Week 61: I Am Thankful!

Well I am grateful for today!

This week I have been listening to Christmas Music because why not? you can only listen to so much church music during the year ha ha, there is a song in particular that well we might all know its called Thankful by Josh Groban and well I have been thinking a lot about Gratitude and well since this week is thanksgiving I thought why not think about the Gratitude. in true to the faith it says "gratitude is an uplifting exalting attitude" you can probably say you are happier when you are grateful. when you are grateful you are thankful for the things around you and well you can express your gratitude by seeing everything that's around you. Borghil Dahl was one of these people. She was born in Minnesota in 1890 of Norwegian parents and from her early years suffered severely impaired vision. She had a tremendous desire to participate in everyday life despite her handicap and, through sheer determination, succeeded in nearly everything she undertook. Against the advice of educators, who felt her handicap was too great, she attended college, receiving her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota. She later studied at Columbia University and the University of Oslo. She eventually became the principal of eight schools in western Minnesota and North Dakota.

She wrote the following in one of the 17 books she authored: “I had only one eye, and it was so covered with dense scars that I had to do all my seeing through one small opening in the left of the eye. I could see a book only by holding it up close to my face and by straining my one eye as hard as I could to the left.”

Miraculously, in 1943—when she was over 50 years old—a revolutionary procedure was developed which finally restored to her much of the sight she had been without for so long. A new and exciting world opened up before her. She took great pleasure in the small things most of us take for granted, such as watching a bird in flight, noticing the light reflected in the bubbles of her dishwater, or observing the phases of the moon each night. She closed one of her books with these words: “Dear … Father in heaven, I thank Thee. I thank Thee.”

Borghild Dahl, both before and after her sight was restored, was filled with gratitude for her blessings.

In 1982, two years before she died, at the age of 92 her last book was published. Its title: Happy All My Life. Her attitude of thankfulness enabled her to appreciate her blessings and to live a full and rich life despite her challenges.

She expressed her Gratitude in all things by looking at all that god had given her. because she expressed this gratitude she was as it says in her book, Happy All My Life. In president Thomas S Monsons talk in Oct. 2008 general conference  entitled Finding Joy in the journey he says" This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." I remember in my house in Utah in our upstairs living room if its still there after 14 months, is a quote that says Life isn't measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away, something like that just give me some slack i have not seen it in 14 months, But this statement is true , life really isn't measured by the everyday things we do we might remember that we worked but that's all its measured by the time we took away to take our breaths away. like Ruben who just was baptized Friday and well a breath taking moment for him and for us as we saw his whole family come and give him a huge hug and tell them that they really care for him. as his daughters told him they love him and as his wife just could keep from crying that's a breath taker a mental picture that will always be with them. our lives are full of the breath taking moments and well our loving heavenly father really does bless us in so many ways. pour gratitude is a gift from god to praise him. President Monson continues, " I thoroughly enjoy many musicals, and one of my favorites was written by the American composer Meredith Willson and is entitled The Music Man. Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in the show, voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.” 

My brothers and sisters, there is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today. what a statement by its really true we can always put things off til tomorrow then tomorrow comes and we put it off again we need to do something today and not leave it off til tomorrow. "Arthur Gordon wrote in a national magazine, and I quote:

“When I was around thirteen and my brother ten, Father had promised to take us to the circus. But at lunchtime there was a phone call; some urgent business required his attention downtown. We braced ourselves for disappointment. Then we heard him say [into the phone], ‘No, I won’t be down. It’ll have to wait.’

“When he came back to the table, Mother smiled. ‘The circus keeps coming back, you know,’ [she said.]

“‘I know,’ said Father. ‘But childhood doesn’t." the truth is i really cant relive my slipping away childhood i wish it would last a little longer but it doesn't. but i don't know did i really live it to the fullest? I can never relive a childhood soccer game I can never relive the time my parents would do anything just to have me water ski now they cant keep me out of the water. but did i ever thank my parents for the things they did for me? Did I ever tell my dad thanks for standing out in the pouring rain just to watch or coach my soccer games? did I ever thank my wonderful mom for always being home when i came home from school just to ask me how i was? If i didn't well then i must be a bad son! haha there are so many things that my parents have done for me just so i can find Joy in my journey. not just physically but spiritually as well. President Monson also says, "The ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, “Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily.” Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.

In the book of John in the New Testament, chapter 13, verse 34, the Savior admonishes us, “As I have loved you, … love one another.” Have you loved one another as Jesus has loved you? have you tried to find kindness in all that you do? "Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings.""In 1 Thessalonians in the New Testament, chapter 5, verse 18, we are told by the Apostle Paul, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God.”

Recall with me the account of the 10 lepers:

“And as [Jesus] entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

“And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

“And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

“And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

“There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” Will you be the one that turns back and praises the lord after being healed? i sure hope so "Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”  May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.

Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed." May we ever Cherish the things god has given to us give thanks in all things, in closing I would like to quote Pres. Monson "I pray that all of us will reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.

