"Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it by word and example with a family, a member, neighbor, or the stranger? Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it?" - Marvin J. Ashton
I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow him in faith. I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll honor his name. I'll do what is right; I'll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim.
Not just faith. Or even great faith. Exceedingly great faith. Those writing the scriptures don't use the word exceedingly a lot. Only when they are really emphasizing that it was a huge amount.
I look back over my life, and I can see that I have had a lot of faith throughout it. I would say most of the time it has been strong. I learned early on from my own experiences and experiences of my family that trusting in the Lord is always the best option. No matter how scary, unsure, daunting, silly, or whatever the situation, following the Lord has resulted in great blessings--usually unforeseeable ones.
But exceedingly great faith? I don't know. I certainly want that. I don't ever want to doubt or question. I don't want to follow blindly. Yet I want the spirit to be reassuring me as solidly as it possibly could--no wavering at all. No room for any doubt. I don't know where exactly my faith is in relation to exceedingly. However, the great thing about spiritual gifts is you can pray for them. And work towards developing them. So, I can keep praying for my faith to be exceedingly great.
The next gift on the "list" from the scriptures is teach the word of knowledge by the Spirit. To me, the difference of this compared to yesterday's gift is that the Spirit enables those with this gift to teach the principles, facts, etc. of things. I was going to say Gospel, but I realized that today's and yesterday's gift could apply to other things. As long as they help bring people to Christ, I think they should be considered spiritual gifts.
Odd example, but I have discovered that I'm getting pretty good explaining how to use e-devices to elderly people. Now how would that bring someone to Christ? Well, as I teach them that, I am able to teach them how to access apps. Apps that give them access to the scriptures, LDS manuals, talks from Church leaders. I can show them how to use apps that will give them access to social media and video calls, helping them keep in touch with family and improve those eternal relationships. Certainly these things if used in the right way can bring people closer to Christ.
So yesterday I quotes scriptures that list some of the gifts of the Spirit. So I'm going to go with the first one listed in the first scripture I used:
Teach the word of wisdom by the Spirit
Merriam-Webster defines wisdom as -
: knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life
: the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand
: knowledge of what is proper or reasonable : good sense or judgment
To me that means more than facts. It is what one has done with the facts they know, especially facts they have gained from their own experiences or from others' experiences. So, by the Spirit, I think this gift is teaching people how to apply the Gospel in their lives through the experiences they have had or they experiences they hear about.
I don't absolutely know for sure. I don't think there is a right or wrong thing about what it means. According to Bruce R. McConkie, gifts of the spirit are "endless in number and infinite in variety." It is up to us to see what gifts we have been blessed with, and to seek out and pray for others. So what I described is how I see that particular gift.
I love this topic! I liked learning about it when I was growing up, but then I substituted as an Institute teacher and this was what my lesson was on. I learned so much, and there is quite a bit that can be said. So first I will introduce the overall topic, and then as the days go on I'll break down to the individual gifts.
The Spirit is a teacher, a comforter, a testifier. But in addition, through the Spirit we are blessed with gifts that help us live the Gospel, help others to live the Gospel, and help ourselves and others to come unto Christ.
8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them.
9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;
10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;
13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;
14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;
15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;
16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.
17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.
18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word ofknowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.
12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.
13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
15 And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.
16 And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal.
17 And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of wisdom.
18 To another is given the word of knowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.
19 And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed;
20 And to others it is given to have faith to heal.
21 And again, to some is given the working of miracles;
22 And to others it is given to prophesy;
23 And to others the discerning of spirits.
24 And again, it is given to some to speak with tongues;
25 And to another is given the interpretation of tongues.
26 And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God.
27 And unto the bishop of the church, and unto such as God shall appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the church, are to have it given unto them todiscern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God.
28 And it shall come to pass that he that asketh in Spirit shall receive in Spirit;
29 That unto some it may be given to have all those gifts, that there may be a head, in order that every member may be profited thereby.
30 He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh.
31 And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;
32 And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.
33 And ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually. Even so. Amen.
I feel like I'm done with the previous topic (since so much was referred to it in previous topics) and I'm not up for starting a new one tonight. So I thought I'd share an insight from a Fireside I went to tonight. The speaker was absolutely hilarious, and I had so many impressions from the Spirit about ways to find more joy, peace, and comfort.
But what I loved most was how he pointed out that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which provides the ordinances to help us live the Gospel, is not about families. Family is a focus. But it is not the purpose of the Church. The purpose is to bring us unto Christ--all of us. No matter where we are, who we are, what situation we are in, or what struggles we are facing, our Savior wants us to come unto Him. And that is what the LDS Church is all about--each of us helping ourselves and each other to do all we can to learn of Him and emulate Him.
For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile. Moroni 10:32
Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
I blogged pretty recently about Family History. It goes hand-in-hand with eternal families. We seek out our ancestors to learn more about who we are and where we come from. To learn about the people who, without them, we would not be. But what is the point of finding them if I do not also extend the opportunity for them to have Gospel ordinances performed for them (if they have not already been done)? Even if I won't meet them again until the next life, they are my family. Each with their own trials, struggles, heartaches, joys, successes. They are amazing because EVERY child of God is amazing. And I want my eternal, forever family bonds to extend to them. Not just to my parents and siblings and Niephews and husband and children. I want generations before and generations after to all be linked. Parties are ever so much more fun with big groups of people--especially big groups of loved ones. And Family means Automatic Loved Ones.
