Sunday, February 26, 2017

You Never Know

You never know
What tomorrow will bring;
Yet, still we'll owe
Thanks for everything!

Make Me Clean

Soapy bubbles make me clean
Lift what troubles, what's unseen
But the dirt comes back again
So oft I wash with my trusty friend

Take the TIme

Take the time to stare
Into another's eyes
And look for love there
I promise you'll find Christ

It's Up to You!

It's up to you
And your self talk
To choose anew
Just where you'll walk

Seek the Lord's Will

Seek the Lord's will
And make it your own
Have faith.  Be still
You're never alone!

What Number Are YOU?

What number are you?
To teach him of Christ?
It takes many to
Bring souls unto light

For some it takes years
For some it's restored
Imagine the cheers
Given by our Lord!

Imagine His patience
And confidence too
In God's plan we're free agents!
His work is NOT through

He Completes Me

Justice, love, and mercy meet
Truly at the Master's feet
Serving Him helps me to see
He is what makes life complete

A hint of things yet to come
Where more of us we will become
And to think we are just some
Of those restored by the Son

I heard someone at church say, "I would not be complete without the lord."  He truly puts the finishing touch on our lives with His justice, love, and mercy.. Imagine what that does to families.  We are all a restoration project in the makings.

Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet
"That Atonement would achieve complete victory over physical death, unconditionally granting resurrection to every person who has been born or ever will be born into this world. Mercifully it would also provide forgiveness for the personal sins of all, from Adam to the end of the world, conditioned upon repentance and obedience to divine commandments."
—Jeffrey R. Holland, "Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet"
Topics: Atonement

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Making Righteous Choices at the Crossroads of Life

Make righteous choices
At the crossroads of life
The heart rejoices
Because you walk in light


Making Righteous Choices at the Crossroads of Life
"You and I have a plan to guide us in our lives—the eternal plan that was given to us in the premortal world and that will bring us back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. During our mortal probation on earth, we will be tested with enticements and opposition in all things. But if we are obedient…we can attain eternal life."
—Robert D. Hales, "Making Righteous Choices at the Crossroads of Life"
Topics: Plan of Salvation

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Commandments

The Commandments got Jesus in trouble 
With the likes of the Pharisees 
They weren't sufficiently humble 
To understand what God sees


Sunday, February 19, 2017

Doing Feeling

The Blessings of doing
As the Savior would
Is you're always feeling
Strength from being good

Friends

We come as strangers
And leave as friends
When, as the Savior,
Service extends

Friday, February 17, 2017

Today's Bath

Just like you can't stay clean from yesterday's bath,
You need to be continually cleansed of sin.
You need to do what keeps you on purity's path
Feeling and inviting the spirit within.

How Can I Be Bored?

How can I be bored
With a mind and a heart?
For there's much I have stored
To recall and impart.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Suffering

Grandpa,  if I suffer more
will you suffer less?
She saw how his pain tore
And would not let him rest.

Eagerly, he answered,
"It doesn't work that way."
But, he spiritually has learned
That God's with him each day.

And, too, there is a pain
That Christ can take away.
Through repentance, we gain
New beginnings, always.

A new heart and clean hands,
A fresh outlook on life...
Though consequences still stand
There's strength that comes through Christ.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Glorious

Even though life's journey
May be fraught with tribulation;
The destination will truly
Be glorious, with salvation.


Our Father's Plan—Big Enough for All His Children
"Even though our journey may be fraught with tribulation, the destination is truly glorious. I rejoice in the great plan of salvation that is big enough for all of our Father in Heaven’s children."
—Quentin L. Cook, "Our Father's Plan—Big Enough for All His Children"
Topics: Plan of Salvation

There's Always Time


The world's a scary place.
There's always time for prayer
In these trying times we face
There's safety in God's care

Monday, February 13, 2017

Love is the Remedy

Love is the remedy
for what ails the earth.
Remember Gethsemane
that each man is of worth!


Sunday, February 12, 2017

K-I-S-S

Colorful Number 7

Families that K-I-S-S
Find home a bit of Heaven.
Be saved from wickedness
Keep It: Simple Seven.

