I AM WHERE I NEED TO BE- Are you?

A year and a half in the service of God has transformed me. It has given me a wonderful new perspective on life and on the kind of person I strive to be: A disciple of Jesus Christ. It has also helped me to realize that I am exactly where I need to be. 

Mormon, the prophet historian that abridged the Book of Mormon said, " I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." 3 Nephi 5:13 

THAT is my call. 

THAT is my purpose. 

Not for this small moment of a mission, but for my entire life.  

No other time will I be able to devote this much time to the Lord.

I absolutely love my Heavenly Father and am so grateful for His love. That coupled with the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ propels me to do better and be better. 

No matter where I go I know that by living the gospel I am exactly where I need to be. 

Are you where you need to be?

Try Me, Man

I've developed a deep love for the scriptures. They have given me so much peace of mind and a true foundation that I never would be able to build without diving into them on a daily basis.

I've had some of the most amazing companions and something I've learned from each of them, but in all different ways is to appreciate the scriptures as the gifts and tools that they are. 

I had a companion who loved verse 27 in Alma 32 : "...if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an EXPERIMENT upon my words...." She loved that it is a challenge from Heavenly Father to try him!

In Malachi God says, "...PROVE me now herewith..." 

Many times the Lord invites us to experiment upon His words. The scriptures are His words. So how in the world do we experiment with the scriptures? 

I'm no science wiz, but I've participated in a few science fairs back in the day and I think, I hope I remember the scientific method. It's possible I won 2nd place in my 4th grade science fair, just saying.

QUESTION: What are you looking to find out? What are you struggling with? What is something you've read in the scriptures that doesn't make sense? ASK HEAVENLY FATHER

HYPOTHESIS: What do you think? D&C 9:8 Study it out in your mind!

MATERIALS: The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, General Conference talks, Your incredible brain that God gave you.

EXPERIMENT: Use the materials/tools that God has given you to find the answer. If necessary follow the commands that the scriptures give. Try applying them into your daily life.

CONCLUSION: After you have found the answer ASK GOD if it be right. Then LISTEN to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. It may not come right away. (After all, not all science experiments are as easy and exciting as putting a Mentos in a bottle of Pepsi) But we know that if we ask He will answer. 

Receiving answers or personal revelation is individual and God speaks to all of us on our level so remember, remember to search, ponder, and pray, and pray, and pray, and search, and search, and ponder, then pray, and rinse, and repeat. I love searching the scriptures and taking the challenges to experiment upon the words of God! He always proves me herewith. 

The scriptures are from Him! We ought to use them All day, every day!

  

Faith Binds the Foundation

Over the course of my life I have had some mighty big ups and downs in the faith department. I cannot honestly say that I've always had it. In fact, there was a time where it didn't exist in my vocabulary. Sad, huh? But, there have been other times where it is the only thing that I could rely on. I've thought about this. I've thought about how I could be so hot and so cold and I've concluded something very important:

  it's on ME! it's on ME! it's on ME! It's on ME! It's On ME! Shoot dang! It's totally, absolutely, 100%, fully ON ME.

Why is it that I always seem to forget that at the most convenient times? Ugh, this human experience is harder than I imagined sometimes.

God ALWAYS shows His love. He doesn't stop loving us EVER. So when I am not feeling His love it's because I am not opening my heart to Him. I have got to open my heart every day! I have got to wear His jersey night and day with Him in mind. No matter what I do, no matter what the obstacle, I have got to remember, remember the rock on which I am built, yea even a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if I continue to build I cannot fall; yea a foundation on JESUS CHRIST.

Faith is the binding agent that keeps our foundations solid. And when those trials start beating on us, and the adversary starts telling us lies, we have got to fortify ourselves in faith! Faith that God does, indeed love us. Faith that Our Savior has felt all our pains and troubles. Faith that we can access His power when we truly want to and humble ourselves to ask.

It's tough. Oh, but the fruit is desirable above all other fruit.

