Working in the Garden

Remember, when we were little and were told to "Stay out of our Grandmas garden"? There is a reason that grandma or our parents would say this, and that is so we wouldn't trample the plants or pick something we weren't supposed to. I was studying  about the Lord and his Vinyard and I found that the Vinyard is the world, the Lord however does want us to be in the Garden,( Jacob 5:15)And it came to pass that a long time passed away, and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may ^alabor in the vineyard.) He wants to be with us Just like our parents or Grandma, it is ok to go in the Garden with them, they will show us around, they will help us see the Beauty of it, but if we go into the Garden alone we start picking things we shouldn't and stomp on plants. The Lord had a Great purpose for the Garden, he used Olive Trees in His Garden, they all started out good, some not in the best of ground,but he gave all of the trees a fair chance. We might not think that we have a fair Chance, but the Lord gives us the opportunity to grow just like a plant would, it is up to us whether we allow him to "Dig about, Graft, Prune and Nourish" us.

 Jacob 5:29 And it came to pass that a ^along time had passed away, and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his ^bservant: Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor again in the vineyard. For behold, the time draweth near, and the ^cend soon cometh; wherefore, I must lay up fruit against the season, unto mine own self.

 The wondeful thing is the Lord wants all of his Trees in his Vinyard to bare "Good" fruit.  He Weeps, when he does all that he can and still the Tree has to be cast off.  What can we do to be the Tree that grows  good Fruit ?  Help, one another, Trees grow stronger when they are surrounded by each other, surround yourself with good, strong trees,  and allow the Master of the Vinyard to give you more strength. He knows what is best for all of us, pray and hear the words that he speaks to you personally.

First Descent

I am a Snowboarding Fanatic! Those who understand me, would agree that the Biography/ Movie First Descent   is one of the greatest movies to show extreme snowboarding. It starts out with Terje Haakonsen, Shaun White, Hannah Teter, and Shawn Farmer, in the peaks of Valdez Alaska. The title Definitely Fits the Movie, The peaks are so Jagged and steep, that as they are flown by Helicopter to their Destination, they have to Make "Their First Descent"

 My favorite is when they decide to ride the famous 7,601 vertical ft peak. When they get up there the wind is so strong, that the Helicopter can't stay around too long. At First the five of them are sitting on this peak, and they chicken out.

Throughout the movie, Terje Haakonsen has 7,601 on his mind, he knows that his trip wont be complete until he conquers this mountain.

  

All of us have a "First Descent", for some it may be a career choice, Lifestyle change, beliefs, or starting a Family. Much like Terje and the rest of the crew we are at our "personal peaks", we don't know which way to go , or what it is going to look like when we make that Descent. Terje was very smart about this, yes he did have guts, but he also had lots of resources They mapped out where he was going , in the movie they call it "Picking Lines". We also have to pick our lines in life. It can be as scary as standing on a peak and not being able to look over the edge, I know that we are not alone, we have many resources! No matter who you are, or where you are at,you can always pray. I'm sure Terje was praying for guidance, and it's great that he did because why not ask the person who created the mountain ? The same goes for us, God knows everyone of our "personal peaks", he has given us the opportunity to ride them out. Yes Terje did have to jump, and yes their were some pretty sketchy situations but as he picked his line, he knew where he wanted to go. He took his time through some of it and we will need to do that in our life, patience and prayer are the keys. I promise you that when you have made it through, you will have enjoyed the ride, maybe not all of it but as a whole.

Doctrine and Covenants 98:3

 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant(promise) that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

A Fathers Blessing

While serving my Father in Heaven, I have realized how grateful I am for Loving Parents, who taught me many life lessons. I recall back to past experiences of my life and I realize how many of those lessons were taught by my parents. Personally, both of my parents taught me how to be a hard worker. My father is a great role model, because of his example of hard work. If he wasn't in the Coal Mines, he was in the Garden,Car port fixing an Engine, or chopping wood.