1. daily personal prayer
2. daily family prayer
3. daily personal scripture study
4. daily family scripture study
5. church attendance
6. family home evening
7. temple attendance


My bishop always says this.  It is what we need in our day just as the people of Moses needed to look to the staff to be saved from the snake bites.
 Some did not do it because they thought it too simple.
Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority - By Elder Richard G. Scotthttps://www.lds.org/general.../2014/.../make-the-exercise-of-faith-your-first-priority?...Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority - By Elder Richard GScott. ... powerful blessings that result from family prayer. Family prayer should be a non-negotiable priority in your daily life. .... Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will ...

Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority - By Elder Richard G. Scott. ... and with your family, to the study of God's word, peace will prevail in your life. ... Through daily, consistent scripture study, you will find peace in the turmoil around ... you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives ...

Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority - By Elder Richard GScott. ... If you don't have a temple recommend, qualify to get one. .... lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (“The Book ofMormon,” Ensign, May 1980, 67).

We Fix Our Focus

Katholische Pfarrkirche St. Vitus in Altmannshofen, Gemeinde Aichstetten, Landkreis Ravensburg
Hochaltar, Detail: Relief "Die eherne Schlange"
We fix our focus
Upon the temple
Like the staff of Moses
It saves our people


Salvation and Exaltation
"Our Heavenly Father wants husbands and wives to be faithful to each other and to esteem and treat their children as an heritage from the Lord. In such a family we study the scriptures and pray together. And we fix our focus on the temple. There we receive the highest blessings that God has in store for His faithful children."
—Russell M. Nelson, "Salvation and Exaltation"
Topics: Happiness in Family Life

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Hope and Healing


Stuck, I hid what was amiss
In a secret dark abyss
Healing hope in Christ was found
When I turned myself around
And I saw what light I'd missed

Face to Face for Young Single Adults with Elder Jeffrey R ... - LDS.org


I love the part that Elder Hollstrom shares about practicing hope. ...... Is Chakra healing/Reiki/energyhealing of God? ...... and trying to stay close to the Lord I sometimes sink into a dark abyss where there is no end in sightMore and I feel empty ...... Elder Holland, thank you for your service, is there a secret to win laziness?

I feel like I put a lot of light aside these last few weeks as I took a four-weekend class in addition to the two-night classes.
Going to College is not a spiritual experience for me. I know that institute was the light that kept me on the right path when I got my bachelor's. I love my phone that I could tune out this lecture with Lady Gaga Born This Way (darkly bizarre) and read from Elder Jeffrey R Holland.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Uproot

Uproot
and start over
Sweet fruit
You'll discover

With changes in our ward boundaries, we are going through some rich experiences.

Growing in the Spirit

The Holy Ghost doth flood my soul
And awaken my heart to swell
Fresh seeds of thought soon will sow
Where buds of faith do dwell


What triggers that warm flooding feeling as you start to feel the spirit teaching you?  Is it love, gratitude, a confirming thought that answers prayer, words you read, hear, the song? It is a renewing and growing experience.  It is tender.

Seeds of Renewal - Joseph B. Wirthlin - LDS.org

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/04/seeds-of-renewal
Next, we should sow within our hearts the seed of charity, the pure love of Christ. .... Finally, I suggest that we plant in our hearts the seed of testimony, a firm ...

A Growing Testimony - Friend July 2012 - friend - LDS.org

https://www.lds.org/friend/2012/07/a-growing-testimony?lang=eng
Testimonies are like beautiful plants. They grow a little at a time, and they need care and protection. Follow the directions below to make this plant healthy and ...

