' cards to the Game.


When you finally add all Nine of the Expansions to your deck of Killer Bunnies, you have something around 1000 cards in the deck.


This is a lot like the Restoration of the gospel, or maybe like someone joining the church.  In the beginning it might be a bit overwhelming.

For almost 1800 years all anyone had known as Scripture was the Bible.  But even before the Time of Christ there were Prophets who consistently added to Scripture.

The 5 Books of Moses

Moses covered over 2000 years in his writings alone.
Then you have other Prophets who added Scriptures.

Confused Yet??

Then after Christ called His Twelve Apostles and performed the Atonement, the Apostles started writing their Testimonies and it was Canonized into being Scripture, now known as the New Testament.


So most of the world only knows about this set of Scriptures.
Kinda like having just the Starter set of Killer Bunnies.

But just like with killer bunnies you have more to add!!


Adding the Book of Mormon to Scripture is like adding Booster decks to Killer bunnies. Sometimes it gets confusing.  But the deck is so much better to play with when you have all the extra content.

So the more you play, or go through life, the more you learn about the way things work.  So try to find all the Truth that you can, and then live by that Knowledge.

Breath of Heaven

I Love this song.  This movie clip always makes me happy and helps me remember the Spirit and Meaning for Christmas.


May we all Give whatr we can this Christmas, because He gave His life for us.

Thursday, December 08, 2011

How to Kill a Dragon

So once upon a time, there was a dragon.  This dragon wanted to make everyone perfect....but we all know how that turned out.

No really, before we lived here on Earth we lived with our Heavenly Father.  We each had a Spirit but not a Physical Body.  We chose to come and live on Earth so we could receive a Physical Body and grow and Progress and Learn from our trials.

After we die we have the chance, if we have obeyed the Commandments, to again live with our Father in Heaven, this time Forever and with a Perfect Resurrected Body.

However that dragon that wanted to take away Agency in the first place, is now bitter and angry. 


He spends all his time doing nothing but trying to tearn us down and make it so we can't return to live with our Heavenly Father.

If we do all that we can to make sure we keep the Commandments, and Repent for those things which we do wrong, we will indeed be counted worthy at the last day.