I may be an introvert, that does not mean I always want to be alone. It means I don't want to have to be expected to always contribute to what is going on. I love being around others, but not having to speak. Just being a part of them all--watching, listening, observing.
And my favorite people to be among for being my introvert self is with my family. They are the ones I felt most comfortable with. They are the ones even if they didn't quite understand me, they accepted me. And supported me. Took care of me. Encouraged me. Laughed with me. Loved me in spite of everything. How could I ever want our family and all they give me to end? If we were not sealed as a family, then it would end. And I can honestly say there is nothing worse than the thought of that.
So, even though Christ's Resurrection could certainly span more than 3 days, I felt I was repeating myself after so recently talking about it in my Easter posts. So I'm moving on to the next and I am SO happy with it. LOVE and ADORE this topic.
I've already blogged about Temple Ordinances. I know I mentioned that sealings occur which bind families together in this life and in the life to come. Death will not break those family bonds if they have been made in the temple through the right authority and kept eternal through righteous living, continual keeping of covenants, and obedience to all of God's commandments.
People (usually not of my faith) often wonder why I'm "holding out" for a righteous male member of my faith. Why? Because there is nothing I want more (except for exaltation and living with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again) than to marry my best friend for eternity. To have that promise, hope, and goal of an eternal marriage--for we still have to work at it to obtain all the promises and blessings, which makes it the goal we work together toward in this life. And then the crowning blessing(s) to that eternal life together will be that as our children come they will be forever part of it as well.
Until (and after) I receive those two great blessings that I have longed for since I can remember, I will always be grateful that I am already part of an eternal family. One that I love and am proud of being a part of. I have parents, siblings, siblings-in-law, and Niephews who are forever connected to me. As well as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So many generations connected. I will not be alone in heaven, no matter what does or does not occur on earth, so long as I am faithful to my covenants and obedient to the Lord.
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
5 Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.
The greatest event in history--we should never want to stop talking about it.
We have 4 books of scripture that we read, use, and study from in the LDS Church. We call them the Standard Works. They consist of The Bible (Old & New Testament), The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. Each work has scriptures that foretell of the Resurrection, have eye witness accounts given, or are telling of the event in past tense (as by then it has already occurred). Yesterday I shared the eye witness accounts. Today I'm going to share some of the foretelling.
21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.
2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and theredemption of the people, which was to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and deathof Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.
3 Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection.
16 And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
7 And to be a light unto all who sit in darkness, unto the uttermost parts of the earth; to bring to pass the resurrection from the dead, and to ascend up on high, to dwell on the right hand of the Father,
Christ's Atonement saved us from the Fall--saving our souls and allowing us the chance and opportunity to work at and be able to return to Heavenly Father. But the Resurrection is a crowning blessing to it all. We won't just get to live with Heavenly Father again. We will be reunited with the wonderful gift of our body. Body and soul shall be able to live for eternity with our loved ones.
I don't know about you, but I think my body is pretty amazing stuff. It has a few flaws and doesn't always work the way it should. But it is a miracle. Each one of us is blessed with a miracle that we get to have all of our lives. To lost it forever after death seems not just a tragedy, but a huge waste. Being promised that it will be restored to us again is huge! So of course prophets would foretell of Christ's resurrection. Because it would mark the beginning of how that great, promised gift could now be possible for us. I imagine the prophecies were made and receievd with great joy and excitement by those who believed.
Still close to the Easter season, and singing music related to the resurrection--yep, this topic is still good at a good time. But rather than focusing on all the aspects of Easter as I did a few weeks ago, I will just focus on the part of the resurrection.
To begin, I'll use the scriptures we have from the New Testament about Christ's actual resurrection. Not prophecies about it. But of the accounts from people who were around at the time of this great event.
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for theangel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 ¶And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesusmet them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
9 ¶Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 ¶After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14 ¶Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief andhardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
13 ¶And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem aboutthreescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communedtogether and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart tobelieve all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, heexpounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burnwithin us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appearedto Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36 ¶And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them hishands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, andwondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus itbehoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should bepreached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must riseagain from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 ¶But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yetascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; andto my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19 ¶Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stoodin the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them hishands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: asmy Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 ¶But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 ¶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust itinto my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seenme, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 ¶And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
I especially love the account in Luke. It is so detailed and mentions all these seemingly minor things that the Savior did. But they are not minor. They are things that show he was alive again. For only a living person could do them. The Primary song "Did Jesus Really Live Again?" coincides with that account.
"So shall I!"
The most wonderful and glorious part of the Resurrection is that Christ opened it up so that it would include us as well.
This is a blog where I share inspirational/explanatory quotes, pieces of my testimony, and various things/events/experiences that have strengthened and will continue to increase that testimony. I am not officially called of my church to keep this blog. I share these things because they are the core of my very existence. And every part of me wants to proclaim it to all the world. So, I'll start here. I hope all who read my "spiritual ramblings" may know with a surety that I know and believe these things with all of my heart and with complete assurance.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I would love to talk more with readers, though I do reserve the right to not discuss or respond to anything inappropriate or that I am not comfortable with.
