Christ won't ever let you down

You know that feeling you get telling you you need to go up and bear your testimony? Well that's the feeling I got before I sat down to write this post. It's one of those posts where I'm going to be vulnerable, but I strongly feel someone out there needs this and will be able to relate to me. I have learned that the only way we can help others is when we share, so here it goes.

Today in Relief Society, Jenna gave an amazing lesson on the talk by Sister Esplin - The Sacrament - a renewal for the soul, found here. We talked about the sacrament, Jesus Christ, and his enabling power. So you can experience the lesson for yourself, do this exercise that Jenna had us do...

Grab a piece of paper and a pen - write down everything you thought about during the sacrament today.

Got it? Now look at that list and see if everything on there relates to Christ. How could your thoughts have been shifted differently?

Here my notes from this lesson because I feel they are important to share. I'll share my eye opening experience with you in a moment.

Notes...

- The spirit is a dimmer, not a light switch. You have to consistently be doing what Heavenly Father would have you do and then it will grow, but it is NOT an all or nothing type of thing. Sometimes you will feel the spirit more than other times. A testimony can go through several different levels of light, it's important to just hang on.

{For more read HERE.}

- One of Satan's favorite tools is to make us forget the progress we are making and to dwell only on our imperfections. The more he can make us forget that we really are progressing, the more we focus on what we aren't doing and it becomes harder to even try and move forward. Remember you are doing great - just keep going one step at a time. Then look back and see how far you have come.

- Your life is often like a wall of tiles. They are all straight and in line but you may have a few tiles here and there that are a tiny bit crooked, these tiles are so noticeable above all because they aren't perfect, but look at the rest of the wall - it's beautiful! Focus on the strengths and the good in your life and just embrace what you doing because you're on the right track. And the crooked tiles on your wall are more noticeable to you than any one else because you know exactly where they are and where to find them.

- Positive psychology - focus on all the good things! If you are having a horrible day then find one tiny good thing in that day - that is a tender mercy from Heavenly Father - write it down!


OKAY, so here's where I get real...

As others were sharing comments, an "ah-ha moment" hit me so strongly. 

Lately on this blog, I've shared how life is hard for me at the moment. In those moments, sometimes I just cry and feel broken. I have a small amount of depression but I've noticed it's not consistent in my life, only certain things in life trigger it. My mom battles depression and she has been on medication for several years, so I really truly understand depression and believe we are SO blessed to have modern medication, however I choose not to take any. I don't look down on medication at all, and if you take any I have so much respect for you, but honestly it's not the right fit for me. When I have those hard times it's a blessing to me. Those hard moments create a level of humility for me that I can't experience any other way. To get out of those moments, that's one of the things I feel the atonement is for, personally in my life. 

But here's the thing, the past few weeks when I have had these super hard moments, I felt stuck. About a week ago, I spent the entire day crying, reading my scriptures, and praying. I knew the atonement was there and I truly believed in Christ's enabling powers of the atonement but I didn't feel it. I was asking for strength to get through, I was asking to be carried by the grace of Jesus Christ. I was pouring my entire heart out and I felt no relief. I was weak and broken and I just kept thinking "What am I doing wrong?" I didn't understand where His light was in the moment I thought I needed it most. Well, today it clicked that Christ's enabling power isn't always "in the moment". Those moments I thought the pain would just go away after praying, those moments when I felt so sad and alone, I couldn't see him OR feel him, but He was there! Sometimes we have to look back and see it in a different perspective. I didn't feel okay in that moment, but I turned out okay.

Heavenly Father wants to see if you will be righteous even in the dark. When that peace and relief isn't there, can you still move forward towards Christ? That's what matters!

An amazing girl shared a beautiful story that meant the world to me, when she was in the MTC, the spirit left her. She felt lost and broken and was going to go home. She wasn't doing anything wrong, she made a joke, "how rebellious can one really be in the MTC?" She was doing everything so perfectly right and yet she felt nothing! The spirit came back in her life after she proved that she was sticking it out and she kept doing what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would have her do. She didn't give up and she kept living righteously, that's when the sweet spirit shined through once again. It's always on God's time - trust Him!

