My life view

Life Principles That I Hold Dear

Moments, actions thoughts and experiences we have each day of our lives shape us to become that final person that we can be satisfied with.  Lifetimes of these small and seemingly insignificant instances make us into who we are and want to become.  

Discussed in this paper are some of the views and beliefs that I have gained through my short 22 years of life but that I hold dear to my heart.

As I child I was born with a gift of happiness. I truly feel that it is one of the spiritual gifts that our Heavenly Father has given me to find happiness in each day of my life regardless of the circumstances that I am in. My parents recall from the time that I was a baby this happiness.  They would come to wake me up in the mornings to find that I had been awake for quite sometime just smiling in my crib not making a noise just excited for a new day. I have always found it easy to find joy in life when others around me have not always shared the same view.  Even when times are hard I have found it easy to find ways to enjoy the stage of life or current experience.

I have been judged that life has been too easy for me or that everything has always been handed to me but this is not the case. After a life of experience I have come across one simple key to success. Life is what you make it. Happiness is based on counting your blessings rather than your foes. It is based on the way you treat others which in turn will be the way others treat you.  It is based on loving yourself enough that those around you can love you. And first and foremost happiness to me is living the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the only way that we can truly be happy. We can work hard at the daily attitude aspects of happiness but if we do not live in harmony with our Saviors teachings we cannot live a happy and fulfilled life.  Because we learn from the scriptures that wickedness never was happiness.

Each day that we have is a gift and we must treat it as such. I try to look for blessings that I have each day and in every phase of life that I undergo that I might find reasons to feel happy and excited rather than the down falls or disappointments. It can be a daily struggle to make sure that I am dwelling on things that are positive and will make me feel grateful rather than things that will pull me down.  We must always remember that Satan wants us to feel unhappy, to feel bad about ourselves.  He desires us to tear others down and to not take responsibility for our actions.  This is contrary to the plan that our Savior has.

Jesus Christ wants our every happiness. Which is why he gave us the commandments the scriptures, standards and principles of the gospel to guide us in that direction of eternal life. This should be our ultimate goal and will bring us more happiness than we can imagine.

As I fill my days and mind with thoughts of gratitude and of the gospel the Holy Ghost is with me and I am given an increase of the Spirit and feelings of joy.  Gratitude does not always come easy. Sometimes it is something that I have to pray for. It is hard to feel grateful when you are struggling whether it is finances, illness, loneliness or any other trial. I have found in my life that these are the best times to think of all that we have and these experiences “will be for our profit and learning” as we learn for the scriptures. It doesn’t mean that those pains will always go away it just twists our views and makes us appreciate the sweeter times in life when things are a little sour.

I love the stage of life that I am in right now. It is so fun to be married to Josh. It brings such joy to be our own little family together and to bring strength to one another. He makes me a better person and helps me to change the imperfections that I have through his example.  I am grateful for that gift of a spouse and family units that our Heavenly Father designed for us.  It’s wonderful to grow in love and in the gospel with each other. I love reading the scriptures together each night with him and to hear his insights and have him teach me. I know that reading the scriptures personally and as a couple brings the Spirit into our home and carries it with us all day long. I strive to live worthy of that companionship and to never offend the Spirit.  I know that the Holy Ghost inspires and helps us in work, in school and in any small problems that arise.

I think another important aspect of life is to live develop Christ-like attributes.  Charity is one that I am working on and trying to develop to truly see people the way that the Savior does. As natural men it is easy to be judgmental of others or to put others down to make us feel better. This is something I have to constantly correct. We bless the lives of others as well as our own when are kind, and serve those around us. This is one of the commandments to Love our others. This is how we show our love to God is by loving and taking care of those around us.

            I also believe that hard work is a principle of life that we should live by. When we sacrifice and work hard we grow the most. Hard work makes us humble and more well rounded people. It increases our feelings of independence and self esteem. To be a hard worker is a very important attribute.

I believe that another important aspect of life is to have fun. President Gordon B. Hinckley said that “ In all living have much fun and laughter, life is to be enjoyed not just endured.” There are times to be serious and to work hard but there also should be a balance in life. Make things fun, make memories and enjoy relationships with family and friends.  I live by this principle almost everyday. I love to laugh and wrestle and play with Josh. I love to play sports, to exercise, to watch, to craft and do hobbies that bring me joy. I especially love to celebrate holidays and to make things cozy, magical and special. This brings me so much joy!  I love to play games and enjoy being with my family and friends. Life should be fun and I always try to live this principle.

I am grateful for a family who taught me the importance of having fun together of playing together and making work fun. We laughed and wrestled, and danced and sang and enjoyed making memories together. I have been blessed with parents who valued this and I hope to make this just as important to my children.

 I am grateful for all the experiences, trials and blessings that have molded me into the person I am today. I pray for more experiences to develop me into the person that my Savior wants me to be. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that helps to guide and direct me in the decisions that I make each day.  I am blessed to be apart of His Gospel and to better all the time. 

Testimony

My Testimony Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

I am so grateful for the gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has been given to me. What a privilege it is to have the knowledge that I do of our Savior and his plan of happiness. I know that the plan of salvation is real and that we met at a council in heaven and it was there we were told that we would be sent to this earth. That would be given a body and that we would have struggles and hardships but that if we were faithful we would be able to return to live with our Father in Heaven.

 I am grateful that our Heavenly Father loved us enough that He sent His son Jesus Christ to be atoned for our sins, sorrows and pains. I know that Jesus suffered for my individual shortcomings, and heartaches. I have a very real knowledge and testimony that he knows all the pains and hurt that I have felt and that He knows me on a very personal and real basis. I am so grateful for this gift of our brother Jesus to suffer for us. I am grateful for His life and ministry and for the perfect life he lived and gave. I am so grateful for His example and I strive to live my life as he would and in a way that would be pleasing to Him. I know that He created this world and I am grateful for all the things he put on this earth that are so beautiful and are for our enjoyment.

I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove. It was here that as a 14-year-old boy he knelt down to pray to ask which church he should join. It was then that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in person with physical bodies. They told Joseph that he should join none of the churches and that although they each had some truth to them none had the fullness of the Gospel. After this vision Joseph in the next many years helped to organize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also was given the gold plates in which he was to help translate with help from God. The gold plates were a record of the ancient people of America and another testament of Jesus Christ. I know that through the power of God he translated them and brought about the Book of Mormon. I know that this book is true and all the principles therein will bring us true happiness as we follow the example of the prophets and most of all our Savior Jesus Christ,

I know that we were sent here in families to help support each other and strengthen each other. I am grateful for the Temple and the ordinances there that allow us to be with our families not only in this life but also in the next life. I am grateful to be sealed to my husband Josh and that we can be together with our future children for eternity. I know that I must work hard and be faithful all of my life for these blessings to come to pass.

I know from personal experience that the principles of the Gospel and righteous living bring us the most happiness. That when we are serving others, keeping the commandments, attending the temple, and working to build the Lord’s kingdom here on the earth that we feel closest to our Savior and feel the most joy.

 I know that we have a latter-day prophet president Thomas S. Monson who leads this church. I know that he is directed of God to give us counsel and wisdom on the things we should do in these last days. I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost that helps me to feel inspiration, to feel comfort and to warm me of dangers both physically and spiritually. I know that this Gospel is the only one that is true. I know that our Heavenly Father and Savior love us and want nothing more than for us to be happy and to return to live with them. I know that is why they have set up this gospel and given us so many opportunities and guidance to succeed. I am grateful for all of these blessings and I have all the conviction of my heart that everything I have said is true!