Not only did i learn from his example, but from personal experience working side by side with him, regardless of how old, or what my capabilites were. Some of my favorite times were working on Vehicles, and Chopping wood. Those were the times, where I knew my Father knew me, and I knew him. We could confide in each other, and enjoy one anothers company while we were getting the Job done!

I realize now, that as I was doing my Father's work, I came to know him, his work became "our work". We had a great purpose, whether that was heating our house for another winter or allowing one of my Family members to have more transportation.

Life, for me is about having relationships, with Family, friends and especially My Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ, they are my Family! I know that just like my Earthly Father, My Heavenly Father has a work for me to do. In fact our Heavenly Father has a work for all of his children to do. We can know what that work is, by getting engaged in it! More importantly it will be the time that we know our Father in Heaven Knows us and we will know him. (John 7:17)

For those of you, who haven't had these experiences, or don't feel that you have a Father. I say that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He wants you to have experience, learn life lessons, confide in him, and get the Job done! (Moses 1:39)

What is our Heavenly Fathers work ? What is it that we should be Engaged in ? What is the greatest Commandment?

Jesus Taught "Love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart"and "Love one another". This past week we were able to hear the Prophet and the apostles speak of how we can help and "Love one another". Brothers and Sisters this is God's work, to Love one another! I know that as we go out of our way to help someone in need, share God's wonderful Plan of Happiness, or just talk to someone, we are in some small way doing a portion of our Father's work. I know because, I have been Fortunate enough to assist in my Heavenly Father's work and I invite all of you to assist as well.  King Benjamin  in the Book of Mormon invites us to do so.(  and now, if you ^dbelieve all these things see that ye ^edo them. (Mosiah 4:10) Brothers and Sisters the world will be a better place as we "Love one another".






http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/04?lang=eng

Finding God in High Places

 Going from the beautiful mountains of western Montana to the beauty of the "Big sky" in Eastern Montana, I have thought about a phrase I have heard quite a bit. " My church is those mountains right there"

I couldn't agree more, there truly is something about the quiet, still, peace you feel while you are standing in a grove of trees or high on a mountain top. I along with many hikers, hunters and people who enjoy the outdoors feel God's presence.

I Believe that the sky for instance is his canvas, and he paints us beautiful pictures to show us that he created all of this for us. In the Scriptures, all of the Prophets had their most spiritual experiences in the wilderness. I never thought that i would have one of my most spiritual experiences on the plains of Eastern Wyoming. I am a mountain person through and through, but the beauty of God is he can touch us anywhere, if we allow him to. The time that I can clear my head and talk to God the most is when i am in the mountains, Shed Horn hunting.  I love to recall on a man name Enos, who was a prophet of God, he like myself made/makes mistakes in life, he needed to clear his head as well. This is his story: I

, ^aEnos, knowing my father that ^bhe was a just man—for he ^ctaught me in his language, and also in the ^dnurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it—

 2And I will tell you of the ^awrestle which I had before God, before I received a ^bremission of my sins.

 3Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the ^ajoy of the saints, ^bsunk deep into my heart.

 4And my soul ^ahungered; and I ^bkneeled down before my Maker, and I ^ccried unto him in mighty ^dprayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

If you want to know more about Enos, follow the link, or try it for yourself, Pray! go to your place of peace, quiet and solitude. I know from personal experience, even being hard headed that God touched me and he will touch you, he loves everyone of us and he wants us to experience all that he has!

Fire it up!!!

"Let's Fire  it up!", is what I would yell while on the side line during my Football games in High school. Some of you might wonder why I would do this. Yesterday we were talking with this lady who was teaching us about prayer, and as we talked about prayer we talked about the things we pray for. Strenghth, Direction, Peace, and Comfort are some of the things that all of us find ourselves praying for. I like to see what the disciples of Christ prayed for.  "And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the ^aHoly Ghost should be given unto them."

In short the Holy Ghost is the comforter, he does bring peace and greater direction into our life. So how does all of this tie into Football ? The Holy Ghost is a Fire in ourselves, Fire is always mentioned with receiving the Holy Ghost after Baptism. That Fire that is placed within us is "Our Drive", whether it is out on the Gridiron,or our righteous desire to serve God.