The time came when He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings from Golgotha’s hill His compassionate words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” 

Earlier, perhaps perceiving the culmination of His earthly mission, He spoke the lament, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”  “No room in the inn” was not a singular expression of rejection—just the first. Yet He invites you and me to receive Him. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” 

Who was this Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief? Who is the King of glory, this Lord of hosts? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, “Follow me.”   He instructs, “Go, and do thou likewise.”  He pleads, “Keep my commandments.” 

Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.

Be thankful in all things thanks be to god! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving here we will do something haha and well Express more gratitude especially in this time of season may god bless everyone of you in all your many things you are doing and all the many May we ever find joy in our journey.

I love you all!! we did have a baptism this week and well Ruben is doing great. tomorrow 2 new sisters will be coming into Juarez and well we will divide the area so hopefully we will do it well. thanks to every one and thanks be to god for all things that we have.

Elder Jaymes Monson

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/finding-joy-in-the-journey?lang=eng

Week 60

Its freezing here!  :)

Well Happy Monday to all!!

Hope all is well where you are and life is just great isn't it. Its just so nice to live here on the earth man I love it! this week was actually really quite good not super good but not super bad either it was good. the truth is our ward is going really fast on the help at times but some times they go like they say here in Chiapas, Poco a poco, it means small small haha but it really can be translated like a little bit at a time. so that effects us a bit but really we are just saying help us and they say they will but they sometimes forget! i don't know how but they do, so we have to remind them and well they are helping.

this week I was really thinking about something our Mission president said like a week ago about how fear is. i was thinking a lot about it and its something that we all have fear is just a part of life but i turned to the scriptures and it says in  

Ether 12:27 and it says
 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
so if we show god our weakness he can help us with conquering that weakness. just like in

Jacob 3:1
 1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

so pray for strength and well he will plead your case the thing is its a normal thing to be fearful of something like my brother Tyler is afraid of snakes and when there is a snake 500 feet away he runs, sorry Tyler but its just an example. fear is just a thing we all have but the truth is we shouldn't fear anything. i was reading our new manuals for new missionaries and it teaches that we need to face hard decisions to conquer them the truth is I do not like contacting in the street i think it is useless but the only way i will get over it is by doing the thing that i don't like. another thing on Tyler sorry but when he was little he didn't like to eat beans but the way he got over it was by eating it and well we put his name on the door and it was there for a long time because he conquered it he did it it said, TYLER ATE THE BEAN, and that's all but now he eats beans so the way to get over a fear is to try it. 

I remember in Doctrine and Covenants 122 when Joseph smith was in liberty jail and well
3 And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors.
 4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.
 5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
 6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
 7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
 8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
Well that's Joseph´s answer to the fear and the prayer he had in Liberty Jail and well it was true he got out of his tribulations a little while after. but the lord really doesn't want us to fear he says "fear not I am with thee wither so ever tho goest, I will be with thee" Alma Explains it like this to Ammon and his brothers when they wanted to turn back because it was hard,
 27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.
well it worked for them because they did change the laminites so bear with the Patience and you will have success. or in Jacob it says
 7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

says he showed Jacob his weakness just like it says in Ether and well the truth is when we we ask the lord he will give it to us. ask and ye shall receive knock and it shall be found. Just ask him. if any of ye lack wisdom (have fear) ask god the eternal father in the name of Christ and it shall be given unto you.  So when we have fear its normal just don't dwell on that fear find the way to get over it like Tyler and the bean you can do it even if it takes a lot of work with the lord anything is possible. 

I have seen that this week with an investigator named Ruben and his daughters are in the picture Sandra and Nicole and their dad is going to be baptized this week because he got over his fear of asking god and he got over relying on his wife for help with he gospel and he has been changed. he really has put his fears behind him of being a bad father to his two Beautiful angels as we call them because he wants them to have a father and he wants it to always be him and he will be if he puts the lord first for the rest of him life and well i am sure he will. Well that's just a little part of what I really studied this week because there are so many things more but the truth is put your trust in the lord and he will work miracles.

I love you all and i Love this Work!!!!
Have a great week

Elder Jaymes Monson

 

WEEK:59 The Good Shepherd

Super Elder!

Well Hello to everyone! Hope everyone is doing great!!

this week was a lot better than the last we got the members just pumped up you can say to do the work of the lord there are so many references/referrals coming in right now we just need to do the rest and that's what we will do. in fact there is another parable that i have been studying this week in the same chapter Luke 15

3 ¶And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine In the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

 7 I say unto you, that likewise Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

 8 ¶Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one apiece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repented.

in this Parable we see that the joy that we have is when we find that what was lost and bring it back. its kind of like what kind of a Shepherd are you? its like President Monson spoke on in General Conference on the True Shepherds, he says

When I was growing up, each summer our family would drive to Provo Canyon, about 45 miles (72 km) south and a little east of Salt Lake City, where we would stay in the family cabin for several weeks. We boys were always anxious to get on the fishing stream or into the swimming hole, and we would try to push the car a little faster. In those days, the automobile my father drove was a 1928 Oldsmobile. If he went over 35 miles (56 km) an hour, my mother would say, “Keep it down! Keep it down!” I would say, “Put the accelerator down, Dad! Put it down!”

