"I'd Rather Talk About His Humanity"

One of my favorite movies is Chocolat. I like it because it directly addresses something I used to struggle with. For a long time I thought that Heavenly Father demanded perfection, strict adherence to every commandment, and rigid  boundaries against anything that was evil. I was hard on myself and others for imperfection. I was not completely heartless! But I was far more focused on obedience than love. In the film Chocolat, the young priest addresses a small town congregation on Easter morning. He says,   

I'm not sure what the theme of my homily today ought to be. Do I want to speak of the miracle... of our Lord's divine transformation? Not really, no. I don't want to talk about His divinity. I'd rather talk about His humanity. I mean, you know, how he lived his life here on Earth. His kindness. His tolerance. Listen, here's what I think. I think we can't go around... measuring our goodness by what we don't do. By what we deny ourselves... what we resist and who we exclude. I think we've got to measure goodness... by what we embrace... what we create... and who we include.

I have pondered on that concept. My perspective on Christ and following Christ has changed. While obedience played its role, Christ did a lot of things (more things?) that reflect this kind, tolerant way of treating people: all people. I imagine His kindness was experienced more than His wine to water type of miracles. He looked like a normal person, not an angel. He did normal person things like eat and sleep. I'm sure He didn't always smell good! For me, this is encouraging. I believe that He lived a sinless perfect life, I do not try to lessen His glory. However, I like it when I can tell  He lived in a hot, dusty, bug-y, smelly world. He was tempted and experienced fatigue and hunger and he did it over a lifetime, not in one day!

A few scripture excerpts for you, although I'm sure there are better ones...

Roughly quoted...

" He... Sat at meat" (Matt 9:10)
"He... took her by the hand" (Matt 9:25)
"He... plucked ears of corn and ate" (Matt 21:1)

etc.

Champion good! What do you see of Christ's humanity in the scriptures?

Shadowing

My dad worked on projects in the garage. So, I would just kind of sneak in through the door and watch him. Then I would inch closer and watch him. Then I would grab a screw driver and watch him. Then eventually my dad would let me help. By the time the job was finished, I felt equal ownership in the final result. My Dad and I were a team!

My mom worked on projects in her office or in the kitchen. Same technique. Watch, listen, inch inch inch, watch, get to help! Once I was helping, she would put her hands on mine to guide how much paint I put on the brush or how much pepper I put in the soup. She would show me the recipe or explain how she wanted the paint job to look. I got better and better at figuring out what she had in mind.

My brother worked on projects in the backyard. He thought BIG. Usually I had small ideas."Let's gather sticks and pretend we are building a fire!" My brother would load up his backpack and some bologna sandwiches and we would go camping! The two of us would try and fail to make a fire by rubbing sticks together. (Imagine my brother furiously rubbing the sticks together, his nine-year old frame struggling with the endurance factor, "I read about it in a book! It works, I swear!") We would hunt crawdads, put our makeshift fishing lines in the creek, build a shelter out of pine branches, and wish we were real outdoors men. Usually this would last until it was time for dinner, but it felt real! Why pretend when you can do the real thing?

I like to think of living the gospel of Jesus Christ as 'shadowing' Heavenly Father (God) and His Son, Jesus. The process is gradual. We start out just being curious and peeking in to watch them work. Then we inch closer and pick up a tool. Once we have volunteered, they are willing to take our hands in theirs and guide our work. It doesn't always look as good as their work, but they're happy we are helping! They show us the recipe or their vision of what the finished product will look like. Usually, their ideas are much bigger than ours. We have to leave the comfort of our backyard and go adventuring! But, it makes life real. It gives you stories to tell and skills to share. You grow to become, think, and do what they do.

Champion Good! Shadow God for a day!

Accepting Help

Yesterday my companion and I were driving through neighborhoods trying to find an address we had written on a little notecard. The road we were on was on the outskirts of town. Because it was all squeezed into a small grove there were lots of little, secret side streets that looked like they had been  after thoughts. With all of the side streets and oddly ordered house numbers, we were lost.

We could not find the street.

We could not find the number.

After driving slowly down the street, inspecting every mailbox number and house number, we decided to turn around. Normally, I would have my companion Sister C. get out of the car and help back me up. However, since it was just a small turn around, I rationalized that I could do it without help. I thought that there was just some grass behind me.

