Arise and Shine Forth Theme 2012

 

So the Theme for youth is Arise and Shine Forth. I hope that you watch and enjoy this video. I know that we all need to arise and shine forth. This is really important to me because I have been trying to share the gospel with my friends and I learned I need to arise and shine forth. I am really grateful this is our theme this year. I hope everyone will try to seek and arise and shine forth. I really love this Mormon Message and I hope you do to! I am grateful to be part of this church!

TO CHECK OUT MORE VIDEOS OF THE THEME CLICK ON THIS LINK:  

https://www.lds.org/youth/theme/2012?lang=eng

Last Day of For Strength of Youth

Sorry I haven't blogged for a few days. I have been really busy.
Tithes and Offerings:
The scripture that goes with this is Malachi 3:10- Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,... and prove me now herewith,saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing. It says choosing to live the law of tithing will be a great blessing throughout your life. I have an experience of paying tithing. Since I babysit, I have the choice to spend all of it on something, but since I pay tithing, I set out 10% for tithing then I spend what is left on what I want. Since I pay my tithing, I have been blessed by people calling me more to babysit. Paying tithing is a sacred privilege. When you pay your tithing, you show gratitude for all that God has given you and return to Him a portion of what you have received. Tithing is used to build temples and meetinghouses, translate and publish the scriptures, do missionary and family history work, and in other ways build God's Kingdom on earth. Your attitude is important in paying tithing. You should be willing to pay tithing with a willing heart instead of complaining about paying tithing. Paying tithing will help you develop faith, overcome selfishness, and be more receptive to the Spirit. Obey the law of the fast by fasting each month. I am grateful for fasting. Fast Sunday is usually on the first Sunday of each month. A proper fast day observance includes not eating or drinking for two consecutive meals and giving a generous fast offering to help care for those in need. You should fast with a purpose. You should begin and end your fast with prayer, expressing gratitude and asking for help with special needs you or others may have. Fasting will strengthen your self-discipline, fortify you against temptations, and bring the Lord's blessings into your life. I am grateful that we get to fast. It can be hard sometimes but I know it is right to fast. As you obey the law of tithing and the law of the fast, the Lord will bless you both spiritually and temporally.
Work and Self-Reliance:
The scripture in here is Doctrine and Covenants 60:13- Thou shalt no idle away thy time neither shalt thou bury thy talent. Work is honorable. Learning to work begins in the home. I challenge you that if you see something that could be cleaned up like the laundry, the dishes, your room, etc., to just clean it up without asking. I know that I did this and I realized how much it helped out my family. Help your family by willingly participating in the work necessary to maintain a home. You should learn early to handle your money wisely and live within your means. I know that since I used my money wisely, that my parents said that I could go to EFY(especially for youth) which is a church camp type thing. I am excited to go and meet new people. It says to follow the teachings of the prophets by paying your tithing, avoiding dept, and saving for the future.  You should set high goals for yourself, and be willing to work hard to achieve them.  So your best in Church callings, schoolwork, employment, and other worthwhile pursuits. Heavenly Father has given you gifts and talents and knows what you are capable of achieving. Seek His help and guidance as you work to achieve your goals. I know that I am working really hard right now to save up for a violin. One of my talents is music and so I am striving to save my money for one. I am grateful that I get the opportunity to work and strive to work for something. The Lord has commanded us not to be idle. One form of idleness is spending excessive amounts of time in activities that keep you from productive work, such as using the Internet, playing video games, and watching television. Do not waste your time and money in gambling. It is false to believe that you can get something for nothing. One of the blessings of work is developing self-reliance. Self-reliance does not mean that you must be able to do all things on your own. To be truly self-reliant, you must learn how to work with others and turn to the Lord for His help and strength. Remember that God has a great work for you to do. He will bless you in your efforts to accomplish that work. I hope that you are all working hard. I know that it can be hard sometimes but if you think who you are helping, then it changes your perspective. I hope you are all using your money wisely.
Go Forward with Faith:
A scripture that goes with this is Alma 37:6- By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. To help you become all that the Lord wants you to become, kneel each morning and night in prayer to your Father in Heaven. Express to Him your gratitude and the desires of your heart. You should study the scriptures each day and to apply whatever you read, to your life. Strive each day to be obedient. You should remember the covenants that you have made and have the opportunity to renew each week when you partake of the sacrament. You need to strive to keep these covenants I talked about. If you make a mistake, then don't give up on yourself. Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to seek His help and to keep trying. You should attend the temple, when possible, and feel the you and peace that comes from serving in the house of the Lord. Be humble and willing to listen to the Holy Ghost and respond to His promptings. As you do these things, that the Lord will make much more out of your life that you can by yourself. He will give you the help you need to meet your trials and challenges. You will gain a stronger testimony and find true joy as you come to know your to know your Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ, and feel Their love for you.

