Jesus Visited the Lonely and So Can You

#LIGHTtheWORLD

I've always loved meeting new people. Throughout my life, I've come to find a joy playing games with and hearing stories from the elderly. I've loved visiting them since jr high and high school. I also loved interning at a senior center my senior year of high school and visiting, serving and playing games with senior patients with dementia.

When I looked at the theme for today's way to serve on mormon.org, "Jesus Visited the Lonely and So Can You" I was overjoyed.  One of the service ideas said to, "Visit a nursing home. Studies show that 60 percent of those living in a nursing home never get visitors during their stay," and I couldn't pass up the simple suggestion because I truly love getting to know the elderly.

A few weeks ago I visited a senior living center new where I'm going to school. There's a group from my apartment complex and ward that go sing hymns to them each Sunday. This day I decided to attend, and I was able to meet a dear sweet lady who had just lost her husband the week before.

Fast forward back to today, I remembered my friend Flo from the senior center. Although I hadn't seen her for two weeks, and I didn't even know if she'd remember me, I decided to go visit her. Although nervous and kinda thinking of myself as foolish, I tried to visit her unannounced and around dinner time at that. Luckily, I was able to chat with my new friend Flo. We talked about families, teachers, storytelling, and much more.

At first she showed confusion of why I choose her to talk to and why I asked the questions I did. After all I wanted to hear more about being a music teacher in an elementary school. I ultimately came to get to know her and spend time with her. I found joy in talking and spending time with those I love, yet even if I've only known them for a very short time. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." -Mosiah 2:17

I challenge you to go out and serve people this holiday season! Share your heart, love, and happy spirit with those around you!

Love Inspire Smile Serve
mormon.org #LIGHTtheWORLD
Melissa Longhurst

Pride, Peace, & Prayer

A new look at the Pride Cycle:

My Book of Mormon professor showed us this recently. He has eight basic steps in the pride cycle and it can start wherever, but I love some of the connections he made. For the Terrestrial kingdom and lifestyle the bride cycle continues along the basic outer circle. This includes the pride, sin, and destruction that come about a lot in our own lives and specifically in the Book of Mormon, but this cycle offers humility and many blessings and prosperity that come from their repentance. We all go through this cycle within our lives to some extent. With Telestial and Celestial they only cycle between four of these stages and continue to build upon them. 

This diagram helps me track our goal to find humility from our blessing and prosperity given to us and continue to keep the Savior in our hearts and minds to not become prideful. This creates a spiral between these processes and helps get you to the Celestial Kingdom or on the other hand takes you on a path of misery, sorrow and temptation.

Something else taught in Book of Mormon comes from the story of the brother of Jared. He had three concerns about the barges that were made and their journey. He asked God about light for the barges, steering to stay on course, and how to breathe and have air within the barges. From these three issues every question you take to God will fall under. Let me explain: for the first question of light in the barges God gave the brother of Jared agency to discover a way to light the barges on his own. Then he gave him two ways not to do it and let him figure it out. We must use agency and action many times in response to questions to God, for then he can direct our path if needed but let us choose.

The second question asked was about the steering of the barge, and God's answer relied on grace. Therefore, the brother of Jared need not worry about steering for he will direct you to the promised land. We don't tend to find this answer to most questions, but it's another option. At times we are given other tasks, service, situations to focus on while others might be taken care of. I've heard countless stories of miracles and blessings received through paying their tithing and many other things. The last question about breathing Heavenly Father gave step by step instructions to help him accomplish this task.

Every question asked will not be ignored but he might let you choose your own way. I love this quote from Boyd K. Packer, "Prayer is your personal key to heaven" and you really can receive answers to your prayers. I just love the the idea that every question you take to God will fall under agency, grace, or steps. There are still times a lot of work is needed with your agency to follow God's plan and will for you. Even the brother of Jared didn't go get stones that were right around him for his light, but he traveled to get them from one of the highest mountains and eventually ended with molten rock. For this wasn't perfect but it was the best that he could do without the touch of God.

Whatever God touches it lives! Make your best efforts glow and shine and help others shine through Christ. Go out and serve others during this Christmas Season! Have a great week!

#LIGHTtheWORLD
www.mormon.org
Melissa Longhurst
Love! Inspire! Smile! Serve!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is True

This phrase commonly said in testimonies contains important understanding and teachings. To be in Christ's church "ye must take upon you the name of Christ" and the church must be "built upon [Christ's] gospel," (2 Ne 27:5,8). What is Christ's gospel? This question is answered in verses 13 through 22 in 2 Nephi 27. Gospel refers to the "good news" of the atonement that Christ paid the price for our sins that we might return to God and live with our families forever. In verses 13 through 15 it discusses Christ's part in the Gospel, and 16 to 21 is our part and the doctrine. The gospel and doctrine we must follow includes repentance, baptism, enduring to the end, etc. 

