Happy Thanksgiving!

This year I have found so many things to be grateful for! Each night during my personal prayer, I would find something new to thank Heavenly Father for. But the most important thing I thank Him for is everything that He does for me. I am so grateful for His love and support, His care, His guidance. I am thankful for Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ!

Happy Thanksgiving,
-JS

Meeting My Goal

This morning, I turned on the computer, preparing to do seminary. As I was waiting for it to warm up, I started to open up my email. But then I remembered a goal that I had set for myself at the beginning of the year. I would set aside all distractions, and close all windows that don't involve seminary, so that I would finish seminary with the Spirit. That very instant, I was conflicted with a choice. Check email, or do seminary? I knew the answer. Without much thought at all, I closed my email before I could be distracted by it. Then I opened up seminary and was able to complete two lessons. If I had chosen to check email before seminary, then I probably would have gotten involved in something else, and seminary would have been pushed aside. But because of my faithful decision, I was able to catch up, and I had plenty of time to spare! This has given me a great reminder of what my ultimate goal is--to return to Heavenly Father! When I learn to accomplish my small goals, I take one step closer to my biggest goal!

-JS

Stay On Track

This quote was in my inbox this morning. Great play on words, and a good message, too! :)

-JS

Speaking Plainly Through the Spirit

My sister and I do Online Seminary. The lesson today was supposed to be a live class done over webcams, but the teacher was unable to get on the website. So Mo and I were on the class with one other student (I'll call her Ashlinn). At first, we just chatted, talking about life. But when we found out that the teacher couldn't make it, we decided that we needed to have a seminary lesson still. Most youth at this time would have probably just gone back to bed. But we didn't. We started with our favorite scriptures, and then we share what we liked about them.

Ashlinn shared hers first. Ether 12:27, a scripture mastery. 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I shared mine next, 3 Nephi 12:14-16. 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

One of Mo's favorites is 1 Nephi 7:12.

"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful in him."

After that, we shared neat experiences we had this past week. All three of us spoke of "small and simple things". 

~Ashlinn shared how she accidentally deleted an answer that she had worked on for a scholarship. Faithfully, she tried to fix her problem, and was able to recover it. 

~I spoke about how I was saying my personal prayers when a name popped into my head, so I prayed for her. Then I found out later that she had been struggling. 

~Mo said that she had been trying to be more positive and look for the good things in everyone, and she was able to have a better attitude towards everyone. 

Finally, we discussed what we did this past week to fulfill the challenge we were given in our previous live class. (What can you do this week that shows love and support for your family?) All of us had similar experiences. Each person had striven to be kinder to their family, and have positive attitudes, and it helped a lot with strengthening love for each other.

We then had a closing prayer and concluded the lesson.

This was an incredible experience. Probably one of the most uplifting live classes I have ever experienced, because it was all done out of our own love for Heavenly Father. And right after I finished the lesson, another neat thing happened. My scriptures opened up to a page in the Book of Mormon, talking about the Spirit.

"Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old." (Jacob 4:13) 

This scripture applied to our live class! We did this lesson through the Spirit, and it spoke plainly, through our words to each other. What an amazing morning!

-JS

Personal Study By Faith

Keeping a daily habit of personal scripture study and prayer can be hard. But it doesn't have to be. I have found that as I study the scriptures, my faith is strengthened, and I receive protection from the adversary. How much harder would life be if we didn't have the Spirit?

My seminary lesson today said, "Scripture study isn’t just about the amount of time you do it. It’s about what happens to your mind and your heart while you open yourself to the voice of God in your life." When we put forth the effort to learn and grow, God blesses us with guidance and love. Our faith is increased, and we develop firm testimonies.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks stated, “Scripture reading puts us in tune with the Spirit of the Lord. . . . Because we believe that scripture reading can help us receive revelation, we are encouraged to read the scriptures again and again. By this means, we obtain access to what our Heavenly Father would have us know and do in our personal lives today. That is one reason Latter-day Saints believe in daily scripture study." I, too, believe in daily scripture study! It brings the Spirit, and helps me to have the strength to withstand temptation. No matter how many times I have read specific scriptures, I can always find new lessons to learn from them. For instance, the Book of Mormon. I have read it at least three times, but each time I find something that I either forgot, or something that applies well to my life during that time, or even simple words that touch my heart. When we open our hearts and ask God in faith, the Holy Ghost will help us understand gospel truths.

Again with seminary, "If you make efforts to learn by faith, you can know that your life will change because you will feel Heavenly Father near to you. He will help you understand not only the scriptures, but also the problems you have and what you need to do to prepare for a happy life." The Lord blesses me daily with trials to overcome, and gives me the love and strength I need to persevere. If we put in sincere effort to learn from the scriptures, we can gain testimonies of them and receive the spiritual strength we need to endure to the end.

So, study your scriptures. Pray daily. Develop a sincere relationship with your Father in Heaven. You will be blessed for your efforts! 

-JS

To Teach and to Be Taught

Tonight for Young Women's we had a Personal Progress night where we worked on our Red value, Individual Worth. It has been a long time since I've done anything with Personal Progress because I've already earned my Medallion. But going back to it, I realized that I could continue to learn and increase my spiritual strength by teaching Personal Progress to the girls who haven't finished.

There is a quote that I have heard many times that basically says,



I finally realized how effective this really is! Teaching my friends about their Individual Worth helped me to solidify more concepts of that value in my mind.

The one that stood out to me most was this optional value experience:
"Heavenly Father has given you special gifts. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-12; 13; Moroni 7:12-13; 10:8-18; Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-26. Ask a family member, a Young Women leader, and a friend to write down positive qualities the Lord has given you. List your gifts in your journal, and write how you can continue to develop these gifts and use them to serve your family and others."

As we read and discussed these scriptures, a thought struck me. Some of the gifts mentioned in these verses spoke of Energy in some way. One spoke of the gift of healing by the Spirit (or the faith to heal). This doesn't have to mean the Priesthood. This could also be referring to Energy, which is a healing gift.
Another spoke of the gift of discerning of spirits (or beholding of angels and ministering spirits). Some people are blessed with the capability of seeing or knowing when there are spirits around, which is a concept of Energy. Also, this could mean that some are capable of discerning emotions that others are experiencing, another gift of Energy.

The gift of Energy is a great present from God, and is available for many to learn, the same as other gifts. I myself am only barely discovering the concept of Energy. But bit by bit I grasp more, and take in the knowledge from it. The more I learn, the more I discover, the more I intake, the more I receive testimony that these incredible gifts are from Heavenly Father! He wants us to be happy, and He wants us to return to Him with a satisfaction that we have truly discovered our Individual Worth! I love my Father for giving me the amazing experiences that I have received!

-JS

A Special Experience

I had a very special experience today, something I will never forget. My mom was talking to us this morning about a subject that I have been struggling with, and I had an overwhelming feeling of love from my Daddie who passed away 11 months ago. My sister was having an especially hard time with it, and I suddenly had words flowing through my head that weren't just mine. I realized that my Daddie was putting those special thoughts into my mind so that I could help my sister feel his love for her. He wanted her to know that everything would work out and that he is there for her at all times.

These are the words that came from those precious thoughts.

I Will Love You Always

When you laugh with your friends on the couch at night
When you scream and you shout at the spiders with fright
When you stare at the sun as it goes out of sight
That is when I love you.

When you cry from the pain
When you sing in the rain
When you lose what you gain
That is when I love you.

When you care for a flower and watch it grow
When you listen to the wind and feel it blow
When you fly down a hill on your sled in the snow
That is when I love you.

When you smile at the sun
When your Camp has begun
When you have tons of fun
That is when I love you.

When you lay on the lawn and stare at the stars
When you punch your mom for the silly bright cars
When you get all excited about chocolate bars
That his when I love you.

When you play baseball
When you grow really tall
When you know it all
That is when I love you.

When you cry and you feel that all is gone
When your heart is filled with grief that is strong
When you lose a loved one that you've had for so long
Know that I love you.

I will love you always, for eternity
I will be by your side for when you need me
I will surround you with joy so that you will see
That I will love you always.

I love you, Mora!

-JS