Long time.

     So, I know it's been a long time since my last entry. It's sometimes hard to come up with something relevant to write about. I was thinking though, and what's more relevant than friends? Friends can either make you or break you. Which is why it's important to make good choices in who you associate with. When choosing friends you should choose ones that share your standards and uplift you. Not ones that try to drag you down. I'm not saying that you should abandon any less active or non-member friends, just keep your standards and goals in the back of your mind. To find a true, loving friend is the best gift that you could possibly receive. True friends would never ask you to do something that they know would be uncomfortable for you. They would respect your standards and help you to uphold them. I have a few friends that are non-members and they are absolutely wonderful! They respect my religion and try to act in a way that is comfortable for us both, and I can't begin to say how appreciative I am for that.
     I also have a lot of church friends that I love to be around. I feel happy and comfortable knowing that we share the same standards and want the same things.
     Friends are also great teachers. My friends teach me so much. About the world, about the gospel, about life. You name it, they teach it. I love my friends and am so thankful to have all of them in my life. I can't imagine a life without friendship. As humans, biologically, we need human contact and friendly compassionate touch. It's a part of life, without it we suffer many physical and psychological symptoms. Friends are another one of our Heavenly Father's gifts to us. He gave us the need for friendship and offered us the opportunity to connect and bond with other people. It's a wonderful blessing to be given. If you feel that you are alone, and that you don't have any friends, that no one cares about you, it's a lie. People care about you. You have friends, but they just may not be who you think. If anything, you always know that there is your Father in Heaven and your Savior, Jesus Christ, who love you so much.
I hope this doesn't sound incredibly hokey. lol
Just remember who your friends are and how much they care about you. <3

Technology

The past few weeks I have been reading my favorite series of books. They're called the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series. There are 11 total so far.  The series revolves around a family of Latter-day Saints and the adventures they share and how it brings them closer to the Lord and helps them grow in the Gospel.
I was reading through them and in the 7th book in the series, I read something that I just thought was really interesting and I wanted to share it.
The book is called The Golden Crown and it's written by Chris Heimerdinger.
The prologue reads:
 

    "The two worlds weren't so very different, you know. That is, the world of our Savior in the first century, and the world of Joseph Smith in the nineteenth. . .
      It's actually astonishing how similar the two time periods were. Though separated by eighteen hundred years, the technology was almost identical. The daily lives and routines of the people were, for all practical purposes, mirror images of each other. Both depended on horse, carriage, and foot for transportation. Houses were heated by wood, coal, and dung. Water was fetched from wells, unless, like for certain wealthy Romans, it was piped into your home from the local aqueduct. Both had stock markets, and international postal service, and their populations whiled away the hours reading the world's great books--many of which had exactly the same titles.
     By the 1800s, the treatment of disease was still much the same as it had been in the days of Galen, the old Roman physician. many doctors still used his textbooks. Even where technological advances were obvious, like the printing press or gunpowder, Roman superiority in civil engineering more than balanced it out. The truth is, when Joseph Smith was born, the world had been struggling to reacquaint itself with Roman technology for three hundred years. By 1830, they were just about there.
     And then suddenly, overnight, technology exploded: Railroads and steam engines. Telegraphs and telephones. Automobiles and airplanes. Computers and cosmonauts. All in a little over a hundred and fifty years.
     The coincidence seems undeniable. As the Lord poured out spiritual knowledge upon the Latter-day Saints, He poured out every other kind of knowledge upon all the nations of the earth. The tow worked hand in hand, inseparable. One led to the other. After all, this is the dispensation of the fulness of times. Knowledge is knowledge. Truth is truth. . ."

So, I think that's a pretty awesome passage. My mom always told me the same thing, but I really like the way that the author writes this. It makes it all seem so sure, and so true. If you want to read the books, the series name is at the top, and they're really a good series.

