My Mom and Jesus

Today I wish to share two sentiments, my mom and Jesus. Since my last post, the struggle to become and to grow has been real and fought in the trenches of my life on a daily basis. Today is mothers day, second only to Easter, I believe it is the most sacred day of the year. Today, we honor the women in our lives who have been there since the very beginning.  As Elder Holland so eloquently said, "Life does not come with a manual, it comes with a mother."  Thank you so much for being my rock the past 23 years and showing me how to live a imperfect yet worthwhile life. Watching you respond to the challenges placed in your path has shown me how I can respond to my own.

On another note, there is Jesus, who has been sitting in the trenches with me, handing me juice boxes and tacos when I just don't want to keep fighting. I was talking to a good friend of mine last night and he said something that really put into perspective one of the roles Jesus plays in my life.

"Yes life is hard and I could choose to let my trials overcome me. I could choose to focus on the negative,  to see what's hard and the blessings I haven't been given. But what's the point in that? I already know that path, it leads to despair and self loathing. Instead, I choose the path of faith. I choose to trust God and His promises. Moses could have chosen to listen to his fears and could have hesitated, but he did not. He chose to have faith in God's power and His timing."

We are all on our own roads, and working on our relationship with God. You are not alone. God is a God of miracles and miracles have not ceased.

Love,

Lauren

 Love you Mom. 

Road Construction

       The following post is something I have contemplated publishing for a while, but never had the courage to truly put myself out there. However, I believe we each have life experiences, not only to learn and grow personally, but to help others endure well as they struggle through their own challenges.

       My name is Lauren Roylance, I am 22 years old and a returned LDS missionary of nearly 6 months.  I knew when I left on my mission two years ago that life would be hard.  I would be stretched, pulled and pounded into a better person. I knew I would struggle in ways that I had never struggled before. And I did. However, I never expected to find that the battle doesn't end when I step off the plane. The battle shifts to a new field with new players.
       
        In the last 6 months I have struggled to reconcile who I had grown to be with who I was now changing into. A person quite frankly, that I didn't very much like. I began to seriously question my faith and religious standing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. People would say "Oh you were a great missionary" or "You are doing so well!" and I would simply think "No I am not, I am a chocolate mess."  I stopped attending all my church meetings regularly, using the fact that I was required to work Sunday's as my excuse.  I let the habits that had become second nature slip out of my life.

      The more I questioned, the more miserable I became and my negative attitude began affecting other aspects of my life.  I became apathetic, not caring how my actions affected those around me.  Then one day I decided that I needed to know the answers to my questions. I figured, this church was "restored" by a young man having the courage to ask questions. Why could it not be the same for me?
So, I bought a cheap Book of Mormon and wrote my questions on the inside cover.  I began to read it on my lunch break, receiving odd looks from my coworkers. Still, I was miserable.

About a week ago, I was sitting in the car of a good friend of mine. It was late and I had just gotten off of work, so we decided to grab some McDonald's and go for a drive.  We began to chat and our conversation eventually led to religion and the questions I was struggling through. I must give my friend credit, he doesn't beat around the bush, something I really appreciate.  As we were talking, I was hit between the eyes with a powerful thought. Simply put "Choose to believe until proven otherwise."  The simplicity of it stopped me in my tracks. What an idea! Simply choose to believe.  Huh. So, I decided to try it out. It has been about a week and I feel happier. Now, it doesn't take away my questions or habits I am struggling through, but it does shine light in the direction I should go.

     I have a lot of personal work to do on myself over a long road ahead. I am a work in progress, but that is what this life is for, to come to know God. We each have our own road to take with construction along the way. The best thing we can do is hug those that have a blown out tire or are stuck in a rut. Sometimes, the best fix is a good friend who simply loves. There are plenty of drivers that will give odd glances. What is needed is kindness and patience. Those who wander are not lost, they just are paving new trails.

The blessings of a Mission Family

       Last month was a huge learning/ growing experience. I took off on a road trip with a bunch of missionaries from my mission. We went to St George for my birthday and to attend a wedding of a Elder and Sister from my mission. On top of that, we found out the home coming of a office couple in our mission was that Sunday, so we were able to support the Kleinman's as well.  