Jesus Christ is the way! I have faith that He can heal us continually! DO YOU?

Choose the Right Way and Be HAPPY

While I was in the Missionary Training Center a member of the seventy in our church, Elder Enrique Falabella gave a talk that will forever be ingrained in my heart.

It was a single phrase that stuck in my brain.

"The easiest path is what makes MEN and RIVERS crooked."

No lie, I was confused at first too. Good thing he explained that it is because water takes the path of least resistance and that usually doesn't go in a straight path. phew.

So, maybe you're wondering why this is important enough to stick with me my whole mission. Well, its something I've been wondering too! So, I decided to think about it. shocker.

Here's a fun Sister Taualii fact: I am ALL about the easy way! I like to chill. It's kinda my thing. If a task seems too difficult I will forgo doing it.

Since Elder Falabella said this statement my life has been about others. It has been constantly working from 6:30 a.m till 9:00 p.m. I have been on the Lord's errand, telling all those who'll listen about Christ.

I totally search for the easy way of doing this work. But there isn't one. It's all about hard work. It's all about obedience because when we are obedient to the commandments and the missionary guidelines those we work with are blessed! It's super swell!

So, moral of the story: Search for doing things God's way, not the easy way. You will bless  your life and the life of others. AND..... it will make you HAPPY!!!!

A Letter to Charlie Brown

In the spirit of Valentine's Day I decided to write a letter to my dear old friend Charlie Brown. I wanted him to know that Jesus Christ will always be his valentine. And He will always be yours too!

Dear Charlie Brown,

You always have a valentine in Jesus Christ. He will always LOVE you. He knows exactly what you need. He understands you and if you listen you won't hear "WHOMPWHOMPWHOMP". Instead, you'll hear, "Come unto me. Use my atonement. Follow my example. Be a doer, not a hearer only. I love you."
Don't worry about making him the perfect card, Charlie. This Valentine's Day show that you love Him by doing His work. Make everyone you meet smile. Make Snoopy a sandwich. Tell Lucy that she is a daughter of God. Stand as a witness for Jesus Christ. I know He loves you. So be happy, my friend! Start living the happy life, because you've got someone in your corner all day everyday! Happy Valentine's Day, Charlie.


Love,

Sister Taualii

Eternity Hangs in the Balance, Embrace It

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE (eter-nal per'spect-ive) v - to think in terms of forever as opposed to short term (merely mortality) 
                                      -taken from Sister Taualii's Imperfect Dictionary


Many have said eternity is hard  impossible to comprehend. They would be correct. In our human state it is impossible for us to understand fully the eternities. (At least in the case of my brain.)

In our faith, however, we believe that we can live with our families forever. or as The Sandlot cast might say, "FOOOOREEVVERR" How can we believe this without comprehending totally, fully, purely eternity? I cannot speak for every LDS member, but for me it comes down to a statement made by a modern day prophet, In The Family: A Proclamation to the World,"The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally." WOAH! We are on earth for a divine purpose!!! You and I and ALL mankind can return to live with God! It's all part of His plan of happiness! That's awesome!

Sister Taualii, what's this plan you speak of?

Let's break it all down to the cliff notes version, shall we:

Once upon a time we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. We were happy spirits living with our super awesome, perfect dad. He (like most parents) knew we could become even more happy. In fact, perfectly happy. So, He created a perfect plan for each of us to come to earth to learn and grow so we can be happy, like Him. This plan allows us to make our own decisions, to find things that make us happy, and become the best possible versions of ourselves all through applying the atonement of Jesus Christ. He even designed the plan to include families and other people to love so we can understand more His love for us! We are so blessed! 

Wake up, cuz this is where that eternal perspective comes into play. 

Obviously none of us are perfect. It may not be that obvious to some, but I KNOW I'm not perfect. I mess up. A lot. Trials, hardships, afflictions, and all that jazz come into our lives. 
What? 
Those things don't make me happy!
 Ah, but Sister Taualii, they do.  
Psh. That's a joke. 
No, its not. Those trials and hardships shape us. Sure, they don't seem fair. They don't seem like they make us happy, BUT in an eternal sense they are EXACTLY what we need to be happy.

