Im going to share with you all an experience that I had yesterday. So yesterday was Preparation day or as most of us Mormon Missionaries call it "P-Day." It is a day every Mormon Missionary looks forward to. If the day is done right then it is an amazing start to your week and you can focus all your efforts toward proselyting. If not done right then it just gets your week started on a bad note and you are not able to focus on what you need to focus on as a missionary.
Well yesterday was not a good P-day for me. Everything we planed to do fell through and nothing turned out the way it was supposed to. Some other things also happened which I wont talk about, that just made me mad. So dinner rolls around and I am just mad. Those of you who know me know I dont get mad to easy. Im a pretty laid back person who can just brush most things aside and then move on, but something that happened that day just got to me and I was mad. However I am still a missionary I have been called to serve. So I tucked my emotions away and went to dinner but deep down I was still upset. Then it all changed.
The Family welcomed us in, we eat dinner, had a very good conversation with them, read some scriptures and then we left. Well, it was just what I needed at this time. I left their house with a smile on my face and I was just ready to go and serve! So thats what I did! When we got in for the night and I was reflecting on the day was when I realized why my anger was turned to joy. You see at first I thought I was just happy because there an awesome family and we had a really good time with them! However, I realized that there was more to it then just that. It was a very simple answer, it was because the spirit of God was in their home. This family works hard to have the spirit in their home and you can just notice it. It was the simple things that kept it there. For example yesterday a Little brother got mad at his sister so the mom told the Sister "Go give your little brother a big hug and say your sorry." So she did, without question and that kept the spirit in their home! Its the simple things that keep gods love in our home. Having the Spirit of Love in our home is one of the most important things we most do. For when there is love at home, the Spirit of god is there also. The spirit is what gives us those feelings of joy, love, and peace. The Spirit gives us the feelings of true happiness that we all want in our lives.
So thank you to the family yesterday who had the spirit in their home and helped start my week on a bright note! May we all do a better job at trying to keep the spirit in the home. For if we do I can promise you it will bring you in closer harmony with the savior.
Any ideas or inspirational stories for this Blog? Have Questions about the Mormon church? Send me a message on Facebook! www.facebook.com/max.elmer (also there is a link to my facebook in the top left corner of the blog.) or send me an email at max.elmer@myldsmail.net
Today is June 16th 2011. Which means that I have officially been out on my mission One year!!!! Yay I have "reached the hump" and its all down hill from here.. I think.. Well since its my year mark I Think ill talk a little bit about what iIhave been up to the last 365 days.
Lets go back to The last June 16th. The day my 2 years officially started. I woke up that mourning at my grandparents apartment in salt lake. (I had flown from Phoenix the day before so I wouldn't have to get up super early that Wednesday to get on a plane.) Anyways.. I remember thinking WOW I am really doing this. This is going to happen. I was also mostly thinking about all the sports games I was going to miss out on (I have somewhat got over that.)
Well anyways I arrived at the MTC some time early that afternoon. The MTC is a lot different then it used to be they used to have all the missionaries come with their families into the same room where they would show some video and it was just a big huge cry fest of parents leaving their kids and kids leaving loved ones. Its kind of like taking a band-aid off really really slow. Now they drop you off at the curb you have time for one last hug then Boom another missionary takes you away. Everyone I talk to say its a lot better this way.
The MTC District
Anyways back to my story.. so my parents drop me off at the curb another missionary takes me, and Boom I am gone. He takes me where I got to go, shows me around a little bit, and then sticks me in my classroom. I got real sick of that classroom.. I was in that room for like 8 hours a day for the next 3 weeks. So we sat there and waited for a bit. Then things started getting rolling. I Found out Who my MTC companion would be. I got put with Elder Matt Lee. A tall red headed kid from Washington. He was awesome! So for the next 3 weeks i was at the MTC where they attempt to teach you how to be a missionary. I loved the MTC experience and would love to go back. I made so many good friends there and have so many good memories from the MTC!
My First District.
