My companions (and everyone that they showed this picture to, ha) think I am loco for catching the sapos (frogs) here. Tennessee girl coming through, ha :) I love the critters, such as geicos, frogs, salamanders, etc. (we even saw a few lightnin´bugs), but I have yet to see a snake...oh well. con tiempo, con tiempo ;)

My companions have gotten sick A LOT lately...which is weird because they told me that it´s usually the gringos who are sick weeks on end. Knock on wood ;)

not all these photos are from this week...just so ya know

the computers here are SUPER slow so these take forever to download...so sorry, but you won´t get as many as <I would like to send....

Our Home: Cute and small

Costa Rican temple!

The zone leaders (who live in the house across the street from us and are in our area...Ojo de Agua) and my companions. We took this yesterday at the member´s home where we ate lunch after church. 

Hola familia amado! (y otros)

Sería mejor si yo escribí en español porque los keypads son en español solamente, y es difícil a escribir cuando hay mucho lineas rojos debajo mis palabras...but I also want yáll to understand what I write, so I will type in ingles.  okay. so first of all, having a nametag in public...so different. As we walked through the airport a week ago, i see people´s eyes stare at me and my nametag. it´s so true that as missionaries, we represent the whole of our church--it´s just a little bit of pressure, haha nbd. Also, sidenote, as we waited in the airport my companion and I saw Russell M. Neilsen, no big deal. ;) We didn´t say anything to him though because we didn´t want to bug him. I want to write my first journal entry in COsta Rica: "Wow...I´m in Costa Rica... It´s amazing and crazy. They drive dangerously here and everything is different, bu I love it! After we got our luggage at the airport, we were picked up by the President of our mjission, his wife and kids, and some elders who´ve been here a while. I haven´t had the chance to really be with all the other Costa Rica bound sisters yet--and they´ve mostly all been together, so that´s kind of hard, but that will come with time. They took us to the temple and talked to us aboutwhat it´s like to be a missionary here in CR. And how we have the goal of talking to everyone--bautizar y retener. That´s our goal--open your mouth and ask for references from everyone. <well Ciao!"

Okay, so that´s cool...but my first day in costa rica, when i actually saw it in daylight was crazy. Traffic is loco! they drive insanely. Signs are mere suggestions and the only thing that really regulates speed here is speed bumps. I´m in a trio by the way (I have two latina trainers who don´t speak english). Hermana Escobedo and Hermana Morales are awesome. One is very tall, and the other is very short. I´m in the middle, ha. I love them.

Have I mentioned...PURA VIDA. haha I always think that whenever it´s raining here (like everyday, ha) because I can´t really think negatively when i remember that I´m in costa rica teaching people the gospel of Jesus Christ and his plan for happiness. The other day we went to an appointment in the rain, but the man wasn´t there, but his kids were (and dogs) so we talked with the kids and they though I was funny when I tried to talk to them in Spanish, and they also wanted me to speak English to them. The cute 5 year old told me his colors in english. We taught them about prayer and showed them how...they were Catholic (many of the people here are) so the prayers they know are all memorized. Later we went to another lesson where three were present: Elise, Steven, and their neighbor, Lady. we taught them the importance of keeping the sabbath day holy and about baptism and praying to know the truth through the Spririt. I felt so much love for them as we taught them. We even committed them to a baptismal date. Que Chiva!

Like I said, there are a lot of dogs here (pets and vagabonds), and I enjoy playing with them when we visit members´s houses.

Mission life is hard. <i´m not going to sugar coat it. we walk everywhere, usually in mud and rain, and get super tired (i feel like i get tired faster because my brain is in overdrive trying to translate everything), but I know that I´m already starting to get lost in the work. I love the ward here. it is amazing. They asked me to lead the music...and you know me and music...we´re not very compatible...haha. So I did my best. Good thing is, I´m not the only one here who cannot sing :) I was meant to serve here...jk..ha. So yeah. And it was fast sunday, so we had testimony meeting. I went up and bore my testimony about forever families and how this gospel is one of happiness so we need to share it with everyone :) Lots of people were surprised that I could speak any spanish...haha, but I still sound like a gringa :) Still trying to get used to the way we greet each other here (at least the women) with kisses on the cheek. ha. 