How do I know that?

Because I know that God loves us. I trust that EVERY SINGLE THING I go through in this temporary earth life is for my good. And I know I don't know and won't know EVERYTHING, but with my Almighty, Eternal Father in Heaven rooting for me, by golly, I think I can handle not knowing everything just yet. 

Joseph Smith and the early saints were persecuted and tried beyond my comprehension. They relied wholeheartedly on Christ's atonement because they had no other choice. Joseph Smith in his own agony and in a prayer of desperation in behalf of the suffering saints asked Heavenly Father, "Where art Thou?"  Heavenly Father answered him, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. Thou art not yet as Job..."

I find comfort in those words almost on a daily basis. I know that God lives and loves us. For that reason I can press forward through my trials with an eternal perspective KNOWING that these things shall be for my good and my happiness for this life and the eternities.

A good friend of mine and wonderful example of relying on the Savior shared how her experience with breast cancer helped her gain an eternal perspective: "Christ has given me an eternal perspective on life through which I can better understand my own trials and tribulations. I may not understand the reasons for my trials now, but I know that there is a reason and that I, my family, and perhaps others will be blessed for them.
I've never asked why I got cancer. It doesn't matter. What matters is what I do with this trial that was given to me. Will I let it pull me down? Or will I rise above it and be better for it?
God didn't CURSE me with cancer- He blessed me with it. And He helped me to overcome it."



You too can have this knowledge. You can have this peace. Turn to our Savior. Ask for His help. Find your own eternal perspective. I dare you.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is something that I just LOVE about being a human being. It may sound a little crazy, but you need to know that I love chocolate chip cookies. Yes, it is true. I cannot pass up a good old fashioned chocolate chip cookie and Ill tell you why: It is perfection of the cookie variety. So, right about now you might be wondering how this relates to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, I shall explain.

Chocolate chip cookies don't just happen! Sometimes (when I am the one making them) they don't end up tasting so good. Sad, I know. But, they do taste wonderful when the recipe is followed. I have learned that to make a chocolate chip cookie worth the calories following the recipe to a tee is absolutely vital!!!

So, again I ask how does this relate to the Gospel? I'm getting there.....calm down

Growing up going to church the teachers would ask us questions such as "What can you do to grow closer to Heavenly Father?" And we would respond in 3 standard ways I lovingly call "Sunday School Answers":

PRAY

READ THE SCRIPTURES

GO TO CHURCH....

and every once in a while a kid would yell out PRAY again for good measure.

These Sunday School Answers have gotten a bad rep for being used too much as answers to, but as I've thought more about them I have realized that they are the recipe for happiness! All of these things are needed to make happiness last. If we forget to add one of the ingredients we can feel a difference.


WHY? Great question.

Praying helps us to grow closer to our Heavenly Father. As we grow closer to Him and council (Alma 37:37) with Him we feel HAPPY! It is true. I promise. Try it. Now.

Reading the scriptures gives us more knowledge! Not the worldly kind of knowledge, but knowledge of our purpose on this earth and we can gain an eternal perspective which makes us HAPPY!

Going to church allows us to refuel our spiritual tanks. It gives us the strength to get through the week and be spiritually fed which makes us..., yep you guessed it, HAPPY!

So, hopefully you no longer wonder what the recipe for happiness is, but in case you missed it here it is:

HAPPINESS

1. Daily Prayer (often and always)

2. Daily Scripture Study ( for more happiness read even more)

3. Go to Church (Each Sunday partake of the Sacrament.)

For added flavor and increased happiness you may choose to add some other amazing things to this already fantastic recipe (Personally I enjoy these added ingredients: smile, help others, go to the temple, be a missionary)

Once you've perfected this recipe please feel free to pass it along!