Remember Who You Are - The Lion King

Simba had forgotten who he was.  He was the Son of Mufasa, and rightful Heir to the Kingdom of his Father.

"And if children,

then heirs;

heirs of God,

and joint-heirs with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him,

that we may be also glorified together."

-- Romans 8:17

How then do we "suffer with him"?  Do we have to have our own Garden of Gethsemane, or Die on a Cross?  No.  We must however go through the pains of Spirit, and learn to Feel as He Felt.  To have Godly Sorrow for both our Sins, and the trials of those around us.

If you have forgotten who YOU are, YOU have forgotten the FATHER.

"And now, my sons, REMEMBER, REMEMBER that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
-- Helaman 5:12

"Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

-- Hebrews 12:9

REMEMBER what we are supposed to be doing.

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

-- John 15:14

I am in Love - Meg

Have you ever felt that you just can't do anything right?

Well, Meg felt like she couldn't ever make a right choice too.

However, that is why we have the Atonement of Christ.  Even when we make wrong choices, we have the oppurtunity to repent and have our Sins forgiven.

Our subject in question, Meg, has apparently had a bad day with her boyfriend, Hercules, and now she is quite frustrated with men in general. (she is also in service to Hades, and ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24)

Now you see, the Muses(the statues) can see that Hercules is "the Earth and Heaven" and take all their time to convince Meg that she needs to accept him and be with him.

Much as the Prophets have always done.  They teach people and tell them that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and that only through His Atonement can Mankind be Saved.  He is 'Earth and Heaven'. (see Mark 2:5-12)

One of Meg's arguments is that it is "Too Cliche".  Some people say that they don't believe in the Scriptures because they are just the Cliche old tales of 'good versus evil'.  Why would the Gospel not be cliche?  The Gospel is unchanging and has been around since before Time began.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

-- Hebrews 13:8

Some people think that Christians need to "get a grip".  However there is no need to "Cry Your Heart Out" when you live the Gospel.  Christ has already performed the Atonement, which is a Vicarious Ordinance allowing Him to take upon Himself all of Our Sin, Pain, Sorrow, and Weaknesses.

"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."

-- Alma 7:11-12

Many of those who reject the Gospel have felt the Joy that comes from it, but they don't want to have to 'Keep the Commandments', so they just deny the whole thing.

How can we be "way off base" if the Foundation is Christ?  Is He not Big enough, or Strong enough, or Smart enough, to hold all of us the way we should be?

Finally we have those who accept the Gospel, but "At least OUT LOUD, [they] won't say [they're] in love".

If we truly Love the Savior, we should do everything we can to receive Personal Revelation from Him every day.  We should also Search for others who we can share the Gospel with.

Armor of God - Three of Six - Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.

Having your feet shod pretty much means your wearing your shoes.

With the Armor of God they would probably be more like War Boots.

Your feet control the Movement of your whole body on the battlefield, and if the are not prepared for the charge you will find yourself stepping on rocks and things and they will hurt so much that the enemy won't have any need to actually fight you.

The Book of Mormon speaks of being "Steadfast and Immovable"(1 Nephi 2:10), which means you are steady and diligent in keeping the Commandments.  A youth leader once told me that sometimes you need to be "Steadfast and Movable", meaning that the Gospel of Peace, is a Gospel of Progression.  You must be Steadfast in keeping the Commandments, but still able to Move about the Spiritual battle when the Lord calls you to do something.

You cant stand around if you truly live the gospel, you have to use your feet to "go about doing good" and help others.  Stationary targets are also much easier to hit on the battlefield.

In the Book of Mormon the are two main peoples, the Nephites (good guys) and the Lamanites (bad guys).

The Lamanites were a people "dwelling in tents, and wandering about in the wilderness with a short skin girdle about their loins and their heads shaven; and their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the ax."
Enos 1:20

They had a lot of wars between each nation and at one point the Nephites showed that by Preparing themselves with the Gospel, they had no need to fear their enemy.