I slowly backed the car. I couldn't see anything. I just trusted myself that everything was okay.

Then I shifted into drive, turned the steering wheel and pulled forward. I was actually able to see what had really been behind me.

What had REALLY been behind me? What had I REALLY risked by not asking for help?

A huge stack of bricks and a telephone pole. No joke. I could have completely destroyed the car. Why did not I ask for help?

Life is far to complicated and risky to navigate without help. I think it is worth the work to be worthy for God's guidance!

Champion Good! Pray and listen for God's guidance!

Be a Doer of the Word

A few weeks ago I was sitting in church.

I was trying to focus. I wanted to keep the sabbath day (Sunday) holy by feeling close to God in church.

I was busy listening to the music and trying to think about Jesus Christ.

 The first speaker got up and started to address the congregation. While trying to internalize the speaker's message, I heard little footsteps running behind me. Then I turned and saw the chapel door open and close.

All dressed up for church, a little boy from the row behind me had escaped from his mother's grip and dashed out of the chapel!

His mother was helpless as she tried to handle her newborn baby and not disturb the church meeting. She wasn't able to get up and run after her disorderly son.

The thought crossed my mind to get up and go fetch her son so that she wouldn't have to worry about it. However, I changed my mind. "No. I should stay in church and listen to the speakers! Isn't that what church is for?"

I struggled with myself, trying to make a decision. Should I help or should I stay? What would God expect of me? I decided to get up and go help her, but I was too late. I heard the strong confident steps of another young mother go out to retrieve the boy.

As I was sheepishly reconciling my thoughts after this, I realized that Jesus Christ would have left his pew in  a heartbeat to go help the young mother.  Back in his day, there was a similar situation. He saw a man who needed to be healed. Even though it was the sabbath, he healed the man. Others thought that Jesus was acting inappropriately for the Sabbath. He answered them saying,

"Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" (Mark 3:4)

Christ was right. I submit that we all work more on 'doing good' and less on feeling holy. Other-centered is always better than self-centered. If it worked for Christ it will work for us!

That is what church is for.

"...Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only... Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world"

(James1:22, 27).

Champion good! Do good!



Not of The World

Dreaming, time stops, deja vu kind of moments happen to us all. Here is an example of one of my own.

It was a bright afternoon on a busy street in downtown Winchester, Virginia. I had just finished choir practice and was walking down the street towards my car. Normally there was traffic at this time of day, but there was a momentary lull. The street was silent and abandoned. As I walked, I heard beautiful, distant singing. It was a superb, high, woman's voice. As I tried to understand the words and find where the voice was coming from, I saw a white convertible turn the corner at the end of the street. I heard the voice more clearly and I realized that it was coming from the car. The man driving was listening to Italian opera! It was so beautiful! The car's appearance seemed to fit the angelic sound of the woman's voice. It was sparkling in the sun. The combination made the concrete parking garages and threadbare townhouses of downtown Winchester become ethereal. I reveled in the beauty of the moment. As the pristine white car approached and quickly passed me, I hungrily drank in the music, the car, the thrill! In an instant, the car passed by and the music faded. Traffic resumed and the dream was over.

I have never forgotten this.

Christ described himself as being "...not of this world." He said, "...Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world" (John 8:23).

Maybe being in His presence is like drinking the gorgeous music coming from the white convertible? Perhaps we only have small moments of exposure to His actual nature to motivate us to seek for more? Perhaps when we are following Christ we have a similar effect on other people? We seem out of place and unrealistic but in a priceless way.

I think so.

Champion Good!

Moment of Truth

 

Hi, my name is Sister Biggs and I have gained weight on my mission.

No really! I have! I have gained about ten pounds. There are two reasons for this change. #1 I am not as active. #2 I eat as though I was still active.

Nobody likes feeling bad about their body. Usually, I do not. However, gaining some weight was making me feel down. I was particularly panicked when my clothes started getting tighter. So, I knuckled down and decided to lose some weight. I have tried a couple of times before and failed. This time I promised myself that I would keep picture records of my progress so that I could share it with you! So, here I am keeping my promise.

Day 1 picture

Here is the book that I used to set up my exercise routine.

My main problem was not getting myself to exercise, it was consistantly exercising. I decided that I can do any exercise routine for three days in a row. So, I do three days of exercise. Then I skip a day. Then I do three more days of exercise. So far, this has been working. I run for fifteen minutes every morning.