I too have felt this, I thought I was doing everything beyond right. It was at a time when I was doing the best I ever had, I was making the greatest decisions and I was praying and reading the scriptures more than I had been and the spirit left. I didn't feel the spirit as I prayed and thoughts came into my mind wondering where He was, I kept moving forward and trying harder because I knew how great the sweet spirit felt and I thrive off of that feeling. The more I searched, the more I was tested, it didn't come when or how I expected. I remember the exact moment the spirit came back though and looking back, it wasn't anything I had done on my part that caused the spirit to leave. It was a test. Heavenly Father loves to test us, and the day is glorious when we pass the test.

Christ will not ever let you down. You won't always see Him or feel the strength the moment you expect it, but believe he is there. Have the faith to keep going and keep doing what it takes to be on the straight and narrow path and you will always be blessed and relieved in the perfect moment. Just remember, God's timing is different than ours!

Have you experienced that, where you couldn't see or feel the enabling power of the atonement but you kept moving forward? Or have you ever had a time when you were living righteously but the spirit left you? {I'd LOVE to hear your story - leave a comment!}

5 Ways to increase your gratitude

5 Ways to increase your gratitude

1. Pray

Get down on your knees and pray until you feel grateful and your heart is softened to a place Heavenly Father can heal your heart and remind you of all the incredible blessings He has blessed you with.

Sometimes when I'm in my car, I'll turn off the radio and make it a challenge to pray aloud (there is great power in prayers that have voice) ONLY thanking Heavenly Father without asking for anything in return. Once I start naming a few things I am grateful for, knowledge of my blessings come pouring to my mind and then I feel His love for me in abundance.

2. Keep a gratitude journal

Every night before you go to sleep, write down something you are grateful for. You can simply list one item in your journal a night or you can expand on the blessing. You will soon see everything you have been blessed with is far greater than you expected. When you are having a hard day, you can turn to this list and see how much you have to be grateful for.

I love writing down the tender mercies from my day. One way my faith has grown so much and I have come to know for myself how much Heavenly Father loves His children is watching for God's hand in my life. It's always there, always, and sometimes I make it a point to pray in the morning to have the ability to be aware of how God's hand is in my life. Heavenly Father knows exactly how to speak to you and He will send you a smile, a friend or whatever He sees you need, in His perfect time. Pray to see these tender mercies and then show Heavenly Father how much you love receiving them by writing them down and showing Him they are important and special to you.

3. Make a list of all the blessings that have come from your trials and heartbreaks

Trials come into our lives for a purpose. They are hard and challenging but they always bring blessings. This is what we call a beautiful heartbreak. Sometimes we think we know what we want but really Heavenly Father is the only one that knows what's best for us. Every trial you go through, there is a lesson to be learned, character to be gained, humility to be experienced, and faith to be built. 

Make a list of everything you have gone through that has been really difficult for you. Then start naming everything beautiful that came from it. This may be really hard to see so you may need to pray for some insight but I testify that trials are blessings!

4. Serve

When you stop focusing on yourself and what you don't have in your life, you are able to see life in a whole new perspective. The more you get to know the stories of others and you can serve them with your full heart, you will forget your own life and you will get caught up in helping solve the problems of others instead. You have so much to offer and blessings will become known unto you the instant you forget yourself and serve Heavenly Father instead. 

5. Get outside of your box

It can often be easy to get caught in our own comfort zone and we become confined by all we know. Do something different for a day... walk around a children's hospital, go downtown and take a look at all the homeless people, even something simple like reading a few heartbreaking stories will help you to realize how much you personally have and that there is so much more to life. You have been blessed so much and sometimes it just takes going to a new place or observing the life of another to see just how much you have!

          ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Thanksgiving, what an amazing holiday! A time to be with family, a time to enjoy all the yummy deliciousness (I think potatoes and pumpkin pie are my favorite), and a time to reflect over everything you are thankful for. 

I have been writing gratitude posts on my Facebook page all month long and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me. It was something I just felt I needed to do. Interestingly enough, you'd be surprised how many Facebook friends I've lost because of it. After I noticed this, I started to contemplate if I should keep going and I was guided by my inner voice to stay true to the commitment I had made to myself and to Heavenly Father. As each day goes by, I've been able to also reflect on the influence it has had on others. I have received a few messages because of these posts that have brought me to tears in the most inspiring way.

