Wow. Crazy how much things change in 18 months.
I returned on Tuesday from my LDS mission in the California Redlands mission. I serve faithfully for 18 months along side so many amazing men and women. God taught me a lot and in turn, I trusted Him. I can't wait to see what adventures what lie in store for me.
This is just a short post to say, I'm back!
Love,
Alisha
Friday, February 6, 2015
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Becoming Children of God
Well I haven't posted for awhile, mostly because I didn't know what to post but now I've started to find things I want to write about.
I've been preparing to serve a mission so that's been fun! I love getting all my things gathered and feeling like it's all coming together. I can't believe it's actually happening.
Recently I was called to be in the Primary. I am now teaching the eleven year old girls. It's been quite the challenge because I've never been good at teaching kids. My bishop said it's good for future missionaries to teach the kids because it's the mentality that most investigators have when approaching the Church. I really love my primary class.
Singing time is my favorite part of primary though. A dear friend of mine leads the singing and she does such a good job. I love how she interacts with the kids and gets them interested in the music. Today we sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." I've never really listened to the lyrics before but I'll post them at the bottom with a link to the music.
It's such a precious song and the words that hit me the hardest were the ones about how He loves me dearly and I am in His watchful care. Primary teaches us to return to the basics of the Gospel and to appreciate the simplicity that it really is. We must do as Mosiah teaches in Mosiah 18:22 and become like little children. We are all God's children and He wants us back in His arms.
I will work as a daughter of God, a missionary, to bring my family that is California to the light of the Gospel. I love the people there even though I don't know them and I am grateful for what they can teach me.
I've been preparing to serve a mission so that's been fun! I love getting all my things gathered and feeling like it's all coming together. I can't believe it's actually happening.
Recently I was called to be in the Primary. I am now teaching the eleven year old girls. It's been quite the challenge because I've never been good at teaching kids. My bishop said it's good for future missionaries to teach the kids because it's the mentality that most investigators have when approaching the Church. I really love my primary class.
Singing time is my favorite part of primary though. A dear friend of mine leads the singing and she does such a good job. I love how she interacts with the kids and gets them interested in the music. Today we sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." I've never really listened to the lyrics before but I'll post them at the bottom with a link to the music.
It's such a precious song and the words that hit me the hardest were the ones about how He loves me dearly and I am in His watchful care. Primary teaches us to return to the basics of the Gospel and to appreciate the simplicity that it really is. We must do as Mosiah teaches in Mosiah 18:22 and become like little children. We are all God's children and He wants us back in His arms.
I will work as a daughter of God, a missionary, to bring my family that is California to the light of the Gospel. I love the people there even though I don't know them and I am grateful for what they can teach me.
If the Savior stood beside me,
Would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example?
Would I live more righteously if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me?
If the Savior stood beside me,
Would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel?
Would I speak more rev’rently if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me?
If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions?
Would I choose more worthily if I could see the Savior standing nigh
watching over me?
Watching over me, watching over me,
He is always near me, though I do not see Him there,
And because He loves me dearly,
I am in His watchful care,
So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
if I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me.
I will be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
if I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
They Have Better Work to Do
In the recent wake of new catastrophic events that shook America, along with the other shootings and mass murders that have captivated our attention on news channels every night, I think it's time we realize that life happens.
A lot of people, me included for a little while, believed that God has just allowed these things to happen. That He doesn't care about His children or about what happens to them down here. The people with little faith see these tragedies as sad. And they are! Don't get me wrong, children should never feel unsafe at school and I'm sure the parents are struggling. Families everywhere have suffered.
But Heavenly Father needs them more than the world does. LDS people teach that after we die, our spirits go to a place where we can learn and grow more. There is missionary work done, and people to be taught that didn't get the chance here. They are in need of angels there, and they have better work to do.