I would feel that Fire, that drive, that Desire on the Field and i would want everyone to feel it as well because when all of us had it our team was unstoppable, we could do Miracles on the Field. I promise you all of us want the same thing and we want it all the time, we want the Holy Ghost we want the Fire! It starts with one, but we need to allow others to feel it, so they can run with it! I know that we can do Miracles, when we have the Fire!

Foundations

As many of you know, I used to build Concrete Foundations and other sorts of Concrete work.  "Concrete work,thats hard work" Is what you will hear almost all the time.

Why does Concrete work have that affect on people ?

There are many little steps that it takes into building a foundation. First you start with a plan, or Blue Print then you build your Footings, which is usually a concrete path that you will build your wall on.. All of which is strenghtened by Rebar and tie wire which holds it together.

When i first started Concrete construction work i thought it was back breaking and monotonous. Alot of little things to do to build a Foundation. As i became more experienced in the field of work, i started to understand why every little step mattered in Building a strong foundation. In order for the Foundation to stand strong and withhold years of "wear and tear" it needs to be done with exactness. You have to have everything square and Precise.

All of us have a Foundation, whether we think it or not. It is built on our personal life, Some maybe stronger than others. Some may be built upon the Principle of good work Ethic and some maybe built upon our Families. God gave all of his children the materials to build our own Foundations. He sent his Son, to be our example and he gives us the Opportunity to build our Foundation upon him.

10And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the ^afoundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine ^bhands.

We can build our Foundation upon the Rock of our Redeemer, I think that is so amazing because before you can build your Foundation you have to have something solid to build it on!

12And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the ^arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your ^bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty ^cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Christ is our Rock, he is more Solid than anything in this world, we can build our Foundation upon him through Faith in Jesus Christ, Repenting, Baptism by Immersion ,by the Proper Authority of God and having a willingness and a Desire to serve God. 

I know by doing so, you will have a solid Foundation. That when Trials, Temptations and Afflictions come to you in many diverse ways, they will have no power over you because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. I leave you my Witness that Jesus Christ lives and Loves everyone of us and God has provided us with the materials to have a solid foundation. The Gospel is True, we will be so much happier when we follow it! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

The need for a Prophet !

There are many out there, who say "we have the word of God in its fulness with the Bible". The Bible is the word of God. It was written by Prophets of old, who gave their witness of God and Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit and Revelation which was in them.  Those Prophets like Adam, Noah, and Abraham were given the Priesthood( The Power and Authority to act in God's name for the salvation of his Children.) Of course Noah told the people to Repent, but God gives each of us a gift, that gift is Agency or the ability to choose from right and from wrong. As we see a pattern throughout the Old Testament, God called many prophets and everytime a prophet was on the earth he was rejected and killed ,the people chose not to believe the Prophet. Why would our basic human tendencies change today?

Those basic human tendencies, stop us from accepting truth as it has in the past, It is my invitation to all of us to " Put off the natural man and becometh a saint through the Atonement of Jesus Christ" the way we can do this is to yield to the Enticings of the Holy Spirit , meaning listen and act upon the the light of Christ which is in us.
 (Mosiah 3:19 The Book of Mormon another Testament of Jesus Christ)


Brothers and Sisters, as we are all children of our Heavenly Father who loves us, I bear my witness, through the power of sincere Prayer, the Holy Spirit, and taking the Apostle Jame's counsel in the 1st Chapter and the 5th verse. " If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally(freely) and upbraideth not" ( God will not judge us for asking him in faith, believing in him.) You will know and Feel that  God has called another Prophet to the earth  as I do.


I invite you to consider God's love, that he has again called another prophet to lead and guide all men as he did with Noah, Joseph Smith, and Thomas S. Monson who leads and guides us today.

I know that God has called a prophet in this day and age for the whole world to listen to and see the example of how God would want his children to be treated. The prophet is not there to force us, but he is there to inform us that God lives and that through the priesthood and the Atonement of Jesus Christ (the suffering, death and Ressurection) we can again return to live with God, and Jesus Christ as Families, I do so in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.