Wise Men Still Seek Him

     I've seen this sign up in many homes and I've always enjoyed it. Now there is even a video to go along with it. You hear this all the time during the holidays, but this video truly makes you think about the reason for the season. Enjoy it and then go and do something for someone else during this wonderful time of year! Have a very Merry Christmas!

My Christmas Gift to Everyone- The Book of Mormon!

     You see me post things about The Book of Mormon all the time, right? Why do you think I would do that? Well here is the reason... Watch the video and see how it changed this man's life. Then request a free copy and see how it can change your life for the better! Think of it as a free Christmas gift to everyone. 
I promise it will bring you more happiness as it helps you to come even closer to Jesus Christ. Now that's a good gift!

Now get your free copy. Just click here!

Back to the Basics- Baptism

     Jesus Christ taught us in the New Testament, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5) In this post I am going to focus on being "born of water." To be 'born of water' is to be baptized. Baptism is a ceremony in which you are "buried in the water" (only for a quick second) and then you come out of the water. Baptism serves as a symbol of your old life passing away and being "born again" as a follower of Jesus Christ. An important aspect of baptism is that it must be performed by the proper priesthood authority (3 Nephi 11:21). In a sense, the authority is like having God's permission to do something in his name. Baptism is also the first covenant, or promise, that you make to your Heavenly Father. In this covenant, you promise to do three things:
1. Be willing to take Christ's name upon you.
2. Always remember Jesus Christ.
3. Keep his commandments.
The cool thing about making a promise to God is that when we keep our end of it, he will ALWAYS keep his. When we are baptized we promise to do our part (the 3 things listed above), and in return our Heavenly Father promises us certain things as well:
1. We are washed clean of our sins! It's literally like having a clean slate.
2. We can have the Holy Ghost (aka Holy Spirit) to be with us always. (I'll talk more about this in the next post.)
     So baptism is the first step you make in following Christ. It shows your willingness to be obedient and follow God's commandments and in return it brings great blessings into your life. Imagine being forgiven for all of your sins and anything bad you have done. That is the power of following Jesus Christ. Take that step of faith and follow him by being baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority authority. I promise it will be the first step you take to finding true happiness in this life.
Want to learn more about this?? Click here to chat with missionaries online or request to have them come to your home. I know it will be a good experience for you!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

     I have been writing a lot about the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and there is more to come shortly, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving and the holidays I think it is so important to remember what we have and what we are grateful for. We take too many things for granted nowadays and it's important to reflect on ALL that you have been blessed with and give thanks to God. Enjoy the video. It's one of my favorites.

Back to the Basics- Repentance

     Hopefully you read the last post I wrote about Faith. If not, I would recommend that you read that one first because the gospel of Jesus Christ builds "line upon line," (2 Nephi 28:30) and I'll reference it in this blog post.  By now, hopefully, you have followed Alma's counsel found in The Book of Mormon and put it to the test. You have "experimented on the word" to see if it was good and have cared for your faith "as a seed" by giving it the spiritual food it needs. (If this sounds confusing read the last blog post)

     You have felt your faith in Christ begin to grow as you have learned more about him. As your faith continues to grow you want to be more like Jesus Christ and follow him. The first step you can take in following him is to repent. Let's first define what this means... "Repentance is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin AND turning to God for forgiveness."

     I love that definition, but I have an easier time applying something if there are steps for me to follow. The following are six basic steps required for true repentance. As you read these remember that it is not a checklist of items to be crossed off after you have done them once. Rather it is a lifelong process in which each of the steps are repeated many times througout your life.

1. Recognize that you have sinned and feel true sorrow.
2. Stop doing the sin and try your best to never do it again.

3. Confess your sins to God and ask for forgiveness. Also ask others you may have hurt for forgiveness.

4. Make restitution. Do all you can to correct any problems you may have caused.

5. Keep the Commandments. In addition to stopping bad things you must also do good things.

6. Remember the Savior. The most important part is to remember that forgiveness comes because of Jesus Christ. Without him, we cannot be forgiven. That's a big part of why it is so important to have faith in him. He makes repentance possible for us all because he suffered and died for us.

     As you try your best to follow Christ you may still fall short. Don't get discouraged, but remember that through sincere repentance you can be forgiven.

Want to learn more? Click Here!

