Photography could last a lifetime

At times I don't realize the many blessings Our Heavenly Father has given me, until I start looking at old pictures. Whether if it was unexpected or expected. Everyone had those pictures, that you hate at first then with time you start loving it. With social media being so easy to access, our pictures are everywhere. Whether we approve of it or not. The memories maybe a blur, but the one thing I do know is that when I look back at those photographs there's nothing but happy memories, or what the heck was I thinking memories. Either way its amazing. We maybe ordinary people, but we may be ordinary people with extraordinary photographs one cannot replace. I may not be a professional photographer, but for what its worth its pretty good. Throughout the years, I've taken hundreds of pictures in some I've posed and in some I don't.
Our Heavenly Father loves us so much. When we feel hopeless, and we feel like we can't do it anymore, he makes sure that he puts in a memory of when you were the most happy. He promises us that if we persevere to the end, if we follow his commandments, and if we follow the promptings of the holy ghost we will one day be as happy as that memory you just thought of. He promises you, that if you do those things he will ease the burden you have upon your shoulders. The path isn't always easy, but it's worth climbing that mountain.

"We truly need him every hour, whether they be hours of sunshine or of rain."- President Thomas S. Monson, General Conference October 2013

It's important that we know that we need Our Heavenly Father, and that he know our every thought but he just needs us to pray and ask him for guidance that we won't get, unless we pray. Through the gospel, I've met so many wonderful people. I've experienced everything one wants to experience: love, faith, hope, happiness. At times, things you don't want to experience: discipline. It is important for one to experience these emotions in order to gain a great testimony of the church. I am no longer the person who relies on the missionaries to live from their testimony but I have my own. I know that if one day, I fail and I give up, I have to remember the reason why I am a member. The reason why I want to strive for more. 

" As we strive to understand, internalize, and live correct gospel principles, we will become more spiritually self-reliant. The principle of spiritual self-reliant grows out of a fundamental doctrine of the Church that God has granted us - agency."- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

THE POWER OF A BLESSING

I know that women are trying to start a movement about the priesthood and how "We the Women" need to withhold it. Now, I don't think its necessary to possess that calling. I'm not going to talk about that. I am going to talk about the blessing of having the priesthood in my house.

Growing up, my father has been in and out of evangelical churches. For a long time we didn't attend any church. The sister missionaries started talking to my brother, then they started talking to my dad. Ever since the sister missionaries started talking to our family everything changed. Although our family sees it as a blessing, others disagreed. They started thinking that we were joining something terrible, some of those people understand now that the church is the same as any other church, with one purpose to share the gospel. Others in the other hand still ridicule us because of what they hear others say, until they see what we see, until they get to experience what we do, they will understand that being part of the church isn't wrong. 

Just about 3 weeks ago my grandmother was sick, she had an ear infection. My father and I went over to see what we could do in order to help. I had to give her medicine in order to ease the pain and stop the itching. I tried my very best but when I thought I couldn't help anymore. I saw my father stand before his mom, and he told her "mom, I have the best remedy to cure that ear infection", she said " do whatever you have to do in order to take this away." With great faith he gave my grandmother a blessing, we said our goodbyes and we took off. Later on that day, they called my father and told him that my grandma didn't have that ear infection anymore.

Yesterday, she called my dad and asked him, if he could go to my uncles house and give him a blessing. He followed instructions and he went over. All I know is that, the people who were so against us becoming "Mormon" are now in need of receiving a blessing, and that man they once ridiculed is the one giving them the blessing. I'm so grateful for the priesthood, I'm blessed to have not one but two men that sustain the priesthood. I could see that Our Heavenly Father has used my father to testify that this church is true by setting an example and following the prompts of the holy ghost.

I testify that I know that the church is true, that the gospel was sent here to guide us, and that if we follow the promptings of the holy ghost we will end up in a righteous path. I know that if we follow the commandments we will receive many blessings. I know that if we patiently endure we will blessed.