The Reason Why

Have you ever felt strongly about something that you know has changed your life??  Whether it be the a speech, a speaker, a book, a soap opera, an acne cream, or whatever that something may be, you want to share it with everyone that will lend you an open ear. Thousands of people share their stories over the media to uplift and help others live better lives and have courage to stand for what is right. That is exactly how I feel about the message that we share as missionaries. This message has changed and sculpted my life in such a way that I know this can and will help anyone who applies it in their life. Henry David Thorough once said," Grief can take care of itself, but to have a fullness of joy there must be somebody to divide it with."

"Oh then, is this not real?"

For the last couple of days I have been thinking about our Free Agency. Free Agency is the the gift our Heavenly Father gave to us to choose for ourselves. We can choose to wake up and take a shower, or sleep in! Which ever your little heart desires. Although we do not always choose what things may happen to us, for instance disease, winning the lottery, death, exe, he can choose how we are going to react to what we have been given. We can choose to look at the bright side of things, or choose the opposite and complain about the cards that life has dealt us.

This gift is something that a lot of times we don't fully understand. Let me put it in this perspective. God is all powerful and knowledgeble. He can do anything he wants. But he has chosen to limit his own limitless power to give us the decision to choose for ourselves. Our Father in Heaven will never force us to follow him, or even believe in him. We are left to choose for ourselves.

I once heard someone say that they just couldn't believe. That it just wasn't part of them to just believe something like an existence of a God. Well belief doesn't just start with believing. It starts with the choice to believe. We must CHOOSE faith. And when we decide to choose faith, we must be willing to act on that choice.

In the Bible, Jesus Christ is approached by a man who has a child possessed with a devil. When the father asked for Jesus to heal his son Jesus said, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

This man who approached did not fully believe that Jesus could heal his son. But he had CHOSEN to have hope that he could. The phrase,"help thou mine unbelief" is a truly powerful statment.  Even if we can just desire to believe we can cry out in prayer; Lord, help thou mine unbelief!

One of the men in my life who has truly taught me this principle is a man named Chad. I have only talked with Chad a few times in my life. The first time, I remember walking away from talking with him being very frustrated. Chad just could not get over the doubt in his mind that God was there. He would pray, but did so half-heartedly, as if to hint to God and all those around him that he just wasn't sure if he could ever believe in the being he was actually praying to. The second time I went by Chad was changed. There was light in his eyes that wasn't there before. When he prayed, he prayed with a great hope that the prayer that he was offering was actually being received. He went from faithless, to faithful. What was the difference???? One Choice.

I know and testify that Our Heavenly Father loves each one of us. He longs for us to reach out to him. But sometimes our own knowledge or thoughts keep us from him. God explains that " My thoughts are not your thoughts". We cannot, nor will we ever be able to understand everything God does. But one of the choices that we must make is the choice on when the signs God has given us of his love is enough.

I readily admit that I do not understand everything the lord has done and will do in my life. I do not fully understand his thoughts and reasons for doing things, and I am okay with that. As I have come to grow my own testimony of my Father's love for me, it is not because I can remember back to when he created the worlds. It is not because I have seen an angel, or because there are physical evidence of this or that. It is not because I have seen him in person. It is because of certain spiritual experiences that I have had in my life. It is because of a feeling of peace and joy that came over me as I prayed to know what my Father in Heaven's will for me was. That's good enough for me....

A Special Type of Soldier

A Special Type of Soldier-Hugh B. Brown

            At the request of the First Presidency, I had gone to England as coordinator for the LDS servicemen.  One Saturday afternoon in 1944, I sent a telegram from London to the base chaplain near Liverpool letting him know that I would be in camp the next morning to conduct Mormon church services at 10:00 a.m.

            When I arrived at the camp, there were 75 Mormon boys, all in uniform and quite a number in battle dress.  The chaplain to whom I had sent the wire proved to be a Baptist minister from the southern U. S.  He, too, was waiting for my arrival.  As these young men ran out to greet me not because it was I, but because of what I represented, and as they literally threw their arms around me, knowing I was representing their parents as well as the Church, the minister said, Please tell me how you do it.           Do what?           Why, he said, I did not get your wire until late this morning.  I made a hurried search.  I found there were 76 Mormon boys in this camp.  I got word to them.  75 of them are here.  The other is in the hospital.  I have more than 600 Baptist in this camp, and if I gave them 6 months notice, I could not get a response like that.

          And then he repeated, How do you do it?

          I said, Sir, if you will come inside, perhaps you will see.

