Friends

He is your Friend. 

I feel like I have talked about this topic lately, but I want to share it again. Lately I have had to take a step back from the mirror and ask myself: "Samantha, what kind of a friend are you really being?" I have had to take a step back and re-evaluate my life, friendships, and my behavior. "Am I doing what The Lord wants and needs me to be doing? Am the friend He needs me to be?"
As I have been pondering this question I have had some conversations with my friends concerning the matter, and I have been reading and watching things about friends on lds.org. Today I want to share some of that with you in hopes that you will be able to evaluate your life, your friendships and such and see if you too are in need of a little "fix up" in the area.

First I want to share this video with you. In this video a young girl tells how by her Christ like example she made many friends. All she did was live as Christ would have her live and stand firm in her standards and beliefs. Everyone around her looked up to her for doing so and they were impressed by what she was doing so they wanted to be her friend. To me this video tells me that if I can just stand up for what I know to be true and I can live a Christ like example, I will be a light to those around me and I will be able to have many friends who know my standards and who know what I believe so they will want to help me keep those standards and not tear me down. Click here to watch.

Another thing I wanted to share with you is an article by Sister Elaine S. Dalton, former General Young Women President. This article is entitled: "What Is a True Friend?" I really liked this article because it brought some good points for me to think about. A few of them being:

"Choose friends who share your values so you can strengthen and encourage each other in living high standards." (This does not mean that you can't be friends with people of other religions, it simply means to be friends with those who aren't going to ask you to participate in bad things.)

"To have a good friend, you must first be a good friend."

"As you seek friends, do not ever compromise your standards." (see above)

"How do you define a friend?" (Social media describes a friend as someone who "follows" you. They could simply be an acquaintance, or a contact. Do you have any personal relationship with that person? Are they really a friend?)

"Sometimes we become too preoccupied by having a friend, rather we should become occupied with being a friend."

"Are your friends making it easier to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you being a friend that allows living the Gospel to be easier?"

"Are you committed to your friends, or are you 'flaky'?"

"True friends influence those with whom they associate to 'rise a little higher and be a little better'".

"As you live the gospel of Christ you will attract people to you who will want to be your friend-not just a contact on social media- but rather the kind of friend the Savior exemplified by His words and His example."

As you read this article I want to challenge you to look for something that you feel you could work on to become a better friend. Write it down and hang it on your mirror so you see it everyday. This way everyday you will be reminded to work on this thing/s. Also include this in your daily prayers to your Father In Heaven. He will see your desire to become more like The Savior and He will bless you with the strength you need to do so. He will help you change. Click here to read the article.

In closing I just want to testify that I know that friends have a major impact on our lives. They help determine who we are, and who we will become. Our friends can change our lives for the better or the worse. We can also be a friend that changes someone's life for good or bad. What kind of friend are you going to be? I hope that you choose to accept my challenge mentioned above and work on something the next couple of weeks or months to become a better friend. I know that Heavenly Father will bless you to become who you and He wants you to be. I know that you will be able to make the changes you want to make with His help. I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and we must never give up and trust in His atoning power to save us and make us better. I know this is true.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

Some Things To Share (Part 2)

Last week I started a string of posts including the October 2014 General Conference highlights. Last week I added some Saturday Afternoon talks with the Morning session. I didn't realize I did this until later into the week. So this week I will be adding some from different sessions and I will say what session they are from.

"Continuing Revelation" Given by President Boyd K. Packer (Sunday Morning).
This talk tells us how we need not one flash of light to lead our lives, but a continuing flow (stream) of blessings. We, as a church and as an individual, need constant revelation from Heavenly Father; revelation is not a "thing of old" or a "one time happening," rather a continuous flow. Personal revelation is a gift, and we should never take it lightly as it is specifically for us.

"Ponder the Path of Thy Feet" Given by President Thomas S. Monson. (Sunday Morning)
In this talk we are told that "walking where Jesus walked is less important than walking AS He walked." We need to learn to emulate His example and gain His attributes so we can be better disciples and "come follow Him". We can all walk the path He walked if we choose to be like Him. He is the way. Our "decisions determine our destiny" and we must walk as He walked. Learn to do the Lord's will, not yours and always remember that His path will take you safely home.

"Our Personal Ministries" Given by Elder Hugo E. Martinez (Sunday Afternoon).
In this talk we are reminded to "first observe, then serve." We are told that if we see the opportunity to serve, that we must take the initiative to help and be The Lord's instrument. We must allow ourselves to be placed in people's lives to bless and help them. Remember that when you are doing these things unto His children, ye are doing it unto Him.

"Come and See" Given by Elder David A Bednar (Sunday Afternoon).
I mentioned this talk the week of conference. I wanted to share it again because I love it so much. We as Latter Day Saints are not trying to sell you a product, we are not earning "bonus points" with anyone, we are not trying to convince you to believe as we do, we are simply inviting you to come to know for yourself if the things we believe are true. We are not trying to diminish your religion. Bring all that you know to be true and test our message. Come and see if the restored gospel of Jesus Christ enlarges and enriches that which you already know to be true.


These are the talks I wanted to share with you this week. I just want to bear my testimony along with these, that I know that the restored gospel is the true gospel. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet. I know that there had to be a restoration of the true gospel because the priesthood power was taken off the earth after all the apostles died. I know that Joseph Smith, through the power of Heavenly Father, restored that gospel and now we are blessed again with the true gospel and the power of the priesthood. I am so thankful for this knowledge and invite you to learn more about it. I know that it is true and I hope and pray that you too will find for yourself that is it true. I love it with all my heart and the happiness it brings me is the best thing I will ever experience.

