Taking the Fear Out of Dating

First and foremost, this post will take you longer than five minutes to read.
This post is actually based on an Ensign article from April, 2016 and it is called, "Taking the Fear Out of Dating," by Michael A. Goodman. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new.

"Love is meant to be an adventure." - Gordon B. Hinckley.

He mentions;
"Dating and courtship can be both brutal and beautiful. Because life is busy and dating sometimes causes frustration, some young people may choose to simply not date. .. Yet prophets continue to encourage young single adults to become more engaged in trying to become engaged to realize the ideal of marriage and family.

Though no one can fully control the process of progression toward marriage ..

Patiently Prepare Yourself
Ask yourself, “How can I create more wholeness and happiness in my life now so I can eventually share that happiness with another?” Then act on the inspiration and the ideas that come. .. Some young adults pray and long for a temple marriage but feel they have no power to obtain one. .. Doctrine and Covenants 58:3–4 applies:

“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

“For after much tribulation come the blessings.”

Sometimes tribulation simply means that things don’t happen when you think they should. In the words of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, you must exercise “faith in the Lord’s timing for you personally, not just in His overall plans and purposes.” This doesn’t mean you simply stand by. As the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote to the Saints, "Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.".

Live Life Relationally
You can also prepare for your ideal marriage by learning to live your life relationally (that is, focused on building all types of relationships with others) before you find yourself in a dating relationship. Many feel so much pressure to focus on individual achievement and self-fulfillment that they put these things ahead of other people. ..

..  The Savior taught us to prioritize our relationships with God and with each other above all else. If it becomes your nature to love God and love your neighbor, you’ll be better prepared to develop the kind of dating relationship that can blossom into eternal love.

Seek Opportunities
Put yourself in places where you can develop relationships with the kind of people you want to date. Though you might find a gem anywhere, you will more likely find one if you go where gems are often found. ..

If you would like to date people who have a strong relationship with God, go where people are striving to develop a strong relationship with God. .. You will meet the kind of people you would like to date by going to places and doing the kinds of things that those people do.

Deepen Select Relationships
As you live life relationally and seek opportunities, you will make many friends and acquaintances. .. Purposefully seek to deepen these relationships. Find opportunities to discuss topics beyond daily activities.

Show those you care about that you enjoy spending time with them. .. You may even feel inspired to invite someone to an activity that will allow the two of you to get to know each other in a deeper, more personal way. Before you know it, you might find yourself dating.

Communicate Expectations Openly
Once you begin dating, you must see the experience for what it is and recognize what it is not. Unhealthy and inaccurate expectations cause much of the frustration associated with dating. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “Dating is pairing off to experience the kind of one-on-one association and temporary commitment that can lead to marriage in some rare and treasured cases.”

To ask someone out or to accept a date means to agree to spend a couple of hours getting to know someone and to treat him or her with kindness and respect. A date is not a commitment to be together exclusively from that point forward; it is not a commitment to become engaged or to get married; it is not a commitment to raise a future family together. If people eliminated false expectations and focused on showing kindness and getting to know one another, dating could become much more enjoyable.

An understanding of expectations will not magically occur, you must communicate. Different expectations almost always guarantee heartache. If one of you thinks the two of you are hanging out while the other thinks you are on a date, or if one of you commits to a couple of hours together while the other assumes you have begun preparation for your engagement, there is a good chance neither of you will be happy by the end of the evening. Both of you must decide what your time together means. ..

.. As you patiently seek to realize in your life the ideals of marriage and family, you will draw nearer to Heavenly Father and our Savior and significantly increase your chances of developing a meaningful relationship. The joyous rewards of dating are more than worth the effort  ..

Dating and Missionary Work
As a past mission president who also teaches missionary preparation at BYU, I’ve found that many of the lessons learned by missionaries can apply to the dating scene. .
Examples include the following:

See dating as a spiritual, not just social, activity.
Realize that God is interested in your success. Just as He will help you on your mission, ..
Be purposeful. .. Honor agency. You should invite, not coerce.
Do not let rejection or heartbreak keep you down. ..
Develop charity. The more Christlike love you have for others, the more natural you will be and the more enjoyable your dating experience will be."

If you would like to read the whole article in your own time, the link is below.
www.lds.org/ensign/2016/04/young-adults/taking-the-fear-out-of-dating

I know that dating can be fun, and I also know that dating can be difficult. It is not a good idea for have expectations that the first date goes very well and leads to another date. I would always suggest to give it a day or a few days after the first date, to follow up with whom you went on a date to see how did the date go and if you enjoyed your time, express that to him or her. Remember to be patient.

That is all from me for now. For the next month, I plan to blog sometime each day/each night. 

Ten Steps to Self Esteem

How is your weekend going so far? Who would have thought this blog would reached 4,000 total page views between previous post to today's post? I know that I did not. Do you think this blog would reach 4,350 total page views before end of this month? Anyway ..

I would like to encourage you to remember that everyone has different ten steps to self esteem and do you have ten steps to self esteem? What does self esteem means to you?

Google meaning for self esteem is confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect.
Have you ever would like to know what self esteem is used for?
Self esteem is used to describe a person's overall sense of self-worth or personal value. In other words, how much you appreciate and like yourself. Self-esteem is often seen as a personality trait, which means that it tends to be stable and enduring.

I have ten steps to self esteem for myself. I would like to share with you a few steps from my ten steps.

1. Knowing about myself, acknowledging what my strengths are, and so much more.
2. Recognizing things that makes me feel down.
3. Strive my best to help people who is less fortunate than myself.

"1. Know yourself.

2. Understand what makes you feel great.

3. Recognize things that get you down.

4. Let goals to achieve what you want.

5. Develop trusting friendships that make you feel good.

6. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

7. Stand up for your beliefs & values.

8. Help someone else.

9. Take responsibility for your own actions.

10. Take good care of yourself."

After reading those ten steps to self esteem from above, I thought about some questions relating to those ten steps and I would like to share with you, what those questions was.

