SHOOT THE TUBE

 SHOOT THE TUBE

The summer of 2010 I was hired to be an Especially For Youth councilor in Logan and Salt Lake City Utah. We got to meet MANY youth from all over. It was a wonderful time to have youth with similar standards come and learn more about the Gospel. One of the weekends, we councilors decided to go and "Shoot the tube" a popular summer activity in Salt Lake. When my friend Kaitlin and I got there we looked up the tunnel and thought we might not make it...All we could see is the light at the end.

We were pretty nervous... What you had to do was walk in the water that was freezing all the way to the end; there was only a rope to hold onto as you walked. Kaitlin and I went in together and we held onto the rope and let it guide us. At the beginning we were scared to start walking in the tunnel, but we conquered our fears and continued. After making it through the tunnel it was our turn to be "shot down the tube." What would happen is a board of wood was put up to block all of the water from coming down the tube. As the water built up we put our tube down and prepared for the swift water that was that coming. When the board was taken out, the water RUSHED past us "shooting" us down the tube. The excitement was exhilarating...when we reached the outside we were shot into a pond that was filled with dogs and other treasures...Overall it was something that was good in the moment but did not end well...

                               

What I realized is that it was an experience that made me happy for a moment. After it was all said and done I smelled like a wet dog. It was defiantly something that gave me a rush of adrenaline but not something that gave me lasting happiness. Youth, as you go through High School you are going to find many things that make you feel good for the moment...but in the end you need to find something that gives you happiness forever. I know that living the Gospel Standards is what has brought me the most happiness...

“Happiness leaves no bad aftertaste, it is followed by no depressing reaction; it calls for no repentance, brings no regret, entails no remorse; pleasure too often makes necessary repentance, contrition, and suffering; and, if indulged to the extreme, it brings degradation and destruction.”

-W. Eugene Hansen

The Search for Happiness 

 

(C)LV2011

www.mormon.org

Tears Trail to Tender Mercies

The Principle of Compensation

come what may and love it...

“The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.”

-Elder Worthlin

Youth, there are many times in life when you just don't get what you want. You may not get asked to the prom, you may not win the big game, and you may not think life is fair...to be honest, at some points it is not! As all of you know, in the beginning of my mission, I was reassigned to serve in New York. At first I thought this is an AWFUL time in my life to be sick. All I could think was, give me another chance! It was an experience that came with many tears. I was ripped away from friends, desires, and experiences. I was heartbroken... When I got to New York, I thought that, all was lost. However, I continued to be faithful and serve the Lord. As I did, I was able to see how the Lord was compensating me for that loss. I was able to learn HOW TO have a good attitude even when things are hard.Through out my mission, I have been blessed to meet thousands of people and bear my testimony to them. I have been able to see people change their lives because they came to know Christ. I have been able to witness TRUE HAPPINESS. Heavenly Father truly knows how to compensate us, maybe not in the way we want or the timing, but it is what he needs us to have. 

come what may and love it :0

(c)LV2011

http://www.mormom.org/

Nineteen Post's to a better 'but'

FOR STRENGTH OF WHAT?! FOR STRENGTH OF YOUTH!

While I was trying to decide what to blog about it hit me, literally. We had taken a sharp turn in the car and a FOR STRENGTH THE  OF YOUTH pamphlet flew into my lap. I would LOVE to share my experiences with FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH.

FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOU

Now,  THE "BUT". I remember the High School days when I would be asked to do many things that would potentially lead me to some awful outcomes. I would always start my sentence with "I WOULD BUT, I CAN'T." After reading the FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH pamphlet. I came to realize it is not the "but," but it is the BLESSINGS that are available to me that give me a reason to follow these standards.

Even the Nature loves FSOY

  In any good book I usually start with the Title Page so I can understand clearly WHAT I am reading and WHY I am reading it. The First page in the FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH pamphlet is from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They are the Men who lead and guide this church, as I read this I realized how MUCH they care for the YOUTH, and how much they LOVE us! Throughout this message it is mentioned that these are merely GUIDELINES. That is something I love about this church. It is our choice to do these things. All of the GUIDELINES in this pamphlet are to only benefit and bless our lives. I think of it like a coupon, we don't have to use them, but when we do the cost is less and we can afford to buy more. When we CHOOSE to follow these guidelines we will enjoy more blessings in our lives and live in a happier state!

    Message from the First Presidency

Our beloved young men and women, we have great confidence in you. You are choice spirits who have come forth in this day when the responsibilities and opportunities, as well as the temptations, are the greatest. You are at the beginning of your journey through this mortal life. Your Heavenly Father wants your life to be joyful and to lead you back into His presence. The decisions you make now will determine much of what will follow during your life and throughout eternity. Because the Lord loves you, He has given you commandments and the words of prophets to guide you on your journey. Some of the most important guidelines for your life are found in this pamphlet. We testify that these principles are true. We promise that as you keep these standards and live by the truths in the scriptures, you will be able to do your life’s work with greater wisdom and skill and bear trials with greater courage. You will have the help of the Holy Ghost. You will feel good about yourself and will be a positive influence in the lives of others. You will be worthy to go to the temple to receive holy ordinances. These blessings and many more can be yours.

We pray for each of you. May you keep your minds and bodies clean from the sins of the world so you can do the great work that lies before you. We pray that you will be worthy to carry on the responsibilities of building the kingdom of God and preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Savior.

The First Presidency

  

Throughout the next few blogs I want to share my experiences of how I learned all of these different guidelines. I remember a lesson I had in Young Women's (the program for youth in the church) about FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH. My leader had us cross out the TH of youth and read it as FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOU! She taught us that these things we are learning are not just for our YOUTH but for our LIFE. It does not matter the age of someone, these principles will always apply. I would LOVE to hear how these principles have played a role in your life.

I liked this picture because the trees look like they form a gate. When we follow these GUIDELINES we enter into the gate that helps us stay on the straight and narrow path that leads us to eternal life.

I know its true and its for you!

check out www.mormon.org   :)

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