So the MTC was over now it was time to be a "real missionary" I Flew to Billings Montana where our mission president was waiting to meet us! So President Gardner picked us up and took us back to the mission home where we took care of paper work and stuff and he told as about marvelous Montana and wonderful Wyoming! Latter on that day we found out who are trainer would be and where our first area would be! I was Put with Elder Ben Thomas and My First area was 2 towns of about 2500 a piece called Anaconda and Deer lodge.
I Loved my First Area that is where I really learned how to be a missionary. Elder Thomas and I ended up spending 4 and a half months together. I will never forgot the experinces I had there and the people I meet there. They welcomed me with open arms which is important as a brand new missionary to feel welcome in his first area.
Elder Weight and I
After that I had the privilege to take over the area where I received Elder Weight. We where only companions for 6 weeks but I loved it! He was a very quiet guy but once we warmed up to each other he was so funny! we got along great and did a lot of good work together. Then transfers came and this is where I get the call that I am leaving. The call came the week before Christmas. Our mission President calls us to let us know whats happening. I answer the phone and this is where I hear the Famous line from President Gardner "Elder Elmer I have a challenge for you." he goes on to tell me that I am getting doubled into Colstrip Montana with Elder Sherwood. (doubled In means that we where both brand new to the area. never been there before..)
Colstrip Power Plant
So we get put into Colstrip knowing nothing about the area 3 days before Christmas. This was an adventure in its self. We Get put in there and there is no work at all going there. We started from scratch. We had nothing to do except knock doors. Not only that after about 4 weeks we didn't have a place to live anymore. The member we where with couldn't house us anymore so ya.. we where somewhat homeless.. living out of our car and jumping from house to house staying 2 nights here and there so ya that was an adventure. Needles to say I am glad I had Elder Sherwood as a companion to keep me laughing or else man.. that would have been hard. Anywho, so now its late January and I get the Call to tell me that I am getting transferred to Bozeman Montana!
Elder Cabrera and I
So I get to Bozeman and i get put With Elder Copenheaver. I had only 6 weeks to learn the area because he was going home and Bozeman is a lot to learn in 6 weeks. So I learned the area and he went home. That is when I received Elder Mull as a companion. He was a good guy who worked hard and thats just what I needed at that point. We did a lot of hard work and really helped to turn Bozeman around. So after that 6 weeks was when I got the call.. Now i thought for sure that I was leaving! But.. I got the call to let me know that I was Training! Now it was my turn to train a missionary! and I was so excited! (I still am excited about it.) My trainee's name Is Elder Cabrera. He Is from Guatemala! we have Fun Together! We are on our Second transfer working together and we a are really doing a lot of good work!
If you would have told me 5 years ago that one year into my mission I would be serving in a town called Bozeman, Montana. I probably would have laughed at you. However I absolutely love it and I would not want to be anywhere else.
Just look at me now..
I have had a lot of way fun cool and exciting experiences over the last year.. However though I think the most important thing is that I truly have a testimony of this work. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of god and that the church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth! I truly know that. That is why I have given up the last year of my life and will give up the next year of my life! To tell people what I know to be true.
Any ideas or inspirational stories for this Blog? Have Questions about the Mormon church? Send me a message on Facebook! www.facebook.com/max.elmer (also there is a link to my facebook in the top left corner of the blog.) or send me an email at max.elmer@myldsmail.net
This video is about a former football player named Rob Morris. Now Since I have a love for sports I have known about this guy for awhile. He was a first round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the year 2000 (I dont like the Colts but we wont hold that against him!). His best overall year was probably in 2001 when he recorded 114 tackles. He won the Superbowl with the Colts in 2006 where he started at middle linebacker for them. After the 2007 season he decided to retire. He Suffered a knee injury during the season which took a part in his decision to call it Quits. As you can see from the video his family took part in the decision as well.
What I really like about this is how he was able to balance Football and his family. He knows that family is the most important thing. He knows that its all about gods plan. Rob and his wife had the biggest trial of their life during the year the Colts won the Superbowl when their children died during pregnancy. That would be hard, so hard. I couldn't even imagine how hard that would be. I do know this though. With the Gospel Of Jesus Christ it can make these kinds of trials less painful. They Know that they can be with their children again and I am sure that brings a peace to their life that is unimaginable to most. With the Gospel of Jesus Christ We can be with loved ones Again.