1. Do you know yourself? How much do you really know yourself?
Do you know your strengths? Do you know your weaknesses?

2. Do you understand what makes you feel great?
How much do you understand what makes you feel great?

3. Do you recognize what things that makes you feel down?
How do you recognize those things that makes you feel down?

4. Do you make your own goals that you want to achieve?
How often do you check your list of the goals that you want to achieve?

5. How do you develop friendships? and How much do you trust your true friendships?

6. When was the last time that you were afraid to ask for help?

7. When was the last time you stand up for your beliefs and values?

8. When was the last time did you help someone else? Did it make you feel so good inside?

9. Why is it important for you to take responsibility for your own actions?

10. Do you take good care of yourself often? When was the last time did you take good care of yourself?

That is all from me for now, I would be posting again sometime on Tuesday, Daylight Savings time-zone. I hope your next two days would be good for you. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to read about, please let me know.

I am open to any suggestions. Keep in mind, it can be any suggestions and remember as long as the suggestions that you would think that is appropriate for me to share and assume that I would be able to approve the suggestions with no dramas. 

The Choice to Be Grateful

Do you think this blog will reach 4,000 total page views before end of this month? It is okay if you have answered, "no" to the question but I think this blog would reach 4,000 total page views. I still have another two posts remaining to share before this month ends. Anyway ..

Have you ever thought about if you have been taking anything or anyone for granted?
Have you ever thought about to have a soften heart to choose to be grateful instead?

This post is based on an article from Liahona, December 2011 and it is called, "The Choice to Be Grateful" by President Henry B. Eyring. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article. I hope you will learn something new while reading this post.

President Eyring mentioned,
"Our Father in Heaven commands us to be thankful in all things, and He requires that we give thanks for the blessings we receive. We know that all of His commandments are intended to make us happy, and we also know that to break commandments leads to misery. So to be happy and to avoid misery, we must have a grateful heart.

We have seen in our lives the connection between gratitude and happiness. All of us would like to feel gratitude, yet it is not easy to be consistently grateful in all things in the trials of life. Sickness, disappointment, and the loss of people we love come at times in our lives. Our sorrows can make it hard to see our blessings and to appreciate the blessings God has in store for us in the future.

"Gratitude is the gateway to JOY" - Elaine S. Marshall.

It is a challenge to count our blessings because we have a tendency to take good things for granted. When we lose a roof over our heads, food to eat, or the warmth of friends and family, we realize how grateful we should have been when we had them.

Most of all, sometimes it is hard for us to be sufficiently grateful for the greatest gifts we receive: .. the promise of resurrection, the opportunity to enjoy eternal life with our families, the Restoration of the gospel with the priesthood and its keys. Only with the help of the Holy Ghost can we begin to feel what those blessings mean for us and for those we love. And only then can we hope to be thankful in all things and avoid the offense to God of ingratitude.

With our Father’s help, all of us can choose to feel more gratitude. We can ask Him to help us see our blessings more clearly, whatever our circumstances. .. I had seen hope and the pure love of Christ shining in their faces, even in their terrible trial. And I felt the evidence you can feel if you ask God to reveal to you that the Atonement can allow you to feel hope and love.

Giving thanks in prayer can allow us to see the magnitude of these blessings and all of our other blessings and so receive the gift of a more grateful heart."

Towards to the end, it shares teaching from this message and I also would like to share with you one thing that was mentioned.

"Writing down our experiences and blessings can help us remember them and give us something to refer back to. Consider asking those you teach to write down what they are grateful for to help them remember the blessings they have received, recognize the blessings of the present, and look forward to the blessings of the future."

That is all from me for now. If you would like to read the whole article in your own time, here is the link. www.lds.org/liahona/2011/12/the-choice-to-be-grateful

I hope you will have a wonderful weekend, and I will be posting again sometime on Sunday, Pacific Daylight time-zone. 

Everything Happens for a Reason

First and foremost, this post may take you longer than five minutes to read. I will strive my best to keep this post simple and sweet. Have you ever heard a statement that says "Everything happens for a reason," before? I know it is totally okay if you have not ever heard that statement before and I absolutely love that statement.

I love asking encouraging questions and I hope you do take the time to read and answer the following questions. 

"Have you ever had at least one moment or more when you were able to think about the achievements that you have accomplished throughout your life?" and "have you ever asked yourself, what type of achievements were I able to accomplish to get where I am today?"

I would like to encourage you to take a moment to think about type of achievements you were able to accomplished that has helped you to get where you are today. I know for myself, I have accomplished some achievements that has helped me to get where I am today.

"I believe that everything happens for a reason, people change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you'll eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and some times good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

Here is some of my examples.

I gain a stronger testimony about Heavenly Father is always giving us chances if we see the chances that has been given to us. When I was nineteen years, I had a car accident. When I was twenty-one years, I had another car accident. Heavenly Father provided people at both times to help me and comfort me.

If I did go on a mission, I would be expected to returning home from the mission sometime next month. The blessings for not going on a mission was being able to graduate Institute, I worked as a Marketing Management at a Domino's store for two months last year, I met my boyfriend online and so much more.

Before I met my boyfriend online, I used to have a few crushes who I strongly liked and I always expected that they have liked me back. I was always into reading signs of what made me think that they liked me. I did not like all the crushes at the same time. They did not ever expressed to me how they felt about me until it was late enough that it was led to my feelings getting hurt. I am no longer friends with any of my crushes on Facebook. My current boyfriend is the first boyfriend that I ever have.

I always love going to the Temple once a week, weekly and whenever there is opportunities for me taking my family files to the Temple to be completed, I always feel joy. I know that they will thank me one day.

I always show the best attitude for working while I am at work and I do not ever complain about working longer than the time when I was suppose to finish. I am super excited for getting a permanent part-time position at work and I will be getting minimum of fifteen hours a week once I start working as a permanent part-time. Permanent part-time position has more benefits {such as paid leave} compare to casual position.

Before I accepted my church calling into Seminary as a Seminary Substitute Teacher, there was days that I wished that I had a church calling and other days, I did not fully understand why I did not have a church calling. I waited two years before I got called into Seminary and my last calling was in my family's previous ward as a Ward Missionary.

