Joy in the House of the Lord

I love this temple. When I was really young I used to live by this temple. When we would drive by it I imagine myself as a princess in that gorgeous building. When I go there today I know that I am a daughter of a King. This knowledge gives me SO much JOY!! I love how I feel when I go there. I know it is in this house of God that I can be sealed to my family forever. In this temple and in all temples around the world families are being united forever by the priesthood. It is proof that God does love us and want us to have joy!

(Las Vegas, Nevada Temple)

More Joy Than in Just a Photograph

I have many loves in my life; the gospel, my scriptures and my camera. If I ever lost my camera I'm just not sure what I would do. With this powerful tool I can take gorgeous pictures and at the same time capture just a glimpse of my life. I especially love my camera on my mission. There have been many precious moments that I've captured with my lens that I hope to never forget.  However, I have found that there a moments that just can't be photographed. Like the first time I knew I felt the Holy Ghost guiding me in my life, or the time that I really felt God's love for me. One time in particular was when we were teaching an amazing guy in Napa. It was then I could tell by looking into his eyes that the Spirit was confirming to him the truthfulness of this gospel. These moments are precious to me that have brought me so much joy.
There are so many things in this gospel that aren't tangible. We can't see Jesus Christ in person, we can't hold the gold plates, we don't have a picture to prove that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. These are great things but we have to take a step of faith and believe.  As my friend Kenny in Santa Rosa said, "Faith is believing even if you can't see, touch or taste it." I invite you to find joy and pray to a loving Heavenly Father who is waiting to answer your prayers. I know His Son Jesus Christ can bring us so much joy that can't even begin to be captured in a photograph.

Oakland Temple August 18, 2011

Joy

I love the word Joy! Its why I am a missionary. You see, I haven't always had joy in my life. At times my life was pretty rough, either because of my choices or because of the choices of others. I didn't understand the concept of opposition in all things as Lehi taught in 2 Nephi 2 in the Book of Mormon. To taste the bitter is to truly experience the sweet. One night I prayed and asked Heavenly Father over and over and over to know joy; I was pretty adamant. He answered my prayer as I read His scriptures. Now I am a missionary serving in California and feeling more joy than I have ever felt in my life. That joy has come as I have read the Book of Mormon and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.  In the same chapter in the Book of Mormon where Lehi is teaching his children about opposition he says, "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25). We are here on this earth and it maybe challenging at times but we are here to feel joy. That joy only comes from following Jesus Christ.