Fathers!

This Sunday, 19 June 2011, is a day that I am really looking forward to. That is because I get to mention another important person in my life. Yes, my mother is very important to me, but today I wish to talk about my father. That's right! It's Father's day this Sunday!

My father is just as important to me as my mother is to me, because there are things that my father was able to teach me and help me with that my mother just couldn't have done. It's not that my mother isn't a wonderful person. It's just... well, let's face it... I am a guy. There's only so much that a mother can teach her son.

While my mother was able to teach me about the gospel of Jesus Christ, my father was able to show me how to live so that I could be worthy to have the Priesthood, or the aurthority to act in God's name. He was also able to show me how I can use the Priesthood. Also, even though he didn't teach me much through words (that I remember), he did teach me many things through his example.

I will always remember times when he would accidentally let slip and blow his top, not for that reason, but for his responses after he would blow up. He always did his best to repair the damage done, whenever he could. He never was a man to hurt his family intentionally. If there was a time that he did, accidentally, hurt me, I knew that I could tell him. I love my father so much! Through his example, I hope I can be the best father to my children, later in my life.

Now, a little letter to my father:

Dad,

I love you so much! I am so grateful for the things that you taught me, even the things that I was happy and didn't understand. If there is anything that I would change, with what I know now, it would be to change myself and the things that I did and the ways that I responded. Thank you so much for being the best father to me that you knew how. Thank you for supporting me in the hardest time of my life. Thank you for supporting me on my mission. I love you so much!!!!

Now that y'all have read this, make a tribute to your fathers...

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

The Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ truly is amazing! Heavenly Father knew what He was talking about when He was creating the Plan of Happiness for us. He knew that we would make mistakes, so He knew that we would need a Savior to pay the price of our mistakes. Jesus Christ, our Savior, loved us so much that He was willing to fulfill our Father in Heaven's plan. Even Jesus Christ knew that this would require Him to come to earth (the same way we all come to earth). He also knew that it would require Him bleeding for us and dying for us on the cross. He also knew that He could have chosen to not do it. But he chose to do it. He loves us and He knew that it was required to fulfill Heavenly Father's work and glory, which is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)

Yes, Jesus Christ knew this. Yes, He died for us that we might become clean again and return to live with our Heavenly Father again. But it was not just for the price of our sins and mistakes, it was our to help us through our pain, so that we could truly be happy again!


How great is this plan that our Father in Heaven has created for us!


I bear personal testimony that the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ can help us with pain! A week ago today, I made a grave mistake with my driving. A simple mistake as not looking when changing lanes, in a construction area. Because I forgot to look, I hit a dump truck, and, as a result, the car came away with a bumper dangling on the driver side.


I made a mistake, yes. But I also felt the pain for the damage that I caused. I honestly feel that if I wasn't on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that if I wasn't a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I would have struggled worse and felt worse and handled the situation I was in a lot worse. But because I know about our Savior's healing power, I knew that I could go through this week with his help, even if no one else could understand my pain.


Because the Savior was willing to bleed for us, even though it probably wouldn't have been his first choice, He can comfort us in ways that no one else could. He can touch others around us to help us in ways that they wouldn't be able to, if he didn't go through our pains before.


I am so grateful that we have a loving Heavenly Father who loved us enough to provide us with a plan in which He made it possible to return home to Him. I am grateful for an elder brother who loved us enough to suffer for us and go through the pains that we have gone through, are going through, and will go through. I am grateful to "have been born, as Nephi of old, to goodly parents who love the Lord" and to "have been taught and [I] understand, that we must do as the Lord commands" (We'll Bring the World His Truth). I am grateful for the opportunity that Heavenly Father has given me to serve a full-time mission and to serve Him for two years. I am grateful to be surrounded by people who have the same values that I have.

Armor of God

What is the Armor of God? In Ephesians 6:11-18, we read:

"11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

"12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

"13 where fore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

"14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with the truth, and having the breastplate of righteousness;

"15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

"16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

"17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

"18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

Let's work on figuring out the meaning of each piece of the armor and see if we can't figure out how we can make sure that we have each piece of the armor on...

How do we have our "loins girt about with the truth"? What is this girth that we are to use? It is of my own personal opinion that this girth that we should use is our testimony. If you think about it, how can you begin to defend the truth if you do not have a testimony of the truth?

