Have you Given Thanks Today?

Luke 17:11-19

 

  11 ¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

  12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

  13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

  14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

  15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

  16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

  17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

  18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

  19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.                                                     

I Love the story of the 10 Leapers. As a Junior in high school one of my young woman's leader taught of this story and challenge to us to be more thankful the coming week. I took that challenge to heart. When I went back to school the next day I was determined to thank all of my teachers for the time and effort they spent on helping me to learn. During the week I always said Thanks before I left the classroom all but one responded back with a "You're Welcome." The one always seemed shocked when I told him thank you.

At the end of the week, as I exited his classroom he said " You know in my 30 years of teaching I have never been thanked once until the start of this week." I was shocked and he could tell as he said "it meant a lot to be thanked".

I thank my Heavenly Father for all the many blessings he pours out on me daily. And for the Savior Atonement for it is only through him that we can return to our Heavenly Father.  I am grateful for the gospel and for the knowledge I have that Families can be together forever.

So again I ask Have you Given Thanks Today?

Laughter is the best Medicine

In preparation and mostly excitement for the coming General Conference I have been rereading former Conference Talks.  This week as I read I came across a Talk I Love.  Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the October 2008 Conference gave the talk called “Come What May, and Love It.”

In the talk he tells of a tough football game lost and and how after telling his mother of the disappointment she gives him the advise to "come what may and love it".

He goes on to give some ways in which we can learn to love even through the hard times. One of these ways is to learn to laugh. "Have you ever seen an angry driver who, when someone else makes a mistake, reacts as though that person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors all the way back to Adam? Or have you had an encounter with an overhanging cupboard door left open at the wrong place and the wrong time which has been cursed, condemned, and avenged by a sore-headed victim? There is an antidote for times such as these: learn to laugh."

While going through last transfer I somehow hurt my back. I was in so much pain at one point I couldn't move. I went to the doctor and was put on medication to help me relax but would make me a little drowsy. After returning to the apartment I fell asleep only to be woken up by my companion. She told me we needed to go to our dinner appointment and just kept explaining and talking to me. After what seamed forever I interrupted her and said, " I don't know what you just said but I'll get dressed."

My companion started to laugh and I asked, "why are you laughing at me?" She responded it's just a little funny, but you can either be embarrassed now and laugh later or just laugh now. I realized that she was right either way I was going to laugh. So "The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable"

I know as we try to laugh and look for the humor in or own lives that we will be happier and we will learn to Come What May and Love It.

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=2fd5a0ad4843d110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Why Come on a Mission?

To be completely honest I never had the desire to serve a mission. From the Time I was in 6 grade I wanted to go to College study Nursing, work in a Hospital, find "Prince Charming", and then start my own family.  Those were my Plans and as we all know if you want to hear God laugh just tell him your plans. So as a Sophomore in High School I was able to get my patriarchal blessing. I was told during that blessing that I would have the opportunity to serve and would serve a mission. I remember thinking No Heavenly Father I don't want to serve a mission.

 Shortly after graduating form High School nothing felt right. I wanted to go to college and study but it just felt wrong. I decided that working and saving some money would be the smart thing to do. Later that year some trials come up in work and while talking to my Father one day he posed a simple question. "What do you want to do with your life?" Before I could even think I heard myself say "I want to serve a mission."

I couldn't believe what just came out of my mouth, since the day I told my Heavenly Father I wouldn't serve it hadn't even crossed my mind. In the coming weeks and months as I prayed to know if it was right it just was confirmed that I should go.

Even as I walked away form my Parents at the Airport I knew I should come, though I didn't know why. I knew I would miss my Family so much but I knew that as I took that leap of Faith and Trusted in the Lord I would be blessed.

My testimony has grown and I know that the Lord is there and watching over me daily. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I'm grateful that I get to bear my testimony daily. I know the church is true. I know the Lord knows whats best for us. As we trust in him and he will direct us on our daily paths. I'm grateful for the gospel.

That is why I'm I came on my mission to share this amazing Gospel with others so they could experience the Joy and Happiness the gospel brings.