Lifting Burdens

This is my favorite Mormon message. It is so powerful, and I testify to the truthfulness of it. No matter what our burden is, I add my witness that He can and does heal us. There is nothing that we cannot overcome; no burden to heavy to bear. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. I will shout it from the housetops. He lives, and because this an eternal truth, we can live forever in peace and happiness because of His sacrifice. Jesus is the Christ. He is the son of God. He did come the the world in the Meridian of time to redeem His people from their lost and fallen state. He gave is life, and bore all of our sins, pains, and infirmities. I testify to His merciful power. I have felt it abundantly in my life. I know He lives. I know He loves us. Let Him heal you. In the sacred name, of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Restless Nights

Last night was the worst nights sleep I've had in a long time. I tossed and turned all night, could never get comfortable, and could never seem to shut my brain off long enough to allow sleep to overcome me. I rolled over, and bright red numbers reading 3:02 stared back at me from my alarm clock. Laughing a little bit, I thought to myself, "Well... I must be a princess..." as the memory of the childhood fairytale The Princess and the Pea filled my mind.

A young prince was looking for a fair princess to wed. He searched high and low all throughout the kingdom looking for his royal bride. Yet, he could never find a maiden of royal birth. One night, while a terrible tempest was raging outside, there was a knock at the castle door.

The Power of Choice

I want to be like my brother Nephi of old, and write the things of my soul. I remember when I got my mission call. It was 2 in the morning the day after Thanksgiving on a frigid night in Rexburg. I had just taken a 4 hour shuttle with no heat, and was exhausted from traveling all day. That morning, I had been sitting in the San Fransisco airport when my roommate calls to tell me that my mission call finally had come. Woo Hoo!!!! It had taken 7 weeks. My 7 week roller coaster of emotion had finally come to an end; my call had come. I was anxious to hear where I would be serving. I had in my mind some far off destination like the jungles of Brazil, or the city streets of Paris, but I told myself that I would be happy no matter where I was called to labor.

Choose This Day

This is one of my favorite mormon messages. I always have good intentions to serve others, and make the most of what the Lord has blessed me with, but often times I fall short. How grateful I am for the reminder of living prophets that it is up to us to choose to serve God today. I testify that as we serve with all of our heart, might, mind and strength, we will be so blessed. We will come to feel the redeeming love and power of our Savior's Atonement. Truly, He lives!

Bears

A couple of weeks ago, Sister Mace and I were driving from Joliet to Roberts. It's a 13 mile stretch that we drive almost every day. While cruising along the 212, my thoughts were everywhere from the service we had just done at the public library to our next appointment to discuss our musical fireside. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw a big black animal along the side of the road. "Oh my goodness," I thought to myself. "It's a bear! I've always wanted to see a bear!!"

My Brother, My Hero

Meet my brother, Recruit Cooper Buchanan. Currently, my hero. In October of 2010 Cooper entered boot camp for the US Marine Corps. Growing up, I remember telling my brother specifically, "Don't you ever join the military!!" I loved my brother, and didn't want anything to happen to him. The military meant battles, war, guns, fighting, and fatalities. 13 years later, Cooper was signing a contract and planning a future career with our country's finest.

Never too Busy

Have you ever had something really important to say? Something that consumed your very being it seemed, yet there was no one there to listen? Or perhaps there were many people that could have listened, but you couldn't get their attention. Life is hectic. Life is busy. Too often we are asked to take a proverbial "number" in order to be heard. Many times we fight to be heard; clamor for the attention of another. Suddenly, in the battle of being heard, this becomes our anthem: "Listen to me!! I have something worthwhile and important to say!"

As children of the most high God, our very beings are filled with great worth. We are precious in the sight of God. He is are maker, we are his creation. As such, should that not suggest that our very thoughts, concerns, fears, questions, joys, sorrows, successes and triumphs ought to have the utmost importance to Him who created us?

Faith vs. Fear

I was very fearful of serving a mission. I had no idea what to expect, nor did I want to fail. I had decided to serve a mission twice before, but each time had let my fear overcome me, and had given up. But the Lord had a plan for me, and that plan included a mission. I decided again that it was the right thing for me to do. So I began again that process of preparing for a mission. Needless to say, this caused a lot of stress in my life. Running and biking became my number one stress relievers. One day, I was riding my bike around my hometown. I turned a corner and saw a deer crossing the road. Upon seeing me, the deer froze, paralyzed by fear.

Another Testament of Christ

I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It was translated by the power of God through His servant, the prophet. I testify that that prophet was Joseph Smith. I know that the Book of Mormon truly is a second witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We can know of the fullness of the Doctrine of Christ. I have found the Savior on every page of that most sacred book.

I recently have had the opportunity to kneel before my Father in Heaven in prayer, and ask him if the Book of Mormon is true. Having faith, and with real intent, I poured out my soul to my Maker. Peace filled my heart and my mind. An answer from the Lord came.

I leave you my witness that the Book of Mormon is true. I invite you to find out for yourselves by sincerely asking God, our loving Father in Heaven. You will receive an answer by the power of the Holy Ghost. This promise is given to all.

Epic Adventures

Preparation Day. Monday. P-Day. Day of Rest. However you look at it, Mondays are blessed days in the life of a missionary. As missionaries we devote all of our time and attention to serving the Lord, and in return, find no greater joy. However, it's nice to have 8 hours each Monday to take care of the necessary things. Such as shopping, cleaning, and dodge ball. Essentials.

When I was serving in Kalispell this past summer, Sister Ivie and I got a phone call saying that next P-Day we were going to take a little field trip. We would be heading to Big Fork to go hike Mt. Aeneas. We were so excited to embark on this adventure of all adventures. We traveled to the base of the mountain with 10 other missionaries where we would begin our climb. I was ready to prove to all of those Elders that I wasn't a wimpy girl; that I could climb a mountain with the best of them.

Look Not Behind Thee

New Years. That thrill and promise of January, and by an extention, the new year that rings in the hearts and minds of people all over the world. It is a time of introspection and improvement. This year I will loose weight. This year, I will stay on top of the finances. This year I will make amends with that long lost someone. This year I will put myself last. This year. Goal are beautiful things. I believe in goal setting. I also believe in looking towards the future for success, rather than clinging to the past. If we are focused on a righteous goal, and have our eyes set toward heaven, we cannot go astray. I will be able to follow in the light of our Savior, Jesus Christ, one step at a time.

Online Proselyting

I have a little announcement to make. I am an online missionary. We are blessed to be able to share the gospel with the world in ways that have never been done before. There are a handful of missions all over the world that have been chosen for online proselyting. What is online proselyting you may ask? Well, this consists of missionaries within those missions using tools such as blogs, facebook, and mormon.org to share the gospel.

Pretty cool huh? So welcome to the blog. Here you will find insights, scriptures, and testimony centered around our Savior, Jesus Christ and His gospel that has been restored. The Gospel, or the "good news" of Jesus Christ is now even more accessible to the world with just a click of a button.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. That is the reason why I am here- to testify to the world that He does in fact live.

How Great a Debtor

About a year ago, I was at home packing up the last of my things. My life for the next 18 months was going to be packed away into brown boxes, and placed in a storage unit. Everything was in order. My enrollment at BYU-Idaho was deferred, my facebook account was closed, and I had traded in my favorite red ballet flats for black, sturdy walking shoes. I had been called by a Prophet of God to labor in the Montana Billings Mission. The upcoming 18 months were to be completely foreign to me. I didn't know what to expect, and quite frankly, I was terrified.