HAPPY DADDY'S DAY!!!

Father’s Day is usually celebrated one day every June, but there can be other father’s days too. Fathers never stop being fathers, even when the holiday is over. To show that you remember your fathers on the other 364 days of the year, some ways to make them happy should be lasting things. Few things please a father more than having a son or daughter who is unselfish, helpful, pleasant, hard working, hard playing, and kind and loving to everyone. When a father’s family is happy, it helps him to become a better kind of person.

My dad is the kind of person who likes to get things done his own way. He likes to see things done right, and I think he's the perfect person to do it. My dad has taught me this way of working, which has helped me on my mission. As I have gone throughout my mission, I have been able to work in many different people's lives. As I have used these work ethics taught to me by my father, the lives with which I am working in seem to change a lot faster. My dad has been a great example to me.

This is not all that my father has done for me. Let me name off just a few events: showing up at music recitals, bringing his work truck home, helping with pinewood derby cars for years, providing me the way to go on a mission (as well as being the big provider in general), playing board games with me late into the night, going on motorcycle rides to get an ice cream at Dairy Queen, Coldstone, or Baskin Robbins, showing forth example after example of how to treat other people, allowing me to work next to him with whatever he's doing (and knowing that he trusts me to do so), along with many, many, many other things that I could talk for days about. He has done more for me than I will ever know.

If you show that you remember your fathers’ enduring love for you by the way you live (which is my big Father's Day gift this year), every day can truly be a Fathers' Day.

Dad, I. S. U. M. H. <3 I love you SO much. I'll see you soon!!!

My Best Friend, Jesus

When Christ was resurrected, He came over to the Americas and visited, comforted, healed, and taught the people there. Put yourself in this movie. How will you react when you see your Savior, your Redeemer, your friend?



Jesus Christ is my best friend. I have come to know that He is full of joy and love that no other friend can give. Jesus has done more for the salvation of men, than any other man that has or will ever live in it. But despite all of that, I know that even if only one soul was going to be saved, Jesus, because of His never ending love for each of us, would have died just to save that one. Live in such a way as to make Him your friend, and when we all see Him again, He will say with the most love in His heart, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into my joy."

Cloud 9

Like many of the questions we have as people here on earth (like why are we here, where did we come from, where are we going, etc.) I ask you, how do we get to a "Cloud 9" state of happiness? This is every person's search in life. How do we get there? Well, that's what this blog is for. This blog teaches us how to be happy. Keeping our Whole Armor Of God on ourselves is a big part of how to be happy. Let me give you a few examples.

I Love My Mommy!!!

Perhaps the reason we respond so universally to our mothers’ love is because it typifies the love of our Savior.


Amen. I would also like to bear my testimony that if it wasn't for my wonderful mother, who in my opinion knows the Savior, I would not be on my mission today, I would not be who I am as a person, and I would not love others like she has taught me through her example that emanates from her every single day. I love you, Mom.

Listen With Love

There are challenges about family and friend that are hard to face because of problems involving listening. Our own pride can cause this, thinking, "I am right and there is no other solution than my own!"  Whether it's parents talking with kids, a husband talking to his wife, or just friend to friend, listening is a huge part of communication. Think of it in this way: You are on the phone calling someone and as soon as they say, "Hello! How are you?" you hang up the phone. If you're not willing to listen, nothing will go right. In solving these problems, we can then offer guidance that will bring about a close relationship. If we listen with love, we won’t need to wonder what to say. It will be given to us by the Spirit. I know this principle is true because I have recently experienced it with a friend that I am teaching. As I listened to his concerns, I wondered what to say, but immediately after I wondered, I started to say things that weren't from me. I was saying things that I knew very little about, but after I had said it, I knew what I said was right. I don't even remember what I said. All I know is that it wasn't me saying those things. The same can apply to you. I know that if you listen with love, you will know what to say, how to say it, and say it with love.

Family, Isn't It About - Time?

I love this video because it shows that no matter what situation we're in, whether it be serious, or even fun, we should always be there for our family. It really is all about time. There have been many people who have said that time moves too fast. Take the opportunity to tell a family member you love them. In the words of Shakespeare,"They do not love that do not show their love." It is my testimony that more family time will increase the happiness in your home. I know this because it's been proven in my own home as well as in broken homes that have been fixed. I know this is true.

The Football Field

Football is one of America's favorite sports, so for all you sports fans, this one is for you. I want to answer the question of why we sometimes don't receive answers to prayer. There are times in our lives when we feel as though we really need Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in our lives, more than usual. This happens to everyone at some point. When we ask for those things that we think we need, and then don't get an answer, we get discouraged. Hopefully, this will help answer and resolve that concern.

Imagine you are on a football field in the middle of a stadium. There is nobody in the stands and no distractions or loud noises. You are in one end-zone and Heavenly Father is in the other end-zone. When you shout to Him the concern or question you have, He answers in a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12). Since you are on the other side of the field, you can't hear Him, and from the distance, it looks like He's not doing anything. As you continue to shout at Him these questions, you still can't hear anything, which causes you to get upset. This is really bothering you. You deserve an answer about these things. The only answer to this dilemma, is to get closer to Him, so you can hear what He has to say.