In a particular battle the Lamanites charged forward to try and defeat a Nephite army,
"But in this thing they were disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear them; but they did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord they did receive them."
3 Nephi 4:10

The best ways of Preparing yourself to Live the Gospel and keep the Commandments is to Read the Scriptures, Pray to God our Heavenly Father, and to Go to Church.  These will give you that extra Strength you need to withstand the trials of mortality.



NEXT POST : Shield of Faith

Learning of Life - Current and Past

Hey Everyone.  I was wondering, why is it that we are always trying to understand the same thing that those before us were trying to understand?

Maybe we just have the same questions and no one ever found the answer.
Maybe because we don't understand what our ancestors already knew.
Maybe we have the answers, and we just haven't put forth the energy required to actually understand what is in front of us.

"The scriptures also enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don’t have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence.

In Tyndale’s day, scriptural ignorance abounded because people lacked access to the Bible, especially in a language they could understand. Today the Bible and other scripture are readily at hand, yet there is a growing scriptural illiteracy because people will not open the books. 

Consequently they have forgotten things their grandparents knew."

-- Elder D. Todd Christofferson

There must be some other reason for us to be interested in what has happened to our families in the past.
Go to http://mormon.org/family-history/ for more information.

http://new.familysearch.org/ is also very helpful for doing Geneology.

What to DO When We Struggle

"And it came to pass that the Lord God caused 

that there should be a furious wind blow 

upon the face of the waters, 

towards the promised land; 

and thus they were tossed 

upon the waves of the sea before the wind.

And it came to pass that they were many times 

buried in the depths of the sea, 

because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, 

and also the great and terrible tempests 

which were caused by the fierceness of the wind."

Ether 6:5-6

We all struggle in life sometimes, and the winds and the waves and the storms come upon us with the fierceness of wolves.  However as these trials and temptations are beating upon you, look to Christ, that sure foundation, "whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

"And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep 

there was no water that could hurt them, 

their vessels being tight like unto a dish, 

and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; 

therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters 

they did cry unto the Lord, 

and he did bring them forth again 

upon the top of the waters."

Ether 6:7

If you are having a bad day, say a Prayer.

Some of My Favorite Scriptures

"And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you?

And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being.

Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?

Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre more than him.

And now thou hast lied before God unto me. Thou saidst unto me—Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will give unto thee—when thou hadst it in thy heart to retain them from me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the true and living God, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me. And now behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy reward."

-- Alma 11:21-25

"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

"And I will come unto you, and if there be any among you that has a desire for freedom, yea, if there be even a spark of freedom remaining, behold I will stir up insurrections among you, even until those who have desires to usurp power and authority shall become extinct."

-- Alma 60:27

Earthbending - A Steadfast Ability

"And Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Blessed art thou, 

Simon Bar-jona: 

for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, 

but my Father which is in heaven.  

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, 

and upon this rock I will build my church; 

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

-- Matthew 16:17-18

Here Christ is teaching Simon, to whom He gives the name of Peter which means 'small stone', and tells him that Christ's church will be built upon the 'rock of revelation'.  Revelation is only possible when you are listening to the Spirit of the Lord.  When the timing is right, the Spirit will whisper what to do, how to do it, where to go, what to say, who to talk to, as well as give advance warnings.

Earthbending demands a special connection with the earth that is achievable with neutral jing, doing nothing but waiting and listening until the right moment to strike.  By waiting and listening you can sense where things are, and when someone else who might be a threat is near by.

Sometimes however even when the Spirit does speak to us we don't listen.  Either we are too distracted by things of the world, or we hear Him and then Choose not to obey.  If we are going to have the Spirit we need to be willing to act on what He tells us to do.

For good Earthbending you must be solid like a 'rock'.  Meaning you don't just move the rocks, sometimes you let the rocks move you.  If you can bind yourself to the Earth and accept what the stones intend to do, it makes them a little more willing to act under your direction.

"Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; 

nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable 

in keeping the commandments of God, 

and they bore with patience 

the persecution which was heaped upon them."

-- Alma 1:25

"No matter how the wind howls, the Mountain cannot bow to it." -- Disney's Mulan

So practice being immovable like a rock, and sooner or later the rocks will move for you.  The Spirit will tell you what you need to know, but the more willing you are to listen and then follow His instructions, the more willing He is to tell you about stuff.

I am the Light and the Life of the World

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,

I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,

but shall have the light of life."

-- John 8:12

"Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

-- Matthew 5:14-16

"The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble."

-- Proverbs 4:19

He who walks in Darkness, knows not where he goes.  But if you have received the light of Christ, the Words of Christ shall tell you all things that ye should do. (see 2 Nephi 32:3)

"For we walk by faith, not by sight"

--2 Corinthians 5:7

Temptation is Unavoidable

So why is it that we repent?  Is it because we have been told to or because we feel that we should?

I feel like I truly repent when I feel bad for something I have done and then decided to fix the problem.  If I did something to one of my sisters then I need to apologize not only because mom and dad said so, but because I will feel better after I am no longer fighting with them over it.

Take a look at this picture.  It shows a depiction of a young boy being tempted.



As we go through life we will all be tempted.  Even Christ was tempted to see whether or not He would keep the commandments.  As we keep the commandments we will find that we are naturally happier, get along with others easier, and can feel the presence of the Lord more abundantly.

When Tempted, sing a Hymn or quote scriptures in your mind, part of the commandments is to read the scriptures daily.  If we are reading the scriptures each day, something that we read recently will be available for us to think about whenever temptation enters into our thoughts.

We all sin, it is our job to do our best to not sin, and when we do we repent for it.

"IT IS BETTER TO PREPARE AND PREVENT, THEN IT IS TO REPAIR AND REPENT."

-- Author Unknown

Military = The Gospel

All branches of the military have some differences in rank but the purpose is still the same. The General gives his commands and it goes through the ranks ensuring the message is sent. The organization still needs to be there to ensure that every soldier can return home safe and to have accomplished their objective. When at war, the soldiers need to work together as a unit to accomplish the goal. The information comes through the chain of command. Without that organization, the army would fail and wouldn't win.

Physical weapons are used to destroy the enemy of the people. 

Spiritual weapons are used to destroy the enemy of our soul.





Air Force Ranks



Everyone has their own rank and their own duties, but without each one of them the army would fall.

The Lord has always called those to stand as officers.(2 Chronicles 23:18)  In the church, there is the Prophet, who acts as the leading General under the direction of Jesus Christ.  The Prophet has two counselors (Exodus 17:12) who would stand as Lieutenant Generals.  The the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would be Major Generals.  Those who hold the office of Seventy (Luke 10:1) would be Brigadier Generals.  Stake Presidents are like Colonels, with their counselors being Lieutenant Colonels.  Bishops would stand as Majors, with their counselors being Captains.  An Elders Quorum President would be a 1st Lieutenant, and his counselors standing as 2nd Lieutenants. (Matthew 21:23) This is the design that has been established by God to govern the affairs of His church, and just as in a worldly army it all starts at the top and then filters down.



U.S. Military Seals

Each branch of the military specializes in its own field of combat.  You don't usually see an Air Force pilot as a crewman on a Submarine.

Christ has set up His church the same way, there are several organizations designed to best help the people in that area.  They include the Elders Quorum for men over 18, Relief Society for women over 18, Young Mens and Young Womens for ages 12 to 18, Primary for the kids 2 to 12, and a Nursery.

"The Lord's house, is a house of order."

(John 2:13-16 and Doctrine and Covenants 109:8)

The Book of Mormon and the Bible each teach and testify of Christ.  It is by reading these books of scripture which were written by Prophets, or Spiritual Generals, that we learn the battle plans and how to follow our Savior.