To learn more about Rob Morris Click Here
To learn more about Forever Families Click Here
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Here are some testimony's of some kids back in my home town. It doesn't matter how old you are the spirit of god can still touch you in your life. Testimony is a very powerful tool. A testimony is what you know to be true. Testimony can touch the lives of others. As a Missionary the most powerful tool I have is a testimony. So look at what these kids have to say!
I know I am a child of God. Age 4
The temple is a house of God. Age 5
I know my family can be together forever because of the temple. Age 5
I believe in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. I believe that the church is true and that Joseph Smith restored the church and that he is a true prophet. Age 8
I know that the church of Jesus is true . I know that he was crucified so all of us could repent. Age9
My testimony is a song. I am a child of God, and he has sent me here. Has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me. Help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with him some day. Age 5
I am a child of God. Age3
The temple is a house of God. I love to look at it. It makes me happy. Age 8
Jesus is real because he really, really loves me. Jesus is part of our family . He is my brother. Jesus is the son of God and he died for me. Age 4
I know the church is true. I know Jesus Christ live and loves me. I know we have a prophet because he talks to me at conference. I know the temple is the house of God and if I am good I can go inside someday. Age 6
Here is a brief version of my testimony: Simply I know that Christ lives and because he lives we can conquer death. I know that after years of being lost Christ restored his true church back to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that along with the Bible The Book of Mormon both testify of Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Christ is the only way back to our Father in Heaven. I Know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true Church on this earth.
To find out why we have the Book of Mormon and the importance of the Book of Mormon click Here
To find out about the eternal nature of families and why Mormons Build temples click Here
For a video about the Prophet Joseph Smith click Here
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The family is the most important social unit in time and all eternity. The Family is ordained of God. I am so thankful for the family that I have and for the knowledge that I can be with them forever! This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us. It teaches us that death does not put an end to our family relationships.
We see how important marriage is ever since the time of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:24). You see God has intend for our families to go far beyond death! Parents can be with their children forever and children can be with parents forever! This is what Christ teaches us! God wants our Families to be together Forever! This can be achieved though the blessings of the temple! When Christ was on the Earth he gave the power to bind families to the apostle Peter (Matthew 16:19) Then later after centuries of being lost this power was restored to The Prophet Joseph Smith (D&C 132:46). Forever Families is not a "new" concept this is the way God has always wanted it to be.
I know that through the blessings of the temple my family can be together forever. Death will not separate us. You can have these same blessings in your life! All you have to do is listen to a Mormon missionary near you!
Find out more about the Mormon church by clicking Here!
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If you watch this video you will notice that one of the first things that God says to Moses is "Behold, thou art my son." This thought is also given to us in the book of Romans chapter 8 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirt, that we are the children of God." (Romans 8:16) You see we are children of god we must never forget the importance of that. That is truth i testify that it is.
Towards the End of this video Satan comes and tries to tempt Moses saying "Moses, son of man, worship me." Do you see what Satan is trying to do!? He is trying to convince Moses that he is nothing more then a man and that he has no divine potential. If Satan can convince us that we are not children of our Father in Heaven he has won. If he convinces us of this, then we start thinking that God doesn't even care, or we can even think that there isn't a god. There is great power in the knowledge in knowing that there is a Father in Heaven who loves and cares for us. It gives us a sense of belonging and identity.
I testify that we do have a Father in Heaven who loves and cares for us. I testify that he sent his son Jesus Christ down to the earth to suffer and die for us. I testify that though his son Jesus Christ he has once again restored his true church back to the earth after centuries of being lost. I testify that the prophet of this restoration was Joseph Smith. I Testify and Promise to you that the Bible and the Book of Mormon both testify of Jesus Christ. We are Children of God this is true.
