Scripture Power!

Who is your favorite superhero? One of mine would have to be Superman. He has like all the superpowers you can imagine. Flight, superstrength, superspeed, vision powers, super-breath. Pretty much super-everything. So why does he need all of these powers? Well, to protect the world from evil villains of course!

We might not have powerful breath to blow freezing air or x-ray vision, but one of the powers we do have to protect us from evil and from the things of the world is the scriptures.

There's a children's song about how the scriptures keep us safe from sin. And if I could figure out how to record me singing the song and post it on here, I would. But I don't know how. So I'll just type it out. It starts: 

Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can,

I’m reading His instructions, I’m following His plan.
Because I want the power His word will give to me,
I’m changing how I live, I’m changing what I’ll be.

We read from the Book of Mormon, "Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven..." (Helaman 3:29-30)

The song continues:

 I’ll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.
I’ll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.
I’ll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord,
And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward.

I think a lot of the time we forget just how important and how powerful the scriptures are.  They can protect us from dangers, from sin, from temptation. They can be a light for us through the darkness. Just like Superman would do us no good if he didn't use his powers, the scriptures do us no good unless we use their powers.

And then the chorus (keep in mind that when kids sing this song, they usually yell the "scripture power" part. And rightly so):



Scripture Power!

Scripture power keeps me safe from sin.
Scripture power is the power to win.
Scripture power! Ev’ryday I need
The power that I get each time I read.



For those of you that know me, I'm usually a pretty cheery person. Every once in a while though I get turned upside down or something, and my attitude takes a wrong turn. There was a point on my mission where I felt like I just couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't handle the stress, I felt alone. I felt weak (still do at times). I felt like nothing I was doing mattered. Those were not feelings that came from God. The adversary was trying to pull me away from the things that I should be doing and the things that I find joy in doing. So I turned to the scriptures. One of my favorites that has helped me in times like these is in Matthew 11:28(-30). Christ tells us, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I found so much comfort knowing that Jesus Christ is helping me and protecting me.

So does scripture power really keep us safe from sin? I testify in the name of Christ that it does! I know it to be true! Daily scripture study will protect you from the evil villains of the world. The Spirit will abide with you more abundantly, and you WILL have the power to win!

An Attitude of Gratitude

The day of giving thanks, is but two days away. Hence, why I am posting a blog about gratitude. Though it shouldn't be just around Thanksgiving that we express gratitude and reflect on the blessings the Lord has given us, we should do it all year round.

In an article in the Ensign, President Thomas S. Monson says, "This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

Gratitude can truly change our perspective and our attitude about life. A few days ago, I was struggling. I had a crummy attitude and I felt like nothing was going the way that I wanted it to. I was only worried about myself, and I wasn't taking time to think about the things that were going right, the things that were making me happy. The other night, I decided to say a prayer only of thanks, not asking for everything. And as I did so, blessings that I hadn't even recognized before were brought to my remembrance. I realized that I had so much to be grateful for and it made me feel so much better to count my blessings.

 There is so much to be grateful this day in which we live in.

I am grateful for a sunny day, for the beautiful state of Montana in which I currently reside. I'm thankful for gloves and hats to keep me warm on a cold day, for new people I get to meet. I am grateful to be a missionary, to spread the good news of Christ. I'm thankful for all the prayers that are said in my behalf from my family and friends, for their love and support. I'm grateful for a living prophet on the earth today, to lead and guide us. I am thankful for a most wonderful mission president and his wife and other missionaries in the best mission in the world, that I have the privilege of serving with. Most importantly, I am extremely grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, for His redeeming love and sacrifice. That I can repent and be forgiven of my sins. That through Him I can have eternal life.

What are YOU thankful for?

Signed by the Divine

Have you ever seen The Sandlot? If not, you need to. It's about a group of boys and during the summer all they do is play baseball. One of the boys (his name is Scottie Smalls)  is new to the neighborhood and doesn't really know much, actually nothing about baseball, but the others let him join in anyway. Every day, they go to a field to play some ball. They dread hitting the ball "outta the park" because if it lands behind the fence, they have to go buy a new ball or be done for the day. Behind the fence, is a big gorilla dog, that no one would ever want to face.