Back to the Basics- Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement

     First things first. What is faith?? Faith is a hope or a belief in that which you can't see. For example, I have never seen Jesus Christ, but I firmly believe he was a real person that lived and died for me and you and everyone. It was important that he died for us because without his sacrifice we couldn't be forgiven of our sins and make it back to our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ's suffering and death for us is called the Atonement.
     Now it's time to learn how you can build your faith. A prophet in The Book of Mormon compared faith to a seed. Think about what you would have to do in order to make a seed grow:

1. Plant the seed. -----> It must have a place to grow.
2. Give it water and plant food. -----> It must be fed.
3. Place it in the sun. -----> It has to be in a place where it can receive light.
4. Continue to care for it. -----> Without more water, food and light it will die.

Those are things you must do in order for a seed to grow. So what about faith?

1. Plant the seed. -----> You have to make a place in your heart for faith to grow.
2. Give it water and plant food. ----> Just as a plant needs food to grow, faith requires spiritual food (The Bible and Book of Mormon, prayer, etc.).
3. Place it in the sun. -----> You need to be in a place where you can receive 'spiritual light' or learn more about Jesus Christ. After all, you must learn about him before you can have faith in him.
4. Continue to care for it. -----> You must continue to 'feed' your faith in order for it to live.

      As you learn more about Jesus Christ you will see your belief in him grow. Just like a seed it will require time, work and patience on your part, but in time you will find your small 'seed of faith' can grow from a small acorn into a giant oak tree! I know that to be true. If you already have faith in Christ, strengthen it. If not, begin today by learning more about him. I know as you do this your faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement will grow. I know Jesus Christ lives and loves us. I know he died for us so we can be forgiven. Now it's up to you to learn the same thing for yourself.

     If you have any particular questions you can message me on Facebook or click on any or all of the following links to learn more.
What is Faith?
Faith in Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ and His Atonement

Back to the Basics

     I remember playing basketball from a young age and I learned so many different things about the game. Even after learning many new things though we always got back to the basics and I think it's about that time for my blog. I have written a lot about the gospel of Jesus Christ and after talking about so many different  things I thought it would be good to get back to the basics and reinforce the fundamentals.

     Over the next month or so, I'll be posting blogs about topics such as Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, and the Holy Ghost. If there are any other things you would like to learn about feel free to shoot me a message on Facebook and then be ready to learn!

A Second Witness Clears Things Up

     Every six months we get to hear from the prophet, apostles and leaders of the church in General Conference. The most recent was at the beginning of this month and I really enjoyed it. The following excerpt came from a talk that I loved (Click here for full talk.). Shortly after hearing it we were talking to a man who couldn't understand why we would need The Book of Mormon. It showed me just how much we DO need a living prophet on the earth.

      "Why is the Book of Mormon so essential if we already have the Bible to teach us about Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian churches in the world today when they obtain their doctrines from essentially the same Bible? It is because they interpret the Bible differently. If they interpreted it the same, they would be the same church. This is not a condition the Lord desires, for the Apostle Paul declared that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). To help bring this oneness about, the Lord established a divine law of witnesses. Paul taught, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1).

The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church.

What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses.

Again and again the Book of Mormon acts as a confirming, clarifying, unifying witness of the doctrines taught in the Bible so that there is only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

   My guess is that you may now be more curious about The Book of Mormon. To learn more you can talk to me on Facebook (see my blog's homepage) or you can get a free copy for yourself by clicking here. When you get your copy take the time to read and pray about it. Ask God if it is true and you will come to know that it is a Book from God.

The More You Feed It, The More It Will Grow

     The other day we were walking around when we saw a guy that was carrying an albino burmese python, basically a big snake for those that aren't familiar with reptiles. I was way excited to see it seeing as my brothers and I had many pet snakes at home. Well I got talking to Elder Bond a bit about the snakes we had and how we took care of them, etc. One thing that came up was how much to feed them and how it related to their growth. With snakes, as with most anything living I would guess, the more you feed it, the more it will grow. If you were to feed a snake less than it really needed, hoping it could get by on that amount, its growth would come along very slowly, if at all. It would be foolish to believe that a snake, or anything else, would grow if you didn't give it the proper nurtrition that it required. Later it clicked in my head what this meant in relationship to all of us spiritually.

