Royal Birth

This story was related by one of the 12 apostles during general conference in April this year:

“President Hugh B. Brown, formerly a member of the Twelve and a counselor in the First Presidency, provided a personal experience. He told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”” Elder D.Todd Christofferson

There are times in life we question why certain things happen to us. Our Heavenly Father who understands and cares about us allows us to be pruned  by allowing trials to come our way so that we can be humbled and even  learn to remember him . We may not recognize the result right then, but we become stronger and will continue to grow gradually when we are  patience with our trials. He is the gardner and he knows what he wants us to be. When we are where he wants us to be,and when we recognize his help in our lives we can look back and say”Thank you Mr. Gardner for loving me enough to cut me down”.

In a world full of sorrow and pain we can find true happiness. How? Through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“All who seek full happiness can find it in the gospel of Jesus Christ, taught in His Church. Through Christ’s doctrine, we are taught that we can be part of the great plan of happiness that He has prepared for all of us, His sons and daughters. As we keep His commandments, we are blessed and come to know true happiness. We learn that happiness lies in doing small things that build us up, that increase our faith and testimony. Small things we do in  our everyday lives, such as:           

We are happy as we pray every morning and every night, when we can feel that the Lord hears us and is always willing to bless, forgive, and help us. We are happy as we feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost in our lives—as we feel the Spirit when we have to make important life decisions. We are happy as we go home after a stressful and tiresome day at work to the arms of our families, as they express love and appreciation for us. We are happy to talk to our children, to enjoy the family, to get together on family night. In short, we can feel happiness every day in our lives through little things we do, and we are fully happy as we keep the commandments of a loving God who cares about us.” –Elder Claudio R.M. Costa

True happiness and peace comes from doing the small things(Alma 37:6-7)that will help us draw closer to our Heavenly Father like an apostle of the Lord mentioned-saying our prayers,reading the scriptures,loving and serving others around us,keeping the commandments and constantly thinking of the Savior. Doing these small things can help us get through the trials that we face and make us even more happier. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and he provided a way for us gain that happiness, and its through his son Jesus Christ.

Ive discovered this quote lately and its become one of my favorites;

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”                                       -Marianne Williamson

We are all children of God and his light is within us. We have to let our light shine so that others can learn about him as well. It is through our example  that others can come to know the Savior and our Heavenly Father. We can find that light as we study the scriptures and ask our Father in Heaven for guidance and direction through prayer. The more we learn of him the more we desire to shine his light within us.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. (Mathew 5:16)

What a joy it is to know that Heavenly Father has put us in families!

The family is ordained of God.Its is the basic unit of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father has blessed us with this wonderful blessing. He knew that we will need strengthening and help. Families consists of parents and children.  All of us were placed in each family for a reason. We are all part of  a big family with our Father in Heaven that watches over us.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live (Family Proclamation).

One of the children’s song that I like is about families, you can sing along while watching the video below about families:    

Families can be together forever

I have a family here on earth                                                                                                                                                                                          They are so good to me                                                                                                                                                                                                        I want to share me life with them through all eternity                                                                                                                                            

Families can be together forever                                                                                                                                                                                       Through  Heavenly Fathers plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 I always want to be with my own family                                                                                                                                                                         And the Lord has shown me how I can                                                                                                                                                                     The Lord  has shown me how I can.

I know that families are ordained of God, and I know that through the gospel of Jesus Christ we can live with our Heavenly Father again together   with our families.

Updates on the Hill Cumorah Pageant…the largest outdoor theatrical production in the United States.

Stories from the Book of Mormon acted out by about 700 cast members from different countries. Its an event not to be missed. It tells about the Savior Jesus Christs  visit tothe Americas.

September 29 of 2009 was a day that a lot of the people in the Samoan islands will never forget. Its the day a tsunami hits one of the island-Upolu.

We were getting ready for school that day when the earthquake shook.I remember getting out of the shower and standing there feeling so unsure about what to do. It was the strongest earthquake  I’ve ever experienced in my life. So we finished getting ready for school and then my dad was ready to drop us off.

We heard sirens on the road and I knew that there was something wrong. I got to the school and the kids were told to go back home, apparently I didn’t know that a tsunami already hit the other side of the island. The news was shocking and im sure a lot of people  didnt know what to do.

That night we watched the news and found out that a lot of people have been killed or missing. I remember hearing a lot of stories on the news about how people ran for the higher grounds to get away from the large devastating waves.

As I think about the people that lost their families due to the tsunami, it reminded me of our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ. I remember a mother that lost her three children. Think about how our Heavenly Father felt when he had to give up his son to die for the sins of the world, I know it was hard for him but because of his love for us, he was willing to do it. The Savior suffered all the pain and afflictions  so that he would know how to help us.