I say these things in the Name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

*These are the links to the full talks.

1. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/continuing-revelation?lang=eng
2. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/ponder-the-path-of-thy-feet?lang=eng
3. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/our-personal-ministries?lang=eng
4. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/come-and-see?lang=eng

Some Things To Share (Part One)

As I told last week, General Conference was last week. In light of that, I wanted to share some of the highlight videos that came out this past week from Conference. Along with the highlight video I will include the link for the full talk given so that if the highlight touches your heart and you wish to learn more, you will be able to easily access the rest of the talk.* (To watch the highlight, click on the title.) This week I will be sharing some of the talks from the first session of Conference, and will share other sessions through out the weeks to come.

"Which Way Do You Face?" Given by Elder Lynn G. Robbins. In this talk we are asked to evaluate our lives and ask ourselves "Which way am I facing?" This means that we either face towards our Father, or away from Him. In this talk we are told some ways to always face our Father, just as Christ always faced His Father. 

"The Reason For Our Hope" Given by President Boyd K. Packer. President Packer talks to us about how the Atonement is the reason we don't ever have to give up. He tells us how we are to use the Atonement to give us hope and peace in hard times. The Atonement is available to all who choose to use it. We are told that our price has already been paid. 

"Loving and Living with Differences" Given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in this talk we are instructed to love all, even though we may be different we are all God's children and He loves each of us, so we must love each other. In this talk we are told that it is okay to disagree with other's opinions, but we should not be disagreeable; avoid contention. We need to be examples of Christ. 

"Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth" Given by: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. This talk tells us that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not for "perfect" people, (because people aren't perfect) rather for people to be perfected in Christ. We are instructed that no matter how big or small our testimony or Light may be: the gospel is for each of us. We must not condemn others, rather come together and strengthen them.

"Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence" Given by Elder Jorg Klebingat, in this talk we are reminded that trials are part of our mortal experience and they are the way we learn and grow on earth. Trials can come for different reasons, but no matter the trial we can come unto God and say with confidence "Let's do this."

"Are We Not All Beggars?" Given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. In this talk we are reminded that we are all beggars. We are reminded that we must give to the poor and help in as many ways as we can. "I am my brother's brother: and because I have been given much I too must give." We need to learn to give as the Savior gives: all He has.

These are the talks that I chose to share from the first part of Conference. I hope that these talks help you in some way. I know that the words spoken were all truthful and from our Savior and Father in Heaven. I know they love us dearly and they desire for us to return to live with them and that is part of the reason why they blessed us with living prophets and apostles so that they could teach us still. I know this is true.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen 

Love, 

Samantha 

*Full talks: 

1. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/which-way-do-you-face?lang=eng

2. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/the-reason-for-our-hope?lang=eng

3. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/loving-others-and-living-with-differences?lang=eng

4. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/receiving-a-testimony-of-light-and-truth?lang=eng

5. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/approaching-the-throne-of-god-with-confidence?lang=eng

6. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/are-we-not-all-beggars?lang=eng

General Conference!

"Listen to the Prophet's Voice"

This weekend was the Semi-Annual General Conference meeting for the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. What an amazing and uplifting opportunity for all to listen to the Prophet's voice and learn from our church leaders. I am so thankful for this experience every six months. This time was especially a blessing for me because I had so many personal questions answered. General Conference is a time for us to gather and receive revelation through the talks given and to seek answers to our prayers. This is exactly what Conference was for me. I cannot express my gratitude enough. The message I want to share today is simply the Conference talks! I will include the link that takes you directly to all the talks from not only the Saturday and Sunday general sessions, but also to the Women's meeting and the Priesthood meeting sessions! If you did not have the opportunity to watch all of the talks I highly recommend watching, listening to, or reading all of them. They are truly a blessing and I know you will find answers to questions and prayers in these talks.

To those who are not members of the LDS faith, there is one talk in particular that I would like to share with you. This talk was given in the Sunday Afternoon Session by Elder David A. Bednar. His talk is for you. He spoke about why we, as LDS saints, try so hard to share the gospel and why we are so eager to share with you our testimonies. His talk explains the reasons as to why I have this blog and why I share a message with you each week. I loved his talk and I hope and pray that it will help you understand us, the LDS faith, a little better.

I know that God talks to His children today. If He didn't speak to us in these days we wouldn't be able to have our General Conference every six months and we wouldn't be able to further His work in these the Latter Days. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the earth today. I am so thankful and blessed to be a member of this Church and I hope that you too will allow the gospel to change your life and if you are not already a member of this church that you allow the missionaries to come into your home and talk with you so they can better share this beautiful message of the true restored gospel. I know it's true and I hope and pray that you do too and if you don't know yet I pray that the time will come when you do know for yourself. I love it with all my heart.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

*Click here to watch/listen to/read General Conference.
*For those who are looking for the talk given by Elder David A. Bednar, it is under the section entitled: "Sunday Afternoon Session" It is the 7th talk.
*As of right now, when I am posting this, all the talks are not currently up on the website because the last session has just ended 40 minutes ago. If you click on this link and they still aren't there by Monday, please let me know. Thanks!