Find out more about the Book of Mormon by clicking Here
Find out more about the Mormon church by clinking Here
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There are a lot of different things happening to me tomorrow. First off is that i will be 20 years old! That alone is a very unique milestone I officially will not have the title of "teen" anymore (exciting). Next is that it is mothers day. This day is very important in the life of a missionary because not only is it a day to honor your mother and all that she did for you but, it is one of two days that we get to call home during the year. The other being Christmas. Trust me when you only get to talk to your parents twice a year over the phone you realize how important they are to you in your life.
Well onto what I really wanted to talk about, and that is Mothers. How important they are to us in our life and how important mine has been for me! So this blog is to all those mothers out there. First off is that I love you. I truly do. I not only love my mom but I love all those woman who have the title of mom. The role of mom is highly underestimated in the world we live in today. They keep the home together. They make sure its a place of refuge and a place of peace.
This last part i would like to thank my mom personaly for all that she did for me:
Thank you mom for raising 3 boys with 3 completely different personalities and interests.
Thank you mom for putting up with me for the last 20 years.
Thank you mom for being the mother that you are.
Thank you mom for all the kindness and understanding that you showed for me.
Thank you mom for supporting me on my mission.
Thank you mom for your sweet smile.
Thank you mom for being there to comfort me when I was down.
Thank you mom for laughing with me.
Thank you mom for your testimony.
Thank you mom for being you. I wouldn't want you any other way :)
The list goes on mom but ill end there! I love you mom! Happy mothers day!
You know highlight videos right? The ones that give us sports guys the cool stuff on what happed in the game when we cant watch the whole game! Well here is a highlight video. It is of general conference. So if you were not able to watch it here are the highlights! Take a look and see!
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The crowd is buzzing, there all yelling at the top of their lungs going crazy! Only problem... it isn't for you. They are all screaming and yelling to try to make you mess up. You are not playing at home. You are on the road. The sign of a good team and a good player is when they are able to win on the road. It is one of the most difficult things to do. It shows that you are able to stay focused under pressure even with all these distractions around you. When you master being able to win on the road you are a pretty good team. How you win on the road is with preparation determination and ultimately staying focused. You got to do your job and win. No other option.
I am going to relate this to us in this life. We are on the field and the rest of the world is the crowd. There all buzzing cheering and yelling to try to get you to do wrong. They yell and cheer when you mess up and are completely silent when you succeed. We need to block the crowd out. We need to listen to our "coaches" and focus on the task at hand so we can continue on to victory! We stay focused by relying on our preparation. You see there is way more that goes into sports then what people think. In football for example there are countless hours of film watching, preparing plays, and practice just for one game. Its a 24/7 job. Our preparation is as simple as daily prayer and scripture study. When you do these things you are much more prepared for the world we live in and you do not focus on the "crowd" but on the task at hand. Which is to gain eternal life. We truly are playing on the road. Will we crumble under pressure? or come out on top? Its up to us. So lets better prepare and have better focus. That is what I am trying to get across to you.
Any ideas or inspirational stories for this Blog? Have Questions about the Mormon church? Send me a message on Facebook! www.facebook.com/max.elmer (also there is a link to my facebook in the top left corner of the blog.) or send me an email at max.elmer@myldsmail.net
The need for a Quarterback. Very needful in the game of football. He is the one who takes the plays the coach gives him and puts them into action. Without a Quarterback your offencive attack is hurting. A good Quarterback is one who takes the plays then gets them done. He stands tall in the pocket then throws it to whos open. A Quarterback is one who leads the team onto victory! However they are many other key people on the field and they have to do their job also. If a wide receiver doesn't go all out who is the Quarterback going to throw to? So football is a team effort with the quarterback at the lead.
Alright so who is the Quarterback in our life's today? I am going to relate the Quarterback to Prophets. Well who is a prophet? Well some examples of a prophet are Moses, Noah and Abraham in the Old Testament. There are many other examples of prophets throughout scripture. What does a prophet do? well in the book of Amos it says: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7). I think the most important part of that is that it says god will do NOTHING save it be threw his servents the prophets. God needs a prophet on earth to tell us what he needs us to know. Just like how a football team will do NOTHING without a Quarterback... we need a prophet. The prophet is the Quarterback on the earth today. He relays gods messages just like a Quarterback relays messages from the coach. He executes Gods "plays" and makes sure that they happen. The prophet will do all that he can and its up to us to be his "wide receivers." A prophet cant do it all. He needs the support from the rest of us.
