Small Miracles?

This weekend I went to visit some good friends who live about an hour away.  We spent the day, grilling out, talking and playing games.  I did not realize until my son started to get whiny that it was 11:30 pm, and I still had to drive an hour to get home.  So I started my van up, and let it run and get warm (it was 15 degrees outside) and loaded the kids up.  As I drove down the hill my gas light went on.  So I drove to the nearest gas station, which (of course!) was closed.  I did not know this town well enough to venture off the path to find another gas station, so I decided to keep going and pull off at the next one I came across. 

 There were NONE, (this area I was driving through is newer, and not quite developed) so I kept going, as I drove I went through the BIG scary city, and was afraid to get off in this area, so I kept going and figured I had enough to make it through the bad part. 

***ok side note.  This van I’m driving is new, I had just traded my durango in for it, and had not yet reached empty.  My durango could make it 2 days on empty so I thought I had plenty to get me to a better area)

So i’m sure you guessed it by now, as I’m getting to the exit I want to take to get gas, the car shuts down.  So I PRAY and I put it in neutral and coast as far as I can.  I made it about a 1/2 a mile UPHILL which was weird.  And I ended up at the stop light which thank heavens had a very large shoulder.  I could see the gas station across the bridge about a half a mile away.  By now it was 12am, and I was so scared to have to walk this with my kids in the freezing cold dark dangerous road. 

I started to panic, and so I prayed and I asked for help because I was so scared and I did not know what to do. 

*** oh another side note, I have no cell phone!

So I start to get out of the car, and a guy in a large truck is stopped at the light and asks me if i’m ok.  I look at him, and I just trust that God will keep me and the kids safe, so I yell back that I have run out of gas. 

So he backs up and pulls behind me.  He gets out of the truck and I was SO relieved!  He was an under cover cop.  He had a bullet proof vest on that read “POLICE” across his chest.  I about fell over. 

He told me to get back in the car and he would go get me a gas can and some gas.

I title this post “Small Miracles?” with a question mark, because I believe all miracles are equally HUGE.  There is no such thing as a small one! 

I realize that I was totally at fault for this, that I should not have let my tank get so low.  Even so, my Heavenly Father was looking out for us, keeping us safe. 

I cannot even begin to express my gratitude and love to my Father in Heaven.  He amazes me constantly, even when, no, ESPECIALLY when, I do not deserve it!  

Why Mormons ARE Christian, AND why I love them so stinkin much.

Let’s define Christian.  It’s simple, and so many people try to complicate it. 

A Christian is a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ.  A Christian is loving, kind, humble, charitable, or in other words Christ like. 

I have been having the most interesting (which is the nicest word I can come up with) conversation on another blog.  http://healtheland.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/the-purpose-driven-campaign-mike-huckabee-shows-his-true-colors-by-apologizing-to-mormon-mitt-romney/ 

There are a few good people on the blog, and then there are the most hateful folks I have ever encountered.  And I have met some pretty awful people.  They call themselves “Christian” and yet they lack the qualities of true Christians.  They twist LDS beliefs, and then when an LDS person comes to defend their faith they call us liars.   They judge, and then justify their actions by saying it’s ok to judge NON Christians. 

This is why I LOVE Mormons.  I have never heard hateful things about any other person or religion come from ANYBODY’S mouth.  They are the kindest most loving people I have ever met.  They even love those who hate them.  You Mormons out there are such amazing examples.  Thank you all for being so flippin wonderful. 

So many people try to bring up the “you joined because you felt accepted and they befriended you”.  Which is not true, I did not know ONE member when I joined.  I joined because I prayed, and my prayer was answered.  BUT, the LDS people have shown me a glimpse of My Heavenly Father, and His Son because of their loving examples!

The intent of these hateful people is to tear us down and deceive others.  But the only thing they have succeeded in, is reminding me how grateful I am for the Gospel, and how grateful I am for the awesome Mormons in my life, and those that I will meet in the future.

To all those who are hateful and judgemental, I feel so sorry for you, my heart goes out to you, I hope one day you open your heart and see the truth, and you will be blessed with happiness, peace, and love!

My love to you all!  YOU MORMONS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Three Degrees of Glory, and the Plan of Salvation

planofsalvation21.jpg                         

Should Heaven and Hell be so black and white?  Is there no gray area?  What about those people who do not know about Christ?  There are too many “what if’s” to mention here. 

