He's Been There Before

 Wanted to share one of my favorite poems. Just really shows how amazing our Savior really is and how we can rely on him to help us through our trials. This poem is not about me but I think it's amazing. He's Been There Before

The alarm rings at 6:30; I stumble to my feet I grab my companion's bedding and pull off his sheet. A groan fills the room. It's already time to arise?" It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes. The morning activities follow: study, prayer and such When its time to leave the apartment, you feel haven't accomplished much "We have a super day planned," my Companion says with a grin. I lowly utter a faithless breath, Yea, if anyone lets us in. With the word of God and my faithful schwinn, we ride off in the street. Prepared to face another day of humidity and heat It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through. My companion and I are riding home, not accomplishing what we thought we'd do. We ride up to the mail box hoping to recieve a lot. Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "AIRBOX" We go up to our apartment; the day is now complete the only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet It's past 10:30 Pm, my companion is fast asleep. Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep In the midst of sadness I kneel down to pray; I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say. "Oh Father," I begin, "What happened to us today? I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away My hands, my aching hands worn, hurt and beat If our area was any smaller,we'd have knocked on every street." Why on missions are the days so much alike? the only difference aboutn today was the flat tire on my bike. Will you send some cooler weather? the heat is killing me! I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes. Its very hard to see. Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough? People always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff. Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack; I want to give them Book Of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back." And what about my Family? They don't have much to say. I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day. Oh Father,why am I here, Am I just wasting my time? Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind. My Companion, Heavenly Father, wha are you giving me? The way he rides his bicycle I don't know if he can even see! Now you have it, I can't go on. I DON'T KNOW what to do! That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I leave you." My prayer now finished I stand up, then jump right into bed. I need my feet for tomorrow; we have another long day ahead Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away. Then it sems a vision takes me to another time in another day. I'm standing alone on the hill, the view is very nice. A man walks towards me and says, My name is Jesus Christ." Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet. "Arise he states, follow me to the shade you and I need to speak." My attention towrads my Saviour, total and complete He says, "Your Mission is similar of what happened to me. I understand how you feel, I know what your going through; In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you. "Even know how you felt when no one listened to you At times I felt now quite sure what else that I could do. I know you don't like to ride a bicycle for a car would be sweet. Just remember the donkey I rode I was not equipped with 21 speed. I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something to hate. I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, " Oh, the agony was great. I see you don't like your companion you would rather have someone else. I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth. It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you. I remember when they put thorns in my head and called me King of the Jews. So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack. I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back." Your hands hurt from tracking and knocking on doors all day I guess when they pounded nails inro mine, I ache in a similar way. It's hard not to hear from homr when your family was not there to see. I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why has though forsaken me?" We have a lot in common, but there is a difference between us you see. I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me." He embraced me with his arms, His light filled me with His love. With tears in my eyes, I watched as he went back to the Father above. I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head. I listened and heard the alarm, when I realized I was in my bed. My companion let's out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!" I sat up and said. Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!" No matter what we go through when we feel we can't take more, Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before

by Troy Whittle

Our Hero

This post is for you dad. We all put together how we think of you and we love you so much. Thanks so much for being our Dad and the best one anyone could ask for. We love you. Have a great Father's Day!

Hey Dad I wanted to share a post of how great you are. Thank you so much for all you've done for me. You really are the best any kid could ask for. I have always looked up to you and I always will. You're great example has made me want to be a better person. I want to be like you when I grow up. I am so glad I got your funny personality in me. You really are the man. You are the best Dad ever. Just keep doing what you're doing because we are all blessed to have you.
Love
Elder Preisendorf

My dad is the best dad in the whole world, the way he acts and the way he talk makes me want to be more like him. My dad is my hero and his spirituality makes me want to be more spiritual in my dealing with the lord. My dad trains me in so many things that I want to be like him, I love him so much. Love you dad.

Chad

 

Hey dad. Just wanted to say happy fathers day. I love you and I have always looked up to you. You are the best dad anyone could ask for. Hope you have a wonderful fathers day and just know that you are the man

Love

Jess

 

dad is the man!, he and Eric provide the funniest 18 holes ever played in golf. He had to have a lot of patience putting up with me, and i'm glad he did. everyone says i take on after my dad. and i'm proud of that. thanks dad. love ya

Craig

What is Testimony?

    

    I admit for a long time, I've wondered what my testimony was or even if I had one. Everyone needs to find out for themselves what they truly believe and that's what should be life's motivation. Our testimony is what we feel in our hearts and is a continual process of building. Just like a ladder, a testimony increases as you move upwards-or towards God. Our tesimony can increase in many diverse ways-the most influental in learning of our Savior Jesus Christ. Studying the scriptures such as the Bible and the Book of Mormon are great ways to understand and know Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. The only way to truly understand something is to immerse yourself in it. For example, if I want to learn a language, the best way to learn and understand it is by immersing myself in a society where I'm always around it. The same is with testimony. The only way to truly gain a testimony is to immerse yourself in circumstances that influence it all the time. It may seem difficult but opportunities are everywhere-in service, charity, scripture study, prayer etc... The last way to increase our testimony is through challenges we face. Remember, there is no testimony without the test. Though life sure knows how to knock us down, through our Savior and loving Father in Heaven we can get back up and doing so will increase are want to be near to them, and thus, increasing our testimony.
     I want to end by sharing my testimony. I know the Jesus Christ is our brother and the Only Begotten of the Father. I know by through Him, I can live with them and my family forever. Time and time again I am reminded that this is the True church and nothing can change me. I am so blessed to be a part of the great gospel and feel so blessed to grow from it. I love my family and know they are here to help me throughout life and all eternity. I know the Book of Mormon is true. As I read it, I'm reminded through the spirit of how great it really is.

Feel free anyone to share your testimony and thoughts here. The last way to increase the testimony is to share it.

The Challenges of Life

I'd like to share something that is very close to my heart. Challenges in life are something that we all must face. As it says in 2nd Nephi, we must have opposition in all things. So in 2nd Nephi 2:11,13 it says:

     Opposition is one of the biggest difficulties we face, but the Lord takes us and refines us through it. I was reading one day a quote from one of our apostles which said that there are two main reasons why we go through the challenges we do. One reason is what we do to ourselves-meaning we make a mistake and cause our own grief. The second reason is really what got me and hit home. I had never thought of it. The second way we go through these difficulties is when we want to become close to our Heavenly Father. The only way we can become what He wants is if He tests us. The Lord chastens those He loves and if we want to inherit all the Father has, we must be tried.

     I have personally found that I feel myself grow a stronger connection with my Father in heaven when I am in a hard situation and need to rely on Him for direction. Let us put our yoke upon our Savior and brother Jesus Christ and our burdens will be made light. Let's endure every situation we face with an attitude of optimism as our great example and apostle Paul showed in
2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

"And he said unto me, My ^agrace is sufficient for thee: for my ^bstrength is made perfect in ^cweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may ^drest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in ^ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in ^bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am ^cweak, then am I ^dstrong."