     Often times we try to make our faith grow while only feeding it when it is convenient, which in my experience, is hardly ever. This occasional nourishment will not do the job. If you truly want your faith to grow you must feed it more. You must "feast upon the word" (2 Nephi 32:3) and "pray always" (2 Nephi 32:8). If you do these things I can promise that you will see your faith grow. And just as with the snake, the more you feed it, the more it will grow!

There Is So Much More to See

     Recently we went hiking on the Big Horn Mountains here in Lovell and it was a blast! We had hiked down a trail and come to Porcupine Falls (the picture on the right), which I loved! After walking around for a while though we saw that we could climb up another trail that would give us a different perspective. After we climbed up to this point we saw that there was so much more to be seen (the picture below is taken from that point). It was cool to see the same place from two different perspectives, both of which were gorgeous. I wouldn't say one view was better than the other or that one took away from the other. Instead it allowed me to see things that I may have otherwise missed out on. That's exactly how I feel about the Bible and The Book of Mormon.
     During our hike we had seen one beautiful perspective but that didn't mean it was the only one to be seen. In 2 Nephi 29:7-8 we read, "Know ye not that there are more nations than one?...Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another."

     The Bible is great and I love reading its words. I also love to read more of God's word in The Book of Mormon. I love to compare and see how both offer a new insight or perspective. One doesn't take away from the other but they work together hand in hand. So give The Book of Mormon a try and see how it can build your faith in Christ just as the Bible has. As you read from its pages you will find that there is so much more to see!

Grandfather's Journal- Learning From Your Ancestors

Genealogy is one of the fastest growing hobbies in America and people are becoming very interested in learning about their families. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I believe that this work is very important to help us in this life and for the life to come. See how this man learned from his ancestors and think of you can do the same thing for yourself. Learn more about your ancestors for free at familysearch.org.

Below Zero

     Growing up in Texas I didn't experience very cold temperatures and it definitely never got below 0! In fact I didn't really know that it got below 0 anywhere. It just hadn't occurred to me. Well during the last year I got pretty familiar with temperatures that had a negative sign in front of them. I really didn't want to experience the cold; I enjoyed the heat and wanted it to stay warm because that is where I felt comfortable. I felt like I had never been so cold in my life when the winter arrived. I didn't think my body would ever be able to handle temperatures below 0, but somehow I survived it and I'm still alive and kickin'. Plus I learned an important life lesson.
Often times we want to stay where we are at because it is familiar and we are comfortable. We don't want to go through the "refiner's fire", or in this case the refiner's freezer, because it won't be easy. But that's not what our Heavenly Father wants for us. He knows that we all have imperfections and it often requires us doing hard things in order to become better. That's what this life is about. We face opposition and things that we may not be comfortable with but they give us experience and end up working for our good. So if you feel like you are having to do things that you don't want to or like life is just too hard, remember that I, Elder Huntsman, was able to survive an Eastern Montana winter. If I can do that then you can face any hard things you may face, especially when Jesus Christ is on your side.

Heard of Joseph Smith Before??

Many of you may have heard of Joseph Smith in your history class or from a friend that is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but you may not know much about what he did or who he really was. This movie goes through much of the life of Joseph Smith and will give you an idea of who he was, what he did and why we refer to him as "The Prophet of the Restoration." Enjoy it, I know I did.

Take Advantage of the Blessings Available to You

     During this time of year in Wyoming we get a fair amount of mosquitos and they drive me nuts. I have never really liked them and I don't think I ever will. As we got home the other night I was thinking about those nasty bugs and on my desk was a bottle of permethrin, an insect repellent that we had been given to protect ourselves from the mosquitos and other bugs. I thought to myself, "You have what you need to avoid the mosquitos, you just have to use it!!" And then it hit me...

     To be able to avoid the mosquitos would be considered a blessing to me and if I would use the tools, like permethrin, that I had been given then I could have experienced the blessings of no mosquito bites.

As followers of Christ, our Heavenly Father has given us many good tools to help us experience the full blessings of this life. Some of these tools include the scriptures and prayer just to name a few, but how often do we leave those tools unused and then miss out on those blessings available to us.
Would you want to get bit by mosquitos if you could avoid it so easily?  I wouldn't! So why not use the spiritual tools we have and see the blessings that come from taking advantage of them.

Use those spiritual tools you have been given, such as prayer, and experience the happiness that comes through following Christ.