So we are the wide receivers. What does this mean? As a wide reciver your job is to get open so the Quarterback can throw you the ball. This means effort, you got to go all out and try your best. the Quarterback will throw the ball up to you but are you going to get under it and catch it? or will you just assume its overthrown or not a good pass and just stop runing. Im going to releate this to councel that the prophet gives us. Are we going to follow it and catch the ball or think its to tough or not important and not even try. Just like how a good receiver try's to catch everything we got to obey the prophets council.
We need a prophet on the earth today just like how you need a Quarterback on the field in a football game. lucky for us we got a prophet! His name is Thomas S. Monson. Why would god not provide us with a prophet when he used to? It would be like just deciding you dont need a Quarterback. It doesn't work like that. we need a prophet and we have a prophet that holds the power of god! we have evidence of this all go to my blog Why do mormons have the Book of Mormon? to find out about this. Or you can contact and ask me about it!
We have a prophet on the earth today. I know we do.
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The book that came from the dust (Isaiah 29: 4), The book that was delivered to the learned and the unlearned man (Isaiah 29: 11-12), The stick of Ephraim and The stick of Joseph (Ezekiel 37: 15-20), The fruitful branches over the wall (Genesis 49 22-26), other sheep Christ has which are not of this fold (John 10: 16). The angel prophesied about in Revelations with the everlasting gospel (Revelation 14: 6).
There are plenty of references in the Bible that talk about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. So what is the Book of Mormon? well in the first part of the Book of Mormon in the intro it reads "The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel." so it walks hand and hand with the bible. It is not taking its place. It is another testimony of Jesus Christ. It is the evidence we have that our church is the one and only true church.
So what does the Book of Mormon talk about? Well lets turn to the book itself to find out. It says in the book of second Nephi: "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ" (2 Nephi 25: 26.) So this book talks about Christ and his teachings! It talks about Christ and his dealings with the ancient people on this the American continent! It Prophesied about Christs birth his death and his resurrection. It prophesies that Christ will return to the earth again. What more could you want in a book? It is a second witness to prove to the world that Jesus is the Christ. Its just like in a court case. Two witnesses is always much more powerful then one witness.
How do i know that the Book of Mormon is the word of god? That it is a true and honest record written by the Prophets of old? Well in the bible it reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5). So if you wana know the truth ask God. Its cool how it works like that.
In the Book of Mormon it gives a promise. It is given by the last man to write in it. his name was Moroni. It reads: "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10: 4-5) This is a promise given to us that if we ask with an open heart really wanting to know if it is true or not. That god will tell us it is true. It may come as a warm felling, it may come as a knowledge, it may come because this church makes since. the felling is different for everyone! but i can promise you that it will come. God does answer prayers. He truly does.
Since the Book of Mormon is true what does that mean? Since the Book of Mormon is true, that means it came forth the way Joseph Smith said it came forth. Meaning that he was telling the truth when he said he saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. It means that they showed them selves to him and told him that none of the churches where true. It means that he was a prophet of God and that he did restore Christs church back to the earth. You see Joseph Smith had a question many of us had. He wondered which church was true. He was reading the bible and came across that scripture in the book of James that I shared early. which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5). He took this scripture to heart. He decided if any one lacked wisdom he did so he decided to ask god which church to join. he went out to a grove of trees to pray, and in his own words he said "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!
They went on to tell him that none of the churches were true that they where going to restore the truth back to the earth threw him. He was given the Book of Mormon as evidence of this. so when people read and pray about the book of Mormon. they can know that he was a prophet of god. countless of people have done this. have you?
Take the challenge read and pray from the Book of Mormon. I know that this book is true. I know it with all my heart.