            We went in to the little chapel.  The boys sat down.  I asked, How many here have been on missions?  I think a full 50% raised their hands.

            I said, Will you and you and you and I pointed to six of them please come and administer the sacrament?  And will you and you and you and I pointed to six others please come and sit here and be prepared to speak.

            Then I said, who can lead the music? A number of hands were raised. Will you come and lead the music?  And who can play this portable organ?  There were several more hands, and one was selected.  Then I said, What would you like to sing, fellows?  With one voice they replied, Come, Come Ye Saints!

            We had no hymnbook.  The boy sounded the chord:  they all arose.  I have heard Come, Come Ye Saints sung in many lands and by many choirs and congregations.  Without reflecting adversely on what we usually hear I think I have only heard Come, Come Ye Saints sung that once when every heart seemed to be bursting.  They sounded every verse without books.

          When they came to the last verse, they didnt mute it; they didnt sing it like a dirge but throwing back their shoulders, they sang out until I was fearful the walls would burst.  And should we die before our journeys through, happy day, all is well; I looked at my minister friend and found him weeping. 

          Then one of the boys who had been asked to administer the sacrament knelt at the table, bowed his head, and said, Oh, God, the Eternal Father.  He paused for what seemed to be a full minute, and then he proceeded with the rest of the blessing on the bread.  At the close of that meeting, I sought that boy out.  I put my arm around his shoulders, and said, Son, whats the matter?  Why was it so difficult for you to ask the blessing on the bread?

          He paused for a minute and said, rather apologetically, Well, Brother Brown, it hasnt been two hours since I was over the continent on a bombing mission.  As we started to return, I discovered that my tail assembly was partly shot away, that one of my engines was out, that three of my crew were wounded, and that it appeared absolutely impossible that we could reach the shore of England.

          Brother Brown, up there I remembered Primary and Sunday School and MIA, and home and church, and up there when it seemed all hope was lost, I said, Oh, God the eternal Father, please support this plane until we reach a landing field.  He did just that, and when we landed, I learned of this meeting and I had to run all the way to get here.  I didnt have time to change my battle dress, and when I knelt there and again addressed the Lord, I was reminded that I hadnt stopped to say thanks.

          Brother Brown, I had to pause a little while to tell God how grateful I was.

          Well, we went on with the meeting.  We sang.  Prayers were offered, and these young men, with only a moments notice, each stood and spoke, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to their comrades, bore their testimonies, and again I say with due respect to the various ones with whom I have associated and laboredthey were among the finest sermons I have ever heard.

          Then the time was up and I said, Fellow, its time for chow.  We must dismiss now, or you will miss your dinner.  With almost one voice they cried, We can eat grub any time. Lets have a testimony meeting!

          So we stayed another hour and a half while every man bore witness to the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  Each one in turn, and in his own way, said, I know that God lives.  I know that the gospel is restored.  I know that Joseph was a prophet of God.  Again I looked at my friend, and he was weeping unashamedly.

          At the close of that meeting, this minister said, I have been a minister for more than 21 years, and this has been the greatest spiritual experience of my life.

Whether on or off the field of battle, these men knew who was their greatest support. May we each have the enthusiasm that these great men had to hear the word of Christ.

Harry Potter's Real Identity

Back in the day when Harry Potter was the cool thing to read, and not just to watch, I read just about all the books I could get my hands on. As I look back now, each new Harry Potter book had a reoccuring theme. Harry goes to school, gets in trouble, finds out more about himself, and has to overcome great evil.

http://www.channelcut.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/harry_potter_7.jpg

Our lives are not much different. We come to this earth, get in trouble, we find out more about ourselves, and we can overcome great evils. Like Harry Potter, we each have our own evils to overcome. This life is all about learning how to overcome that opposition. Will we shrink when the battle turns our way? Or will we turn and face live's challenges? Everyday we make one of those 2 decisions.

Sometimes we want and look for a middle ground. We look for a way that we can have one foot on the one side, and our other foot on the other. Well I'm sorry to say that there is none. The natural of this earthly conflict is such that there can be no neutrals, just as Harry had to choose for himself which side to take. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

My first semester in College, I was invited to go with a couple of buddies of mine and go to the local dance. We were at my buddies dorm, when right before we could leave, one of the other guys we were with pulled out a Vodka bottle. He took a long swig and then offered some to me. I motioned that I would pass. He then looked at me weird and said,"Well I definitely can't dance sober, and I'll never meet anyone special if I can't dance!". I told him that I was sorry that he felt that way, and that if he truly needed alcohol to make him feel good about himself, then he had no game to start out with. We went to the Dance, and soon after entering I left. I knew as soon as I walked in there that I should have never went. As I rode home alone that night I knew I hadn't made any new friends, nor did I look cool to all those we went to the dance with me, but I knew that I had fought the good fight.

mormonsoprano.com

Choosing to stand up for the right things will never win us popularity, nor worldly recognition. But I know that when we decide to serve god with all our hearts, we can find true happiness. We also find our true identity, just like Harry Potter did. I know that we are children of God! There is no greater knowledge that a man can obtain. 

