Altruism 2

Pure altruism consists of giving

 something of value (a reward or benefit) 

with no expectation of any compensation

 or benefits, either direct, or indirect

 (for instance from recognition of the giving).

I was glad to experience a little bit of this today. Around 2:00 AM, I was asked to perform service to one of my best friends in the whole world... It took a little less than an hour probably, but it was about 15 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Thank you God for providing me with an opportunity to love and serve as Thou wouldst have. 

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

Lately, with various events going on in the environment around me, this question has been on my mind. To answer it, I'd like to quote a proclamation to the world about the family that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought forth in 1995, 

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of 

faith,

        prayer, 

                   repentance, 

                                    forgiveness, 

                                                       respect, 

                                                                    love, 

                                                                           compassion, 

                                                                                              work, 

                                                                                                      and wholesome recreational activities."

 It is my belief that harmony in a home is most likely to be achieved when founded upon gospel principles. Go through each one and try and bring them into your family even more. Life will be better. Things are never, EVER hopeless. 

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced me in my life?

One of my favorite scriptures is in Gospel of John, the 13th chapter.

" 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

     I have come to learn that if we all, will apply this teaching into our lives. If we can truly love everyone in the same way that the Savior showed his love for us, this world will change. If I love you, and you love me, and we can see each other as children of God- making us brothers and sisters, then we have made it. I know that if we can apply this simple, yet profound teaching into all of our lives, then everything else will fall into place. My hope is that someday, we will all be able to be true disciples of our Master and Exemplar, Jesus Christ.

I love you.

Why am I a Mormon?

I have been a Mormon my whole life. I was born to parents who are of this faith. I was baptized and officially became a Mormon when I was eight years old. I have always been active in this church, though when I was in college I took it upon myself to learn a little more about other religions. I found it enlightening and enjoyable to make connections with other faiths and see the common ground we all have.
    I've had much opposition to my faith. The area in which I used to reside is near the Hill Cumorah Pageant, one of the worlds largest outdoor theatrical productions, which depicts scene's from the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Our church was started in that region of the country, Western New York. They even teach things about our faith in the public schools there because we are a part of the New York history. Well, I received much opposition which caused me to become like an investigator. Meaning I had to do my research as if I wasn't even a member. It was a very trying time in my life. I had much travail over whether or not this was really what we claimed it to be, or whether it was just another religion. I thought it might be something I was brought up in, though not the one Church of Christ established here on the Earth. It caused me to daily, pour over the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. I compared tediously the Bible and the teachings it had, with the Book of Mormon. I compared the differences that had been brought to my attention by those who feel very differently about religion than I do. It was the first time in my life that I was really sincerely searching. I was thirsting... yearning for the truth. I didn't care what the truth was, I just wanted to know the truth! I took sufficient time to study and pray. 
     Why am I a Mormon? I am a Mormon because I was open and willing enough to do what God wanted me to do. I not only hit the wall- I went several feet into it. Yet, in His Infinite Love and Mercy, He chose to save me, to guide me by the hand, and show me the path. I can now say, beyond any shadow of doubt, that Christ is our personal Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. He loves us. The Book of Mormon is the very word of God, brought forth in these last days to bring us help and hope. It is on the same level as the Bible and I love them both with all my heart. Why am I a Mormon? Because it is where Christ wants me to be. I know.

Best of Friend

"Verily, I say unto my servant [Jeff], or in other words, I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me."
---God

friend

   [frend] 

noun

1.

a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

2.

a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.

3.

a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe?

4.

a member of the same nation, party, etc.

5.

(initial capital letter) a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker.

I had a really cool experience today.

I was just getting out of a class when I thought of something to ask this guy that sits next to me in math. He had mentioned something vague earlier in the semester and it was a little awkward- so I was finally going to ask him.

I told him I had a question for him, and when he asked what it was... I stalled for a minute cause people were around and I was getting my backpack together still, then I had this feeling...

"Don't do it...."

I sort of brushed it off for a second. Then walked out of the classroom and there he was, and said, "yeah dude?" but again....

"Don't do it...."

this time, as usual, the feeling was even stronger...

so I came up with a random question to ask him that I fudged to sound like it fit my attitude about my asking him. He answered the question of course and I thought, why wasn't I supposed to ask that?

....

Right after I thought that, he said something that exactly answered my question, and not in the affirmative. What I was to ask him would have implied something that I had previously thought, which I now knew was definitely not true at all.

My friends, God is our friend too. He loves us and is going to help us in everything we need help with. Even simple little things like this. He knows us personally and is there for us. Cleave unto me and I shall cleave unto you. I love you God.

Trials.

Love is one of the hardest things to deal with in this life.