Football is not a contact sport. It is a collision sport! I love football. It is by far my favorite sport to watch. The big hits, the wonderful runs, the precision passes, a stadium filled with 70000 fans screaming their head off! It is awesome! Who couldn't like football? Anyways to my point in order to play football you got to be smart. Yes football players are not just big dumb jocks. Id be willing to say that football is one of the most complex sports. You got to make sure your in the right place at the right time because if not, the offense is going to hit you for a big gain. Or on the reverse side the Defense will hit you for a loss and the next thing you know its 3rd and 15 and your in a bad situation. So you got to be smart to play football and you got to be tough. You got to hit harder then they hit. so what does this mean?
Well lets relate this to us. We are the defense the adversary, (the devil,) is the offense. He can not "gain yards" on us unless we let him. This means what? We got to number one be smart and the second thing is we got to be tough. We got to be smart by not getting "caught out of position." we do this by not letting ourselves be put in positions where we can choose wrong. If we put our self in a position where we can do wrong its like being caught out of position on the Football field. which means the next thing you know the ball is on the other side of the field then you and you are way out of position and you get hit for a big gain. Its like saying this in our lives. "I can go hang out with those people, I just wont do what they are doing." Over time (like football) you get worn out and then boom there is the big play you where scared of. You end up doing things that there doing. I have seen multiple examples of this (including myself.) I have been caught on the wrong side of the field many times. Do not let this happen to you.
So now you have been hit for a big play. you have caught yourself falling into temptation. Now comes the being tough part. They have one yard to go before they score. You know that they are going to run the ball up the middle. This is where you got to be tough, you got to hit instead of them hitting you. This is really what shows who is tougher. You know where the ball is going but can you stop them? This is like sin in our lives. we know we are doing whats wrong but can we stop? Are we going to put forth the effort to stop doing whats wrong and began to do whats right? This is where we got to be tough.
Its a good thing that we got help from the best middle linebacker in the game (no im not talking about Ray Lewis.) We have Jesus Christ to issue the blow. He is more then willing to come in the game. we just got to let him.
I testify that Jesus is the Christ. He suffered and died for us so we can return to live with God. He knows what we are going through we just got to let him in our lives. He has stuck out his hand to help us up off the "field," to brush us off, then join us in the fight. I testify that he has restored his true church back to the earth. I testify that the Book of Mormon is true and that it came forth the way Joseph Smith said it came forth. I testify that the head of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints is Jesus Christ. This is the only church that holds the power of god on this our earth. I know that to be true. You can to.
To find out more about the Gospel and Sports Click Here
To find out more about the Book of Mormon click Here
Any ideas or inspirational stories for this Blog? Have Questions about the Mormon church? Send me a message on Facebook! www.facebook.com/max.elmer (also there is a link to my facebook in the top left corner of the blog.) or send me an email at max.elmer@myldsmail.net
Practice. Yes we are not talking about the game we are talking about practice. What does practice do for you? Well simply put practice makes the game. Every athlete puts countless amount of hours into their sport before they even have a game. Yes that means work. Practice most of the time is not something you look forward to. I remember during my football days I really did not look forward to running around with 30 pounds of pads in 110 degree weather (Im from Arizona so it was really hot). However though the more you put into it the more you get out of it. (amazing how that works.) What my coaches would always tell us is that "practice does not make perfect" (contrary to the popular saying "practice makes perfect"). They would always tell us "Perfect practice makes perfect." If you dont put your all into practice then it is just going threw the motions. You get nothing out of that. so how can we have "perfect practice" in our life?
I am going to relate practice to scripture reading. Yes scripture reading. It is something most of us probably dont look forward to during the day. However, like practice, it is very important. It is what gets us ready for the "game" we all call life. Well why do we have scriptures? In the book of Romans it says: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15: 4) So there where written for our learning and our benefit. The scriptures will help us in our life. They where written for our day. many people have given up there lives so we can have these records. They gave up their lives so we can have the "practice" we need to go throughout our life with peace and comfort.
Just like in practicing for a sport we need to have perfect practice in scripture study. this means just not going threw the motions. we need to study it with all our hearts in it. it doesn't do as any good just to blow threw it and just think "well that was a nice story." we need to study it with all our strength and relate it to us in our lives today. that is what they where written for.