Every single day I write one of my grateful posts, I pray about what to say. I pray and then listen to know exactly what I should write. These posts aren't planned out and I'm learning more about life and more about gratitude because of these posts. These gratitude posts are made possible through Heavenly Father, after all it was Him that gave me everything I have to be grateful for.

Right now I'm taking a positive psychology class that is completely focused on gratitude and how being thankful has the power to change your happiness and well-being. This class is part of my minor that will allow me to coach and train others in the positive upbeat of life. It's been the greatest experience to be living proof that gratitude really can change your life. 

10 AMAZING talks on trials

Trials bring blessings when endured in faith! Here are my top 10 LDS talks on trials. This is a great list to refer to when you need a little pick me up. 

 I also want to testify that trials are just part of our journey and the more you embrace your trials and count them as the blessing, the greater your happiness will be!

10 talks to bring you peace during trials

1. More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us

By: Paul V. Johnson (Of the Seventy)

"Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way. We clearly understand that an athlete who resists rigorous training will never become a world-class athlete. We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature."

{Read it HERE}

2. Bread or Stones: Understanding the God We Pray to

By: S. Michael Wilcox  (Religion Instructor and Author)

"What we need to understand about our Father in Heaven is that He prefers to prepare us to face the storms of life, the contrary winds, rather than to still them. So if you are past your fourth watch and He has not come, don’t assume that He is not there, that He doesn't care, He doesn't listen, or that you are not worthy. Assume your ship is tight like a dish. You will not sink.  Somewhere in the past of your life, experiences have been placed by a wise and foresighted Father in Heaven to prepare you to face the very things that you are facing. As the lion and the bear came to David, before Goliath, to prepare him to face Goliath, so will lion-and-bear moments come in your lives before the Goliath moments come. Because if your ship was not tight like a dish and you have reached the fourth watch, He will come to you and still the storm. So if the storm is not still, we must assume our ship is tight like a dish." 

{Read it HERE}

3.  That We Might "Not Shrink" (D+C 19:18)

By: David A. Bednar (Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)

"Many of the lessons we are to learn in mortality can only be received through the things we experience and sometimes suffer. And God expects and trusts us to face temporary mortal adversity with His help so we can learn what we need to learn and ultimately become what we are to become in eternity."



{Read it HERE}

4. I will Give Myself to Him

By: Russell T. Osguthorpe (Sunday School General President)

"So, we do all we can to give ourselves to Him—our heart, our will, our soul. The more we follow this path, the more the Lord will bless us with His love. And the more we feel His love, the more we know we are succeeding in giving our will to Him."

{Read it HERE}

5. Your Happily Ever After

By: Dieter F. Uchdorft (Second Counselor in the First Presidency)

"In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."

{Read it HERE}

6. His grace is sufficent

By: Brad Wilcox (Sunday School General board)

"As dark as our trials, sins, and mistakes may appear, we can always have confidence in the grace of Jesus Christ. Do we earn a sunrise? No. Do we have to be worthy of a chance to begin again? No. We just have to accept these blessings and take advantage of them. As sure as each brand-new day, grace—the enabling power of Jesus Christ—is constant. Faithful pioneers knew they were not alone. The task ahead of them was never as great as the power behind them."

{Read it HERE}

7. Lessons from Liberty Jail

By: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)

"In our moments of pain and trial, I guess we would shudder to think it could be worse, but without the Atonement it not only could be worse, it would be worse. Only through our faith and repentance and obedience to the gospel that provided the sacred Atonement is it kept from being worse."

{Read it HERE}

8. Stepping-Stones and Stumbling Blocks

By: Steven E. Snow (Quorum of the Seventy)

"How do we turn adversity into a stepping-stone and not a stumbling block? How can we make a bad experience become a learning experience? Part of the answer lies in perspective. How we choose to lead our lives and how we make faith part of our lives ultimately helps us face the challenges that come to everyone in this earthly existence."

Read it HERE}

9. Mountains to Climb

By: Henry B. Eyring (First Counselor in the First Presidency)

"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions, we can choose the right with the guidance of the Spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape and guide our lives if we choose it. And with prophets revealing to us our place in the plan of salvation, we can live with perfect hope and a feeling of peace. We never need to feel that we are alone or unloved in the Lord’s service because we never are. We can feel the love of God. The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up. And He always keeps His word."