Hi, I'm Alex Boye and I'm a Mormon

Alex Boye is the man! Here is Alex explaining how he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Questions of My Soul: "Lord I'm Grateful"

The Questions of My Soul: "Lord I'm Grateful": "My family is the greatest gift that God has given me. They are my best friends. In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we belie..."

"Lord I'm Grateful"

My family is the greatest gift that God has given me. They are my best friends. In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that the family can be together forever.

There have been several times on my mission that while walking around I have talked with great people who love their families dearly. I ask them,"Do you want to live with your family forever?". Most of them say yes, and my follow up question is "So do the words "until death do you part" scare you? Don't you want your family for more than just until death?". A lot of the time this catches these people off guard. Most people haven't ever thought of those 5 words in that way before. But today it is my goal to explain why this concept of eternal families is so important and true to me.

Almost a year ago now, my mom announced to the family that she was pregnant. It was a big shock to me, but I was stoked. When I read my mom's email explaining to me that she was pregnant I had the feeling rush over me like I already knew my soon to be sibling. With time we found out that the baby would be a boy. Several months went by and every week I would get an update about how my little brother was doing. Everything seemed to be going great, then one day his little heart stopped beating. There was nothing we or the Doctors could do. My kid brother was still born a day or so later.

When I first heard that my brother didn't make it to this life, I was at first devastated. Like I said before I felt as if I already knew him. But as I prayed for help and understanding, I will never forget the peace that came over me. I then remember thinking, "thank the lord for his temples!!".

For those of you who are not of our faith or don't know much about it, the temple is a sacred place where a man and woman can be sealed by the power of God for time and all eternity. In the temple we do not make a contract solly until death do us part iwth our spouse, but for time and all eternity. The same Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven that was given to Peter in Matthew 16:19, have now been restored upon the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith.

I am grateful that my parents where sealed, or married, in the temple. Because of this I know, that even if I didn't have the opportunity to develope a close relationship with my little brother here, I WILL be able to in the life to come. How grateful I am to the lord for that knowledge! I know that my family is an eternal one.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong: 'Temple Mirrors Of Eternity' @ The 180th October L...

"Forgive and Forget"

Growing up we have all heard the well known saying, "Forgive and Forget". I know I heard it quite frequently, but this last couple of days have given me a new perspective on the meaning of this phrase.

Yesterday, Elder Abbott and I were talking about dumb things we used to do in High school. We made each other laugh as we talked about the different pranks we used to play on friends and classmates. We joked about how naive we were and about how funny those things were to us at the time. After exchanging several stories the car got silent as we both reflected on what we used to be. Then Elder Abbott broke the silence by saying something to the effect of... I don't want to think any more about what I used to be and do.

His comment gave me a minute to reflect on a scripture talking about the sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ. A Book of Mormon prophet explains:"Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."(Alma 7:13)

You see the beautiful part of the Atonement(or the sacrifice) Jesus Christ is that it can blot out  our mistakes and sins. It is like a perfect white out, the stain left on us is removed as if it was never there. The Savior blots out the stain that we allow him to remove. I know that the Savior not only forgives us, but forgets what we have done.

Now this does not mean that he forgets you..... oh no..... oh contrar monfer(don't ask me what that means, but my dad used to say it a lot). He remembers you all the more because you are written on the palms of his hands. You are and can NEVER be forgotten.

One last scripture and I'm out. "And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him..?"(Jacob 4:12) Why not talk of Christ? Why not talk of the blood that was spilt on our behalf? His is the message that I share and there is no greater message. I testify that he lives!

Our True Identity

I love this video because it helps me remember who I am. We are all children of God. It doesn't matter what our names are, what color we are, or where we come from. In the eyes of the Lord we are all his children.

This scripture shows to demonstrates to me the love of our Father in Heaven:"Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (3 Ne 14:9-11)

I know he knows each one of us as if we were his only child.

Would you have got on?