May we have "perfect practice" in our lifes by reading and studying from the scriptures with a full and open heart.
Any ideas or inspirational stories for this Blog? send me an email at max.elmer@myldsmail.net or send me a message on facebook! www.facebook.com/max.elmer (also there is a link to my facebook in the top left corner of the blog)
What is one of the most important things when it comes to sports? To put it simple confidence. You got to have confidence in yourself and in your teammates. If you dont have confidence and think that you will lose. You will. Having confidence does not mean however that you cant put forth the work and practice required to win. For me having confidence in sports is knowing that you worked harder then the other guy. Knowing that your hard work is going to put forth results that are required with wining. Just like in sports how hard work and confidence are connected. Its like that with every aspect of our lives.
One thing that i have learned on my mission is to have confidence. I have learned to lean more on god and trust in him. I have learned that if i am doing what i should be the results will come. I have confidence that if I choose whats right god will help me out. It is that simple. If we obey gods commandments he will bless us. when we run into trouble is when we only obey his commandments 90% of the time. Relating this back to sports its like only putting forth 90% of the effort. It would be like taking it easy when the coach isn't looking or doing one less set. It just dosnt work like that! why would god work like that? I love this scripture which is found in the Doctrine and Covenants. It reads: "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated" (Doctirine and Covenants 130: 20-21.)
Just like how In sports we only get what we put into it. we only get from god what we put into it. does that make since? let me resay that. You want blessings from god? you got to obey his commandments. Like i said in my previous blog it is not enough to "Confess Christ" then to fall back into the ways of the world. That would be like having a one win season. thats not good.
Lets all have more Confidence in god and know that he will bless us. we just got to put forth the effort like an athlete does to his sport.
Any ideas or inspritinal stories for this Blog? send me an email at max.elmer@myldsmail.net or send me a message on facebook! www.facebook.com/max.elmer (also there is a link to my facebook in the top left corner of the blog)
So as you all should know I love Sports. NFL, College, NHL, MLB, NBA, Soccer, you name it I probably follow it. They are my passion. That has probably been the hardest part about being on a mission is not being able to follow sports like I used to. So therefore I am going to write about what I love and apply it into our lives today. It will be a series of blogs. I have no idea how many parts there will be but ill go until i run out of ideas. I will relate Sports to the gospel of Jesus Christ and give short uplifting inspirational stories from different athletes.
Here is a brief summary about the different sports I follow closely why I like them and so on..
Football: My favorite. I love football the game the people the athletes just everything about it. I love being in a packed house filled with 60,000 plus fans all screaming and cheering on there team. Nothing much beats it hands down. My favorite team for professional football would be the Arizona Cardinals on a college level it would be the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Hockey: Lately I have grown a love for hockey. I dont know what sparked this but it is an amazing sport. It is very fast pace, and someone is always looking to knock somebody's head off. My favorite team is the Phoenix Coyotes.
Baseball: Americas Pastime! I love baseball. I will be the first to admit its not really a very "exciting" of a sport but nothing really compares to grabbing a hot dog, a drink, and a bag of sunflower seads then going and watching a game. It is very chill and very fun. Favorite team: Arizona Diamondbacks
Basketball: very high scoring. Fast, up the court as fast as they go down the court. if they work as a team it can be very exciting to watch. Favorite team: Phoenix Suns.
Soccer: The worlds sport! I love World Cup time. It is a very exciting time to have nation against nation! nothing brings the world together like this sport. Wars stop to watch. Cool huh? favorite team: United States National Team.
Any ideas or inspritinal stories for this Blog? send me an email at max.elmer@myldsmail.net or add me on facebook! www.facebook.com/max.elmer (also there is a link to my facebook in the top left corner of the blog)
This is a Hymn sung by an LDS artist named Alex Boye. I love this song! It is amazing. It goes along great with this scripture: 3: Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4: Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5: Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6: And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7: Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
It also remides me of this scripture: "Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul." D&C 101: 37
Just remember if we are obeying gods commandments we dont have to worry about what is going to happen. god will take care of it. he is willing to bear our grief and pain may we all come unto him.