      Tears filled my eyes as I listened to Elder and Sister Kleinman testify of the love of our Savior Jesus Christ, of missionary work and the love for the missionaries of the OEM. It was a tender mercy being able to support them. Out of the kindness of their hearts they and their extended family hosted 10 missionaries in their home. Sitting in the car driving back from that whirlwind weekend, I had a insight.

       It was wonderful to see the OEM missionaries come together as a family to support two of our missionaries. Some even came from Alabama and Hawaii to support the happy couple. It  impressed upon me that the bond we forge in the field is not left there. It changes, is strengthened and becomes something eternal. 

       Likewise, the bond we have with Jesus Christ now, as he wades through the muck of a fallen life with us, will not fade in the eternities. Rather, it will be strengthened and made into something eternal. 

What a wonderful promise that is! A eternal friendship with our Savior Jesus Christ.

Painting by artist Greg Olsen

"I am one of His witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in His hands and in His feet and shall wet His feet with my tears.  But I shall not know any better than I know now that

He is God's Almighty Son, that He is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through His atoning blood and in no other way."

-Elder Bruce R. Mckonkie

Quorumn of the Twelve Apostles

This is our time to come to know Him. 

Pride cometh before the Fall

Have you ever felt heartbroken? Like someone had taken your heart and stomped it on the ground? Well, my companion and I felt just that way after leaving the home of a less active couple who had held a grudge for 25 years. They had been offended by another member of the church and had denied themselves the blessings of a temple marriage and serving in the church in consequence.  Heartbroken, we listened to every "reason" they had for not coming back. We extended our deepest apologies on behalf of the church and then left, heartbroken.

I have often wondered what has kept myself at times and those I love dearly from completely taking hold of the blessings that come from honoring our covenants. The definition of a Covenant is a  "sacred agreement between God and a person or group of people. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as we obey those conditions." The answer to my often pondered question is five letters long: p-r-i-d-e.

In 1989 the prophet of the church, President Ezra Taft Benson, gave a monumental talk on the sin of Pride. Simply stated, pride is the universal sin. We are all guilty of it to one extent or another. President Benson teaches us that pride boils down to emnity between us and God. It is our will above God's will. Pride is the root that cankers relationships, the mold that spoils our progression towards Heavenly Father. Pride is a damning sin. Said Benson:

"Pride adversely affects all our relationships—our relationship with God and His servants, between husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, teacher and student, and all mankind. Our degree of pride determines how we treat our God and our brothers and sisters. Christ wants to lift us to where He is. Do we desire to do the same for others?"

So, how do we overcome the pride that causes us so often to stumble? Our beloved prophet gave us the answer to that as well."The antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness. (See Alma 7:23.) It is the broken heart and contrite spirit. (See 3 Ne. 9:20; 3 Ne. 12:19; D&C 20:37; D&C 59:8; Ps. 34:18; Isa. 57:15; Isa. 66:2.)" Service overcomes selfishness. As we choose to forget ourselves, roll up our sleeves and serve those that we have qualms with, our hearts will be enlarged and our souls will be healed.

As we diligently work to be humble, our Savior will give us a new heart. He will perform the surgery needed to see things the way He sees them and to love others the way He loves them. One day, we will find that His image is engraved upon our countenance. All He is asking is that we start today.

What will you do today to take part of the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for you?

Entangled in Sin

Last week, Sister Nealy and I went berry picking for our workout in the morning. As we were picking blackberries, I began to notice a few things. It seemed that the ripe, juicy blackberries were always just beyond reach and required me to step into the thicket just a bit. Though I was not very far in, I quickly realized that I was entangled in blackberry thorns that had lodged their way into my clothes. At first I ignored it and continued to pick these sweet treats. When it came time to move on, I would have to stop and take time to painstakingly remove each thorny vine. As I repeated this process over and over again I began to think how this applies to sin.

We live in a time when Satan has placed so many temptations just out of our reach that require taking one small step into the thicket. Upon obtaining our "sweet treat" we are able to move around just a bit, snacking on the delicious treats around us. But when it comes time to move onward and upward, our progress is hindered, slowed down by the briers lodged into our clothing. Thankfully, we have the miracle of forgiveness and repentance that allows us to remove the thorns and move onward.

