Simplicity is the Absolute Beauty of Sophistication.

     I once heard a saying that "If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old."  I have come a long way since the beginning of my two years service as an ambassador of my Lord Jesus Christ.  As I sit and reflect over the life changing experiences and knowledge I have gained in my service, a few thoughts come to my mind.
     The first thing that I have recognized is how absolutely SIMPLE the gospel is.  From the time that I was just a child, I learned about God and His Son Jesus Christ.  The principles I learned have been a guideline for everything I do every single day.  I think that sometimes I lose sight of how beautiful simplicity truly is.  Then again, how many different answers are there for one plus one?
     From the basic principles of the gospel, I have found a way to understand myself.  I now know who I am, where I came from, and where I am going after this life.  And this means EVERYTHING to me!  I now know how it feels to say "The truth will set you free."
     I left on my mission with an expectation of finding some perfect answer to all of my problems, to find who I really was, and what I really wanted.  The whole time, the entire two years of my service, the answer was right under my nose.  It was the very gospel that I studied each morning and carried with me wherever I went.  Once I made the proper evaluation through the perspective of eternity, everything began to make perfect sense to me!  I must say, the feeling you get when the Holy Ghost testifies of truth is absolutely spine tingling!
      With this, I extend an invitation to those who are feeling lost, or unsure about who they are.  I invite you from the deepest spot in my heart, to take your questions and feelings to the all powerful Creator of this universe, the one and only true God.  He is infinitely loving and wants you to know the reason you are on this earth.  Don't waste another second wondering, start knowing today!  There truly is a God, and His Son is Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer.
    
  

Dealing With Every Day Problems

     What if I told you that I could help you solve your life's problems?  Seems impossible right?  WRONG!!!  There are solutions to every problem we face, and all we need to know is where to look for answers.  Don't give up, happiness is just around the corner!

     We all know what it feels like to have a bad day, when it seems like nothing is going your way.  You search for something or someone to help you through the pain.  Sometimes you find the answer you want, and sometimes nothing changes.  But there is hope! Hope that the future holds something much greater and better!

     I can testify that there is someone out there who cares about you.  He is our loving Father in heaven who sent His only Son to earth to die for us.  His Son Jesus Christ went through an immeasurable amount of pain so that we could follow His gospel and be cleansed from sin.  I know that if we turn to Him that we will find peace and happiness in our lives.  I have seen it happen a countless number of times in my own life and in the lives of those whom I love and care about. I urge you from the bottom of my heart to repent and turn to Christ!

     There is more power in the Atonement of Christ than we could ever understand.  No matter what problems you are facing in life, Christ can help you through them.  The first step is believing in Him and His atonement!  I know this is the truth, and that Jesus truly did bleed and die for each of us!  We just have to be willing to show Him that we will follow His gospel.  Don't waste another second, start today by learning more at www.mormon.org

     What do the scriptures teach, and why are they so important?  The scriptures teach us about God and His Son Jesus Christ, they are the way that we can strengthen our faith in Them!  Jesus suffered for our sins so that we might repent and become clean again.  I know that this is the only way that we can return to live with God again someday.  I know that Jesus is the true living Christ!

“In the end, the central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ—faith that They exist; faith in the Father’s plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know ‘the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent’ (John 17:3).”  (Elder D. Todd Christofferson; of the Twelve) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Power Up With The Scriptures Today!



"Just like Mario, sometimes we get down....."



     The scriptures are something that I have often studied when I needed help or guidance. They are the words of the prophets who testify of Christ and His gospel. They help me draw nearer to God and bring peace to my life. There is great power in these inspired words!

     One thing I will quickly promise anyone, is that if you will study the scriptures whether it be the Bible or The Book of Mormon, for even a short length of time in your day; you will see a personal application of what you have read. The scriptures apply to all of Gods children whom He loves dearly.  They were given to us so that "we might believe" and have direction in life.



"Let the scriptures be your power up today!"



Luke 24: 27, 32, 45

27 "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." 32 "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" 45 "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."

     I love the feeling or the "burning in the heart" that I get when I read the scriptures. It reassures me of Gods love and the plan He has for me.  I have never been lead astray by the scriptures! They have always brought me to the understanding that I needed.  What greater gift can we find from our Heavenly Father than these scriptures, His amazing word! 

     I encourage everyone who reads this message to spend some time today reading the scriptures. Test it out and see for yourself if you can't find an application or bennefit from what you have read! Go to www.lds.org to read from the Bible or the Book of Mormon if you do not have a copy. To receive a free copy of either of these scriptures, you can go to www.mormon.org and request them to be delivered to your home free of charge.  The Book of Mormon has answers to all of life's greatest questions. Read a section of it today and feel the power of these inspired words!

A Life Changing Experience and a New Identity

     I can't believe how crazy and intense life can be at times.....  But through all of the pain and heartache the world brings,  I have found what life truly means to me.

"I often wonder why these  special  moments  move us in the way they do."-Elder KC Harris-  Why do so many human beings have to experience death and sorrow to understand what life is all about?  Where does the life lessons and mistakes of the past become part of our lives today?  The following is a very personal story of myself and my experience of staring death in the face.  It moves me in a way that I cannot fully understand and I hope and pray that you can find the lessons that I took from it.

     I was attending Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah. I was nearing the end of my 3rd term of the school year. I remember taking lots of tests and being under a lot of pressure to study for each of my exams. Prayer was one of the last things on my mind as I was always busy with school, work, and of course being with friends. I often found myself completely drained and tired at the end of the day. 

The stress of life seemed to build and build until it felt like I couldn't take anymore. On one day I walked into my classroom and waited for class to start. I didn't feel right inside and I started to get queasy. There was a bitter taste in my mouth and I knew I needed to go home and lie down. So I called the school office and went home to get some sleep.

     After a few sick days, my symptoms only got worse. I threw up multiple times a day and I couldn't eat without vomiting later. Over time my throat was so sore that I couldn't even swallow. The pain was so bad that all I could do is lie in bed. I remember experiencing a very painful burning in my chest and just praying that I could stand the pain long enough to fall asleep.

My worried parents took me to see our doctor who admitted me into the hospital. It had been nearly five days since I had gotten sick and we still had no idea what was wrong with me. The doctors had to feed my body through a little tube that stuck into my arm since I couldn't swallow anything. I had never felt so thirsty and hungry in my life!

I remember talking to the doctors about what was wrong with me. They told me I had a severe case of herpes simplex (cold sores) in my esophagus as well as acid reflux and ulcers. In order to help my body fight off the virus they had to give me a chemical that would stop the herpes virus from multiplying. The downside was that the chemical would stop some of my bodies cells from multiplying as well. It was risky, but we trusted in the doctors experience.

My parents and family stayed by my side the whole time I was there. It was a scary thing not knowing if you were going to wake up the next morning. I prayed each day and remember telling God I would accept whatever happened. After my prayers, all of my fears would just drain away. I felt calm and at peace.

     After a few days of the treatment, I started to show signs of improvement. My throat still hurt like nothing I had ever felt before, but I was getting better. It took two weeks before I could start to eat and drink again, which allowed me to finish my recovery at home. I was pale as a ghost and had lost almost 25 pounds.
My parents had later told me how close I really was to dying. If we had waited another day to go to the hospital, my body wouldn't have had the energy to go through the treatment I did. God answered my prayers and the prayers of my family. He was there for me the entire time, I could feel it inside me.  This moment of my life drives me to my knees each day I remember how merciful God was to me and my family.

"And all God asks in return is an open heart and a willing mind..."