Remember to count your many blessings! No matter what our circumstances are, we can always find things to be grateful for. Attitude is everything. So keep on smiling. Always say hello with a smile to everyone yall meet, and think postively :) Please keep sending me emails. I love reading about your lives. But I definitely don´t focus as much on yall like i used to....haha, no offense...I miss yall, but I also want to bring yall blessings, which means, forgetting my old life and getting to work (a menos que pday...ha). I love yall bunches!

Con tanto amor,

Hermana Flake

p.s. i will try to send some more pictures next time....it takes so long to upload them on these computers....

Hola family!

I've now been in the MTC for 5 weeks...we're getting a little too well known here---I think it's time we leave...ha. One district that was in our zone left yesterday...they were here a week before we got here and showed us the ropes (kinda) and it was really sad to have them leave. It's hard because who knows if I'll see them again. At least we have each other's email addresses.

 Last time I wrote, I mentioned how we've had so many apostles come here---well, that night (last tues.) Elder L. Tom Perry came and spoke to us! We're basically having our own little General Conference spread out over 6 weeks...ha And a couple nights ago (Sunday night) we had our norml Sunday Night Devotional/Fireside. We didn't know who the speaker would be---and my head started pounding really bad. I'd had  headache for most of the day-- but it suddenly got really bad and painful---and I started to feel nauseous as well...all on the bus on the way to main MTC campus...so my companion and I went to the bathroom where I threw up. We then went to the front desk to explain and get tyenol for my TERRIBLE headache--as we called a doctor from the front desk, I got another wave of nausea and went to the bathroom to throw up my insides (like 5 times). Sorry for the gory details...Anyway, I still felt terrible, so a security guard drove me and my companion back to westside campus so I could rest at our apartment. I took a 45 minute hot bath because my head felt like it was going to explode. After that (around 8:30pm--we both just went to bed. When the other Hermanas came back at 10pm, they informed us that we had missed a Q& A session with Elder Bednar!!! I was devastated...and felt bad because my companion had to be with me as I went through this terrible ordeal. I was fine the next morning--so don't worrry :)

Did you get the email from my teacher that had me bear my testimony in espanol to y'all? I realized after it was too late that it looks like i'm reading from my notes---but I promise that was only open because I had looked over them to try and remember everything I've learned here in the MTC... I love y'all so much! Glad to hear about your new calling Mom! I think being Primary Song Director would be really hard for me because I CANNOT, I repeat, physically am unable to go above a high C (on pitch and warmed up) (whatever that is--my companion took 6 years of voice lessons--and she and I tested in on a piano...) And ALL the primary songs are so high pitched. But you CAN sing and you'll do awesome because of your patience and love for kiddos.

I want to hear more about Dad's back and his promotion at work--how is his job treating him lately? okay, TYLER.... DON'T GIVE UP PIANO! Trust me. if there is one thing I regret, it's not sticking it out...And it is so useful. Especially on a mission. We have one Elder here who is able to play some hymns and believe me, it makes people much more helpful, outgoing, and even attractive ( at least that's what i always hear girls say...) you will never regret continuing Piano. Hermana Weatherhead (she plays and teaches piano) told me to tell you that it is worth it! :) 

Tell DAD thank you SO much for the camera stuff! I can finally use my good camera :) with quality pictures, and not rely solely on my companions photos. :D Thank you thank you Gracias!

Thank you so much for what you did for Elder Grant! He's been rather down because he has difficultly focusing with ADD, but when he takes meds for it he is not the Elder Grant we know at all...I like him better when he's his normal self and not drugged up :) But his smile when he saw the package was precious. It made his day :) And he seems to be doing way better. THanks!

I pray every day (multiple times a day) for y'all! Keep reading your scriptures and praying everyday! Watch the Daily Bread videos (there are three short vids) on Lds.org....here is a link =>  https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-08-012-daily-bread-pattern?lang=eng

It is so important to continually be converting ourselves each and every day, spiritual nourishment just like we need physical nourishment every single day. 