Our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, leaves us with this inspired counsel:

We live in a world where moral values have, in great measure, been tossed aside, where sin is flagrantly on display, and where temptations to stray from the strait and narrow path surround us. We are faced with persistent pressures and insidious influences tearing down what is decent and attempting to substitute the shallow philosophies and practices of a secular society.

Because of these and other challenges, decisions are constantly before us which can determine our destiny. In order for us to make the correct decisions, courage is needed—the courage to say no when we should, the courage to say yes when that is appropriate, the courage to do the right thing because it is right.

Q: How have you used the atonement to become 

untangled from thorns in your life?

Chase the Darkness from Among Us

          The other morning I was reading a conference talk on hope and faith. The speaker shared the scripture D&C 50:25, which counsels us to chase the darkness from us. When we exercise our faith, we are walking into the light and away from the darkness. This week I was able to be a part of something wonderful. A dear woman whom we have grown to love and have been sharing the gospel with decided to follow the example of her Savior Jesus Christ and be baptized. Every day we have seen her, she has been beaming ear to ear. She has decided to take a leap of faith that has moved her out of the darkness and into the light of our Savior. Elder Russell M. Nelson counseled " It matters not that giants of tribulation torment you. Your prayerful access to help is just as real as when David battled Goliath". Science has taught us that it is against the laws of physics for light and dark to coexist, where one is, the other cannot be. The light of Jesus Christ truly does chase away darkness.

           As we take on Christ's character, we chase away the darkness and the shadows. We are taking that leap of faith that will help us to become like our Savior. Taking that jump is scary and takes a lot of courage. However, courage is the secret ingredient for a life full of satisfaction and free from regret. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the mastery of it. As we put our fear behind us, we are free to make that jump across the chasm to the person Christ knows we can be.

Will you jump?

Be YOU

          This week we celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate the fact that the tomb is empty and that He lives. Because of Him, we have the opportunity to become like Him. He broke the bands of death, He leads and loves us today. A couple of weeks ago we had a Zone Training Meeting where we were taught how to become. Our zone leader walked up to the chalk board and began to draw a very simple diagram.

Thoughts---------->Actions ---------->Habits-----------> Character

       
 The Book of Mormon not only testifies of our Savior Jesus Christ, it teaches us how we can become like Him. In Mosiah 4: 30 King Benjamin warns us to watch our thoughts. No action we make will ever happen without it first being a thought. There is power in our thoughts, they become who we are. I can still remember my Cross Country coach in high school telling us constantly that "As you think, so you become." We are what we think. This Easter season we invite all to turn their thoughts to our Savior, to become even as He is. 

          As we change our thoughts to mirror our Savior, the actions we take will change as well. Actions that would have reflected the world around us will change to reflect He who created the world. We will choose to serve one another, love one another and lift one another each day. Our words will be kinder, sweeter and helpful rather than hurtful. Christ taught us to lift where we stand.

           Our actions lead us to our habits. Elder Alvin R. Dyer once said:

"Man is the sum result of what he thinks and does. Habit is the instrument that molds his character and makes of him essentially what he is. Habit can become a monster to tarnish and destroy, yet proper behavioral traits can bring lasting joy and achievement. To say no at the right time and then stand by it is the first element of success."

Habits are like the autopilots of our lives. What actions do you do without even thinking? When I wake up, I roll out of bed, say my prayers, get ready to exercise and brush my teeth without even opening my eyes. Auto pilot kicks in every morning, pushing me through my groggy, not-awake-yet moments of the day. These habits have been ingrained by daily consistency. It takes 21 days to make or brake a habit, but once established it will take over our actions and build into our character.

         Character, is defined in the Websters Dictionary as "the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves : someone's personality." As we focus our thoughts on the words of Christ, and change our actions to mirror His actions, we will develop habits that will help us take on Christ's character. The character of Christ is to turn outward when the natural man would turn inward. Christ never thought about himself, he never acted in a way that would benefit him or cast the glory on himself. Christ turned the glory to His Father and He always acted in a way that benefited mankind. 

How will you allow Him to change you?

#BecauseofHim

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