I want to bear my testimony that I know all these things are true. I strive to do all these things, so that I can become more like him. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that my Father in Heaven is watching over me and he helps me with my trials. I know that He loves you and I so much! I know that we have a prophet on this earth today. I know that He will come again. I know that even if I mess up in my life, that I can repent of it and that He still loves me. This I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Doctrine and Covenants 115:5- Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.

IF YOU WANT TO READ THE FOR STRENGTH OF YOUTH FOR YOURSELF CLICK ON THIS LINK: https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth?lang=eng

                 ENJOY!!!!

For the Strength of Youth Part 4

Physical and Emotional Health:
The scripture that goes along with this is Doctrine and Covenants 89:18-19- All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings...shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge. Your body is a temple, a gift from God. As you take care of your body, you will be blessed. You need to choose to obey the Word of Wisdom. If you follow the Word of Wisdom then you will remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. It says that to care for your body, eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Practice balance and moderation in all aspects of you physical health. I have worked on this one and I worked out at the gym 3 to 4 times a week and as I did, I felt good inside. I advise you that if you haven't started a exercising schedule, to do so. Also, if you aren't eating as many nutritious food as you should, then you should start today. It is not to late to start exercising and eating healthier foods. You should no drink coffee or tea. It says to NEVER use tobacco products or any form of alcohol; they are addictive and harmful to your body and spirit. These addictions will harm your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Having these addictions will damage relationships with family and friends and diminish your feelings of self-worth. Your emotional health is also important and may affect your spiritual and physical well-being. Disappointment and occasional sadness are part of this moral life. If you have prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, or depression, talk to your parents and your bishop and seek help. I hope you all are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy.
Repentance:
A scripture that goes along with repentance is Doctrine and Covenants 58:43- By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins-behold, he will confess them and forsake them. The Savior suffered for our sins and gave His life for us; this sacrifice is called the Atonement. Through the Atonement, you can receive forgiveness and be cleansed from your sins when you repent. Repentance is more than simply acknowledging wrongdoings. This includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. Satan wants you to think that you cannot repent, but that is absolutely not true. If you have sinned, the sooner you repent, the sooner you begin to make your way back and find the peace and joy that come with forgiveness. To repent, you need to confess your sins to the Lord. Then seek forgiveness from those you have wronged, and restore as far as possible what has been damaged by your actions. When you do what is necessary to repent and receive forgiveness, you will know for yourself the power of the Atonement and the love God has for you. You will feel the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which will bring you great strength, and you will become more like Him. I am grateful for the repentance process. I hope that you know you can repent.
Sabbath Day Observance:
The scripture that goes along with this is Exodus 20:8- Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honoring the Sabbath day includes attending all your Church meetings. You should go to sacrament meeting, and be reverent and willing to learn. As you go to Church, you invite the Spirit of the Lord to be with you. You should prepare during the week so that you can reserve Sunday for the many uplifting activities that are appropriate for the Sabbath day. Such activities include spending quiet time with your family, studying the gospel, fulfilling your Church callings and responsibilities, serving others, writing letters, writing in your journal, and doing family history work. You should dress and behave on the Sabbath to show your respect for the Lord and His holy day. You should not shop or go exercising on the Sabbath. Observing the Sabbath will bring you closer to the Lord and to your family. It will give you and eternal perspective and spiritual strength. I am grateful for the Sabbath day. I love going to Church and learning new things about the gospel. I hope that you all are wanting to go to church and not your parents forcing you to go to church. I am grateful for the time I get on the Sabbath to learn and to grow in the gospel.
Service:
I like this scripture that goes with service; Mosiah 2:17- When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. It says that service to others is an important characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Often Heavenly Father will meet the needs of others through you. I had an experience with this one. One of my bestest friends was struggling that night not know if anyone really loved her. That night I felt like I should send her a message saying how amazing and how much I loved her. Not knowing why I suppose to send that message to her, but the next day, she messaged me back and told me that I answered her prayer and she knew that someone loved her. I am grateful for having that experience to get to help someone. I hope you will be tuned with the spirit. I am grateful that we get the opportunity to serve other people. There are many ways to serve other people. Some of the most important service you can give will be within your own home. You can also serve in your Church assignments, school, and community. You can serve at the temple and family history work. You can serve by sharing the gospel to other people and prepare to be a full-time missionary later. The most meaningful service can come thought simple, everyday acts of kindness. As you devote yourself to serving others, you will draw closer to Heavenly Father. I hope you know that you can serve in any way. The simplest things can make someone smile or lift their spirit. I hope you know that I love you and that your Heavenly Father loves you very much! You will enjoy the happiness that comes only from giving service to God and others. Your capacities will increase, and you will be and instrument in God's hands to bless the lives of His children.
I will post the last tomorrow!