If you like more information about Seminary, click on the link below.
www.mormonnewsroom.org/topic/seminary

If you like more information about Ward Missionary, click on the link below.
www.ldsblogs.com/24449/mormonism-ward-missionary

What are some examples did you experienced throughout your life so far about everything happens for a reason?

We may be angry or confused at some things do not go the way we would like them to straight away. I know that sometimes when things eventually happens in a different timing, we learn to be grateful more and appreciate for waiting for that moment to achieve those things.

Do you ever believe everything happens for a reason? That is all from me for now, I will be posting again sometime on Friday, Pacific Daylight time-zone. 

No Matter Where You Are

This post is short and sweet. Whether you are in a relationship or you are engaged or you are married or single, you learn to be there for someone no matter where they are whether it is a phone call away or be there in person or writing letters or emailing.

This post is based on a song that I love a called "No Matter Where You Are" by Us The Duo. If you haven't the song before, I strongly encourage you to listen to the song in your own time. You may want to listen to the song over and over again because it is really good song to listen to.

Below is a video clip to the song.

If you can't see the video above, here's the link below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6_-JoC8jpw

If you have listened to the song, did you have a most favourite part and a least favourite part while you were listening to the song?

"No matter where you are, I'll be there."

I would like to share with you, my most favourite part of the song. My favourite part was "No matter where you are, I'll be there." I always strive my best to be there for a family member, a friend and my boyfriend whenever he or she needs me to comfort him or her whenever something goes wrong so I always strive my best of what I can do to cheer him or her up.

That is all from me for now, I hoped your weekend was great and I will be posting again sometime on Wednesday, pacific daylight time-zone. 

Are you struggling what to pray for?

This post may take you five minutes or longer to read. Has there ever been a time when you were struggling what to pray for and you felt unsure what to pray for? It is okay if you have answered, "yes" to the question.

I am not judging you and I have experiences times in my life so far when I have been through times when I struggled what to pray for. I hope this post will help you what to pray for. I strongly encourage you to think about and answer the following list of some questions that I thought about recently.

"What did you pray for today?" "What did you pray for this evening?"
"Did you pray for someone's health whenever he or she is sick/unwell?"
"Did you pray for your health whenever you are sick/unwell?"
"Did you pray for to have missionary opportunities?"

"Did you pray for direction as where you are heading in life at this present time?"
"Did you pray for having the spirit to be with you as you do scripture studies?"
"Did you pray for any help of what you have been struggling lately?"

"Did you pray for forgiveness because of someone has hurt you?"
"Did you pray for safety and protection while you are driving/travelling?"
"Did you pray for comfort?"

The list goes on and on. How well did you think you went with answering a few questions from the list?

"Pray, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4."

I would like to share with you some of the things what I pray for.

In my prayers, I always pray for the spirit to be with me as I read the scriptures, I always pray for comfort, I always pray for forgiveness, I always pray for safety and protection while I am driving/travelling, I always pray for my family, I always pray for my friends wherever they are in the world now and I always pray for a few other basic things such as pray for direction.

In my prayers, I always strive my best to ask questions, pray for missionary opportunities, pray for my health and many more.

That is all from me for now, I hope you will have a great weekend and stay safe. I will be posting again sometime on Monday, Pacific Daylight time-zone.

We Are Children of God

First and foremost, I would like you to always remember that we are all children of God. This post is based on an October 1998 General Conference talk called "We Are Children of God" by Elder Russell M. Nelson. I would like to share with you some highlights what he mentions.

Elder Nelson mentions, “The Body:-
The marvel of our physical bodies is often overlooked. Who has not encountered feelings of low self-esteem because of physique or appearance?

Many people wish their bodies could be more to their liking. Some with naturally straight hair want it curly. Others with curly hair want it straight. Occasionally some ladies, believing that “gentlemen prefer blonds,” become “decided blonds.”

Your body, whatever its natural gifts, is a magnificent creation of God. It is a tabernacle of flesh a temple for your spirit. A study of your body attests to its divine design.

Physical Limitations:- 

For reasons usually unknown, some people are born with physical limitations. Specific parts of the body may be abnormal. Regulatory systems may be out of balance.
And all of our bodies are subject to disease and death. Nevertheless, the gift of a physical body is priceless. Without it, we cannot attain a fulness of joy. 

A perfect body is not required to achieve a divine destiny. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail frames. Great spiritual strength is often developed by those with physical challenges precisely because they are challenged. Such individuals are entitled to all the blessings that God has in store for His faithful and obedient children. 

Eventually the time will come when each ‘spirit and body shall be reunited again in perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame’ (Alma 11:43). Then, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become perfected in Him.

"You are a child of God. You are wonderfully made, dearly loved, and precious in his sight. Before God made you, he knew you. There is no one else like you."

Personal Behavior:-

How should these truths influence our personal behavior? We should gratefully acknowledge God as our Creator. Otherwise, we would be as guilty as goldfish swimming in a bowl, oblivious to the goodness of their provider. “Ye must give thanks unto God,” said the Lord, “for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.” And we can practice virtue and holiness before Him continually.

We will regard our body as a temple of our very own. We will not let it be desecrated or defaced in any way. We will control our diet and exercise for physical fitness.

Should not equal attention be paid to spiritual fitness? Just as physical strength requires exercise, so spiritual strength requires effort. Among the most important of spiritual exercises is prayer. It engenders harmony with God and a desire to keep His commandments. Prayer is a key to wisdom, virtue, and humility.

 Scriptural warning is clear: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” In time, addictions enslave both the body and the spirit. Full repentance from addiction is best accomplished in this life, while we still have a mortal body to help us.

As children of God, we should not let anything enter the body that might defile it. To allow sensors of sight, touch, or hearing to supply the brain with unclean memories is a sacrilege. We will cherish our chastity and avoid “foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown [us] in destruction and perdition.”We will “flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness” traits that edify the whole soul.

Who are we? We are children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred. May we always honor that heritage in every thought and deed."

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time, here's the link to the talk.
www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/10/we-are-children-of-god

That is all from me for now, I should be posting again by sometime on Saturday, daylight pacific time-zone.

