The Power of the Holy Spirit: It's Yours For the Asking

I often wonder what I actually expect when I pray to God for help, direction or intervention in what life has dealt me. Then I remember that prayer is a request, or as the meaning of the word "Prayer" indicates, a plea to someone more powerful than ourselves, in this case our omnipotent Heavenly Father and God. Prayer is never an order or demand and so I must never expect anything other than what the Lord may deem best for my needs. But, prayer does allow me access to the most powerful force known to the universe, its very creator and God, our Lord and Saviour. He has promised that:

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. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (The Holy Bible, James 1:5-6)

Life is my opportunity to learn, gain experience and grow. Sometimes it helps me to view life from the known perspective of an athlete: Only when a burden is increased does strength and endurance improve. The burden must be heavy, the stride must be difficult or nothing will be gained but as I endure I will benefit and grow. This is a fact and is well applied to many other situations.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. (The Holy Bible, James 1:12-14)

I know that as I endure, blessings will come. Why? Because they always have, they always do and they always will as long as I seek God's counsel when making decisions, setting the course for the day, or for my life! Blessings are often answer to prayers but not always in the way that I had expected and sometimes not in ways that I would have wanted, ignorant as I sometimes may be when relying on my own wits and my own strength, instead of God's.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  (The Holy Bible, Matthew 6:33)

Making God a part of my life has worked. I have noticed that as I seek God, pray and seek His directions as given through the scriptures, it becomes easier for me to see and understand His answers to my prayers and the blessings He has already given me.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (The Holy Bible, James 1:17)

Seeing the great gifts that God has allowed me to enjoy, my heart and mind opens to receive more of His directions and counsel.

If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal. (Doctrine & Covenants 42:61)

Knowledge is power and knowing that God is there for us is empowering unlike anything else. God has let us know that can know, and if we desire to know we may ask Him and He will answer our prayer if prayed in honesty, sincerity and faith.

And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come.  (Doctrine & Covenants 93:24)

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (The Holy Bible, John 8:32)

Easter Message: This is Easter

In this short and direct video, President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints bears witness and testifies of Jesus Christ with only a few but well-chosen words.

Missionaries: Who Are They All, Where Do They Come From and Why Are They Here?

Who goes on a mission, why go on a mission, and who are all these missionaries anyways? What makes a young man or woman give up two years when in the prime of their lives?

I went on a mission, as did my wife and we raised our children on same the principles that helped prepare us for life when we were young. Our three sons all chose to serve on missions and one is still out there, as can occasionally be seen on the blog when we share some of his messages home. They are all too short but sweet, as we see him grow from his experience in the Lord's service. But, why did his brothers go and why did he go? In spite of them having been, or in the case of the last one still being a missionary, they are not naturally men of many words and I have never really asked them to go or why they went. They just did because they wanted to and it was the right thing to do, knowing what they know.

They are good and just men, the two that have returned from their missions are happily married and better men for having given up two years of their lives to serve God and what they believe in. The missions they served has served them well as they did so with all their heart and sincerity, and probably a little fun and goofing off just for good measure if I know them right.

Every young man and women choosing to give up their valuable time and money has a slightly different reason for going but the general purpose is the same. Some sell their cars, motorcycles or computers to go, most have to save up for a long time to go, often in menial and low paying jobs as they usually also must interrupt their not yet completed education, they all come to their missions with different levels of enthusiasm, some more timid than others but they come to share in the work of teaching a message of the gospel, they themselves love and live by.

They come to share this with those prepared to hear what possibly might be strong and significant enough to move thousands of young people to give up everything, with the sole purpose of telling you and your friends about it. Do you want to know why or what they have to say, does your friends want to know? If so, please follow this link:

http://mormon.org/missionaries/ 

If you reside near Antarctica (I am guessing there are no missionaries there but I could be wrong) and missionaries are few and far between or if you're the shy type, you may follow this link to chat with missionaries online:

http://mormon.org/chat/ 

If you don't live near Antarctica but rather in the US or Canada, you may also call the missionaries:

1-888-537-6600 

If you see them walking down the street, or coming to your door: Please, invite them in and hear what they have to say, give it a chance, open your heart a little and see if you might catch the Spirit of what they have say. You might discover it to be very much what you believed all along but never heard anyone else say out loud, the way it should be.

Elder Jepsen - It's a Good Thing!

Thank you for all your prayers. Know that my prayers are with you, always! I love you guys. 

This week we have been blessed with so much to do. The work is going well and it's been very humbling. We currently have a lot of people preparing for baptism and seeing people change, as they acquire the teachings of God and apply them in their lives, is like seeing miracle after miracle all around me. I love being a missionary, it's a privilege and very gratifying experience, it makes me want to be a better person, that I may be more for others. 

I love the gospel, for everything that it teaches me and so many others. Living by the altruistic principles taught throughout the scriptures and by the leaders in the church really helps avoid many of the pitfalls and difficulties in life. I have only lived a few years yet and my limited life experience doesn't give me as much to draw on but I see the principles that I aim to live by, changing people's lives and easing their trials. Feasting on the gospel is feasting on life itself. It's a good thing! 

Thank you, Mom and Dad! Thank you for raising me with the necessary principles to allow me the privilege, that I could prepare for and be a part of this great work. It's a truly magnificent experience. 

Love you, 
Elder Jepsen