There is a song in the Primary hymns book, "I am like a star shining brightly, shining for the whole world to see, I can do and say, happy things each day, for I know Heavenly Father loves me." What does it mean to be a shining star? I thought it meant to be someone that everyone looked at, to have all the world facing you, and that is what it means but just because people know that you are different does not mean that they will except you.

I have a friend who was a member of the church and she left, I tried to except it, but it always hurts to think of what will happen in the long run. After much fighting, we became friends again, I was lead to believe that through our friendship I might be able to lead her back, but I am done.

I think of life like the Iron Rod, you keep going on it, keep walking, and soon there is the tree, that amazing tree. Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus is standing there, as well as our family and friends. Things start getting scary, you are almost there, but can you make it? Can you reach them? With tears filling you eyes you hear them calling you, forward you move and before you know it, Heavenly Father is wrapping his arms around you and telling you softly and lovingly "Welcome Home My Child". Soon warm arms are all around you and you are home.

I wanted this for my friend, but what can be done when I am losing myself along the way. Everytime she hurts me I feel my heart crack, but at one time she was very mean and I hung up with her. Before I knew it everything was warm and I knew that Jesus was the Christ and Joseph was the prophet and that the church was true. When she came back I thought, "here it goes, I can do this", but then she did it again. She hurt me again, but instead of feeling bad about it, I felt calm, I knew she would try again. With a hand from the Holy Ghost, I told her good bye, I am done.

We are traveling on the road together, and she wants to stop, but I can see the tree, so I must say goodbye, I must keep walking. For myself and my line to follow, I must keep going, even if I have to leave her behind, it is a splint right through my heart, but it was something that the Lord had warned me of.

How can people want to turn their back on Jesus? After everything that he had done? And Joseph? And the Holy Ghost? And.... Heavenly Father?

When we were in heaven, Father stated his plan, Satan stated his plan, and out of the crowd we all heard our brother Jesus speak. We all felt the truth in his words, and when the Father said, "will you go and die for them?", Jesus turned to all of us and said "yes". We were all there when the plan was made, when brother Joseph excepted his part, when the prophets following excepted theirs, and when we approuched the Father and excepted ours. How then can we turn away? I want so much to grab my friend into my arms and carry her forward, but I can not, nor could the virgins give up their oil nor can the Father just make up believe.

The Holy Ghost said to move on, he is our guide in this terrible place, he is the one holding the oil to our candle, the only light we have in this darkness. If we remain where we are, we will lose the oil and all will be made dark. Heavenly Father gave us a guide, a map (the Bible and Book of Mormon), road signs (church leaders), places of rest along the way (churches). How, then, can it be that we stop?

She stopped, she tried to keep me as company, but I must move on, and so I shall.

Brothers and Sisters, though the road ahead looks terrible, though there are many storms ahead, many road blocks, let us continue to march forward, for we are Sons and Daughters of the most High God, with our brother Jesus beckoning us forward, we will conquor over evil, for we will fear it not.

God Bless us all

"I am like a star shining brightly, shining for the whole world to see, I can do and say, happy things each day, for I know Heavenly Father loves me."

Tags: Letting Go Moving Onfollowing Holy GhostIron RodGod's Childrenshining

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Some times I feel so alone, I feel like the world is coming down on me and I don't have any one I can count on to be there for me. It really hurts.

I guess I got really caught up in feeling sorry for my self and lonely, that I lost track of who I was. There is a scriputer in Matt 5:14-16, (this was the first scripture mastery that I learned in Semonary) that says “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does man light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.". I had a final that I was freaking out about, among other things, and as I paced my room I blurted out of the blue "I need God in here". I've said my prayers, attended my church classes, took the sacrament, so on and so forth, but I had literally blocked the Holy Ghost from entering my heart. He wasn't there, I had shut him out thinking I knew what I was doing. And admitting all of this to myself I felt him return to me, I instantly rush to my CD player and started up "Daughter of a King". The Lord filled my room, I heard him everywhere, within every corner. He held my hand as a studied and as I went through my trials for the day. But his mercy and love wasn't through with the teaching. My little sister came knocking later (like a little missionary), she and my parents felt I had been studying too long and that I needed a brake. My little sis invited me to go swimming with her, and she wasn't going to hop in the pool till I did. We had a wonderful afternoon where she showed me all she knew how to do. I understood then what it ment to be a little child, to be a real light. My candle was fading, and as it reached it's last portion of flame it was instantly filled again, I never want it to get that low again. Never ever will I let things like school and stress pull me away from the Lord. We are ment to take on troubles so that we can draw closer to him, not to pull away like some people do. My little sis goes through terrible problems, yet her light still shines like the sun, I love her for that.