Take Time for Your Children

This post is based on a October 1993 General Conference talk that I like and it is called, "Take Time for Your Children" by Elder Ben B. Banks. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk.

Elder Banks mentioned, "We cannot overemphasize the importance of parenthood and the family. Some Latter-day Saint families are what we refer to as the “traditional family,” consisting of parents and children all together in a permanent relationship, with both mother and father sharing in the responsibility of caring for children. Others have witnessed the loss of one of the parents and become one of the many single-parent families.

I am one who grew up in a single-parent home. My father lost his life as a result of a construction accident when I was two years old, leaving my mother with seven children to raise. Even in single-parent families, the family continues on, for families are forever. Perhaps few human challenges are greater than that of being good parents.

Yes, even with the best intentions, conscientious, good parents sometimes experience feelings of despair, failure, and hurt when children do not make right choices and turn out the way we would like. Even in those circumstances it is so important for parents to love, pray for, and never give up hope for a son or daughter who may have strayed or brought disappointment.

Elder Howard W. Hunter stated: “The responsibilities of parenthood are of the greatest importance. The results of our efforts will have eternal consequences for us and the boys and girls we raise. Anyone who becomes a parent is under strict obligation to protect and love his children and assist them to return to their Heavenly Father”

Parents should be the master teachers of their children. The Church will assist parents in their teaching and training, but only assist. The Church cannot be a substitute for parental responsibility.

Elder Richard L. Evans said the home “is also the source of our personal lives, and in a sense the determiner of our everlasting lives. And so our plea is for parents to take the time it takes to draw near to the children God has given them. Let there be love at home. Let there be tenderness and teaching and caring for and not a shifting of responsibility onto others. God grant that we may never be too busy to do the things that matter most, for ‘Home makes the man’”

Effective communication - Parents should spend a great deal of time listening, not just telling. This listening should be done with an open mind and heart. When children feel they can talk freely about their feelings, problems, and successes, wonderful relationships develop between parents and children.

Enthrone love and unity - It is important to make your children aware of your love and feelings. This can be done by a hundred little acts and gestures, such as tucking children into bed at night after listening to their prayers, offering a comforting arm or ear even though he or she may not be hurt very badly.

Encourage children to support each other through attendance at ball games and concerts where a family member is participating.

Do things together - Vacations and recreational activities, also family work projects, give parents a good opportunity to teach the importance of developing a good work ethic. Doing things together gives a child and parent an opportunity to share their attention in a common objective.

Provide opportunities to learn how to be independent and responsible. Teach children how to make their own decisions, even if it involves their failing once in a while. We need to help children come to an understanding such as Lehi taught, “knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon."

"In the end, kids won't remember that fancy toy or game you bought for them, they will remember the time you spent with them. " - Kevin Heath.

Discipline with love.

Service - In his great farewell address, King Benjamin taught, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." There are few rewards in life that bring greater feelings of satisfaction, joy, and peace than when one gives meaningful service to a fellow being standing in need.

The last and most important is to establish a “house of God.”

It is not easy for children to stay clean and pure in today’s world. There are times when it becomes hard for them to tell right from wrong. We need to teach our children, as Alma taught his son Corianton, “Wickedness never was happiness." Teach them to stay on the Lord’s side of the line. Hold family home evening regularly. Hold family prayer twice a day, if possible.

Teach them to love the scriptures and how to experience the sweet answer to individual prayer. Teach them to understand and recognize how the Holy Ghost communicates with us and how it comes as promptings, thoughts, impressions, and feelings. Teach the sacred significance of the atoning sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.

That all who are parents might be successful in convincing their children that true joy and happiness come from living the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that parents might find joy and fulfillment in their efforts and sacred role, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I would like to encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time and here is the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/10/take-time-for-your-children

That is all from me for now, I should be posting again by sometime on Sunday, daylight pacific time-zone.

Peace, Hope, and Direction

How is your weekend going so far? This post is short and sweet. This post is based on a article from Liahona in January 2000 and it is called, "Peace, Hope, and Direction" by Sister Patricia P. Pinegar. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article.

Sister Pinegar mentioned, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:5–6).

Brothers and sisters, I love the Lord and trust in Him with all of my heart. I know He lives and loves each of us. I know our Father in Heaven has a perfect plan for us. As we follow this plan and the example of our Savior, we can find peace in this troubled world, our hearts can be filled with hope, and we will receive the direction we need.

The difficult experience of my son’s death helped me identify and rejoice in the blessings of peace, hope, and direction blessings that all who truly accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ may enjoy. I can bear witness to the words of Elder Richard G. Scott: “Please learn that as you wrestle with a challenge and feel sadness because of it, you can simultaneously have peace and rejoicing"

What are some specific things we can do to have these blessings of peace, hope, and direction in our lives? May I share with you three things that have helped me.

"Let us rejoice in the blessings of peace, hope, and direction, blessings that so many of our Father’s children do not enjoy."

First, we must have complete trust in our Father’s plan of happiness and our Savior’s part in that plan.

The second thing that has helped me receive these blessings is the principle of courageous obedience. I am so grateful for God’s gift of laws and commandments. Peace, hope, and direction are outcomes of striving to live the teachings of Jesus and obeying His laws and commandments.

The scriptures teach, “Great peace have they which love thy law” They also teach that “he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come”

The third thing we can do to receive these blessings of peace, hope, and direction is to learn to respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and acknowledge to the Lord our gratitude for this great gift."

I encourage you to read the whole article in your own time. Here is the link below.
www.lds.org/liahona/2000/01/peace-hope-and-direction

That is all from me for now. We all need to have peace, hope and direction throughout our lives. I will be posting again sometime on Tuesday in Pacific Daylight time-zone. I hope you will have a great week.

Accepting the Lord’s Will and Timing

First and foremost, this post will take longer than five minutes to read and I hope you will learn something new. This post is based on an article from Liahona in August, 2016, called "Accepting the Lord's Will and Timing" by Elder David A. Bednar. I would like to share with you some favourite parts that I loved while I was reading the article.