Modesty

It's SUMMER!!!!!
Which means bikinis, tank tops, short shorts. . .etc. . .
Not for Latter-Day Saints.
We believe that our bodies are temples, precious gifts from our Heavenly Father. Therefore we believe in covering them modestly. Our dress code is fairly simple, nothing that shows shoulders, back, or the legs above the knee, and nothing too low cut in the front. And definitely no bikinis. Instead a one piece suit or a tankini that covers the stomach is perfectly acceptable. Many people wonder why we have such strict modesty codes, and many members have a difficult time keeping the modesty codes. Wearing modest clothing shows that we truly care for and love our bodies. We know that we don't have to show off everything on our body to get attention. We also don't want anyone to be thinking bad or immoral thoughts triggered by what we're wearing. We should all strive to keep our thoughts clean and pure and that's sometimes difficult for guys to do when they see a girl in a bikini.
Modesty isn't just for girls either. There are modesty rules for guys, though they aren't much of an issue since men's clothes tend to be modest anyway. The only things that guys really should not wear are wife beaters. Men's shorts are usually to the knee so that solves that problem as well.
In the summer it's especially hard because it's hot and tank tops feel so good, but in the end it's worth it. For me, it's worth it because I feel comfortable, I don't have to constantly be adjusting my top to fit of pulling my shorts down so they're not hiking up. I also know that I'm following the counsel of our church leaders and doing what I know I should be doing. Respecting my body, by clothing it modestly.
But modest can be beautiful, there are plenty of fashionable things that can look just as cute (if not more) as immodest things.

D&C 88:124

"Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." D&C 88:124
      Wow, that scripture pretty much describes a few of my worst traits; cease to be idle, cease to find fault with another, do not sleep longer than needful, be in bed early, and arise early. Those are a few of the things that I really need to work on.
Let's start by first examining the word, 'idle'.
–adjective

1.

not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing: idleworkers.

2.

not spent or filled with activity: idle hours.

3.

not in use or operation; not kept busy: idle machinery.

Idle describes doing nothing, wasting time. Time is a precious thing on this earth, and though it seems long, it is so very short. Every minute should be used for spiritual and physical growth, not wasted in excess sleep or laziness.

Cease to be unclean. Simply refers to following all the commandments and staying as free as possible from sin.

Finding fault one with another. Now what does that mean? There are several different things that this could mean. First would be finding physical traits that are unattractive on a person and faulting them for things that are not under their control. Second would be blaming others for things that they may not have done, that you've just assumed or that you were told through gossip. Third would be finding fault with someone's  personality. Fourth, someone who might not be on the same level as you, either in spirituality, personality, physical beauty, or physical possessions, and thinking yourself higher than they.

Cease to sleep longer than is needful. That's a hard one, everyone loves to sleep, and it feels so good! Sleeping is an important part of life, keeping your body healthy and rested is a commandment, but too much sleep isn't good for you. All that is required per night is 6-8 hours, unless there is injury or illness, that's really all you need.


Be in bed early, that you may not be weary and arise early that your body and mind may be invigorated. That one is simple, if you are in bed early, you will arise early. It's just actually getting in bed early that's the hard part.

I think that this is a really important scripture to keep in mind. It offers many guidelines to help us stay healthy and be happy. Whenever your body is healthy, you feel better. When your body is sick, weak or in pain, you will automatically feel miserable. So, I challenge everyone to try and work on whichever of these traits that you struggle with. I'll be trying        right along with you. :)

Proverbs 31:10 Virtue

Ok, I was having some trouble coming up with something to write on, and I used school and being busy as an excuse. . .but school is over now, so, no more excuses. lol

I decided to write on my favorite scripture and delve a little more deeply into the short verse. 

The scripture can be found in Proverbs 31:10

"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." 

Ok, that seems pretty straightforward, but what is the definition for "virtuous"?

-adjective

1.

conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally 

excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life.

2.

chaste: a virtuous young person.

I don't think that this applies to women only, I believe that it applies to men as well. Yes, a virtuous woman is wonderful, but doesn't she also deserve a virtuous man? I believe she does. However, a good person, whether man or woman would forgive another no matter what their previous mistakes were. If they are truly repentant then who is a virtuous person to not forgive them? It makes me think of the hymn verse, "Who am I to judge another, when I walk imperfectly." Our true test in this life is not only to try our best to live righteously and be virtuous, but to also forgive those who have made mistakes. 

