Play Book of Life

December!!  I found myself lost in a whirlwind of questions.  My mind was going about a million miles every which way.  Back up, I will clue you in on some background information...as a missionary I serve my mission for two years.  Well, just so happens my year mark is this month.  So I am at like my midlife crisis in missionary life, just kidding it is not bad at all.  I just find myself doing a lot of self evaluation.

A lot of missionaries at this time do a lot of reflecting both on the pass and the time to come.  Not only the time to come on as a missionary, but also life in general.  Questions like who am I?  What good have I done?  How have I changed?  Who do I want to become?

Life has so many twist and turns, ups and downs, highlights and moments we wish would have never happened, but that is life.  In this storm of questions in my head I found myself slightly nervous for the future.

I am a baby when it comes to that, one of my biggest fears since 6th grade is having to grow up.  For the longest time I thought when you grow up the fun stops, life is just a boring routine you do till you get old and die.  Pretty depressing way to look at it, and boy was I wrong.

As I looked around my desk trying to sort out all of my lingering questions pictures and things stood out to me.  The first thing to stand out to me were two big pictures of Christ.  I know Christ is real and He suffered for me.  I thought, hmmm.....there must be a lot more to life than just a boring routine if He was willing to go through that for me.

Next picture to catch my eye was one of a guy sitting in a chair, with the out stretched hand of Christ before him, and the devil's hand trying to bind and pull him down.  I thought about the times of rebellion and the times of righteousness in my life.  Life is filled with choices and challenges, which can come at us unexpectedly not in just a boring routine fashion.  The picture reminded me that the Savior will always have an out stretched hand through all our walks of life.

Right under the drawing is a list of all my family and close friends birthdays.  The list of names cause me to reflect on all those I love.  Those special individuals that Heavenly Father has blessed me with, to be on my team as I endure the game of life.  I thought about all the things in life that are worth a celebration, birthdays being the celebration of the past year, and year to come.

As I continued to examined my desk, pictures of my new nephew catch my eye.  Having a baby, and being a parent definitely is not just some boring routine.  God gives us new responsibilities and opportunities in each stage of life.  Things to challenge and make us stretch, but yet the reward is great.

As my eyes completed the circle around the mirror on my desk, I took note of all the pictures and such. Ranging from the temple, the prophet, Jesus Christ, my brother's name tag, and the Foot Prints poem.  My desk alone answered my question, life is much more than a boring routine.  But why do each one of these miscellaneous items stand out in my life?

Placed by the bottom of the mirror is a very valuable object to me.  My Scriptures!  Like I said before life can get crazy, and our futures can at times scare us, but God has given us the playbook of life.  The hundreds of years old lessons and events written upon the pages is what makes each of the items surrounding my desk important.  The game of life is still won and played the same as it has been since the beginning of time.

God speaks to us by way of His prophet.  I know in life there is hope, and I have a purpose.  I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that my family can be together forever.  I don't know exactly how or where I will end up, but I do know life has a much greater purpose than just a boring routine till we die.  All of these lessons or plays are inside the book. Open it up, and see what your next play will be!

Going to God's House

Just the other day, the other missionaries in Vacaville, Brother Christensen (local member who is legit), and I took a trip to the Sacramento Temple.  What a sweet experience, to go to such a sacred place.  Temples are the closest thing to being in heaven for us here on earth!

After about an hour or so of driving we exited off the freeway.  We took our last turn and headed up the hill.  On the side of the road is a bit of forest and usually there are some turkeys and maybe even a deer or two (Brother Christensen loves to spot the animals).  Breaking the crest of the hill, and coming to a clearing, there the temple sits.

As we pulled into the parking stall I could not take my eyes of the god-like structure.  The Sacramento Temple has a fairly simple design, but yet still a pristine look.    As I marveled at the beauty of the Lord's House, I felt a sense of peace and security.  To me temples are like "the castle on the hill."  A place all can come to find peace and protection.

I am a bit of an art nut; the inside of the temple, the paintings, glass work, and stonework is breath taking.  As I examined each detail and inch finding all to be flawless.  The temple is a house fit for a king.  In a literal sense the temple is the house of the King of Kings.

After, participating in sacred ordinances, and  serving those who have already passed on  , I could not help, but feel complete.  Waiting for the others to finish I took the time to recognize and appreciate the peacefulness I felt in the temple.  Inside the walks of the temple, my problems are left at the door.  The worries and worldly concerns which normally weigh me down, are a lost thought for a moment.  In the temple I feel at home, I feel the love which my loving Heavenly Father has for me.  Inside I am safe from my life's challenges and struggles.  The temple frees me from my life's bruises and bumps.

Temples are eternal, and the work is too.  There we can learn to see afar off , having more of an eternal view on our lives.  At the temple we can have a taste of what heaven might be like.  All are invited and welcomed to take this trip to God's house.

Our Prophet Thomas S. Monson says it quite nice in a short poem...

How far is heaven?

It’s not very far.

In temples of God,

It’s right where we are.

I invite all to go and check out the temple!  It is such an amazing place, the Oakland Temple has a lot of events and such during the Christmas season.  Check out http://www.templehillevents.com/ for more information.  Lets all take a trip to God's house!

What is required to have Faith?

Faith is not just simply believing, but requires us to act.  In Joshua 3, we read a story of how Joshua and the children of Israel come to the massive Jordan River.  Joshua knows their destination is on the other side, but how can they cross?  Joshua turns to the Lord for advice, just like we all should as we face our "Jordan River's" in life. 

The Lord gives a simple answer for Joshua to tell the priests to walk into the river, with a promise that the ground will become dry as they continue to push forward.

The task at hand seems fairly simple, just step into the water.  This is where fear, pride or doubt may begin to set in but, all of us have to decide to make this same step of Faith and get our feet wet.  The Lord does fulfill his promises, but like the priests, not before we are willing to act on our faith and take that first step.

I see this each day of my life.  Sometimes it my seem in my mind the Lord is requiring a lot, but when I can set my pride and fears aside,  I realize I am safe, making that step into the light.  As we are more willing to act on our faith we will see miracles, and we'll see how truly involved the Lord is in our lives.

From this chapter, it lays out an equation of faith we can all apply to our lives..

Prayer + Obedience + Acting on Faith = Miracles 

Let us all follow the example of the priests and act on our faith, no longer limiting ourselves or the Lord in the miraclesD&C 45:62, we will see each day.  Make that first step, get your feet wet!