Alrighty, so I got my travel plans! I will be at the Salt Lake City Airport a couple hours before my flight at 12:15pm, so I might try to call y'all then (and please tell me who I should call so that I don't waste my phone minutes card thing...) I also have an hour layover at the Dallas Texas airport, so I will try to call then for sure and that is from 4pm-5pm. After that I will be flying to Costa Rica and should be in the country's airport at 8:10 PM.... :D I'm so excited. I will take TONS of pictures. Keep sending me the occasional picture or two or three :) I love to hear about daily life in the Flake household. Also keep me updated on extended family. maybe a little bit of current events...haha :) I know nothing other than what comes onto the LDS website :)  Thanks!! \

Mucho Amor!!!

Hermana Sarah Flake

​This is a fraction of my zone in front of the temple when we went today.
 There are 18 elders right now and us 4 hermanas.

Here is a picture of the mama duck that had 12 ducklings ON MOTHERS DAY!!!
 haha, that was cool.

That bruise on Hermana Weatherhead's arm was my doing....in basketball.
 It was an accident!!! I promise!!!

A lot of pictures from the MTC!!

Hola mi familia amado!

I loved hearing all your beautiful voices on Mother's Day! 

      I was frustrated last week after a couple lessons with our 'investigators' (the ones that are our teachers) because my companion and I are trying hard to teach what the spirit wants us to, but we have a difficult time getting them to open up and talk to us. It's hard to know which questions to ask that will help them get going, and I don't think I would even know what to say in English, let alone Spanish. We have another investigator named Hely, who is our TRC investigator (dad might know what that is) which is an investigator that seems exactly like a non member. She is adorable and from Guatemala, but we're able to understand her spanish :) She is catholic and believes everything we've taught her so far, and we are able to feel the spirit so strongly when we teach her, but it's easier because she is very open with us....not so with our teacher investigators...but I'm learning that the reason it's hard is because we aren't truly loving them...we don't see them as real investigators (because they're are teachers), but I decided to pretend that they are real people in my lives ( i won't tell you who, since this might be posted onto facebook, haha), but I think that will help me to have a true desire to help them see that this is a true message and feel our love and their heavenly father's love for them. And then we will be able to teach after the manner of the spirit, and not just teach while having the spirit. there is a difference. When you teach after the manner of spirit, you teach in a more personal way, and line upon line...teaching people, not lessons. The holy ghost also teaches by inviting, prompting, and encouraging. So that means to provide opportunities for those we teach to use their agency and to help learners understand and LIVE the doctrines not just learn OF the doctrines of the gospel.  Anyway, that's my spiel for the day :D haha. Keep me posted on the goings on. It's sad to hear that the Justices are moving. They were awesome neighbors. 

​     My roommate likes to take a ton of pictures of me. Here is me trying to dodge, yet another one :) Haha

Mucho Amor,

Hermana Flake

Week 1 MTC

Hola familia!

It's great here at the MTC (west campus, which is Wyview and Raintree). It's strange because Jess and I lived here over the summer, and now I am living in the same apartments with Hermana Muse and the other two hermanas that make up my district. Since we were all plucked from our fellow mission groups to be in intermediate, none of us have the same mission. Hermana Muse, Akre, and Weatherhead are all going to different places in Mexico, and then there's me going to Costa Rica. I love my zone and district and branch presidency! This sunday we listened to an amazing talk by President Uchtdorf. He talked about fearing no man, and being bold but not overbearing. That's my goal. Our spanish is coming along well; we pray in spanish and give talks (2-3 minutes) in spanish. Sometimes when I'm writing in my journal i accidently start writing in spanish...haha. Anyway, I love you guys alot and miss y'all. Can y'all please email me and tell me about what is going on in your lives. Don't think that you'll distract me. Thanks mom for the shoes! They came in yesterday and I loved your letter. Has my driver's license come yet? Just wondering, I'm in no hurry. I hope y'all keep on reading from the Continuous Atonement. It's my mission challenge for y'all :) I love you all mucho!!! Adios!

-Hermana Flake

I'm off!

Tomorrow I enter the MTC, and from there I will go to Costa Rica!

See y'all in 18!

I've Been Called to Serve!

It's been a while now, but I received my mission call in November of last year! I've been called to serve in the Costa Rica, San Jose mission! :D  I will teach in the spanish language, and enter the Provo MTC (missionary training center) on April 16th, 2014. I am so excited to preach the gospel to the people of Costa Rica!

