What Will You Give Christ?

I love this new video with President Monson. What will you give to Christ? I hope it changes your heart like it has changed mine.

BYU-Idaho's YouTube Channel

Just found this online. BYU-I has a YouTube channel. I loved this one.



p.s. I just found out they're extending the voting through the middle of next semester (see post below). So you can vote and tell your friends to vote, too. It takes one minute. Please vote (click here). Pass the link to others.

GRACIAS!

BYU-Idaho's Best Internship

You should click here to vote for me:

http://www.byui.edu/CareerServices/students/byuis_best/index.html

Word on the street is ANYONE can vote. I am one of the top five internships for the last year. If you vote for me, I might win!

Thanks!

Attention all Bloggers!

Someone once told me that bloggers are selfish.

But I'm going to give you a chance to be a nice blogger and help me out. Can you help me out?

For one of my classes, I'm required to post something I learn from class on another blog. Then people are supposed to comment on what I write. At the end of the semester, I put it all in a portfolio.

But no one is commenting on my blog lately...

So...you catchin' my drift? Even if I don't know you....write your thoughts. Please! At least something you like about what I've written.

Click HERE

Deal?

Deal.

Thanks--in advance.

What are you thankful for?

What are you thankful for?

The Portent of Stormy Weather Ahead

Lest you think I've completely gone over the edge and become an activist, I wanted to share this video with you. It has highlights from April 2008 General Conference. This came from President Monson shortly after he became the senior apostle, prophet and President of the Church.

The person who made the video wrote: "In the April 2008 Priesthood Session, President Monson mentioned "political machinations." Not knowing what that meant I looked up the word and was stunned as I read the definition. This video was inspired to help wake up my fellow LDS members to the dangers we face in America as seen over 40 years ago by President Ezra Taft Benson. It is time for all of us to get our homes in order in preparation of the approaching PORTENT storm that Pres. Hinckley warned us about in 1998."

May the Lord bless this great land built on religious freedoms. I testify its creation was governed by the hand of God. May we

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehD390q9G3k

The War in Heaven

I came across this video last night. Isn't it great? Take a look for yourself.

December 6: Day of Fasting and Prayer for America

I received this e-mail this morning:

DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER FOR AMERICA

"We are becoming firmly convinced that our elected politicians are incapable of representing the will of the American people – and incapable of adhering to the Constitution of the United States of America which they took a solemn oath to uphold and defend.

"We are among the millions of U.S. Citizens who are at our wits end sending e-mails, faxes, telephoning, meeting with elected officials, demonstrating, rallying – and hoping – that those representatives will do the will of the people. They have failed. Have we, as well?

"The United States of America is a choice land, a nation that was founded by our forefathers who were divinely inspired by God the Father Almighty. This choice nation has been the defender of freedom throughout its relatively short history. We have led in the fight for freedom against many tyrants and dictators who have plundered and pillared their citizens and have subjected them to great sufferings through blood and horror. The people of those nations who suffered these great injustices knew that they could always depend upon the goodness, power and righteousness of the United States of America to extract them from their plights. And it was done – many times over. It was not done without expense – the expense of the blood and sacrifice of the members of our armed forces – and the suffering of their families.

"As the year 2009 soon comes to a close, we the citizens of the United States of America finds ourselves facing many of the challenges – which those nations suffered at the hands of their political leaders. We are being attacked from within! Who do we turn to? Which great nation can we turn to help us to keep and maintain our freedom? We do not have the same hope of those nations to whom we were benefactors. We MUST turn to our Savior. If we are a righteous people, we will be deserving of, and receive of His blessings as He has promised. He suffered and died for us – He atoned for our sins; each one of us - individually. We know that - as a nation – we can once again be the choicest of lands.

"However, we cannot achieve that blessing without our willingness to please our Lord and Savior. We are asking that all who read this message that have faith in Christ designate Sunday December 6, 2009, as a day of fasting and prayer for America.

"You do not have to march on the nation’s Capitol nor go to a tea bag rally. From the comfort of your home, you can get on bended knee and with a broken heart and contrite spirit, petition the Lord to bless this nation generously according to His will. Then, keep the fast for that day.

"Make that Christ-like commitment to our Heavenly Father. He will listen, He will answer. That has been promised. 'And whatsoever he shall ask the father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you' (3 Nephi 18-20). 'And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive' (Matthew 21:22)."