Keep Your Eyes Where They Should Be

"Look eye, always look eye!"



This is one of my Favorite parts of the Karate Kid.  You show respect by looking into your opponents eyes, and you can also learn how they are feeling.  Today, I want to relate looking into someone's eyes to looking towards Heaven.

When you look in someones eyes while they are speaking you show that you want to know what they are saying.  So when we look to Heaven we are saying that we really want to know what God has to tell us today.  You don't sit and wait for someone to say something yesterday, you wait for them to speak today because you don't need yesterday's instructions for todays problems. 

While it is true that "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever", He gives us knowledge "line upon line, precept upon precept."  This is done through a Prophet, like Moses, who can speak with God and then reveal to us what is going to happen.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing,

but he revealeth his secret

unto his servants the prophets."

-- Amos 3:7

The other part I wanted to point out is that when you are looking in the eyes, you are showing respect for them whether you agree with what they are saying or not.  Not everyone believes the same, not everyone likes the same things or wears the same clothes.  This is because we are all different, and if we weren't we would be quite annoyed all the time because the wouldn't be any flavor to life.  However, just because we have differences doesn't mean we should rule out anything else just because it is in opposition to our own view.  By the time the Christ shall come and reign we will all be united in one faith.

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"

-- Ephesians 4:5

Lets do as Mr. Miyagi says, and "always look eye."  Always look to God for the truth, always follow His chosen Prophets, and always respect what He says, even if we don't understand it.

Have a Firm Foundation, Don't Fall Down

"And now, my sons, remember,

remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer,

who is Christ, the Son of God,

that ye must build your foundation;

that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds,

yea, his shafts in the whirlwind,

yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you,

it shall have no power over you

to drag you down to the gulf of misery

and endless wo,

because of the rock upon which ye are built,

which is a sure foundation,

a foundation whereon

if men build

they cannot fall."

-- Helaman 5:12

The Gospel of Jesus Christ Requires WORK

So some people think we are in a huge depression.  Others think it's just a little recession.  I think it doesn't matter because if you are doing as God would do, He will bless you with everything you need.

Even though we don't always get everything we want when we want it, God will provide for our necessities.  In the Book of Mormon there was a people who took an oath to never take up weapons of war ever again.  These people were called the Anti-Nephi-Lehites, and they had the promised protection of the Nephites.  When their mutual enemy, the Lamanites, came to war against them, the Nephites struggled to defend themselves as well as those who they had sworn to protect.  When the time came that the Anti-Nephi-Lehites wanted to take up arms to aid their brethren, Helaman forbade them lest by breaking the covenant, or promise, which they had made with the Lord, they would have been slain.  However, they had many sons who had not entered into this covenant, and these sons valued the liberty of their fathers, even more than their own lives, and they 'enlisted' to join the army against the Lamanites.  See Alma 53:14-16.

Thus we see that once you say you are going to do something, you need to do it.  We also see that the liberty of the fathers was protected by the hard work that their sons gave in service.  However we cannot look to someone else to fulfill the requirements the Lord has set to enter His kingdom.

When Joseph, son of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, was sold into Egypt, he served in several positions where everything was 'commited into his hand'.  After more than a couple years since seeing his family he was brought before Pharaoh to interpret a dream.

The dreams of Pharaoh, and Joseph's interpretation, are as follows:(the teal is my own interjections)

"And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine(good cows), fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:

And, behold, seven other kine(sick cows) came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:

And the lean and the ill favoured kine(sick cows) did eat up the first seven fat kine(good cows):

And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.

And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears(good corn) came up in one stalk, full and good:

And, behold, seven ears(bad corn), withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:

And the thin ears(bad corn) devoured the seven good ears(good corn): and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass."

-- Genesis 41:17-32

Here we see that everything the Lord does is done by the 'mouth of two or more witnesses'.  He gave Pharaoh two dreams, plus the testimony of a Prophet.  Three witnesses were given that there would be a time of plenty, and then a time of famine.