What is the "breastplate of righteousness"? This, I would think, would be our worthiness. If we are to defend the truth, after having a testimony of it, we must also follow God's commandments and be strive to be worthy. Repenting when we do make mistakes.

What about having our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace"? Well, you can also think of this as the roots of a tree. A tree can grow to be big and tall, but if its roots are shallow, when the winds blow, it will fall down. In this case, study the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is a gospel of peace, so that we can dig our roots deep.

"The shield of faith" is just that, a shield. When we have faith in Jesus Christ, and when we increase that faith in Him, it becomes a shield that protects us from the powers of the fiery darts that are being thrown at us every day, from every direction.

"The helmet of salvation". After all we do, if we have tried our best to follow God's commandments, we shall have salvation.

"The sword of the Spirit". This is our best offense. If we can have the Spirit with us, and if we can make sure that we do everything that we need to do to have the Spirit with us, I have no doubt that we will (to use President Christianson's word) astonish those who watch us. And I see no reason why this shouldn't happen if we have the Spirit with us. "The sword of the Spirit", as its says in Ephesians, is also the word of God. We must follow the word of God, if we are to have the Spirit with us. One thing that God's tells us that we need to do, which He says in verse 18, is to Pray always. We must pray always with prayer and supplication.

So, my dear brethren and sisters, "put on the whole armour of God." I promise that as you do this, as you strive to follow all of God's commandments, and help Him defend the truth against those who wish to destroy it, you will receive so many blessings. So many, that it is impossible to count. So many that there will not be enough room in your heart to hold them all.

It is my testimony that I know that this work that God has asked us to do is not the work of men, but the work of God that we do. Just as Joseph Smith, the Prophet, has said:

"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; Persecution may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame; but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, until it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

-Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:540

Mothers

I have decided that since Mother's Day is in a week from today that I would write a tribute to my mother.

Mom, this is my first time away from you on your day, but I want you to know that you will always be in my heart, no matter how many miles apart we be. I want to let you know that I appreciate everything that you have taught me. I am who I am, and where I am, mostly because you encouraged me to go all the way and you taught me to walk in the Lord's way and to do the things that He asks me to do. As I think about everything that you have taught me about the gospel, I think of the Two Thousand Stripling Warriors. In Alma, chapter 56, verse 48, Helaman writes: "And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." Those young men knew that what their mothers had taught them was true, they knew that they knew it to be true, and they knew that their mothers knew it to be true. I want you to know that I know that what you have taught me is true, I know that I know it, and I know that you know it as well. I want you know that I am grateful that you have chosen to follow Christ, and have chosen to teach my brothers and sister, and myself to follow Christ, too. Now that I think of it, I have come to realized that those young men couldn't have been too much older than I am. Wow, what a strong resemblance! You have taught your young man to follow Christ, believe in Christ, and testify of Christ, and he is now one of the warriors. No, it is not a war of weapons that we fight. It is a war to defend truth that we fight.

Mom, I love you so much! Everything you have done for me has been tremendously wonderful. I know that I am truly blessed to have you for a mother!

I hope you have a wonderful day! And I hope that every day can feel like mother's day to you!

Love,

Elder Frost

Well, that is my tribute to my mother. Let us set aside Mother's Day to remember everything that our mothers have done for us. Better yet, let's make an effort to make every day for our mothers feel like Mother's Day for them! They truly deserve it after everything they do for us!

"School Thy Feelings"

"School thy feelings, O my brother;

Train thy warm impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom's voice control.

School thy feelings; there is power

In the cool collected mind.

Passion shatters reason's tower,

Makes the clearest vision blind.

(chorus)

"School thy feelings, O my brother;

Train thy warm impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom's voice control."

"School thy feelings, condemnation

Never pass on friend or foe,

Though the tide of accusation

Like a flood of truth may flow.

Hear defense before deciding,

And a ray of light may gleam,

Showing thee what filth is hiding

Underneath the shallow stream.

"Should affliction's acrid vial

Burst o'er thy unsheltered head,

School thy feelings to the trial;

Half its bitterness hath fled.

Art thou falsely, basely, slandered?

Does the world begin to frown?

Gauge thy wrath by wisdom's standard;

Keep thy rising anger down.

