Principles of Faith

This is an email I received from a friend of mine who is now serving his mission in Atlanta. As I read it I knew immediately these words were true as I have been seeing this same pattern in my life. This is what Elder Johnson said.:

 

My faith has increased dramatically this week because of the inspired summit that our mission president has asked us to achieve this week and this is what i have learnt about faith.

First Principle Be Believing; 1 Nephi 2:16, I know that as I trust in him more, I will receive an answer and source of truth to comfort my fears.

Second Principle Be committed; 1 Nephi 3:15, Being committed to my mission will ensure that my Faith will remain strong and will that God will help me bring about the righteous desires of my heart.

 

Third Principle Do my part; James 2:22,  I know that if I want blessings that I will have to work at it, it is by works will my faith be made perfect to perform the miracles that I need to.

Fourth Principle Pray; D&C 9:7/D&C 4:7, If i don't pray for my faith to be made strong or pray for an increase of faith  it will falter, if I ask for it in prayer i through my faith will receive, thus increasing my faith.

Fifth Principle Expect Trials; Ether 12:6/D&C 58:4, Even though I have prayed for doesn't mean it will come easy, or when I want it to.I  know if I endure well with patience I will receive it when God knows it time for me to receive such.

Last Principle Exercise My Faith Mark 11:23-24, The Lord doesn't give us things so we can waste them ,He gives us them to use them. I will have to exercise my faith if I want to see the miracles that I desire.

We can apply these same principles in our lives no matter what it is that we are doing-work or school or just living from day to day.. AS long as we are doing the Lord's will and exercise these principles of faith we will be successful, we will be blessed. I know I have been.

March 28, 2014

Wednesday is the day that Trevor and I go serve in the Oakland Temple, and I had a profound experience in the last one. Before I write about a learning moment in my communion in a house of God. I want to say that as I was driving to Oakland, I was on Highway 17, and it was raining, when a car spun out in front of us. There was only one car between us and the spinning car. Gratitude enveloped my heart for I was in the slow lane, and both of cars, my car and the one before me, were able to stop. I did not slide and I slowed down quickly enough that we just drove around the spun car, which was facing traffic with the driver side wheel hanging off the highway. There were no crashes, and we arrived safely at the temple only with a little adrenaline rush.  

My first assignment was to serve in the endowment, and I prayed that I may be a representative of God as I served in his house especially in the moments of this ordinance. As I helped in the conclusion of an endowment, a man asked, if he should do it over again. When he said that, I knew that I did something wrong. My heart sunk in lowliness, wondering how this could be. When I saw him face to face, I recognized him as president Packard, an Area Authority. I thought to myself that he must be testing me. I tried not to justify my mistake, believing that God was teaching me how to represent him. I didn't know what to make of it as I pondered. My next assignment was to serve in the initiatory. I seem to be an expert because I am usually asked to serve there more than once in my shift. During one part I was told that I missed one word, and I made a connection between this new mistake and the one in the endowment. I learned to feel led by the Spirit in each moment. This does not mean that you need to feel the spirit in each moment. When I performed the ordinances incorrectly, I felt like I was missing something or I spaced out. I connected this feeling with being distracted, thinking off topic, or indulging in mediums that is not in the present like social media or talking about subjects that doesn't follow the spirit of the occasion. I also was prompted by the Spirit that the quality of Christ that he was teaching me about is being meek and lowly in heart. Meek people live in the moment by the Holy Ghost with compassion and passion. If you are feeling that you are missing something, seek to understand how to be led by the Spirit individually. I feel that I should be sensitive to people with attention deficiency. I expect that they feel that they are missing something often, but I encourage you to understand how the Holy Spirit works through you, since my situation is not universal. When an ordinance is performed, the spirit should confirm the completeness thereof. I realize that I felt the "stupor of thought" revealed that we will feel when our inquiry is false in Doctrine and Covenants 9:8. An ordinance worker definitely should not feel a stupor of thought after performing an ordinance, for the power of Godliness is manifest therein. Compassion and passion seem to be key parts of meekness and lowliness of heart, for a personal understanding of compassion is to feel after an individual. This may be the Holy Ghost, the person that you are serving, and the people all around you.  