 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)

After the tsunami, a lot of the people that lost their homes decided to move to the  higher grounds. We can rely on our Savior Jesus Christ to be the higher ground that we can run to when life gets tough.We can find safety from lifes temporal and spiritual storms by following the Saviors example and seeking higher spiritual ground.

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (St Mathew6:15)

Our Heavenly Father has so many blessings in store for his children. We can gain those blessings when we live according to the standards that he has set for us.

As a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I have experience so many blessings in my life as well as in the lives of others that are members of the gospel. Listed below are some of those blessings:

                                         1-SCRIPTURES:The scriptures teaches us about our Heavenly Fathers plan for us and it also helps us draw closer to our Savior Jesus Christ as we read and study about him in the scriptures. (2Nephi 25:26)

  TEMPLES: We are blessed to have the opportunity to be sealed to our families for eternity.

PRIESTHOOD: It provides confident to know that the same authority that the Savior gave to his apostles was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. The power that seal families together for eternity.

LIVING PROPHET: Our Heavenly Father leads his church through revelations given to the prophet. He reveals his secrets to his servants the prophet. (Amos 3:7)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      KNOWLEGE OF HEAVENLY FATHER’s PLAN: We are taught in the Gospel of Jesus Christ about  the plan that our Father in Heaven set  for us before the foundation of the world. That plan answers the questions of where we were before we came to earth,what is our purpose here and where we go after this life. The plan helps us understand the purpose of this life so that we can do all that we can in order for us to be able to return back to live with our Heavenly Father.

JOY AND PEACE: I have  greater love for this gospel and I know that it is true. It brings everlasting joy and peace to our hearts. It helps us find the path that will lead us back to our Father in Heaven. It is the mean by which we can find all the blessings that our Heavenly Father has in store for us. 

Ou te iloa o le Ekalesia a Iesu Keriso o le Aupaia o Aso e Gata ai o le malo o le Atua i luga o le fogaeleele, ma o le ala lea  tatou te ausia ai faamanuiaga uma na folafola mai e le Alii mo i tatou. Ou te iloa o Iesu Keriso o le alo o le Atua ma olo’o soifua o ia, o ia foi o le maatulimanu o le talalelei.

 INVITATION:You can receive these blessings as you learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ and pray to know the truth of it. And as you come to know the truth, will you follow the  example of the Savior and be  baptize by someone who have the priesthood authority?. You will find peace and comfort in your life as you do so and I know that to be true.

Be Valiant and virtuous

“What does the Lord want you to do? He wants you to be a valiant and virtuous daughter of God, dedicated to living each day so that you can be worthy to receive the blessings of the temple.” (Mary N.Cook)

“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven”. (D&C 121:45)

When Jesus Christ was on the earth he established his gospel. He chose twelve apostles to help himwith his  work. But Jesus Christ was crucified and his apostles were rejected or killed because of the wickedness of the people,so therefore the authority that was given to his apostles was lost from the earth for lots of years. There was spiritual darkness on the earth for a long time. (Amos 8:11-12)

When the time was right Heavenly Father once again reach out to his  children in love. He called a prophet to lead and guide his people. It all started from a humble prayer that was offered by a 14year old boy,as a result of that the heavens were open and Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ appear to him. Ten years later, the same church that the Savior Jesus Christ establish during his earthly ministry was organize for the first time since then. It was organize in a small log home in Fayette, New York. It all started from humble beginnings. That same church has gone to all the world and it will continue to go forth till it reaches all nations.

General Conference reminded me of how much the church has grown. Every six months we listen to the prophet and the apostles speak to us. It is broadcast all throughout the world and it is a great opportunity to be able to listen to their counsel and teachings. So it is coming up this week, and every member of the church look forward to it.

Ou te iloa o Thomas S. Monson o se perofeta a le Atua ma pe a tatou faalogo i ana upu o le a ia ta’ita’i i tatou i le ala  sa’o e finagalo le Alii tatou te ui ai. Ou te iloa o ia o le auauna a le Atua. Ou te iloa o le Ekalesia a Iesu Keriso o le Aupaia e Gata ai o le malo o le Atua i luga o le fogaeleele i aso nei. 

I know that the Lord still call prophets nowadays to lead and guide us. I know that Thomas S.Monson is a prophet of God and if we listen to his teachings he will lead us in the right path that our Father in Heaven wants us to take. I know that he is the Lords servant in these days, and if we humble ourselves and listen to him we will be blessed.