The Blessings are Truly Worth the Time!

I was raised with the teaching that you accept a calling, no matter what it is. However, I know that we are allowed to say "No" to a calling if we want to and this is something I have been thinking about as I recently moved into a new ward and haven't yet been extended callings, but have told the leaders in the ward that we won't say "no" to a calling.

I know callings can at times be time consuming. Sometimes it even feels like it takes us away from other good things in our lives like being with our children and families. I've have been thinking about this and I been reviewing my time and how I spend it and I realized, how much of my own time do I spend doing things other than spending time with my children? The answer is quite a bit. Every time I watch tv during the day or read a book, or play on my phone/tablet I am not spending time with them. Now, that isn't to say that I should replace every other activity with spending time with my children- they need their own time just as I do. What I feel is that is time that would be freely available to fulfill a calling and time that should be spent on things of the Lord instead of giving it to the world.

When Christ was on the earth He was asked what the greatest commandment was. He stated that it was to “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30), the second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mark 12:31. If I were to reject a calling, I would not be following that first commandment, for to Love God is to serve Him and there is no greater way to serve than to accept and fulfill callings. Also, when we accept and fulfill out callings we are not only putting God before anything else, we are also setting a great example for our children of where our priorities in life truly are. When we love the Lord and fulfill out callings, our families will be blessed in far greater ways than we could possibly imagine! Frankly, I can't imagine an earthy momentary memory that is greater than the infinite blessings that will be given by accepting and fulfilling callings! I also believe that part of the blessings that we will receive will be stronger families and more amazing memories that we will be there for!

I love the Lord, I love my Family, and it has been when I have put Him first in my life that I have felt all other things fall into place and I have come to feel peace and joy!

Why My Defense of Traditional Families Has Nothing to do with Hatred or Intolerance

In the wake of the Supreme Courts decision that Gay Marriage is now legal throughout the nation I have been pondering a lot about the whole situation and felt that I would share my personal beliefs and feelings on it in the hope that it will bring enlightenment and understanding to those who think that I am a "bigot", "bully", and "hater".

First off, I just want to say to all of my LBGT friends and family members, I love you! As a disciple of Christ I do my best (and, admittedly I am imperfect at it) of following what He gave as the second great commandment- Love thy Neighbor as Thyself. I have never said cruel things to someone because of their race, gender, or sexual preference and I never shall. I do love my fellow man and I pray that feeling will come through in this post.

Secondly, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly referred to as "Mormons". As a member of this faith I claim a strong belief in God and in a living Prophet today. As a member of this church, I listen to the council and words given by the Prophet and Apostles in our current day and age. I do not think it a little thing at all that exactly 20 years ago the Prophet and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles made a Declaration to the World on the Family (for the full statement please link here: https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&cid=PA0414-02). In this proclamation the Lord clearly states through his Prophet that "ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." It continues on to say, "We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." And continues with, "THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."

As a member of the church who believes in these statements and believes that these are the words of God to His children today I prayed about the Gay Marriage issue- feeling at first as though I shouldn't have a say in how others run their lives. However, it was through study of this proclamation that I realized that fighting for traditional marriage isn't about stopping others from living their lives, rather it is about standing by God's definition of marriage and the sanctity of it. The Prophet and Apostles have said repeatedly that LBGT people are free to make their choices and encouraged their rights in a civil union setting. It was only in the act of redefining what a marriage was that we stood up and said "No."

This issue has caused division even within the church, there are many members who support the rights of Gay Marriage, according to the leaders of our church, they have the right to do so and that doesn't make them unworthy. The church has always declared that people are free to make their own choices. The church, in fact, encourages it's members to seek for their own answers. As for me, my choice was made when I studied the modern day scripture given in the Proclamation to the World on the Family- I truly believe that it is scripture given from God and as a faithful believer in God and in his living prophet I found that my choice to follow their teachings was clear to me. I know that it doesn't make me popular with the rest of the world. Perhaps, even after reading my thoughts on this, you still believe that I have some kind of phobia about homosexuality and I somehow hate gay people. You are free to judge me how you wish. I have made my choice and I pray that the spirit of tolerance that has been claimed to represent this matter will go both ways. I love the Lord, I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, I Love the Prophet and Apostles, and I love you!