In the temple we need to feel after the deceased person that we are serving as proxy. I realized that I only received the Endowment once; although, I have attended many of them. All the other endowments that I attended, serving as a proxy, should have compassion towards the deceased individual. We are not merely attending a session, but we are acting for and in behalf of the individual. We should act as though it is our first time receiving the Endowment, for it can be for the deceased individual. We only receive the Endowment once, and the other times that we attend an endowment is for another. We need to prepare for an endowment as though it is our first, for it is the first for the dead individual.  

These are the things that I learned in the temple. Meekness requires a worthiness of the presence of God in our hearts through faithfulness unto purity. When we obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost, we ought to understand how we are led by the Spirit in each moment, feeling reverence toward it dwelling within us as temples of God. Feel each moment, confirming the completeness of your actions sustained by the Holy Spirit. Feel after every individual present in our lives from the Godhead; his angels; our family dead, not born yet, and alive; and every child of God around us. I do love you; although, I may not be able to be in your presence. I act as though I live in your company.  

Amazing Faith

By Isidro Zapata

I never could have
image I would
be a part of
an amazing faith
that teaches Jesus love
and his glory
Our faith has touch so
many lives
but there are false
teachers and preachers
that say nothing
but twisted lies
every day
at are faith
for the simple
reason we spread
the whole truth and
have holy temples
throughout the land
So we send out Missionaries
for two years
to spread the good news
And they have the answers
to questions and
Joseph Smith never
made any of this up
The Book of Mormon is true
and comes from above
So don’t speak
twisted tales
of Joseph Smith
There is no time to be playing around
with those who
lead people astray
time to stand up for the truth
For we are Latter Day Saints
Forgiven and we have
the whole truth
of God’s books
one, two, three,
Old Testament and New Testament
Four, five, six,
Book of Mormon
Seven eight
Pearl of Great Price
Nine, ten
Doctrine and Covenants
and Word of Wisdom
We are on a
mission to
show the world
God’s everlasting
Love and truth
for
Jesus
Died for you

Truth Alert

By Isidro Zapata

Loud horn sounds
Go off with red
lights flashing
The missionaries
Take action because
the truth alert is going off.
Quick, jump into the truthmobile.
Whole world seems to be so easy
fooled with lies
It is time to get to business
and show people
the truth.
I have no time to be
playing around
with all these false teachings
so pray and let
the Holy Sprit speak
for it has already
open our hearts to
the truth
time to show you
hit them up
with verses
that, are from above
Second Nephi chapter two verse six
“Wherefore redemption cometh in
and through the Holy Messiah for he
is full of grace and truth.
So pray and do not
Be lead astray
Let me tell you
If your world is upside down
This book will set you free
And speak the truth to you
So hit them up
With verses
that are from above
D & C 50 verse nineteen

"And again, he that receiveth the
Word of truth, doth he receive it
By the Spirit of Truth or some
Other way"

Of course the other way
Is not of God so we have
To get to our Father’s
Business and have no time
To be playing around
With these false teachings
So spread the truth
For at the end
you want to
Hear these words

“Well done, thou good
and faithful servant enter
thou into the joy of thy lord”

The
Book of Mormon is true
Don’t be ice or be easy
Trick with lying lips
Just remember to
Turn on the
Truth alter
For it will expose
them

"Humanity and Imperfections" by Lesego Mholo

why is it tht wen it rains we do everything in our power not to get mudy but wen it comes to sinning we jump in without even thinking abt it??
Why is it tht wen we r looking for som1 to love we always think of how pretty or handsum they are nd never think of the beauty of their hearts??
Why do we tend to judge each other wen we know we are of the same sinfull path??
Fact is under all of this lies our humanity and imperfections

Baptism of The Onofre Newly Wedd Family :D

From this to this:)

they are so wonderful and fun!! they even bore their testimonies at the baptism, it brought a sweet spirit to the room :) and they were given the gift of the holy ghost on Sunday and it mentioned a lot of missionary work and sealings in the temple, which they are all working on already even before they got baptized!