More about the For Strength of Youth Day 3

Gratitude:
In Doctrine and Covenants 78:19 it says- He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious.It says that the Lord wants you to have a sprirt of gratitude in all you do and say. You should live in the spirit of thanksgiving daily. I have tried that challenge and I realized how much it blessed my life. Also, it will make you feel grateful for everything we have and realized how much He has given you. In young women's, we were challenged to write 100 things we are grateful for. I was grateful for that challenge because when I was working on it, it made me think how much I have. It says that gratitude will turn your heart to the Lord and help you recognize His influence and blessings in your life. It says, in your prayers, pour out your heart to your Father in Heaven in thanks for the blessings you have received. You can also express gratitude to the Lord by the way you live. Express your gratitude to others for the many ways they bless your life. I am grateful for everyone and I am grateful for YOU! I am grateful for Jesus Christ ,and the scriptures,and for personal progress, and the church, etc.
Honesty and Integrity:
The scripture it has in here is Exodus 20: 15-16- Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt no bear false witness. It says that we should be honest with yourself, others, and God at all times. So being honest, that means no lying. stealing, cheating. or deceive in any way. Dishonesty harms you and harms others as well. I hope you are all honest. I know how important this one is. It says being honest will enhance your future opportunities and your ability to be guided by the Holy Ghost. Honesty is tied in with integrity. Integrity means thinking and doing what is right at all times, no matter what the consequences. Choose to live so that your thoughts and behavior are always in harmony with the gospel.
Language:
The scripture that goes with it is Ephesians 4:29- Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good. I know that teenagers really struggle with this. I know it is impossible not to hear it at school but I advise you that you need to tell your friends to not cuss in front of you. I did that and they respected me. It says you need to choose friends who use good language. You need to help others improve their language by your example. Speak kindly and positively. I hope you don't cuss and if you do, then today is the day to stop. Choose no to insult others or put them down, even in joking. ALWAYS use the names of God and Jesus Christ with reverence and respect.It says remember that these standards for your use of language apply to all forms of communication, including texting on a cell phone or communicating over the internet. If you have been cussing then pray to Heavenly Father for help and guidance.  I hope you all know how important no to use language is. I know I have been blessed by choosing friends that don't cuss around me. I know that I hear it in the hallway but I can't help that because there is so many people, that I don't know who said it.
Music and Dancing:
A scripture I want to share with you is Doctrine and Covenants 136:28- Praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing. It says that music can enrich your life. It can edify and inspire you and help you draw closer to Heavenly Father. Choose carefully the music you are listening to. I know that people have the tendency to listen to just the music and not the words. Then, when they listen to the words to the music, they realize they having been listening to not the best song. Some music can carry evil and destructive messages. Do not listen to music that encourages immorality or glorifies violence through its lyrics, beat, or intensity. I know that if I have the radio on and it says a cuss word on it or something, I immediately turn it off and think of a hymn. It says to learn and sing the hymns. Hymns can lift your spirit, move you to righteous action, and help you  withstand the temptations of the adversary. When you are listening to music, be courteous to those around you. Remember that the Spirit speaks with a till, small voice.Dancing can be fun and can provide an opportunity to meet new people. Dances can be misused. Attend only those dances where dress, grooming, lighting, lyrics, music, and entertainment contribute to a wholesome atmosphere where the Spirit may be present. I love going to church dances. They help me to get to know new people but have Heavenly Father and the Spirit with me.
I will have more tomorrow! So sorry this is taking so long! Thanks! :)

More about the New For Strength of Youth!

