Trials

I was reading the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees (Jacob 5, The Book of Mormon) the other day, which sometimes is a stumbling block for many of us. But I learned something that is pretty amazing to me, although it may not be the main message of this allegory but a good message nonetheless. In verses 20 – 22 it shows the Master/Lord of the vineyard (God) showing his servant a branch which he had hid in the “poorest spot in all the land of [the Lord’s] vineyard”. The servant wondered why this spot was chosen, and the Lord says “Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.”

On the other hand look at verse 25 where the Lord of the vineyard shows a branch placed in a good spot of ground (later in the chapter he describes it as "a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard" v. 43). This tree was nourished just like the rest but only part of it brought forth good fruit. It had some things handed to it, had it easy.

What I was thinking of today as I read this scripture is that though sometimes we feel that God has handed us a "poor spot of ground" (trials, or a "hard" life), and it’s just too much to deal with. Sometimes we seek to "counsel" God and tell him we don't deserve our situation. We observe others with not so poor ground, and think that we have been unjustly dealt with. We do not know what God knows, great things are in store for those that follow His counsel. He nourishes all of his children just sometimes we don’t recognize all the blessings he gave us. Some of us don’t accept blessings either so therefore we let ourselves start to whither away. What we need to focus on is what we can do to bring forth good fruit. Strive to do what the Lord our God asks and requires of us. Lay up treasures in heaven! Trials are always for our good and will help us to become better. God knows our potential and he lets us struggle so that we may grow.

Grateful.

What does it mean to be grateful? When I think of grateful I think of all the things I am thankful for, or appreciate, in my life, which are many different things. The dictionary defines grateful as Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful. At the times in my life when I feel on top of the world I could tell you of some things I am grateful for, but when I am under a great trial I tend to forget my most basic blessings and dwell on the tough things. There is a family that has forever changed my life. They were going through more than anyone else that I have personally known, health problems, no money to support family, potential incarceration, and many other things. They were telling us of these problems and how desperate their situation was and increasing worse all the while. This family told how they were about to lose all that they needed, and I am talking needs, but then this man whose soul weighed heavy began to tell us of his blessings.

When I looked at their state I thought that this family had nothing left to be grateful for but, he told how much he loved his wife and kids, how the Lord had already thus far kept him from death when circumstances wouldn’t have allowed if not for a divine miracle. They shared their love for God and his eternal purposes. This family was in the depths of despair and could name blessings that all too often we take for granted. Let us all take a look at what we have and thank God for each and every one of them. Did you just breathe? Welcome to another blessing. Are you wearing something? What a blessing that is. Can you read? Count it. Count your many blessings. (hymn 241, count your blessings) There is too much wrong in this world not to remember the good things that God provides.

Responsibility and/or Priorities

I haven’t written anything for a while and by way of excuse I offer only this: my responsibilities and priorities were changed and jumbled. This topic is something of a big one and I will try to keep it short. Often times as people we wonder what are different responsibilities are and how we can better prioritize them, because we struggle to complete everything that needs doing in just one lifetime. Some struggle with the balance between career and family, as teens, we struggle with the balance of family and friends, some struggle with a balance of virtual things (technology) and the real world. As I have been away it has been because of the fact that I have was called as a missionary trainer, which gives me the responsibility of helping a new missionary find and control the reigns of missionary work. I was told that everything I did would shape this missionary's entire mission. This added weight caused me to evaluate my priorities and I changed a few things around, deciding to put other things ahead of my blog.

I have come to realize that this was a mistake, small, but nonetheless a mistake. So this has made me ponder and think of how we can really know how to find this balance in our lives, I was led my Preach My Gospel (page 107) to the scriptures. In 3 Nephi 13 Jesus teaches the people in America about laying up treasures in heaven and not on earth, then he tells the disciples not to worry about food or clothes or drink, because God will provide. It says he takes care of the lilies so he will take care of you. After reading this I was thinking we should all quit our jobs and just do the lords work… that really wouldn’t work, and that confused me, but as I read on, He sheds a little more light on the subject, he says “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”(3 Nephi 13:33) So what he is saying is that if we seek to keep the commandments first he will help us to also do what is necessary to provide for our temporal well being. So the answer to figuring out our priorities is to seek to do what Christ would do. The choice I made was well intentioned and at the time what I thought was right. But my leaders were all stressing that we continue doing what I was weeding out, I was reasoning that the message they were sharing was to those who weren’t facing the same issues as I was/am. I was wrong. If we want to know what is most important we need to seek for revelation from two venues: personal and priesthood. To know more on the revelation topic see "Two Lines of Communication".

The Purpose.

As missionaries we often think of about our purpose and if we are fulfilling it. Our purpose is to “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”(PMG p. 1) What about you, what is your purpose? Are you fulfilling it? The prophet Lehi shared with us our purpose as children of God, He said, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”(2 Nephi 2:25) So he says that our purpose is to have joy. That’s great because that’s what I want anyway. That’s pretty easy, sometimes.