Yoked to Christ: He Will Carry Your Load

Life is crazy. I can't emphasize that enough; each and every day I feel pulled in every direction, spread thinly over all of my responsibilities and activities. Some days it's an achievement when I simply 'get through' the day, hardly enjoying the journey as I simply try to keep my head above water. However, there is One who knows exactly what I'm going through--He knows how to make my burdens light. Jesus Christ invites us,"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

A yoke is a beam carved from a single piece of wood that is fitted to oxen's shoulders and it's used to harness a pair of animals (oxen) so that they can drag a load as efficiently as possible. Christ wants us to be yoked to Him so that we can help do His work with Him. As we 'follow him,' Christ helps carry our burdens, so that we're "not pulling life's load alone," rather Christ, who knows best how to make our lives happier, pulls us along with Him.

I know that if I 'come follow Him' and make Christ the center of my life--by attending the temple prayerfully, falling to my knees often, studying the Word of God, preparing myself spiritually for a mission, and giving Christ-like service whenever I can--I will be happier and my burdens will be made lighter (or I will be made stronger, through Christ, to be more able to carry my load).

With God, We Can Do All Things

"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with god nothing shall be impossible." ~St. Luke 1:34-37

I believe we have all heard it--that phrase that states "with God all things are possible". We, being mortals, cannot always comprehend this concept. Zacharias couldn't comprehend it when an angel told him that his wife, who was well past child-bearing years, would have a son named John. However, Mary was faithful when an angel told her of the miracle that would take place within her. "And blessed is she that believed" says the scripture in Luke. Many times people, even faithful members, do not believe that a certain miracle can happen. They are forgetting that God can do anything. He who created the world and worlds without number, can grant any righteous desire so long as it follows His will. What does this mean for me? It means that I should never think that I cannot do something. If I want to bring sheep unto the fold by means of a mission, then I should pray for strength, guidance, and support to achieve my dream. The sky is the limit. 

"A man’s mind should be single to the glory of God in everything that he starts to accomplish. We should consider that of ourselves we can do nothing. We are the children of God. We are in darkness, [unless] God enlightens our understanding. We are powerless, [unless] God helps us. The work that we have to do here is of that nature that we cannot do it unless we have the assistance of the Almighty. … Here is the great trouble with men of the world, and too much so with the Elders of Israel; we forget that we are working for God; we forget that we are here in order to carry out certain purposes that we have promised the Lord that we would carry out. It is a glorious work that we are engaged in. It is the work of the Almighty; and He has selected the men and the women whom He knows from past experience will carry out His purposes."

But it Mattereth Not...

When we have trials in life, we have two choices: to either become better or bitter. President Brigham Young once compared being offended to a poisonous snakebite. He said that “there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system.” He said, “If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it.” 

Pahoran, the chief judge and governor, had this very choice before him when Moroni sent him a very angry and provocative letter. Moroni had sent him an epistle requesting more men and supplies to be sent to his army in order to protect the cities from the Lamanites. Little did Moroni know, that Pahoran had his own problems to deal with, and was unable to spare men or even time for a correspondence letter due to the kings-men who were trying to overthrow the government. Therefore, acting in anger and misunderstanding, Moroni accused Pahoran of "indifference concerning the freedom of their country" as well as treason, neglect, "slothfulness" and sitting upon his throne in a "thoughtless stupor".

Pahoran could very well have gotten angry and spiteful that Moroni would accuse him of such things, when he had no idea what was going on within the Nephite government because of wicked kings-men. However, after explaining his situation, rather than rebuke Moroni for judging too harshly, Pahoran says to Moroni, "And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgement-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free" (Alma 61:9). 

Even in times when the person who has offended us is not rightly justified in their anger (as was Moroni), we are expected to 'forgive all men' despite what they do to us. However, as David E. Sorenson put it, "This is not to say that forgiveness is easy. When someone has hurt us or those we care about, that pain can almost be overwhelming. It can feel as if the pain or the injustice is the most important thing in the world and that we have no choice but to seek vengeance. But Christ, the Prince of Peace, teaches us a better way. It can be very difficult to forgive someone the harm they’ve done us, but when we do, we open ourselves up to a better future. No longer does someone else’s wrongdoing control our course. When we forgive others, it frees us to choose how we will live our own lives. Forgiveness means that problems of the past no longer dictate our destinies, and we can focus on the future with God’s love in our hearts."