Anyway back to virtue, virtue means to be chaste, to be pure. In todays world to remain pure and virtuous is a wonderful and blessed gift, not only to the virtuous person but also to their future spouse and children. Virtue is one of the most precious gifts that is given to us, and it is not something that we want to give up willingly. 

Go forth in righteousness and good works. 

Easter

Just wanted to put up a quick post about Easter. . . it's kind of this Sunday, so I'm a little late, and it's Good Friday today. Okay, so, surprisingly enough, Easter has nothing to do with a bunny. The idea of a rabbit came from the whole Pagan holiday idea that Easter is in the spring, and that is the time of birth for most animals, and a rabbit is a traditional sign of fertility. Other than that, there is really is nothing to do with rabbits, candy, gifts and Easter. The true gift is the gift that Jesus' Atonement.

Easter is a time to celebrate Jesus Christ's crucifixion, atonement and resurrection. It is to celebrate His sacrifice for us, He died for us, that we might live. That we can have a choice and a chance to repent for out sins, and be with Him, and Heavenly Father again.

Eternal families

All right, so I've done a lot of preaching, and I've mentioned a lot of different subjects. However, I have neglected to mention one of the most awesome (Or I think the most awesome) difference about our church. Which is eternal families. See, as LDS, we have temples (See picture below) and in these temples there are many different covenants and ordinances that are performed that I don't even know about because I haven't had the amazing opportunity to go through yet, but someday I will.

Anyway, one of the things that is performed in the temple is a marriage sealing, a worthy man and woman can be married and or sealed in the temple for all eternity. All of the children they have will automatically be sealed to them, just for being born under their parent's sealing. Hopefully you're still with me and I'm not confusing you. lol But anyway, I am sealed to my parents forever and we'll always be together.
Anyway, the whole point of this post, is just for me to bear my testimony that I love the temple, I love visiting there, I love seeing it and I am so grateful that we have these holy places in an imperfect world. I am eternally grateful for the blessing of being sealed to my parents forever, and that we will be together forever, and one day I hope to enter the temple with my fiancee and be married/sealed to him for time and all eternity and we will not be separated by death.

Summer

Well, yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day! It was warm and sunny, and just beautiful.

As I look around at the first flowers of spring that are blooming, I think of all of the amazing things that our Heavenly Father has created for us. He created all of these things to beautify His world, for us to enjoy. Spring and summer are the best seasons to me, I love the warmth and the sun. It's hard to be unhappy when the sun shines on your face. Unless you're really hot. lol When I look at all of the amazing things around me, I can't help but know, that this was all created by a higher being. There's no way that our world came along by chance, no way that our perfect, amazing bodies, "evolved" from a lower form. Some believe that yes, there is a God, and he created us and the world, but then he just put us her and abandoned us. No. He loves us, and he watches over us. Yes, He lets bad things happen to good people. We don't know why, but it is for some higher purpose and some higher reason. He answers our prayers, He sent his beloved Son to die and suffer, that we might have a chance to live and return to live with Him someday. This is called the Atonement, and it's available to everyone who is willing to repent and humble themselves with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Easter is a time to remember the Resurrection, and the Atonement. To thing of our dear older brother, Jesus. He loves us and he wants us to return to Him. I hope that everyone takes a few moments out of their day this Easter to think of Him, and the amazing story of him, and his wonderful, perfect love, and his beautiful Plan of Salvation.

General Conference

All right, so today and tomorrow is General Conference. For those who do not know what that is, it is a televised broadcast that is watched all over the world.

It is an opportunity for the President of our church, or Prophet, to address us, and teach us.
When I was younger I never really cared for General Conference, I was like, great, it's like two hours of Sacrament meeting. However, as I've grown and matured, I've realized what a blessing Sacrament meeting is and General Conference.
We have the opportunity for the Prophet of the Lord to speak to us and tell us the things that the Lord wants us to know. It is truly a testament of how much our Heavenly Father loves us and cares for us.
I love listening to the stories and analogies that are told in the conference talks, and the wonderful spirit that I feel when I listen to these amazing men speak.
The conference sessions are on at 12 pm. EST on Sunday and then again at 4 pm. EST. I invite everyone to watch either on the BYU channel in your own home or any ward building nearby.

