Simple Expressions of Love

You can be the Instrument that Heavenly Father needs. Express your love so others can see God's love more clearly.

Today I just wanted to share a short message about expressing your love for others. As I was looking over some stuff I thought I wanted to share with you all I stumbled across this short message from General Conference in April 2011. The message was given by Richard G. Scott (from the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.) I decided I would watch the video to see what it was about. After watching the video I felt like I should change my topic I was going to write about today and share this new topic. So here I am! I wanted to share my thoughts about this subject, The LDS Church's thoughts on this topic, along with the video I came across, and lastly I want to share with you my testimony.

Love, what is love? The dictionary says that love is "a profound tender, passionate affection for another person. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend." The Bible dictionary says that love is "Love is a feeling of deep devotion, concern, and affection. The greatest example of God's love for His children is found in the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ. Love for God and fellow men is a characteristic of disciples of Jesus Christ.We manifest our love for Heavenly Father by keeping His commandments and serving His children. Our expressions of love for others may include being kind to them, listening to them, mourning with them, comforting them, serving them, praying for them, sharing the gospel with them, and being their friend. Our love for those around us increases when we remember that we are all children of God—that we are spirit brothers and sisters. The love that results from this realization has the power to transcend all boundaries of nation, creed, and color."

Notice the part that I highlighted. I highlighted this part because that is what I want to focus on today; How we can show (express) our love towards others. This leads me to the video I came across today. This video is entitled: "Simple Expressions of Love" Click here to watch. In this video Richard G. Scott shares his experience with expressing his love in simple terms. He tells how these simply expressed words and actions of love are ones he will never forget and how much it meant to his wife when she received them from him. (And also how much it meant to him to receive these little things from her.)

I loved watching this video so much that I clicked on the link at the bottom of the page to read the rest of his talk. (Which is entitled: "The Eternal Blessings of Marriage") I highly suggest you read the whole talk as well. It touched my heart and I know it will touch yours too. Click here to watch/listen to the whole talk.

As stated earlier love can be towards a parent, child, or friend. To me that means love can be to anyone! Since we are all brothers and sisters in the gospel. The section from the Bible Dictionary that reads "Our expressions of love for others may include being kind to them, listening to them, mourning with them, comforting them, serving them, praying for them, sharing the gospel with them, and being their friend." along with the video that I just shared: go hand in hand. Both talk about ways we can express our love for everyone. Whether we are "being kind", or "slipping notes to them in their books" we can always express our love towards others. Expressing our love towards others doesn't have to be a great big huge thing. In fact, I think that all the little things put together make up the big things.

To finish up, I want to challenge and encourage each of you to find a way to express your love to those around you this week. Find someone who is having a hard time and let them know you love them and are thinking about them. Let them know that you are their friend and you will be there for them. You can choose more than one "somebody" if you think you need too: but really pray and think about this. Find that person(s) who need you right now. Leave them a note on their bed or in their locker. Make them a treat, make their bed for them, say hi to them in the store or hall at school, pray for them. No matter what you decide to do: Let them know you love them. It's the little things that count.

I know that it's not a matter of "snapping our fingers" to figure out who we need to help and how but I know that if we pray and ponder about it: Heavenly Father will lead us to the right person, and He will inspire us to do the right thing. We will be able to be the Instrument the Lord needs us to be. We will be able to be an answer to someone's prayer. And even though you may not see the effects of your "expression of love", I promise you: you are making a difference and it will be greatly appreciated and remembered. It is the little things that change lives. Follow the promptings of the Spirit and do what the Lord needs you to do this week. I know this will bless your life and the life (or lives) of those you help and express love and gratitude to this week. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints is true. I know that Heavenly Father loves each of us and with His help: we can help those around us feel of the love He has for each of us by expressing love to them.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha 

Trusting Heavenly Father

He Knows Me Better 

Today I wanted to share something that has been very profound to me lately. I wanted to share the sweet message of trusting in The Lord especially in the hardest times.

Right now I am going through a hard time in my life and things aren't going the way I had originally wanted or planned them too. Some nights I just want to quit trying because it seems as if my efforts are useless and worthless to those around me. I pray for things to go the way I want them too, and then they don't. This really frustrates me but I trust Heavenly Father knows what I need more and He knows better than I do.

