August 1, 2011

Paris-http://mormon.org/feature/paris/eng/
Shawna-http://mormon.org/me/4M1X/
Alexis-http://mormon.org/me/3X9D/

Those are 3 people that I thought would connect with lots of you back home in some way or form. Paris is from the streets and is serving in the mission right next to me. Shawna is apparently a 1st grade teacher and Alexis is a student studying special ed who blasts Justin Bieber so if that is not a variety, I do not know what is.

Anyways, I have had some experiences this past week that are really driving home being an example and "living the gospel as conspicuous as you can"-Elder Holland.
Good
"Ye are the light of the world"
"Let your Light So Shine before men that they may see your good works and Glorify your Father which is in Heaven"
"I give unto you to be the light of the world"
"Ye are the Salt of the Earth"
"The light of the body is the Eye; if, therefore, thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light"
Bad
"If the Salt hath lost its savor, wherewith shall the Earth be Salted?"
"It is Henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men"
"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
AGENCY
"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon."

It comes to a point in our lives where we have to choose God or choose Mammon (Satan, Lucifer, Devil, Beelzebub, Leviathan, etc...).
That point comes to everyone. In actuality, we are doing it every day, every decision. We are choosing to stand a little taller and extend our stride or we are choosing to sink into mediocrity and to not improve. We are never stagnant in our search for the Kingdom of God. We are losing and gaining ground every second of every day. The reason is up above this paragraph.

Doctrine and Covenants 93:28,36 tell us, "He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things...36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.

It is up to us to obtain this light, this truth, and use our agency in order to receive that Eternal weight of Glory that Heavenly Father has obtained.

Make good choices this week.

I love you,

Elder Blackburn