Prayer: The Constant Communication Line

I am not very consistent in writing blog posts but sometimes there are experiences that must be shared. Recently I had one of these experiences. In my early childhood days prayer was an essential part of my day. I prayed every night and asked for every person in my life to be blessed. In my early teens I was taught to pray each morning and night and to pray in a certain pattern, which included addressing Heavenly Father, giving thanks, asking for those things I thought I needed, and then ending in Christ's name. In my later teens I continued to use the pattern I had been taught and I even added the habit of praying at meal time. However, throughout this lifetime of praying as I was taught to pray, I felt empty. I felt that my prayers meant little and that they were not quite reaching the ears of my Heavenly Father.
It wasn't until I realized that I really needed my Heavenly Father's help, especially in the mission field, that I began to pray with earnest. No one taught me how to pray with real intent, and I wasn't handed a pattern to follow. I simply began to talk with my Heavenly Father. I opened up my heart to Him and spoke to Him as I would speak to my dearest friends. I exercised faith that He was listening and that He would answer. I no longer treated Him as a voice recorder, but I treated Him as a being that would listen to me and respond. As I have continued this habit after serving a mission I have gained greater trust in my Heavenly Father as well. In the last few months I have prayed for something of importance to me and though it took those several months Heavenly Father recently answered that prayer. Not all prayers will be answered the moment we want them to be answered and perhaps not in the way we would like, but I firmly testify that those prayers will be answered. Our Father has not deserted us in this dark world; He is near and He is listening.

Link: Thomas S. Monson, Stand in Holy Places Oct 2011

A Prophet's Prophecies Are Fulfilled

This past week my family and I went down to Southern Utah. The sights there are beautiful and the change of scenery was relaxing, but as we traveled I noticed more than the scenery. I noticed that other visitors were speaking different languages. People from other countries around the world had come to see Utah!
Many of us here in Utah have desires to leave the state and visit other places like California, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Central America, Europe, or Asia, and we take our own state for granted. While we leave to seek other wonderful landmarks, we probably fail to realize that people from those parts want to come see what Utah offers. In this, a prophecy is fulfilled.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints preceding Thomas S. Monson, shared, "On a dark and winter day in 1849, in the old tabernacle, when the people were hungry and cold, Brigham Young said that the day would come when this would become the great highway of the nations and people from over the earth would visit us here. We are witnessing that day and the fulfillment of that remarkable prophecy."
What the true prophet prophesies will come true because it is what God would tell us if He was upon the earth speaking to us. Doctrine and Covenants, section one and verse 38 states,
"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."

President Thomas S. Monson, in general conference, told us, "Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means for whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord and the words of the prophets- provided to us to help us successfully cross the finish line.
At some period in our mortal mission, there appears the faltering step, the wan smile, the pain of sickness- even the fading of summer, the approach of autumn, the chill of winter, and the experience we call death...
As the result of Christ's victory over the grave, we shall all be resurrected... Our Heavenly Father rejoices for those who keep His commandments. He is concerned also for the lost child, the tardy teenager, the wayward youth, the delinquent parent. Tenderly the Master speaks to these and indeed to all: 'Come back. Come up. Come in. Come home. Come unto me."
I know and testify that there is a true prophet and seer on the earth today that guides us and tells us what Heavenly Father desires that the world knows. His name is Thomas S. Monson, and he is the prophet until he returns home to our Heavenly Father; and after his work is finished God will call another prophet in his stead, but never will our Father and our Lord forsake us and revoke his mouthpiece from the earth again.