What are some things that bring you joy in this life? If you’re like me you begin to think of some hobbies that you like, your family, and friends. Something I do find joy in but don’t remember as often as I should is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Christ Himself. An angel of the lord once explained where we can find joy, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”(Luke 2:10-11) this angel brought “good tidings of great joy” which is Christ. So he is that great joy, and is truly where we can find it by the barrels full!

So how do we tap in to this great joy? Let’s look at a scripture, “But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.”(2 Nephi 9:18) We must believe and endure, which will grant us inheritance in the kingdom of God, where we will find or joy is full forever! That sounds pretty awesome! To believe is to have faith, so we must have faith in Christ and endure to the end. So let’s talk about faith, faith in Christ helps us to also have hope in the promises he has given, like eternal life. Elder Derfler use to always say that the greatest joy in this life comes from knowing you will have joy in the next life.  I believe that is true. There is a cycle here; it starts with faith which leads to hope in that which our faith tells us is true. Hope then fosters joy in our lives by helping to look past the trials we face now to the brighter future of living with our Heavenly Father. When we feel joy, it being a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22), it helps us to have a stronger faith because we can feel the spirit confirm our faith. So it continues, unless we let any of these things get interrupted. Without joy we get discouraged and faith falters. Without faith we won’t try for divine intervention to change and become better. Without hope we look to future for nothing better and trails throw us to the dirt.

Now about that enduring thing, how do we do that? What does it even mean? Enduring to the end is to keep the commandments of God and press forward striving to all we can to follow Christ in every way. Keeping the commandments does bring joy, “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”(Mosiah 2:41) He promises it as long we are faithful, and righteous. Obviously we won’t be perfect but when we slip we should repent immediately and never do it again. Then we recommit and proceed again to do our best. It’s hard, I know, and when we mess up, we often get troubled by this and get discouraged. DON’T DO THAT! Remember what we said that does before. Find joy in repentance because the heavens do (Luke 15:7).

So if you desire this gift of joy like this king, listen to answer he gets on how to receive it. “And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.”(Alma 22:15-16) Basically he says pray and have faith (the first step of the cycle) you will find joy. So as we do this we will accept Christ and begin to follow his example if we are truly converted and seeking His Joy. A couple of ways to follow the Gospel are: rear your children in righteousness and help them do what is right (3 John 1:4); another is to invite those around you to come unto Christ and repent just as you have (Alma 29:9).

Conversion? Yes!

                My name is Elder Kofoed (right now, some day it will be Brother or John Kofoed). I was born in the church and was baptized and confirmed a member at the age of eight. I did it then mostly because that is what we did. It was more the culture of my family and most of my hometown, for that matter, than anything else. As I got a little older something happened that would change my life forever, I came to the realization that not everybody in the world was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That rocked my world! I can’t really remember a time that I didn’t believe the church was true, there were times of slight uncertainty but that would quickly leave as I would continue to live the commandments. I am sure that I started out leaning on the testimony of my parents but I was gradually weaned off and building my own just as slowly. In August of 2005 President Gordon B. Hinckley challenged everyone to read The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ Before the end of the year.

My family was a little slow to act and was a little hit or miss but we did our best, and I am not sure if we beat the end of the year but I know that we did finish. During this time of reading together we had frustrations and sometimes low desire from me and my little brother. I also had some very moving experiences as I read about the following stories:  the people with Alma-the-older in bondage and leaning on faith for relief, people being burned and stoned after being converted by Alma-the-younger and his companion Amulek, the converted Lamanites burying their weapons of war and suffering themselves to be killed rather than slay their brethren for their own protection, Samuel the Laminate standing on a wall teaching the, now wicked, Nephites and not being touched by all the things thrown, slung, or shot at him, the resurrected Lord healing teaching and blessing the ancient people of the Americas, the sad destruction of the people after they forgot the Lord. By the end of this challenge I had a testimony (however small it may have been) but didn’t realize it. It grew slowly and even began to slip especially as I hit high school and chose to do some things that I knew I shouldn’t have done. But as I repented and changed back to the person that I wanted to be it grew more.

Today it stands as the one thing I can count as a constant, as long as I nourish it. I know that the church is true, I know that Joseph Smith was a man called by God to Restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness, I know that the priesthood was restored and gives us opportunity to do the Lords work, I know that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, I know that through Him the pains and trials of this life can be overcome so that we can bear them, I know that He lives today and that He loves us, I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father, I know that he wants every opportunity for us to grow and become the best we can be, I know that He has a plan for us to be happy in this life and in the Eternities to come, I know that the power of prayer is real, I know that we are led today by a prophet whose name is Thomas S. Monson, I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I love it with all my heart. And you can too, by reading the Book of Mormon, praying about it, and applying it your life. Just be sincere and intend to act on the answer you receive and have faith, and you will know through the Holy Ghost that this is all true (see Moroni 10:4-5, Book of Mormon). It works, I know because I did it.

Time.

This past Sunday was my birthday,and it made me think of what I have done with the last 20 years of my life.  It makes me wonder what is time and what is it for? The dictionary defines time as: “a limited period during which an action, process, or condition exists or takes place”. This is one point I would like to discuss. As stated in Alma 12:24 this life is “a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God”. This is very important to remember but often times forgotten. It would be really handy if I could have this constantly in my mind reminding me of the purpose of all of the things that life can throw at us. I have made some obvious mistakes at different points in my life, of which I am not proud of. Of course I wouldn’t change them either, because as I relied on the Atonement I have changed for the better and have been forgiven. One can never be perfect but we can get closer as we progress through life.