Thursday, February 2, 2017

O How Great the Plan of Our God

O how great the plan of our God
Here on Earth, He is never far
Heaven's light, lamps the way home
Through Jesus, our eternal star
What shall we give Him in return
For the many blessings of care?
That warmth in your heart that does burn
Is His light given for you to share 

 Doesn't this message thrill you?  The poem was inspired by the talk with the same title.
O How Great the Plan of Our God"We are eternal beings, without beginning and without end. We have always existed."
—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "O How Great the Plan of Our God"

Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus
My beloved brothers and sisters, my dear friends, does it not fill our hearts and minds with wonder and awe to contemplate the great plan of happiness our Heavenly Father has prepared for us? Does it not fill us with unspeakable joy to know of the glorious future that is prepared for all who wait upon the Lord?
If you have never felt such wonder and joy, I invite you to seek, study, and ponder the simple yet profound truths of the restored gospel. “Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.”5 Let them bear testimony unto you of the divine plan of salvation.
If you have felt these things before, I ask you today, “Can [you] feel so now?”6Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland. While there, I noticed the Belfast Coat of Arms, which includes the motto “Pro tanto quid retribuamus,” or “What shall we give in return for so much?”7I invite each of us to consider this question. What shall we give in return for the flood of light and truth God has poured out upon us?

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The Captain of the Soul- Invictus/ The Soul's Captain by Elder Orson F. Whitney

Invictus by William E. Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The Soul's Captain [The Answer]
by Elder Orson F. Whitney
of the Quorum of the Twelve
Art thou in truth? Then what of him
Who bought thee with his blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood?
Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but him could bear.
The God who died that man might live,
And endless glory share?
Of what avail thy vaunted strength,
Apart from his vast might?
Pray that his Light may pierce the gloom,
That thou mayest see aright.
Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree.
Thou, captain of thy soul, forsooth
Who gave that place to thee?
Free will is thine — free agency
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto him
To whom all souls belong.
Bend to the dust that head "unbowed,"
Small part of Life's great whole!
And see in him, and him alone,
The Captain of thy soul

He's Been There Before

He's Been There Before by Elder Troy Whittle
The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet
I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets
A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise?
It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes

The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such
When it's time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much
"We have a super day planned," My comp. says with a grin
I lowly utter a faithless breath, "Yeah, if anyone lets us in."

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street prepared to
Face another day of humidity and heat
It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through
My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot
Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air Box"
We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete
The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It's past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,
Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep
In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray
I need to talk to father, but I'm not sure what to say

"Oh, Father" I begin, "What happened to us today?
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away
My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat;
If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street"

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?
The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike
Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see"

"Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff
Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack
I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back"

"And what about my family: They don't have much to say
I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day
Oh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time?
Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind"

"My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?
"The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see
Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do
That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you"

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed
I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead
Sleep start to overtake me, I seem to drift away
Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I'm standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice
A man walks to wards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ"
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet
"Arise," He states, "Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak"

My attention's towards my Savior, total and complete
He says, "Your mission is similar of what happened to me
I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through
In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you"

"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you
At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do
I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet
Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds"

"I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate
I remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!
I see you don't like your companion- you'd rather have someone else-
I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth"

"It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you
I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back"


"Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way
It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see
I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

"We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see
I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me"
He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love
With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head
I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed
My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"
I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through, when we feel we can't take more
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before
By Elder Troy Whittle
Texas Houston Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

These poems are my own thoughts and impressions as I study the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints

I encourage you to read from the Book of Mormon and the standard works, and listen to modern day prophets, also, that your mind and heart might be touched.