Face Forward

I was reminded of an experience I had while serving a mission in Guatemala, in the mountains. Each day we would see men and young boys (and sometimes even the women) carrying large loads of sticks on their backs, which were supported by a rope or belt strapped across their foreheads. Each time the Guatemalan was bent forward as if the load of sticks burdened them. Each of us, like the Guatemalans, have burdens that we have to carry. If we only had the types of burdens that those Guatemalans had, we probably wouldn't suffer so much, but unfortunately, with each burden we have comes fear.
For me, my fear is of the future. It is peculiar because throughout my life I have heard and continuously hear, ''Have great confidence in your future." Do you ever fear the future? It is difficult not to fear it. We have so many uncertainties and many decisions to make. However, we must have faith, and faith and fear cannot coexist.
There is a scripture that aids me whenever I have doubts about my future or when my burdens seem too large to deal with. The scripture is from the Doctrine and Covenants, section 122 and verse 7:
"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
Our burdens, our trials, and our experiences are for our good. Sometimes it seems quite the opposite, but these words are truth. We also have the words from the present prophet, spoken almost exactly a year ago at the April 2011 General Conference. President Thomas S. Monson said,
"I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments."
"My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."
Maybe you (whomever reads this) have a challenge in your life at this moment. Maybe you have a doubt or a particular fear, but know that all that is uncomfortable and bad will pass. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy so He gives us a trial to help us grow a little, and then He removes it so that we can enjoy the peace after the storms. I want to finalize with something that my mom shared; it says, "That the birds of worry and care fly above your head, this you cannot change. But that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent." (Chinese Proverb)

The Process of Service

First, take off the cap, and then grab a scrub brush; Fill a bucket with water.... Well, I actually doubt that service has a process, but I do know that service has a purpose. When I placed the title ''The Process of Service,'' I planned to refer to what makes up service. The Christmas stories go that children never see Santa's elves because after all the hard work they do all year they stay at the workshop on Christmas. In memory of Santa's elves I have a term called ''Elfing,'' which I use when I am going to do some small act of service in secret. For this present circumstance, ''Elfing" will also act as an acronym to describe what service includes.
1) E- Easy. Surely service includes donating large sums of money to charities, right? No. Although it is a great idea to donate money, service is much simpler. Most mothers and wives would be just as happy with the dishes washed than to receive several roses (and it is less expensive). Most individuals would appreciate even the smallest act of service; I know I would. Service ideas can be as simple as writing a note of encouragement, cleaning off driveways, walkways, or cars during the snowy season, or even being a friend. The truth is that whether large or small, serving will brighten your day.

2)L- Love. Today in the home wards (I had to give a talk in one) the high councilmen spoke about women using the book Daughters of My Kingdom. I started reading it and came across a section titled ''Charity never faileth,'' which happens to be the LDS Relief Society motto. Under this section I found a quote by Emmeline B. Wells:
''It is my strongest desire that our young women of today be made to comprehend the work of the early members who, without the facilities of the present time, comforted the sad and distressed, visited the widow and fatherless, and were like ministering angels."
If we serve we can be like 'ministering angels'. This definitely testifies how important service really is. In the Book of Mormon, in Alma 7:24, a prophet teaches, "And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always about in good works." When we serve with charity, or rather a pure love like Christ's, we too can be 'ministering angels' and servants of God.

3) F- Faith. Remember that scripture I used from Alma 7:24? Faith is one of the requirements of true service. We must have faith to serve with the assurance that although no one sees us serving we will receive the blessings anyway. In addition, I at least find that sometimes if I want to do something discretely for someone else, I need faith that they will not see me in the process.

4) I- Individual Spiritual Growth. Are we serving for praise or as a selfless act? Elder V. Dallas Merrell of the Seventy said, "Service involves us in a process of growth. We learn how to be effective servants step by step over time, even as the mortal Savior's youthful development was described as grace upon grace. My own very first memory is of imperfectly helping my mother by taking her a fresh diaper to use with our new baby. That was a beginning, although I can see now that I was outrunning my brother, Max, to get the diaper first and win Mother's praise. My early home teaching was with my uncle, Charles Lybbert; we did it regularly, but I suspect I sometimes went to avoid embarrassment from failing to do my duty. Learning to serve for the right reason is a vital part of our individual spiritual progress." We can build our testimony of the Savior's gospel and strengthen our own spirits as we serve.