The first week I could barely make it through the whole run. The second week I did a lot better. The third week I was surprised at how quickly it passed! Now I am trying to run faster over the whole period. I can tell that I am getting faster. It is really fun to see my progress. I feel really good about myself. Not to mention, I have lost five pounds! 

Now, I have also tried to control my eating. Mostly, I do not snack too much, I drink lots of water, and I take single portions at meals. I am not always the best at this, but it has been helping.

My favorite part so far is not losing the weight, but having such good self esteem. I like my studies more. I like the people around me more. I feel God's love more. I am more self disciplined.

I think it is cool that our bodies and our spirits are connected. When I am doing well spiritually, I feel good physically. This past month I have learned that as I do well physically I do well emotionally and spiritually.

Champion good! Exercise!

Tai Kwon Do

When I was nine, my older brother watched The Karate Kid. He and the rest of my four brothers were so enthused they convinced our mom to sign us all up for a Tai Kwon Do class. She agreed under one condition: we had to buy our uniform and gear.

I think I borrowed a uniform until I was able to buy my own. The borrowed ones were plain and white. I liked class, but did not practice at home, which made me nervous for every class. However, I had a good instructor. He was a tall, thin man with a low voice, a thick mustache and a trusting way about him. I looked up to him a lot. I wanted to please him with my progress, so eventually I did try to practice a little. I was dying for the day when I could wear my karate uniform in class! It would undoubtedly make me better at Tai Kwon Do! I wanted the belt and the Korean and America flag patches especially. They looked so official.

However, I did not have the money for my uniform. I saved up for over a month. I got an allowance, I did little jobs, and saved money I found in the laundry. I kept it all in a little purse.

You know the smell of change you've been holding in your hand? Nickles, dimes, pennies and quarters all smell that way if you hold them for any length of time. That smell became familiar to me.I counted the mounds of change in my purse over and over as I saved up for my uniform. I had a small wad of dollar bills, but for the most part, my savings were in change.

Eventually, the long awaited day came for me to buy my uniform. My mom and I walked solemnly back into my instructor's office. Both of them stood to the side as they watched me count out every penny of the required amount. After the few agonizing minutes of coins clinking onto the desk, I looked up and saw my mom and instructor looking at me proudly. I was extremely proud of myself. I had done it! I had earned my uniform!

Christ is ultimately the one who saves us. Choosing to follow Him is like me deciding to please my instructor. Someday we will stand before the Lord and give "an accounting" (The Bible, Matthew 12:36) of our lives. I think every small deed is a penny or two in our purse. I have no idea what judgement day will be like, but I think Christ will be just as proud of you and me and our small efforts to practice and to save up for our "heavenly" uniform. I think Heavenly Father and Christ see our efforts whether small or great, and are proud of us when we do our part. We will have their names and symbols emblazoned on our chests and look "official" and be great at Tai Kwon Do!

Champion Good!

Helping Mary

Last year I worked for five months as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Nursing assistants do dirty work. We deal with all of the messes that the human body can make. However, we are also the ones that spend the most one on one time with patients. We talk with them, dress them, clean them, feed them, and measure their improvement.

One of the most meaningful memories I have comes from when I was Mary's CNA.

Mary was a sad sight. My first impression was of her large stomach, filthy mouth, smelly clothes, and gunky eyes. Mary was wheelchair bound. She did not speak or move her eyes, although people said she loved to sing. Earlier in life, she had been an opera singer. Her opera career publicity photos were displayed in her room. They bore no resemblance to the squashed, empty, lump of a woman who was now confined to her wheelchair.

When she was moved to my hall I had to inspect her condition. It was worse than I thought. Everywhere skin folded (armpits, thighs, belly rolls etc.) was bright red and raw. Her flaking, dry skin had gathered in the sweaty folds in globs of what looked like human cheese. I was disgusted, mad, and full of pity. "No one deserves to be this way!" I thought.
The next morning I gave Mary a shower. I took every pain I could to make her comfortable and to carefully restore her skin to health. Gently I soaped and rinsed her raw skin. I brushed her teeth twice over and flossed them. I wiped her eyes and washed her hair. I tried to talk to her kindly.