A Chisel in the Master's Hand

While reading in Third Nephi chapter 28, we discussed the apostles and what they desired from Jesus. Nine of the Twelve asked to continue in the ministry until "the age of a man" and then to come speedily to their father in heaven. The other three asked to not taste of death so that they can continue to bring souls unto the gospel. "And it shall come to pass, when the Lord seeth fit in his wisdom that they shall minister unto all the scattered tribes of Israel, and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls, that their desire may be fulfilled, and also because of the convincing power of God which is in them." (3 Nephi 28:29) The apostles basically asked to be made into more profitable servants for the Lord. We, as latter-day saints, go through a similar conversion in order to be useful to our Lord. However, ours is not a translation as it was for the apostles. Rather, the process that turns us into profitable servants, or tools for the Lord is long and gradual. It is like the process you go through to create a chisel. Chisels begin as metal that must be made malleable by going through a hot fire (much like the process of going through trials and afflictions to become humble). Then the blacksmith (or God, in this case) will begin to pound on the metal (us) until he has shaped it (us) into something that can be useful to him. Then we can see the good things that he is able to do with that transformed hunk of metal (us), now that it is the shape that he needs in order to do his work. 

The Lord can make a lot more out of us than we can make out of ourselves.

 "In addition to stimulating our repentance, the very experience of enduring chastening can refine us and prepare us for greater spiritual privileges. Said the Lord, “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom” (D&C 136:31). 

Hugh B. Brown once told a story that I believe relates to this. 

"He told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”

God knows what our potential is; we hold the power to become Gods and Goddesses, Heavenly Mothers and Fathers, so long as we are humble, repentant, and tools in the Master's hand.  

Tithing: Parables of the Bicycle and the Grateful Cat

In Third Nephi chapter 24, Nephi (Son of Nephi, who was the son of Helaman) copies into the record Malachi chapter 3, which talks about tithing. "Will a man rob God?" The Lord asks. He says that we rob him when we do not pay tithes and offerings (3 Nephi 24: 8). Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asks, "How can we ever repay the debt we owe to the Savior? He paid a debt He did not owe to free us from a debt we can never pay. Because of Him, we will live forever. Because of His infinite Atonement, our sins can be swept away, allowing us to experience the greatest of all the gifts of God: eternal life" (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/earthly-debts-heavenly-debts?lang=eng).

One story that reminds me of our inability to repay the savior is 'the parable of the bicycle'. In this story a little girl desperately wants a bicycle. When she asks her father for one he tells her that she can work hard to earn money and eventually save up for her own bike. She worked as hard as her age would permit; selling lemonade, doing chores around the house, washing the dog, mowing the lawn, etc. Finally, the day came when she went to the bicycle shop to see if she had enough for her bike...

"There it was! The most beautiful bicycle that had ever been dreamed of! She ran to it, stroking its shiny chrome and running her fingers through the colorful streamers that flowed from its handle grips. Never could there be a more perfect bike than this one. She clapped her hands with the pure delight of it.Then she reached for the price tag.

The next moment in the little girl's eyes had melted away into tears. 'Oh, Daddy,' she wept. 'I'll never have enough. Never.' She threw herself into his arms."

Upon seeing the price of the bike, the little girl became upset and knew that she would never be able to have enough to buy the bike herself. Her loving father took her in his arms and said, "if you give me all that you have, I will make up the rest". This little allegory is similar to our relationship with our heavenly father. He wants us to be happy more than anything else, and to truly be happy, we have to make it back to live with our heavenly father. He knows that nothing we do will ever repay what the Savior did for us through the atonement. However, because of the atonement, Jesus Christ, our father through his sacrifice of blood and water, makes up the enormous slack so that we may return to our heavenly parents. Tithing is the same way. We give 10% of everything we earn back to the church. This amount is nothing compared to everything we have been given by the Lord. Our very lives and spirits we owe to Him. The least we can do is be grateful.

The second parable is the one of the grateful cat, written by James E. Talmage. It goes as follows:

 "He told the story of a naturalist in the nineteenth century who had been called to a grand estate in Great Britain to be honored for his contributions in the world of science. He left his cottage early in the morning to go for a walk, and while he was out walking, he saw two boys down by the lake. He also heard the frantic meowing of a cat; and so, curious, he walked down to see what was happening.