Several Months ago I was serving in Vallejo and my companion and I were working with the Rojas Family. I love this family alot. At the time, this family was trying to get through the recent death of their wonderful mother. One day, My companion and I got talking with the daughters about the importance of a living prophet on the earth today. We explained that God still talks to his children through his prophets even today. Desaree, then asked me a question that I have thought about many times since then. She asked me," If you would have lived in the times of Noah, Would you have got on the Ark?"



The people of Noah could not understand why it was so important that they should get on the ark. They couldn't see what was coming in the future. They thought it was ridiculous that they would have to get on an ark and wait for rain. They might have said, "It's the dessert, there will never be such rain." "This man is crazy, how could he know such things?"  And even if they realized the mistake they made when the rain began to fall, by then it was too late.

Even though Noah lived thousands of years ago, his story is still relivant today. I know that God has called a living prophet on the earth today. He continues to reveal his will to us through these men. And although the world might say that "it doesn't matter if we drink a little" or "I can stop smoking anytime I want" or " Everyone is doing it", we have to ask ourselves this question: "Would we have got on the Ark?  Am I willing to board the ark now?". We might not be able to understand all the reasons why we have to get on that ark, but if we are willing to follow the words of a prophet and do it anyways we will be blessed. The lord will not explain the reason for everything he asks us to do before he will require us to act. He must be willing to take a leap of faith. "Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand."

Desaree and her family chose to get on the ark, 

Will You?

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Today we had the opportunity to visit a woman named Janet Simonds, who lives in a convalescent home. Janet was diagnosed with Cancer and it has spread to many different places in her body. Janet Simonds is in her 80s and because of her age and her health the doctors cannot do surgery. The Doctors plan is to help her stay as comfortable as possible as she slowly slips from this life to the next.

As we walked into ther room, I noticed that she was skinnier than the last time we had seen her. As we sat at her bedside, we read to her from the Book of Mormon about the peace that Jesus Christ can bring into our lives. We testified to her of the sacrifice of the Father's only begotten Son for her. After bearing our testimonies, we sat quietly next to her. For several minutes we sat in silence as Janet relaxed in her bed. After a while, we prayed with her and left. There was more said in that time of silence than we could have ever said if we would have had several hours to talk with her. The spirit filled the air that we didn't.

I'm grateful  for the power of the Holy Ghost. With out him, our message cannot be taught. This video is great, check it out.

Voice-of-the-Spirit

"Come and See"

Something on my mind today comes from a scripture that has become one of my favorites as a missionary.

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom ^aMoses in the law, and the prophets, did ^bwrite, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

As Philip went to Nathaneal to invtie him to see what he had seen and experience what he had experienced, Nathanael asked Philip," Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?". Philip's amswer was simple, but profound. "Come and See".

Nathanael doubted that anything good could from a city such as Nazareth. It seems to me that he had heard of Jesus before, but had never experienced Christ himself. But Nathanael was willing. And when he came, and when he saw, he knew that this Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, the Holy one of Israel, the Son of God.

In 1820, a Young farm boy walked into a grove a trees with the purpose of finding the answer to the question of his soul. The young boy prayed, and as an answer to his humble prayer, God the Father and the Son appeared to him. They spoke with him "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend"(Exodus 33:11). Through this young boy, Joseph Smith, the Lord Jesus Christ would later restore his true church upon the earth. How grateful I am for the answer to this simple prayer!

My invitation to the world is the same as Philips. Put aside, for a moment what you have heard about this young boy and about his story. Put aside, for a moment, the things that you have heard about this Jesus of Nazareth. Put aside your doubts and your fears, and come, Come and See!

I know for myself that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that Joseph Smith was his prophet. I know this message is true because I have read the Book of Mormon, and prayed to my father in heaven to see if it was true. I received my answer, and you can recieve yours. The promise is unto all. Read and find out for yourself.

"...and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the ^atree of life."

The Questions of My Soul: Enjoy the Journey

The Questions of My Soul: Enjoy the Journey: "I talk to people everyday who go throughout life always looking for something more or wanting to be something different. I ask them if life..."

