My Best Two Years

So two years ago I started perhaps one the greatest thing I will ever do in my life. I have learned so much, hopefully taught many, and been able to be one of the Lords messengers of his truth. Here is a little poem I have written in each area of my mission. It all pertains to people, companions, the area, and the beauty of the state.

My experience From the Great MBM.

Up here under the big open sky.

Teaching all that I can just why.

Why he came and died for me,

And everyone that will understand, you see.

I started out in early fall, thinking that I knew it all.

I lived with a man and his wife,

Whose love and friendship became part of my life.

He showed me a way to love and be,

Almost the kind our Heavenly Father shows to you and me.

I then went to Havre up on the top,

and found that all I could do was drop.

Drop to my knees and ask for a hand,

To carry me on, through that new untamed land.

We fought and we taught to all those that would listen.

Just so we could see their countenance glisten.

Glisten with change that came from the heart,

As they made that covenant with a new start.

Then came Whitefish one of the most beautiful places on earth,

Where you can see what god can do with dirt.

Many people here come and go,

And at times of the year it is really slow.

The president asked me to do something new,

I was told by some “just do what you can do”.

As I soon learned we’re not just sent somewhere to teach,

But try to help those companions, full potential become within reach.

When we are tired and brought to our low,

That is when God really helps us to grow.

                                                                                     Cody Wyoming.

One of the biggest cowboy towns in the west.

Buffalo Bill made this his rest.

Many missionaries told me this would be the best one.

They just didn’t tell me the members, loved everyone!

They welcomed all and always wanted to help.

If you have done this before, you might know how this felt.

When members show love, the investigators seem to flood.

Into the church to learn of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father above!

 

 I was asked to serve where I would end that fall,

The place I really needed to give it my all.

I had all the right tools I needed to teach of his grace,

But as we know we are not saved just by Grace.

But through baptism and repentance, with that special gift from above.

That gift when used we can really feel Gods love.

The Gospel blesses so many if they will give it a try.

I wish in the beginning I would have not let so many pass by.

 

As I look at the past two years, with times of blood sweat and tears.

I came to know of his truth and love, by the one who can always be there.

I know God has a plan for me and you, and to follow that plan,

We need to do as we have seen his Son do.

That is to love everyone, and help them come to know who they are,

That we are all God’s children, sent from afar.

I know his son lives and someday we will live too.

But not till after we do as God has commanded us to do.

Who built your fence?

Well this idea came from something my companion and I were talking about. I don't even really remember how or why we were, but during the middle of conversation, it hit me write a blog about the "fences" in our lives. With a little more insight I got this idea.

So in life we can see many different fences, some large, some small, some you can see through others you cant. Some are old, some are new and actually work. Up here in Montana you drive along the road and can see miles of fence stretched out. Some of them are just for boundaries, others are there to hold livestock in or out. When in town you see fences that are built to keep pets in or out. Or a growing problem of deer. For some reason people don't like deer eating their flowers. In or near cities you have cement barriers that help control the noise.

In our own personal lives we all need to build a fence. Now this fence may not be a fence to keep our home or property protected, or for appearance reasons. However this fence is a fence of protection for ourselves. As we live the gospel we build a "fence" for ourselves against the temptations and attacks from Satan. We can go through life with doing some of the things that God asks us to do. However as we do the fence we build around us small broken down and isn't going to hold much in or out. Our passions still run free. And stray "animals" or thoughts, ideas, actions are allowed into our lives.

As we decide what kind of fence we need our our lives, it is like choosing what commandments god wants us to follow. Granted when building a fence our budgets might not allow us to buy the fence we would like that would suit our needs best. But when we do it right and invest finances to buy what we need most, we build a fence that is stronger, that it is tight, and harder for "animals" to get in or out. Investing our time and efforts into keeping gods commandments is similar. As we study our scriptures, attend church and pray, we are taking a bit of our time and investing it into the lords will. Building a fence around us that is becoming protective. We have that guidance when danger is near.
But as we choose to follow all of Gods comandments. To the best of our abbilities, we build a strong fence that holds our lives safe. Even the noises or influences that we recieve that might not seem that obnoixious can begin to bring us down. We grow to accept those noises and tune them out, but that is not what God wants for us to do. He wants us to stay clear from them. We need to build a wall that will protect us. A wall to allow us to think with the spirit, be guided by the spirit and make desicions that will effect our life and the lives of our loved ones. However we need to be able to build our strong fence on a solid foundation. As we build anything on a foundation of Christ, we are able to be uplifted when down, protected when in danger, and guided when walking.


We all are continually building our own fences.



In Helaman, He instructs us on just how important it is to be built on the foundation of Christ so that we can be protected. "And now, my sons, 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 storm 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 whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

I know that God loves us and wants the best for us. I know that sometimes the things on the other side of the fence appear to be better, but they are not. God gives us what is on our side. God gives us each what we have. it is just our dutie to do what is right so that we can build up a spiritual fence that will be strong enough to keep us safe.

