The Power of a Name...

Words Matter. The power that we have with our words is absolutely incredible. We have the ability to change someone's entire day or even someone's entire life with just a couple words, for good and even for bad! I have come to know this so much more as a missionary than ever before. I mentioned earlier that as missionaries we love to stop people on the street to ask them about their beliefs or ask to share a message. It sometimes scares me to think that our interaction could be their very first interaction with the church. What we say and how we say things matter. 

Something even more powerful than words? A Name. Name's are everything. A name is given to you when you are born and then sticks with you throughout your entire life. Name's connect us with who we are and our own personal individuality. Except more than that, names can also carry power, responsibility, and blessings. The name that is known world wide and carries actual physical power is Jesus Christ. The power behind his name is amazing and I know that too be true even before my mission. 

My mom was actually the first person to teach me the power behind Jesus Christ's name. I remember I was talking to my mom one day about how I kept having overwhelming negative thoughts. I told her I just could not stop thinking about it. My mom explained to me that those thoughts were from Satan because everything good comes from God. I told my mom that I didn't know how to get Satan out of my head. My mom told me to "call upon the name of Jesus Christ." My mom told me that Jesus Christ has the power over Satan, the light always breaks the darkness. She told me that at any moment when I started to have those thoughts again to say, "In the Name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave." That is what I have done ever since then and everytime those thoughts leave. Everytime that overwhelming dark feeling leaves. I have heard several stories on my misson about people calling upon the name of Jesus Christ. 

My companion and I had the amazing opportunity to go over to one of our friends houses this weekend!! It was the same man who made me want to start this blog, who I met on the street walking his dog. Well he invited us over for dinner and to meet his wife! It was an amazing experience. He told us his story and about how Jesus Christ impacted his life. He told us how he called upon Jesus Christ's name when he was at his lowest. I love that becuase it doesn't matter if your at your highest or lowest. Christ is always there for you. 

During dinner we were talking to him about the Restoration of the church and about Joseph Smith. We told him that Joseph Smith in 1820 had a question about what Church was true. There was so much religious excitement on the earth at the time and everyone was claiming to have the truth. Joseph Smith was reading in The Bible, James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." So Joseph Smith did, he went out in a grove of tree's and knelt down to pray. When he began to pray an overwhelming dark feeling and presence surrounded him. We know that presence was Satan. Satan knew that Joseph Smith was going to change the world. This darkness was so overwhelming that Joseph said at one time he thought he was going to die. Except Joseph Smith used all the power and the little strength he had left to call upon Jesus Christ. With those words that darkness and negativity vanished and it was replaced with a pillar of light. 

We talked to him about that and he said it was interesting because he had a similar personal experience. He kept saying that it was interesting we were using those words because it was so similar to him. Without going into too much detail this is what he told us. For the purpose of his story and privacy, I will be changing his name to Tyler. 

Tyler began his story telling us that along time ago he was in a very very dark place. He was in a dark enough place that he decided it would be better for him if he wasn't here anymore. So he did some things so that he wouldn't be. It was interesting because he said that he went into it with a prayer. He told us that he called upon Jesus Christ at the beginning. Tyler told that after he was finished he was huddled in an all way over leaning against a wall. He was using all of his strength not to fall asleep becuase he knew that if he did he wouldn't wake. He explained that as he was trying to stay awake he saw the Devil. The Devil was waiting and watching for him to give up. He gave us a very detailed description of what he looked like and said that he had dark aurora's surrounding him. He said that everytime he began to doze off the devil would get closer and closer until something shook him awake. Everytime. This went on for hours Tyler explained to us. 

At some point Tyler told that entity "You can't have me because I have Jesus Christ." At those exact words the dark entity and his surrounding Spirits vanished. By using Christ's name, Satan had to leave. Tyler said that he knows that because he went into it with a prayer Christ was with him, shaking him awake. I know that Satan didn't want him on this earth because he knew what a light Tyler would be to so many people including me. 

Being a missionary I have heard countless more stories about the power behind Christ's name. I have heard people even using Christ's name in their dreams to escape nightmares. Satan will try and get us at any point, even when when we are asleep. 

Except I was told this story just this week!! I know that this story, Joseph Smith's and many others are true. I know that if we are ever feeling like we are going to drown in the darkness, call upon Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ will always win. 

Being a missionary I have a really cool opportunity give up MY first name for 18 months for Jesus Christ's. Everyday I put on a badge with His name on it, acting as a representative of Him. Everyday the words that I decide to use are a reflection of him. 

I am so grateful for the power that comes through Jesus Christ. I know that when we call upon Christ, he will always run to us. If you are ever having negative thoughts, feelings, or sense a dark presence, call upon Jesus Christ. 

The Light will Always Prevail! 

☆How have you seen Jesus Christ's name prevail in your life? 

☆What do you top your biscuits with?? 

____________________________

Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que

This week we had an amazing opportunity to go try out a new restaurant in Rocklin, CA! It called Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que! When I first heard we were going to a restaurant called Lucille's, I was grateful but wasn't too excited. To me it sounded like a Tea Party and dresses only kind of a restaurant. Boy was I surprised! This amazing restaurant was a Cowboy Boot Wearin', Barbecue Sauce Drippin', Down Home Country kind of Cooking restaurant. The inside was so cool, southern and definitely my kind of dining. 

My favorite part and the part that made my Food Tour list was... the biscuits. The tender, buttery, sweet biscuits made the cut. They were golden brown with crunchy sanding sugar crust on top. I have never had sanding sugar on a biscuit before! The crunch adding that differentiating texture from the soft biscuit was perfect! 

Plus too top it all off they had their own homemade Cinnoman Apple Butter!! It was so good, the cinnoman apple mixed with the sweet biscuits was too good to only eat one!! The butter reminded me alot of Texas Roadhouse Cinnoman Butter but the apple gave it a really cool and different taste!! 

I wasn't able to snag the recipe from the actual restaurant but here's an Apple Butter Recipe I found that seems pretty similar. Let me know if you try it out! The next time you make homemade biscuits, top them with sugar. 

You won't regret it or just stop by Lucille's yourself!! 

Ingredients:

- 4-6 apples, chopped (Granny Smith or other tart variety works well)

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 1/4 cup water

- 2 tsp ground cinnamon

- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

- 1/4 tsp salt

- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, combine apples, sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft and mixture thickens (about 30-40 minutes).

3. Use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree the mixture until smooth.

4. Return pot to stovetop and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until apple butter reaches desired consistency (about 1-2 hours).

5. Remove from heat and stir in butter (if using).

6. Let cool, then transfer to airtight containers and store in fridge (up to 6 months) or freezer (up to 1 year).

Notes:

- Adjust cinnamon amount to your liking.

- You can also add other spices like cloves or allspice for extra depth of flavor.

- This recipe makes about 2 cups of apple butter.

- Great on toast, biscuits, or as a filling for cakes and pastries.

Enjoy your homemade Cinnamon Apple Butter!