Wanna Meet a Mormon??

     There are so many misconceptions out there about "the mormons." People will make claims sometimes that we have horns, we don't use TVs or we can only ride bikes, just to name a few. But those claims simply are not true! Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly called "Mormons", are everyday people who have families, jobs and they probably face a lot of the same problems that you do. That may not be what you have heard, but watch this video and you may find that you are very similar!

Wanna Meet More Mormons?? Click Here.

Batman and The Book of James

     So what in the heck do Batman and some scriptures in the Bible have to do with each other?? Well if you're familiar with Batman then you probably know about the villain Two-Face, and if not, then maybe you've at least heard of being "two faced." I was reading the other day in the Book of James in the New Testament of the Bible and this thought of being two faced came to my mind. In James 3:10-12 we read,

     "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh."

     How easy is it to be like this? I think really easy. When you are around your parents maybe you "yield fresh water", but when you're with you friends you "yield salt water." James tells us, "these things ought not to be." We shouldn't put on one face for church and then another for work and a different one when you are among friends. Rather we should be true followers of Christ at all times.

     You may be able to deceive some people by being two faced, but remember that God knows who we truly are and he sees us at all times. So do those things that would be pleasing to your Father in Heaven at all times and don't be a Two-Face!

God's Words Never Cease!!

     God, your Heavenly Father, loves you so much! He wants you to be happy and have success in this life. That doesn't mean that everything will go just as you want it to, but he will do all things for your good. One way that your Father in Heaven shows his love for you is by giving you his word. This includes the Old Testament, New Testament, and The Book of Mormon. But his word doesn't stop there; your Heavenly Father has again called a prophet on the earth that speaks God's words to us today and you can know that that is true! Pray about it and you will receive an answer. As the Bible says, "Ask and ye shall receive!"

What's missing??

     It's so easy to get caught up in money and possessions nowadays, but there is never enough to satisfy that hunger. We always want more, more, more. We search for those possessions or promotions that will quench our deepest thirst, but it's never enough. So if money or possessions won't fill that desire then there must be another piece that's missing. What is it?? Jesus Christ!
     Christ taught the women at the well that, "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14) If you will 'drink of the water' that Christ has to offer, you will find your deepest desires fulfilled. You can find true happiness just like the people in this video. Hear their story! It's awesome!!

Wanna See What I Do??

     A lot of y'all know that I'm on a mission, but my guess is that you probably don't really know what I do out here in Montana and Wyoming. In this video you can get a little preview of what I do and why I do it. Then if you want to you can even meet the missionaries like me that live near you. Just click here. I can promise you that the message they share can and will change your life. Give them a try, there's nothing to lose.

Life Isn't Easy

     It's probably been 6 years ago that I went to a church camp in San Antonio, TX. My counselor there was a tennis player for Texas A&M University and he had a big impact one me, probably more than he knows. He told us how he had decided that he was going to serve a mission. He said that he had not particularly wanted to serve a mission in the past, especially since he was playing tennis at Texas A&M. He had a bright future there and didn't want to stop that by leaving for two years. Then he told us that he saw a picture of Christ in someone's house that had a big impact on him. Next to the picture were the words, "I never said it would be easy. I said it would be worth it."

     It hit him pretty hard and got him thinking and it did the same for me as he related his experience. Life wasn't meant to be a cake walk. The Book of Mormon tells us that , "There must needs be an opposition in all things." We have to experience good and bad. It will be hard a lot of times, but just as the picture said, it will be worth it. So when you are facing a tough time and you feel like you can't go on, remember that it will all be worth it! You will grow through your trials and challenges. Christ will help you and strengthen you.

Stuck In a Rut??

     I've had a few experiences with being stuck in ruts during my life. Some were physical ruts on the road and others have been of a more spiritual nature, but they all had something in common. All of them have  seemed so easy to fall into but they aren't so easy to get out of. I still haven't had to drive in too many ruts here so I have no advice as for the ones on the road, but I think I have an answer for how to get out of the spiritual ruts.