There is a song called: "He knows me better" that I love dearly. (Click here to listen) It talks about how Heavenly Father knows our wants and needs better than we know them. He knows us better than we know ourselves. It reminded me that even though I may want (or think I need) something right now, sometimes that is not what I need according to The Lord. This song brings peace and comfort to me. “In a world of voices that say they have answers; I escape the noises, close my eyes and I turn to the one who sees all the pieces put together. He knows me better.” “He helps me see the depth of my purpose.” “His Love is the compass that guides us home.” These words touch my heart and help me to remember that He truly does know me better, and He will guide me to the place that is best for me. 

Sometimes people make fun of us because they do not understand things we do or why we do them. This is because they do not know our plan and purpose here on this earth. Although it is not their place to judge and laugh at us: this is a challenge that we must learn to love and deal with and trust that Heavenly Father will continue to watch  us and guide us to where we need to be. We need to love these people anyway and trust that in days to come it will be better and Heavenly Father will lead us to do and say what He needs us to do. 

I know that it is not easy to follow the Lord's plan and be happy about it 100% of the time. However I do know that it will be worth it. I cannot say I am perfect and I cannot say I have all the answers because I do not. But I do trust that if I am patient and trust The Lord with all my heart that He will lead and guide me to where I need to be and He will help me be the young woman He needs me to become. I know it is hard, and I am not going to say it isn't because I am in the middle of some things where all I can do is my very best and then trust in The Lord to take care of the rest for me. All I can do is trust Him. And I know it's not easy. But I do know that in the end it will all be okay, and it will all be worth it.

I know this is true and if we trust Heavenly Father, especially when it's not easy to trust and we feel all alone and like no one cares: He will bless us and it will be worth it. I know it.

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen

Love,

Samantha 

A Reminder of His Love

"The Stickers only stick if you let them" 

*I know the message I am sharing today is like one I have shared before, and I will talk about a song I have shared, and a story book I have shared, but I feel I need to share this experience at this time.*

Today I want to share something that happened to me yesterday night. First, you should know how I have been feeling about school starting. Normally I am fine with school starting and I look forward to another year of learning, but for some reason this year that is not the case. (Which is weird to me because I am going to be a Senior and I expected to be so excited.) This year I have been feeling very overwhelmed with the idea of school, feeling very inadequate for things to come this year, and feeling very worried about my last year of high school. I am unsure as to why I am feeling this way about school this year of all years. None the less I have been worried and so I have been praying a lot for comfort and guidance to know what to do and how to make friends. I have been feeling so alone in the friend category, and so lost. I feel as if I have no where to turn a lot of the time. I have had many of long nights thinking about why this is and why I am not surrounded by friends like most kids my age. I kept wondering if something was wrong with me, and that was why people didn't want to be my friend. Well this brings me to last night and my experience.

Last night, I was talking with my dad and helping him prepare for a talk he was asked to give today in Sacrament meeting. He was looking for a story, like a fairy tale, to share. I was helping him brainstorm and find stories, when suddenly a story popped into my head. I couldn't remember the name of the story, but I knew what it was about and what the book looked like so I ran down to our library and started looking. I found it rather quick and started flipping through the pages. As I looked through the pages I found writing on the front title page. It said: it was for me from my Young Women's leaders for our Christmas present a few years ago. I had forgotten that they all had written me a message in the book so I took the time to read them quickly. I was reminded that the book was about how even though we are all different we all special in our own unique way, and how important it is that we don't let what others think of us make us feel better or worse than others. I decided to read the book. This is what I read from "You are Special" by: Max Lucado*  (Click here to read )

The words: "All that matters is what I think. And I think you are pretty special." Even when Punchinello asked "Me, special? Why? I can't walk fast, I can't jump. My paint is peeling. Why do I matter to you?" Eli still replied "Because you're mine. That's why you matter to me." Then a few paragraphs later Eli says "Remember, you are special because I made you. And I don't make mistakes."
These are the words that touched my heart. As I read these words tears were brought to my eyes. I was reminded that just as Eli made Punchinello, Heavenly Father made me. And even though I am far from perfect, and I have many "dots" I need not worry because the "dots" from others judgement means nothing to my Heavenly Father and they don't need to mean anything to me either; they don't have to "stick." That even though I am not the best athlete or the star student, or the most popular kid, or the kid with the nicest car and most money, I am still special. That just as Eli knows Punchinello is special because he made him, Heavenly Father knows I am special because He made me. And Heavenly Father doesn't make mistakes.

