God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Each time we pray, our relationship with our Father in heaven should be Strengthened!

"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand tward God (namely, God is our father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part.  Many of our so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship."  Bible Dictionary-prayer

God is our father.  He WANTS to hear from us.  He loves us therefore, he wants to hear from us.  If we ever feel unworthy to pray, or don't feel like we "want" to pray, that is Satan trying to stop you from communicating with the one person that can help you the greatest in this life, God.

2 Nephi 32:8-9

...For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit

which teacheth a man to pray,
 ye would know that ye must pray;
for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray,
but teacheth him that he must not pray.

 9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always,

and not faint;...

"The object of prayer is not to change the will of God,

but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings

 that God is already willing to grant,

 but that are made conditional on our asking for them.

Blessings require some work or effort on our part

 before we can obtain them.

 Prayer is a form of work,

and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." (Bible Dictionary-Prayer)



we need to communicate with him constantly if we are to overcome this life. 

Doctrine and Covenants 10:5

Pray always,

that you may come off conqueror;

yea, that you may conquer Satan,

and that you may escape the hands

of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

We can pray for:

Strength

Knowledge

Christlike attributes that need strengthened

Comfort

Guidance

Other people and their needs

Gratitude

Change of desires (to be able to align our will with God's will)

etc

How has prayer helped you today?

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

I wanted to write a blog on how important my Father is to me and what impact he has on my life.  An example of a righteous father.

Sister Dalton stated:

“'The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is to love [her] mother.” By the way you love her mother, you will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion, and devotion. She will learn from your example what to expect from young men and what qualities to seek in a future spouse. You can show your daughter by the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less. Your example will teach your daughter to value womanhood. You are showing her that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father, who loves her.”

It is by divine design that fathers are to preside over families, because you are the ones that hold the priesthood and can accomplish what is needed to be done. It is a responsibility that our Father in Heaven gave to each of you men to be able to accomplish such a noble cause.

Sister Dalton said

“Today’s popular culture tries to erode and demean your eternal role as a patriarch and father and minimize your most important responsibilities. These have been given to you “by divine design,” and as fathers you “are to preside over [your] families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for [your] families.”
Fathers, you are the guardians of your homes, your wives, and your children."

My father was always loving when he taught, but he encouraged in ways that I needed to improve and become better. He helped me want to go to college by encouraging and sitting down and talking with me. I know have a degree and he was a big support in me focusing and getting that taken care of. He helped me with learning about finances, even though I still have a lot to learn. He knew all of my friends. He IS my friend. I knew that I could talk to him about anything and everything. I had a unique childhood where I could go to work with my dad every day if I wanted to. He was a farmer and was self-employed. That doesn't sound very fun to most of you, but those were times that I was able to bond with my dad and have one-on-one time with him. I remember trips of just going out to the fields to change water and coming back. Something so simple, yet had such an impact on our relationship. I would have my mom drive me out when I was younger and I would milk cows with him, or ride in the tractor while he was cutting crops. I spent all of potato harvest with him and would always try to find an excuse to ride in the semi with him to deliver the potatoes. He probably didn't even think much about it, but I was definitely planning. Before I came on my mission, we took a road trip to Ohio. My sister moved there and so we drove their car out. That 4 days we spent together is forever in my memory. 4 solid days of one-on-one time was priceless in the eyes of his daughter. Even something as simple as his involvement he had with girls camp or band performances was large in my eyes.

"Brethren,

 fathers,

young men,

Be loyal to the royal within you.

Lead your family to the temple,

be guardians of virtue,
and magnify your priesthood.”

My father is my hero. Not because he did heroic things or won a lot of trophies, or had a million dollars. But because he loves God, he leads by example, he loves his family, and what more can a person desire of their fathers?

This is a sacred role, and one that should continue to be upheld and respected. A parent doesn't know what impact small acts of righteousness can have on their children, but I am hear to tell you they are great in the sight of your sons and daughters.

Thank you Dad for the amazing example you have been in my life!  YOU ARE MY HERO!

It's the 5th article of faith!

Alright everyone.  Are we ready for the amazing 5th Article of Faith?  Good!  Because here it is.

 5 We believe

that a man must be called of God,

 by prophecy,

and by the laying on of hands

 by those who are in authority,

 to preach the Gospel and

 administer in the ordinances thereof.

Alright, break down time!

"We believe that a man must be called of God"

Alma 13:3

And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works..."

"by prophesy"

1 Nephi 22:2

And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were ^amanifest unto the prophet by the voice of the ^bSpirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the ^cprophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh.

"Laying on of hands by those who are in authority"

3 Nephi 18:36

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of these sayings, he touched with his ^ahand the ^bdisciples whom he had chosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto them as he touched them.

"Preach the gospel"

Alma 49:30

...being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people.

"Administer in the ordinances thereof."

Alma 13:16

Now these ^aordinances were given after this ^bmanner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God...

How important is this Article of Faith to our society and to your belief today?

We are now on to Article of Faith #4.

"4 We believe that the

first principles and ordinances

of the Gospel are:

first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;

second, Repentance;

third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins;

fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

This article of faith starts out with 2 different words. Principle and Ordinance

A Principle is something that we believe in.  Something on which we can build on.

Faith and Repentance

An Ordinance is the act in which we make a promise.  When we excercise the principles, we desire to make those promises with God and we do that through the ordinances.

Baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost



2 Nephi 31:10-12

" And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me...

And the Father said:

Repent ye, repent ye,

and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. 

And also, the voice of the Son came unto me saying:

 He that is baptized in my name,

to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost,

Like unto me;

wherefore, follow me,

and do the things which ye have seen me do."

These are the things that we do to find peace and joy in our lives.  God has told us that this is the way that will help us find Joy in this life and in the next life as well.  We develop the principles of Faith and Repentance. We work on those and then that brings the desires to be baptized, forgiven of ALL sins, and recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost as our constant guide. 

Articles of faith 2 and 3

Carrying on with the Articles of faith that we are learning about!  Here is the next two that we studied this week!
Enjoy!

2.  "We believe that men
will be punished for their
 own sins, and not for
Adam’s transgression."

In 2 Nephi 2:19-24, It explains why the Fall of Adam and Eve was so important to us.

 19 And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.

 20 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth.

 21 And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.

 22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

 23 And they would have had no children; 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.

 24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

Then the knowledge that we are punished for our own choices, not for any one else, including Adam and Eve.

2 Nephi 2:25-27

 25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

 26 And theMessiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

 27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

3.  "We believe that

 through the

Atonement of Christ,

 all mankind may be saved,

by obedience to the laws

and ordinances of the Gospel."

This one is found in Alma 12:31-34

 31 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—

 32 Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.

 33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;

 34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.

I know, that as we come to understand and apply these 2 beliefs, we will experience joy and happiness in this life.  We are the ones who are responsible for our actions, and even though we make wrong choices, we can be forgiven if we will repent and strive to be obedient to the laws of the Gospel.