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God,

that I will send a famine in the land,

not a famine of bread,

nor a thirst for water,

but of hearing the words of the Lord:

And they shall wander from sea to sea,

and from the north even to the east,

they shall run to and fro

to seek the word of the Lord,

and shall not find it."

-- Amos 8:11-12

"Let no man deceive you by any means: 

for that day shall not come,

except there come a falling away first,"

-- 2 Thessalonians 2:3

And thus we can plainly discern,

that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God,

and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness,

and then have fallen away into sin and transgression,

they become more hardened,

and thus their state becomes worse

than though they had never known these things."

-- Alma 24:30

Here we have more than two times that the Lord has told us there would be a falling away, or an apostasy, before His second coming.

"And he shall send Jesus Christ, 

which before was preached unto you:

Whom the heaven must receive

until the times of restitution of all things,

which God hath spoken

by the mouth of all his holy prophets

since the world began."

-- Acts 3:20-21

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren"

-- Deuteronomy 18:18

The famine of hearing the words of the Lord is over, the church that Jesus Christ established has been restored again to the earth, which is the restitution of all things, including the Priesthood which is Authority to perform sacred ordinances in the name of Christ.

We are told to "WORK out your own salvation"(Philippians 2:12), and the way has been shown in the scriptures.  The Book of Mormon stands as SECOND witness of Jesus Christ.  Through the Book of Mormon we find that we must indeed have FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ, REPENT of our sins, be BAPTIZED by someone holding the proper authority to do so, receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost, and ENDURE to the END.

I promise that if anyone is struggling with life right now, be it because of family problems, lack of employment, depression, or addiction, by reading the Book of Mormon for 5 minutes a day you will find peace, hope, and balance in your life and family.

The Tale of the Snoodle

This is a Veggie Tales clip, teaching about how God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Although the young Snoodle, who was very sad, didn't know it at first, he was designed to be glad.

As we move along on the dirty, dreary, dusty roads of life, we can look to Him, who can erase all the strife, for He knows better than we.  And as He hears us, we know that He cares.  For when do we seek Him, that He's not aware??

If we look past the cloud of despair, that others paint for us and throw in the air, we will see that He loves us, and is standing right there, but we must turn around, and just ask Him where.

Where do we need to go??  Where is thy truth to be found??  Where is the safety, from the great storms of life??

The answer will be as it has been in the past, search thee the scriptures, from the first to the last.

ok.... "No more rhymes now I mean it! ... Anybody want a peanut?" (The Princess Bride)

Even though the drinking of Tea is bad because it harms your body, (you can substitute some hot chocolate), the character depicting our Heavenly Father has the young Snoodle wait while He painted a picture.  This is the doctrine of "Be still, and KNOW that I am God." -- Psalms 46:10

We can also KNOW that our Heavenly Father is there for us, by reading His scriptures and Praying to Him asking for Him to tell us what is right.

I know that from reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon, we will find the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and these truths will lead us back to His presence.

Prince of Egypt

So as i studied the scriptures this morning I read a little bit out of Exodus where Moses is born and a few chapters later when he confronts Pharaoh.  I then thought about one of my all time favorite movies, the Prince of Egypt.  It goes through the life of Moses, and depicts how he came to understand and obey the Lord.

One of the best parts is when Moses must use the Priesthood to perform signs and "wonders" and thereby convince Pharaoh to "Let his people go."

I found this video and the words of this song make so much sense, it seems a wonder of its own that Pharaoh would not soften his heart before losing his firstborn son.

I hope we can all listen swiftly to the Spirit, and not harden our hearts against the Lord.  When His Spirit whispers to us that we need to do something, quickly obey and just do it.  I know that by obeying the voice of the Lord we will find greater peace and happiness in our lives, and we will be able to build upon a firm foundation.