J.O.Y.

This Christmas season I hope that we can all have JOY. Maybe the word joy could actually serve as an acronym for our priorities this time of year.

J for Jesus
O for Others
Y for Yourself

Our focus should be on Christ, His life, what He did for us. One way that we can show our love for Him is by serving the people He died for. I have found some of the greatest joy in my life by serving others. If we will focus less on ourselves and more on our Savior I know that this Christmas can, and will, have greater significance.

11. Don't cause contention

Alright, I'm going to start this one off with a confession... I have not always been so good at refraining myself from causing contention. Just ask my mother, I was quite the tease. As I have grown older, however, I have eased up a considerable amount. Anyway, enough about me.

Contention is of the devil as stated in 3 Nephi 11:29 and we should strive for peace in our homes and commnuties. When you find yourself feeling grumpy (maybe you woke up on the wrong side of the bed), instead of trying to make others miserable, go out of your way to help someone else.

4. Give Selfless Service

Our Heavenly Father has asked us to serve one another. By serving each other we show our Father in Heaven through our actions that we love Him and our fellow brothers and sisters. My dad and I talked on occasion about the good feeling that comes after serving someone else. Why is that?? Why do you feel so good after you've used your time and your effort to help someone else? It is because the Holy Ghost will testify to you that you have done the right thing.

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."1 -King Benjamin

NASCAR

       I know that there are many opinions on whether or not NASCAR is actually a sport. We'll try not to get into that. My favorite part of watching sports like NASCAR is the highlight reel of all of the crashes. I know, I know, probably not the best thing. In fact, I should probably show a little bit of empathy for the drivers who wreck.

       Anyhow, I wanted to compare this to life. Do we sometimes hope for others to fail?? Do we rejoice when others "crash" so to speak. President Uchtdorf says, "...we must realize that all of God’s children wear the same jersey. Our team is the brotherhood of man. This mortal life is our playing field. Our goal is to learn to love God and to extend that same love toward our fellowman. We are here to live according to His law and establish the kingdom of God. We are here to build, uplift, treat fairly, and encourage all of Heavenly Father’s children." 1

       We need to follow Jesus Christ's example and strive to help our fellow man get up after a "crash" rather than rejoice him falling.

Please see:

Pride and the Priesthood, Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Panning For Gold

       A week or so ago my companion and I were able to do a little bit of gold panning. The picture to the left is the flakes I was able to find. I know it doesn't look like that much but it was still pretty neat to see it at the bottom of the pan.

       We were reminded of a story M. Russell Ballard shared in the April 2011 General Conference. He speaks of a young man caught up in the California Gold rush. He moved from his home in the East and went pannin' for gold. However, he was not having much success when one day an old prospector showed him that by breaking the rocks open you could see several flecks sparkling in the sunlight. The young man stated that he didn't want tiny flecks, he wanted nuggets. The wise prospector said, "Son, it seems to me you are so busy looking for large nuggets that you’re missing filling your pouch with these precious flecks of gold. The patient accumulation of these little flecks has brought me great wealth."

       Elder Ballard compared this story to service. He said, "Great things are wrought through simple and small things. Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another."

Finding Joy through Loving Service, by Elder M. Russell Ballard

Sandbaggin'

       A couple three weeks ago we had the opportunity to help out the community of Helena. We had a lot of rain and the creeks were overflowing. Thankfully, the water has receded. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to fill sandbags I would recommend that you give it a try sometime. It is a great workout. I do not know if there is any back workout to match filling and hauling sandbags.

       Service is an important part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was great to see the community come together and help those in need. A man named Benjamin in the Book of Mormon talks about service in this way, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."1

       We can all do better at helping our neighbors and friends. "...our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another."2

1. Mosiah 2:17
2. Finding Joy through Loving Service by Elder M. Russell Ballard

Leaving Home

       After serving in Frenchtown, Montana for three and a half months I really started to feel at home. I can remember my first Sunday there and how I hardly knew anyone. I didn't think that I would ever get attached the way that I did. In King Benjamin's sermon in the Book of Mormon he talks about service. He says in verse 17 of chapter 2, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Also, as I served my friends in Frenchtown I truly began to love them and want what's best for them. I hope that my service there was of help to them and I wish them all the best!