Education:
There is a scripture that goes with it and I want to share it with you Doctrine and Covenants 130:18- Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. It says that education is an important part of Heavenly Father's plan to help you become more like him. It says that He wants you to educate your mind and to develop your skills and talents, your power to act as well in your responsibilities and your capacity to appreciate life. I know we need to be spiritually educated and have a good school education. It says that education will prepare you for greater service in the world and in the church. Having education will help you better provide for your family, for yourself, and those in need. I hope you know that education is important in order to teach your children or the children you will have. I am grateful for education and don't know what I would do without it. It says you need to be willing to work diligently and make sacrifices if that is necessary. Education is an investment that brings great rewards and will open doors to new opportunities that could otherwise be closed to you. I hope education is important to you. Part of spiritual education is studying the scriptures, ans words of the later-day prophets, participate in seminary, and institute
Entertainment and Media:
There is a part of an Article of  Faith I want to share- Article of Faith #13- If there is anything virtous, lovely,or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. We need to use media wisely. Media is a way Satan can temp you and deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal, humorous, or exciting. Media can be used in good ways, which we want to do, but it is very easy and people are tempted to do something wrong. I hope that you have the courage to walk out of a movie, change your music, or turn off a computer, television, or mobile device if what you see or hear drives away the spirit. I know there are a lot of songs out there that have cuss words and when I hear it I immediatly, I turn it off and think of a church song. In media there can be all forms of pornography which is dangerous and addictive. It there is something that ever pops up, you should always click off of it or turn off the screen. Never get temped to look at what it is. Avoid pornography at all costs. If you are involved in pornography, cease now and seek the help you need. If you are not sure whether something is appropriate to watch or listen to, talk to your parents and othe adult leaders. The Holy Ghost willl give you strength to make correct choices. I hope this will be helpful to you and I hope that you will use the media in a good way.
Family:
In "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" it says that the family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan... Happiness in family like is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Being part of a family is a great blessing. It says that your family can provide you with companionship and happiness, help you learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and help you prepare for eternal. I am personally very grateful for my family. I am really close to all of them and they are like my best friends. I hope that your family is like your best friend. I hope you know that you can always go to them for help. It says to seek to be a peacemaker rather then fight, tease, and quarrel. I have been trying to work on that and it it impacts the whole family when you are nice and trying to be a peacemaker. We need to honor our parents by showing love and respect for them. We need to obey them as they lead you to rightousness. You need to willingly help around the home. It will help your parents and they will be very appriciative. Even do small things like vaccuming, doing the laundry, sweeping, doing the dishes, etc. I have really tried to work on this lately and it has really blessed my life. You also need to strengthen your relationship with your brothers and sisters. They can become your closest friends. You should support them in their interests, and help them with challenges they may be facing. I hope your family is close to you and if they are not, today is the day to start. I love my family and am very grateful for them.
Friends:
A scripture about friends is Matthew 25:40- Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Everyone needs good and true friends. Your firends will be a great strength and blessing to you. They will influence the way you think and act, and even help to determine the person you will become. Your friends will help you to be a better person and make it easier for you to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am really grateful for my friends. I am especially grateful for my church friends because they have helped me to be the person I am today. As you seek to be a friend to others, do not compromise your standards. If you want good friends, then you need to be a good friend. You need to set an example to your friends by keeping the commandments, participating in Church activities, preparing to serve the Lord throughout your life, and remaining worthy to attend the temple. Invite your friends of other faiths to your Church meetings and activities. I hope you have good friends that support your standards. I know that I have tried to do that and I know if they are a true friend if they respect my standards.

I will post more tomorrow about the For Strength of Youth. Thanks for reading my blog! :)

We got the New for Strength of Youth Booklets yesterday! I was so excited! I wanted to talk about some of the things in The For Strength of Youth.

Agency and Accountability:

I really like this scripture 2 Nephi 2:27- Wherefore,men... are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death. In The For Strength of Youth it says that Heavenly Father has given you agency to choose right from wrong. I really like this because lately I have tried to get an inactive girl to come to seminary and I have tried everything and her parents have to but she has the agency to choose not to come. I have really struggled with this because she knows so much about the gospel but doesn't want to come to seminary. I have the agency to go to seminary every morning and I am grateful for that. What also plays into this is that it says you are responsible for the choices you make. Even though she is not picking the best choice, I have faith she will come again. But, I am responsible to encourage her to come to seminary. Another thing it says is that we are also responsible for developing the talents and abilities Heavenly Father has given us. Yesterday, someone in our ward that is a senior in high school, that is getting baptized on Saturday, asked me if I would play  the piano for her baptism. I feel very honored to play the piano for her baptism and so I had the agency to choose whether I wanted to play for her baptism. I am glad that we have agency to make good choices. I hope that you will use agency in a good way.