Eve and the rib

Book recommendation! lol
Last Summer, my parents and Grandma went to Palmyra, New York for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Palmyra, NY is where the church was restored by Joseph Smith, but many hundreds of years earlier, Moroni had buried the golden plates on a certain hill in NY called Hill Cumorah. If you've ever been to the Hill Cumorah pageant, then you know there is a historic town where there are many church buildings, one of which is a great awesome bookstore that sells Mormon products. They sell all kinds of books, cds, dvds, shirts, keychains, scripture cases, jewelry, paintings, statures and figurines, toys and trinkets. Pretty much anything that is church related. lol Anyway, to get off this tangent,
<<<I bought this book there, Women of the Book of Mormon.
It's an interesting book, and it actually explains a lot of gospel doctrine that I didn't know. One of which mentions a certain scripture that always seemed interesting to me.
"And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of the ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man."
Okay, so that sounds pretty confusing. lol In Women of the Book of Mormon, it says,

"President Spencer W. Kimball clarified that the 'rib' was meant figuratively and not a literal statement, and that Eve, like Adam, was a physical child of God.
Upon further analysis, we learn that 'rib' derives from the biblical word tsela which, more accurately, meant, 'side.' The word tsela was used by Jeremiah when he said 'keepers of my tsela,' meaning enduring and everlasting companions (Jeremiah 20:10, Talmud version). This exactly describes Adam and Eve.
God was the supreme builder, and after He had completed everything else, Eve was created. She was not made out of Adam's rib, but she was the rib, in a figurative sense. President Gordon B. Hinckley clarified that 'Eve was the crowning work of creation after he had completed all else.' The words 'bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh' (Genesis 2:23) Indicate that Adam and Eve were bound by the ancient covenant of celestial marriage. And setting the example for us all, they were the first man and woman "sealed together for eternity."

So, according to this book, Eve is a help meet or a part of Adam, not in a figurative sense, but in a spiritual sense. She was his equal and he loved her. They were eternal partners. I'll probably have a post on here for eternal marriage next. But for this post the point is that men and women are meant to work together and love each other, neither is better or higher than the other. Also, people blame Eve for the fall for eating the forbidden fruit, but that's because she knew what she needed to do for her eternal progression. If she wouldn't have eaten the fruit she and Adam would have remained in an innocent state knowing neither sorrow nor joy. There was no way for them to continue their progression until they were made mortal. So, because of Eve's choice, she and Adam were able to start a family, which is why we are all here today.

Journaling

I think one of the things that a lot of people don't understand the value of is journaling.
I love journaling, it's an amazing way to remember all of the wonderful memories and blessings that our Heavenly Father has given us. It also helps us to remember all of the hard things that He helped us through. When we feel that we don't have the strength to withstand it on our own.
Not only is it a wonderful resource for us, today, but for our children and grandchildren down the road. They can see what our lives were like, how we lived, how we think, and see that no matter the generation we all face similar problems and there are also new problems that each generation faces.
Journaling is also a great outlet for when you're upset or depressed. For some reason it feels good to unload all of your troubles and worries, even if it's on paper and not to a person.
I actually like to add pictures, cards or movie tickets or even certain candy wrappers from candy that someone special gave to me to my journals if there was something special I want to keep.
I also add the sticker name tags that I get at certain activities that I go to. I started journaling when I was probably about 12, I actually accumulated all of my old journals that were almost illegible and falling apart and rewrote them into the purple journal in the above picture ^^^ Also when I was younger I had some journals that were just not designed to last through the years, which involved a password journal, which if any of you have seen those the paper is only a flimsy little notepad, and a Harry Potter journal that screamed when it was open. Now that one was just plain annoying. lol
I also have all of the important milestones in my life written in them. Like my first crush, my first time driving, when I got my license, when I had my first date and first breakup and all that fun stuff. Also vacations and special time with my family and friends.
Journaling is also something that a lot of Prophets have counseled us to do.