Kelly Miller

153 Countries Visited! June 2015


Global Statistics
Visits from 153 countries registered.
No.CountryDate of Last VisitPercent & Number of Visits ↓
1
United States
June 15, 2015
82.86%25,281
2
United Kingdom
June 14, 2015
2.61%795
3
Canada
June 13, 2015
2.42%737
4
Australia
June 13, 2015
1.81%551
5
Philippines
June 14, 2015
1.35%412
6
New Zealand
June 14, 2015
0.99%303
7
India
June 14, 2015
0.79%241
8
Brazil
June 14, 2015
0.58%176
9
Germany
May 15, 2015
0.49%151
10
Mexico
June 3, 2015
0.40%121
11
South Africa
June 8, 2015
0.34%105
12
Russian Federation
Apr 20, 2015
0.26%80
13
France
June 3, 2015
0.21%64
14
Malaysia
June 5, 2015
0.14%44
15
Czech Republic
Apr 17, 2015
0.14%42
16
Pakistan
Mar 21, 2015
0.13%41
17
Spain
Apr 28, 2015
0.13%41
18
Italy
June 8, 2015
0.13%39
19
Netherlands
May 28, 2015
0.12%38
20
Europe
June 11, 2015
0.11%35
21
Indonesia
May 18, 2015
0.11%35
22
Cote D'Ivoire
May 17, 2015
0.11%35
23
Japan
Apr 17, 2015
0.11%33
24
Singapore
May 28, 2015
0.11%33
25
United Arab Emirates
Apr 25, 2015
0.10%32
26
Argentina
Apr 27, 2015
0.10%31
27
Korea, Republic of
Feb 1, 2015
0.10%31
28
-
May 10, 2015
0.10%31
29
Thailand
Apr 5, 2015
0.10%30
30
Ireland
May 19, 2015
0.10%29
31
Jamaica
June 1, 2015
0.09%28
32
Turkey
June 14, 2015
0.09%28
33
Trinidad and Tobago
May 18, 2015
0.09%26
34
Sweden
May 8, 2015
0.09%26
35
Guatemala
May 5, 2015
0.08%24
36
Denmark
May 10, 2015
0.08%23
37
Saudi Arabia
May 1, 2015
0.07%20
38
Nigeria
Apr 4, 2015
0.07%20
39
Hong Kong
Apr 18, 2015
0.07%20
40
Colombia
May 29, 2015
0.07%20
41
Chile
Mar 23, 2015
0.06%19
42
Finland
Mar 25, 2015
0.06%19
43
Taiwan
Mar 28, 2015
0.06%18
44
Romania
May 17, 2015
0.06%18
45
Fiji
Feb 27, 2015
0.06%17
46
Ghana
May 8, 2015
0.06%17
47
Belgium
May 30, 2015
0.05%16
48
Switzerland
Apr 12, 2015
0.05%16
49
Poland
Apr 6, 2015
0.05%15
50
American Samoa
Apr 10, 2015
0.05%14
51
Ecuador
Feb 23, 2015
0.05%14
52
Serbia
Mar 10, 2015
0.05%14
53
Austria
Apr 8, 2015
0.04%13
54
Senegal
Nov 24, 2014
0.04%13
55
Norway
June 1, 2015
0.04%13
56
Uruguay
Aug 18, 2014
0.04%12
57
Peru
Apr 13, 2015
0.04%12
58
Portugal
Apr 6, 2015
0.04%12
59
Kenya
Oct 29, 2014
0.04%12
60
Tonga
Dec 9, 2014
0.04%11
61
Dominican Republic
Mar 12, 2015
0.04%11
62
Hungary
Feb 16, 2015
0.03%10
63
Guyana
Apr 28, 2015
0.03%10
64
Bangladesh
Jan 19, 2015
0.03%9
65
Algeria
Feb 5, 2015
0.03%9
66
Kuwait
Mar 30, 2015
0.03%9
67
Egypt
Apr 4, 2015
0.03%9
68
Belize
May 8, 2015
0.03%9
69
Costa Rica
Feb 4, 2015
0.03%8
70
Bahamas
Jan 9, 2015
0.03%8
71
Israel
Feb 27, 2015
0.03%8
72
Ukraine
Jan 24, 2015
0.03%8
73
Asia/Pacific Region
June 9, 2015
0.03%8
74
Honduras
Feb 6, 2015
0.02%7
75
Cyprus
Mar 21, 2015