Eventually she started to look around and whisper raspy, one-word replies to my questions. Eventually, I told her about my interest in music and asked her if she knew any songs. She and I both knew quite of few of the same songs! While I worked, she and I sang. Her aged voice still showed evidence of her training and vocation. We smiled at one another and by the end of the shower when she was dried, dressed and warm, she was also happy.

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:40

The Grave

I do not fear dying too much. If I had to die to save others or to support a noble cause, I think I could do it. I have never faced a life or death situation. I am certain I do not understand the paralyzing fear or sadness that accompanies it. But, if I am honest with myself, I think I could die willingly. I might cry or tremble while I face my end, but I think I could do it fear or not.

To be honest, what scares me more is losing someone I love. That has never happened to me and I dread the day it does.

Once I had a dog die. He was hit by a car. I cried a lot. I wrote down all of my favorite things about him. And I took good care of his grave for the first little while. However, the pain eventually passed, I got a new dog, and I no longer cried about it. But he was just a dog. What will it be like if it is someone I love?

Once I had a childhood friend die. However, I had not been in close touch with her for a long time. When I went to visit her grave, I cried because I was amazed that someone could just be gone. I had never experienced someone disappearing out of my life before. After I left her grave, I was quiet, but I was not sad anymore. Her death did not have a huge impact on me because we were not close. But,  how I would have felt if we had been close? The supreme sadness of losing someone terrified me.

There is a concept that I cling to. I have been taught it since I was little. It is: There is life after death. The scriptures teach us:

"And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead.....The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" (The Book of Mormon, Alma 40:16, 23).

We can see our loved ones again! Death is not an end! Though it is deeply painful, it is not permanent. Isn't that the most wonderful news? It makes me feel so grateful! I do not have to be afraid! I can be with all of my loved ones again, forever.

"Mother!"

"Parenting is part joy and part guerrilla warfare." Ed Asner.

That being said, my mom is the pro. She is the best at both joy and warfare when it comes to parenting. However, she did not become good at it all at once.

My mom made a lot of personal sacrifices to be a good mom. For instance, she and my dad decided, after a lot of prayer, that they would home school us. I was almost eight. My parents were tentative to take the plunge. They were terrified! My mom had no idea how she was going to handle five children at home all day every day! She certainly had no idea how she was going to educate them at the same time! However, over the next fourteen years, I watched her do it.

I remember:

Hours she spent helping each one of us through pages of grueling math problems. She was just as happy to master a concept as we were!

Her studying our grammar books so that she could answer our questions about compliments and gerunds.

Her reading stacks of books from the library to us. She would read to us and explain history and science, language and art.

She was (still is) particularly good at designing good field trips or projects! Yay for field trips!

Her going to her room to cry when things were frustrating. Sometimes, if I peeked in, I would catch her praying. 

She would often bear her testimony about little things like forgiveness or accountability while she was making us food in the kitchen or driving us to soccer games.

Mothering us was tough. I know she had to give up chances to travel with my dad, take music lessons of her own, be around other adults, work out at the gym, or pursue her writing career. She had to sit inside and deal with five different grade levels of subjects, five different attention spans, and five different tempers every day for years!

However, she has often told me that it was all worth it. She has told me that she loves me and that family comes first. I am grateful to my mom for her example and I hope that I can be like her when I grow up!

Cookies For Sale

When I was thirteen I was in a children's choir. It was a very professional little choir. We performed often and even traveled to venues outside of my home state, Virginia. We had to fund raise annually to provide for these trips. So one year we decided to have a huge spaghetti dinner and a silent auction.

I was completely absorbed with preparations for the event. I worked very hard to invite as many of my friends as I could. I also petitioned them for donations for the silent auction. I envisioned buckets of money and thousands of choir fans in response to my efforts. Over the weeks leading up to auction night, I gathered all sorts of things: snow tires, a dresser, and a dozen or so cookie tins.

The cookie tins were by far my favorite. They had adorable, seasonal themes and were shiny and colorful. Of course, the tins were going to be auctioned no matter what, but it seemed criminal to auction them empty! So, I set to work flipping through my mom's cookie recipes and writing up a shopping list. The night before the dinner, I threw on an apron and got to work. I spent five or six hours baking cookies. Chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, ginger snaps, and snicker doodles flew in and out of the oven. After they cooled, I carefully arranged them in the tins with parchment paper laid in between layers of cookies. By the end of the night, the tins were beautifully overflowing with tasty goodness. They practically glittered.