"Scriptures concerning the Savior’s suffering as He offered the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice became even more poignant and meaningful to me. I believe most of us likely would expect a man with the spiritual capacity, experience, and stature of Elder Maxwell to face serious illness and death with an understanding of God’s plan of happiness, with assurance and grace, and with dignity.

“Not My Will, but Thine, Be Done”
We recognized a principle that applies to every devoted disciple: strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted. Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains if moving mountains accomplishes God’s purposes and is in accordance with His will.

Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in healing the sick, deaf, and lame if such healing accomplishes God’s purposes and is in accordance with His will. Thus, even if we have strong faith, many mountains will not be moved. And not all of the sick and infirm will be healed. If all opposition were curtailed, if all maladies were removed, then the primary purposes of the Father’s plan would be frustrated.

Many of the lessons we are to learn in mortality can be received only through the things we experience and sometimes suffer. And God expects and trusts us to face temporary mortal adversity with His help so we can learn what we need to learn and ultimately become what we are to become in eternity.

The Meaning of All Things

You are facing, have faced, or will yet face equivalent challenges in your lives with the same courage and spiritual perspective ..

I do not know why some people learn the lessons of eternity through trial and suffering while others learn similar lessons through rescue and healing. I do not know all of the reasons, all of the purposes, and I do not know everything about the Lord’s timing. With Nephi, you and I can say that we “do not know the meaning of all things”  (1 Nephi 11:17).

But some things I absolutely do know. I know we are spirit sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. I know the Eternal Father is the author of the plan of happiness. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know Jesus enabled the Father’s plan through His infinite and eternal Atonement. I know the Lord, who was “bruised, broken, [and] torn for us,”2 can succor and strengthen “his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12). And I know one of the greatest blessings of mortality is to not shrink and to allow our individual will to be “swallowed up in the will of the Father” (Mosiah 15:7).

Though I do not know everything about how and when and where and why these blessings occur, I do witness they are real. And I know that as you press forward in your lives with steadfast faith in Christ, you will have the capacity to not shrink." I encourage you to read the whole article in your own time.

Here's the link below. www.lds.org/liahona/2016/08/accepting-the-lords-will-and-timing

That is all from me for now, I should be posting again by sometime on Sunday, daylight pacific time-zone.

God Shall Wipe Away All Tears

This post is based on a October 2016 General Conference talk and it is called, "God Shall Wipe Away All Tears" by Elder Evan A. Schmutz. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading and listening to the talk.

Elder Schmutz mentioned, "As part of our Heavenly Father’s plan, He allowed sorrow to be woven into our mortal experience. While it seems that painful trials fall unevenly on us, we can be assured that to one degree or another, we all suffer and struggle. It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide us to a greater understanding why this must be so.

When we view the difficult experiences of life through the lens of faith in Christ, we are able to see that there can be godly purpose in our suffering. The faithful can experience the truth of Peter’s seemingly contradictory counsel. He wrote, “If ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye.”

As we apply our “hearts to understanding,” we can increase in our ability to both endure our trials well and learn from and be refined by them. Such understanding provides an answer to the ageless question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Everyone listening today is acquainted with some measure of loneliness, despair, grief, pain, or sorrow.

Without an “eye of faith” and an understanding of eternal truth, we often find that the misery and suffering experienced in mortality can obscure or eclipse the eternal joy of knowing that the great plan of our Father in Heaven really is the eternal plan of happiness. There is no other way to receive a fulness of joy.

God invites us to respond with faith to our own unique afflictions in order that we may reap blessings and gain knowledge that can be learned in no other way. We are instructed to keep the commandments in every condition and circumstance, for “he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.” And as we read in scripture, “If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful.”

If I may speak to you individually “all ye that labour and are heavy laden” may I suggest that your personal struggles your individual sorrows, pains, tribulations, and infirmities of every kind are all known to our Father in Heaven and to His Son. Take courage! Have faith! And believe in the promises of God!

The purpose and mission of Jesus Christ included that He would “take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people,” “take upon him their infirmities,” and “succor his people according to their infirmities.”

To fully receive these gifts our Savior has so freely offered, we all must learn that suffering in and of itself does not teach or grant to us anything of lasting value unless we deliberately become involved in the process of learning from our afflictions through the exercise of faith.

I have observed in the lives and examples of others that exercising strong and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and His promises provides the sure hope of better things to come. This sure hope steadies us, bringing the strength and power we need in order to endure. When we can link our suffering to an assurance of purpose in our mortality and more specifically to the reward awaiting us in heavenly places, our faith in Christ increases and we receive comfort to our souls.

Then we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has taught: “There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the ‘light that is endless, that can never be darkened’ [Mosiah 16:9]. It is the very Son of God Himself.”

We can take strength in knowing that all the hard experiences in this life are temporary; even the darkest nights turn into dawn for the faithful. When all is finished and we have endured all things with faith in Jesus Christ, we have the promise that “God shall wipe away all [he tears from our eyes.”

I would like to strongly encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time and here is the link, www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/god-shall-wipe-away-all-tears

That is all from me for now, I should be posting again by sometime on Friday, and it will be shared on daylight pacific time zone. I am working towards to the first Vlog. 

The Strength to Endure

First and foremost, I encourage you to think about and answer the following question in your own time. "What does The Strength to Endure means to you?"

This post is based on a October General Conference 2013 talk and it is called "The Strength to Endure" by Elder Richard J. Maynes. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new.

"Every morning when we wake up, we face a new day filled with the challenges of life. These challenges come in many forms: physical challenges, financial setbacks, difficulties with relationships, emotional trials, and even struggles with one’s faith.

Many of the challenges we face in life can be solved and overcome; however, others may be difficult to understand and impossible to overcome and will be with us until we pass on to the next life.

As we temporarily endure the challenges we can solve and as we continue to endure the challenges we cannot solve, it is important to remember that the spiritual strength we develop will help us successfully endure all the challenges we face in life.

Heavenly Father has organized our journey through life to be a test of our character. We are exposed to both good and evil influences and then given the moral agency to choose for ourselves which path we will take. As the ancient Book of Mormon prophet Samuel taught, “Ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.”