                It’s also essential to remember the eternal perspective by remembering just how short this life is compared to our existence extending forever.  Our existence here is illustrated by this mental picture: take a string and extend it in both directions until you can’t see either end standing where you are tie one thread on the string. That is this life in the eternal comparison. Let’s not let the decisions of this tiny little moment ruin our hopes and dreams for the rest of forever. Although we sometimes have trials, the adversity and afflictions of this life “shall be but a small moment”, but if we “endure it well” (D&C 121:7-8) the rewards are out of this world, literally. I love this promise given by the lord. As we face life we can hold our heads high and keep our eyes pointed to God as the goal. Those that can keep this perspective tend to move past their trials with out getting hung up and blaming the one that could help them through those points in their lives, God. Let us move forward with faith and remember why we are here, and where we plan to go!

164 years celebrating a legacy of faith!

     The 24th of July marks 164 years since the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. They have left behind a great heritage and are an inspiration to all of us. They have showed us what those who have desires to follow Christ would be willing to do. There are lots of stories that show their faith, but I will share one that really inspires me. It’s about the rescue party sent out to find the Martin and Willie handcart companies. They were stuck near Devil's Gate Wyoming in blistering cold winter weather. Their food was all but depleted and they had suffered many deaths already. Brigham young had sent a crew from Salt Lake to help.

     "Rescue party leader Captain George D. Grant described the scene to President Young in a letter sent by courier on the morning of 3 November 1856: 'You can imagine between five and six hundred men, women and children, worn down by drawing carts through mud and snow, fainting by the wayside, children crying with cold, their limbs stiffened, their feet bleeding, and some of them bare to the frost. The sight is too much for the stoutest of us, but we go on doing our duty, not doubting, nor despairing. Our party is too small to be of much of a help. … We have prayed without ceasing, and the blessings of the Lord have been with us' (as quoted in Improvement Era, Jan. 1914, 209).

     "Solomon F. Kimball continues: 'Those of the handcart people who were unable to walk were crowded into the overloaded wagons, and a start was made; the balance of the company hobbling along behind with their carts as best they could.

     'When [they] came to the first crossing of the Sweetwater west of Devil’s Gate, they found the stream full of floating ice, making it dangerous to cross, on account of the strong current. However, the teams went over in safety. … When the people who were drawing carts came to the brink of this treacherous stream, they refused to go any further … , as the water in places was almost waist deep, and the river more than a hundred feet wide. … [They] remembered that nearly one-sixth of their number had already perished from the effects of crossing North Platte, eighteen days before. … They … cried mightily unto the Lord for help.

     'After … every apparent avenue of escape seemed closed, three eighteen-year-old boys belonging to the relief party came to the rescue, and to the astonishment of all who saw, carried nearly every member of that ill-fated handcart company across the snowbound stream. The strain was so terrible, and the exposure so great, that in later years all the boys died from the effects of it. When President Brigham Young heard of this heroic act, he wept like a child, and later declared publicly, ‘that act alone will ensure C. Allen Huntington, George W. Grant and David P. Kimball an everlasting salvation in the Celestial Kingdom of God, worlds without end’' (They Came by Handcart)."

This story really shows how these young men cared for those around them and followed the savior teaching to love one another (John 13:34). Those 3 really loved they risked their lives for their brothers and sisters. Which the Lord describes as the greatest example of love (John 15:13).there are still men and women who do this today. Some are the only members in their family, some are the only members in their school, community, etc. they have hardships and struggles just as the people in the 1800's. The Mormon Tabernacle choir will be celebrating this by broadcasting a concert on July 23, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. MDT in several languages. this year they will be "paying tribute to those pioneers who left their homes and families to settle the West” and "will also focus on men and women who have served in the military" (Learn More).

The Pure Love of Christ

     Something that has really been on my mind lately is charity, the pure love of Christ. This is something that I need to work on. It should be our motivation for how we treat the people around us. It will drive us to be more like Christ than anything else would. The prophet Mormon, in the Book of Mormon put it best:

 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:46-48)

I love this scripture because it teaches us how to gain this charity. I would recommend reading the entire chapter it is awesome. Christ showed us charity when he performed the atonement and "went about doing good". Lets all seek to follow the lords own counsel when he said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).

The Grand Opening

     I have begun this blog as a way to share my thoughts and feelings of the savior and his teachings. As a missionary my purpose is to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." I will be spending two years of my time and money to do this, away from my family and my home in Idaho. I do this because I love Jesus Christ and know that it is through him and his teachings (the Gospel) that we can find true happiness in this life. I know that he has called a prophet to lead and guide his children today. I know that his authority, The Priesthood, was restored to the earth by three of Christ’s original apostles. I know that I am a child of God and he loves me (and you). I know that families can be together forever. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God along with the bible.  I know that prayer works and if we pray we will receive answers to them.