"second star to the right, and straight on till morning"

There are a lot of ways we can find our direction wherever in the world.  Some look at a compass while others  like on peter pan, follow the stars.  These ideas cant get us out of the most toughest conditions whether we are hiking or in the deepest part of a jungle, we can find our way out.  So yes we have great ways to find our way physically but how about spiritually?  Well brothers and sisters i'm here to tell you there's a way, its called the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost is our own personal compass, one that can find our way out of the most difficult of all situations that come from Satan   The Holy Ghost will warn us of danger and testify of truths!  Our Heavenly Father knows the danger this life holds and wants it to be as smooth as can be, and that's why the Holy Ghost is such an important role for all of us, for at times we are lost, but with it, we can be found!

Be Unstoppable

I'm sure all of us have had days where we feel a little weak in some area.  Whether it was at school or someone put you down for what you believed in.  Just know you are not the first to go through this problem, but you can be one of the few to brush it off.  Who cares if you are white, black, brown, green, catholic, mormon, baptist, tall, short, poor, wealthy, popular or a nobody.  No one can take away what you know to be true.  One of the many amazing bands out there named Bloc Party said it quite clear in the song "The Prayer."  As the song gets to the chorus the words, "Tonight make me unstoppable," play.  Brothers and Sisters, God makes miracles happen to even the most simple of beings.  Did Jesus Christ walk upon water?  Did Moses part the Red Sea?  Did Noah build an arc to escape the flood?  Did Joseph Smith, being a boy of fourteen, see God the Father and His son?  Simple answer, yes.  "And because He hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased?  Behold I say unto you, Nay."-Moroni 7:29.   With God we can be unstoppable, as we endure the challenges that we face daily in a world so dark, follow Jesus Christ, your dreams, and your beliefs, and nothing can stop you, not even he who controls all the evil of the earth.  With Jesus Christ as our light we can and will get through the night.

The Best Things In Life

The best things in life come from Our Heavenly Father, that's a given right!? Well we all know the BIG things He has done for us such as sending His only begotten son to atone for our sins and die for us so that we may return to live with them again. Now lets move onto the smaller things: The food we eat! He has given us the creative minds that we all have to make spectacular food! Some of my favorites has to be Italian...pastas, pizza, gnocchi, and anything with pesto and olive oil!  Okay food, check!  Well how bout our personalities, some are goofy while others are more serious and sometimes you'll get the laid back type.  Personalities make the world a little bit more interesting each and every day.  Alright food and personalities check aaannnddddd check. Lets name some other things that we may all call the best things in life.  How bout when we had a really busy yet satisfying day and we come home to our wonderful bed, I know that is one of my favorite things that I hold precious while being on a mission is the sleep I get at night!  

Another way I can get a great feeling of peace and relaxation not only from my bed but also from the beach.  So in other words I could be homeless and live at the beach and be COMPLETELY happy!  

Last but not least another to be added in the best things in life category has got to be my family and friends.  . My family is the goofiest of them all, we have the best time telling inside jokes and telling eachother movie quotes during dinner at night and sometimes we even try our best to pull an all nighter while having a Harry Potter marathon, amazing!

As for my friends we could absolutely have nothing to do and seem to find the most random things out there, whether its going to san francisco at 3am and wait till the sun comes up and drive home or even something small like having a bon fire at one of my best friends house while reminiscing!  

We all have our own personal items that should be listed under the best things in life which we should hold dear.  God is truly a loving father for He alone knew from the beginning what things would best suite us while we take on the challenges of life.  Life consists of times full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: You need to have God by your side which luckily, I do and so do you.  Isn't life grand?      

The Role of a Prophet

Brothers and Sisters its great to write another blog especially on the subject of Prophets.  Many have wondered at a time in there lives what a prophet is which is natural.  We all have questions that come up during our lives that may help us out in the long run!  Already then, lets open up door number one to see what we'll talk about today (trumpets sounding)...."What is a Prophet?  Do we have one in these times?  Well lets jump back about a few thousand years when some of the famous prophets were on the earth such as Moses, Abraham, and Noah.  Each one of them had there own mission that Our Heavenly Father wanted them to complete.  When Noah was upon the earth he was a righteous man who walked in the ways of God.  At the time he was commanded of God to tell the people "repent, repent, or the earth shall be flooded!"  Many of the people mocked him and and persecuted him but he still did as God wanted him to do.  After many times doing this, God knew the people were wicked so he warned Noah to build an ark and commanded that two of every living creature to come upon the ark as well as some of the followers.  After that most of us know what happened, God flooded the earth.  So back to the question, what is a prophet?  A prophet is a man who has been called of God to speak for Him and be his messenger.  A prophet receives the Lords word for mankind including revelations, prophecies, and commandments.  

We are so blessed in these times to have a prophet on the earth.  I know President Monson as well as all of the previous prophets are all true.  I know they have been called of God to help us get through tough days, challenging tasks and trials that we face as well as to share what God wants of us at certain times.  So tonight I promise that as you pray to know whether or not what I have talked about is true and that President Monson is a true prophet of God in these last days you will feel the Holy Spirit come upon you with such a warm feeling!

