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!