We all go through terrible trials, some that seem unbareable, and we at times think we know what were doing, and well it may appear that way, the Lord sees all, he knows all, he knows every single one of us and what we need. Knowing this brothers and sisters, we should all come to the Lord everyday, no matter what (loneliness, anger, fear,). Through him our candles will be made stronger and they will shine unto all the earth with a heat and light that makes the sun look low. We will learn to love and hope, to be kind to our enemies. We will not know idleness, or hate, we will know true serenity. It's like growing wings and soaring, we will never come down if we turn all ourself to him.

How Bright is your Candle?

Tags: Following Christ Alone Loneliness A Child Of God Royal Heir Fighting Satan

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I never thought when I first joined Taekwondo, that I would ever get to where I got! I am a Black belt and if you had asked my two years ago if I thought that I would be, I would have laughed in you face and walked away. I had only joined the class because my family did and they wanted me to be physically active in something rather then sitting there and reading all the time. I was so mad at them, I couldn't get why they wouldn't leave me alone about it, then I got my belt. Taekwondo isn't just a sport, it's a protection, it a life style, it comes with oaths and lessons. Taekwondo becomes a part of you, everyday when you wake up, you think about who you are, what you belt means, the forms. With it comes pains too I've had plenty of injuries but everyone of them have made me stronger, I would feel my body acking as I got out of the bed the next day and I'd think wow, what other sports do this for you? The bonds that I've formed with my class is amazing, together we work and teach, we feel one anothers pains, we stand there strong when the time comes, and we cheer each other on!

There were times that I wanted to quit, when the pain was so great that all I wanted to do was lay there and cry, not feel anything more, but then I had my family and friends to turn to, alot of the youth in my church were in Taekwondo, and the instructor was in my ward too, so I always got great advice when I needed it.

My testing came, I was working with another girl testing and the two of us were totally patting each other on the back, any fear that one of us had, the other would smooth it over. I tell you all, I did my nine forms, I spared all the black belts (including the world champion sparer), I broke my boards with the hardest brakes on the list, and I did my 50 push-ups, now I'm going back to help others do the same. The fact that two years could change me in such away, it's amazing, but it was because I cept going that I reached this point. Never ever ever give up on something, particularly if this its something you want. I wanted that Black Belt, it took me the first time I tried I failed, but I came back, not willing to quit, you all should do the same! Pick something and go for it, no matter how many times you fall, pick up again and go! I'm never giving up on something again because watching everyones face as I was passed my black belt, feeling success in my hands, it was the most amazing thing in the world. I will always hear everyone's cheers as I passed through one thing after another. I'll remember the feeling of the forms, moves that were natural to me, almost like breathing. I wont forget hitting the floor during sparing and feeling the pain of a good rib kick. I will always feel the feel of air as my foot and hand went through a board and straight out. I'll remember that pain I felt as the push-ups were pumped one after the other, and lastly holding in my grip my old belt, as I passed it on so that it could be knotted, holding in my knowledge of all I knew, and then being passed the black belt. Watching as my instructor wrapped it around my waist and then turning to the class and giving a bow, that was pure success, a feeling I plan to feel over and over again as I now help others to do the same.

God sent us to this earth to live, to learn, to be a part of this world, each of us in turn should strive to do as he asks. Look at this world that he created for us and take from it what we can. Do what you think would lead you to the feeling of success, a feeling that our father loves feeling along with you. True success is something that takes loads of work, it takes picking yourself up when you'd rather sit and moving on. Brothers and Sisters good luck and I love you.

Tags: Working Strength Keep On Going Proud Success

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