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