Faith

Thoughts on Being a Child of God

In prep for my RS lesson I was wondering if you would mind sharing with me when you first gained a testimony of being a child of God and what this knowledge has done for you...how has it changed your life?

Also if you could please share scriptures or thoughts that helped strengthen your testimony of being a child of God.

If you can just leave a comment!

Thanks!! :)

Splish and Splash Sprint Triathalon!!!

Today I completed my first triatholon!!I competed in the South Davis Rec Center Splish and Splash tri!

Why this one?...Why a tri?

Well this one because I am terrified of swimming in a lake...afraid of drowning...I like being able to touch the wall every 25 yards. yep a slight wimp I am. Plus it was good timing to get the feel for them and know better how to train and what todo for the rest of the year.

Why a tri? I needed a new challenge. Everyone says I should do a full marathon...but Im not mentally ready. So this was my new challenge see what I can push my self to do.

How it went:
* I loved it!!!
* Times to come
* The swim was out of control. People jumping in the pool to start every 20 sec. People swimming on top of one another. I cant tell you how many times I got hit or hit someone. At least we are all doing so no need to feel bad!
* The bike was way fun. Though I probably shouldnt have pushed it so hard. But I figured I need to learn to run after biking hard. (Change in training coming soon!) The funnest moment was waiting for the train. A good rest. Though we only had a mile left.
*The run....Well I never knew my legs would forget how to listen. After the bike my legs wanted to peddle not run forward. A little challenging. And they made us run on the sidewalk...bad race planning there.

AND MANY MORE TRIS TO COME!!!

Enjoy the pictures and slide show. My parents get carried away taking them!

Family History Work

I have always been proud of my pioneer family history. My mom and her family are direct decedents of Wilford Woodruff (yep my moms madden name is Woodruff) so I guess I am too!! I love the strong heritage from which I come from, strong believers of out faith and examples of Christ. (My only complaint is that Wilford Woodruff was so good at journal writing, I cant help feeling guilty that I am not so good at it myself.) I have this secret desire to have a physical trait that is from Wilford Woodruff.

But enough that rambling. My ward is preparing to go to Martins Cove this summer and to learn about the rescue party and how we serve as rescuers through temple work. Part of the preparation has been the challenge to begin to do our family history work. So I decided to go for it.

Let me say this I never know it could be so overwhelming!!! I have spent months finding times and today I took them to temple to printed off and be ready to go. I am so excited to be able to do their work.

What excites me is that I have found a few names in the Woodruff/Delightstocking line. For whatever reason I cant help but feel that I am giving back to my wonderful Great Great Great Great Grandpa by sealing his family to him. He was such an influential leader in church history, a strong president of the Church and a wonderful example to his family and now I have a way to give back to him.

I know its silly but I am loving that I am able to do this and am excited to start the work.

Thank you wonderful bishopric for challenging us to do this.

Pray for You - Jaron and The Long Road to Love :: Official Video

OK OK I get it....this has to be the most pathetic post ever.

BUT...... If you ask me its just good old therapy. You know praying to forgive people is all good and that. But at times I would prefer this kind of prayer towards exs. (Or at least those the reached an all time low in the getting even after a break up game.)

I have to say I love this video!

Advice from Elder Busche

I want to share with you a vehicle, an instrument, that I developed some time ago for myself and for my family. It can assist us to reach our focus as we read the suggested vision of true discipleship as a Latter-day Saint. It helps when, from time to time, we ponder and seek identification with the following thoughts:

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.

* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.

* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.

* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.

* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.

* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.

* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.

* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.

* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.

* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.

* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.

* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.

* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.

* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.

* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.

* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.

* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.

* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.

* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

Thus, we prepare all the days of our lives, and, as we grow, death loses its sting, hell loses its power, and we look forward to that day with anticipation and joy when he will come in his glory.

To Watch the Amazing Video click on the post title, it will link you to the You Tube Video

Missionary Work

My singles ward has been encouraging us to be involved in missionary efforts. Ill admit I have always held back on this. Partly because I have worked in sticky situations where I never felt able to be a member missionary. But I know this is no excuse.

On Sunday our Ward Mission Leader spoke to us. He suggested easy ways we can use the internet to share our beliefs:
1) During Conference Post on Face Book you are watching conference
2) After Conference post your favorite talk
3) Post the Mormon Message videos to your Face Book or Blog pages
4) Post talks, scriptures, etc to your Face Book or Blog pages
5) And what ever you can think of.

I have decided to take him on this challenge. I have posted links to a few Mormon Message videos on my blog and facebook. I would love to post the actual video on my blog but when I tried the video took over the page covering the side bars. If any one has suggestion or knows how to fit the vidoes from youtube onto your blog I would love to know how!

Oh yea the pictures are of my brother Elder Prince on his mission in Louisiana! In short this is my shout out for missionary work and missionaries. Three cheers to Missionaries! We Love You!