This process of thought kept me thinking as I walked down to my room. As I walked I thought of a scripture that I turn to in my hard times. -Why this scripture didn't come to me earlier I don't know.- The scripture I thought of was: 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 7. This reads: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  I thought to myself: "I don't need to be scared to go back to school because Heavenly Father will be there with me the whole way. Through my friend problems, through the hardships of high school, through the hard work and homework, He will be there through it all. He will bless me with love for others, and with a sound mind. I will be able to do hard things."

When I walked into my room I saw the lyrics of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" hanging on my wall. I started to sing the song to myself. As I sang 2 verses stood out to me. (Click here to listen to the song. )
Verse 2:

"He lives to grant me rich supply.

He lives to guide me with his eye.

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

He lives all blessings to impart."

And Verse 4:

"He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

Verse 2 really hit me hard. The words: "He lives to silence all my fears, He lives to wipe away my tears, He lives to calm my troubled heart, He lives all blessings to impart" are exactly what I needed to hear. He lives, and He lives to be my best friend, to wipe away my tears, take away my fears, bless me with comfort when I am scared, calm my troubled heart, and He lives to save me. He will not leave me. He knows that I cannot do it alone, and as soon as I recognized that I can't and don't have to do it alone; that is when He let me know that He was listening to my prayers, and He has not forgotten me. But rather He was waiting for me to truly come unto Him and do my part to find an answer rather than sit and wait for a miracle. He reminded me that He will answer my prayers in His time. And if I trust in Him: everything will be okay. It is only when I recognize that He is the Father and I am the child that I will truly find answers to my prayers. 

I know that Heavenly Father has a time table for each of us and it may not be what we think our time table is. As I have said many times before: we see in terms of today and tomorrow, Heavenly Father sees in terms of Forever and all Eternity. He knows what and when is the best time, we do not. We must recognize Him as the Father and us as His Children if we are to truly learn and become like Him. We must remember that He loves us and He knows what He is doing. We MUST remember that what others think of us does not matter. All that matters is what Heavenly Father thinks of us. We do not need to walk around with "dots" holding us down. If we remember that what others think is nothing compared to the Love God has for us the "stickers won't stick." We are Sons and Daughters of a loving and eternal Father in Heaven and He doesn't want us to judge others, and He doesn't want the judgement of others to hold us down. He wants to remember ALWAYS that we are His literal children and He loves us infinitely. I know this is true. I pray that as you go to school this year that you don't hand out "dots" and that you don't let "stickers ("good" or bad) stick". I pray you remember WHO you are and WHOSE you are. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen 

Love, 

Samantha   

*I do not own the rights to this book, all rights are Max Lucado's. 

Have You Done Any Good?

How do you answer at the end of the day? 

I want to start off my message today with this song and story from the famous singer Alex Boye. This song is called: "Have I Done Any Good In The World Today?" (A rendition of a popular hymn) Think about this song as you read the rest of the this post. Click here

Every night as you lay down to sleep, ask yourself: "Have I done any good in the world today?" Are you able to recount your day's activities? Were you happy? Were you slow or fast to anger? How did you treat those you came in contact with? Did you judge too quickly, or did you kindly smile and lend a helping hand? Did you gossip? Did you say kind words? Were you a friend to all? Did you serve your Heavenly Father and put Him first before other things? Did you let your family know you love them? As you think about these answers, do you feel closer to your Heavenly Father, or do you feel guilty and needing to seek forgiveness?

Now I know that no one is perfect, and sometimes we have bad days, but as we review our day's activities each day: we know what we need to work on the next day. Each day we can strive to be better than the day before, and "do good" so that at the end of the day we feel closer to our Heavenly Father, and not far away.

