You are a child of our Heavenly Father. That truth means that you have unique experiences, insights, answered prayers, unanswered prayers , thoughts, ideas, and on and on. This makes you a valuable piece in His Plan. This is a community where we learn from each other, not a single pulpit. This is a melting pot of unique children of God so that we can grow together and Raise The Stakes. Our 2 articles of expectations 1- Lead with Charity, not contention. For are we not all beggars. This is a place to share and be edified, not belittled. 2- Share, comment, and uplift! The strength of this community comes from its members, not its admins. We are here to Learn of Jesus Christ and His Gospel TOGETHER, so please, be an integral part of this flock, we have room for you and would love you to abide with us. Let’s start with hello! You can even copy this if you’d like! Hi! My name is (your really cool name) and I currently live in (your really cool town)! My favorite temple is (the really cool temple!) and I enjoy (your really cool hobby)! If you’re really feeling up to it you can even share what mission you served in or a favorite scripture! Thank you for being here! We’re so happy you’re here.

I don’t believe that fasting is just food and water. Not to take power away from that base- fasting in any format can be very powerful. For me, not eating is a daily occurrence. By the end of the day I’m wasted and it’s because I’m lacking from not eating. A food and water fast isn’t necessarily challenging for me. It’s a daily happening. What could be more powerful? What if it was something you have up that made you STRUGGLE that day? Sometimes, God wants to see how serious we are. -How about sacrificing that drink you love? Caffeine -Maybe the scrolling of SM- could you delete the apps? -Sacrificing your favorite daily occurrence: working out, your walks, suntanning, driving, your recreation Would you be willing to GIVE IT UP. Putting it on the alter to God to show your sacrifice and dedication? Even just for a day to witness the power that may be given by The Father in return? Again, food and water fasting is sufficient. It could be an extreme fast for most people. How much more powerful could fasting be if you modified your item on the alter to God to be something that was truly an absolute sacrifice? Something personal. “God, I’m ready for change.” “ I surrender.”

We often chalk up a situation that didn’t work out as “failure.” Is it though? I don’t have this perfected, but I can talk through experience. I have hit brick walls in my life. What seemed to be immovable objects in my way. Something that FORCED me to alter my course. Dead end job, no paycheck, edge of bankruptcy, loss of loved ones (who are still living), hardships. I failed. I should’ve worked harder, been more savy, paid more attention, been more disciplined, learned to say no, walk from toxic relationships, seen it coming. Right? Blame is mine? Through all of it, I chalked these moments as if I had truly failed. Myself, my family, friends, circumstances. I had it all wrong. God showed me a different vantage point. God has never failed me. I’ve always been perfectly placed. Perfectly guided. Perfectly “turned” in my path. God doesn’t make mistakes. There are no coincidences. We learn from The Savior’s example of who God is- through Him. Christ did it perfectly- He was never in the wrong place. He was never there at the wrong time. He was never there under the wrong circumstance. If Christ is our example, we can understand that the same way He lived without ANY coincidences- so can we. Failure doesn’t exist. That truly means- all things good and bad are purposeful. God doesn’t love us through meaningless suffering. An eternal perspective of live gives us this guidance in the times where it feels the darkest. It was never failure- and it never will be if we firmly believe that God is the author to our story. No matter our choices or circumstances. Trust the path. We get pushed from our concrete path into the weeds more often than not. It isn’t usually until after we are done with the treacherous trail looking back on it that we realize- the treacherous path we never would’ve taken on our own, is actually the direction we needed to go all along.

today I was thinking about the oil the 5 virgins who were prepared for the Bridegroom. the story obviously insinuates that the oil couldn’t be shared among them- they needed to bring their own oil. looking into the oil, it was most likely olive oil that was used for their lamps. they had to bring their own olive oil. in our life’s, we have the agency to collect our own olive oil throughout life. however, the thing about olive oil is the extraction process. the oil that we receive throughout our life comes ultimately from tremendous pressure at the olive press’ that we endure and experience. this oil comes equates to our testimony, our grit, our desire to endure. our Father in Heaven desires our growth, and knows the pressures we can handle. the limits we believe we have are a construct- we can handle an incredible amount MORE pressure than what we give ourselves. we constantly cut ourselves short. the hope would be that all of us experience the pressure of the olive press. to be able to fill our lamps with oil we have personally extracted. oil that only comes through adversity and trial of your own testimony. I hope this translates the way it hit me today. sometimes it’s hard to describe what the spirit conveyed hours later, I need to be better about documenting it in the moment. these words aren’t mine, but pressure is a privilege.

Something I wrote down in my journal last year was popping up in my mind today. Thought I’d share. Oh how I wish, I could have been there Walking with Christ in Galilee To see Him walk and talk and teach Oh how I wish I had glimpsed Him there To see Him bless and mend and feed To see the dead rise To see Him baptized Oh to see Him break bread To be so lucky, to touch His hem To watch Him ride upon the frawns To hear Him praying until dawn Oh to wish to be there To wish or dream of days gone by Can be good here or there But to lose one’s self Or long to to stay Can cause your soul to wear Faith in God is faith in now That He will guide you through Whether sea or forest Or darkness veil Believe when blind or deaf or mute For faith is what prevails But yet God wishes too The God of all The creator the judge Beginning and end of it All Of all the things He could have or create What could God desire Oh how He wishes to glimpse us repent To grow and learn of Him Oh how He wishes, to walk with us In all places that we may be in Oh how He wishes and wants and prays That we Invite Him throughout our day He has done more than wish He teaches, commands He has engraven us upon the palms of His hands Oh how He wishes and wants and pleads That we come home to mansions prepared The Savior has been born He lived He died The Messiah beat death and rose All of this, because of His wish That all may be saved through Him Oh while I wish, to go back and see My Savior doth plead with me Be here, of good cheer, for I am with thee Open your soul and see For I AM On your right and on your left While you work, and live and laugh and cry I am with thee, oh child of Eve For I will never forsake thee Oh how I wish, and hope, and pray that I will remember His life His love His grace But above all else Oh how I wish to be with Him Even half as much as Christ wants me with Him