Auction night came and I anxiously waited until the end of the silent auction. I was positive my cookies would bring in a fortune. However, when the auction had ended, I saw the bids listed next each item. With horror I realized that each of my cookie tins had sold for......1¢.

My face fell. My whole soul drooped. What had happened? I certainly had put more than a penny's worth of work into those cookies! They were perfect! How could someone be so mean! I felt completely distraught. If only those mean auction people understood how much I had worked on those cookie tins.

Heavenly Father has told us that "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God"(Doctrines and Covenants 18:10).

Christ also taught, "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7).

I am sure that to God, we are like those shiny cookie tins were to me. Actually, we are worth a lot more to Him. Just as I was appalled by my cookies selling for 1¢, I am sure that when we judge ourselves or others to be of less value, He likewise is distraught.

Champion Good! Value people! Value yourself! You are worth a fortune!

Chopstick Muscles

We have so many muscles! Tons and tons! There are tiny ones and big ones, strong ones and weak ones. Some we can control and some we cannot. Today I will post about chopstick muscles.

This is my current companion, Sister Lim. She is from Korea. She likes to cook Korean food for us. I like it, even though it can be pretty spicy! However, to eat it properly, I had to improve on my chopstick skills.

So, first I got my own set of chopsticks.

Then I had my first practice. Rice and seaweed. Sister Lim taught me how to hold the chopsticks correctly and set me loose on the food. I did a pretty good job. While I was working away, Sister Lim told me about her childhood. In Korea, she had to pass a test in school where she moved sesame seeds from one bowl into another. If she did not pass the test, she was not allowed to eat around adults or guests!

That did it. We got out some seeds. I tried and tried and tried and finally got one seed into a cup! Yes! I felt very accomplished.

However, the next day when I tried to eat with chopsticks again, I could barely hold the chopsticks. I told Sister Lim "My chopstick muscles are sore!" She laughed. Of course, she does not even notice her chopstick muscles! Hers never get sore!

For most of us "spiritual muscles" (like faith or patience) are a lot like chopstick muscles. We have to use them to realize that we even have them! Using them at first is hard and we might get a little sore. But it gets easier. The principle is the same. Practice makes perfect. I am not as good as Sister Lim with chopsticks yet, but I am getting better! You may need some practice with your spiritual muscles, but you can can pass the test if you keep trying.

Work those spiritual muscles! Love you all!

Represent

Baptism is a covenant. A covenant is a lot like a contract. Baptism is a covenant between a person and God. He or she promises certain things and God promises them certain things in return. In a contract, if either party breaks their promise, the opposite party is freed from their obligation. God never breaks His promises, so it is up to us to keep our end of the bargain.

What do we promise God when we are baptized? Among other things, the Book of Mormon says that we promise the following:

"...To be called His people" (Mosiah 18:8)

"...To stand as witnesses of God" (Mosiah 18:9)

In the Doctrine and Covenants it also says that we are baptized,

 "...To witness unto Thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that [we] are willing to take upon [us] the name of thy Son..." (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77)

The other day I paused to think. As a missionary I wear a name tag. It has two names on it: mine and Jesus Christ's.

I literally wear Jesus Christ's name on my chest every day. When my mission is over, I will miss that. I do not want to ever take it off! I want Jesus' name irrevocably stuck to mine, or rather, mine to His. Then I remembered what I just said about baptism.

I have Jesus Christ's name upon me because I was baptized. I have promised to be called His and to witness of Him, name tag or not.

I have decided to do as Proverbs 2:3 directs.

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about they neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:"

Christ's name is carved upon the table of my heart. I try to do the works He would do. I would not want to dishonor His name. I honor Him by doing my best. When I do my best, I represent Christ.

Champion Good! Represent!

Lessons We Learn from Dinosaurs

#1 Don't get eaten

Spiritually speaking, a bad habit or a temptation is a giant, scary, flesh-ripping T-rex. If you want to survive life unscathed, get as far away as you can!

#2 Eat a lot

You do not maintain a multi-ton physique by eating like a bird. You have to eat hundreds of pounds of food. Spiritually, you cannot keep up with all of the spiritual work you do if you do not feed your spirit with reading the scriptures everyday. Dig in! Munch munch....