{Read it HERE}

10. Trial of your Faith

By: Elder Neil L. Andersen (Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)

"These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him. These trials are often camouflaged, making them difficult to identify. They take root in our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, our sensitivities, or in those things that matter most to us. A real but manageable test for one can be a fiery trial for another.

How do you remain “steadfast and immovable” during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others."

{Read it HERE}

*Please note the callings listed were the positions held at the time the speeches were given. These callings may not be accurate the time this post is published.

*Photo above credited to LDS Church 

Inspiring others to finish personal progress - young women's - personal progress

Inspiring others to finish personal progress - young women's - personal progress by ashleyfrederickson on Polyvore

Deseret Book Young Women Personal Progress Book Paperback by LDS...
deseretbook.com

Faith is the magic in your Happily Ever After

I was reading from the Book of Mormon today and came across Jacob 1:5.

For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.

And then it hit me.
It's our faith that determines how it all works out.
Faith dictates everything that will happen to you.

Then I read Jacob 2:8 and found this.

And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.

The word of God (meaning the scriptures) have the power to heal the wounded soul.
Yesterday was full of ups and downs for me. Not because my situation is changing,  it's been the same for the past two months but because I either let faith or fear into my heart. I poured out my heart to Heavenly Father yesterday. I thanked Him for all that was right in my life and I cried about everything that I didn't feel was fair. 

He heard me and He loved me anyways.

Have you ever prayed with your whole heart, starting your prayer out with what emotion you feel at that very moment? Have you ever shared everything with Him, the good and the bad leaving out nothing? If not, I dare you to try. I used to feel guilty for sharing my complaints, my weaknesses, my doubts, and everything that made me feel upset or saddened  But you know what, we all have them. It's human. And He already knows your heart.
He can't fix your heart if you don't let Him in. 

Come Unto Christ, think of the picture with no door knob that Christ is standing by. He is waiting for YOU to be the one that lets him in. It takes faith to believe that he is there and he will help you through your trials, but once you believe this it's like a fire that never ends. Believe, trust, and let your faith take you to your happily ever after!

School will teach you to be your own hero

{What Students Really Need to Hear}

As I was watching this video, every single word created a power within, igniting my soul. 
I felt my heart holding onto the reality and truth of these lessons. 
My wish is for everyone to watch this, every single person that has or will be a student!

Looking back on my school days, I loved school! I really did. But it was HARD!
I wasn't the smartest, but I gave it my best.
I didn't get straight A's, but I got many.
I loved learning. I loved writing. I loved math. I loved giving presentations.
I didn't understand everything the teacher taught, but I gave it my all.
I worked hard and put in all the effort I had to offer.

But in reality, as much as I loved the 
self improvement that was associated with an education,
there were days when going to school was rough. 
The socialization that comes with this atmosphere did not come easy to me.
School and I had a love/hate relationship.
I often felt unnoticed, the shy girl that could never seem to have ease at making friends.
Walking the halls alone during lunch on several occasions.
Longing to be a part of something that mattered - a group, a club, a clique.
I think of the days I sat on my bed dreaming of being homecoming queen.
I reflect back on the times I stayed home crying because I hadn't gotten asked to the dance.
Days filled with anticipation for the future,
just wanting to a mom and be done with the heartbreaking teen years.

Moments when all it took was someone to say "Hi" to me in the hall, 
and I all the sudden felt as if all my worries seemed to float away.
Times I would just cry to my mom about friends leaving me out,
or nights sleepovers were happening and I hadn't been invited.

Reflecting back, I was happy, yes absolutely 
100% happy because I was living my life right!
However, life is still full of challenges no matter how righteous
you may be, and as happy as I was, those years were really difficult for me.
These situations and instances were real and heartbreaking,
sometimes I felt like no one ever understood me.
Believing not one person knew what it felt like to be the 
shy girl dreaming of being a cheerleader.

I look back now and laugh. Life wasn't all that hard.
The trials then, they were real and they hurt, 
but thank goodness I went through them.
They shaped me. They built character. 
These challenges and events gave me resilience to many hardships
I had no idea would later on cross my path.

School is amazing! The knowledge that it teaches you is certainly valuable.
But the trials and obstacles that were put on my path were perhaps
the most profitable blessings I gained from that high school diploma.

The lessons I learned from not fitting in taught me to be bold 
and march to the beat of my own drum.

