Let's See How Far We've Come

This passed weekend I spent eighteen hours.....in a van! Sounds exciting doesn't it? As I traveled from where my home has been for the passed 4 1/2 months in Lander, Wyoming, to my new home in Missoula, Montana I couldn't help but think about how fast time goes.

We left from Riverton, Wyoming at about one o' clock sunday afternoon, and as I thought about the Journey that laid before me, it made my head hurt. I felt as though I'd never reach my destination as we made each stop to pick up and drop off other missionaries who were also moving. We made stops in Thermopolis, Wyoming, Worland, Wyoming, Lovell, Wyoming, and finally Billings, Montana sunday night. As we stopped for the night, I pondered the extensive journey that we would have the following day, I didn't even take the time to stop and realize how far we had come.

The next day was more of the same story. We continued picking up and dropping of missionaries as we made stops in Bozeman, Montana,  Butte, Montana, and Great Falls, Montana. At this point I was tired and really just wanted to reach where I was going, and do what I'm here to do. I was so tired of sitting in a van for hours on end, but as we continued to travel we reached the east gate of Glacier National Park. I looked and dwelled on the beautiful scenery around me, I suddenly had an epiphany! I was so caught up in getting to where I was going that I had failed enjoy the journey. Not only that, but I had neglected to realize how far I had come. We stopped in Kalispell, MT. that night and my entire outlook on the journey had changed. I was ALMOST sad when I realized that the following day I would reach my destination. I was disappointed with the thought of all the things that I had missed along the way, however I was pleased with how far I had come.

Very often, I forget to enjoy the journey that I'm on. I focus so much on the outcome rather than finding joy in the experiences that I am having. Are you the same way? Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." Are we just enduring? Or are we finding joy in the many experiences that life throws at us. When life gives you adversity, find comfort in knowing that there is always something good that will come of it. Instead of always looking at how far you have to go, look back and see how far you've come. May we all find the joy in the journey because there is so much joy to be found.

"...The Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou Hast Sent"-John 17:3

Throughout the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, there has been speculation around the piercing question: Are Mormons christian?

The Book of Mormon answers this question when Nephi, an ancient prophet, declared "... we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26) Can it be any more clear than that? 

So what do we have to do to recieve this remission of our sins?

"And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrificem to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefor only unto him that has faith unto repentance is broght about the great and eternal plan of redemption. Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye  may begin to exercise your faith un to repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you." (Alma 34:15-17)  

Jesus Christ wants to extend his mercy toward us, but there are things we have to do. We must not only have faith in his name, but we must also exercise our faith in him through repentance. When we sin we transgress the laws of God. We break one of any of his commandments, thus separating ourselves spiritual from his prensence. When we repent we bridge the gap that we have created and bring ourselves closer to God. The first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are faith and then repentance. When we have faith and exercise that faith through repentance, it inturn leads to recieving the first oridinances (sacred ceremony where covenants or promises are made between us and God)  of the gospel of Jesus Christ which are baptism by immersion by the proper authority, and recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. The gospel fits so well together, one thing leads to another, and the end result, if we are true and faithful, is living in neverending happiness with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

This week, while out trying to share this message with the wonderful people of Montana, we came across a man who didn't think we were christians. Somewhere along the way He was sadly misinformed about our religion. He believed that we worship Joseph Smith which is not true in the slightest. Though Joseph Smith was an important person in the founding of our religion and was a key figure in the restoration of Christ's church again to the earth, he had a completely separate purpose to Heavenly Father's plan than does His Son Jesus Christ. We only worship Jesus Christ because he is the savior of the world and the only means whereby we can recieve forgivness of our sins. I want to make it clear to everyone Jesus Christ is at the head of our church and there is no other means whereby we recieve forgiveness.

I know, without a doubt that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world. He did in reality Atone for our sins and through him and him alone we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. He was in fact born in Bethlehem to a virgin mother, He did in fact live a sinless life, He did, on this earth, raise the dead, cause the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and He does have the authority both in heaven and in earth to forgive the sins of man if we turn our lives over to Him and do the things that he asks us to do. I know that while He lived on this earth He eastablished His church. After his death, the church that He set up became extinct and no longer existed upon the face of the earth, but I know that His same church, the very one that He established while on this earth is back again. Through the prophet Joseph Smith the authoriy to baptize, recieve revelation, and call prophets and apostles was restored again to the earth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church again upon the earth. He lives and is at the head of that church. I know that my redeemer lives.  "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)