#3 Find safe nesting grounds so other dinosaurs don't eat your little dinosaurs

For those of you dinos who have little ones, no smart dinosaur parent raises their babies around predators. Protect your little ones from the powerful, bone-crushing jaws of the T-rex  and teach them the survival skills they need. Then, when they are well trained, they can fend for themselves. Spiritually, teach your children what you know about God and good choices. Protect them from evil. When they are grown, they'll remember what you taught them.

#4 Safety comes from the pack

Roaming through the bush alone is like asking to be singled out by a T-rex. Plus, hanging around the older dinosaurs means you learn cool skills like how to fight and how to find better food. Spiritually, activities like going to church or studying the scriptures with other people provides spiritual safety. Take advantage of strength in numbers.


#5 It helps to have spikes, claws, sharp teeth, clubs, or horns and use them.

All dinosaurs have some kind of built in defense. Learn to use it well. Spiritually, we all have some strengths that make it easier to fight off T-rexes when they come hunting us. Practice using it to defend your weaknesses. Don't get eaten!

Champion good! Be the dinosaur you know you can be!

Flowers

My mom used to sing me a lullaby. It went:

White coral bells upon a slender stalk

Lilies of the valley line my garden walk.

Oh! How I wish that I could hear them ring,

But that only happens when the fairies sing.

I have always liked flowers. I love how they look, how they feel and how they smell. My mom can tell you that I'm much better at taking care of flower gardens than vegetable gardens!  I have noticed lately that all of the trees and plants are bursting into bloom! It has made me consider two lessons that we can learn from flowers.

First, "Bloom where you are planted." I like this saying. It encourages me to make the best of any situation. It reminds me that no matter where I am, I should still be myself: the unique me that God created. I might not be well color coordinated with the rest of the garden. I might not bloom on time. I might not even be the plant the label said I would be! But I can flourish wherever I am.I can sink my roots, I can follow the sunlight and become a beautiful thing regardless of my surroundings.

Furthermore, Jesus Christ taught us a lesson using flowers in the Sermon on the Mount. He taught us to "consider the lillies of the field" (Matthew chapter 6 verses 28 through 33). He said:

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;

they toil not neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you ,

that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is,

and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you,

O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying what shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your

heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

He was trying to teach the people that God knows our daily needs. He understands that we need food and clothing and shelter. However, our minds should not solely be applied to filling those needs.We should also seek the kingdom of God. I believe that is true. I believe that as we seek the Lord's will, our needs are met. Our lives overflow with heavenly abundance and we are happy. The beauty that we add to ourselves by this effort is above earthly standards of beauty.

Champion Good!  Be your best self! Seek God! Bloom!



Holiness

Photo: In Mormonism, we believe in building temples. These are holy places for worshiping the Lord. This is a picture of me and some of the other missionaries at the Oakland temple last week.

Holiness

If something is holy, it is pure, sanctified, and consecrated. It rises above all that is base, lewd, and unclean.

In the Bible the Lord tells Moses,

 "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel and say unto them, Ye shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (Leviticus 19:2) 

Later in the Bible King David writes,

" Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?" (Psalms 24:3)

To be with God is to be in a holy place. The Lord has commanded us to be holy so that we can be with Him. How can we make ourselves holy?

My favorite description of what we can do to become holy is in Isaiah.

"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well, seek judgment [justice], relieve the oppressed, ...plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." (Isaiah 1:16-19)

I like the feeling that comes from being clean, or obedient to the Lord's commandments. That is what I like about following Jesus Christ: it makes me holy. That is how we become holy. We follow Jesus Christ and rise above the world.

Champion Good! Become holy!

 

Things We Learn from The Princess Bride

Inigo "Hello! My  name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

If we were to have four sentences define who we are and what we are looking to accomplish in life, what would they be? "Hello! My name is Sister Biggs. I believe you and I are part of God's eternal family and I love you. Prepare to be happy." These couple of sentences work for me because right now I'm a missionary. What works for you? Is God or championing good a part of it?

Buttercup "I shall never love again."

When Buttercup thinks Westley has died, she declares that she will never love again. In other words, nothing will ever mean as much to her as Westley did. I can only say that I feel that way about a very few things: God and my family. God, because He brings me purpose and true happiness; my family, because I love them. What about you?

Westley "Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while."