     I feel like I usually got into these ruts because I didn't put much effort into my spiritual growth; I would simply "go through the motions". It can be so easy to do that, at least for me. I was going to church and I would listen but I didn't seem to be moving much of anywhere and for a long time I didn't understand why. Then one day I was reading the Bible and I came across a scripture that made a world of difference. It was James 1:22-

     "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

     For so long I had been hearing the word but I usually wasn't being a "doer of the word". I wanted the spiritual growth without putting in the work. It was like I wanted to get strong without exercising. How often do you go to church, sit and hear, but then you don't do anything to make changes?? Personally I think this is how it was for me most of my life. I was stuck in a rut where I went through the motions... until I learned this lesson.
     Since learning this I have tried a lot harder to do the things that I hear and it has made a world of difference to me. I can see myself growing spiritually as I apply the things that I learn. So if you feel stuck in a rut and you need a way out, do some work. Still be a hearer, but then go and DO! If you will follow the things Christ taught and apply the lessons you learn, you will see yourself moving out of those ruts and onto a greater path that will lead you closer to the Jesus Christ.
   

Moments That Matter Most

I love this video! Take the time to slow down today and appreciate the things that matter most!!

Faith and Exercise

     This is something that has been on my mind a lot recently, maybe because it's something I am always trying to work on. In Alma 32:27 it tells us to exercise our faith. So let's see how exercise and faith can relate to each other.

     1. They both require action.- You can think about getting strong all day long, but until you actually go and do something you won't gain any strength. I've thought to myself many times about how I'm going to work out so hard one day and then I'm too lazy to get up and actually do it. John Burroughs put it best when he said, "The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention." So if you want to build your faith don't just think about it, but get up and work on it!

     2. Use it or Lose it!- At one time or another in your life, you may have been really strong or in great shape. I used to be in good running shape. I loved to run! But over time I quit running and now I wouldn't do very well if I tried to run a mile. Our faith is similar. At one point you may have had a lot of faith, but now you are 'out of shape'. Remember that just because you have faith at one point doesn't mean that it will last forever. You must maintain your spiritual strength just like physical strength.

     3. You can see the results.- Over time as you exercise, you can see your muscles grow and that can motivate you to keep working. As we build our faith, we find more joy and motivation to learn about Jesus Christ and we want to continue to "exercise our faith."

     Just like exercise it isn't always easy to put in the work required to gain strong faith, but over time you will see the results that come and it will all be worth it. So try a little harder today to "exercise your faith". Serve someone else, read the scriptures, or pray and you will begin to see your faith grow.

Same Team, Different Jersey

I love this video! Sports and the Gospel of Jesus Christ just go together, at least if you ask me.

Huntsman Family Motto

Most of my family (my sister, brother-in-law,

sister-in-law, and neice are missing though).

    

     Growing up I thought that this was the most lame thing ever! I didn't get why we would have a "family motto". My parents would make us say it regularly and it drove me nuts for some reason but over time it stuck with me and I can still remember it. This is how it goes-

     "I will honor and respect the Huntsman name which means:

H is for happiness. (We are a happy family.)

U is for united as a family. (We work together.)

N is for noble. (We have high moral principles.)

T is for trustworthy. (A Huntsman can be trusted.)

S is for sealed in the temple. (Married in the temple for eternity.)

M is for missionary minded. (We share the gospel of Jesus Christ!)

A is for ambitious. (We have a desire to succeed.)

N is for Never A Better Family!" (There isn't a better family! At least for me.)    

     Looking back I'm grateful to remember this and it makes me want to better represent my family's name. Family is so important and I don't know what I would do without them. Take the time to appreciate your family this day and let them know how much you love them!

Marshmallows and Patience

     You are probably wondering what in the heck marshmallows have to do with being patient... Well watch the video and it will all be explained. Then try a little harder today to be more patient. I know it's not easy, but keep working on it!

Want To Leave the Past in the Past??

     It seems to me that when we want forgiveness, we are often the last person to forgive ourselves. We can be our own worst enemy at times. We will hang on to our mistakes even when others may have completely forgotten them and forgiven us. So can you ever really be completely rid of your sins and mistakes? Can they really be gone for good? The answer to this question comes from the Bible in 2 Corinthians 5:17.

     "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

     Think about it like this- You are a board that is perfectly whole, but when you commit a sin a nail is pounded into you and you are no longer perfect. You recognize that you have sinned and you want to be forgiven. So you sincerely repent and ask your Heavenly Father for forgiveness. Then what happens to the hole in the board (your sin)?

