Come

He is waiting with open arms. Come. 

This week I wanted to share something that I have been thinking about lately. Recently I have been pondering how I can become more like our Savior. "How can I do this?" I asked myself repeatedly throughout the week. Today as I was thinking about this during my church meetings, I thought about the word "come". Coming means you have to do something, coming is an action word. As I thought about this I came to the conclusion that as we come unto something, we are choosing, weather we know it or not, to leave something else behind. When you come to something, you must leave behind something else. Think about it for a moment, it's true in every situation. For us to come unto Christ, we must leave the WORLD behind. We need to choose his WORD over the WORLD. And to do so, we must leave the WORLD behind. As I pondered this, my thoughts were turned to a video clip that was shared with me.* This video clip talks about your choice to leave. Leaving is almost always your choice. You can leave bad things to come unto great things, but you can also leave great things to come unto bad things. As you watch this video think about what you are willing to leave so that you can come unto something else. Is it better than what you are leaving? I beg you to leave the negative behind you, to get up, dust off your knees from the fall you may have encountered, and come unto Christ. I promise you will never be disappointed with him, you will never be sad, lost or alone. He loves you and is awaiting your decision to run unto him. I want to come unto Christ, will you join me? 

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen

Love, 

Samantha 

Here is the link to the video. I think this video helps us to think of leaving not so great things to come unto the best things, like our Savior, and how these choices can lead us to where we need to be so that we can be like our Savior.  https://www.lds.org/youth/video/leave-the-party?lang=eng 

Our True Identity

At this time of year some people feel like they are not wanted, they are unloved, and they are the last choice. This is something I struggle with all the time. I have a hard time remembering that I am important and someone does care. So I just wanted to take a quick minute to share with you my testimony. I just wanted to bear truth to you that you do matter. Even through all the craziness of this time of year, when you may feel as if no one cares, as if the world is just rushing right past you without taking time to notice you, you do matter. Heavenly Father knows and loves you. He does not want you to feel alone, and he will never leave you alone. He cares about you. HE loves you more than anything. On those dark and lonely nights: remember there is always a bright and glorious day ahead. You are loved, and you are important. Please remember who you are. Our True Identity is a short video that the church shares with all. It reminds us who we really are. I wanted to share this brief video with you because it pretty much shares it all. I know that what it teaches is true. That each of us is a son/daughter of our Heavenly Father. I know he knows and loves each of us. Never give up. Remember how important you are to him, he is on your side and he is rooting for you on the side lines. You can do hard things. I know this is true. In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love, Samantha
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/our-true-identity?lang=eng

The Joy of Music

"What Child is This?"

At this time of year music is one of the biggest things people use to spread Christmas cheer. People go caroling, they attend concerts, and they listen to music ringing throughout their house. Music is pretty much everywhere we go. Have you ever considered the music you listen too? Is it an influence for good? Does it make you feel happy? Do you know what the song is talking about? Do you know the real meaning behind the lyrics or the tune of the song you are listening too? Because it's Christmas, Christmas music is everywhere we go. The majority of the songs we hear are familiar and we can sing along. Some of the tunes you have probably grown up with. But have you taken a moment to think about the message of the song you are singing? So many Christmas songs have a deeper meaning than most are aware. When you truly know the meaning of the song, it may change your perspective on Christmas and the things that are happening around you. One such song for me is: "What Child is This?" * As a child this song was always pretty, but very confusing to me. I always wondered why the song was asking: "What Child is This?" I thought that the song should be saying: "This Child is Christ the King!" Didn't everyone know who he was? He was born the son of God. So why then was the song asking who the child was? This year I have the wonderful opportunity to sing this song in my choir concert. I asked my director to please explain to me the meaning of this piece so that I could sing it better. The explanation I received was absolutely beautiful. This is what I was told: this piece is about Mary talking to Jesus right after he is born. She feels all those feelings that new mothers feel, the amazing love, the inadequate feeling of not knowing what to do, etc. But Mary also felt something that no other mother ever has felt. Mary felt knowledge that the baby in her arms, her son, was the son of God, and he was there to save her. She felt so responsible for everything that happened to him and she wanted to make sure she did her very best to raise him the way the Lord needed him raised so that he could save the world. "Why lies he in such mean estate" is one of my favorite lines in this song. This line tells how the shepherds and Mary and Joseph felt when they saw Christ lying in the manger. "How," they wondered, "is this little baby freezing in a manger, born in this stable, going to save the world?" The spirit that they must have felt knowing that he was the Savior of the world and seeing him lie there in the manger was probably the most amazing thing ever. Now as I sing this song, I can't help but have tears brought to my eyes. Can you imagine being Mary? Can you imagine being there as a witness and knowing who that baby was? Knowing the meaning and interpretation of this song really changes how I feel about Christmas, and the way the music at this time of year effects my life. Christmas has so much more meaning than the gifts, the trees, the lights, the candy, etc. Christmas is the most amazing time of year, where everything is centered around our Savior. I know that if we take the time to learn the meaning of the songs we sing at this time of year, we will be able to feel the spirit more strongly, and we will be able to stand as a witness that the things we sing of our true. "This this is Christ the King!" How true the words ring, and the peace they bring to me. I am so thankful that I know that Christ was born, he lived for me and you, and he died for me and you. He loves each and everyone of us. He knows us, he knows our struggles and he wants us to come unto him and ask for forgiveness and seek his love and light. I know that these things are true. I love my Heavenly Father and his Son, my Savior: Jesus Christ with all my heart.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha
*Here is a link to the song. This arrangement is sung by: Josh Groban. I love this piece and encourage you to listen and feel of the spirit as you do so. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3FWlnR-sDs