Heavenly Father also understood that due to our mortality we would not always make the correct or righteous choice. Because we are not perfect and because we make mistakes, we need help in returning to His presence. The necessary help is provided through the teachings, example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“Because we face challenges every day, it is important that we work on our spiritual stamina every day. When we develop spiritual stamina, the false traditions of the world, as well as our personal daily challenges, will have little negative impact on our ability to endure in righteousness.” - Elder Richard J. Maynes.

The Savior’s atoning sacrifice makes possible our future salvation and exaltation through the principle of repentance. If we honestly and sincerely repent, the Atonement can help us become clean, change our nature, and successfully endure our challenges. So whatever challenges you wake up to each morning, remember with the spiritual strength you develop, coupled with the Lord’s help, at the end of the race you will be able to enjoy the confidence that the Apostle Paul expressed when he said:

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.”

In your own time, I encourage you to read this talk. It is a very great and powerful talk.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/the-strength-to-endure

That is all from me for now, I should really get into Vlog and the first Vlog should be posted sometime within the next forty-eight hours. I should be able to post sometime on Wednesday, Pacific Daylight Time-zone. Remember the strength to endure. 

Always have the Temple in Your Sights

First and foremost, this post may take longer than five minutes to read.

While I was in Utah, United States during February this year, I went to total of eleven different Temples within fifteen days. Do you think I was crazy or was spiritual high?

As I look back now, I think I was a little crazy about going many Temples within fifteen days but I would like to go to many Temples as I can while I was in Utah. I hope to go to the other seven Temples next time while I am in Utah. I would like to go to Jordan River Temple, Logan Temple, Cedar Temple, Bountiful Temple, St George Temple, and Monticello Temple. 

I went to Provo City Temple, Oquirrh Mountain Temple, and Salt Lake City Temple with my boyfriend while he was in Utah, United States. I went to Manti Temple, Payson Temple, and Salt Lake City Temple with my friend Kharissa while she has time off work.

I went to Brigham City Temple, Ogden Temple, Vernal Temple, and Mount Timpanogos Temple on my own. I went to Provo Temple, and Draper Temple with my friend JaLisa.

<------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
This post is actually based on a April 2011 General Conference talk and it is called, "The Holy Temple - A Beacon to the World" by President Thomas S. Monson. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk.

President Monson mentioned, "My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service. The first temple to be built in this dispensation was the temple at Kirtland, Ohio.

The Saints at the time were impoverished, and yet the Lord had commanded that a temple be built, so build it they did. Wrote Elder Heber C. Kimball of the experience, “The Lord only knows the scenes of poverty, tribulation and distress which we passed through to accomplish it.”

And then, after all that had been painstakingly completed, the Saints were forced to leave Ohio and their beloved temple. They eventually found refuge although it would be temporary on the banks of the Mississippi River in the state of Illinois.

They named their settlement Nauvoo, and willing to give their all once again and with their faith intact, they erected another temple to their God. Persecutions raged, however, and with the Nauvoo Temple barely completed, they were driven from their homes once again, seeking refuge in a desert.

The struggle and the sacrifice began once again as they labored for 40 years to erect the Salt Lake Temple, which stands majestically on the block just south of those of us who are here today in the Conference Center.

Some degree of sacrifice has ever been associated with temple building and with temple attendance. Countless are those who have labored and struggled in order to obtain for themselves and for their families the blessings which are found in the temples of God.

Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure.

They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort.

If you have been to the temple for yourselves and if you live within relatively close proximity to a temple, your sacrifice could be setting aside the time in your busy lives to visit the temple regularly. There is much to be done in our temples in behalf of those who wait beyond the veil. As we do the work for them, we will know that we have accomplished what they cannot do for themselves.

President Joseph F. Smith, in a mighty declaration, stated, “Through our efforts in their behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their children here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties.”

In my own family, some of our most sacred and treasured experiences have occurred when we have joined together in the temple to perform sealing ordinances for our deceased ancestors.

"Always have the Temple in your sights" - Thomas S. Monson.

My brothers and sisters, the work is ours to do. If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple.

Your sacrifice may be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing. Whatever it is, qualify to enter the temple of God. Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is.

Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. ..

Now, my young friends who are in your teenage years, always have the temple in your sights. Do nothing which will keep you from entering its doors and partaking of the sacred and eternal blessings there.

To you parents of young children, may I share with you some sage advice from President Spencer W. Kimball. Said he: “It would be a fine thing if … parents would have in every bedroom in their house a picture of the temple so their children from the time they are infants could look at the picture every day [until] it becomes a part of their lives. When they reach the age that they need to make the very important decision concerning going to the temple, it will have already been made.

I plead with you to teach your children of the temple’s importance. The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified.

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time, here's the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-holy-temple-a-beacon-to-the-world

That is all from me for now, I still have not been able to start doing a Vlog because I am still shy and I still need to work on getting out of my comfort zone to share a Vlog post. I plan to post again sometime on next Monday.

Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving

First and foremost, Happy 4th of July/Happy Independence Day to American readers for yesterday and I hope you somewhat had a great day celebrating another year of 4th of July/Independence Day. I would not like to share a post about 4th of July/Independence Day.
<-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
This post will take you longer than five minutes to read. Before I start sharing what this post is actually about, I would like to encourage you to think about and answer the following question.
What ideas do you have to build a better relationship with your Mum and Dad?

This post is based on a New Era article from February 2011 and it is called, "Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving" by Elder M. Russell Ballard. I would like to share with you some highlights that I loved while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new while you are reading this post.

Elder Ballard mentioned, "To Fathers and Sons, Young men, you are your father’s pride and joy. In you they see a promising future and their hope for a better, improved version of themselves. Your accomplishments are a joy to them. Your worries and problems are their worries and problems.

Sons

1. Trust your father.
He is not perfect, but he loves you and would never do anything he didn’t think was in your best interest. So talk to him. Share your thoughts and feelings, your dreams and your fears. The more he knows about your life, the better chance he has to understand your concerns and to give you good counsel. .. Your Dad wants more than anything for you to be happy and successful, ..