Dad would drive about 35 miles an hour all the way up to Provo Canyon or until we would come around a bend in the road and our journey would be halted by a herd of sheep. We would watch as hundreds of sheep filed past us, seemingly without a shepherd, a few dogs yapping at their heels as they moved along. Way back in the rear we could see the sheepherder on his horse—not a bridle on it but a halter. He was occasionally slouched down in the saddle dozing, since the horse knew which way to go and the yapping dogs did the work.

Contrast that to the scene which I viewed in Munich, Germany, many years ago. It was a Sunday morning, and we were en route to a missionary conference. As I looked out the window of the mission president’s automobile, I saw a shepherd with a staff in his hand, leading the sheep. They followed him wherever he went. If he moved to the left, they followed him to the left. If he moved to the right, they followed him in that direction. I made the comparison between the true shepherd who led his sheep and the sheepherder who rode casually behind his sheep.

Who is the true shepherd? the one who leads and guides his sheep the one who cares for them and who wants the best for them not the one who is very casually ridding behind and sleeping on the job. Pres. Monson continues,

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep.” He provides for us the perfect example of what a true shepherd should be.

Jesus is the good shepherd he is our example he shows us what the meaning of a person who loves his flock and on that just does it for a job. Jesus says he knows his sheep by name every single one of us are part of his flock and well he will not let us go astray and will leave us or the people who are alright and will look for the ones that are lost. he has asked us to help him in this effort. in Preach my gospel it talks about how we as missionaries need to help the lost sheep who have been numbered or are members and have gone astray but as President Monson says we all have a call to rescue others. we are all called to the rescue. there are a lot of people who have gone astray and well here in Mexico we have a bunch but just slowly and surly we can bring them back. i was super happy to see 3 families who had gone down other paths come back yesterday and well they are just getting started again and this is a call for everyone for every person and yesterday our ward Secretary spoke and he called everyone to the Fields to help the missionaries to rescue the people who need saving and to help us work on bringing more people to the arms of Christ. he talked about the talk I have used so many times on my mission on how we are the hands of Christ here on the earth so lets rescue and bring everyone in to the salvation of Christ. I love this work!!!

Hope everyone has a great week and let us be like the good Shepherd and I will finish testifying using the words of our beloved Prophet, In closing, There is one Teacher whose life overshadows all others. He taught of life and death, of duty and destiny. He lived not to be served but to serve, not to receive but to give, not to save His life but to sacrifice it for others. He described a love more beautiful than lust, a poverty richer than treasure. It was said of this Teacher that He taught with authority and not as did the scribes. His laws were not inscribed upon stone but upon human hearts.

I speak of the Master Teacher, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. The biblical account says of Him, He “went about doing good.” With Him as our unfailing guide and exemplar, we shall qualify for His divine help in our home teaching. Lives will be blessed. Hearts will be comforted. Souls will be saved. We will become true shepherds.

Love you All!!

Elder Jaymes Monson

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/true-shepherds?lang=eng

Good looking Elders!

enjoying some hot chocolate on a cool 77 degree day!

Week 58: Come unto Him

Hi everyone!!!! Happy November here the temperatures just go down and we just start loving to work and everyone besides my companion and I are putting on coats ha ha it feels sort of like a September day in Utah haha.

This week was OK after not having much help from the members so we jumped in and started giving them Books of Mormon to have them think of someone who Needs the book and then they can give it to them with their testimonies in it and they can help share the gospel. we will hopefully find new investigators this week and then we can just help them up to the presences of our father in heaven. that's the only goal we have. its like the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, Jesus says;

  11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.

 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and ball that I have is thine.

 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

its like a person who comes into this world and then just gets lost. lets place it like this, a son or a daughter of god goes into the world and takes their fathers fortune, a body, and enters into the world and gets "lost" in the world and one of us, the servants of the lord, find them help them back and wrap them up in a spiritual hug and say –let us prepare on the journey back home to your father and we help them and baptize them and they come unto the presence of our heavenly father and he throws this huge party for them and this person once was lost but now is found as our heavenly father wraps them up in the hug we can only get through him and he says welcome home. as the tears roll down and as we put smiles on. what once was lost is now found. we have our "fathers greatest gift" as as Elder Nelson explains in this Mormon message: (http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2013?lang=eng)

Thanks be to God, for the creation of us! we really are sons and daughters of a loving father in heaven who loves us and we love him. if you have lost your way there is safety in the arms of Christ come unto him and let him bring you higher. he loves you and he will never ever forsake us. no matter who we are and what we have done we can change and we can come back and come unto the only one who can save come unto Christ. if you have sung the song of everlasting praise help others sing it and help others to come unto him and help them feel it too. I know this church is true I know it and I will not deny it I am like Moroni who I just read about I Will not deny the Christ and I will help the doors of hell close and that Satan will never have my heart and I wont let him get anyone because I am on the front lines and I will fight for the right with all my might. I am Elder Jaymes Monson a soldier in gods army and will be fighting for him forever.

Elder Jaymes Monson

PS I love you all!!!! have a great week.

Watch these videos about the prodigal son:

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-prodigal-son?lang=eng

http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/a-prodigal-son-returns?cid=HPFR102513131&lang=eng