Well, one day a ball gets hit over the fence by Hamilton "the babe" Porter, and the boys are all mad at Ham because now they can't play anymore. Smalls offers that he has a ball they can use. He runs back to his house into his stepdad's trophy room (his stepdad is out of town, by the way) and grabs a baseball, for them to play with and it is signed by The Sultan of Swat, The King of Crash, The Colossas of Clout, The Colossas of Clout, The Great Bambino! Yep, it's signed by Babe Ruth. But Smalls doesn't understand the significance of the signature. He figures it's just some old, tattered baseball with some lady's name on it. So they play with the ball and Smalls himself hits the ball over the fence, and they get into the biggest pickle of his life. But I won't ruin the movie, and let you watch it to find out what happens.

As you know, Babe Ruth is one of the greatest baseball players to ever live. And so that baseball with his signature was very valuable and worth who knows how much!

God has a signature as well. We can see His divine signature in everything around us, the mountains, the sunset, little children. Sometimes we underestimate the power that God has. But He's everywhere. He has blessed us with so much and it makes it so apparant by His creations that He does exist. "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." (Mosiah 4:9)


Just like the baseball, WE may seem insignificant. We may feel old and worn out, torn and tattered. But we are the most valuable of God's creations. Our Father in Heaven created us in His image (Genesis 1:26). He has placed on us His divine signature. We have the potential to become like Him. The stresses of life may take their toll on us, but that doesn't change our worth. In his last General Conference address, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "At times we may feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember—you matter to Him!" We may feel small, but to Him we are valuable. To Him, we matter.

I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that I know God is our loving Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for His creations, that so firmly testify that He does live. I know that He created you and me, and that we are His sons and daughters. If that's something you doubt, maybe you should just ask Him yourself. I promise He will answer you, and you will be able to feel His love for you.




Click Here to view another sweet awesome blog about the Sandlot and the Gospel by Elder M. Davis!

What's the Secret?

Salt Lake City Temple

Temples. Some of you may be wondering what the big deal is about them. Why are only some people allowed to enter the temple? What are they used for? I've had these questions and more asked to me as a missionary. The other day, I was asked another question about the temple, and decided I wanted to write a blog about temples, to answer some of these questions.
In a gospel reference book, True to the Faith, it tells us a little bit about what temples are. "Temples are literally houses of the Lord. They are holy places of worship where the Lord may visit...Throughout histroy, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples. Today the Church is heeding the Lord's call to build temples all over the world, making temple blessings more available for a great number of our Heavenly Father's children."

San Jose Costa Rica Temple

Many people question why only some can enter the temple. Let me clarify, it's not to be secretive, rather it is sacred. Heavenly Father wants everyone to enjoy the blessings of the temple. He wants everyone to prepare themselves to enter temple doors.

Maybe this will help...Let's say you're finishing up your senior year of high school. You want to attend the local university after graduation. Well, how do you get into the school you want? Can you just enter the doors the first day of school and say, 'Alright, I'm here. I'm ready.' and then you're good to start? That's not really the way it works. It's a process. Up through high school, you have to put time and effort into studying and getting good grades to help prepare you for college. You also have to pass exams and fill out applications to be accepted into the school.

Billings Montana Temple

              The temple is similar. We must put forth time and effort into preparing to enter the temple doors, we need to study and attain other goals before one can enter. We need to be interviewed to deternine if we are really ready for this next step in life. And once we do we prepare and are ready to walk into the doors of the holy temple, we will be able to understand even more about the gospel, and we will be able to receive even greater blessings.

I found some answers to frequently asked questions on mormon.org as to who can enter the temple and a little about what goes on in the temple:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more than 100 operating temples around the world. Visitors are welcome to visit the temple grounds at all of these temples and attend open houses prior to dedication. However, only baptized members who are qualified and prepared are allowed to enter a temple after it is dedicated.

In temples, Church members participate in ordinances designed to unite their families together forever and help them return to God. In the temple, members:

• Learn eternal truths.
• Receive sacred ordinances, including those that bind husband and wife together for eternity, as well as join children and parents (Malachi 4:5-6).
• Provide ordinances such as baptism for those who have died without the opportunity to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:29; 1 Peter 4:6)

An apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaks about temples in this video. Others describe some of the blessings they have received in the temple:

I know that the temple can be a blessing to everyone's life. We have temples to help us become closer to our Heavenly Father.