Of Joseph Smith

I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God! I know he was chosen to bring the fulness of the gospel back to the world. I know he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, that he spoke with them face to face! I know that he translated The Book of Mormon, through divine inspiration. I know The Book of Mormon is true. I know that Joseph Smith gave his life 164 years ago because of his devotion to God and because he knew and would never deny that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God.

How do you......

Get yourself out of a spiritual funk? I have been having the hardest times with being active and going to church since we moved out of AZ. I still have a testimony, live the right way and believe in the gospel. But I just can't make it to church on a regular basis. I want to be active again, receive a calling and be a part of a ward again. I am just having a hard time with the first steps. I know I should just stop whining, get over it and go already. But, sometimes I just don't know what to do...

Painful Faith

I am so excited about this blog... I have to tell all of you that have already posted, THANK YOU! You are all amazing and have such great faith and strong testimonies, and have have strengthened mine by reading. Michael and I have not been very good about reading our scriptures together. We get really good, and then fall out of the habit. Why is it so easy to fall out of it, but to hard to get back in?

Well, as a little background, Michael deals with chronic sacroiliac joint pain, which no doctors have been able to get rid of. He has been through so many painful procedures in the HOPE that something will lessen or get rid of his pain. Having constant pain and no relief really tries us, mostly him obviously. But I feel so incredibly helpless! On top of this back pain, he also was diagnosed with Ciliac disease about 2.5 years ago... so he cannot have any wheat, oats, rye or barley, which is in EVERYTHING it seems. (I hope I'm not sounding like I need sympothy...sorry).

Last night, with a new goal of reading our scriptures together, we decided to just open up the scriptures and start reading from whenever. Matt 9, what an awesome chapter. Now, I've heard growing up people saying how when they've had a problem they've just opened their scriptures and found an answer... I've tried this in the past, but not with any real luck. We weren't looking for any answers or anything out of the ordinary, just to start doing what we know we are supposed to be doing to strengthen our faith and grow closer to Heavenly Father, I mean, who doesn't want more blessings :) Boy did I get a heartful! The chapter is about Jesus healing people from their illnesses, casting out devils, and preaching the gospel of course. We read about the woman who had a disease with an issue of blood for 12 years came to see Jesus... and then we read "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said 'Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made me whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.'" I really didn't hear the rest of the chapter because I was just so touched by the spirit that I was crying. I believe in miracles, and I know that Michael could be healed this second, but for whatever reason, He has not. I know that one day he will be whole. Our bodies will be perfect after the resurrection; we just have to keep an Eternal perspective! I am so thankful for faith, and for my Saviour who truly lifts our burdens and makes them easier to bare. All He asks for is simple faith!