5) N- Nothing-get-back. It is a lengthy name, but as we serve we should expect nothing in return for what we give of our time, talents, and resources. However, as we serve selflessly and willingly we benefit, though as little as a feeling of peace and lack of regret. I read a poem that states:
"I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody's need made me blind;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind." (Anonymous)

6) G- Gratitude. When we serve we show God how grateful we are for what He has given us. Mosiah 2:17 in the Book of Mormon says (if I can go so far as to say it 'says'), "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." This means that when we serve others we are serving God!
I find that when I serve others I fill a void in my life. I love serving others, and I especially love doing it when others cannot see that I am doing it because it leaves them surprised and I have to be sneaky doing it. So my challenge for all those that read my posts is to go out and do a little more service, and make at least one of those an ''elfing'' service project.

Finish

Recently I heard a poem that reminded me of my mission. It is one of my favorite poems because it can apply to each one of us so well. Have you ever felt like a failure, or felt like giving up because you are behind a little? I have. I often ponder 'What if I had tried? What if I had continued? Where would I be now?' Many of us have that question pass through our heads time and time again, 'What if?'

Something I have learned within the last two years is to never give up and never quit. The poem that I heard is called "The Race'' by D. H. Groberg.

''Quit!" "Give up, you're beaten!" they shout at me and plead,
"There's just too much against you now, this time you can't succeed."
And as I started to hang my head in front of failure's face,
My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene.
For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.
A children's race, young boys, young men; now I remember well.
Excitement, sure, but also fear; it wasn't hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win the race
Or tie for first, if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son,
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they sped, as if they were on fire
To win, to be the hero there, was each boy's desire.
And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,
Was running near the lead and thought, "My dad will be so proud."

But as he speeded down the field, across the shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arm flew out to brace,
And 'mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.
So, down he fell, and with him, hope. He couldn't win it now.

Embarrassed, sad, he only wished he'd disappear somehow.
But, as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said, "Get up and win the race!"
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit, that's all.
And ran with all his mind and might to make up for the fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished he had quit before with only one disgrace.
"I'm hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn't try to race."
But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father's face.
That steady look that said again, "Get up and win the race!"

So, he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last;
"If I'm to gain those yards," he thought, "I've got to run real fast!"
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
"There's no sense running more. Three strikes, I'm out... why try?"

The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away.
So far behind, so error-prone, a loser all the way.
"I've lost, so what's the use?" he thought, ''I'll live with my disgrace."
But, then he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to face.
"Get up," an echo sounded low, "get up and take your place.
You weren't meant for failure here; get up and win the race."
With borrowed will, "Get up," it said, "You haven't lost at all,
For winning is no more than this- to rise each time you fall."

So up he rose to win once more. And with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn't quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he'd ever been.
Still, he gave it all he had, and ran as though to win.
Three times he fallen, stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner, as he crossed the line, first place,
Head high and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen crossed the finish line, last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he won the race, to listen to the crowd.

And to his dad, he sadly said, "I didn't do so well."
"To me you won," his father said, "You rose each time you fell."
And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
"Quit!" "Give up, you're beaten!" They still shout in my face,
But another voice within me says, "Get up and win the race!"

When I heard this poem, I was reminded of a poem I wrote in the mission field that described my own personal mission experiences. Sometimes I felt like the narrator of the poem by D. H. Groberg. I believe each of us feels like this often nearly each day of our lives.

They told me that I'd never be great, but I took the climb.
They told me I'd never reach the top, but I made it up just fine.
I grew breathless at a couple of points, but I enjoyed the sights.
At times it rained until I was soaked and I didn't sleep well each night.
My muscles were sore and I felt ill. I nearly wished to give in.
And it made me discouraged to think about how their faces would each have a grin.
Their mocking and laughter would bring me to tears
As they tell me I shouldn't have tried,
And they'd point and laugh at my attempt as I stood there and cried.

With a prayer in my heart I remembered what God wanted me to be.
I put one foot in front of the other and ignored all that could happen to me.
And with a smile on my face I kept walking,
Determination played in my mind.
Though it was painful I kept hiking, and I continued trying to make the climb.
I honestly tell you that it was hard; I wanted to give up many times.
But though they said I couldn't do it, I indeed made the climb.

