The Doctrine of Christ-LOVE

The Doctrine of Christ, if I were asked to sum up the doctrine of Christ in one word it would be Love. Christ lived his life through love, and in what he taught was love. Love thy God, Love thy neighbor, Love thy family.
In 2 Nephi 31: 5-7, These verses describe Jesus Christ's example in showing all children of men how they may come closer to God. In verse 7 it says even though Jesus Christ was holy he “Showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he Humbleth himself before the Father and Witnesseth unto the Father that he would be Obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.” As a missionary you are asked to be as Christ, To S.H.O.W. unto his brothers and sisters how to live and come unto God. I find that when learning, the best thing to do is watch someone first to know how to perform the task on your own. Jesus Christ came among unrighteous men to S.H.O.W. us the way when he had no reason other then love, to do so.
Throughout his life Jesus Christ taught Patience, Forgiveness, Sacrifice, Charity, Compassion, Humility, and much, much more which are elements of love. Though I love Jesus Christ I am not perfect with all of these qualities, but through his example I find the desire and inspiration to be like Christ..
The Doctrine of Christ also talks about Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Recieving the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end. These are the things that bring us closer to our Heavenly Father that wouldn’t be possible with out Jesus Christ and his love for us. With these 5 keys we are freed from Satan’s grasp in enduring to the end. When I have taken the time to take advantage of these remarkable blessings in my life I find myself closer to God and to my home. I know that with these key components (blessings) that we can receive even more blessings when taking advantage of them. They open your eyes, mind, and spirit to love what God has for us, that no matter what experience we go through, no matter what mistakes we have made, that his love is ever lasting. As a missionary i get to share the Doctrine of Christ on my mission, I share that love is the foundation of his gospel.

THAT'S LIFE

        A parable is told of a farmer who owner an old mule. One day, this mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule "braying" - or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sumpathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old bule in the well and put him out of his misery.
        Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But, as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling, and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back . . . HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought "panic", and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING IT UP!
    
        You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him... all because of the matter in which he handled his adversity.
THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity... THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US!
Remember, that Forgiveness, Faith, Prayer, and Hope are all excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!

The Concert

         
   When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, a mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive steinway on the stage. To her horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, who began to innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano and whispered in the boys ear, 'Don't quit... keep playing." Then, leaning over, Paterewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the base part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Perhaps that's the way it is with God.

              What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the master, our life's work can truely be beautiful. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the master whispering in your ear, "Don't quit.... keep playing."
               You may feel his arms around you and know that his hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

              Remember, God doesn't call the equipped; rather, he equips the called.


             

Keep It Together.

Coming together is a beginning;

Keeping together is a progress.

Working together is a success.
-Henry Ford

I sure like that quote!
     How can we use this in our own lives? How many times have we had a friend in need? How many of us have needed help from others? And how many of us know who to go to when we fall down, who will always be there to pick us back up? I know who that is. Our Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ.
     In the Book of Mormon (Alma ch. 14) a Prophet named Alma and his loyal friend Amulek are imprisoned because they spoke of God and that he would send his son among the people and that he would not save them. They also did Testify of the wickedness of the Judge and his priests and the people of the land. The Judge put them into prison and had them beat, stripped from their clothes and gave them no food. The gaurds and the judge continually  spit on them and did mock them for many days, saying "how will we look when we are damned?" and Alma and Amulek suffered this for many days. The judge came back and said "If you have the power of God then come out of the prison!" And at that moment Alma and Amulek were filled with the power of God and rose above the ground and Alma cried saying "How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O lord? O lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in christ , even unto deliverance." And their bands were broken and when the people saw this they began to flee with fear. Their fear did overcome them that they fell to the ground, and the ground shook mightily and the walls of the prison did fall and crumble and the priests and gaurds and people and the judge did perish. With the power and faith in God, Alma and Amulek walked out of the prison walls unharmed.

Alma and Amulek put their trust in the lord, and they went to him with faith knowing that he would deliver them from the prison. Never put God as your last option for help. Always pray to your heavenly father for help, and He will always be there to instruct you of what path you must take. I know this to be true. Through sincere prayer, My life has changed and i feel guided along the right path. Im so thankful for our heavenly father and the miracles he brings into my life. Im thankful for our savior Jesus Christ and How he has made it possible for us to return to our loving heavenly father. Prayer WORKS!

Dont stop.

Imagine you went Scuba diving in the coast somewhere, and you found yourself losing Oxygen from your air tank. Are you going to stay underneath the water, Thinking you have enough air to last, Untill you slowly lose your air, and eventually cant breath?


Or are you going to swim to the top, fighting and kicking through the water to finally reach the surface?



Our lives are too special to waste away. We need to live our life and keep going untill the end! Well what does it mean to Endure to the End?



In the book of mormon, Jesus Christ visits the lost sheep in the land of america. The people which he spoke of when he was in jerusalem. When he was there he told them "Behold, i am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will i give eternal life.' Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me."
What is it that jesus christ is asking of us? To believe on him and follow his commandments to the end. how simple is that! what does he grant us in return? ETERNAL LIFE! What a promise!
George Eliot once said " It is never too late to become what you might have been."
So my friends, if you have messed up in your life, if you feel you arnt in line with your savior jesus christ and your heavenly father please dont give up now. Feeling depressed. hopeless, and faithless  is exactly what satan wants. He wants you to fail. He hates you because you have gone so much farther then he EVER can. Look to the light of our savior, continuely repent and do good.
We all need to keep reaching to the top of our lives! Lets not stop and think we have more time. because we will never know how much time we have left!
I was a boy scout, and if your familiar with scouting you know what the scout motto is....
BE PREPARED!!!!
Lets all be spiritually, mentally, and physically ready for when that great and glorious day shall come. so we can leave everything with no regrets. Knowing that we did our all. Let us all keep on keepin on.

I know that Jesus is the living Christ. i know that joseph smith saw what he said he saw that morning in the forest. I know that Jesus Christ has established his true church once again on the earth through Joseph Smith the Prophet. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet on the earth, in our day. i Know that the Book of Mormon is another testiment of Christ. Ive read it, Ive prayed to know of its truthfulness and i bear witness that i recieved an answer that its true. I know that as Long as i Keep swimming my hardest, i will never fail. Eternal Life isnt a fairy tail, Its so real. So put on your swimming fins and lets all do swim through this journey together.                                                                                                

BE NICE!

Sometimes in life we all think too easily. we dont put out in our words and our actions in how we should. Its really easy to get mad at someone and stay that way. Its really easy to talk bad about someone behind their back. And its especially easy to lose your faith in something if it doesnt workout the way (you think) it should.
i guess what im trying to get at, is that we all need to just smile and be happy. we have to start looking towards the good rather then the bad. Its not easy to do what is right. Thats just how life is. But its truely the way you look at things In life that make your life.
I once read a quote in a book that said "You can either complain that the roses have thorns, Or thank God that the thornes have roses!"

Isnt that great!? what a perfect way to put it! If you want to have a happy succesful life, then your gonna put that extra time and effort to be a happy-attitude of grattitude kind of person!

That kind of love and grattitude grows to you stronger everyday only through our savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the perfect example to me of always having his cup filled "halfway full." He never once complained and always did the will of the father. He lived his life to give us life. He suffered that eternal atonement. That we may come unto him, by doing our best! By being happy and willing. So lets think hard! Lets try our best to be more Christ like! Lets help that old lady across the street when she needs help with her garbage! So dont end the chapter in your book just yet. Lets go out and show our heavenly father that we are Ready to show him what we can do to be more like Christ. Lets go untill the end. Like tim McGraw once said "live like you were dyin."