2. Take an interest in your father’s life.
Ask about his job, his interests, his goals. How did he decide to do the work that he does? What was he like when he was your age? How did he meet your mother? Think about what you don’t know about him and find out. Your love, admiration, and understanding will increase by what you learn.

3. Ask your father for advice.
Let’s be honest: he is probably going to give you his advice whether you ask for it or not, but it just works so much better when you ask! .. Nothing shows respect for another person as much as asking for his advice, because what you are really saying is, “I appreciate what you know and the experiences you have had, and I value your ideas and suggestions.”

Fathers,

1. Listen to your sons, really listen to them.
Ask the right kind of questions, and listen to what your sons have to say each time you have a few minutes together. You need to know not to guess but to know what is going on in your son’s life. Your sons live in a very different world from the one in which you grew up. As they share with you what’s going on, you will have to listen very carefully and without being judgmental in order to understand what they are thinking and experiencing.

2. Pray with and for your sons.
Give them priesthood blessings. A son who is worried about a big exam or a special event will surely benefit from a father’s priesthood blessing. .. One-on-one prayer and the sharing of testimonies can draw you closer to each other as well as closer to the Lord.

3. Dare to have the “big talks” with your sons.
You know what I mean: talks about drugs and drinking, about the dangers of today’s media, the Internet, cyber technologies, and pornography and about priesthood worthiness, respect for girls, and moral cleanliness. While these should not be the only subjects you talk about with your sons, please don’t shy away from them. Your boys need your counsel, guidance, and input on these subjects.

I am especially concerned that we communicate openly and clearly with our sons about sexual matters. Your sons simply cannot avoid the blatant sexual imagery, messages, and enticements that are all around them. Be positive about how wonderful and beautiful physical intimacy can be when it happens within the bounds the Lord has set, including temple covenants and commitments of eternal marriage.

"Children desperately need parents willing to listen to them." - M. Russell Ballard.

To Mothers and Daughters,

Sisters, we, your brethren, cannot do what you were divinely designated to do from before the foundation of the world. We may try, but we cannot ever hope to replicate your unique gifts. There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman.

But because all women have within their divine nature both the inherent talent and the stewardship to mother, most of what I will say applies equally to grandmothers, aunts, sisters, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, leaders, and other mentors who sometimes fill the gaps for these significant mother-daughter relationships.

Young women, your mothers adore you. They see in you the promise of future generations. Everything you accomplish, every challenge you overcome brings them pure joy. And likewise your worries and heartaches are their worries and heartaches.

Daughters

It is, unfortunately, all too easy to illustrate the confusion and distortion of womanhood in contemporary society. Popular culture today often makes women look silly, inconsequential, mindless, and powerless. It objectifies them and disrespects them and then suggests that they are able to leave their mark on mankind only by seduction easily the most pervasively dangerous message the adversary sends to women about themselves.

Please look to your faithful mothers for a pattern to follow. Model yourselves after them, not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards and whose values may not reflect an eternal perspective. Look to your mother.

Learn from her strengths, her courage, and her faithfulness. Listen to her. But when it comes to matters of the heart and the things of the Lord, she has a wealth of knowledge. As you approach the time for marriage and young motherhood, she will be your greatest source of wisdom. No other person on earth loves you in the same way or is willing to sacrifice as much to encourage you and help you find happiness in this life and forever.

Love your mother, my young sisters. Respect her. Listen to her. Trust her. She has your best interests at heart. She cares about your eternal safety and happiness. So be kind to her. Be patient with her imperfections, for she has them. We all do.

Mothers

Teach your daughters to find joy in nurturing children. This is where their love and talents can have the greatest eternal significance. ..

Mothers, teach your daughters that a faithful daughter of God avoids the temptation to gossip or judge one another.

All youth will be more likely to make and keep covenants if they learn how to recognize the presence and the voice of the Spirit. Teach your daughters about things of the Spirit. Point them to the scriptures. Give them experiences that will help them cherish the blessing of priesthood power in their lives. Through keeping covenants they will learn to hear the voice of the Lord and receive personal revelation. God will truly hear and answer their prayers.

Conclusion

Three things you can do to make your relationship with your parents better than it is right now:

1. Trust your parents

2. Take an interest in their lives

3. Ask your parents for advice"

If you would like to read the whole article in your own time, here is the link below.
www.lds.org/new-era/2011/02/parents-and-children-listening-learning-and-loving

That is all from me for now, I still have not been able to start doing a Vlog because I am still shy and I still need to work on getting out of my comfort zone to share a Vlog post. I plan to post again sometime on this Saturday.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust in the Lord

First and foremost; I would like you to reflect the following questions and answer in your own time, "Have you ever had an understanding about what trials means to you?"
"Have you ever had an understanding about what tribulations means to you?"
"Have you ever had an understanding about what do you do to trust in God?"

This post would take you longer than five minutes to read. I would like to encourage you to think about a few major trials and tribulations that you have experienced during your life so far and I also would like to encourage you to think about the learning lessons from experiencing those trials and tribulations in your life.

Did any of those trials and tribulations helped you to become a better and stronger person for who you are today?

From twenty years old to current age, I work as a delivery driver at Domino's. Selfish of me, I have always tried to fit in even though I know that I look different compare to everyone else. I learned that I should not be afraid to ask for help when I do need some help.

I had two different car accidents within eight hundred days apart/two years and two months apart.

Within eight months of holding a drivers licence and I was nineteen years old, I had my first car accident. I was on my way home after dropping a former friend from a friend's mission farewell party and I know that I had some friends who assumed that I had no injuries from it. From the car accident, the car was written off and I had major whiplash and neck muscle strain.

Close to three years of holding a drivers licence and when I was twenty-one years old, I had my second car accident. During work and as I was about to unbuckle the seat belt and walk out of the car to deliver a customer's order, I felt prompted to stay in my car a little longer. I did not understood why until I saw someone who was drank with alcohol on the wet intersection and hit the car. From the car accident, again the car was written off and I had soft tissue injury on my right foot.

Both of the car accidents, I learned a lot of things and my faith has grown stronger. One of the major things that I have learned was to continue my trust in Heavenly Father/God in no matter what situations do I face in my life, he has always been with me.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.