"Rest thyself on this assurance:

Time's a friend to innocence,

And the patient, calm endurance

Wins respect and aids defense.

Noblest minds have finest feelings;

Quiv'ring strings a breath can move;

And the gospel's sweet revealings

Tune them with the key of love.

"Hearts so sensitively molded

Strongly fortified should be,

Trained to firmness and enfolded

In a calm tranquility.

Wound not willfully another;

Conquer haste with reason's might;

School thy feelings, sister, brother;

Train them in the path of right."

-"School Thy Feelings" (Men's Choir) Hymn #336

I would ask the reader to keep in mind that I do not exclude myself from anything that I mention. Any faults that I mention, are not yours that I find them in, they are from myself alone. My purpose in sharing this hymn (my favorite one of all times) is not to correct others, or even to criticize them. It is merely to mention things that we all (myself included) can improve on. If I couldn't improve on what I mention, I have no reason for even mentioning it. I am not perfect, therefore, I have no right to correct others when I, myself, am imperfect in that same thing. I hope that this is something we can all take to heart and improve on. Once again, I do not exclude myself from anything that I mention. Many things I mention will be my own personal story.

This Hymn is very dear to me. One reason for this is that it has taught me so much, more so in these past few months that I have been serving as a missionary for my Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ.

I really truly love how this hymn teaches us a lesson. I have learned from this hymn that if someone were purposely trying to make me angry, rather than let my emotion take over and get angry, I should think before I say and show that person that they can't make me angry. This is one of the hardest things to do because we are all human beings. Heavenly Father knows that it is hard for us. He's been there before. But that is the reason why He asks us to follow His commandments. When He gives these commandments, He doesn't give them to us. He gives them to us because He knows they will help us, if we choose to follow them. He also knows that they will be hard for some of us to follow all of them. Because of that, He says that He wants to help us. He is there for us! Always! He also promises blessings when He gives us commandments. He does this so that we can know that all of all efforts are not for nothing.

In the second verse of the hymn, we see the phrase:

"School thy feelings, condemnation

Never pass on friend or foe,

Though the tide of accusation

Like a flood of truth may flow.

Hear defense before deciding,

And a ray of light may gleam,

Showing thee what filth is hiding

Underneath the shallow stream."

To me, this says that we shouldn't condemn a friend or foe, even if the accusation against that person seems to be the truth, because we can never know whether if what we see on the top of the water is what it looks like at the bottom of the stream. If we take the time to listen to both sides of the story, we may discover something at the bottom of the stream that we couldn't see at the top.

I would like to share an example of a group of people who did just that. They looked into the water before passing a judgment on me. A while back, I was falsely accused of something. I do not wish to fully explain it, although, I am sure that those who knew me then, know exactly what I am talking about. Because of this accusation made against me, a load of filthy mud was placed on top of the stream. This group of people, members of the ward that I had just moved into, heard some of the rumors that were being spread about me. Before they believed any of it and made a judgement against me, they decided they would get to know me and asked me directly about the things that were being said about me. Soon, they found that underneath that clump of mud, there was clear water. Once they saw this, I had their support. I want them to know that if none of them had taken the time to get to know me, I wouldn't be where I am now.

I was being "falsely, basely, slandered" and a lot of people were "frowning upon [me]" because of the accusations, but because of my new friends, in my new ward, I had the support that I needed to have. I know that Heavenly Father knew this. I know that this is why He inspired my Aunt to call my mom and stay there was a basement for rent in her ward. This is why I am who I am today, where I am. The Lord put me through a refiner's fire, so that He could teach me and mold me into the person that He needs me to be.

I am so grateful for a Father in Heaven who loves each of us that He is willing to help us and to teach us through simple Hymns of praise. I am so grateful for my family who have supported me through my trials. And I am so grateful for a ward family that took the Lord's counsel to heart and followed it to help a "rebellious soul, such as mine" (I Stand All Amazed, Hymn no. 193).

My dear brothers and sisters, keep your faith in Jesus Christ strong and keep increasing it. Don't ever ignore the promptings of the Holy Ghost, especially when He tells you that someone needs your help today, now.

Agency

"23 Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."