When he arrived he saw the two boys with a mother cat and some kittens. The boys were taking each kitten, tying it up in a rag with a rock, and tossing it into the lake. As you can imagine, the mother cat was just frantic, watching her kittens being drowned.

A little upset, the naturalist asked the boys what they were doing. It turned out to be quite innocent on their part. The mistress of the great estate had an old mother cat that she loved, but she didn't want any more cats around. Whenever the mother cat had a litter, the woman hired the two boys, who were children of some of the servants, to go down to the lake and drown the kittens.

The naturalist talked to the boys and said he would make sure they didn't get in trouble, but he would take care of the remaining three kittens. To the scientist's surprise, the mother cat behaved as if she understood exactly what was happening. As he walked back to his cottage with the kittens, she ran alongside him, rubbed his leg, and purred happily. He took the kittens into his cottage, gave them some milk, and put them in a warm boat.

The next day, when all of the company was gathered together in the great house to honor the scientist, suddenly the door pushed open and in came the mother cat with a large fat mouse in her mouth. She walked to the scientist and laid the mouse at his feet.

In the words of Elder Talmage, here is the marvelous parable that he drew from this story:

"What think you of the offering, and the purpose that prompted the act? A live mouse, fleshy and fat! Within the cat's power of possible estimation and judgment it was a superlative gift. To her limited understanding no rational creature could feel otherwise than pleased over the present of a meaty mouse. Every sensible cat would be ravenously joyful with such an offering. Beings unable to appreciate a mouse for a meal were unknown to the cat.

"Are not our offerings to the Lord—our tithes and our other free will gifts—as thoroughly unnecessary to His needs as was the mouse to the scientist? But remember that the grateful and sacrificing nature of the cat was enlarged, and in a measure sanctified, by her offering.

"Thanks be to God that He gages the offerings and sacrifices of His children by the standard of their physical ability and honest intent rather than by the gradation of His esteemed station. Verily He is God with us; and He both understands and accepts our motives and righteous desires. Our need to serve God is incalculably greater than His need for our service."

Prepare to be Stretched...

In the book of Ether, we read about the Brother of Jared, or Mahonri Moriancumer, and his task of getting his family to the "Promised Land". While on this journey, Mahonri and his family arrived at the shore of the 'many waters' which the Lord said they must cross to get to the promised land. God commanded Mahonri to build eight barges giving him every little instruction on how to build them, however, He left to problems to be solved by Mahonri alone: how were they to see, steer, and breathe whilst on their journey on the sea. The Lord solved two of his problems by telling Mahonri not to worry about steering, for He would send forth a wind that would direct the barges to the promised land, as well as directing Mahonri to cut two holes into each barge that could be plugged when underwater. However, God left the third problem to be solved by Mahonri. In this way, God was asking Mahonri to think for himself, even though Mahonri could easily have found his task impossible. So, Mahonri ended up molting out of the mount, sixteen small, transparent stones. After all this work, the best that Mahonri could put forth, the rocks still did not give forth light. Often we may feel the way the brother of Jared must have felt. Even after we try our very hardest to do something right, it may not even get the result we tried so hard to achieve. However, just as the Lord did with Mahonri, He only asks us to put our best effort onto the altar and to then ask God to magnify it and make it shine.

"No light will come from your finest work without the help of God."

God will find each and every one of us, wherever we may be in our spiritual progression and capacity, and He will stretch us to become better. God doesn't ask less of us as we get better, simply he helps make us strong enough to handle harder things. As President Eyring put it, "the more faithful service you give, the more the Lord asks of you. Your smile is a happy one because you know that He increases our power to carry the heavier load" (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/o-ye-that-embark?lang=eng). At times we may feel like the road before us is too difficult to travel, but I know that if we pray for guidance and help, that the Lord will lift us up to more than we could ever be on our own. He's going to stretch us, but if we trust in Him and follow Him, we can successfully grow to higher heights than ever before. 