"Get a notebook my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity," ~President Spencer W. Kimball There are some stories that we have, histories of early pioneers that we only have because they recorded it in journals. If you think about it, the whole Book of Mormon and the Bible are also journals and personal histories written by people long ago as a record for the generations to come.
So write your history, your legacy, leave something behind for your children, your grandchildren, tell them what you love, what you believe, give them a priceless gift, your testimony. Tell them how much you love and value what you have. You're writing history, I challenge everyone who reads this, that if you have not already, go buy yourself a journal or a notebook, whatever you prefer and write, write about you life, your hopes, your dreams, your fun times, your sad times. The things that make you special, the things that make you, you.

How does school compare with life and eternal perspective?

Okay, so I haven't had time in the past day or so to write anything. School is keeping me pretty busy. lol Anyway I'm going to attempt to come up with a cute analogy to support a single idea, so here it goes. lol
School is like life and the pre-existence. (life before we were born to this earth.)

Life: When we're young our parents gave us a hug and a kiss and sent off to school, to the cold, cruel world.

Eternal perspective: Our Heavenly Father sent us to this cold, cruel world.

Life: In school, if we do our reading and homework, we learn more.

Eternal perspective: If we read our scriptures, and study, we likewise, learn more.

Life: Sometimes in school we just learn things and other time's we put what we learned to a test, and hopefully we pass and get a good grade and choose the correct answers.

Eternal perspective: On earth we learn some things and then we're tested and hopefully we will pass by not sinning and choosing the wrong answer.

Life: Sometimes we learn things that we didn't want to learn that make us uncomfortable.

Eternal perspective: We see and hear things that make us uncomfortable and that don't lift us up.

Life: Sometimes we wonder why we're learning these things in school, how are they going to help us later?

Eternal perspective: We go through scriptures and experiences and wonder how it pertains to us, now, or later.

Life: Sometimes you get a bad teacher and you are not able to really learn from them. Sometimes you get a really amazing teacher that will teach you everything!

Eternal perspective: Sometimes you run into people that you don't like, but there is still something to learn from them. Sometimes you run into people that teach you so much and bless your life.

Ok, so that's about as much as I came up with. I apologize if it really doesn't make any sense or is confusing in any way. :/ I just thought that it all kind of fit well together and well, it made sense in my mind.  lol

This Life on Earth

It's a beautiful sunny Sabbath day! After a long winter, it makes me so thankful to my Heavenly Father to see the sun shining again! I look out the windows and see the birds and think spring is finally almost here, and with it, warmth.

You can kind of think of the gospel that way. We're almost there, our lives on earth are so short and such a short piece of time. Short fleeting bouts of pleasure are not worth losing your eternal kingdom.
This life is a test to see if we can turn our thoughts and hearts to God, by following His commandments. By setting the commandments he doesn't want us to be unhappy, He loves us and he wants us to be happy and enjoy this life. He wants us to have fun, but righteous fun, fun that will uplift us and make us better people, not drag us down. Making and choosing friends is an important part of this life. We should strive to be friends with and love everyone. However, we need to be careful to choose friends that will lift us up and that we can lift up in turn to make a balance. We need to fellowship all, but we have to be careful to not let them drag us down as we try to lift them up. I've seen that happen far too many times. As long as we have a strong testimony, set values and truly love our Father in Heaven we don't have to worry too much about being dragged down, but we must also keep in mind that we are susceptible to Satan's temptation, and he wants us to be miserable like him. The more spiritual you try to be, the harder he is going to fight to bring you down. Also, he will do one hundred good deeds, if it will bring to pass something evil. We have the strength to make it through this life, we do, and even though sometimes if feels hard, and you feel like you can't do it or you're going to break, just keep praying and doing the right and the Lord will bless you.
Every person that has a body on this earth, chose Jesus' plan over Satan's. Those who chose Satan's plan will face endless torment and will never have a body. Therefore we should respect our bodies, by dressing modestly, not defacing it with tattoos and body piercings, (Though the Prophet says that one set of earrings is appropriate for women) and by not consuming alcohol, or smoking or drugs.
Our bodies are sacred temples that we should respect and be thankful for. Our bodies are a gift and they should be treated properly and with respect.
I promise you that if you do what the Lord asks of you, and truly love him and want to do what is right, He will bless you.

King lamoni part 2 Alma 19

We left off last with King Lamoni, falling to the ground as if dead.

