My Thoughts About Procrastination at 1:00 am.

Recently I began reading Henry B. Eyring's book "Choose Higher Ground". I would recommend it to anyone. Wow. I love this man. Is it bad to have a favourite apostle..? If not, he is my absolute favourite. He is so passionate. Most times when giving a conference address he becomes emotional, even cries and it is as if I can feel what he is feeling—I just know how much he loves Jesus Christ when I listen to him.

This mormon message I came across today is basically a summary of the first chapter of his book. I thought I would share it. President Eyring has had me pondering the topic of procrastination a lot lately.



Choose This Day (lds.org)

Ben and I teach a CTR 7 primary class. It is a blast. We find we are learning and growing a lot as we prepare lessons for the kids. Last week Ben taught the lesson dedicated to gratitude. Recently in our own lives we have seen an out pouring of blessings, financially, spiritually, and physically. It amazes me the strength that Ben and I feel as we pay our tithing and dedicate our time to our callings. 

The more I learn to avoid procrastination and choose to do the things I know Christ would have me do, the more I feel the presence of the Holy Ghost in my day to day routine. I feel the love of my Savior more as I put him first. This is a principle I feel as though I am relearning from my mission. It is as simple as choosing to study my scriptures, choosing to write in my journal, or choosing to roll out of bed at the end of a long day to say a meaningful prayer with Ben before we fall asleep. There are oh so many opportunities to put the Lord first.

A short while ago there was a Southern Alberta Women's Conference. Sister Jody Evanson gave a talk that has stuck with me. A few of her comments that I loved: 

"There are no small jobs in which we serve." 

"Each step we make towards Jesus Christ is no small thing."

"You are no small thing to Him."

These are simple truths. 

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.." -Alma 37:6

I know that each step we take towards Jesus Christ is an important one. Each day we can either choose to procrastinate, or we can choose to follow Him.

May we all choose wisely. 

Love, 

Em

It's been a while.

My Dear Sisters,

I thought I'd better get back to it. It has been a few months since I've posted anything, but I've been having some wonderful adventures.

The temple has been the focal point of my adventures.

And I no longer have to go on adventures alone.

Meet Ben:

The apple of my eye, the peanut to my butter, my best friend, and the love of my life.

We were sealed in the Cardston Alberta Temple on April 9th, 2016.

Having Ben for eternity will be (and already is) the greatest blessing of my life.

I have truly received the richest blessings because of the temple. I know that the temple truly is the House of the Lord. I have received answers to my prayers within its walls, I have felt peace and comfort from the special spirit that abides there, and I have made covenants with the Lord that have forever changed my life and my desire to follow Him.

The Lord has never left us alone—I am so grateful for this truth. He has given us so many resources to feel of His love and I believe the temple is one of the greatest manifestations of His love. 

I've had a few friends preparing to go to the temple for their own endowments over the last couple months and it has been a great blessing for me to be able to bear my testimony to them and remind myself of all the reasons I want to spend more time there. I hope to keep it the focal point of mine and Ben's life together. I truly do love to see the temple.

So I invite you to..

Much love,

Em

Reflection.

My dear sisters,

I've recently found great humor in reading old journals. My oh my, it has been eye opening. Besides the misspelled words and dramatic rants, I have found an interesting reoccurring topic–the gospel of Jesus Christ. It amazes me that I can look back to journal entrees from my childhood and sure enough I share about a spiritual experience I had. It has been humbling to reflect on the blessed life I have lived. I thought it would be humorous and also uplifting to share some of these with you. I have changed some of the names but other than that you are getting an exact quotation. (Try not to cringe too much at the grammar and spelling mistakes) Enjoy!

(This was probably the first time I recognized a prompting from the Holy Ghost. I would have been 10 years old)

June 16th 2004: 

"At school one of my friends Beatrice asked me if I could come to her house so I asked my mom. She works at the school. She said okay. But later I had a BAD feeling I sould not go. I just didn't pay a tenchon. After school I went to her house. First we went inside and we played with her kittens. Then we went to the trees. Beatrice has tons of trees on one side of her house and theres lots of piles of bark. Well Beatrice was up in a tree I was walking past and steped on a peice of wood. I did not know there was a nail in it. I screamed! We both saw the nail it was a big rusty one. Beatrice helped me inside and we went to the bathroom I cleaned it off in the tub. I wasnt sure what to do so I called my mom. She toke me to the hospital. I got a tetnis shot. Later we found out I did not need one cause I got when I was 5. When we got home we looked at my sandle. They are one inch high and it still got my foot. If I was wereing my runners it would have gone deeper. I was aloud to go swimming the next day but I had to clean my foot after. It was one crazy advencher."