So let’s get into what the LDS view of  What Heaven and Hell is.  And something we call the “Plan of Salvation”.  It’s VERY exciting stuff!  (click on the link above to get a full picture)

Here is a great definition of the “Degrees of Glory” found here http://scriptures.lds.org/gs/d/19

“Differing kingdoms in heaven. At the final judgment, each person will be assigned to an eternal dwelling place in a specific kingdom of glory, except those who are sons of Perdition.

Jesus said, In my Father’s house are many mansions, John 14: 2 (Ether 12: 32). There is one glory of the sun, and another of the moon, and another of the stars, 1 Cor. 15: 40-41. Paul was caught up to the third heaven, 2 Cor. 12: 2. There is a place of no glory and everlasting punishment, D&C 76: 30-38, 43-45. There are three degrees of glory, D&C 76: 50-113; 88: 20-32.”

I hope this helps you understand the basics. 

I love this plan, because it makes sense and it shows that our Father in Heaven loves us. 

He does not want ANY of His children to be lost, so He has prepared a way to return to Him!  🙂 

I just love Him XOXO

Inspired by feelings…

I just got home from the movies, and I am so inspired.  People always knock me because of my “feelings”.  But today I remember how very grateful I am for those feelings!

Ok, I know it is only a movie, but it brought something out, something I sometimes forget. 

The Movie is called August Rush.  It’s about a boy who wants to be found.

It was so well done, so beautiful.

It made me remember when I was lost, and I knew that I would find my way one day, I just knew.  I didn’t know how, and I didn’t know when.  I just hoped, and lived and I waited….

Sometimes I think my feelings are a curse, because sometimes it’s hard to shut them off.  The happy feelings are wonderful, but the sad feelings are so terrible.  Both are so powerful.

But I would never want to trade them.  I know my Heavenly Father has given me a great gift.  I feel sorry for those who cannot feel, and those who only feel a little. 

I know this post is about a movie, but I feel insired to tell you that because of my feelings, I know there is a God, and without that knowledge I would be alone, and lost. 

He is there, and He does love me, and He does love you, I just know it! 

And I have been found.

Who is Jesus Christ!?!

How many times do we hear this statement…”but Mormons believe in a DIFFERENT Jesus”.  It’s frustrating and very very sad.  My hope is that this post will clear up any confusion, and that those who think this will see that we believe in Jesus Christ, the one and only, the Son of God, the Savior of the world!

This is what I know about Him. 

I know that He is God’s Son.  He was choosen to be the Savior of the world.   He taught us how to live, and He suffered and died for each and every one of us.  He sits at the right hand of the Father, and He will come again, and I look forward to that day! 

 I know the love of Christ.  When I met my missionaries I could see His love shining in their eyes.  I know that, because of Him, I have been forgiven and my sins and my burdens have been lifted from me.  I could never express my love and gratitude towards Him.  He is my Savior and I look forward to the day that I meet Him.  People can say all day long that I do not know Him, but what THEY say means nothing, because HE knows that I know Him.  HE knows that I love Him.  My heart has been healed and it is because of my Heavenly Father and because of His Son Jesus Christ!!!!!!  

And I will end by quoting my favorite verse of my FAVORITE song

“I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.”

I BELIEVE IN CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

What do YOU believe?

I have a lot of people come to my blog who disagree with my beliefs.  Many times they come here and try to TELL me what I believe.  I feel this is strange, because I feel I am an expert on my own personal beliefs. 

So I am creating this post so that you can tell us what it is YOU believe.  You can write as much or as little as you want.  I ask that EVERYONE be respectful of others. 

I will start us off.

I believe the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. 

I believe the Gospel has been restored in it’s fulness to the earth. 

I believe that God still speaks to us through prophets. 

I believe that our families can be together forever. 

I believe that Jesus Christ is Gods literal Son. 

I believe He lived and He died for me, so that I may live. 

I believe we are saved by His atoning sacrifice.  By grace. 

I believe that once we are saved we must change our hearts and our lives. 

I believe we must live by His teachings, and do what He has commanded.

I believe in a  loving and kind Heavenly Father.  I believe He wants ALL His children to return to Him. 

I love my Father in Heaven, and I love His Son, my Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the gospel and the change it has brought into my life.  I am grateful for the change it has brought to my family, and I hope and pray that all who seek Him will find Him.

I leave you with these things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  

Ok.   Now, tell me what you believe 🙂

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.