What is the difference between "I know the church is true" and "I know the gospel is true"? 
We were asked this in my Book of Mormon class, and we created some annalogies to correlate church and the gospel. Here are a few:

        Hogwarts is like Church as magic is like the Gospel
        Hospital is like Church as treatment is like the Gospel
        A sailboat is like Church as the wind is like the Gospel
        Body is like Church as the spirit is like the Gospel
        University is like Church as classes and teaching are like the Gospel

This helped me discover the difference between Church and Gospel. For the Church is dynamic and changes with different people and buildings, but the gospel is constant through the teachings and good feeling. The gospel is the doctrine of Christ and is perfect. Therefore both can be true, but the phrase "I know the (church/gospel) is true" has different meanings.

I've loved these intreaging things I've learned in my Book of Mormon class and Gospel Doctrine. I love learning more about Christ, this church, and the gospel. I loved this quote that I found that says, "Jesus Christ knows each of us personally. If we but reach out, we can know Him too." (https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ) I've loved studying the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon) in more depth this year to find Christ and God in each scripture and page. 

If you haven't seen the Christmas video for this year go to mormon.org and you will be amazed by the power the video has with very few words. I love the spirit brings and I challenge you to accept the Christmas challenge. There are a few things that you can do each day of December to grow closer to Christ through service and love. Do it! It starts on December 1st and the theme is "Jesus lifted others' burdens and so can you."

#LIGHTtheWORLD
www.mormon.org
Melissa Longhurst
Laugh Love Inspire Smile

   

Give Thanks!

In church this week, a friend of mine spoke about the times we feel and show our gratitude. Yes, there are specific holidays for people and individual events to be grateful for. There's much more we can show our gratitude for each day and week. He spoke of the opportunity we have each week to worship and have a day of rest, for this day is a perfect time to show our thanks.

I found many inspiring quotes this week about thankfulness. I love to think of gratitude in prayer. An important message comes from Alma 34:38 "That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." There's so much to be grateful for; nevertheless, it just depends on what you choose to focus on. Wherefore "learn to pray not because you need something but because you ought to thank him [for] everything."


President Thomas S. Monson remarked, "To live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven." I love the thought of keeping gratitude in our hearts brings us closer to God, angels, and those we love. Remember you're loved deeply!

"Because he loves you he will find you" - Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Melissa Longhurst
Laugh Love Inspire Smile

Patience and Trust

          I love the stories of Stephen Jones in the article, "One Question That Puts Life in Perspective"(https://www.lds.org/blog/one-question-that-puts-life-in-perspective?cid=HP_TH_10-11-2016_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2-2_). In the conclusion of some of his experiences he shares,

           "Two months after saying no to an opportunity that didn’t feel right, two months of struggling financially, the phone call came. A teaching position had opened up near my home and they offered me a job. It came right when I needed it, right when I was at my lowest. And after that call I looked up and said, 'I trust you. I trust you.'

           God knew me. He had answered my prayers. But He made me wait on it. He made me stretch. And sometimes He does that—even when we want good things, even when we’re focused on things that will matter in 1,000 years. The point is if you trust Him, He will never let you down, because He looks out for us today, tomorrow, 1,000 years from now, and for eternity. "

          I love the messages told within the personal experiences of Stephen Jones, and I love to remember the parallels from my Teachings and Doctrines of the Book of Mormon class. Within third Nephi, Nephi "cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold the voice of the Lord came unto him..." (3 Nephi 1:12). Wherefore, then questioning God's choice to keep the knowledge of the sign's coming from him for so long when people's lives were on the line. When he poured out his soul, all he believed he could, Nephi continued to stretch and discover more that was in his soul. God waited to respond to Nephi in order to help him understand more about himself, his own soul, and created opportunity and growth for him to become more like God.

Love Inspire Smile
Melissa Longhurst

Joy and Grief

Choosing and studying a question helped me reflect on this past year and how to continue onward. The question “How can I find and feel joy through times of trouble and loss of a loved one?”, focuses on finding peace and understanding inner thoughts and feelings. I found myself engaged and applying the words of modern day prophets to my everyday life through the stories shared and discussed. “Suffering is universal; how we react to suffering is individual.” Your Sorrow Shall Be Turned to Joy by Robert D. Hales, for the sorrows remain inevitable but many reactions towards others and ourselves come from each challenge.