 



 

Moments That Matter Most

Yesterday I came across this, and it reminded me of my dad. When I was younger, on the many trips to the ranch I would love to just talk and talk. My dad however was often quiet and would turn to me and ask "dont you just like to be quite and think about things." As a little kid my answer was generally no. Since coming on my mission I have had quite a few drives around the state and have been able to just sit there and think. I have really come to enjoy, to just slow life down and ponder on the things that matter. Now I am sure that as time goes on I will have other things in my life that will take my time and energy. I just hope and pray that I can slow down and take the time to realize the Moments That Matter Most.

Thanks for the name DAD!

Being the grand time of the year to honor our fathers. I thought I would write a bit about mine. My dad used to tell the story to me of how he took me on my first hunting trip at six weeks old. It wasn't nothing big or far away. Just a good old evening ride in the truck. All growing up however, similar trips were taken. I don't remember necessarily what they all were. I just remember going with my dad. Whether a four wheeler ride at night. A trip early in the morning to the ranch, or just getting up and working. I loved to go with him. He always taught me by what he did and by sometimes what he didn't do. I remember when I got older. We had a special bond. We could work right along the side of one another and almost accomplish a task with out even having to talk. That did not just happen because I was his son here on earth. It didn't just happen cause I had been recently around him. But it started the day I was born. My dad has always loved me, and in return even in the times when it wasn't so apparent, I have loved him. My dad has always been one that has instilled into us kids, many different traits. One of the earliest that I remember, was just when I was just in kindergarten.
A friend and I thought we were treasure hunters. In the middle of our play ground was a cement planter that had a tree planted in it. Around the tree was concrete. My friend and I had spent a few of our recesses chipping away at that cement. Until we had a hole in the middle, both of us wanting to take home a "treasure" loaded up our back packs with all the rocks from our pile. Upon arriving at home and talking to my dad of how my day was. I told him of my treasures. When he found out where I had taken them from he talked to me about honesty. Even though it was just a few pieces of rock and some chunks of concrete, I had indeed taken them when I had not asked if I could. So the next day, a little embarrassed i took all my "treasures" back to the school and placed them into the hole that we had chipped away. I don't remember my dad yelling at me or being upset. I think it was more the disappointment that I had first of all broke something apart then brought it home.
My dad has taught me many different things that now looking on. have become my real treasures. my dad was always there. no matter what was going on, no matter how busy work was for him. He always found the time. My dad wanted to spend time with us. he would often take us to the store to go and get a drink and just take a drive and talk. he would ask us how we were doing, what we were up to in school, and our live.
When I was in college, I was working quite a bit. but during a break between classes. it just so happened that it was my dads morning break at work. almost every morning we would call each other and talk. even though I lived at home I did not see him that much. I loved those moments when we both could sit and talk. We didn't have to worry what was going on around us. My dad gave me a lot of encouragement, advice and a few time opened up my up my mind. Giving me more opportunities.
So to my dad that has taught me so much. Thank you!

Repentance. Why procrastinate?

This morning I was studying in the book of Helaman, in the Book of Mormon. The Nephites and the Lamanites have been fighting back and forth for years. At one point the Chief judge, of the Nephites had died. He had three sons that fought back and forth over who should be the next ruler. Two of them went about it pretty fairly and trying to keep what the people really wanted. However the other brother fought them for it. He turned to lies and deception. Due to the conflict the Lamanite army saw the weakness in their guards. Causing them to attack the very center of the land. They attacked the most protected, most secured city of all the Nephites. Killing the last brother and taking the land. They then started to work from the inside to the out. (Helaman chapter 1)

Now if we think about this. We can relate it to our own lives. Lets just say that the three brothers are our decisions. The guards around the city are our values and standards that we live our lives by, and the Lamanites are Satan and his followers, trying to get to us. With our own lives it only can take a matter of a few choices to come to the point where Satan is able to enter our lives and begin to take control of the things that we do. It all starts by letting our guards down. I have found that can come by contention. Or perhaps by saying to our selves, "oh this wont hurt me." If we are not careful we can easily allow things into our lives that will hurt us, bring us farther away from our loved ones, and more importantly our Heavenly Father. As we do against our Heavenly Fathers will, we have need to correct and realign our selves with His will.

We do this through repentance. Getting rid of our habits that are wrong and replacing them with wholesome good ones. It often takes time and is not the easiest thing to do. Through prayer we can talk to God and receive comfort and guidance. It is then when we can feel a greater happiness and peace in our lives that makes things go so much as we would rather have them. God blesses us for doing what is right. They may not be the blessings that we are wanting but they are blessings from Him. And to me that is the greatest Blessing of all, knowing that He really loves me.