     Some people may think that the nail is removed, wood putty fills the hole and it is re-finished. On the surface it may look good, but deep down it would still have an imperfection. Luckily that's not how Christ's Atonement works! Rather when we sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness the old board with a nail hole is "passed away." The old, imperfect board is gone and you "are become new." You are again a perfect board. You can be perfectly whole again! So choose today to leave the past in the past. When you have repented you can be "a new creature" and move on to a better and brighter day!

Live In Thanksgiving Daily

     I know that it's far from being Thanksgiving but it sure doesn't hurt to be grateful for what you have every day! Today take the time to appreciate all of the small things around you. Be grateful for something you normally take for granted. It will make you more happy as you are more grateful. Enjoy the video!

Who Am I To Judge Another?

     Think about the words of the following hymn and watch the video. They will inspire you to be better!

"Who am I to judge another when I walk imperfectly?

In the quiet heart is hidden sorrows that the eye can't see.

Who am I to judge another? Lord, I would follow thee."

      Do your best today to be less judgemental and follow the Lord. It will bring you happiness!!

You Are My Hands

     In a recent General Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf related a story that really hit me. I was reminded of it a few weeks ago when a missionary talked about it again and I wanted to share it with you:

     "A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”

     There is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation. That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples."

So along with that message, today I would challenge each and every one of you to do your best to be the hands of Christ in someone else's life. Go out and serve someone else and I promise you will be more happy! I know that this is true.

Can Ye Feel So Now?

     The other day I read a scripture that just seemed to hit me. It comes from the Book of Mormon in Alma 5:26:

"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"

     At one point or another most of you have experienced your personal conversion and I'm sure it was great for you! You could probably feel of the Savior's love for you and you knew that he was there, but over time that can wear off and that's where this scripture comes into the picture. If you have felt the Savior's love and "experienced a change of heart", can you feel that now? If you can't feel that anymore I have a few ideas to help.
     1. Read the scriptures- Throughout the scriptures we read of Christ and we know of his love for us. Reading about Christ in the scriptures is a great way to feel that again.
     2. Pray- Communicating with your Father in Heaven is a great way to experience his love because as you pray, you also receive answers. Prayer has often helped me feel of the Savior's love.
     3. Be Grateful- Take the time to count your blessings and you will see just how much your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you. You will begin to see all of the blessings you receive from them and I promise, they are many!
     So if you have felt the love of your Savior ask yourself, "can I feel so now?" If not, or even if you just want to feel it more in your life, take the time to do these things and see what a difference they can make in your life. I know they have made a great difference in mine! I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ, lives and loves us.
    

Families Can Be Together Forever - Part 3

The temple is a great blessing to us all because we know that our families can be together forever. Watch this video and learn more about the blessings of the temple!

Families Can Be Together Forever! - Part 2

     As many of you may know, my older brother just got married this last weekend and that was obviously an exciting time. One of the best things about it all though is that he and his wife were married in the temple. When a couple is married in the temple, they are sealed together as husband and wife for time and all eternity. A temple marriage is never "till death do you part", but rather it is a marriage that can last forever. What great comfort that brings to know that death is not the end. While we may temporarily be seperated by death, we can be together again one day with those who we love the most!

Want to know more about the temple? Click here.

Families Can Be Together Forever! - Part 1

     "Till death do you part" has always been a tough thing for me to imagine. You go through life with your spouse, learn and work together, and raise kids, and then after you die it's all over. It just never seemed right to me. You may have wondered if there is such a thing as a 'forever family'. Well I'm here to tell you that there is and your family can be together forever! This is only possible through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. When God again called a prophet on the earth, one of the many things that was restored was the sealing power. We read in Matthew 16:19 that Christ gave this power to Peter:

     "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

     With these priesthood keys again on the earth, marriage doesn't have to end at death. Your family, whether you have one now or not, can be together forever through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!

More to come soon...

Good News!

     It seems like it can be tough nowadays to find good news. When you turn on the TV everything tends to be about war, murderer and any other terrible thing happening in the world. It seems kind of like there isn't much good in the world. Well that's where the Gospel comes into play. The word gospel actually comes from an Old English word meaning "good news" and that's exactly what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about! Despite all of the hardships and trials we face there is good news because of Jesus Christ. I know that this is true and it brings hope to us all!

"If a Man Die, Shall He Live Again?"