After 2 days and two nights, King Lamoni's Queen summoned Ammon. 

Ammon came unto her,

     "And she said unto him: The servants of my husband have made it known unto me that thou art a prophet of a hold God, and that thou hast power to do man mighty works in his name; 

Therefore, if this is the case, I would that ye should go in and see my husband, for he has been laid upon his bed for the space of two days and two nights; and some say that he is not dead, but others say that he is dead and that he stinketh and that he ought to be placed in the sepulchre; but as for myself, to me he doth not stink."

Ammon had actually wanted to go in and see the king because he knew that he was carried away by the spirit and that he was learning and that the veil of darkness was being lifted from his mind.

Ammon went in to see the king and told the queen that he was not dead and that he would arise the next morning, and not to bury him.

     "And Ammon said unto her: Believest thou this? And she said unto him: I have had no witness save thy word, and the word of our servants; nevertheless I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said." 

     "And Ammon said unto her: Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee woman, here has not been such great faith among all the Nephites." 

The queen watched over her husband all night, and he arose as Ammon had promised. King Lamoni, blessed the Lord and told them of the prophecy that he had received. Then he and the queen were overpowered by the spirt and sunk down. Ammon saw the spirit of the Lord was present and poured his soul out in thankful prayer, and he too sunk down through the spirit.

Then all those in the house saw what had happened and they all cried out in prayer, and they too sunk to the earth, except for one Lamanitish woman, who had converted the Christ many years ago, because her father had received a vision. Her name was Abish. 

Abish ran outside and made it known unto all the people of what had happened. All the people came in unto the house and they assumed that all the host of the house were dead and they saw that Ammon was a Nephite. They assumed that a great evil had come upon the house, which was why all the people of the house appeared to be dead. 

      "Now, one of them, whose brother had been slain with the sword of Ammon, being exceedingly angry with Ammon, drew his sword and went forth that he might let it fall upon Ammon, to slay him; and he lifted the sword to smite him, behold, he fell dead."

When the people saw that the man had fallen dead, they were frightened and dared not to touch Ammon. 

Abish went forth and took her mistress' hand and as soon as Abish touched the queen's hand, she arose and stood, and said,

     ". . .O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people!" 

Then Lamoni arose and began to rebuke the people and teach them what Ammon taught him. Many heard his words and were converted,  but there were many that were not converted. 

Many were baptized and did believe on his words and the established a church.

This is one of my favorite book of Mormon stories, I love the amazing spirit the the Lord poured out upon the people.

So, we might not fall to the ground as if dead to receive testimony of the Lord.

It's an amazing story, and Ammon was protected because the Lord had promised his father, King Mosiah  that he would protect his sons. 

I just thought that this whole story would be a good one to tell. There are so many good stories, so I'll probably be using a lot of stories in later blogs. <3

King Lamoni part 1 Alma 18

Okay, so last post was Alma 17, and I talked about Ammon going on a mission and he began working for King Lamoni.
So, it picks up in chapter 18 that King Lamoni is shown the arms that Ammon had hewn from the enemy Lamanites that had tried to scatter the king's flocks.
So, when the king saw these things he commanded his servants to repeat all that had happened and he was astonished and assumed that Ammon was the Great Spirit. So, he inquires as to where Ammon is, and he is told that Ammon is feeding the king's horses horses. Lamoni wants to speak with Ammon but he is too afraid to summon him.
Eventually he does summon him and Ammon asks what the king desired of him. The king was bewildered and did not speak for an hour, Ammon inquires again, what the king desires of him.

     ". . .But the king answered him not. And when it came to pass that Ammmon, being filled with the Spirit of God, therefore he perceived the thoughts of the king. And he said unto him: Is it because thou hast heard that I defended thy servants and they flocks,  and slew seven of their brethren with the sling and with the sword, and smote off the arms of the others, in order to defend thy flocks and thy servants; Behold is it this that causeth thy marvelings?"

Ammon, through the Spirit of the Lord, discerned the thoughts of Lamoni.
After Ammon had said these things, Lamoni told Ammon that he would give Ammon anything that he desired.
Ammon said that all he wanted was to teach Lamoni the Gospel. Lamoni consented that he wanted to learn.
Ammon teaches Lamoni the basics, and Lamoni listens and believes.