Those family members, friends, cousins, neighbors, sisters, wives, co-workers, children, and loved ones that have been lost in the past few months, are with God now. And where else would we want them. Through the Plan of Salvation and Jesus Christ I know that we will see them again. They aren't lost to us, but they are much busier than us. And, at times we may feel sad and miss those we've lost, we need to keep in mind that Heavenly Father is keeping them busy. He as a better work for them to do than they could have ever achieved on earth.
A lot of people, me included for a little while, believed that God has just allowed these things to happen. That He doesn't care about His children or about what happens to them down here. The people with little faith see these tragedies as sad. And they are! Don't get me wrong, children should never feel unsafe at school and I'm sure the parents are struggling. Families everywhere have suffered.
But Heavenly Father needs them more than the world does. LDS people teach that after we die, our spirits go to a place where we can learn and grow more. There is missionary work done, and people to be taught that didn't get the chance here. They are in need of angels there, and they have better work to do.
Those family members, friends, cousins, neighbors, sisters, wives, co-workers, children, and loved ones that have been lost in the past few months, are with God now. And where else would we want them. Through the Plan of Salvation and Jesus Christ I know that we will see them again. They aren't lost to us, but they are much busier than us. And, at times we may feel sad and miss those we've lost, we need to keep in mind that Heavenly Father is keeping them busy. He as a better work for them to do than they could have ever achieved on earth.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Striving with the Spirit
"For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul." 2 Nephi 26:11
I was reading this scripture tonight in my nightly reading of the Book of Mormon. Now a lot of people will take it at face value to mean that when we don't have the Spirit of the Lord (or the Holy Ghost) we will sin and be destroyed. However, the word STRIVE struck my attention and gave me a deeper appreciation for this scripture.
Strive, in the first definition does mean to put an effort out. The Spirit won't always try to be with us. But the second meaning is what caught my attention. Strive can also mean contend or fight with. Now I'm not saying that the Holy Ghost is a violent being.
It means that His presence can't be felt when it is in contention with the natural man. "The natural man is an enemy to God." (Mosiah 3:7) He is not going to strive to be heard if we are too involved in sin.
So readers, if there is anything in your life that the Holy Ghost could be contending against, I urge you to change it now. He wants to bless you and He can't do that if He has to shout his way to the top. The Spirit is a still, small voice that whisper's words of peace and love to our hearts. He will direct us by small daily promptings every day.
I know that the Holy Ghost can influence us if we let Him. We have to be doing what is right and keeping out the natural man for Him to make a difference. I know this church is true.
Amen.
I was reading this scripture tonight in my nightly reading of the Book of Mormon. Now a lot of people will take it at face value to mean that when we don't have the Spirit of the Lord (or the Holy Ghost) we will sin and be destroyed. However, the word STRIVE struck my attention and gave me a deeper appreciation for this scripture.
Strive, in the first definition does mean to put an effort out. The Spirit won't always try to be with us. But the second meaning is what caught my attention. Strive can also mean contend or fight with. Now I'm not saying that the Holy Ghost is a violent being.
It means that His presence can't be felt when it is in contention with the natural man. "The natural man is an enemy to God." (Mosiah 3:7) He is not going to strive to be heard if we are too involved in sin.
So readers, if there is anything in your life that the Holy Ghost could be contending against, I urge you to change it now. He wants to bless you and He can't do that if He has to shout his way to the top. The Spirit is a still, small voice that whisper's words of peace and love to our hearts. He will direct us by small daily promptings every day.
I know that the Holy Ghost can influence us if we let Him. We have to be doing what is right and keeping out the natural man for Him to make a difference. I know this church is true.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Mission Call!
Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that my mission call came last week.
CALIFORNIA REDLANDS MISSION!!! I leave July 24.
I am so excited to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of California. I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over me and protecting me. He loves me and I am His daughter. I also know that the Gospel has the capacity to bless the lives of families no matter what circumstances.
The gospel may seem hard to some because of all the rules. But I like to think of the rules like a funnel. Right now we feel like we are living constricted, but later on in our lives so many more freedoms will open up to us in the forms of blessings. However, live free now and those rules suddenly constrict us because we aren't following them.