The tears I cried the day everyone was at Senior Ball but me,
turned into a ray of hope that I have the ability to be happy being on my own.

The fears that filled my soul wondering if I could ever be confident,
taught me how to turn my doubts into faith.

The heartache I felt after not being chosen as a police cadet,
offered me an opportunity at rejection 
which would later be an anchor to my unseen future.

Everything I went through, every emotion that I felt, every tear that I cried
prepared me for the shaky roads I would have ahead.
While I have yet to go through every trial I will ever face, 
I am certain that my school days gave me the necessary foundation
I needed to conquer the storms that will come pouring down
in this beautiful roller coaster we call life.

Not only did the lessons I learned in those walls help build resilience in me
for the adversity in the years ahead,
but they have created valuable experiences to prepare me to be a better mom.
I've been there, I've felt that and I can now help and comfort my children
when the day comes in a way I wouldn't have been able to without those trying times.
Am I grateful I faced all the heartbreak and loneliness?
Yes! Absolutely! I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I will be able to cry with my daughter when her heart gets broken,
because I too will know how that feels.
I will be able to practice patience when she feels like giving up, 
because I know the lessons she is going to learn and the character she is going 
to develop as she fights the trials of her young student years.

God is a fourth watch God

I can't stop watching this video. 

The scripture reference:

Matthew 14:25-33

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer ; it is I; be not afraid. 
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid ; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith , wherefore didst thou doubt ? 
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 


Why did Peter doubt? He was walking on water and Christ was right in front of him.
If I was in his shoes, would I doubt?
Sometimes Heavenly Father puts us in the toughest situations.
Sometimes our heart doesn't match the path that Heavenly Father has us on.

As I read the words in verse 25 "in the fourth watch of the night", the thought "God is a fourth watch God" instantly popped into my mind, which then immediately reminded of this talk. 

As it says in this talk, a fourth watch God means He is watching us toil or row through our trials all the way till the night is over. Sometimes that can feel like an eternity. Sometimes just ONE of the minutes of your hardest trial can feel so agonizing and you feel as if you will never make it through. Trials you are waiting on to be lightened, patience of waiting for everything to work out and fall into place like you have been promised and.....nothing. You start to doubt, you start to cry, you start to wonder why Heavenly Father is there crying with you but He's not doing anything about it.

"When the trials aren't over and the blessings don't come, don't assume that He is not there, or He is not listening, or He doesn't care, or you're not worthy. Always assume you have not yet reached the fourth watch." - Michael Wilcox

You take the trial these apostles had just gone through and it wasn't UNTIL the fourth watch of the night that Christ came to them. Christ is always there to carry us and lift us up, if we don't doubt and if we live in faith - that's when we can actually walk on the water.

Faith is powerful, faith can move us to do great things!
Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need to go through to shape us into the people
we are meant to be. 
He isn't going to let us fall. He's with us every step of the way.
Trials are excruciating yes, but oh so very rewarding are miraculous! 
And once you get past the trial, we too can be like Peter and God will give us a chance to walk on water!

Bring on the war

In Institute yesterday, we were talking about how God is the only one that knows your thoughts and knows the true intentions on your heart. 

Alma 18:32 - "And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning."

It was then brought up that Satan can't read your thoughts at all. He can put thoughts into your mind, (like doubt, temptations, immoral thoughts, etc.) but after these thoughts are placed into your mind he has NO idea what you're doing with them. He doesn't know if you are dwelling on them. He doesn't know if you're playing and tossing these ideas in your mind and considering acting upon them. He has no idea what you're doing with them UNTIL you choose to act upon them. 

Satan places a thought in your mind, he sits back and waits to see if you act upon it, that's when he starts jumping up and down with excitement saying, "Yeah, I got one!"

So how does Satan know your weaknesses? He knows them because of past actions. He sees what you do and how you respond to situations and he watches very carefully to know what he can do to trigger you the next time. But he will never know if you have a thought you're tossing around in your mind until you actually do something about it. HOWEVER, Heavenly Father knows. He sees it all. Jesus Christ knows, that's how he helps and carries you through it all.

