LDS

        Convert.  What does that mean to me?  I was born and raised in the gospel, with parents who taught me the doctrine from a young age.  I grew up going to church, reading the scriptures, and going to youth activities.  However, I still consider myself a convert.
         One summer (I was about 12 years old), I started asking questions.  Is this true?  How could it be true?  Is it the way I want to live the rest of my life?  All of these questions led to me questioning my testimony.  It was by far the very hardest experience I have ever gone through.  I questioned everything that I once thought I knew to be true.  What I discovered-I knew my parents knew it was true, but I didn't know for myself.  For a couple months I was confused, discouraged, and overall just a mess.  Looking back, this was the very best time of my entire life.  It definitely was not easy, but it was worth it.  Now I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this gospel is the 100% truth!!  I know that after the experiences that I had, this gospel has to be true, and that God is real and living.  I did not have angels come down and visit me, I did not have a vision, but I was able to receive answers through the Holy Ghost.
        Some people think questioning is bad, or if you have questions then you are doubting.  This is what killed me.  I figured that I was a terrible person for having questions.  That is completely false.  If you don't question anything, then you can't find out the answer for yourself.  Questions are good, and questions taken care of properly result in a testimony.  If you are questioning, seek for the righteous answer.  Don't seek for something to disprove your question.  Last, leave it in the hands of God.  He will always speak the truth.  It will most likely never be in your timing, but it will be in the correct timing.  I know that if my answer would have come any quicker, my testimony would not be as strong. 
       God works in mysterious ways.  They may not make sense, but they are always perfect.  Trust in God and turn to him in trials instead of turning away from him.  Once we become truly converted, we allow the Spirit into our lives completely.  "When our testimonies are strong and we are truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, our choices will be inspired by the Holy Ghost, they will be Christ-centered, and they will support our desire to endure in righteousness" (Elder Richard J. Maynes).  Seek with a real desire, and God will make manifest unto you the truthfulness of this gospel.  After this experience, my life took a complete 180.  I love this gospel, and it brings complete bliss!!

"We should remember that when we are involved in the work of the Lord, the obstacles before us are never as great as the power behind us."  --Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Family!

    The most important thing to me in this entire world is my family.  The family is also the centerpiece for this gospel.  Without the power of the family, the plan seizes to exist.  With all of the attacks from the world onto the family, I have received a greater understanding at the huge role the family plays in the big picture.  God's plan does not change.  It does not bend to be accepted as trendy or popular.  It stays constant and steadfast.
    How grateful I am for my family.  They are the people that I have my very greatest memories with.  The ones who are with me through the laughs, tears, struggles, and triumphs.  My family is my haven.  I am so grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, and what that means.  My family, as well as my future family can be together for eternity.  What an amazing blessing that is, if we follow the straight and narrow path.  The world often distorts the family, and perceives it as being okay.  Hold strong to the knowledge we have been given, and always remember the strength of the family and the blessings that come from a Christ-centered family.

Families are Forever

Little Reminders

So...the other day I was really struggling with something.  Looking back now it was so dumb and so little, but in that moment it seemed like the biggest most important thing ever.  I had just sat down to do my nightly scripture study and I was like Heavenly Father, I don't know where to read, but I just really need something.  The whole lay your scriptures down and have your answer there had never happened to me, it seemed like something that "only happened in the movies." Well, I was proven wrong.  I opened up to this scripture. 

Alma 36:3 "...Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."  That hit me hard.  Then, I decided to go to one of my favorite scriptures.  On the way there, I came across this scripture.

Alma 34:40-41 "I would exhort you to have patience and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions...But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions."  After, I finished it up with the scripture I was originally searching for.  Alma 32:21 "...Therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."

The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I still have no idea the answer to the question I was struggling with when I opened my scriptures.  What I do know; it is not time for me to know that answer just yet.  The Lord is preparing me. He knows me. He will provide stepping stones, or bursts of hope for us along the journey.  When we turn to Him, he will always help us.  It may not be exactly what we want, or when we want it, but he will give us a little taste, or some hope to faithfully carry ourselves through our journey.  No matter how big or small our current "crisis" may be, our Savior will always be standing right beside us.  All we must do is ask.

"I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy"-Alma 33:11

Alma 37:44

"For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give head to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land."

This is my all time favorite scripture, and the reason why this blog is titled "Eternal Bliss."  It is "easy," all that needs to be done is to stay on the straight course and we will obtain Eternal Bliss.  How sweet that sounds, and how much I am looking forward to that day.

I decided to start this blog just to express my feelings of this true and amazing gospel.  I am so blessed to have it in my life, but I must do my part and share it.