Dating:

I want to share another scripture Doctrine and Covenants 88:40- Virtue loveth virtue: light cleaveth unto light. So it says that we should not date till we are 16 and that when we do date that we should go on double dates. It says that we should not steady date till we are older so that you can keep our moral standards. I am not 16 and so I have not had this experience yet, but it gives me something to look forward to. I encourage that when you do turn 16 that you go on double dates to keep your high moral standards. This is really important to live by. 

Dress and Appearance:

Another scripture I like is 1 Corinthians 3: 16-17 - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?... The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. It says that your body is sacred and you should respect it. I have had an experience with this one. We had an eighth grade breakfast before we moved on to high school and so we were suppose to dress up for this. Well, I went dress shopping and I would like a dress and try it and see that it went above the knees or I needed a shawl thing to go over the dress and none matched or worked. I was thinking is it going to be impossible to find a dress? I came discouraged until I found this dress that was perfect. It went below that knees and had a shawl thing that matched it. I was so glad that I kept my standards because even though it was one day, I wanted to keep my standards. It says that we should never lower your standards of dress for any special occasion. It says that being immodest will send a message that you are using your body to get attention and approval. It also says that you should never disfigure yourself with tattoos or body piercings. If women get piercings in the ear, we should only have one pair of earrings. You should show respect for the Lord and yourself by dressing appropriately for Church meetings and activities.

I will post more about the For Strength of Youth Booklet  tomorrow. Thanks! :)

Mormon.org

I wanted to let you guys know that I have my mormon.org profile out there. I am very grateful for this website. Anyone that is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I advise you to visit this website. I also, challenge those that have not made their mormon.org profile, that I advise you to. I am grateful that I am a Mormon and know of the truth. I know that I know that this is the true church. One thing that I want to talk about is on mormon.org, and it asks you my you are a Mormon. Well, I really thought about this and I want to share a few things that I wrote.  One thing I want to share that I didn't put on there, is that I didn't have to have people always telling me that the church is true; I found out by myself by reading the scriptures and going to church that the church is true. I want you to know that you guys are children of God and he loves you tremendously that you can't describe it in words. I hope you all will remember that and NEVER forget it. I want to give you the link to my profile on mormon.org. Click on this link to see my profile.  http://mormon.org/me/6V9V/#  

Return to Virtue

I wanted to share this Mormon Message with you. This one is one of my favorite Mormon Messages. I like that it says that the root word virtus means strength. I want to tell you that as I watch this it talks about having moral standards which I hope everyone has. I am grateful for this Mormon Message. It tells us how important virtue is. I know that WE need to return to virtue. WE are guardians of virtue. I have really been thinking about this Mormon Message as I have been working on Personal Progress. For virtue in Personal Progress, it says that we need to stand in holy places. I really hope that all of you will stand in holy places. One thing that really struck me during this Mormon Message is that we need to leave aside the things OF the world. I have tried to do this and it has helped me a lot! I hope that you all will know how important this Mormon Message is. I challenge you to, if you haven't already, and live virtuous and stand in holy places, and leave aside the things of the world.  I would like to bear my testimony that I know this church is true. I know that everything that they said in this message is true. I hope to strive to be a better person and be more virtuous. I am grateful for the scriptures. I hope you all will keep the covenants and live the word of God.

So sorry I have not blogged in the longest time! I am going to do better and blog once a week so that I can pass off my Good Works Project in Personal Progress.
So lately, I have really focused my life on reading the scriptures and working on Personal Progress.  My testimony has strengthened so much. I am grateful for Personal Progress and the opportunity I get to work on it. Also, by reading the scriptures, I have found answers that I have been trying to find.
Lately, at school, I have had a hard time with friends. I felt like I was losing all my friends and that I was all lonely. I was really struggling with it and have gone home many nights crying because I thought no one cared about me. The next day, I talked to one of my greatest friends and by her just saying I love you and I will always be there for you, was a way I knew that I was not lonely and that people really do care about me.  By that experience, I have really tried to reach out to others and help them to feel that they are loved.
Last night at church, we had New Beginnings, which is welcoming any of the girls that will be turning 12 this coming year. I know that as I went to New Beginnings, I learned some experiences people had and what they felt was important about the values. I had so much fun and getting to know the new girls that will be coming into Young Womens this year.
I am grateful for people and their love they have for me. I am grateful for Personal Progress and that I am able to work on it. I am also thankful for the scriptures and that I get to read from them and grow from them. I hope you all know that you guys are children of God and He loves you very much and I know he loves me.