- 2 Nephi 10:23

When I read this verse, I think of a saying that says something along the lines of: "There are two types of people in this world. Those who act and those who are acted upon." Do you think that those who act, act because they are forced to? No, they choose to act. Do you think those who are acted upon, are acted upon because they are forced to be acted upon? I don't think so. I think people may try to act upon them, but they have every right to act and not be acted upon. Don't you think that that is what 2 Nephi 10:23 says? "...ye are free to act for yourselves..." Okay, so we know that we are free to act for ourselves. Now, what type of acting are we supposed to do? Act out a play? No, this "act" means to choose. What are we to choose? Well, continue reading the rest of the verse... "...to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life." Right, so we are to choose between everlasting death and eternal life. Okay, so how do we know which one is good and which one is bad? There is opposition in all things, right? Yes, there is opposition in all things.

Let's take a look at 2 Nephi 2:27, for our next question.

"27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto men. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."

- 2 Nephi 2:27

So, ask yourself, which one looks good and which one looks bad? Well, being miserable like the devil can't be good, can it? Absolutely not! So, I guess that means that "liberty and eternal life" would have to be the good choice. So, if that is good, then how do we choose it? What do we do to show that we choose it? Well, one way to show that you choose "liberty and eternal life" is to follow "the great Mediator of all men". This "great Mediator of all men" is Jesus the Christ. He it is who died for us on the cross. He it is who we read about in the Holy Bible, teaching all men his gospel.

So, now that we have gotten the basics down. I would like to clarify a question that I was asked several times. Does agency mean that we are free? Well, as both of these verses state that we are "free to choose" but they do not, however, state that we are free because of agency. So, if the question is "Does agency give us the freedom to choose?" Then the answer would be "Yes." But if the question is "Does agency give us freedom?" The answer is "yes and no". Yes, if you choose to follow our Savior's teachings. No, if you choose not to follow our Savior's teaching. If we make the right choices, then we are free. On the other hand, if we make the wrong choices, those wrong choices (for example: sin, etc...) bound us down and limit the choices that we can make. If you would like "Yes, it does make us free" to be the answer, then make sure to make the right choices.

I hope this helps anyone who reads this. If there are any concerns or questions. Please feel free to contact me on Facebook.

Learn to Trust in the Lord with all your Heart.

Why does our Father in Heaven do somethings and not other things?

I don't know, but I do know this. We need to trus
t in Him with all our hearts, as is stated in Proverbs Chapter 3, Verses 5-6 of the King James Version,

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

As you read these verses, think about what this means to you. I will tell you what it means to me, but before I do, I want you to listen to what I
say, then I want you to turn to your Father in Heaven, and do as Joseph Smith (a modern day prophet) did, do as James (a prophet in the New Testament times) and as Moroni (a prophet in the Book of Mormon) directs, Pray, ask with faith that your Father in Heaven will answer your question.

I believe this verse of scripture to mean that rather than to assume that what we think is right, learn to, with your heart, trust that what the Lord tells you is right. Trust that He knows what He is doing. How can I possibly make such a statement as that? I make it boldly. I make it because I truly do believe. I know it to be true. I will even back my self up with scripture.

Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts."

So can we know what the Lord is doing and why He is doing it just by our own thinking? No, the human mind cannot take in as many perspectives as He can. He can take all of them in. We can only take one or two. So what do we need to do? We need to rely on the Lord for help to understand His will.


I have told you my thoughts. Now, go and do. Do as James directs (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."

Do as Moroni asks:

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

These two scriptures aren't just saying ask God about what we write. They are also saying ask Him about everything.


I can sit here and tell you everything that I know, everything that I have received my answers for, but that isn't going to tell you whether it is true or not. Listen to everything that the Prophets say in the scriptures, listen to what I am saying. Then while you consider everything that you have learned, ask God knowing that you will receive an answer, and listen for that answer.


I tell you that if you will pray and ask God, as Moroni says, with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ, you will receive an answer. This answer isn't going to always be something majestic, like God the Father and the Son appearing to Joseph Smith that early spring morning in a grove of trees, not too far from Palmyra, New York, in 1820, at the age of Fourteen.


I know that you will receive the answer that the Lord wants you to have if you will ask with faith that you will receive your answer. I know this because I have already received my answer. Heavenly Father is there. He is waiting to give you the answer. You just need to open that door by turning to Him in prayer and asking Him.