Standing with Christ
Happy Zone Conference Week Everyone!!
Zone Conference is when the missionaries in the South part of the California Roseville Mission get together to have trainings and to hear from our Mission President. It's always amazing to be able to hear from everyone and be able to see all the other missionaries!! Zone Conference always brings such an amazing Spirit and always gives us confidence and motivation to continue moving forward in our missions. It's makes us want to strive to increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ even more everyday. It's really fun because not only are we able to hear from our Mission President, President Basha but we also hear from his wife, Sister Basha! I absolutely loved what Sister Basha spoke about and it really touched my heart.
Sister Basha began by playing the song "If the Savior stood beside Me." That was definitely a through back to my Primary days! For those who aren't as familiar with the song, it's an amazing song that kids sing in church. It talks about if we would say and do all the same things if the Savior was right beside us. I would love to encourage you all to go and search it up! It's so cute and has an amazing message that still applies to me today. The part that stood out to me in the first verse says:
"If the Savior stood beside me, Would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example?
Would I live more righteously if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?
Thia song was a complete answer to my prayers because I had actually been thinking about this the past couple weeks. Am I being the same person I would be if the Savior was beside me? Am I being an example to others even when people aren't watching? Am I going the extra mile or cutting it a little short here and there?
I was reading in The Book of Mormon the other day in Alma where it talks about the 2,000 Strippling Warriors. The crazy amazing thing about The Book of Mormon is that it was written thousands of years ago but the teachings and lessons are still applicable to us today!
The 2,000 Strippling Warriors is a famous story that has and continues to touch so many peoples lives. This is a time in The Book of Mormon where there is alot of contention and wars going on. The Nephites, who were rightous followers of God, had to fight to defend their country, their homes, and their beliefs. To do so, 2,000 brave young men signed up to go and fight for their homes and families. These Strippling Warriors are heros to so many kids and even adults. They represent amazing strength, resilence, and trust in God that we all strive for.
The book of Alma gives many characteristics of the amazing 2,000 Strippling Warriors. In Alma 53:20-21 it says:
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.
Characteristics such as, valient for courage, strength, true at all times, men of truth, and men who walk uprightly before God, stand true for all men, women and children in the world. My favorite characteristic however and the one that really stood out to me was in Alma 57:21, it says:
"Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them."
When I read that, "perform every word with exactness" it was like bells were going off for me. When I first read this trait my mind actually went straight to the Fire Academy. Where when you do something, do it right the first time or you better believe you're gonna be doing it again. Never do anything half way because out there it could mean life and death. One of the recruits in the academy was an amazing example of this. He was the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. When they asked for a volunteer he was the first one to raise his hand and when he saw something not quite up to par, he fixed it, and didn't just look the other way. This recruit had an amazing mindset and had a sense of integrity like non other.
Gordon B. Hinkley said, "I speak of the need for a little more effort, a little more self-discipline, a little more consecrated effort in the direction of excellence in our lives." This firefighter was an amazing example of Excellence to me and so many others. The mindset that he carried in the academy, carried him farther than most and will continue to do so for the rest of his life. This quote by Gordon B. Hinkley isn't asking us to be perfect. By all means this firefighter wasn't but he strived for Excellence. God’s not asking us to be pefect, in fact God knows we aren't. All he's asking us is to be a little better. A little more excellent in all we do. This is a challenge that I accepted. These past couple weeks I have strived to be a little better everyday. Not by big things by any means but through small things. Those small actions lead to big things, big changes. By being excellent even when no one is watching. Striving to be the person I would be if Jesus Christ Stood beside me.
If Jesus stood beside you would you be happy with what you are doing? Saying? Thinking? Or do you want to do a little better, be a little nicer, Be alittle more excellent in all you do. "If the Savior stood beside Me" is an amazing song and really gets you thinking.
The one thing I do wish was different about it however is the word, "If." I know that it's not "if", its "when." When the Savior Stood Beside Me. Jesus Christ is always with us, always watching us, always guiding, protecting, and comforting us. The first two verses of this song talks about "what if" but the third verse shows the reality that Christ always is:
"He is always near me, though I do not see Him there,
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care.
So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me."
Just because we can't see Jesus Christ doesn't mean he isn't there. I can garentee you he is because he loves you and he loves to be around you. Sister Basha said, "For those of you who cannot at this time feel his love and his presence by your side. Please know, he has not distanced himself from you. I testify that he is here cheering you on, he is asking you to trust him, to come and stand alittle closer to him, to take hand and see what miracles await you and those around you. He loves you dearly."
Something I have come to know is that Jesus Christ never distances himself from me. If I ever feel any sort of lack of his presence, I distanced myself from him. If you ever feel like that too then evaluate where you are in your life. Jesus Christ always has his hand outstretched towards us, he is just wanting for us to take it. Come unto Christ, He is with you ❤️
I think the best example of integrity and excellence however, is the Savior himself. Jesus Christ set, walked, and lived the Road of Excellence. In Ether 12:11 it says: "Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled."
Christ being born from such humble circumstances rose to the top. Christ is that example of going alittle higher, going alittle more and Enduring to the End. Because the end? Is so much better than we can ever imagine. Being a little better everyday brings so much joy and satisfaction in your life. Start today and don't look back. Don't look back at what you could have done better then. Change now. You don't have to be perfect and nobody expects you too. Just be a little better today. Follow in Jesus Christ's footsteps because he has already walked the path.
That is exactly what I needed to hear this week. I felt like I wasn't doing my best, I wasn't being the best missionary I could be and that's what my dad told me. Start today and be 1% better everyday.
"You have the witness of that faith. You have the testimony of that faith. You have the example of that faith. Let us all try to stand a little taller, rise a little higher, be a little better. Make the extra effort. You will be happier. You will know a new satisfaction, a new gladness in your heart." -Gordon B. Hinkley
God knows you. Jesus Christ loves you and knows your potential even when you aren't sure. No one is too far for Christs outstreched hand to reach. Don't look back, no worries, take Christ's hand right now and start today. Jesus Christ is with you and is rooting for you. Keep on Going ❤️
Love,
Sister Pickett
How have you seen walking with Jesus Christ bless your life?
What's your favorite kind of cookie??
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My companion and I decided to make cookies for our local firefighters for the 4th of July. I used a recipe from a cookbook I got from a friend we are teaching. They turned out so good and boy were a hit! Chocolate cookie dough rolled in pecans covered in a sweeet caramel? Who can say no to that!! They were the perfect balance of chocolatey, nutty, fudgey, bit-sized goodness!
I will say though, this recipe is a healthier version so feel free to substitute with the non fat free version ingredients too. That's what I did! I will definitely be making these again!
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