Remembering

How are you at remembering? For some things I am GREAT at remembering. Football plays, stats, and formations come easy to me. Math formulas, and where I put my keys... not so easy.

Today we all can probably remember very easily where we were ten years ago, which doesn't always happen. Lives were changed that day. From the moments of crisis that enter our lives, what do we remember?


God, our families, anything that is important in our lives floods to our memories. There is a reason the mentioned things come into our minds. They aren't just important, they are eternally important. We have the opportunity to live with God forever, and also our families. Crisis in life brings these close to us because we remember how important they are, and that we can't afford to lose them.

I recently just had an addition to my family. Ashton Steve Nielson joined my Sister Michelle, and their awesome family. I still haven't met Ashton, and his older brother Ayden probably doesn't really remember who I am now, but I love these guys! I am grateful we are an eternal family. Who wouldn't? The fact that spending eternity with your family brings joy to your soul.

That fact also brings peace. There is another nephew I won't get the chance to meet for a long time. Though the sting of death pains our souls, the healing power of Jesus Christ can replace that fear with faith, as we continue through our lives. I know I will meet Maddox one day, and that he will not be a stranger in our family, but a gift and wonderful addition.

Why is it that it takes crisis and calamity to compel ourselves to remember the eternally important things in our lives? Look at the events of September 11, 2001. The world turned to God and to their families, but since then our attitudes have slackened and reverted to our natural tendencies and wants. President Thomas S. Monsen submitted an essay to a recent edition of the Washington Post concerning faith and the tragedy of 9/11. I encourage you to read it.

Another place that we are invited to remember, is the Book of Mormon. Time and time again the ancients plead with us to remember those before us, and to "consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it" (Mosiah 2:41 emphasis added).

As our minds are directed towards those things that are eternally important, let us strive to continue to remember these things each and every day. As we do so, our lives are enriched by the Spirit of God, and we, with our families, will stride into the eternities together.

New Beginnings

September is here. That means there is change in the air. I've been thinking about change lately, recent events have fueled this. First is the opportunity I had to watch a friend of mine make a new beginning of her own. Kristen made the decision to be baptized last Friday! It was an awesome experience for everyone who was there, but I bet it was even better for her. She had a great support from family and friends, she is great.

I love the principle of baptism. Baptism is an ordinance (an outward expression of inward commitment), and is our opportunity to make a covenant (or promise) with God. We promise to keep the commandments, and follow Jesus Christ. In return, our loving Heavenly Father promises us a remission of sins, and to have His Spirit to be with us always. Find out more about baptism here.

Think about that. An all-knowing, all-remembering God will forgive you of your past. That is definitely a new beginning. It is also one of the few promises we make where the other Person will never break His side of the deal. That is a good feeling.

As Fall comes into the picture, we can all see the changes that will happen in the world around us. I have thought more and more about the changes I have found in my own life. Like Kristen, I had to make my own decision to be baptized. I had to gain my own testimony of the Book of Mormon, which is what makes anything and everything about this Church valid.

When I think about the changes that the Book of Mormon has made in my life, I remember my time in college, when I found myself heading down the wrong road. I was looking for something to fill whatever it was missing, and found it. I found truth in a Prophet's words in saying,

"And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul." Jacob 2:8
Find out more about the Book of Mormon here

As I read, sincerely, I found truth, and change in my life. Because it did, I can tell you that it will for you to! I prayed and asked God if it was true, it IS! As you notice the changes in the world around this season, think about how you have changed. You have. By the mere fact that we have the ability to change means that we can continue to do so. Think about how you can change, then do it! Change for the better, and see your world become full of hope, faith, and a love for all around you.

Putt Your Way to Success

My Mission President is a great teacher. The other day, he was helping a group of missionaries learn how to better set goals for themselves. He came up with a great analogy that had to do with sports, so it's awesome. It makes sense though. As I have tried to apply it in my own life, I have seen improvement in the goals I set.

President is a golfer. I've golfed a little, I started to get in to it before I left Utah. He related goals to golf. When many golfers arrive at the course, they head over to the practice green to fine-tune their technique and get a good warmup before beginning their round. I have been victim of this, but he pointed out how many golfers will start far out from the cup at the very beginning, then they proceed to practice extremely long shots--with little success. What a experienced golfer will do will start close, then work their way out as they make more and more putts.

Goal setting is the same. We cannot start from so far away that we have little or no hope of accomplishing it. We must set ourselves up for success. As we work on what we need to do to progress, sticking to the fundamentals, we reach that distant goal, our confidence is boosted, and we are able to help others along the way.

Look at the pros. Many can nail those shots, even when the stakes are high. Why? They worked towards their goal, by beginning small. Tiger Woods started as a small little boy with a play golf club in his hand, I don't need to name a few of his successes in his life. He's slipped up, many do.

I am convinced of the fact that if we apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ, those goals not only become reality, but they are long lasting. We need not fall into the ways of the world as we become successful. Heavenly Father has given us tools, such as the Book of Mormon, to help us along the way. They have worked for me better than anything, and will for you to.

Hope No More

Yesterday I had another one of those experiences where God puts some people in just the right moment at just the right time.

While driving to visit some families, we received a call from a man named Ryan, who had been working in the area as a door-to-door salesman. He gave us the information for a woman named Carol who he thought we should stop by. We went to her home, and were welcomed warmly. Carol has many family members that belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She has seen how the church has affected her children's lives and knows that it has benefited their lives. Carol has studied many religions and beliefs. She has found, as many do, wonderful things in each and has held those beliefs dear to her heart. She knows they are true. She has the hope and desire in her heart that they all can be true, even though she can't find it all in one place.

Our discussion turned towards The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. We were able to promise her that all of her hopes and desires in her heart about her family, and receiving the direction and peace of mind she has seen in her childrens lives, can be hers! Today! The Book of Mormon was written for our day (see Mormon 8:35) and it can give us the answers we need. That is why it was buried in that hill for so long. That is why our loving Heavenly Father patiently waited until we all got here to call Joseph Smith to bring it forth. The Book of Mormon provides safety for your soul, answers to the questions you have in your heart, and confirmations to every good thing you hope and dream is true.

Carol connected those dots to herself, and excitedly accepted the invitation to read the Book of Mormon, to see for herself what God has to say to her.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Because of that, I know of a surety that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's church on Earth today. I know it by the power of the Holy Spirit, after fervent prayer.

This Book wasn't written only for me, or for Carol. It was written for each one of you! Now read it and find out why.