This past March my youngest brother, Eric, passed away. There’s not a defined line between time for grief and joy in these situations. Many situations involving the loss of a loved one have a variety of those experiences and a variety of people who are affected in different ways. In the past months, my mind has felt foggy at times about my understanding of myself and how I am truly doing. Somedays I’ve forgotten entirely about the situation, and other times I feel guilty for not feeling sorrowful. Of course God does not intend for us to remain overwhelmed with grief constantly, but at times I don’t know how to balance my thoughts of sadness with the surprisingly evident times of joy and happiness. Nevertheless, how might I control and understand my emotions, of sadness, love, and joy, to better understand myself?

To more fully understand this confusion of joy and grief, I found a beautiful talk entitled “The Healing Power of Grief” by Steven Eastmond. He states, “one can feel both sadness and peace at the same time,” this created understanding of God’s purpose and plan of grief and how it isn’t simply overwhelming sadness that can consume us from day to day. Later in the talk Brother Eastmond describes, “grief is the price we pay for loving someone- and that the price is worth it.” Although heartbreaking in some instances of hardship, grief keeps our memories full of experiences with the loved one and can bring peace. Christ’s knowledge of your specific challenges brings an opportunity to keep an understanding and active relationship with him. At times I take this knowledge for granted, but through faith and study to receive answers, my relationship yearns for a stronger friendship.

A quote found in Russell M. Nelson’s talk entitled Joy and Spiritual Survival, and further quoting Hebrews 2 he says, “As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, ‘who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.’ Think of that! In order for him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy!”

Another topic I’ve had in my mind is about the future and how to continue forward in challenges. The future contains countless opportunities, yet my mind wanders to family celebrations that Eric won’t be there for. Nevertheless, I haven’t found all the answers that are quite right for me in my specific times of need. Everything will work out if we rely on faith in Christ and find simple joys to brighten our lives. An understanding that the angels surrounding us from day to day are those who have passed on before, and we feel their presence and love for them continually.

I’ve experienced many small miracles which help to answer the small doubts and worries in my mind, and I would love to continue this study through talks written about comfort and joy through trials and loss. I hadn’t realized the abounding number of talks written on these topics, but realize everyone faces challenges in this modern day. God speaks through his prophets to strengthen us that we might return to him.

Live Laugh Love Life

Melissa Longhurst

Family History & Temple Work

My Book of Mormon project this semester is to go to the temple for at least an hour each week. I have recently brought family names to do baptisms for the dead. I personally did not do all the family history work to find these names, but my aunt has been working hard to find these names for me to take to the temple. I love bringing names to then have a record of those I've been baptized for.

Recently my aunt emailed me an experience she had, and permitted me to share the story:

"Well, it has been quite a day.  I have had a wonderful spiritual experience today with Josephine Smith.  I had a prompting to review a particular set of records but when I looked at them I couldn’t see why as their work appeared already complete.  But.. Josephine wasn’t going to let it go that easily.  She was one of the most persistent angels that I have had the fortune to experience.  SO… I listened and started looking and very quickly I found her marriage record I could truly feel Josephine's joy as I attached them together… but she wasn’t letting me go so quickly she promptly led me down another path and soon I had several children and even a few of her grandchildren.  I was feeling pretty good about this but she wouldn’t leave me yet. I kept having this uneasy feeling that I wasn’t done.  I moved on to work on her brother but Josephine by now is distraught and pestering me to keep looking.  So… I did and I found one more child.  He had died at a young age. Young children are often very hard to find   But she lead me to her last son.  The feeling then was one of PURE JOY that filled my home.  Her family could now be together forever.  I will keep researching her other brothers and sister but in a few day you will receive a bunch of Smith names and I know Josephine will be right there with you in the temple making sure it is all done right!  She is an amazing mother that just can’t wait for her family to be together forever.  I am sure you will feel her joy too."

In amazement and excitement I talked with my aunt further. Although Josephine's baptism was completed she sent me all the other girl baptisms in the family. Then my aunt concluded, "before she let me go I had found probably 60+ names of her family.  She is a lovely and persistent angel." I'm planning to go to the temple tomorrow to start working on more of these family names.

I'm extremely grateful to help be an instrument in God's hands to help others. I found a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants chapter 127, verse 7 that states, "that in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven; whatsoever you bind on earth, may be bound in heaven; whatsoever you loose on earth, may be loosed in heaven;" I love these principles that are taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.



I love the temple and the opportunity given to us through the ordinances performed there. I know that families are eternal! Through family history and temple work we can help other families join the church and be sealed for time and all eternity.

Know that you're loved!
Love! Inspire! Smile!
Melissa Longhurst