I was listening to the greatest talk this morning. It's called "The difference one can make" by Larry Johnson. It's been my favorite talk ever since my very first days at Seagull Book. This talk is about a young boy by the name of Kent Williams, and the influence he has. Every time I listen to it, I can't wait to become better! I evaluate my life and decide on something to work on. This statement from the talk hit me hard today  - "I'm in an all out war against Satan." Kent would write in his journal about ways he was improving and things he could work on. He worried about every little detail in his life and wanted to become as Christlike as he possibly could while on this earth. He wanted to use every single talent and gift Heavenly Father blessed him with to take on this war against Satan. 

As I've been thinking about the example of Kent, I've been reflecting on my own life and what talents I'm not using and what messages my every day actions are sending to Satan. 

How does Satan view you without knowing your thoughts? Does he see you as a strong and faithful servant? OR does he see you as someone willing to bend and break if the right temptation were to come along?

It's the little things that actually matter. I know Heavenly Father has blessed me with an incredible talent of writing notes and crafting little gifts to take to people and just let them know they are loved. I have been slacking. I know Satan watches the little things I do or the lack thereof. He sees the little things that tempt me, like speeding to get to class on time. The more he sees what I am or am not doing, the more he knows exactly what thoughts and temptations to feed me. If I want to win the war against Satan, not only do I have to strive to be Christlike in every single moment, giving me more protection against Satan and drawing me closer to the Savior. But I also have to be aware of what Satan is and isn't seeing in my life. It was like an "ah-ha moment" for me. 

The fact that Satan doesn't know what we are thinking and will never be able to read our minds is such an incredible protection we are being blessed with. It's a way to have greater power over what buttons of yours he can push. If he sees you aren't living in faith, he knows it's the simple little things that can push you over farther. However, when he sees just how dedicated to your faith you are, and when he can actually see the armor of God you are wearing, he's not going to tempt you with the big things because he can fully see he's not going to win. He looses his power.

Commit to being in a war against Satan! What things do you need to add to your life? What gifts and talents have you been blessed with that you haven't been using? Satan is watching your every move and when he sees you forget to read your scriptures, even if just for one day, he knows you don't have the strength you need to fight him and that's when he can start to control your mind with doubt and pride. It's the little thoughts we have moment-to-moment and day-to-day that create our words and our actions.

Let the attributes of Christ work within you and become apart of who you are! The less you act on even the littlest temptation like dwelling on fear, the more Satan will see that he is never, ever going to win! You can have complete POWER over Satan when you choose to adhere to every principle, standard, and commandment that the gospel requires.

Make the Savior your absolute best friend, not Satan. Jesus Christ wants nothing more for you than ultimate happiness. He would do ANYTHING for you. He has already given you the greatest gift you will EVER receive. 

Veterans Day - Thank you to our Veterans & their loved ones

{Pictures from November 11, 2010 at the Veteran's Day Parade}

Being in the Miss Murray Royalty, I had the opportunity

of serving pancakes at IHOP for their

annual Children's Miracle Network fundraising.

I came across this man who was eating alone and so

I sat down to tell him about

Children's Miracle Network and the purpose behind it.

As we started talking I soon found out that this

man was a veteran.

He had served countless years and made so many sacrifices

as he was fighting for our freedoms.

He started to tell me of some experiences he had gone through

and my eyes filled with tears.

I told him "you are so brave, I can't imagine how hard that

must have been or the courage that it must

have taken to fight"

He just looked at me and said

"It was worth it for me and you to have freedom".

This man stood before me as happy as could be.

That moment has really stood out to me.

I want to find ways to thank Veteran's for the freedoms that I have.

I am so lucky and so thankful to live in America!

How can we value our freedoms more?

We don't always have the opportunity to come across a veteran and have

personal conversations with them but when we do it is such a glorious day and

an amazing opportunity to make a difference,

just by simply saying thank you!

I know many incredible, dear friends who have given 

so much for the every day freedoms of this country.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Words can't express my gratitude.

I don't just thank you this day, I thank you every single day.

Although this a day to honor you, it's vital you know how much

you're appreciated every single day of the year.

And thank you to the loved ones of these brave men and women,

thank you for the sacrifice you make so they can serve.

Thank you for your strength, your courage, your devotion, and your faith.

May you be blessed for the tears you've cried, the patience you've endured,

and the loneliness that must be at times so hard to bear.

I wonder if I would have the great strength that you so faithfully express.

Thank you!

Also watch this - A Veteran's Day Special from Music and the Spoken Word