In order to get closer to Heavenly Father, we have to start living as He would want us to live. Here are a few examples: if we aren't reading our scriptures, read; if we aren't saying our prayers as faithfully as we know we should, pray; if we are angry at something or someone, forgive; etc. We have to start living Christlike lives. Here are some Christlike attributes that we need to live so we can get closer to Heavenly Father, here on this football field of life: have faith in Jesus Christ and in having your prayers answered, have hope that this will all come out fine in the end, have charity and love for your fellow man and for God, be virtuous in all your thoughts and deeds, study out your answer and gain knowledge you need, be patient, be humble enough to receive any answer, even if it's not the answer you may want, be diligent in asking and in doing all these things, and last, but not least, be obedient to Heavenly Father's commandments (He has more than just ten of them). As you do these things, it will get you closer and closer to Heavenly Father, so that when He does speak in that still small voice, you can hear Him more clearly than you have ever heard Him before.

Unfortunately, there are always going to be other influences around us, who are going to try to confuse us. At the beginning of this parable, I mentioned that you were alone in this stadium. That was to demonstrate what we need to focus on. Now that we have our focus, let's fill in those empty seats. This represents every influence around us. There are people in the crowd who are going to cheer for you, telling you to move forward and to not give up, and there are people in the crowd who are going to be jeering at you, making you feel like there is no hope, telling you that you will never make it to the other side of the field. Never fall into that trap.

I want to make you this promise: as you start living a more Christlike life, you will start to be guided by the Holy Ghost and will be more sensitive to His promptings. As you do good, your want to do good will multiply, and it won't matter how many times people jeer at you, you will have a straight and sure course, straight into Heavenly Father and your answer.

Does God Exist?

Albert Einstein even knew from such a young age that God did and does exist. Not only did he point out that our Heavenly Father exists, but that he loves us as well. I, like Einstein, bear witness that God DOES exist. I know that (not just believe it, but know it) because I have received guidance and direction from him multiple times, and I have felt him as he has protected me in multiple ways since I've been out on my mission. I know he is there and that he loves each and every one of us.

The Stresses of Life

There are a lot of things that stress us out in life: war, money, work, time, etc. There are many things that can put us under these huge loads of burden. How do we escape these burdens? How do we free ourselves and stop the insanity. Sure, you can try to cover it up using drugs or alcohol, but that won't make the problem go away, it will only make it worse. There are several solutions that could help.

Mirrors

Did you ever go up to the funhouse to play

and look in the mirrors there?

They bend up your face and widen your waist

and alter the shape of your hair.

In one place you're as big as a hot air balloon

in another as thin as a stick.

First you're slim as a telephone pole

and everywhere else you are thick!

                                                

Some people are mirrors reflecting to us

an image we really are not.

If we listen to all that these people will say

we've been blinded to all that we've got.

Some might say that you're ornery, stupid or weird

or say that you're stuck up or fat,

but in others you'll view a reflection of you

that doesn't have any of that.

You've also got teachers and parents and friends

whose reflections are true and correct.

When peers say you're homely, you're haughty, you're dumb,

God says, "You're my child, you're elect."

So take out some paper and pick up a pen

and write down what others may say.

Then turn the page over and fill it with things

The Lord and the Prophets convey.
In one place you'll have all that others have said,
Some true, some are hard to conceive.
Then turn to God's side and ask of yourself,
"Which side am I going to believe?"

-John Bytheway



There have been many people I have come in contact with that don't feel they have any self worth. They have been told all their life that they are nothing, or stupid, or wrong in every thing they do. They have been told they are worthless, that they were an accident, or that their family had wished they were dead. I have even met someone that was told by their brother that if they wanted to commit suicide, he would help out with it.

If you are one of these people, or have been told anything you know isn't true, I am here to tell you that you are looking in the wrong mirrors. True mirrors are those people who reflect who you really are. You are a child of a loving Heavenly Father. He loves you with an infinite love. He wants the best for you. This knowledge changes everything. If only we understood who we are, and what is in store for us, our hearts would overflow with such gratitude and happiness, that would enlighten even the darkest souls with the light and love of God. I plead with you to look into the True Mirror and see your true reflection. It is my testimony that when you look at your reflection, you will be able to see beyond imperfections and self doubts, and recognize who you truly are, glorious sons and daughters of Heavenly Father.

Look To The Light

Remember Why Christmas Is Here

Lessons I Learned As A Boy

Your "Some Day" Will Come

Something that has been on my mind recently is that people can be so miserable all around us and they don't quite know how to solve it. We all go through trials throughout our lives that will weigh us down, tear us up, and damage our spirituality. Tough as it may be to see, these trials can always be for our good. Looking at these trials in a beneficial way is how you can overcome all trials, both current and future.

God gives no commandment unto us, His children, that he knows we can't accomplish. As we do these commandments, He promises us that He "doth immediately bless you" for keeping His commandments (Mosiah 2:24). Though you may not see it right away, God's promises are absolute and true. Do you want to be happy? Do you want to be blessed? Obey the commandments.

Service is a special opportunity to uplift one another, including yourself. Scientists have researched the impact of service on the human brain. They found that those who do the service find themselves to be happier than those who have received the service. I know (because I have experienced it) that the evidence that those scientists have found is true. I know that by doing service, you will focus less on yourself, be happier overall, and fulfill the promise that "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17).

Another thing you can do is pray. Prayer is the way you can communicate with our Heavenly Father. He is going to listen to you no matter your situation or even where you are. He will always be there to listen. As you pray, you can pray for the peace to get through any trial. Christ said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Praying specifically for peace, and having the faith to receive it, will let you feel of that peace.

Though there may be many more things that can be done to come out of our trials with an uplifted spirit, we can always know that we are the children of a loving Heavenly Father. An Apostle of the Lord, Deiter F. Uchtdorf, said, "He loves us with an infinite love. He wants the best for you." As soon as you really learn and realize this, you can start to feel of His love in your everyday life. I bear witness of this and I know it to be true. I know because I have lived it. I invite all of you to live in His love, and I know he will bless you tremendously.