I know that the Church is true. I know that my Heavenly loves all of His children. I know that if you turn to him that he will listen and always answer our prayers.
I love this Gospel.
Amen.
CALIFORNIA REDLANDS MISSION!!! I leave July 24.
I am so excited to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of California. I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over me and protecting me. He loves me and I am His daughter. I also know that the Gospel has the capacity to bless the lives of families no matter what circumstances.
The gospel may seem hard to some because of all the rules. But I like to think of the rules like a funnel. Right now we feel like we are living constricted, but later on in our lives so many more freedoms will open up to us in the forms of blessings. However, live free now and those rules suddenly constrict us because we aren't following them.
I know that the Church is true. I know that my Heavenly loves all of His children. I know that if you turn to him that he will listen and always answer our prayers.
I love this Gospel.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Partake of the Fruit of God
This passage of scripture depicts the vision of the tree of life that Lehi and then later his son Nephi see. Two words, however, came out very strong for me this time reading around. They were the words "partake" and "taste."
When Nephi first takes a bite of the fruit he partakes of it. (vs. 11-12) He describe the feelings that he has and the way that he eats it. Partaking of something implies a much greater appetite. It means being a part of something. There was a much greater connection there.
Compare that, then, to the people in verse 28: "and after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them, and they fell away and were lost." Those people merely TASTED of the love of God. They didn't dwell on it like Nephi did. It was as if they licked the fruit, kind of got a sense of what it was like, then got embarrassed and left.
Again, in verse 33 the people who partook were mocked and ridiculed but they "heeded them not." They were too busy being a part of the love of God. They kept partaking and partaking. Compare that to the people who were lost that only ate the fruit once then fell away.
We need to be like the people of Nephi. Embrace the love of God and continually eat it. Don't listen to the ways of the world and just keep eating and eating. It can't just be a one time conversion either, like those who tasted. It's a constant process of partaking. I invite all who read my blog (all 2 of you) to join with me in partaking of the fruit of God and living this Gospel to it's fullest.
Again, in verse 33 the people who partook were mocked and ridiculed but they "heeded them not." They were too busy being a part of the love of God. They kept partaking and partaking. Compare that to the people who were lost that only ate the fruit once then fell away.
We need to be like the people of Nephi. Embrace the love of God and continually eat it. Don't listen to the ways of the world and just keep eating and eating. It can't just be a one time conversion either, like those who tasted. It's a constant process of partaking. I invite all who read my blog (all 2 of you) to join with me in partaking of the fruit of God and living this Gospel to it's fullest.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The Art of Dating
Last night I was stood up again. This was the second time this kid has flaked. I wait and wait and wait for a reply, for a sign that , ya he does have a good excuse for canceling on me again. Nope, nothing. Just some lousy text and 11:30 at night saying he was sorry.
Boys, listen up, it's time to stop acting like boys and start acting like men. I think that's been the problem with most of the guys I've dated. They aren't acting like they should. When I go on a date, I should have my door opened, my chair pulled out, my food paid for, and the jacket laid across the puddle.
But no, half the time I have to CHECK to see if it's a date or not. I have to clarify with them. Yes, I know it can be hard to tell the difference between date and hanging out, but I believe you should have the respect to let her know which is which.
However, girls, some of the blame lies on us. We aren't acting like proper ladies either. We need to ask for their respect. One thing that I always do is I wait for him to open my door. I will sit in the car till he comes and gets it. Also, don't bring any visible form of money on a date (hanging out is different). It forces him to realize that the gentleman thing to do is pay. Now I know some of you girls are shaking your head right now, you want to be independent. And that's wonderful! Don't get me wrong. But when on a date, it's important for us to let him lead. Men like to feel in charge and protective. So let him be that.
So guys, girls, please please PLEASE rethink the way you date. Boys don't be afraid to call that cute girl up. Girls, don't say no unless you have a REALLY good reason why not. Be respectful, chivalrous. Don't talk with your mouthful. Don't flake out or cancel half a dozen times.
And above all, don't forget to have fun. (:
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