Enjoy the Journey

I talk to people everyday who go throughout life always looking for something more or wanting to be something different. I ask them if life has more of a purpose than to wake up, go to work, return from work, and sleep. For many of them, that is all they know.  There must be something more. "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."(2 Ne 2:25) 

This life is a time of testing, but it also a time to enjoy this process of learning. Whatever situation we are in we can choose whether or not we are going to act as if the glass is half full or half empty. We can enjoy what we have, or we can spend our time comparing ourselves to others, and entertaining the "What if" thoughts. A modern day prophet once said,"So many of us are always waiting to be happy. “If only I could graduate, if only I could afford a car, if only I could get married …” For too many, happiness is just over the horizon, never reachable. Every time we climb one hill, happiness beckons just beyond the next.It is a terrible thing always to be waiting for tomorrow, always depending on tomorrow, always excusing our todays because we are sure that only in the future will we possess the things that will fulfill us. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Don’t wait for the right job, the right house, the right salary, the right dress size. Be happy today. Be happy now."http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=2614a1615ac0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

 Often, we compare ourselves to the life or success of others. By doing so, we lose sight of the peril that we have infront of us! We forget the great things that we have been given. We forget to Enjoy the Journey.

I will never forget sitting outside of my second story apartment drinking my Mexican coconut drink, eating an Elote, and listening to my spanish neighbors play their Regaton music after a long day of spreading the gospel of christ. That is only one of the many memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.  There is no greater joy that one can have than to just enjoy the journey of life. Whatever this Journey may bring you, choose to enjoy every minute of it. Life is good......



"My name is Will Eccles, and I'm a mormon."

As my companion and I walk the streets and talk to everyone, people often ask us which religion we are from. I have never been more unashamed to reply," We are mormons!", in my life. Growing up, when I would be walking out the door to leave the house my dad would always say to me," Remember who you are, and don't let it get you down." Lately, I have had an opportunity to reflect on that statement. I know who I am, and I stand with Paul when he exclaimed, in Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ"!

If you haven't seen this video... you need to! Paris is a stud.  http://www.mormon.org/me/1RY0-eng

Hello from Eureka

So today I am up in the middle of the Redwoods in a little city called Eureka.  Everything is very green.... and smells like weed...... but other than that it's great! I have been thinking about how beautiful the world around us is. Last night I had the opportunity to look out at the stars. It's been a while since I have been able to see the stars like that. It reminded me of my favorite hymn, "How great thou art". The words to that hymn have been my prayer of thanks to my father in heaven many times.When 

 "When through the woods, and forest glades I wander ,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

and see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,

How great thou art!"

My last post I wrote about how I know that there is a god through prayer, but I also see God's presence and love for me in nature. It is no coincidence that if we were but a mile closer to the sun we would burn up, or just a mile further away we would freeze to death. That math is just too perfect. Science does not have to be a stumbling block for proving that there is a god, but another witness that there must be something greater than us! Yet again Einstein said, “The more I study science the more I believe in God.”

I can't say it any better than the ancient American prophet Alma," The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." 

In the words of a modern day prophet,"If there is a design in this world in which we live, there must be a Designer. Who can behold the many wonders of the universe without believing that there is a design for all mankind? Who can doubt that there is a Designer?"(http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1207-28,00.html) I add my testimony to that of the prophets, that I know that there is a god and that he loves us.... for we are his children.

12 Oct 2010

For this last couple of days, I have been thinking how I would start off my blog. I have asked myself how I could start off talking about something that it has taken me my entire life to understand. But as I have thought about it, my thoughts refer back to the title of this blog.... "the questions of my soul".

Whether or not we notice it we all have questions. They are embedded within us. I believe that God has specifically placed within us a question. These questions cause us to think and to try "unfold the mysteries of God." These questions in essense conduct us to find truth. Whether great or small, young or old, street smart or book smart, we can find the answers to these questions.  The purpose of my posts will be to help others to find greater peace and joy in their lives by answering these questions.

The reason I am where I am today and am doing the things that I am is because I had a question. My question was; "Does God know me?".

As a young teen, I didn't understand why my family had to go through certain trials when we were doing what the lord had been asking us to do. It didn't make sense to me, but as I began to ponder this question in my mind, my question was narrowed down to "Does God know me?". I began to do what my parents had been teaching me since I was little, I began to read the scriptures and pray. I remember one night in particular, after a hard day, getting on my knees after reading a little from the book of mormon. There in my room, for the first time I asked my father in heaven if he was there. As I knelt at my bedside, the spirit of the lord overcame me. I felt as if someone had put a blanket around me and given me a hug....  I wish there was a better way to say it.... but I felt peace. I then asked the Lord if the Book of Mormon was true, and a heard a voice in my mind say,"William, you know it is.".

Sometimes the answers to our questions are closer than we think they are. The Lord is anxious to answer them. That may sound simple, but to all those who truly seek, will find. I know that to be true.

When the solution is simple, God is answering.
                                             -Albert Einstein