(The boy struggle was real even at 12 years old, and I really liked the word really)

June 5th, 2006:

"Yesterday at church we had a stake Sunday school leader come and listen to our Sunday school class. Well I wish he'd  come every week because I've never seen those boys behave so well! Of course I'm the only girl. So I answer half the questions and the four boys take the other half. But last week everyone listened really well and we got to have better more serious discustions. It felt really good because I really did feel the spirit strong."

(Nothing beats spiritual experiences at young women's camp)

August 24th, 2007:

"I just got back from camp and what an amazing experience that was. The second night we were there the girls that were in the other tent called us over to hear Karen talk to us in her sleep. That was funny she is the most bazare sleeper I have ever seen. But the amazing thing happend after the giggles of Karen's confersations. Suddenly we heard coyotes. They were loud and were running close near us. Valorie was sitting beside me and she started to cry. She said to us this "sorry guys I have just had some bad experiences with coyotes" so I had Valorie sobbing in my arms and I looked over at Amanda and said we need to say a prayer for comfort. So she did and after that prayer was finished the Holy Ghost came spilling into the tent and comfort was left were the worry and scared feelings had been. We went back to our own tent and got to sleep after saying our own prayers."

(I have had so many great examples in my life! Especially those siblings and cousins who showed me the blessings of serving a mission and keeping the commandments)

Feb. 22nd, 2009:

"We received word from Mark in an email that he will be transferred to a new area in Utah. Mark is a righteous man. I wrote him and told him that where ever he goes people are going to love him. You know it is amazing to me how perfectly the church works. Young men in suits teaching people about the truths of the gospel and how they can attain eternal life and have an eternal family in Heaven after they die. It is wonderful that Mark is part of that. Today Amy Toth spoke in church. She just came home from a mission in Florida. She is glowing with the  light of Christ. Wow she is ready to live the rest of her life as righteously as she can."

(Funny how I thought life was scary after graduation.. I had no idea what things were to come)

August 1st 2012:

"I really want to keep whats important at the top of my priority list. I may not have a social life but I think being with my sister and family is so much more important. I've been working really hard the last month while my family has been in Calgary at the hospital with Nat. I think I'm just in denial that I am getting to this stage in my life. I am officially a visiting teacher, Amanda (one of my bestfriends) and I are teaching companions and we visit teach Patty (our relief society president). As different as I feel I am feeling good. I want to keep my priorities in order. I want to feel I am accomplishing things and I feel like I can't do that unless I am close to my Savior and doing what Heavenly Father wants me to do."

(This was in the last month of my mission, I just barely read it today and I needed to read this to remind me that the things I was experiencing one year ago apply just the same to my life now)

August 8th, 2014:

"One feeling that I can't forget, and which I think I will continue to feel while on my mission and throughout my life is the overwhelming feeling of the spirit. It keeps me aware of God's love for me, it keeps me humble, and I always feel so grateful for it. Often I just feel like my heart is going to burst. It could be in a spirit filled lesson, or an exciting event like a baptism, or even a small moment no one else is aware of when a hymn I love comes on in the car."

I just want to bear my testimony first and foremost of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know God loves me. Since he loves me, he has given me commandments to follow so that I can come closer to Him. He has blessed my life so much. I am so grateful for every spiritual experience I've had in my life (whether big or small) that has helped strengthen my testimony. 

I suppose now I am going to have start keeping a journal again. The benefits seem pretty grand.

Much love,

Em

What Would A Holy Woman Do?

My Dear Sisters!

I have been so excited about the womens conference that will be taking place on June 20th, "Fresh Courage Take". Looking forward to hearing from Sister Dew and Sister Nelson, I decided I would read a book that each of them has written. In the last 2 days I read a book by Sister Wendy Watson Nelson entitled "What Would A Holy Woman Do?"

