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.

Just Smile!

Smile. What do you think of? Whether it is your little niece or your best friend. Smiles are contagious and pretty much all around awesome. Smiling is good for the soul! If you don't like to smile, come see me and we'll see if we can fix that.

I like to think of the most important people in my life, and their smiles. They are important to me. Whether it really was one of my nieces or nephews, or a new friend on the streets of Philly. There is another important Smile I came across while reading the Book of Mormon the other day.

SMILE brought new meaning to me in this scripture.

"O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be Spiritually-Minded Is Life Eternal." (2 Nephi 9:39 emphasis added)

S-M-I-L-E = Spiritually-Minded is Life Eternal. So smiling means we are 'spiritually minded'. That means if the scriptures are true (they are, I promise) then we will receive Eternal Life a.k.a. live with God! Smiles get us into Heaven!

So what is being 'Spiritually-Minded'? Elder Douglas L. Callister explained it this way,

"A spiritual-minded man is observant of the beauty in the world around him. As the earth was organized, the Lord saw that “it was good.” Then, “It was very good.” It pleases our Father in Heaven when we, also, pause to note the beauty of our environment, which we will naturally do as we become more spiritually sensitive." (see his full talk 'Seeking the Spirit of God')

You better smile today

 It truly is as simple as that. If we notice God in our life, and allow His creations to magnify us, we will naturally do the right thing. Elder Callister continues in his talk in comparing all of God's creations to Moses and the burning bush. That all the world burns with the Spirit, and only they who see it take off their shoes-or respect it, pay attention to it, and seek God in it.

It's as simple as that. If we all just smile. Look to God in our lives, because He IS there, then we will feel of his comforting Spirit in our lives. It works for me all the time, every time, and it will for you to. So 'SAY CHEESE'!

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.

Expect Greatness

"Expect Greatness" has been one of my favorite mottos to live by. In High School, while playing football, I put that on the front of my playband. Not to tell everyone else to expect that just from me, but to tell myself that it is my job to expect greatness from my teammates, my coaches, and especially the other team.

Since I have become a missionary, I have been able to relate much of my 'sport smarts' from the playing field to the missionary field. This motto, "Expect Greatness", has been something I have learned a gospel tie to.

We can expect greatness in every aspect of our lives. We first must develop the HOPE that it can happen, then work our tails off to make it happen. That is the FAITH required for greatness a.k.a. miracles.
       'And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.'            Moroni 10:33

Anything we want to accomplish, that is part of God's will, we can do. We just must expect it, then work at it. God will sustain the effort, and the miracle will be brought to pass. Let us 'Expect Greatness' in all that we do, so God may be glorified in our works (see Matt. 5:16)

God bless you all, I Expect Greatness from you.