                         

Two Roads, Which Shall I Take?

"In Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds herself coming to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire Cat, of whom she asks, “Which path shall I take?”  The cat answers: “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn't really matter which path you take!" 

  Unlike Alice, each of you knows where you want to go. It does matter which way you go, for the path you follow in this life leads to the path you will follow in the next."- President Monson.  Alice in Wonderland, one of the most famous stories of all time.  Alice finds herself faced with many challenges throughout the book where she needed help.  Just as President Monson spoke about the fork in the road we too will get to that point in our lives.

  "An old proverb says a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step so....watch your step."-President Holland.  We can either choose to go this way or that way.  Always remember that each choice has its consequences.  Our Beloved Heavenly Father knows that we won't make the right choices all the time, but because of His love for us we can always be invited back onto the straight and narrow path.  A way He shows his help for us is by sending friends our way to pick us back onto our feet.  With friends on our journey they can always bring us back onto that narrow road we all long to be on!

Our Heavenly Fathers plan is flawless.  He gave us a plan that we may learn and grow through this life even though the ups and downs.  Yes at times we may fall off that path and endure another road but because of Gods love for us He will never give up on us.  When we do what is right He blesses us both spiritually and temporally and when we make wrong choices He will lift us back up through Christs atonement!  So after we have done all that we can we are done right?  WRONG!  Endure brothers and sisters, all of us need to go till the end of the race for the prize is worth all of the trials and tribulations we face here on earth.  I like to think of this life as a marathon.  The hardships we face while running uphill are the challenges we face here in life.  The thought of turning back because it is too hard for us will pop into our head constantly.  Let Jesus Christ be that helper to get you up that difficult hill and when this is done our shoulders will feel weightless!  At the end of this great race Heavenly Father has promised us Eternal Life.  I picture Eternal Life being paradise that both my family and friends will dwell with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  No more worries of the world but never ending happiness and peace!

Who you gonna call!?

One of my favorite movies of all time has to be Ghostbusters, I mean come on who couldnt love people chasing ghosts!  One of the famous quotes from a song on Ghostbusters is "who you gonna call?....GHOSTBUSTERS!"    Whenever someone had a problem with a ghost or an evil presence in there home they called the Ghostbusters to come and take care of whatever was in there!  This movie is true in a sense, we can call upon someone whenever we need help.  It doesnt matter how big or small a problem may seem, our Heavenly Father helps all.  Unlike the Ghostbusters, Heavenly Father is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help us get through the trials we face in life because he loves us

.  We can all know our Heavenly Fathers love towards us as we turn to him.  I promise that he will answer by sending his comfort so you can know of a surety that he does care!  A few years ago I needed him most in my life.  I was alone, distressed and couldn't find any way of being comforted.  I turned to Heavenly Father and he sent his help through my family who brightened my once saddened spirit.  I cannot tell you how much He loves us because it wouldnt be comparable to actually how much he does.  As in Ghostbusters they didnt have too much business at first but when people started noticing the great things they did, more and more people needed them.  So this is me telling you from experience that your burdens can be made light, your faith will grow, and your knowledge and love for him will never decrease!

Go the Distance

"Heart's on fire, strong desire, rages deep within," I love that song from the motion picture "Rocky."  You all should know by now my love for movies, especially ones that inspire me to try my hardest at everything I do.  Rocky Balboa "The Italian Stallion" was a simple guy just trying to make it in life.  He had barely anything but what he did have was desire.  A local boxer from Philadelphia with absolutely nothing to lose.  One day he was met by a famous fighter named Apollo Creed who had an interest in balboa and challenged him to a fight.  Even though Apollo was world champion at the time, rocky was ready and willing to fight!  Brothers and Sisters we all have dreams, desires, wants and needs.  So let me put the question of "how" out there.  How are we going to achieve our goals and desires?  Three things that we all can try each day if we are willing and have an open heart.  1.  Faith, with faith we can know of a surety that in life's darkest times our Heavenly Father is there waiting upon us to call him.  With faith we can also know that good will always come no matter what happens.  2.  Desire, when you first have faith you the have desires to do things that you never knew you were capable of.  Have a desire to do good, and rid away evil thoughts and actions to do bad!  3.  Diligence, have you ever played a game of basketball or ran a mile that seemed too hard at times?  When I have watched a basketball game, even with 20 seconds left and the opposite team is still down 30 points I notice they still have that drive to work hard even when it comes down to there team losing.  We need to all be diligent in whatever we do, because when we are busy Satan has a harder time entering our thoughts.  Brothers and Sisters be diligent to the end for the prize will be worth it the day you stand in front of your Heavenly Father and he asks the question "Braden, how do you think you have lived your life?"  and you answer honestly "The best that I could."  Eternal Life, that's what we are all striving for, we all joined our Heavenly Fathers plan together so go the distance.  As a simple man in Philadelphia, Rocky balboa went from good to great and from great to amazing.  “Don't you quit. You keep walking, you keep trying, there is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon. Some come late. Some don't come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be alright in the end. Trust God and believe in Good Things to Come.”- Jeffrey R. Holland