Our Heavenly Father wants us all to finish, but He does not give us a deadline. In the end the question will not be, "When did you finish? Did you finish first? Did you finish last?" The question most likely will be, "Did you finish?" If we keep pressing forward, doing all we can do, we will be able to finish and reach the greatest goal and prize: Eternal life.

''My face is set, my gait is fast..."

''My face is set, my gait is fast, and my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mssion is clear! I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up of the cause of Christ.'' Author unknown (As quoted by Henry B. Eyring)

Why would I put a quote such as this here?

As I sat in the Institute class tonight I realized that everything that I have been learning, hearing, and experimenting recently ties together. It sums up to Obedience. In Institute we discussed the various reasons we have rules, laws, and guidelines. Although rules and laws appear to prohibit growth and freedom, they are really in place to protect us. The instructor gave the example of barriers alongside the road. As she traveled to pick up her son in Sundance, the rain that night acted as only an annoyance. However, too soon the rain turned into snow and blocked the view throughout the canyon. The barriers and reflectors along the road provided a means of protection from the dangerous falls and kept her from driving into oncoming traffic. Standards really let us have control over our life.

Later I read in the Book of Mormon, in Mosiah 2:36-37, 41, which says,

''And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved-

I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness...

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.''

We are taught what we should do or not do, but then it is our duty to choose to follow those counsels. If we fail to follow the guidelines given to us, if we reject the counsels of leaders and parents, if we place our own wills above their wisdom, we will fall. We have been promised that if we keep the commandments of God and obey, we will be as those that are ''blessed in all things.''

Now why did I place that quote at the beginning? If we press forward without fear, and we remain on the narrow and straight path, meaning that we will have to keep the correct standards to do so, we will have a clear mission. We will know what we do and why we are here.

Rules are there not to keep us in but to keep all that is bad out. I truly know that the rules are in place to protect us because I have had mine own personal experiences. One experience I will most likely always remember is from my mission. In the mission field we were told to be in our house at 9 PM, unless we were in a very important appointment. One night in particular, we decided to be in our house earlier than 9 PM, although we would be with someone that we were teaching. To us all seemed normal and we reached our house in time and without problem, but to our surprise we discovered the next day that in that very area where we had been the night before, a gang fight broke out at 9:00 PM. If we are obedient to the rules given to us, God will protect us.

Valentine's Day Dedication

As we approach this upcoming holiday celebrating what we would call ''love'', I am reminded most about true love. My older brother likes a movie called 'Princess Bride', from which there is a famous line, ''Mawage is what bwings us together today. And wuv, twu wuv, will fowow you fowever.'' Then in another part of the movie one of the main characters says, ''Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.''

Furthermore, President Spencer W. Kimball in a devotional to young adults related, ''For many years I saw a strong man carry his tiny, emaciated, arthritic wife to meetings and wherever she could go. There could be no sexual expresion... I think that is pure love. I saw a kindly woman wait on her husband for many years as he deteriorated with muscular dystrophy. She waited on him hand and foot, night and day, when all he could do was blink his eyes in thanks. I believe that was love. I knew a woman who carried her little unfortunate child until the body was too heavy to carry, and then she pushed her in a wheelchair for the following years until her death. The deprived child could never express appreciation. It seems to me that might be love. Another mother visited regularly her son who was in the penitentiary. She could receive nothing from him. She gave much, all she had... If this beautiful body... suddenly became deformed or paralyzed, would my reactions be the same? If this lovely face were scarred by flames... would I be such an ardent lover? If senility or any of its approaches suddenly fell upon my sweetheart, what would my attitude be? The answer to these questions might test one to see if he is really in love or if it is only physical attraction."

Of course, Valentine's day is a day for romance and for celebrating the love we have for our loved ones, but I believe we should remember also that it is a time to remember sacrifice because that is what love is about. And hopefully we never forget the greatest act of sacrifice and love done for us: ''For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).''