Now my thoughts:

I'm not at my wits end, nor do I think there is nothing left to do; I see much we can still do. But I cannot think of a better way to unite our faith in the Lord to call upon Heaven to bless our leaders, our country and its citizens, and guide this great land of America--a land which was built upon religious freedoms the Pilgrims sought when they came more than two centuries ago.

I wish not to be a vigilante, neither to make afraid nor offend. But I see this as a way to unite as followers of Christ to ask the Lord to bless this great nation.

It is on that note I extend this invitation to join on December 6, Fast Sunday. Our great nation is in need of divine intervention. This is the best thing we could do to make our voices heard. Please pass the word.

Bet you wondered what I've been up to...

My blog posts are coming more frequently--though they're few and far between. Perhaps it's because of my awesome on-campus job that keeps me so busy every day after class.

I plan the university's performance tours--including the performing tour of "God's Everlasting Love." Composed by Robert Cundick and words by Elder Bednar, this is the first music oratorio with wrods by an apostle. It's an epic moment in religious music.

You can click here for more information on the tour (and to learn about what I do at work everyday). Or you can click here to read an article in a Twin Falls area-based newspaper on the upcoming performance there.

And if you still want tickets to the Salt Lake performance (Nov. 14 at 7:30 pm in the Tabernacle on Temple Square), click here. You better click now. Word on the street is tickets are going FAST!

did I mention...

...i'm working on another blog--for a class? I promise there's some really good stuff over there.

comm250rocksmyworld.blogspot.com

Check it out. You'll like it. You know you will.

Angèle MAUREL

This is a post dedicated to my French grandmother: Angèle Maurel (second one in from the left). She would disapprove of me posting this picture, but it's the only digital picture of her that I have!

Soeur (Sister) Maurel was 93 when she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The missionaries had lived on the 2nd floor of her apartment building for seven years before she finally took time to talk to them.

During a difficult time in her life she began asking them questions. That built a friendship that would eventually lay ground for an opportunity to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When she came out of the waters of baptism, she said she felt as if she had been resurrected.

I met Soeur Maurel a year and a half after her baptism when I became her downstairs neighbor in July 2006 in Cannes. To Soeur Maurel, the missionaries were her children; we were some of her best friends.

We had to stop by every night (or call her if we didn't have time) to let her know we had gotten home safely. Sometimes she would watch from her upstairs balcony. (She even called one day and scolded me when she saw us leave in a rainstorm without coats on. Our coats were in the car.)

Since we couldn't go inside, we would visit briefly on the doorstep an wish her goodnight before heading home. Despite her illness and fatigue, each night she gave us something to take with us and eat once we got home: an apple, a piece of her famous apple cake, pasta, dinner especially for us. Somehow she just knew when we weren't eating enough. Our mothers are very grateful for the way she took care of us.

I always promised I'd go back to visit her once I got home. I wrote her a few letters, called a few times, and learned each time of new difficulties she was facing. She spent much of her last few years in the hospital. But she always cared and recognized my voice whenever I called.

Our last phone call took place a few months ago when she, with great effort softly whispered across the ocean and through the telephone line: "Tu sais que ma porte vous est toujours ouverte! Quand tu viens, tu resteras chez-moi." (You know that my door is always open to you. When you come, you will stay in my home.") She was determined to let me stay there despite her impending maladies. In the end, I promised to come visit and said, "Je t'aime, mamie! Que le Seigneur te bénisse jusqu'à ce qu’on se revoie! Gros bisous! Je t'embrace très fort!" (I love you, grandma! God bless you 'til we meet again! Hugs and kisses!)

Of course, I didn't know it was the last time we would speak.

Our angel grandmother Angèle Maurel died September 4. I learned of her death this past week.

She's probably watching from above, silently scolding me each time I leave in a rain storm without my jacket, and making sure I get home safe and sound.

Of course, I miss her. And I will miss being able to one day visit France again. She won't be there when I run up the stairs to say hello and taste of her delicious apple cake. And I will miss knowing I can call her or send her post cards. And miss her whisper a little louder than normal "Frère SMART!" When she hears my voice on the line when I call.

But oh, what a joyous reunion she must be having with her husband, her family and friends, as they greet each other. And what joyous reunion we will have one day when I get to the other side.

I am so grateful for those "celestial customs" and the opportunity for relationships to extend beyond the grave. She is one of the first people I hope to see once I get to the other side. And maybe, just maybe, she'll have a piece of apple cake, and we'll embrace, and I'll let her know that I got home just fine.