The Compass! - November 15, 2014

A month ago, I found this compass in front of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. After I had taken it, I looked back at my pictures and this picture really caused me to reflect. My standards and values have been a sure compass that have never failed in guiding me to make right decisions. I know that as I am true to my standards and make the effort to keep the commandments I am taking the right path. 

I wanted to hear from you and what came to your mind as you reflected on this picture. This is what I heard:

"The gospel of Jesus Christ gives direction to all of Heavenly Fathers children. As I have lived the gospel I have not only found direction but purpose. I know each of us can find the same." - Sister Parrett

"Here is another picture of a compass. This one is imbedded in a bronze sun in the floor of the Great Hall in the Library of Congress. A compass guides you in your travels. It points you in the right direction and helps you arrive at your planned destination. The quest for knowledge and truth guides your choices through life. As we seek the Holy Spirit and listen closely to its promptings we will be able to identify truth. Truth fills us with warmth and light as does the brilliance of the sun. (John 1:9, Moroni 7:16,18)" - Angela Knoll

"Whenever I see a compass, my first thoughts turn to the Liahona -- the compass the Lord provided to Lehi and his family as they were led to the promised land. The Liahona was a type of the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives today: when the people were obedient and righteous, the Liahona provided direction toward the promised land. When the people were disobedient, the Liahona stopped working. I love receiving guidance from the Lord today through the compass called the Holy Spirit." - Matt Riggs

"I never like the feeling of being lost. I've been lost a few times in my life and one of the things I would have liked most was a map of my location. As children of a loving Heavenly Father, we are not left alone on this earth to wander about without direction or purpose. In His infinite wisdom and love, He has provided for us scriptures, prayer, and latter-day prophets to provide personal, meaningful direction and purpose to our lives. We need not be lost or confused." - Naomi Stanford

"When you're trying to figure out which way to go, you'll need a compass you can trust. If you have a reliable compass, you'll always know which way is North. Christ has provided us with a super reliable compass...His Atonement! There's no doubt about it that if we use His Atonement to change and become better, we will return to live with God again." - Sister Trunnell

Thank-you for all of your comments! As we share our thoughts and testimonies, we strengthen others testimonies as well as our own. I invite you to continue to share publicly and privately your testimonies with others. As you do so, you are not only sharing words, you are sharing the joy and light that you have in your life with those who are in need of it.

Remember - November 11, 2014

Every year we set aside a special day to remember those who have made it possible for us to live in freedom. In Canada, we celebrate "Remembrance Day" on November 11, and we wear a poppy on our hearts to help us remember all those who have fought for our freedom. This Remembrance Day I was not in my country, but the traditional physical act of remembering was so important to me that I cut out my own poppy and wore it that day.
When we are baptized, we make covenants with God that we will keep his commandments, and we take the sacrament so that we can remember that covenant, because we as human beings need constant reminding! Do we consider remembering our covenants that brought us spiritual freedom as important as remembering those who brought us physical freedom? Let us put forth the effort to remember our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who saves us spiritually just as we put forth effort to remember those who have fought and are fighting to save our country.

“When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be ‘remember.’ Because all of [us] have made covenants … our greatest need is to remember. That is why everyone goes to sacrament meeting every Sabbath day—to take the sacrament and listen to the priests pray that [we] ‘… may always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us].’… ‘Remember’ is the word” (Circles of Exaltation [address to religious educators, Brigham Young University, 28 June 1968], 8).

Blakely Olivia Stanford - October 22, 2014

I am SO grateful to have a new addition to my eternal family! I know that my niece Blakely came from Heaven and that if we work together and we live faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ, my family and I will return to live there again!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! - October 15, 2014

I had always thought that after Christ payed for my sins, there was an arrangement made between him and I, and it was my job to pay off the debt or at least pay part of my way back to Heaven. Brad Wilcox explains how our arrangement really is after Christ payed for our sins:

"Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher. How many know what I am talking about? Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child’s practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child’s practice repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is how the child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice." His Grace is Sufficient - Ensign September 2013

Christ has taught us the commandments, and keeping them and living by them is how we thank him for what he did for us. And so this Thanksgiving season (whether you be celebrating it now or later) we can all show our gratitude by choosing to keep God's commandments. We cannot repay Christ, but we can show our appreciation and that is all that he asks for!

5 Minutes!! - October 4, 2014

Conference is in 5 minutes! Get off Facebook and go to conference.lds.org!

Preparing for a Worldwide General Conference - October 2, 2014

You would not believe the work that goes into a week end full of the words of the living prophets. And it is worth every MINUTE! Come listen to the prophet's voice this weekend! ‪#‎ldsconf‬

Mormonism in Pictures: Preparing for a Worldwide General Conference

This Time, Two Years Ago - September, 24, 2014

I still remember the October of 2012. I remember it because during the first weekend of that month, while listening to General Conference I received an answer to one of the deepest, most profound, soul searching, mind wrecking questions I had ever had: "What do I do with my LIFE?"
General Conference is a time when we have the opportunity to hear the words of God through his servants, the prophets and apostles. I never appreciated this opportunity as much as I should have before October, 2012. I loved listening, but I think I might have liked the comfortable couch we sat on, or the pajamas I got to watch it in, or sleeping past the usual time we wake up to go to church more. My parents and leaders had always told me that I should appreciate it, and that I should take the time to prepare myself for it by writing down any questions I had in my heart, but I couldn't imagine how one man speaking to millions of people could answer the questions I had... So I never did. Until one day when one question I had just could not wait anymore. I was working in my new career that I loved, I was dating someone, and I was enjoying my time with the friends and family that lived very close, but something wasn't right and I was starting to feel like there was a greater plan that I wasn't aware of. I finally decided to take the advice of my parents and leaders and bring my question to General Conference. I knelt and prayed a week before Conference with my question, "what do I do with my life?" and all that week I felt anxious. I could not wait. My friends and I gathered to listen to the first session of General Conference on Saturday and I was ready to scrutinize every single word to find my answer, but I didn't have to listen long. I didn't even have to listen past the 7 minute "Welcome to Conference" talk President Monson gave first. He announced the change in the age at which young men and young women could serve missions, but all I heard was, "Today I am pleased to announce that [Christen] who ha[s] the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21."
And that was all I needed.
I am here, in Virginia, USA, thousands of miles from home and family, speaking a foreign language, serving the Lord, and loving every minute of my new devoted life because of a question I asked two years ago, and the answer I received during General Conference. God has a plan for YOU, and He reveals that plan to His servants, the prophets (Amos 3:7). God knows the desires of your hearts and He is preparing prophets and apostles RIGHT NOW to be able to answer the questions of your soul during General Conference. Don't miss an opportunity to have your plan laid out in front of you this October. Come to Conference with a question and if you are listening you will hear the answer.

My brother, Matthew, and I the day that I got my mission call letter :)