     With Easter being so close I have thought a lot about what it means and why we really celebrate it. President Thomas S. Monson gave a talk in April 2010 regarding the Easter holiday and I wanted to share part of it with you:

     "Centuries ago the man Job—so long blessed with every material gift, only to find himself sorely afflicted by all that can befall a human being—sat with his companions and uttered the timeless, ageless question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Job spoke what every other living man or woman has pondered.

This glorious Easter morning I’d like to consider Job’s question—“If a man die, shall he live again?”—and provide the answer."

     He went on to explain the Savior's sacrifice for us all and then added the following.

     "No words in Christendom mean more to me than those spoken by the angel to the weeping Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when, on the first day of the week, they approached the tomb to care for the body of their Lord. Spoke the angel:

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?

“He is not here, but is risen.”

     Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place—the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed.

The empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again."

I too know that this message is true! During Easter remember that Christ is risen. He died for us all and was then ressurected that we too may rise one day. I am grateful for my Savior and all that he has blessed me with. If you want to know if this message is true, ask your Heavenly Father in prayer and you can know that it is!

Happy Easter!!!

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

     I couldn't put this in any better way so just watch the video and remember why we really celebrate Easter. The eggs and candy may be nice but they pale in comparison to our Savior's sacrifice and ressurection. Enjoy!

Flecks of Gold

     One of my favorite talks from the last General Conference was by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He presented a question and then related the following story that I'd like to share.

How can we free ourselves from this tangled web of challenges and uncertainties to find peace of mind and happiness?

Oftentimes we are like the young merchant from Boston, who in 1849, as the story goes, was caught up in the fervor of the California gold rush. He sold all of his possessions to seek his fortune in the California rivers, which he was told were filled with gold nuggets so big that one could hardly carry them.

Day after endless day, the young man dipped his pan into the river and came up empty. His only reward was a growing pile of rocks. Discouraged and broke, he was ready to quit until one day an old, experienced prospector said to him, “That’s quite a pile of rocks you are getting there, my boy.”

The young man replied, “There’s no gold here. I’m going back home.”

Walking over to the pile of rocks, the old prospector said, “Oh, there is gold all right. You just have to know where to find it.” He picked two rocks up in his hands and crashed them together. One of the rocks split open, revealing several flecks of gold sparkling in the sunlight.

Noticing a bulging leather pouch fastened to the prospector’s waist, the young man said, “I’m looking for nuggets like the ones in your pouch, not just tiny flecks.”

The old prospector extended his pouch toward the young man, who looked inside, expecting to see several large nuggets. He was stunned to see that the pouch was filled with thousands of flecks of gold.

The old prospector said, “Son, it seems to me you are so busy looking for large nuggets that you’re missing filling your pouch with these precious flecks of gold. The patient accumulation of these little flecks has brought me great wealth.”

Those little flecks of gold in our lives can often seem insignificant, but over time they add up to bring us great wealth. Don't give up on what you're doing because you are only finding 'small flecks'. Over time you will find see just how much those small flecks make a difference in your life.

Choose This Day

     Choose today that you will be better. Choose today to quit a bad habit. Choose today to serve someone. Choose today that you will follow Jesus Christ.

What Do Mormons Believe??

      I'm sure many of  you have wondered at one time or another, "Austin is a 'Mormon'. What does he believe??" Well if you have ever wondered that, I'm here to present you with a simple and clear declaration of my beliefs as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is found in the Articles of Faith which are 13 statements that summarize our fundamental beliefs. These are all things that I have found to be true and you too can find out if they are true; just pray and ask God.

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Another Testament of Jesus Christ

     The Book of Mormon is a book you've probably heard of and you may have even taken the chance to flip through its pages once or twice. So what is it exactly? Why do we have it and what is its purpose?

If you have ever wondered about these things, watch this video and hear all about it.

     Just like these people, I too know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have read it and prayed and asked God if it is true and like millions of others, I received the answer that it is! One of the last prophets to write in the Book of Mormon gave us a neat promise:

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort (encourage) you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:3-5)

It's that simple. If you will pray and ask God sincerely if the Book of Mormon is true, he will answer you by the power of the Holy Ghost. You will feel in your heart and know in your mind that it is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it strengthens my testimony of Christ just as the Bible does. You too can know that it is true, all you have to do is ask.