Jesus is the Christ I know that! I truly do! he has come so our souls can be still. he has once again restored his true church to the earth so we are not left in the dark. CHRIST DOES NOT FAIL US. I know that to be true. He has restored his true gospel to the earth. I know it. You can to.
This video shows to young boys who made a difference in someones life. One simple act of kindness put tears in this mans eyes. We really dont know what other people are going threw in their lives but if we show kindness to them it may be what they need in their life. It doesn't have to be with money it could be something as simple as a smile and a warm hello. for remember "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40.) and "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)
May we all show simple acts of kindness and service and make someones day a little bit brighter.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love sports. Here is a video of the Arizona Dimondbacks when they won the 2001 World Series. Before this they were down 3 games to 2. They won game 6 so they were tied at 3 to 3. So who ever won game 7 would be called the best team in baseball. going into the bottom of the ninth they were down 2 to 1 then they come back to win it! so as we can see the dimondbacks "endured to the end" even when the going was tough. It would have been easy just to crawl into a corner and let the Yankees win. But they did not do that! They won it all! All sports is like this. There are many comebacks that I can think of and I'm sure that you can think of. now lets relate this to our lives. What does sports have to do with out lives?
Just like in sports are we going to get that final hit? or hit that game wining shot? or are we going to crumble under pressure and lose? Are we going to "Endure to the End" by not giving into the ways of this world that we live in? For remember he that "endures to the end the same shall be saved" (Mark 13:13, Matthew 24:13, 2 Nephi 31:16). It is not enough to accept Christ have a very good moments then fall back into temptation. we need to continue on and endure to the end. we need to be followers of Christ until the day we die. When we fall into temptation we need to know what we did was wrong and not do it again. This world is hard. I know that it is. May we all "Endure to the End." If we fall lets get back up and continue on till we get the prize.
Its bottom of the ninth game 7. what are you going to do?
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." John 12:46
This is a wonderful video. May we follow the example of the people in this video and find Christ. he has gone threw the pains and afflictions of this world. he is the one person we can relate to in our time of struggle. he is there to wipe away the tears pick us up and carry us the rest of the way. I have felt Christs love in my life. I have felt him there during my lowest time. he has given me comfort when I needed it. Whatever struggle you may be going threw in your life i invite you to let Christ into your life. He has given me comfort i know he will give you the same. He truly is the light and life of the world. I can promise you that.
May we always remember how god has touched our lifes. he give us so many blessings. I want you all who are reading this to stop and ponder what god has done for you...
I am going to share a couple ways how god has blessed my life:
He has blessed me with two of the best parents i could ask for. They love and support me in all that i do.
He has blessed me with this opertinuty to serve a full time mission.
He has blessed me with this wonderful country that we live in.
He has watched over and protected me thoughout my life.
He has blessed me with wonderful friends and family back at home who support what i am doing out here.
He has blessed me with a healthy mind. I am able to learn without to much difficulty.
He has blessed me with a body that is in pretty good working order.
He has blessed me by sending his son Jesus christ so i can have someone to lean on.
May we all remember how the good Lord has touched our lifes. My challenge to everyone who reads this is to just take a couple moments out of your day to ponder the question "Have i seen the hand of god reaching out to touch us?" If we do this i can promice you that you will be able to reconize that god does truly love and care for us. That he touches our lifes each and every day.
well... hello everyone! I am kind of new to the blog world but i am still excited to do this! I am a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. I am hoping by doing this blog it will help you all become closer to Jesus Christ. I will post different videos/stories about Jesus Christ and the importence of him.
I would just like to bear a simple witness that Jesus is the Christ. that he is the literal son of our literal father in heaven that we gain salvation and exhalation by him and threw him only. I would also like to bear witness that he has once again restored his true gospel to the earth. and would invite you all to contact me threw facebook or however you can if you have questions about him or about his gospel. I love my savior and that is why i went "From Phoeniox to Montana" so i can bear witness that he is the Christ.
he is a video of a mans simple testimony of Christ. it is wonderful!
Jesus is the Christ. I promise you that
