Life Takes Some Fixing

A few days ago Sister Punaa and I were headed to Santa Rosa for our all mission conference. We were really excited! We made it there safe and sound. We had a wonderful conference filled with love, the spirit, and the joy of celebrating Christ's birth.

After conferences like that you feel so inspired, and are anxious to go out and share the wonderful message of our Savior Jesus Christ with the world. Which we were. Well our excitment came to a jolting hault when we were informed, "Sister's did you know your car has a flat tire?" Of course our response was, "no???" We rushed outside to find our car was tilting to one side.

Isn't that the same with life? Sometimes we are just so ready to move forward and continue on. But we realize we are stuck and we have to fix something before we can keep on going.

In life there is such things as 'quick fixes.' But those fixes only last for so long. Such as the spare tire Elder Jenkins and Elder Tomoser so kindly put on for us. The spare tire was great! A life savor really. But it would only last for so long before we needed to get a new permanent tire.

We will make mistakes in life. It's only human. But if we don't fix them properly eventually we are going to get to a point where we can't move at all. We are helpless. And we are, that is all helpless without the Atonement of Jesus Christ. In Mosiah chapter 4. King Benjamin teaches..

 "...as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true."

Christ can and will heal us. He knows how. He is all powerful. He has all knowledge. He can do what we cannot do. Just as Sister Punaa and I had no idea how to fix our tire. We had to turn to someone who knew how. If we hadn't and would have just drove along we wouldn't have gotten very far until we had even more problems than what we started with.

I know Christ lives. He loves us. And I know that His Atonement fixes all pain.

Clubs, Caddies, and Christ

I grew up with a father and a mother who love to golf. As their daughter i've grown to enjoy it too. Usually only when i'm playing good though. But for any of you who golf you know that it can be very frustrating at times. And other times very rewarding. My favorite holes are the par 4's, and as you tee off the flag is a straight shot in front of you, not to the side, or around a corner, but directly in front. Oh and not to mention there isn't any sand traps or water just ready to eat your ball up. But for those of you who golf know that doesn't happen very often. Back home at the golf course I usually golf at, there is a par 3 that I don't get along with too much. I know a par 3... your probably thinking those are the fun ones. Well right in front of the green is a pond, I can't even tell you how many times i've lost my ball in that pond. I remember so many times pulling up to the tee off, getting my ball and my club, usually an 8 iron. Walking up to the tee with full confidence that I'm going to smack that ball over that pond and if not in the hole right next to it. Before stepping up to the ball, I do a few practice swings, and then its the time, i'm thinking, "i'm gonna get it this time." As I swing the club back keeping my eye on my ball, keeping my knees bent my shoulds square, and then smack! The ball goes flying, and then SPLASH! The worst sound ever, right into the pond. "Ughhh!! Are you kidding me??" One time there was even these little kids sitting off to the side of the road selling golf balls, and they were laughing so hard when that ball dropped in the water, in fact that time I think I did it twice. I would have been laughing too if it wasn't my own.

Our life is sometimes a lot like that par 3. We have a goal, we have the vision in our mind of 'what's going to happen', but then all these road blocks start coming up. Time after time, if it's not the pond, then it's the wind, if it's not the wind then its the sand trap, if it's not the sand trap then it's the trees. Why??

In the Book of Mormon Nephi teaches that there has to be "opposition in all things."

When I first started golfing, and even now, I rely on my mom or dad to tell me what club I should use, and especially when I am going to take a difficult shot. For example when I am hitting out of a sand trap. Those are really hard for me. And sometimes I forget the motion of how to swing, or what club to use. So I have to rely on my dad or mom to show me and to give me advice on what to do.

Like in our own lives, when things are easy the road seems nice and smooth, we think we got it. And then a road block, and we realize that we need help, we need guidance from someone who knows better, who has been through it before. It's during those times that we come to know who are Heavenly Father is, and how we can come to know him through his Son, Jesus Christ. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." -John 17:3

Just like golf, life has it's easier moments and it's harder moments. "...for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." -Alma 36:3

Life is like a game of golf, but we have the greatest caddy ever. Jesus Christ. A caddy is is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin placements and club selection.  Christ is there for us when we need help calling the shots. He can see the whole course, he can see the sand traps, the trees, the bends in the course, the ponds, he can see it all. He can give us the insights we need to make the best decisions. He has already played the course.

 "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of hi peaple. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverane; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." -Alma 7:11-13

 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

Life was not intended to be easy, but it was intended to be filled with joy and happiness. "....wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin." -2 Nephi 2:23

"The trials and tribulations we go through in this life, is the education we came to gain."

Enjoy the journey! It is a great one!

"Hope, the Anchor to MY soul!"