WOW! I learned sooooooo much! She discusses her desire to learn more about how we can personally become more holy. She invited many women to try a three day experiment, in which they chose one of their daily activities and asked themself "how would a holy woman do this?" The results are inspiring. I would invite each of you to read this book! (I will lend you my copy!) Starting tomorrow I will begin my own 3 day challenge and later share what I have learned. 

I am grateful for my Savior who is the Holy One of Isreal. He is our greatest example. I know that it is through him that we can overcome our weaknesses and become holy women. 

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you."

-Moroni 10:32

I love you all. 

Continue to press forward in faith!

-Em

CONFIDENCE.

Dear Sisters,

I have been pondering this topic for a long time. I hope I can share my thoughts in a way that will uplift and strengthen you. 

Ask yourself..

What gives you purpose?

What makes you feel of worth?

Do you love yourself?

Do you know who you are?

Do you feel confident?

The world today tries to convince us that vanity and popularity are what give a woman self-confidence. 

But the ways of God are so much greater than the ways of the world.

President Uchtdorf has said,

"Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? Do you think your value to Him changes based on how many followers you have on Instagram or Pinterest? Do you think He wants you to worry or get depressed if some un-friend or un-follow you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think outward attractiveness, your dress size, or popularity make the slightest difference in your worth to the One who created the universe? He loves you not only for who you are this very day but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and the desire to become."

In the scriptures we read,

"Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God."

-D&C 121:45

I believe that our sense of worth and confidence comes from understanding who we truly are, Daughters of God.

God loves you.

God wants you to know of your potential.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

-John 3:16

There is nothing that gives me more faith and confidence in myself and my future, than the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When we repent and are cleansed of sin by partaking of the sacrament our guilt can be swept away.. How can you not feel confident when you are clean and forgiven!!??

We also feel more confident as we are worthy of the Holy Ghost.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

-John 14:26

We can be confident in our choices because we know the Spirit will guide us.

Do you still need some help? 

If you want to grow more and more confident, here are some things you can do:

• • 

  Pray, that the Lord will help you remember that you are His child and that you have an important work to do.

• • 

  Make a list of your strengths and good qualities.

• • 

  Read and ponder your patriarchal blessing, or prepare to receive one.

• • 

  Serve others, and write in your journal how service makes you feel.

• • 

  Eat well and exercise. Your body is a gift from God, and good nutrition and physical activity will lift your mood and help you feel better about yourself.

• • 

  Offer prayers of gratitude, and record your gratitude in a journal.

• • 

  Develop your talents.

• • 

  Keep the commandments.

Remember that confidence does not come by being better than someone else. It comes from knowing you are a child of God and doing what He would have you do.

Please remember who you are!

Remember you are of great worth!

Remember you are loved!

-Em

Carry on.

I am learning more and more everyday that we are not suppose to face the whirlwinds of life on our own. It is only through relying on The Lord that we can overcome our unique trials.

Whether we feel lonely or depressed, hurt or heartbroken, sick or afflicted the atonement and mercy of Jesus Christ is available to heal and comfort us.

I know all of you have your own mountains to climb. I want to share things that have brought me strength, peace, and comfort. I hope you enjoy these quotes, scriptures, and the Mormon Message.

"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."

-Mosiah 24:14-15

"Mortality is meant to be difficult. Opposition in all things is NOT a flaw in the plan."

-Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/mountains-to-climb-2

Carry on Sisters!

-Em

The 21 Day Promise.

Sharing the gospel is exciting but sometimes a little nerve wracking.. 

For the most part I found on my mission that members weren't really sure how to start doing missionary work.

It was while I was serving in Fredericton, New Brunswick that I was introduced to a promise made by Elder Robert E. Wells (of the quorum of the seventy). 

He promised that if you were to make a list of 8 names (both non-member and less active) and pray for them both day and night, while making an extra commitment to follow the commandments of God, that within 21 days at least one would be ready to come back to church or meet with the missionaries.

As you follow the steps outlined in the promise the spirit will guide you in how to reach out and share with these people.

This promise is dependant on the participants faith.

"Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God."

-Alma 6:6

I know that this promise has been fulfilled many times. I saw it come to pass in the lives of many members in New Brunswick and I have also seen it work miracles in my own efforts to share the gospel with those I love.

I invite each of you to exercise your faith. As you follow the instructions and agree to "the promise" you WILL find great joy in missionary work.

 

 

May we all do our part in hastening the work of salvation. 

-Em