this week has been great I had a great growing experience, it was during an exchange that i did with another sister training leader, she was teaching me how to be a more effective S.T.L, since i am new at this. I took full advantage and told her all of my concerns and how much i want to improve, i needed to humble myself and rely on my savior Jesus Christ, to help me overcome my shortcomings and weaknesses, i knew that this would be a great learning opportunity so i gave heed to her advice, with a heart and mind willing to apply to what she counseled me to do. Everything that she said pierced me to my very core, all she has done for her growth were things i needed to do for my companionship and my own personal progress and salvation. She helped me see that i needed to put more trust in my new companion and how to  teach with more unity, using lesson plans and enhancing it with scripture and testimonies. Hence, trusting that my companion will back me up with teaching an idea within a point of a lesson, such as the gospel blesses families. Furthermore, how to apply trainings better, measure my success in acquiring Christ like attributes, and always asking Him for opportunities to practice those attributes, and always returning thanks to God for whatever learning opportunity I do receive. I learned a lot and I am not ashamed to say that I am not perfect, and that I am learning how to be a better instrument in the Lords hands to bring many to repentance. I truly felt, just  as I did before I was baptized, that desire to leave my old self behind and become a new me, a better me. As I pleaded with the Lord to help me that night, I felt that he wasn't going have me do it alone. I love my God, now i understand what Paul said to the Corinthians about Godly sorrow works repentance, for whom the Lord loves, he chasteneth. 

We just got a priesthood blessing and it was the best, i feel good and i am thankful for these servants of god to administer these messages of hope, love and inspiration directly form our heavenly Father through them. If any of you are going through a hard time, i invite you all to seek out a priesthood blessing :)

well i love you all and till we meet again!

The change after baptism Part: 3

     I hope everybody is doing well this blog will be about after my baptism. I had to change a whole lot, friends that I had for years, some family, and my job. I hope y'all enjoy my blogs. I hope it helps to encourage and inspire you with your life.
      So this is were we ended in the last blog.
     "So, I kept reading the bible and changing my life more and more.I wrote in my journal.  I had to let go of friends that were going down a bad path. I had to let go of facebook for a while actually, I didn't want any thing negative to be thrown my way.   Nobody from my baptist church called and it was what's called a mega church around here. So that said a lot to me.   The bad part was is my dad still went to our baptist church. He did go to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with me once. He told everybody " I have to tell those at my baptist church what a change this has made in my daughter's life all the way around."

     He did and it did not go well at our old baptist church. I still ended up being baptized in the church I felt the purest I have ever felt in my life. I felt clean, pure and amazing. I told my mom " I feel like a kid that's young and innocent." That confirmed everything for her as well."
     Well things got really crazy after my baptism.  My life really changed. I had continued to read the Book of Mormon, learning it's truth and having the Holy Spirit as my constant companion.  I worked every Saturday doing home health care. Things were going great. Well, on a September 10, 2013 I had my first team-up with the sister missionaries. I was so nervous. We were seeing a woman named Mrs. Rose in Greensboro. She had met with the missionaries once or twice before and today we were going to try and commit her to baptism.
     We went in and had our lesson and things went pretty good. She didn't however commit to baptism. I felt like I got to bear my testimony though to her and I knew she could feel the spirit. When we finally left the missionaries were really proud of me. They said " You did so wonderful listening to the holy spirit! You were amazing." I said " Sisters, I've never been one to speak up like I did I would just be quiet in the past." They then again stated " you really did do amazing." I felt so great. We then went home. Well the following Sunday on September 15,2013 I received my first calling!
     Apparently, my branch president was talking to the missionaries before the first visit with Mrs. Rose he told them to let them know how it went. That he think I had a calling as a branch missionary! Needless to say on September 15,2013 I was set apart and asked by my branch president "Katie did you enjoy the appointment with Mrs. Rose and the missionaries?" I said "I really did! I feel like now I can effect change in my community and help those around me especially divorced single moms." "Well, we have a calling for you if you like.. It's called a branch missionary meaning you can go out with the missionary whenever you have the time to." "I will love this calling!" He also had my mom in the room with us ,and she was totally amazed and told me "this confirms everything you have done to change your life Katie this is amazing." We were both crying by then and I felt so accomplished more than I had ever in my entire life.                 Part: 4 will be up soon I hope y'all are enjoy it! The picture below is me at my baptism with Sister Pabst and Sister Melott the first missionary's I ever met! -Katie   

   
                                                                                                                                  

buncha gibberish (Part 2)

By Isidro Zapata

You know who we are
For we have holy
Temples throughout the world
We give the world 
The whole truth
Not just half
The truth
People say
My faith is not Christian
Nowadays everybody wanna 
Talk like they got something 
to say but nothin comes
out when they 
move their lips
just a buncha gibberish
Who do you think that brought
You the whole truth
You better listen up very closely
For we speak the truth
And we have the
Priesthood and 
You are full of lies 
What happens when 
You pray and ask if 
All of this is true
And let the holy sprit speak to
you
Nowadays everyone wanna
Talk like they got something
To say
But nothin comes out when they
Move their lips
Just a buncha gibberish
Joseph Smith
Was the one
Who was picked
To tell the world the 
Truth
What do you tell someone who 
Thinks our faith is fake
Or full of lies
Tell them to go study
The book of Mormon
Nowadays everyone wanna talk 
Like they got something to say but
Nothin comes out when they
Move their lips
Just a buncha gibberish
Now we have all the books
And now 
Is the
time to tell
The whole world
The Truth for we 
Don’t put things in our body
Or mess around because
We have the truth 
Of all the books
Now you try and sneak
Into the temple
Am not having that
You trying to disgrace
What is holy
Nowadays everyone wanna talk 
Like they got something to say 
but nothin comes out when
They move their lips 
Just a buncha gibberish

Waiting For Superman-Daughtry(Lizzie Holmes Cover)

This song is close to my heart not only because I am a huge fan of Superman. But also because this song really speaks to me and I'm waiting for my own Superman!  I hope you enjoy it! Learned this song today so apologize for any mess ups:) If you like my music like my Facebook page to get updates on upcoming gigs and new music!

Http://www.facebook.com/LizzieHolmesMusic

buncha gibberish

By Isidro Zapata

I did not know what was happening in my life for it was in a tailspin
For I, just got, busted and everything was coming to an end.
My family told, me I need to find Jesus like he was missing
I never saw him on the back of a milk carton
so why should I go and try and
Find him?
since I did not know he was even missing.
I never went to go look for him
My life was going to change when I finally found
The truth and it spoke to my heart just
Around the corner when I ran into the missionaries in the parking lot, Invited, me to follow after this path
Then everyone went crazy
and started yawping and
saying it was an occult and it was all wrong so
Nowadays everybody wanna talk like they got something to say
But nothin comes out every time they move their lips,
Just a Buncha of gibberish
Everyone around started to bash and smash my
New faith.
People saying not the best of things
Of the faith, wanting to keep the truth
From all of you but we will not
Let you keep this up without exposing you
And let you continue with your false doctrine
People, please do not be twisted
With the mistreatment of the truth
Joseph Smith is a prophet from God
I finally, have peace and love
All due, to my new found faith in the LDS Church
There are some that all they do
Nowadays have something to say against my faith, bash and trash what is holy
But every time they speak nothing comes out
when they move there lips just a buncha gibberish
you act like God is not the same yesterday in years past that he somehow stopped using prophets. God is still the same
You think since the book of Acts that they all died off
And none are left
so a lot of preaches
all they do is trash and bash our faith
Why don’t you go and study the word
And it will set you free
And the Book of Mormon
Nowadays everybody wanna talk like they got something to say against my faith so they slander and bash but every time they move there lips nothin comes out but a buncha gibberish
You clown.
So stop and
Speak the truth
Some do not want to but nowadays everyone wanna talk like they have something to say all they do is trash and bash my faith
but every time they move there lips nothing comes out but a buncha of gibberish.
So I think its time for you preachers and teachers to pipe down and sit down
For you are lying to your people
Nowadays everyone wants to talk like they have something to say but every time they move there lips all I hear is a buncha of gibberish
they forget the real truth
and not wanting to seek it out
making you think they are holy when in fact they are nothing but a phony
and try and destroy my faith with lies they spill
nowadays all they wanna do is talk
but nothing comes out every time they move their lips
all I hear is a buncha of gibberish
Now it is time for us as a people of the LDS church to set these people free with the real truth and the real gospel.

WEdding !

first of all this is me and my companion Hermana Faw

 this is Rossana Asunion and Perla 

jose and i! boogying to the music

Rossana and her Wonderful husband! they are so in love and are really looking forward to their sealing in the Temple!

this is our future missionary Asuncion, she is super duper smart and spiritual. Love her.

ROssana and I love her to death!

Dancing

Holy Life

by Isidro Zapata

Why do I try to live a holy life? There is a unseen battle to the human eye to return us to glory & to live a holy life. This battle for our souls brings pain & misery for the enemy had us until our Lord & Savior broke his grib & tore him apart when he gave his life man never took it so dont ever get it twisted his master plan full of love for us. The enemy makes it hard to fully see my foolish ways when I question to live the holy life that allows me to have peace and not bitterness. Everything the world tells you and me just brings us down from our Master plan for Jesus said the path is straight and narrow and wide is the path to everlasting darkness I turn on the box theres nothing but half naked woman running all around & on the Christian station I see a man & woman all bling out with gold & diamonds & asking for your money with a evil glee & I can not even turn on the radio then I switch it to the Christian radio but all they seem to do is call my faith a cult and have missed the mark for we show them love from our heart not evil words saying we are not apart they just do not have the whole truth to open their eyes and truly set them free!! I go to church thinking it is a safe place to escape but not everyone is walking on the same path towards forgiveness & love they have another reason but I am not here to judge. So why should I live this holy life for am being real so you know my faults for am not going trip someone up by living in the ungodly world then raise my hand in church without feeling any shame in my own self center direction again am not here to judge I need to judge me So, why cant we see that the ones we hurt are you and me when we dont follow the right way in showing each other forgiveness and love. Why cant the other half see that they are being blind by the enemy and walking in a ungodly path. Why cant we see that the ones we hurt are you and me. When it is so easy to fall away So why should I live this holy life and enter the Temple for it is a holy place Only those who are living the right way are allowed to get in but the Lord shows us mercy so that we can live a holy life and enter into the Temple to serve the one who died for you and me and praise him and give him our whole heart Every night I am on my knees praying to God and asking him to forgive me and shows me all the beauty that comes with living a holy life My eyes are open now I know why I need to live this way of life so I pray for my brothers and sisters to live this holy life and to stay in the light and not fade away into the night Why can we not see that the ones we hurt are you and me when we live a ungodly life. Its time to pray for our brothers and sisters asking God to help them live a holy life So lets help one another and pick up one another and put God first in our lives then we will be living a holy life that will give us a eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

PS Have to give thanks again to Dan & his wife family Dan and Jessica Ball for it was me thinking about them & there example that I came up with this so thank you

The Blogger and the Ambulance P.2 (Alma the Younger/Second Chances)

"My world goes black before I feel an angel steal me from the greedy jaws of death and chance, and pull me in with steady hands, you've given me a second chance, The Artist and the Ambulance."
-Thrice

Here we are, part two of this two part post, if you missed the Awesome!ness of part one, click here! If not, you should probably take a seat so you aren't blown away and you may want to hold on to your socks. "Good, I just bought them."

To answer your question,
something like that

Now the best things in life are the things that have multiple meanings cause, well, they have multiple meanings. "Not the most clever thing you've ever said." My allergies are killing me, give me a break... Now what was I talking about... "Double meanings?" Ah yes, double meanings, well, We already talked about Spiritual Gifts, now to the second part of The Artist and the Ambulance. We are going to talk about second chances. "Wait a second, didn't you already talk about that with the whole Luna thing?" Why yes I did, now stop interrupting please. Now I've never had a near death experience before, sure, I've almost been hit by a car while on bike more times than I'd like to have been, but nothing that's worth writing home about. But I've heard many a tale about someone who has been on the verge of death and once they recover, they say they had a feeling that they had been squandering their lives and that all they had done was for naught. They reenter into a world of regret of all the things they may or may not have done and realize just how quickly things can change, so they make amends, and try to change their lives. So before you ask where I'm going with this, there is a man in the Book of Mormon who goes by the name of Alma the Younger.

He was what most would call a hoodlum, a ner' do well, "a rapscallion?" Exactly! He would go around leading away people away from the church and taking them down the path that is hotter than most would prefer. "Are there two hockey sticks there?" There is outdeed. So pretty much, not someone you would introduce to your folks. "And then he became a good guy?" You know, if you ruin the ending, it's not fun for the rest of us... "Sorry geez..." I'm getting there. So Alma the Younger had a father by the name of Alma who was the prophet at the time so he was a pretty righteous guy. So imagine knowing that your son, is leading people away from the church and pretty much undoing all the good you're working so hard to do. "Sounds like it would suck, also sounds like a beating is in store." Right, but think about it, even IF his father did anything, do you think a hoodlum like Alma the Younger would listen? "Probably not." Exactly, Alma needed something else to help his beloved wayward son. So he took his problems to the Lord. 

And then this happened.

Now to make a long story short, because believe it or not, I haven't even gotten to my point. "I believe it." I shouldn't have said anything... "Go on," Well, an angel appeared and told Alma the Younger these words.

And he said unto me: If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God.

"Hardcore." Alma the younger was left in a stupor for days and repents of his transgressions so here's where the ambulance comes in. In this sort of near death experience, Alma realized what he did and he came to terms with the person he was, and the person he didn't want to be. He was in a bad place, he described himself as a murderer, not a physical one, but a spiritual one and to have to face his maker with the sins and spiritual blood of many on his hands was too much for him to take. I can't say I've been where he's been, not many can, but it's not to say he was doomed to a gall of bitterness, no. This post is about second chances and that's what Alma the Younger received. He told this experience to his son saying: 

12 But I was racked with an eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.
14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.
16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

So here we are, much like John Marston, there is redemption for all of us because our Heavenly Father loves us, and he wants us to be better than we are, to be like him, and we can! We truly can! Yes, there will be those mess ups here and there, but just cause we spilled some lemonade doesn't mean we can no longer drink any. I believe in the second chances, cause they're real, but I just hope we don't have to get as far as Alma the Younger or the Artist in the Ambulance to realize it. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

What's this?

Part 2: A wonderful weekend that changed my life forever!

     So after attending a few Sundays at our branch I was really considering joining the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I was still scared though and decided to do more lessons. Well we were just on the law of Chasity. Then Sister Pabst and Sister Melott said, " Katie we have been praying for you everyday every chance that we get. We want to ask if you will be baptized on August 24, 2013?" I started to cry.I said " I've never felt this much love from other people. I don't have family that live near by I'm not close to my aunts and uncles. I feel so close though to the people of our branch. Yes, I will be baptized."   They got very excited. " Well we better get to planning then." Sister Melott said. "What do you mean?" I asked. Sister Pabst said " You get to chose everything the songs people that you want to talk at your baptism."  "That's awesome at my baptist church I didn't get to" I said. "Well we want it to be your day, your life changing name on bringing on the name of Jesus Christ. " "Ok, I love it just tell me how to do it." They then wrote out everything I would need to decide and handed me a baptism calender.    It didn't take long at all to do the lessons with them again. My mom had no problem with me joining the church. My dad on the other hand did.
     My dad kept saying "make sure you know what your getting your self into." I knew what I was suppose to do and that was to be baptized. I knew that the Book of Mormon was true.

So, I kept reading the bible and changing my life more and more.I wrote in my journal.  I had to let go of friends that were going down a bad path. I had to let go of facebook for a while actually, I didn't want any thing negative to be thrown my way.   Nobody from my baptist church called and it was what's called a mega church around here. So that said a lot to me.   The bad part was is my dad still went to our baptist church. He did go to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with me once. He told everybody " I have to tell those at my baptist church what a change this has made in my daughter's life all the way around."
     He did and it did not go well at our old baptist church. I still ended up being baptized in the church I felt the purest I have ever felt in my life. I felt clean, pure and amazing. I told my mom " I feel like a kid that's young and innocent." That confirmed everything for her as well.
     This ends Part 2 for now. I have so much more to blog about. I hope you are enjoying it. -Sister Katie Guyton  

         

TESTIMONY

The righteous need not fear the power and authority of man

We serve a God who has all in His hands

To sin is exquisite and bitter pain

The life of righteousness means joy and sweetness remain

Opposition in all things

That we might be afforded blessings

 Ask in faith and receive

Plainness means all learn, milk then meat

By small means the wise are confounded

Knowledge means options, their choice, to be bounded

The lord is my strength I’ll not be ashamed for waiting for Him that promise in 1 Nephi

We need a world of more strong men, more Moronies and Abinadies

Prick my heart that I may remember

Conversion means a change of heart, January to December

May I give all my sins away to know Thee

Humility not by force, but gratitude for all Thou has done for me

May I be anchored, steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works

Most dear, precious and now rare: chastity, virtue and remembering worth

May I be actively engaged in good works… His hands

And like the Anti- Nephi- Lehies keep my covenants

May my arming myself be only with righteousness

Remember wickedness never was happiness

The message rings and should be applied, repent and return with full purpose of heart

Feast upon the word, the testimony of 2 nations equals 1 beautiful start

I decide now the woman I’ll be

Ever so grateful that my Heavenly Father loves me

Sanctification- to God yield your hearts

Let not ever thy testimony depart

Faith, hope and charity, ingredients of salvation

Ask of the Spirit and receive revelation

Men are, that they might have joy

Every man, woman, girl and boy

Love God with all they strength, might and zeal

I share because I know Jesus heals 

Also because I’d like others to feel

The depth of His real and what it means to me

By His grace we’re saved after all we can do

I leave my testimony, this gospel is true

BY Sherida Laffayette

Here I posted this wonderful poem by one of my closest friends, with her permission, who is now serving a mission here in Jamaica. Though I miss her dearly I am reminded by this poem of her love and my love for the gospel and our willingness to share it with those around us.

March 13, 2014

These past couple weeks in the branch has been special because a man named Galen Susaita Paz is one of the most humble people that I know. The sister missionaries of the Santa Cruz Stake of Zion found him some place. I don't know where, but the light and virtue of their countenance enlightened his intelligence, leading them to continue and pursue of an investigation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I did not participate in the direct appointments, instructing Galen the Gospel with the missionaries; however, I had two special teaching moments with him. They are the following experiences.
I was asked to teach a class for the Elders of Priesthood about the Plan of Salvation. I wanted to make sure that Galen does not feel out of place, having no idea what we are talking about; therefore, I asked him what he knows about the Plan of Salvation. I was surprised to hear that he had no idea what the Plan of Salvation is, for I usually teach it as soon as possible after the Restoration to my investigators as a full time missionary. He said that it was the commandments. I was grateful for the opportunity to be the one that led the lesson to teach him the Plan of Salvation with the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This trend of teaching him the next lesson before the missionaries get to it continued the next week. Galen planned to get baptized the next Saturday, and I felt prompted to warn him what I see that happens to people just about to commit themselves to the Gospel of Christ. I admonished him that he may see many weird things, trying to distract him and promote doubt of the Gospel. I have seen this a lot with investigators. Satan only has a few investigators, missionaries, and recent converts to attack, and his efforts to thwart the work of God is successful a lot of the time. I also warned him of the spirit of doubt. It is hard to dispell, when you entertain it, and it has great purpose to destroy a soul. After that admonition, I asked him what he is going to do for the rest of the Sabbath day, and Galen said that he has no idea what the Sabbath is. When I was about to teach him, the sister missionaries drove by, and he told him that I was teaching him about the Sabbath. They said that they were about to teach it to him, and he is always prepared (by the Spirit before the lesson I presume, and I may have taught him the Plan of Salvation before they taught him.) During the week before his baptism, Galen said that the spirit of doubt seized on him powerfully. I expected this because last Sunday before the baptism he was saying that he was feeling all the feelings that he possibly could after church about baptism. He said after a lesson with the missionaries it attacked, and he remembered my warning, remaining at the church until the doubt departed. I was humbled that he chose me to ordain him to the Aaronic Priesthood the Sunday following his baptism to be a Priest.
Preparing for the conferral of the Priesthood power to him, I reviewed the expectations, which I am use to because I am an ordinance worker; furthermore, I prepared the words that I would like to say in the blessing. Respecting that during the ordinance, I may be prompted otherwise. This is what I wrote:

"I dedicate this document to Galen. I am so honored to be chosen to ordain you a priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I do not know what I will say in the ordination, but I hope that it will be something like this.
The Aaronic Priesthood is the preparatory priesthood. The Priesthood is the power of God given to man to fulfill his work and plan; furthermore, it is the power given to man to lead his family to Eternal life. There is no other means to do so. In your preparation to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, this time is important for you to develop lasting habits of your service. You now have the authority to “preach, teach, expound, exhort, … and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties." Sacred ordinances that you can perform is baptism and the Sacrament. The Sacrament has become sacred to me as a priesthood holder, for I feel like the apostles of old who anointed and dressed the body of Christ in his tomb. Your Heavenly Father is happy because your faith and humility in Christ. Prepare now as you have been to serve in greater capacities in the Priesthood by practicing your duty, following the spirit, and continually feasting on the word of God. You will be given revelations, comfort, guidance, and opportunities to serve according to your faithfulness to prayer and the commandments. Look to the prophets for examples for faithful priesthood service. We all love you very much."

Today, the 16th of March, I taught Galen how to bless the Sacrament and put it away. His feedback was that it was simple. I liked how that sounded. Putting the sacrament away, I was impressed by his faith, naturally practicing the greatest level of reverence. He even whispered when he approached me at the sacrament table.