 

Opposites

We all, in one way or another, experience opposites in our lives: happy and sad, care free and stressed, hot and cold, and the list could go on. We know that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy, and so why does he allow us to feel sadness? The Book of Mormon gives us an answer to this question in 2 Nephi 2:11.

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so... righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad."

This scripture helps us to see that without sadness, we wouldn't know happiness. If we were never stressed, we wouldn't know what it was like to be care free. And if we didn't know what was wrong, how would we know what was right? We can see that there is a purpose to all of the opposites that we face in life. We will all go through valleys or low times in our lives but they help us to appreciate the mountains or the great times of our lives. So remember that all of the tough times you face will help you to appreciate the good in life. I know that our Heavenly Father is watching over us and he desires for us to be happy. He knows us each individually and he loves us!

Things That Matter Most

     With another General Conference quickly approaching I have reflected on the lessons that I learned during the previous conference 6 months ago. My favorite talk was called "Of Things That Matter Most" given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. He related a story about airplanes and turbulence:

     "Have you ever been in an airplane and experienced turbulence? The most common cause of turbulence is a sudden change in air movement causing the aircraft to pitch, yaw, and roll. While planes are built to withstand far greater turbulence than anything you would encounter on a regular flight, it still may be disconcerting to passengers.

What do you suppose pilots do when they encounter turbulence? A student pilot may think that increasing speed is a good strategy because it will get them through the turbulence faster. But that may be the wrong thing to do. Professional pilots understand that there is an optimum turbulence penetration speed that will minimize the negative effects of turbulence. And most of the time that would mean to reduce your speed. The same principle applies also to speed bumps on a road. Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions."

     I love this comparison! It's so easy for us to speed up and try to do more than we can, and this often results in skipping out on the things that matter most. So what is it that we should focus on? What is it that really matters most? President Uchtdorf talked about four key relationships we should focus on, but I'd like to talk about two of them.

     The first is our relationship with God. God is our loving Heavenly Father and we should seek to build our relationship with him just as we would with our earthly father. To do this we can read his advice and his words given to us by prophets and in the scriptures. We can also talk with him directly through prayer and receive answers back.

     The second is our relationship with family. We know that our families can be together forever and that is a great blessing. President Uchtdorf gave a few suggestions about how we can strengthen our family relationships: "We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship."

     I know that as we will slow down and focus on the things that matter most, our loving Heavenly Father will bless us and we will be more happy.

     I love watching General Conference because of the messages like this one. It is something that strengthens us and will bring us closer to our Father in Heaven. I promise that as you watch the upcoming conference you will be strengthened just as I have been!

"Look Not behind Thee"

     I know that it isn't New Year's but I still love the message that is contained in this video and it is a principle that applies to us at all times of life. We can leave our past behind and look forward to the future because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It will be bright as we make the choice to follow Christ.

How To Be Happy

     Where does happiness really come from? How can we find lasting happiness? Those can be hard questions to find answers to with everything in the world today. Sometimes we try to find it through money or possessions, but that is not the way. So then where can we find it?

     In the Book of Mormon we read, "Wickedness never was happiness. (Alma 41:10)" That is about as straightforward as it gets if you ask me. When we disobey God's commandments we aren't happy. Another thing we can understand from this is that righteousness always is happiness. When we choose to follow Christ and to do what he would have us do, we are truly happy.

     We see examples of this throughout the scriptures but I have one particular favorite. After Christ appeared to the people in America, everyone united in their efforts to follow him and we see the blessings that come to them because of their obedience to God.

     "And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." (4 Nephi 1:15-16) 

     It is clear to see that when we follow the commandments and do what our Heavenly Father wants us to, we find true happiness just as the people here. It isn't always easy but if we will "give away all [our] sins" and try our best to follow Christ, we will experience true and lasting happiness.
I know that this is true and you can too. Pray about it and give it a try. I promise that as you follow Christ you will feel more happiness throughout your life.

What's Going On?

Many of you probably remember me saying that I would not be on Facebook or have a blog when I left on my mission. Well, our mission was selected as one to use the internet as a tool to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a missionary my purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ and that's exactly what we are doing online. I will regularly post to my blog and be available on Facebook for one hour each day. The messages I share will invite everyone to come unto Christ and to find the true happiness that comes through following him.