"The word hope is sometimes misunderstood. In our everyday language, the word often has a hint of uncertainty. For example, we may say that we hope for a change in the weather or a visit from a friend. In the the language of the gospel, however, the word hope is sure, unwavering, and active."

What is hope? What do we have left to hope for?

Divorce rates are sky rocketing. Families are being torn apart. Satan is doing all he can to make us doubt, to cause discouragment, and decievingly causing us to see there is no hope. Which is a lie. A BIG FAT lie. There is so much to hope for, there is so much to look forward to.

In the Book of Mormon, in Ether 12:4 it says, "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

"Hope is the anchor to our souls." So what is the anchor? In Heleman 5:12, it says "...remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty strom shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation wheron if men build they cannot fall."

That anchor, is Christ. He is the one who will calm the seas, He is who gives us hope for the future, hope for "a better world." I remember a couple of years ago my family and I were in the Carribbean on a cruise. We went parasailing. And the day we went it was windy and cloudy. We went out on this little speed boat, and I thought I was going to die. I get really bad motion sickness so it really wasn't the funnest thing in the world for me. But this experience reminded me of an instance in the Bilbe when Christ calmed the sea:

Matthew 8:23-26 "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith: Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

Your probably thinking well what does your experience have to do with Christ calming the sea. Because I can't say that Christ came and calmed the storm. Just like in our lives, Christ doesn't always come and calm the storm. "Sometimes, God calms the storm, but sometimes God calms the child and lets the storm rage on." I didn't die parasailing, I made it through. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. No matter what we are going through, good or bad, challenging or simple, there is HOPE, He is always there.

Christ is our anchor, He is our hope. Through Christ we can find peace, we can find happiness, we can find eternal joy. He loves us. He died for you, and for me.

"...these things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

There will always be tribulations in our lives, but Christ has overcome every single one of them. The atonement of Jesus Christ has changed my life, it's given me HOPE for my life, and the lives of those I love. I know that Jesus Christ lives, He does love us, and he died for us. This Gospel is a Gospel of HOPE!

Reaching Your Potential Is Life Eternal

Right now I'm on exchanges with Sister Cottle and she asked me to blog about something I have learned or put into effect in my life. As I was thinking this week of what I wanted to share, I couldn't help but to reflect upon our lives here on earth and our eternal goal that lies ahead. Something that I have always struggled with is why people say they only hope to make it to the Celestial Kingdom if they are deemed worthy of such great a blessing. Growing up I looked to my father's example of having faith enough in yourself and in the Lord that he would go to the Celestial Kingdom to live with our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ and be together as a family forever. What a great man of faith to not only know that it is achievable, but to live in such a way that eternal life is the only thing you want. He was not a man of preaching but a man of example, who emulated the Savior in all he did. The Celestial Kingdom is not a fleeting dream or just something to hope, but a reality. Heavenly Father has prepared a place for each of us, but only if we are willing to pay the price and turn to the Savior.
    This morning I was reading the talk "The Atonement: All for All" by Elder Bruce C. Hafen. He says, "We can have eternal life if we want it, but only if there is nothing else we want more". This is so true. If we want to become fully converted to this gospel we have to give all of ourselves, "all that [we] have", to the Lord. Alma 22:15, ". . . I will give up all I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy".. We must give our hearts, our pains, our weaknesses, and all the things that distance us and so easily beset us from God (2 Nephi 4:18).

     I've learned a great deal from the scriptures on this matter. In Doctrine and Covenants 88:22 it reads, "For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory". I testify to you that that is true. We start abiding by that law here and now. I always have to remember the writings of Nephi when he said in 1 Nephi 3:7, ". . .for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. The Lord will provide the way as long as we turn to Him and give everything to Him.

     How great my joy is that I have the Savior Jesus Christ, who gave his life, for me. You and I will reach the Celestial Kingdom after all that I can do. I see myself standing in front of the Lord, being judged for the things I have done in this life and how I have used the Savior's atonement. I have called upon the Him many times to forgive me and to make up for what I lack. He has the power to cleanse and heal us, He is the advocate with the Father, and when we truly humble ourselves and submit we are blessed by His sacrifice. D&C 60:7 ". . .For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you." I love the Lord, I can never repay Him for all he has done for me, but I can become who He wants me to be and that is the greatest gift we can ever give. We all have a divine potential here in this life. We all struggle, we all need a Savior. Let Him touch your life as He has mine and give everything to Him. I am so grateful for my mission. Nothing brings me more joy then to see people come to a knowledge of their Redeemer. I love you all, emulate Him in all you do and say and you will truly see the power and authority of your call.

All my love,

Sister Simnitt