We are all part of God's family. He loves us perfectly. We all form relationships here on earth that are based off of love. Love is meant to last. Relationships are meant to last. God's family, us, is meant to be together in love and happiness for eternity.  Death and sin, the only things that separate us from God and each other, were conquered by Jesus Christ. So, if we follow Christ, death [and sin] really cannot stop true love. "All it can do is delay it for a while." That makes me so happy!

Champion Good! Love people! Know your purpose! Live your purpose!  

Bonus quote: Westley, "You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?" 

Message in a Bottle

Communication on a Mission

While on a mission, you are required to spend most of your time working. However! There is one day a week where you are permitted to write an e-mail home. Besides that e-mail to family, the only other communication you can have is through letters. All the letters have to be written on that one day.

I have been on my mission for almost seven months now. I have learned that to successfully get all of my letters written, I have to be organized and prepared.

1. Throughout the week, I take notes on funny or significant things that happen. I have these notes by me while I write.

2. I keep a booklet with everyone's addresses so that I do not have to rifle through old letters to find them!

3. I keep all of my letter writing stuff in a box. Pens, envelopes, paper, stickers, markers, stamps - you name it, it is in the box!

4. I bring snacks. Chocolates or gummies are preferred :)

5. I write in comfort. In the picture above, I am by the heater and propped up on a pillow. Perfect!

I do a pretty good job of staying in touch with people. I have limited time, but if I handle it well, I can get a lot done. The best part is, that when I do a good job writing people, they write me back! I love getting letters on my mission. It is the only time I get to hear from people! They make me laugh and they make me feel loved. Sometimes I even get pictures!

When we use our time and skills wisely, we can get quite a bit done. The Lord understands this. Sometimes He will give us enormous jobs to do! But, I would like to think that they can all be tackled if we use our time and skills wisely.

Champion good! Use the time! Use the skills!

The Holy Spirit

"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." (Acts chapter 5 verse 32)

What is the Holy Ghost? The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is a heavenly being that communicates with our spirits. He witnesses of truth to us so that we are able to recognize it.  We have to be worthy of having his help though. If we are obeying God's commandments we are able to have the Holy Ghost with us more.

What does the Holy Ghost feel like? I have been thinking about this lately. You know what it feels like to be thirsty? Then what it feels like to finally drink? The Holy Ghost feels like that. It satisfies a spiritual need for relief.

You know how it feels to be greasy and dirty, then to take a thorough, hot, soapy shower? The Holy Ghost makes you feel like that. It makes you feel fresh and clean spiritually.

You know how if feels to be lonely, and then hear from someone who loves you a lot? The Holy Ghost feels like that. You remember your worth and are reminded of the abiding relationship you have with God.

Here are two quotes that I like,

"We can recognize when the Holy Ghost is teaching us the truth. Our minds will be filled with inspiring and uplifting thoughts. We will be enlightened, or given new knowledge. Our hearts will have feelings of peace, joy, and love. We will want to do good and be helpful to others. These feelings are hard to describe but can be recognized as we experience them." (Preach My Gospel, p. 73)

"The Holy Ghost has a sanctifying, cleansing effect upon us. The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ and helps us recognize the truth. He provides spiritual strength and helps us do what is right. He comforts us during times of trial or sorrow. He warns us of spiritual or physical danger. The Holy Ghost  provides the power by which we teach and learn. The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of our Heavenly Father's most precious gifts. Through the power of the Holy Ghost we can feel God's love and direction for us. This gift is a foretaste of eternal joy and a promise of eternal life." (Preach My Gospel, p. 65)

Seek the Holy Ghost. It makes you happier, cleaner, and loved.

Champion good! Feel the Holy Ghost!

Thoughts on Prayer

Silent or spoken, God hears all prayers. Full of faith or hesitant, God welcomes all prayers. Children and adults alike can pray to the Lord about what they care about. We get to know God and trust Him through the conversations we have with God through prayer! Families and groups of people are united through prayer. Jesus Christ set the example for us. Everyone, even He, can and should pray.

What should we pray about? Everything! One of the songs I like says,

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near.

(Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire. Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 145).

Everything in life that we sigh over, that we cry over, or that we need outside help on is something that we can pray about. More than that, we can thank God for what makes us happy, laugh, or proud. If we pray, God hears and answers. Remember, He's our Heavenly Father and He wants to stay in close touch with us, His children.

Champion good! Stay in touch with prayer!