We Each Have Gifts

We all have spiritual gifts :)

Each of us is blessed with different things. Sometimes we call these blessing our spiritual gifts, or in other words: our gifts that help us become more like the Savior. The Savior has many different amazing attributes, and he used those gifts and attributes while he walked the earth to bless others and teach them. He has blessed each of us with certain gifts that he knew we would be able to use to help serve him and bring others unto him. Today in church we were reading about and discussing the gifts that the Savior blesses us with. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 46)* Sometimes we have gifts in common with others around us, while other times our gifts may be very unique to us. No matter how unique your gift may or may no seem, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ blessed you with that gift for a reason. They chose you to hold that gift that you may use it for good, that you may nurture it and grow it so that you will better be able to help others around you and so that you can be the son or daughter of God that he needs and wants you to be so that you may return to live with him. Some times we see gifts in others that we wish we could have ourselves, and guess what? We can! Heavenly Father wants us to use all the gifts we can to bless others. If you see a gift that you really wish you had, all you have to do is ask and with Heavenly Father and Jesus' help: over time you can develop that talent and gain it as well. Will it be easy? Probably not. Will it be worth it? Anything for the gospel is always worth it. It will take time, but you can do it. I know that by using our gifts and talents to bless the lives of others we can become more like our Savior. We can bless others lives and we can and will be a force for good. Others will see the things you do and they will be so thankful that you have the gifts you have so that you can help them and others as well. I know that we can all develop these gifts and by doing so: we will be able to better see the hand our Savior in our lives and we will be more ready to serve as he did. I wanted to share this video with you about some of the gifts the Savior has. As you watch it I want you to think about the gifts you have, and the ones you wish you could have/be better at. Some of the gifts you may have and you don't even know you have them. As you watch this video I want you to be thinking about the Savior and the way he used his gifts every day to bless others and teach the gospel. https://www.lds.org/youth/video/christlike-attributes?lang=eng#d
I know that we all have different gifts, and I know that we were all blessed with these different gifts for a reason. I know that if we choose to use our gifts for good and focus them on helping others: we will be able to do amazing things. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints is true and I love it with all of my heart. I am so thankful for everything I have been blessed with and given. I know that we can do amazing things as long as we do them with the help of the Lord. With him: anything is possible. I know that he is always there and that he loves each one of us and will never leave us.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha Stout

*Doctrine and Covenants is a book that the Latter Day Saints use. It is a book of modern revelation that we use to teach with. It goes hand and hand with the Book of Mormon and the Bible. This section (46) talks about the gifts that we are blessed with. In this section we are always reminded to be thankful for the gifts that we have. (To read this section click here: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/46 ) 

December = Christmas

Christ is the reason for the Season

This is my very favorite time of year. I just absolutely love being able to celebrate Christmas, and more importantly: the birth of our Savior. Every year as Christmas approaches, I feel like everyone thinks only about the the earthly part of Christmas. (The caroling, the parties, the concerts, the "perfect" presents, etc.) I know that at some point all of us get caught up in all the festivities of the season, which is fine for a short while, but let me ask you the most important question: Did YOU personally take time to remember our loving Savior and his birth? And to really think about it? Did you think of all he has done for you? Did you think of the amazing miracle of his birth? Did you take time to put *Christ* in Christmas?? If not, I encourage you to do so before it's too late and Christmas is over. Here is a  Mormon Message that I found. I would love you all to see this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd6d9Qq9Wmk
I think this message describes what we should all remember: that the best thing at Christmas, is the gift our ourselves to our Father in Heaven. There are many more you can watch: and I encourage to watch them as well.
I absolutely LOVE my Heavenly Father and his Son, my elder brother, Jesus Christ with all my heart. They are my best friends, and they are ALWAYS there for me. No matter what. To every dark and lonely night, I know that he is there and he can and will turn it into a bright and glorious morning if I just ask. I love this Gospel with all my heart, and I know that the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I know that I am NEVER alone, and you never have to be alone either. I know that if we prepare now to include Christ in our Christmas celebrating: we will be able to have the most amazing Christmas experience ever, and that we will truly be filled with the Christmas Spirit. I know that Christ is the reason for this Season. I beg you all to come unto him, be filled with his Spirit and really try to understand what Christmas is all about. Make every day about him. I love you all. This is my testimony,
In the Name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha