Even As I Am

"What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." 3 Nephi 27:27

Christlike Attributes

Humble

Obedient

Healer

Kind

Teacher

Courageous

Servant

Submissive

Selfless

Full of Love

What opportunities did I have yesterday to be like the Savior?

Yesterday I had the opportunity to serve my stepsisters and do their dishes. I haven't really had a very good relationship with them, but the service resulted in a smile and hugs. :) Service = Success!

How could I be more like the Savior today?

By being full of love and selfless. I have found myself judging others lately, and it has become a bad habit. To become more like the Savior, I need to choose to love others, despite their weaknesses, and not judge them to myself.

What works of the Savior could I do tomorrow, at school or at home?

Every day I have the opportunity to be Christlike, whether I realize it or not. What I need to do right now is work on my thoughts, for my thoughts turn into actions, and if I don't control them, then they will lead to bad decisions.

“That man is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the pattern of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” Ensign, Dec. 1988, 2).

Today, I choose to be selfless!

-JS

I Choose To Love!

This week, I have been thinking about love, and its great effect on us. As I read scriptures for Seminary today, I came across many that involved love.

First, Doctrine and Covenants 6:19, 30.

"Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity.

...Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward."

These things listed all involve love. Doing good is an act of love towards others, and towards our Heavenly Father, who loves us. Serving others = Serving God (see Mosiah 2:17).

Next, the Beattitudes, found in 3 Nephi 12:3-12.

"...blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

To be poor in spirit is to be humble. Humbling ourselves and coming unto Christ are acts of our love for our Father in Heaven and Christ.

 "...blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

When we mourn, we are often showing that we care for others. Especially when we "mourn with those that mourn" (see Mosiah 18:9). Caring for others is loving others.

"...blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

 To be meek is to be patient and calm. Choosing to act with patience is choosing to act with love.

"...blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost."

By hungering and thirsting after righteousness, we are gaining a sincere desire to live righteously. By sincerely trying to live righteously, we are showing love for our Heavenly Father.

"...blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Showing mercy to others is showing love. When we are merciful, we are acting in love.

"...blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

When we are pure in heart, our desires, intents and actions are pure. By being pure in heart, we acting in love.

"...blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."

Choosing to be a peacemaker is a hard decision. But when we do, we are choosing to love others through our decision, no matter what the consequences are.

"...blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake; For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven."

As Latter-Day Saints, we are God's chosen people. When we choose to follow God's commandments, even in persecution, we are showing our love and devotion to God.

And finally, 3 Nephi 12:22-25, 27-30, 43-45.

Verses 22-25 talk about loving others, despite their actions. We need to love others as ourselves.

Verses 27-30 talk about controlling our thoughts and desires. As we control our thoughts and passions, we will be filled with love.

Verses 43-45 talk about loving our enemies, and doing good to others, despite their actions. Again, love others, and sincerely try to be loving.

As we choose to love, we choose to fill our lives with the light of Christ, for the light of Christ is centered on love. Each Christlike attribute has something to do with love. Love is a powerful thing. Love can change the world. Today, I choose to LOVE!

-JS

Prepare For The Bridegroom

Youth Standards Night

The Importance of Temple Standards

The first speaker shared the Parable of the Ten Virgins in her own words. She applied it to all by calling them the “Ten Young People”. As youth in latter days, we need to prepare for the Bridegroom’s (Christ’s) coming. We need to wait patiently for Him, prepare for Him, and be ready for Him.

What can we do to prepare?

• Always live worthy of a temple recommend. Answer temple recommend questions as though you are speaking to God.
• Learn of Christ’s importance. Take time to get to know Him better.
• Make church leaders’ efforts worthwhile by participating in discussions and showing gratitude to them.
• Live a life that is in harmony with the gospel. Choose now to keep high standards that will help you now and in the future.
• Learn and develop self-control. Satan is working full-force to hurt you and damage your faith. Don’t ever allow the adversary to take control of your life, and never put aside your standards for worldly desires.
• Visit the temple often. Hang a picture of the temple in your room to remind you of the covenants you should keep. As you attend the temple, your desire to return will increase!

The other speaker talked about family and its great importance in life. He shared a story of how his daughter had her mission farewell at the same time that he had an important meeting to attend. He asked a leader of that meeting if he could leave early so that he could hear his daughter speak before she left, and he said, “Yes! Family is more important.” That is a great principle to apply in our lives now. Family is more important.

Here are some things that I took notes of.

• God fulfills our needs when our faith is strong and we put our trust in Him. There are many blessings that He wants to give us if we just ask for His help. Show gratitude for them when He gives them to you.
• We need to attend the temple! The temple helps you to organize priorities in life, and brings a joy and sense of security that you need.
• We are all in a state of preparation.

Again, what can we do to prepare?

• Participate in the work of salvation by doing family history, missionary work, and temple 
• work.
• Develop good attributes. Strive to work on your faults and become a better person.
• “Preparation is changing your heart and becoming.”
• Choose to love others. Serve others with brotherly kindness. Treat others the way they should be treated--as sons and daughters of God!
• Elevate your relationships with your family. Develop the attribute of putting others first.

We should all live to be worthy of the temple! Be the person that God wants you to be. Show the world that you aren't afraid to be who you are--a son or daughter of God!

-JS

Act Upon His Word

and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations. Doctrine & Covenants 115:5

 ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come, for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen. Doctrine and Covenants 87:8

 unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness. Moroni 10:32

-JS

My Mission On Earth

What do you love?

What are you passionate about?

What is your joy?


My Mission:
~Liberate the Captive
~Spread the Beauty
~Lift the Hands That Hang Down


What would you like to do in five years pertaining to your mission?

What are some steps you can take to get you to that place in five years?

Who can help you get there?


"Give me a young man who has kept himself morally clean and has faithfully attended his Church meetings. Give me a young man who has magnified his priesthood and has earned the Duty to God Award and is an Eagle Scout. Give me a young man who is a seminary graduate and has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me such a young man, and I will give you a young man who can perform miracles for the Lord in the mission field and throughout his life." ~President Ezra Taft Benson, To the "Youth of the Noble Birthright", May 1986

"Give me a young woman who loves home and family, who reads and ponders the scriptures daily, who has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me a young woman who faithfully attends her church meetings, who is a seminary graduate, who has earned her Young Womanhood Recognition Award and wears it with pride! Give me a young woman who is virtuous and who has maintained her personal purity, who will not settle for less than a temple marriage, and I will give you a young woman who will perform miracles for the Lord now and throughout eternity." ~President Ezra Taft Benson, To the Young Women of the Church, October 1986

We are here for a reason. We can accomplish our Divine Missions here on earth. We can be these people. Choose now to put your trust in God, and follow His guidance. Be the miracle worker!

-JS