He who receiveth, receiveth more

There are a few verses from the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 28, that remind me of several mission experiences. Those we found to teach from other religions would receive us and then tell us that we were wrong for introducing something such as the Book of Mormon to them. Why? Because the Book of Mormon is a second set of scripture. The verses I like most are as follows:

"And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;

Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.

Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!'' (2 Nephi 28:5-6, 29)

What I like to compare these verses to are my experiences of which the people would let us in and would tell us that there is no need to have a prophet on the earth today or the Book of Mormon as another testament of Christ because God has told us everything we need to know in the Bible. Then they usually told us about how their priest or preacher had healed them by the power of God. If God does not work through men any longer by guiding us, He cannot work through men to heal us either.
However, I testify that God does work through men and the power of his holy priesthood, that there is a prophet to guide us even today, and that the Book of Mormon has been and is given to us to guide us and to prove as a second witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. God will continue to give us more ''line upon line, precept upon precept.''

''The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.'' D&C 18:10

Each and every individual has trials in their life and many times we lose the hope that can help us us through theose trials. Sunday, after having some minor trials of my own during the week, I pondered the question, ''How do we have faith and maintain hope when faced with adversity?"

One of the ways we can have and maintain hope is to remember that when we are going through something that we think no one else would understand, Christ does understand. We will unfortunately make mistakes because we are imperfect and will remain imperfect until the next life, but even with our errors we should make each day the ''best today.''

President Hinckley said in his book 'Way to Be' that, ''You have to stay on your feet and keep moving if you are going to have light in your life. Nothing of real substance comes without work.''
This includes helping others to maintain hope in their life as well. When people lose hope they often begin to withdraw from the gospel and from our Heavenly Father. They become as the small sheep that had wandered from the comforting path. Each individual is uniquely important and deserves our love and care.
Elder Uchtorf said, ''Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself... Patience means accepting that which cannot be changed and facing it with courage, grace, and faith.''

Something more that I think can help is, ''Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope.''
It is satisfying to study and hear about subjects relevant to faith and hope because I realize that the darkest moments always come right before we reach either our goal or the end. For example, Lucifer attempted to kill Joseph Smith before he saw God and Jesus Christ; Christ was tempted right before he performed the atonement; Moses and the children of Israel were stuck between the Egyptian armies and the sea before the water opened before them; a runner feels faintest before finishing the race. I also experienced darkness and opposition, even from family members and friends, before I left to serve a mission. Each time we are about to do good, Lucifer tries to stop us, but if we have hope we can pull through.

No longer the mission life, but on to a greater mission

It is a little strange to write into a blog, especially when it still says ''sister destinee park'' in its title, considering I am no longer a full-time sister missionary. However, writing helps a person, in this case me, to clear out the mind and put it down for everyone else to read. I have found the changes from the mission life to the regular life unusual because I still feel that I have been placed in a different time zone. Many missionaries out in the field, as they are at the point of returning home, say that they are returning ''to real life''. The truth is that once someone has served a mission they realize that we do not live in the ''real life'' because the real life is out there, serving God and not focusing on yourself.
Since returning home I have had the opportunity to re-learn a few things, make new friends, and ponder about what I will continue doing in my life. Have you ever had the feeling that you want to do something fantastic but do not know what? I often feel like that. I can sense that I have the potential to do great things but I am still unsure about which path to choose.
The scriptures say that '' by small and simple things are great things brought to pass (Alma 37:6) and I know that with my Heavenly Father's help I will be able to reach my potential. Once I explained this to someone using the example of Indiana Jones. Most of the time we cannot see what is before us but we often have to take that leap of faith. In one of the Indiana Jones movies Jones had a deep, dark chasm before him but he needed to cross to the other side. Although he saw nothing he jumped and as he landed a block lit up. He took another step and another, lighting up a path as he went.
When we cannot see what is before us we just simply have to walk forward and God will light the way. I know that He does light the way for us and prepares our way for us. I know that He will guide my future, though sometimes it is difficult to believe, but He does not forsake His children.