How do we get there? May I suggest JOY. Jesus, Others, You. If we learn to put Jesus first, others second, and ourselves last: we will be happier and a more service-oriented people. Then at the end of the day when we ask: "Have I done any good in the world today?" We will surely answer yes.

As we use JOY in our lives, we will find that there are many around us that are fighting their own personal battles. We will be humbled and will be able to see that we can do much to reach out and help others. Thomas S. Monson* shared: "My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us." At a first glace, it may seem as if we have nothing to give and as if we already have too much to handle for ourselves but I promise you that if you put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last: you will be able to handle your battles with more strength, and you will be lifted up to higher grounds where you will find a safe harbor from your storms.

2 Nephi chapter 2 verse 3 says: "...thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God..." This scripture tells us that our job here on earth is to serve other! This scripture is the essence of JOY by serving others you are doing Christ's work, and serving His children, which in turn blesses you and those you serve. Jesus, Others, You.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 81 verse 5 says: "Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." This scripture tells us to fulfill our duty on earth and spend our days doing Christ's work by serving others. Once again: JOY Jesus, Others, You.

I know that if we can learn to use JOY in our life and make it a habit to put Jesus first, others second and our needs last: we will see with clearer eyes, we will love others with a deeper love, we will feel the Spirit stronger and more profound, we will be a better tool and instrument in the Lord's hands, He will bless us with more strength for our own battles, we will be more forgiving, we will be a better family member, etc. Using JOY in our life and really using it everyday of our life makes our life better in every single way. I know that this is true, and I challenge you to find ways you can use JOY in your life more and more each day, especially as we all start this "new chapter" of another year of school. We will be able to pray: "O Lord, give me the will to mend; O Lord, change me from foe to friend; Dear Lord, sustain me to the end--"**

Now I ask you: As you walk out from a store, or from school: how did you treat that person in line next to you? Did you smile and brighten their day or did you text your friend instead? As that person dropped their books in the hall did you quickly stop to help, or simply walk away? Did you allow Heavenly Father to lead you to those you needed to see? When you saw your neighbor out getting mail did you wave and say 'How are you?' or did you simply walk away? Today did you have JOY? "Have you done any good in the world today?"

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha
*This talk is entitled "What have I done for someone today?" Click here to listen to the whole talk
** This is from a Hymn entitled: "O Love That Glorifies The Son" Click here to listen to the whole song.

Arise Today

How are you going to Arise? 

I hate to say it, but summer is coming to a quick close and school is approaching fast! As the school year is drawing near I have been thinking a lot about what this year means to me. This year I will be a Senior, so this is my last year in High School. This is a big year to me, so I have done a lot of pondering and praying about how I want people to remember me, and what I will do to make this year the best year I can make it. I have not come to a final conclusion yet, as I still have a lot to do in the next 2 weeks to prepare myself for this Senior year. However, I have decided that I do want people to remember me as someone who loved everyone, did her best to always be happy, was a friend to all, loves her Heavenly Father, stands up for what she believes in, and shares it with everyone. I want to be someone who “Arose and shared the light of Christ I am blessed with.” This is not going to be an easy task. And it will definitely take a lot of commitment, and action on my part. I am willing to do it however. If I want to do this: I have to quit being “lazy” and arise and do my part. This isn't something that just happens overnight on its own. As with everything else in the gospel, it is about the action you take. It is about you “arising” and getting to work.

I want to share with you a video entitled: Arise. This is a song that the LDS church made to remind the youth of the church to “Arise and let their good works shine before men that they might glorify their Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

As this school year approaches, I want to challenge you to think of what kind of a person you want to be this year. Pray about it, ponder it, and then get on your feet and work! Arise and shine! I know that it won’t be an easy task all the time: but I do know that it will pay off, you will make many new friends, you will be a blessing to many, and many will look up to and your example. Heavenly Father will bless you to do this work, and He will guide you to do and say the things He needs you too and when He needs you too. Have faith and trust in Him. I know this year will be a great one if you make Him your first priority.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha