Sunday

by Isidro Zapata

Wait its, Sunday
a new day
To praise thee
I thank God for it is
Sunday
Keep it holy
Best day of the week
Remember
Jesus died
for you and me
So you can be holy
Jesus Love cannot be denied
For he showed
Joseph Smith the whole truth
So it will never be misunderstood ever again
So
Keep Sunday holy
You need to live for him to understand
Sunday best day of the week
Jesus gave us everything
Joseph Smith was faithful to see the whole Truth
So you can feel Jesus love and glory
Jesus died for you and me
Joseph Smith
Was faithful to see the whole truth
Joseph Smith re store the faith
So keep Sunday holy
Jesus died and gave us a new life
So love one another and
Help those in need
Wait don’t forget to fast & pray
for those in need of a recovery
So keep Sunday holy
for it is
The best day of the week
Joseph Smith
Was faithful to see the whole truth
And was faithful to
restore the whole Faith
So you and me can feel Jesus love and glory
so keep Sunday holy
and do not forget to fast and pray for those
in need of a recovery

It's March!!!

Hi! Hi! Hi!

How was your week? Can you believe it's March allready?!? Oh My Goodness it's so Fast!!!

 

We had a wonderful unique experience last night. In a way it was a miracle! Last weekend my companion got a flat tire on her bike so we had to walk around everywhere yesterday it wasn't too bad. After our dinner appointment we weren't really sure who we should go see that was within walking distance so we prayed that we might know where to go and what to do. Right after we prayed we started walking and we started talking to a man who was just standing outside smoking, we got to know him and learnt that he was from Afghanistan and owns an ice cream business here. After a while he said he had his wife and kids at home so he needed to go and invited us to come home with him. Almost without even thinking we were like ok! and started following him. We got to his home and got to meet his whole Family. It was Incredible. They all just welcomed us in like we were their family and we sat down and they fed us and gave us drinks and just made us feel so comfortable. My companion and I just went along with it and it was great. They had almost their whole famly there. Later on more Aunts and Uncles came and we just sat and conversed with them. We quickly learnt that they were all muslim and very into it. As we sat there I thought and prayed alot in my heart to know how we can best help them and share the message of the Restoration with them. I finally remembered and was comforted knowing that we had prayed earlier that eveing for the Lord to guide us to know where to go so I knew that he led us to that Family for a reason. Before we were about to leave we thanked the Family for allowing us to share that time with them and for making us feel so welcomed then we asked if we could share a message with them. We shared our testimonies of the Restoration with them and our love for the Gospel and explained what we do and why we ( 2 young girls who were walking around that night and ended up in their home) we expressed Heavenly Father's love for them and I just felt like we had truly known each other for a long time. I knew that Heavenly Father loved that Family and although they weren't really keen on learning more right then I hope that at least one person in that Family felt something in their heart and somewhere in their lives they'll come to receive the Gospel. That experience was very unexpected and was such a great miracle to me President. I never thought I would somehow end up in a house full of Muslims teaching about the message of the Restored Gospel. I gotta admit I was a tiny bit scared at first because I didn't know how they would respond. But as I sincerely prayed in my heart I truly felt Heavenly Father's love for them and I knew that they were my brothers and Sisters:) Oh I love the companionship of the Holy Spirit. I feel that time and time again Heavenly Father has let me know in ways that I understand that truly he is there and this is his work and he truly does labor with us.

 

I love you Loads!!!

Nadi

Gilbert Temple Dedication and Fun!

hello friends!

WE  got to go the Temple Dedication!! it was so special and i learne so much about the importance of temples and how it is a blessing for everyone both spiritually and socially. As we dedicate a temple we need to rededicate our lives to the service of God and all that we do needs to reflect the temple and what we learn there. As the people of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon, when he was addressing his people, when they pitched their tents around the temple with every tent door facing the temple. Symbolically we can face the temple too. In the way we treat others, speak to others, love others, raise our families, the choices we make, should all be facing towards or reflecting what the temple means and what we learn there. I loved it, especialy Elder Callister's talk. 

 

We had a really nice expirience as we went to contact a refferral. We were looking for a man, he wasn't home but his wife was. She was sort of not very welcoming at first but then we started to get to know her and just being friendly, we talked outside her door for like 15 minutes and invited her to some church activities and she expressed a desire. She finally let us in and started to tell us that she had been baptised about a year ago and sister had taught her and were teaching her two sons also, and the reason she stopped coming to church was because of work, but she loves the chruch and she even wants us to teach her all the lessons to refresh her memory and we invited her to get ready to enter the temple and that we will be her guides in that process. She was so so happy and warm and friendly and made us feel like family. She is really excited and wants her sons to get baptized as well, but the best part is that her husband wants to baptize them. We are so happy that we found them.

about two weeks ago i saw a man all alone at church, so i went to introduce myself. he stood up and shook my hand and said i reminded him of his daughter that is serving a mission in texas. He was visiting our branch because his wife was in  hte hospital in phx . she got ran over when she was visiting the temple open house. She was placed in a comma.

We went to visit her this week and she was a lot better , she was asking us questions to get to know us and was so happy that we were there, we all shared spiritual thoughts of comfort like alma 36, ether 12. mosiah 24. She was so sweet so humble, she cried and it was so speciall for me to see how much faith she has and I know that the prayeer and faith of others was being well recieved, she was strong and had a sense of hope radiate from her, she knew that she was not alone, she had the love of her heavely father and his peace. Her  father took  a picture of us with her to send to his grandaughter i looked at her and she was smiling, i thought to myself i wish that i can smile even when i am going through difficult trials and afflictions and have trust that His plan for me is perfect, that although i will pass through very difficult times, God will be there to wipe away my tears and give me the strength i need.  teh nurse came with a roller bed to transfer her to another room, so her Husband came over and held her with so much care and gentleness. he was ever so careful placing her fragile body on hte bed holding her back and the back of her neck, as he was over her he stopped  and gazed into her eyes and kissed  her twice on the lips. It was the most beautiful scence to see and how this man had the pure love of Christ in him., it truly touched all our hearts.

 

we got to sing as a choir for a fireside and guess who spoke? Stephanie Myers, the author of the Twilight book. it was so fun.

 

Well i love you all and write me when you get a free minute :)

Hermana Salas 

For My Grandmother

Grandma in the middle, with my mom and uncle by her side

When my grandmother died, its almost as if the world came to a complete stop. Life was still whirring past me but my life suddenly didn't include someone who was important to me anymore. I didn't even realize how important her presence was until she wasn't here anymore. I have lived with my grandmother since I was 12.When I first came to live with her to go to school in Kingston I was not happy-she was delighted. My family lives in St Elizabeth ad I had never been away from them for extended periods of time before, so I missed them dearly, especially my mother. Over the years I grew to love Kingston, but my relationship with my grandmother when I was a teen was horrible. She didn't understand me and I didn't understand her, I didn't try to get to know her as much as I should have.She got married to my grandfather who was a solider in the British army, while he was in Africa. She  is an African and he is a Jamaican, and the two cultures in some respects are very different which is what contributed to many of our misunderstandings.On top of that I was a rather feisty teen-I had an answer for everything. So instead of trying to see from her perspective  I was angry at her for circumstances and situations which neither of us could control. Her Husband, my grandfather is not a member of the church and often times there would be loud arguments which added to my frustration. (She joined the church when she came to Jamaica ,after my mother got baptized when she was 16) As I grew older I learned to forgive and let go, and to love her regardless of what was happening around us instead of shutting her out as I previously done. The relationship improved, we would spend long hours on Sunday evenings chatting about almost anything-though are some topics I never learned how to talk to grandma about, like marriage and dating. Then as usually comes with age came illness, and that is when I realized just how much I loved my grandmother.I took her to several doctors to find out what was wrong, and when she cried at nights because she was in pain I would have given anything to take the pain away. When she was hospitalized  I visited her every single day, even when I was tired because I knew she expected to see me. As I watched her get worse, I knew she was going to die, yet still on December 29, 2013 at church after sacrament meeting when I heard she passed away that morning the pain ripped through me like a knife.It still does sometimes on days like today when I am lonely, and I miss her and wish she was here. But out of her passing away I learned to rely on the Saviour. My favourite hymn became Be sill my soul because it gave me great comfort. I have felt and continue to feel the comfort of the spirit as I continue going to school and trying to do my best with out her. Yesterday would have been two months since she left this world, and I know I have not allowed myself to mourn for her because I am busy with school and my callings at church and trying to find a job all at the same time. I suppose this is a way of mourning, by writing how I feel. I have also realized that what really matters in this life is my family, spending time with them and letting them know how much I love them. I didn't let grandma know how much I loved her- I do not plan to have that regret again. I have also learned to focus on the Saviour and this beautiful gospel, especially the Atonement of Jesus Christ which not only gives me the assurance that I will see her again but give me the peace, faith and hope I need to press on. I still live here in her house, ad it feels weird to be here without her, But I know that Father knows best. When He took her home he ended her suffering and I know she is in the Sprint world with her parents and brothers and sisters who went before her, sharing the gospel with them. I am grateful for her life and ll that I learned from her, and I hope one day to be like her. 

For  My Grandmother

Strong black woman

From the soil of Africa

Brought to Jamaica

By the love of a Solider

Beautiful African Princess

Gave birth to her children

Doing her best

To love and mother them

Kind Caring Lady

Quick temper, quicker smile

Willing to go the extra mile

In her adopted home isle

God-fearing praying warrior

Always singing hymns of praise

Praying daily her voice was raised

To God in gratitude even on bad days

Strong black woman

Beautiful African Princess

Kind Caring Lady

God-fearing prayer warrior

May I one day  grow to be like you

Dedicated

To

Joyce Graham

Sunrise July 23,1940

Sunset: December 29, 2013

Fighting The Waves.

By Jullian Nyangoma

Time And Patience Have A Great Way Of Reaveling To Us, What Matters In Life. Seems All The World Trys To Show Is, Mitrust,pride,havoc,the Strong Waves Keep Pushing Us Away..Nothing Seems To Have A Happy Ever After. Temple Marriage Has Always Been In My Mind, But A Thought Sets In " Does Marriage Ever Work Out In This Era?" Its Amazing How Many Things I Keep Picturing, The Little Sour Lies, The Arguments, The Mistrust,the Tears.. I Finally Get To Answer My Self. The Tiny Little Lies Ought To Keep Off My Lips (does'nt Matter How Tiny They Are,atomic Bombs Are Made Out Of Tiny Molecules.), The Arguments, "Who Cares If I Win Or Lose?".. The Mistrust, Got Alot Of Thinking About This But I Realise Now That, "You Ought To Trust And Have Confidence In What Belongs To You" , The Tears, Elder Bednar Once Said, "Women Always Cry Doesnt Matter Why They Cry"..A Shoulder To Lean On Is All. I Finally Keep My Mind Glued With " A Happy Ever after Is A Temple Marriage"

My Little Christ Like Elements P. 2 (Laughter)

"Hey reader, did you hear that? I think there's someone in he-"
     -Elder Lopez, famous last words

Well hey there! How are you today, my dear reader? "..." That's great! I'm doing good as well! Better than Elder Lopez at least! "...Uhhh..." Oh don't worry about him. He'll be fine. Eventually. "Okay, what's going on here? Who are you?" Oh, right! I'm Elder Coon, and I'll be your blogger today.

Anyways, where were we? Oh yeah, the Elements of Harmony! I mean, Christlike Attributes. Next up on the list is Laughter! Now you may ask, how is that a Christlike attribute? "I'm not asking that." After all, the scriptures never talk about Jesus laughing do they? Well, let me answer that question with a story.

Once upon a time there we six ponies adventuring through the dangerous Everfree Forest. "Wait, you watch that pony show too?" I think the better question is, why don't you watch it? Anyways, so these six ponies are on an important quest through the Everfree Forest. All of a sudden, the already dark night becomes pitch black. The six stop in their tracks, unsure of what to do. Then in an instant, they find themselves surrounded by deadly monstrosities looming over them! With huge claws, razor teeth, and penetrating glowing eyes, these killer trees are about to rip the heroes to shreds! Just when it seemed they were doomed to sudden destruction-

"Wait, wait, wait, wait. Trees? Killer trees? Come on."

Hey, these trees could mess you up. Have you ever SEEN Snow White? What would you do in that situation, tough guy?

"...Okay, I see your point."


So, as I was saying, just when it seemed they were doomed to sudden destruction, they hear laughter. Not the creepy kind of laughter that you would expect to hear at this point, but just normal haha-that-was-a-funny-joke type laughter. And where is laughter coming from? Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie Pie?" Pinkie Pie!

You see, while the other ponies surrendered to their fear, Pinkie laughed. Pinkie always laughs. She's always optimistic, always looks on the bright side, and always sees the silver lining. She has Hope! Hope is faith pointed forward. It is an assurance that things will work out, that you'll get through just fine, and that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

So when you're having a bad day, don't forget it's better to look up. Keep pressing forward! Endure to the End! And for heaven's sake, SMILE! Happiness is a choice, and sometimes it's a tough choice, but it's always the better option.

"So what happened with the killer trees?" Well, it turns out it was just an illusion, and the trees couldn't really hurt them. "Lame." But then they go on to survive a rockslide, take on a massive sea-serpent, kick a manticore in the face, and literally rip apart Nightmare Moon (you know, from a few posts ago) with a rainbow tornado. "That sounded pretty cool until the rainbow tornado."

Well, Elder Lopez is starting to regain consciousness, so I guess my time is up! Until next time dear reader! Excelsior!

The Blessings Will Come

 

I got this from Creative LDS Quotes on Fb. Just a reminder that all promised blessings will be ours if we continue to be faithful. Those blessings might not come  when we want them to but Father knows  best and only wants the best for us, so trust in Him and all will be well.  

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding; In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.

Doctrine and Covenants 82:10; I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

Shine, a 168 Film Festival Production

I went out with the missionaries last week for dinner, meeting with an old friend and an investigator. The old friend was from the distant past, recognizing me for my hospitality. It's been a couple years, since I invited her over to our house, having her over for dinner. She is still barely getting established like the last time that I met her; however, she had me over for dinner at this occasion. This blog post is inspired by the presence of the investigator that joined us that night. His name is Max Terronez. He is one of those people that tells a lot of stories, and you may question whether he is for real. He spoke of many real life and charitable situations, but I want to write about his production of a film for the 168 Hour Film Festival, an international faith based production. 

He approached the sister that I received for dinner, asking if she would like to be the executive director. This means that she would simply fund the production of the film, which they claimed was 300 dollars, and 200 went to registration. Max is incredibly creative. This is not the first film that me made for this festival. He told of one, where he had a courting couple walking on the beach, and the walk transitions to different stages of their lives together into marriage, family life, and children until the father is gone. You can see and hear the developing perspectives of their relationship in the dialogue. I believe that the father died of an illness, and Max claimed that a doctor had an issue with the short film. Max was so inspired last year that he wrote this script in 45 minutes, sharing it with the executive director immediately after. She said that script was so great that she wept. Since he is from Santa Cruz, California, he was unable to take advantage of the privileges of joining the initial event in Los Angeles, where he can get crew members from casting calls. Max has worked with big name directors in the film industry, so he called for his own casting call near his residence. His crew was mostly connected by networking. 

The films are supposed to be short. The film that was produced by this team is about 11 minutes. The video depicted the story in a very vague way. If it deliberately told the story, the deep story could not be enjoyed as well. There was only one odd scene that may confuse the viewer. The story is so deep that you have to read between the lines to understand the depths of the cinematography. He told me directly what they are. I am going to write it in this article, but I am going to cross it out to not spoil the story. An obvious part of the story that you don't realize until the end of the story is that the daughter dies of cancer. There is a scene where the father, whose name is Pun, is grieving in a bar, and the bartender tells him that he should leave. This shows his character as a family man of integrity; although, there is apparent family problems that he deals with. After he leaves the bar, Pun calls his father, meeting him at the beach in the next scene. Max said that there were disputes among his crew, questioning the purpose of Pun calling his father, finding the phone number on a slip of paper and he had to identify himself in the call. This shows that he was estranged from his father. I don't recall him with a slip of paper in the film, but there supposed to be. 

Max said that the lack of professionalism of the crew limited the extent of the story's sagacity that he desired. The editor was a wedding film producer, and he was so indifferent to Max's direction that he did not include his name in the credits, nor did he read the script. That part may have been edited out. Directing this film required, Mr. Terronez to have many sleepless nights. One night he was overbearingly encouraging his editor to work into the morning. They dosed off together; although, Max gave into his request to get some liquor to keep him working. At the end, the editor was unable to translate the film into the format that the Apple programs required, and they had to take out the hard drive out of the computer, driving it down to LA to make it before the due hour of the film festival, for they only had 168 hours to produce the film.

The film made in the top 20 out of hundreds, and the daughter got best actress; although, it was funded with less than 100 dollars. My high school music teacher even provided the original score for the film. Other crews boasted special effects and everything that the greatest directors can request. Max Terronez used all his skill to inspire the world in this film, and a side hope was for aspiring directors to keep the industry, making good films. He wanted me to provide information for these interested people to join the next 168 Film Festival; maybe even work with him. The Founder and Executive Director is John David Ware, and his contact information are the following means: email at info@168Project.com, website at www.168Project.com, and phone at 818-557-8507. Max Terronez knows that there are many opportunities in film, and he would like to share them with you. You may even ask me, if you want to contact Max.

Laptop Review

I dedicate this to Trevor Hicken, my brother, who I hope will be writing for you soon. He is a technology wizard.

A3 Ultra-slim 14.0" LCD Screen 1366x768 Windows 7 Intel D2500 + NM10 Dual Core 1.86GHz 1GB RAM Laptop Computer with Wi-Fi (160GB HD) (Silver)

From Focalprice

A Completely Lousy Chinese Product

I bought this laptop for my brother, expecting that it would run according to it's specs, but it didn't. The version of Windows 7 was many years old, making it very slow. It would have taken forever for my brother to update it, so he put Linux on it. When he did that, he found that the laptop would not hold the operating systems. He would have to install the software over and over. He found an operating system that seems to be holding, which works okay; however, the battery only lasts about 40 minutes now, since he accidentally let it die. It is basically a laptop from the nineties.

Hello

I am Lem Mats'aba. I come from a very small country in the Southern Africa....with approximately 1.8 to 2million people(The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho). I am a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. I Currently serve as a YSA Female Represensetive in my branch. I am single. I will be 23years old on September 29th. I like Nature,Travelling and Exploring. I study Business Management and desire to own a Travel Agency and a Beauty Spa soon. I am going on mission this year and will be studying Somatology together with Business Management when i return. I love missionary work and i possess deep love for missionaries serving around the world, even every member of the church hence, Every member a Missionary. I have a firm testimony of my Saviour Jesus Christ and His Atonement for my sin. I also rejoice in seeing people as they can become. I am glad we will be serving each other right here. 

-Leetoane Lem Mats'aba-

Divine Right

By Isidro Zapata

This is very sad about this trend going around all because of some law. How can people use the book and verse to claim it says you can keep certain people out Look out for this con.
Are you like Jesus does your holy stance matching his role if so walk on water and feed five thousand people. Jesus mingles with the people and never cast anyone out. So how can you use his verses and turn them into words of darkness. Get a grip you whip of lying and turning around the verses for your own glorification.
Stop get out go back to where you belong it’s not here in this amazing place. We are not a class system that brings division but Capitalism brings this to our home and goes into your dome and stays there. Jesus said love one another treat the other better then yourself not to be a master but to be a servant of other’s so where does this separation begin get out of here then and swim or fly out of here because this land never belong to YOU or me we are aliens living in lands that never belong to you and me get a history lesson nation then tell me who really owns this land not you and me.
German nation people were in shock how can the German people allow such horrible things first it starts off you cannot shop here because I have a divine right the book says then you are twisted with all sorts of evil because the book say’s it LOUD and clear back to the nation it starts off with YOU JUST CANT SHOP HERE ANYMORE IT IS MY DIVINE RIGHT THE GERMAN PEOPLE THOUGHT KILLING PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT LIKE THEM WAS THEIR DIVIN RIGHT TOO DO I HAVE TO GIVE YOU A HISTORY LESSON SO STOP
YOUR BEING FOOLISH AND MAKING THE BOOK
HATED BY MORE BY YOUR FOOLISH WORDS
OF THE BOOK OR ONE DAY WE WILL HAVE DEATH CAMPS
AND YOU SAYING IT IS YOUR DIVINE RIGHT