"And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people. And now, when he said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead."

His servants took his body to his wife, the Queen, and laid him on a bed. He laid there, as if he were dead, for two days and two nights, and his wife and children mourned for him.

That's where chapter 18 ends. Chapter 19 is where the story really begins.

So, we may say "Oh, I'll never meet an Ammon that will give me this amazing spiritual moment and teach me like Lamoni."
So, wrong. We have our strong, young missionaries that preach the gospel. They are called by the Spirit and they are the true super heros of our day. They are truly men called of God, and if you invite the spirit in with you, you will have the same amazing testimony delivered to you that Ammon did, but like everything else in the world, you have to request it and invite it in. Feeling the Spirit is amazing and I always wondered why I didn't feel the spirit during church and all these spiritual activities, everyone's like Oh, I felt the spirit so strongly, and I never noticed a difference. I think the thing is that I invite the spirit with me always and I stay out of situations that would make him leave me. I strive to always feel him near, and if you invite him in and keep him in your mind and in your heart you will truly feel his love and your life will be blessed.
There will always be trials. Satan is constantly trying to put his hooks into anyone that tries to follow the straight and narrow path. He doesn't try to go after people without a testimony, of course he influences them, but anyone who is truly trying to be good he's going to hammer away at, day after day. He wants us to give up, he wants us to fail and to not believe. He puts all sorts of stumbling blocks and barriers in our way to slow us down or stop us all together, but we can't let him win. He may win a battle or two, but we cannot let him win the war. We have to be prepared to step up and boldly declare our testimonies, and be like Ammon.

First Post!!!!! :D!!!

Okay, so, I was reading Alma chapter 17 in the Book of Mormon today. It's one of my favorite chapters, it tells the story of Ammon. (one of my favorite Book of Mormon heros)

Ammon goes to preach the word to the Lamanites, he is bound upon arrival and taken to the king of the Lamanites, Lamoni. Lamoni inquires whether Ammon plans to stay in the city with his people. Ammon replies that that was what he wanted to do. Lamoni wishes Ammon to marry one of his daughters, Ammon kindly refuses and requests to be a servant instead.

The King consents, and Ammon is sent to watch his flocks with several other servants of the king, and they drove them to a place to be watered. 

Other Lamanites come scatter the king's flocks. The other servants weep for they believe that the king will slay them for losing the king's flock. Ammon says, 

"My brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back  unto the place of water; and thus we will preserve the flocks unto the king and he will not slay us."

So, they gathered the flocks together and take them back to the place of water, when the Lamanites again try to scatter the flocks. Ammon doesn't just stand by and watch this time. The Lamanites are of a large number. He stands against them, but the spirit of The Lord is with him and he slays six of them with a sling and stones. Now the other's are angry for the death of their brethren so they rush upon Ammon to beat him with clubs, but Ammon smites off the arms of any who raise an arm against him. The Lamanites flee from before him. Ammon and the servants of Lamoni water the flock. 

Later they bring the arms of the Lamanites to the king as a testimony of what Ammon had done.

Now, how can we relate this story to our lives? Well, hopefully we don't go around hacking of other people's limbs, so there must be a spiritual aspect to it. 

First and foremost would be at the beginning of the chapter, Faith. Ammon first had faith that he would be able to be a missionary to the Lamanites without being killed. Second, he had faith that the Lord would give him the strength that he needed to defeat the Lamanites, and save the king's flocks. 

Now we may not have to fight agains Lamanites trying to scatter our flocks, but let us liken our flocks to our testimony. Like sheep, testimonies are fragile and easily lost if disturbed, but otherwise stay nearby us. Satan and his hosts are the Lamanites, they try to scatter our testimony. We must stay strong and slay the spirit of the adversary who opposes us. If we follow the Prophet's council and stay in places where our spirits will be uplifted, our testimonies strengthened and our minds pure, we find peace and joy. 

So put on your spiritual armor and be ready to face what you come in contact with and survive the spiritual Lamanites that would otherwise scatter your testimony.