<-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
This post is actually based on an Ensign article from March 2014; called "Trials, Tribulations, and Trust in the Lord" by Elder Bradley D. Foster. I hope that you will learn something new and I would like to share with you, some highlights that I liked while I was reading the acticle.

In this world of “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11), life is not fair. .. But Job, like all of us, wondered why he had to face the trials that confronted him. And like us, at times he felt that perhaps God had forgotten him or was not listening to him.

When sorrow, misfortune, or tragedy strike, how will we respond? .. Heavenly Father placed us in this lone and dreary world to teach us what we need to learn so that we may become like Him. Our lives are changed daily by the incorrect decisions of others, by our own poor judgment, by the laws of nature, and by unforeseen circumstances in a world that was never designed to be fair.

I have learned much from a book titled Why Did This Happen to Me? by Ray Pritchard. He says: “.. Meanwhile, hold on, child of God. Keep believing. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Let God do His work in you. The greatest tragedy is to miss what God wants to teach us through our troubles.”

We do not know how long we will live on earth or what Heavenly Father has in store for us. We must trust in Him, make the most of each moment, and use our talents and gifts to improve our lives and to serve others. President Thomas S. Monson has declared:

“Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. …

“My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.” President Kimball added: “We knew before we were born that we were coming to the earth for bodies and experience and .. after a period of life we would die.

We accepted all these eventualities with a glad heart, eager to accept both the favorable and unfavorable. We eagerly accepted the chance to come earthward even though it might be for only a day or a year.”

May we all face our challenges with faith, endurance, and trust in our Heavenly Father and in His plan for each of us. Remember, it’s not what happens to us that matters; it’s how we handle what happens that makes all the difference. “When the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces,” the Savior’s power and assurance can still make it possible for us to experience joy and peace.

I testify that the Savior will abide with you in your darkest hour. He is there, and He has declared, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The Atonement of Jesus Christ can heal afflictions.

If you would like to read the whole article in your own time, here is the link below.
www.lds.org/ensign/2014/03/trials-tribulations-and-trust-in-the-lord

A few major things that I would suggest for you to do whenever you are going through trials or going through tribulations in your life is to pray for comfort, trust in Heavenly Father/God and recognize what you are learning from those trials or tribulations.

That is all from me for now, I still have not been able to start doing a Vlog and I have been unwell. I also have been busy of doing other things. Oh, well. I plan to post again sometime on this Thursday.

The Law of the Fast

Today is fast Sunday. I would like to encourage you to think about what is your purpose for fasting today and I also like to encourage you to think about your understanding of fasting. This post will take you longer than five minutes out of your time to read this post.

Today's post is based on a April 2001 General Conference talk called "The Law of the Fast," by Joseph B. Wirthlin. I would like to share with you some highlights what I liked while reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new.

Elder Wirthlin mentioned, "In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members are encouraged to fast whenever their faith needs special fortification and to fast regularly once each month on fast day. Typically, the first Sunday of each month is designated as fast Sunday. 

We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.

Fasting and prayer can help develop within us courage and confidence. It can strengthen our character and build self-restraint and discipline. Often when we fast, our righteous prayers and petitions have greater power. We mature spiritually and emotionally and sanctify our souls. Each time we fast, we gain a little more control over our worldly appetites and passions.

Fasting and prayer can help us in our families and in our daily work. They can help us magnify our callings in the Church. 

Book of Mormon prophets taught the law of the fast: “Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.”

When we fast, brethren and sisters, we feel hunger. And for a short time, we literally put ourselves in the position of the hungry and the needy. As we do so, we have greater understanding of the deprivations they might feel. When we give to the bishop an offering to relieve the suffering of others, we not only do something sublime for others, but we do something wonderful for ourselves as well. 

Some look at the overwhelming need in the world and think, What can I do that could possibly make a difference?

I will tell you plainly one thing you can do. You can live the law of the fast and contribute a generous fast offering. Fast offerings are used for one purpose only: to bless the lives of those in need. Every dollar given to the bishop as a fast offering goes to assist the poor. When donations exceed local needs, they are passed along to fulfill the needs elsewhere.

Far too many in the world today, thousands upon thousands of families experience want each day. They hunger. They ache with cold. They suffer from sickness. They grieve for their children. They mourn for the safety of their families. These people are not strangers and foreigners but children of our Heavenly Father. They are our brothers and our sisters.

Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. - Joseph B. Wirthlin.

Parents, teach your children the joys of a proper fast. And how do you do that? The same as with any gospel principle, let them see you live it by your example. Then help them live the law of the fast themselves, little by little. They can fast and they can also pay a fast offering if they choose. As we teach our children to fast, it can give them the power to resist temptations along their life’s journey.

How much should we pay in fast offerings? Will we, who have been blessed so abundantly, turn our backs on those who need our help? Paying a generous fast offering is a measure of our willingness to consecrate ourselves to relieve the suffering of others.

As members of the Church, we have a sacred responsibility to assist those in need and to help relieve their heavy burdens. President Gordon B. Hinckley asked: “What would happen if the principles of fast day and the fast offering were observed throughout the world? The hungry would be fed, the naked clothed, the homeless sheltered. A new measure of concern and unselfishness would grow in the hearts of people everywhere.”

Fasting in the proper spirit and in the Lord’s way will energize us spiritually, strengthen our self-discipline, fill our homes with peace, lighten our hearts with joy, fortify us against temptation, prepare us for times of adversity, and open the windows of heaven.

As we live the law of the fast, we not only draw nearer to God through prayer, but we feed the hungry and care for the poor. Each time we do so, we fulfill both of the great commandments upon which “hang all the law and the prophets.”

I did not realize how much events that I had planned during the weekend, so I have not yet been successful of doing a Vlog. I will hope to do Vlog update one as soon as I can. If you would like to read the whole talk in your own time, here is the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/the-law-of-the-fast

If you have any questions about fasting, feel free to ask in the comments section below. That is all from me for now. I hope you will have a wonderful Sabbath, remember it is fast Sunday and stay in tuned for next time's post. I will be posting sometime on Tuesday, in pacific daylight time zone.