"I Can go the Distance"

    There are so many different Disney Movies out there, and a lot of them have something that we can learn from! But I think one of my favorites is "Hercules"! It gives us a great view of our own lives and what we have before us! Our Heavenly Father has a plan for us, that plan is called, The Plan of Salvation! And I think the song from Hercules, "I can go the Distance" gives us a great outlook on our lives!

"I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a great, warm welcoming
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

                                                                                  
I will find my way
I can go the distance
I'll be there someday
If I can be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
I will go almost anywhere
To feel like I belong
Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though that road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It might take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through

And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete
But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart

Like a shooting star
I will go the distance
I will search the world
I will face its harms
I don't care how far                                                                               
I can go the distance
Till I find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

I will search the world
I will face its harms
Till I find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms"

We don't always know what lies ahead of us, and we don't always know what things we are going to have to overcome to get back to our Heavenly Father! But if we don't give up, keep working hard and endure to the end, we know that the Atonement will make up for our faults! I can truly testify that The Plan of Salvation is real and that our Heavenly Father and our Savior are in the details of our lives helping us through this journey so that we can "Go the distance"! And so that one day, when we reach that "far off place" there really will be a "great warm welcome" from all our friends, family, and especially a very proud Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ bringing in a "Hero's welcome, waiting in Their arms"

Learn more about the Plan of Salvation from one of the Apostles, Elder L. Tom Perry: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/10/the-plan-of-salvation?lang=eng

"Heaven on Earth?"

       When most of us think of Heaven, we think of some far off place, that we hope to one day prove ourselves worthy enough to make it to! But have you ever thought, that maybe our Heavenly Father wants to give us glimpses of Heaven here on earth, that He gives us opportunities to taste just a little bit of what we hope and dream for every day? Well, I testify that He has! And that place where we can experience heaven on earth is in the home! The home is where we have the opportunity to be with our families! To learn and grow together, and to create a greater bond and love for each other, than in any other place! As we read in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", written by the First Presidency and Quorom of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng, we read, "The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." Here we read that we need to base our families on the foundations of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and put Him central to what we do in the home! So how do we do that? Well one of the greatest blessings our Heavenly Father has given us is Temples! Temples are beautiful places where familes can be sealed together by the Power of the Priesthood for time here on earth and for eternity hereafter! This is something that is essential to God's plan. He wants all of us to not only make it back to living with Him, but also to be able to be with our families forever, and the temple is where we have the opportuinity to do so! 

         My parents were sealed in the temple and I will forever be grateful for this choice that they made. Because of this choice, it has blessed my life as well as all of my siblings. Two of my sisters have already followed this example of my parents, and the rest of us look forward to that day, everyday. But since this, my parents did not stop there! My parents taught me to pray on my own and in my family! They were examples in reading the scriptures daily. They did everything they could to show that families is where true happiness lies, and that it is central to our Heavenly Father's plan. They did not just teach that a faith in Jesus Christ would bless my life, but they helped me gain that faith, and showed me by their example how much that faith would bless my life! And now I look forward to the day that I may do that for my children, and find that same happiness in my home, that I find in the home of my parents!

          Our heavenly Father sends us to our specific families for a reason! He knows that that is where we will learn and grow. And where we can find the most happiness! I testify that our Heavenly Father has much greater plans in store for each of our families. And that in our home, with our family, we can feel His Love greater than anywhere else! The Home is where we can experience, "Heaven on Earth"!

"Which Robber Are You?"

While on the cross, the Savior experienced pain and misery. Going through one of His darkest hours. And to make it all even that much worse, He has priests and all other people standing below Him, looking up at Him and mocking Him. Tempting Him by Saying things such as, "If thou art the Christ, save yourself". We know that there were two robbers on either side of Him, one of these robbers, joined with the people saying to the Savior, "If thou art the Christ, save me". But the other robber had had his heart softened. Condemning the people, and telling Christ that he knew that He was the Savior. And asking Christ, "Remember my face in thy kingdom". Christ replies to Him, "Verily verily I say unto you, that you will stand with me in paradise today". Here we see two men (the robbers), both going through the same thing. The same pain and trial at the moment. But looking at it in two completely different views. One of them, becoming of the world and letting the worldly influence take over his life. Questioning the Lord and His power and divinity. Looking at his trail, and just asking the Savior to take it away from him, and to prove to him in the mean time that Jesus really is the Christ. And the other, recognizing Christ as his Savior. And in his darkest hour, testifying of the Son of God. Seeing his own trial, and turning to the Lord to help him through it. Not just to take it away from him, but to help him overcome it.

  Like we heard from President Henry B. Eyring (Of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints) in the April 2012 General Conference. (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/mountains-to-climb?lang=eng&query=mountain+climb) We all have mountains to climb, or trials to overcome, but how are we looking at them, and what are we saying to get past them? Are we standing at the bottom of the mountain, looking at it as being too high and telling the Lord to prove His power by taking the mountain away from us? Or, are we looking at our mountains, realizing that they are high, but knowing that we will climb them with faith in Christ. And in every step of the way, testifying of our Lord and Savior that He is the Christ, and that all things are possible through Him? And asking Him, to remember our faces, during every step we took up the mountain, striving to become better people to prepare to meet our God. We all have trials and problems that we must face. But it all depends on our willingness to continue forth in faith, looking up the mountain towards our Savior, knowing that He has and will continue to prepare a way for us. So I would invite you to look at the trails you are going through right now, and think about how you are taking them, and what you are doing about them. And then ask yourself....

"Which robber are you?"