0.02%7
76
Guam
Apr 10, 2015
0.02%7
77
Greece
June 2, 2015
0.02%7
78
China
Dec 16, 2014
0.02%7
79
Panama
Apr 7, 2015
0.02%6
80
Morocco
Mar 3, 2015
0.02%6
81
Sri Lanka
Sept 28, 2014
0.02%6
82
Iraq
Feb 25, 2015
0.02%6
83
Togo
June 6, 2015
0.02%6
84
Botswana
May 7, 2015
0.02%6
85
El Salvador
Apr 23, 2015
0.02%5
86
Vietnam
Oct 30, 2014
0.02%5
87
Cook Islands
June 3, 2015
0.02%5
88
Bulgaria
Oct 27, 2014
0.02%5
89
Lithuania
June 23, 2014
0.02%5
90
Slovakia
Jan 19, 2015
0.02%5
91
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mar 23, 2015
0.02%5
92
French Polynesia
Nov 23, 2014
0.02%5
93
Bahrain
Nov 11, 2014
0.02%5
94
Slovenia
Jan 16, 2015
0.02%5
95
Grenada
Mar 10, 2015
0.02%5
96
Qatar
Jan 15, 2015
0.02%5
97
Saint Lucia
May 8, 2015
0.02%5
98
Puerto Rico
Feb 27, 2015
0.01%4
99
Tunisia
Jan 23, 2015
0.01%4
100
Malta
Mar 22, 2015
0.01%4
101
Croatia
Jan 20, 2015
0.01%4
102
New Caledonia
Jan 13, 2015
0.01%4
103
Barbados
Apr 29, 2014
0.01%4
104
Azerbaijan
Jan 14, 2015
0.01%4
105
Moldova, Republic of
Nov 29, 2014
0.01%3
106
Lebanon
Feb 11, 2014
0.01%3
107
Zimbabwe
July 23, 2014
0.01%3
108
Benin
Feb 19, 2015
0.01%3
109
Antigua and Barbuda
Aug 1, 2014
0.01%3
110
Isle of Man
Dec 20, 2014
0.01%3
111
Bhutan
June 8, 2015
0.01%3
112
Venezuela
May 14, 2014
0.01%3
113
Georgia
Mar 3, 2015
0.01%2
114
Namibia
Oct 22, 2014
0.01%2
115
Armenia
Jan 12, 2015
0.01%2
116
Virgin Islands, U.S.
June 20, 2014
0.01%2
117
Jordan
May 19, 2015
0.01%2
118
Mozambique
June 23, 2014
0.01%2
119
Uganda
Aug 4, 2014
0.01%2
120
Marshall Islands
Jan 28, 2015
0.01%2
121
Mauritius
Feb 20, 2015
0.01%2
122
Oman
May 12, 2014
0.01%2
123
Curacao
Apr 29, 2015
0.01%2
124
Sierra Leone
Apr 26, 2015
0.01%2
125
Samoa
Nov 1, 2013
0.01%2
126
Saint Kitts and Nevis
June 30, 2013
0.01%2
127
Macau
July 18, 2014
0.01%2
128
Albania
Aug 17, 2014
0.01%2
129
Dominica
Mar 12, 2013
0.01%2
130
Ethiopia
Jan 8, 2015
0.01%2
131
Estonia
Mar 20, 2015
0.01%2
132
Cape Verde
May 27, 2013
0.00%1
133
Cayman Islands
July 27, 2014
0.00%1
134
Cambodia
Sept 16, 2013
0.00%1
135
Myanmar
July 18, 2014
0.00%1
136
Lesotho
Jan 12, 2013
0.00%1
137
Mongolia
Mar 14, 2015
0.00%1
138
Zambia
Apr 22, 2013
0.00%1
139
Montenegro
Nov 19, 2014
0.00%1
140
Kazakhstan
Jan 9, 2015
0.00%1
141
Nicaragua
May 29, 2014
0.00%1
142
Paraguay
Mar 10, 2013
0.00%1
143
Haiti
Feb 1, 2015
0.00%1
144
Timor-Leste
Feb 21, 2013
0.00%1
145
Iceland
June 20, 2014
0.00%1
146
Aruba
Jan 9, 2014
0.00%1
147
Liberia
Jan 3, 2014
0.00%1
148
Northern Mariana Islands
Oct 9, 2014
0.00%1
149
Gibraltar
Jan 27, 2014
0.00%1
150
Swaziland
June 16, 2014
0.00%1
151
Jersey
Mar 30, 2013
0.00%1
152
Niue
Nov 30, 2014
0.00%1
153
Latvia

Followers