The Pure Love of Christ

What is Charity? Is it tax-deductible money that you give to the poor and homeless? Or is it something more? According to Mormon, charity is "the pure love of Christ" (Moroni 7:47). Wow. What an amazing concept. Christ's love equals charity. I mean, it makes sense, even with the 'world's' definition of charity. Webster defines charity as " benevolent goodwill toward humanity and generosity especially toward the needy or suffering". Doesn't that just epitomize the savior's life on Earth? Jesus Christ, He who was the Prince of Peace, the Lord of all, a king, our ruler, governor, and Savior, healed the sick, made the deaf to hear, the blind to see. He walked among beggars, thieves, liars, sinners: for those who are not sick need to physician. 

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40)

 As C. Max Caldwell stated years ago, "People who have charity have a love for the Savior, have received of his love, and love others as he does." It's rather simple, really, those whom we love, we serve. Christ loves us to the point where he suffered, bled, and died for us. He went through incomprehensible torment and pain. And He did so for us, His brothers and sisters, and in a spiritual sense, His eternal children. We, all of us, can have a portion of this Christ-like love. Sometimes, briefly, when we step out of our selfish shells, we can feel this love for God's children. We are not perfect, and we all sin differently. Therefore, how can we judge others, when we have so many of our own flaws? If Christ could be the friend of terrible sinners, then we, who are infinitely less than our elder brother, can learn to love and befriend those who make terrible mistakes and use poor judgement. As Mother Teresa said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” I pray that I may learn to be more forgiving, less judging, more patient, and forever remember that Christ loves me despite all of my flaws and sins. Therefore, who am I to judge another, when I walk so imperfectly? May we all have the pure love of Christ of our fellow brothers and sisters throughout the world in whatever circumstance they may be in. 

Obedience will set you free

While studying Third Nephi 18, Jesus commands his disciples to bring forth bread and wine. Then he took of the bread and "blessed it" and he gave it back to the disciples for them to eat, and they gave it to the multitude (3 Nephi 18:3). Bro. Griffen elaborated on these verses saying that God's commandments always come back to bless us in some way or another. Just like the analogy of a fence that represents God's commandments, that keeps us from the dangers of sin and wickedness, commandments keep us on the strait and narrow path back to him. They are not for God's benefit, they are entirely for our protection. God's commandments are not restrictions, rather they are guidelines that help bring us freedom and happiness. "Our choice in this life is not whether we will or will not be subject to any power. Our choice is to which authority we will yield obedience: God’s or Satan’s." Which team will we suit up for? The choice isn't between obedience and freedom. Rather, our choice is whether to be obedient to God or to Satan. 

"The gospel... is a plan of freedom that gives discipline to appetite and direction to behavior. This plan puts us on a path of increasing knowledge and capacity, increasing grace and light. It is the freedom to become what you can and ought to be. But for your freedom to be complete, you must be willing to give away all your sins, your willfulness, your cherished but unsound habits, perhaps even some good things that interfere with what God sees is essential for you." (D. Todd Christofferson)

My Beloved Bretheren

In Helaman chapter 15, Samuel is prophesying and preaching unto the wicked Nephites. Throughout the text, Samuel addresses them as his "beloved brethren (Hel. 15:1, 4) Even though the wicked Nephites reject him and his message, and have tried to kill him, Samuel still makes an effort to have a horizontal relationship with them. Samuel may be admonishing the Nephites' wicked ways, however he still treats them as his brethren, as equals, and with Christlike love. God cannot look upon sin with the least bit of allowance, but that does not mean that he hates us sinners. We must learn to treat people as Samuel and Christ would, with love and understanding, without compromising our standards for what is right and wrong. Hate the sin, but love the sinner. 

"As we step back and try to understand this love of God, we are astounded by its profound impact. At its center is the reality of a literal Father in Heaven whose love for His children knows no bounds. All truths, wisdom, power, goodness, and love He desires to share with His children, whom He created and sent to earth. He would have us reach up and know Him as a Father, as one who forgives, as a helper, as friend, as lawgiver—as one anxious to grant to every man the full opportunity of His love and potential and ultimately the blessing to one day become like Him." (James M. Paramore)

No one is perfect, that's obvious, and no one sins exactly the same. As Uchtdorf once said, "don't judge others because they sin differently than you do". We all need Christ and need help to return to him, so we, as members with the fullness of the gospel, should help as many lost sheep return to Him, no matter what they have done in the past. That is not up to us to judge.