A Fresh Start to 2014

5…4…3…2….1…HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!!

New Year’s is approaching us soon.

It’s literally a day away!

I love the New Year because it allows for us to make a new fresh start. It allows for us to make change in our life.

New Year’s is a time where we make a goal for 365 days in hope of keeping it. It always seems that we get going to good start then come March, we have begun to forget it happened and come December we forgot we decided to make a new life style for us.

It seems that when we make a New Year’s resolution that is only for the state that we are in. It seems we never take the time to make a spiritual change in us. We fail to see the aspect that matters the most.

For the year of 2013, I made the goal of becoming more spiritual and growing closer to my Heavenly Father. I can say that I was successful in doing so as I left to serve on a mission! What a ride this past year has been. How amazing it has been for me to grow closer to my Lord and Savior. Making this change was hard at first, but the great thing about change is that in three weeks, it becomes a life style.

With the New Year approaching, I have made the choice to dedicate myself to the Lord more. I will be making myself grow more spiritually by allotting time to pray multiple times in the day and studying the scriptures more too.

The quest for the year 2014, for me, is to find how I can serve my Heavenly Father better. How I can be more of aid for him in his work. I have made the choice to help my spirituality grow deeper in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we go about making change in the year 2014, ask yourself, how will I grow closer to my Lord and Savior? Are you willing to grow closer to Him?

The Great Deep

Pull out your copy of the Book of Mormon... I'd like to show you some things.
If you don't have your own copy. I've linked them for you.

1 Nephi 5:1-5
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/5.1-5?lang=eng#primary

What is happening?

         Sariah is complaining against Lehi, many trials are occurring.

How does he respond?
         "But behold, I have obtained a land of promise."

         Did Lehi have any idea that he and his family would spend eight years in the wilderness?
         He only knew that he had been promised a choice land, and that he must obey to get there.

Ether 2:24-25
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/2.24-25?lang=eng#23

The Lord tells them in advance that, "mountain waves shall dash upon [them]."

He also promises: "Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth."

"And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come."

great deep/sea/waters = life
winds/waves/floods = trials/afflictions
stones of light = light of Christ within us
promised land = eternal life

Ether 6:5-7
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/6.5-7?lang=eng#4

"And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blown upon the face of the waters, 1 towards the promised land."

"And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind."

"And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, 2 their vessels being tight like unto a dish ... therefore when they were encompassed about, they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters."

I can't help but think the Lord must have prepared us for crossing the great deep of life in much the same way. He definitely let us know that  our decision to come to live on earth would be a trying one, that the "storms of life" would rage around us. Within the Gospel he has shown us how to make our "vessels tight like unto a dish," and has not suffered that we should take our journey without light; the Holy Ghost, and more basically, the light of Christ, provides us with the light and knowledge we need.

Ether 6:8-12
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/6.8-12?lang=eng#7

1) The wind did never cease to blow them upon the face of the waters
2) They did not cease" to praise the Lord
3) No monster of the sea could break them; no whale could mar them
4) They had light continually
5) 344 days was the duration of the trip

-Compare to the Voyage of Nephi and Family-

1) The Liahona stopped working when their faith dwindled. Their progress was halted.
2) When faith was rekindled, the Lord provided for them
3) Both parties began to till and prepare things as soon as they landed.
4) The Jaredites had continual light and "peace." (Christ's peace) Lehi and family did not



Notes
1. Our faith in God's plan for us is essential. Though the Jaredites were constantly beset by trials (ie: waves, winds, water...), they remained faithful and all their afflictions worked together for their good.

2. Alma 60:23
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/60.23?lang=eng#22

We need to make our vessel=bodies "tight like unto a dish"
tight: fixed, fastened, or closed firmly; hard to move, undo, or open.

A Most Wondrous Gift

Imagine waking up Christmas morning and in the midst of all the neatly wrapped presents is one labeled:

To: [Insert your name]

From: Heavenly Father

Heart racing, mind whirling you open up the present and find The Gift of:

Thank goodness for the description on the back:

The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Prior to baptism, we feel the power of the Holy Ghost, which can guide us and testify to us.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is a more powerful and sustaining influence.
This gift is given by the laying on of hands of those authorized to hold the priesthood.
This is received after the baptism by water.

To sum it up:
1. The Holy Ghost can be your constant companion!
2. It comes after baptism by someone holding the priesthood of God.
3. It is more powerful than the Spirit we feel prior to the reception.

Think about it, this is one of Heavenly Father's most precious gifts.

But that's not all. Look at what it includes:

-Cleansing Effect
-Comfort
-Knowledge and Truth
-Guidance
-Promptings
-Warnings

This is the ultimate gift! It can do practically anything! 

But wait:

BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED

Guess what? The gift of the Holy Ghost is only activated by our personal righteousness.

When we are worthy, the Spirit is with us. When we are not worthy, our gift doesn't work.

WARNING:
                Feelings of love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance will occur when using this product. See Galatians 5:22-25

Check out what a messenger of God says about this gift:
In simple terms, the gift of the Holy Ghost is an enhanced spiritual power permitting those entitled thereto to receive it, to receive a greater knowledge and enjoyment of the influence of Deity.
                                                                                                -President James E. Faust

Rest of talk can be found Here

What can you do to include the gift of the Holy Ghost in your life?

Friends, life will be too difficult without the help of the Holy Ghost. Work towards being able to enjoy this wonderful gift our Loving Heavenly Father is willing to give to us!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Elder Falslev