Charity never faileth

A few weeks ago I was wearing my favorite skirt. I have noticed the past couple times that I have worn this skirt that it had a small hole that needed to be repaired. Let me just add... I do not enjoy sewing. It has never been a talent of mine, but I do try my best. Well when I went to put my skirt on the other day I remembered the hole and I had a few extra minutes so I decided I would attempt to mend my skirt. I started looking all over for the hole and I couldn't find it anywhere. I was so excited! I went around the apartment showing everyone that the hole had magically been fixed. Then one of the missionaries explained to me that my kind and loving companion had sewed my skirt for me. Say what?! I was so excited, and thankful. Not only was my skirt fixed, but I felt my companion's love for me that she would take time out of her day to fix my skirt!
Often times when we think of service, we tend to think we need to create a huge service project that will be life changing for everyone involved, but service is so much more than that. It is so simple and rewarding to serve someone. Serve someone with a smile, with sewing their skirt, with pulling a few weeds for someone, dropping off some cookies, etc.
President Kimball said " The Lord answers our prayers, but it is usually through another person that he meets our needs." I know this is so true. I think of how many times have my prayers been answered through another person. I remember when I was trying to decide if I should serve a mission. I had been praying and praying and almost felt like giving up, I felt I hadn't recieved an answer and I was very frustrated. One night my visiting teacher came over and shared a scripture with me that she had been reading that morning. She said she had been reading it and felt like she needed to share it with me. That scripture she shared with me changed my life, it is what helped me to decide to go on a mission. It was through my sweet visiting teacher that Heavenly Father had answered my prayers. I am forever grateful for her listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Alma 37:6 says ".. by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" I know that through serving others we will feel happier and we will be able to answer others prayers. I would challenge us all to look for small acts of service daily, pray for them, act upon them, and then thank our Heavenly Father for the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters. God will bless us as we strive to serve others.
1 Corinthians 13:8  " charity never faileth..."

If you are interested in learning more about the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, visit mormon.org and request a visit from local missonaries. God bless.

Trust in the Light

   
" The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?

By day and by night his presence is near.

He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;

This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring."

-Hymn 89 The Lord is My Light

     I am comforted by the knowledge that my Heavenly Father is aware of me and my needs, that like this song says, "The Lord is my light" and because of that I have no fears. When I was younger if anyone would ask me what my biggest fear was my answer was always "death, spiders, or death by spiders" I can honestly say that I no longer fear death. I know that after this life I have the opportunity to live in God's presence and see my Heavenly Father again. I am not saying that death is not hard, it is a major trial in our lives when a loved one dies, but we have the assurance that our time apart is only a small time and as we live righteously we know we can live with our Father in Heaven once more.

   
     “As we exercise faith in Christ and trust in His promises, we can walk into the dark with the absolute assurance that our pathway will be illuminated—at least far enough to take the next step, and then the next step and the next step.” —Elder David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

     This life is not easy by any means, we are all faced with our own trials and difficulites, faith in our Savior Jesus Christ allows us to recieve comfort. When we know that Christ suffered for us, and knows our every sorrow, we know we can take that next step. Sometimes it may feel like we cannot take one more step but by putting our trust in God he will help us. He will carry us through the hard times, he will help us to feel his love all around us. A common phrase my Mission President and his wife use is, " when we know who we are we act differently" I know that I am a child of God, that he loves me, and that his son Jesus Christ was crucified for me. Because of him I can live with my family for eternity. This life is not the end, we have eternity.

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me

Psalm 23:4

I bear my testimony that God knows you, is aware of you, and that he loves you. In the hard times and the Good times remember the savior and his atoning sacrifice for you. I know that Jesus Christ died for me, so that I could have the ability to live with Heavenly Father again and to feel that peace in my life. I know that throughout all my struggles and hard times in life, I can always turn to God, He will always be there for me.

 

If you would like to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Visit Mormon.org and request a visit from your local missionaries. Have a blessed day and remember, God loves you.

 

All that God has Given

  Each of us has a purpose to life, each of us is loved, and our Heavenly Father loves and cares for each one of us as individuals. President Uchtdorf second counselor in the first presidency said "... God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect. Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not. And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does."

  Heavenly Father has given us all talents and abilities, some talents may be things that everyone can see and acknowledge such as musical talents and sports. Others are blessed with the ability to be kind to everyone or the talent of being a hard worker.  The talents we are given are not to be compared with others, God gave us all individual talents. Our talents help us to accomplish our divine purposes here on Earth. 

  As I was growing up I was constantly comparing myself to others thinking how unfair it was that God gave all my friends these wonderful talents and I didn't feel like I had received any. I was unaware that by comparing myself to everyone I was not only creating unhappiness in my life, but I was also telling Heavenly Father I was not grateful for what I was given and because of that I was  unable to live up to my full potential. I no longer dwell in the negative, I try my best to show my Heavenly Father I am grateful for all I have been given by using the talents that he has provided me with. 

  Let us be grateful for the things we are given, let us utilize the many gifts we have been given. One of my favorite hymns is Because I have been given much:

Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,

who has the need of help from me.

Be Grateful for what you are given, God makes no mistakes. Every soul is precious in the sight of God. We have all been given wonderful talents and abilites, let us use our gifts to lift up others and to show our Heavenly Father we are grateful for all he has given us.I know that Heavenly Father knows and loves you he has blessed us with so many wonderful abilities to make the world a better place. Remember, you are not alone. God loves you!

If you want to learn more about The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and your purpose here visit mormon.org to get in contact with your local missionaries.

Children of a loving Father in Heaven

One of the most important things to remember in this life is no matter what, you are not alone.We all have a father in Heaven who loves us so much, is always there for us, and knows exactly the struggles that each one of us is going through. His love for us is so powerful and he desires for each one of us to return to live with him. Through his perfectly laid out plan for us we can achieve happiness in this life and in the life to come. There won't always be happiness, there will be hard times and trials in our lives. These trials will help us to experience true joy and to learn and become the best we can be. When in the midst of a trial it is important to remember our Heavenly Father will be there to carry you and even though sometimes he may not take our trials away he will make our trials and burdens easier to bear. 
Elder Jeffery R. Holland said this of our Heavenly Fathers love for his children:

"Someone or something is forever telling us we need to be more handsome or more wealthy, more applauded or more admired than we see ourselves as being. We are told we haven’t collected enough possessions or gone to enough fun places. … But God does not work this way.

No one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another.

He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all.

He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner.

Walk peacefully. Walk confidently. Walk without fear and without envy. Be reassured of Heavenly Father’s abundance to you always."   

In everything you do remember you are a son or daughter of God. And He loves you No matter what.

Sincerely,

Sister Reid  

To Learn more about Heavenly Fathers plan for us visit Mormon.org and request a visit from your local missionaries.