Family Unity

I love this choice of subject. I have especially felt strong about it since I got married, but even more so since Nick and I have had McCoy and are now forming a family of our own.
Life is busy. Nick and I currently experience major juggling between school, work, bills, changing diapers, dinner, grocery shopping, family time....ect ect... Life is bliss but it is very very busy. Not just for us....for everyone. Being busy doesnt always involve all of these things....maybe we're busy making calls, putting kids down for naps, relaxing, reading or even taking a walk......either way, Life is busy.
Nick and I have had to take 2 steps back over the last few months. We were showered with trials that tested every inch of our bodies and pre-occupied every good or positive thought we tried to have. Looking back I can see so many things we could have and should have done differently and still could.....but I also saw our lives being blesed with abundance and that the Lord never left us out to wander.
Ever since McCoy was born we have felt strong about family prayers. If Nick and I do something right, it would be that we do everything we can to bring our family together and pray often. I cant speak for Nick, but I know for me, my testimony has grown tremendously in Family unity and it has helped us get through some of the toughest times we've experienced just in the last few months. I dont really know if Nick and I have done everything we can possibly do to better each other or our family as a whole, but I do however see that as being a great lesson to us and it will help us day by day to try harder and to do better. I know there is no perfect family out there, but to both NIck and I our idea of a perfect family is to just be together in righteousness and in unity. I think with the way the world is at this time we have to strongly depend on family unity to get us through it all. I want so badly for my husband and children to be able to come through the front door of our home and feel the spirit of the Gospel and the spirit of family. I want for there to be a big difference between the outside air and what you feel when you step foot into our home. I know Nick would agree but I just want Home to be a safe place for our children to learn and live. I want nothing more but for them to want to be home because its a place of comfort, peace and unity.
I hope as a mother to my family I can help accomplish this feeling of family unity and love in our home. I want our home to drowned out the worries of the world. I know this can be accomplished because I have felt it in a family's home I grew up with--and still continue to feel it when I visit them often.
I think Nick and I do a pretty good job at bringing our little family together. Over the last few months our trials have been difficult and very trying but I apprecaite those hard times because they brought a lot of unity to our family. I know where the changes need to be changed or strengthened. I know where we could do better and I also know where we are doing horribly at accomplishing such great goals. Its a work in progress but my goal while I have a family of my own on this earth is to beat the woes we face with more faith in every footstep and more unity in our family. All in all my testimony has been strengthened through my trials- That there must be Family unity and that must come first. Home really is or needs to be "Heaven on Earth."
- Amera

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Living the Gospel in the Military

Well, I actually have never posted a message on a Blog before. So I hope that I'm doing this right. Anyways, living the gospel while being in the Air Force has been quite interesting. After the first few months of being in the Air Force I got a general letter from someone in the Quorum of the Seventy addressed to all LDS members in the military service. I was quite suprised that such a letter was written. It was written beautifully. I felt the spirit as I read the letter. The letter came at a very unexpected time; during basic training. It's quite an experience at basic training working 16 hour days, your MTL screaming down your face, given tasks to be completed in impossible time frames, minimal contact with family/friends, 3 hour classroom sessions while sitting on a concrete floor, and only having 1min 30 sec to eat each meal. On Sunday we were allowed to go to church for only 1 hour. What a solace! During this time at basic, their main objective is for you to change your frame of mind from civilian lifestyle to a disciplined American Soldier; a warrior. As I received the letter and recognized it was from the office of the Quorum of the Seventy I felt an overwhelming feeling of love from our Savior. As I read the letter I was promised that many people would ask me regarding the beliefs of the LDS faith and encouraged faithfulness and to be a solid example of a true follower of Christ. This has been a pillar of strength to me the past 3 years I've been in the Air Force. It has emitted to me the love and support that our Savior has and that he knows your trials and will support you and lift you up to heights you've never before been able to achieve.

The night life is a big part of socializing in the military. I have made some very good friends while being in the Air Force; however, I choose not to go to their partys, the clubs, bars, etc. It's quite lonely sometimes. I curb this by choosing to honor my priesthood by obtaining as much education that is possible. That is one of the duties of the Aaronic Priesthood. Also, I attend the gym as much as I can. I could actually be doing better. The Air Force requires quite a bit of time away from home. I have been to a few places such as: Romania, Kosovo, Germany, and Diego Garcia (where I'm currently at). Everytime we leave somewhere we get a mission briefing from our commander and the base commander and the USAFE command commander that is based in Germany. Everytime we go anywhere we are told that there will be alot of downtime. They tell us they are not worried about having an effective mission because we always do. But they said what they are worried about is that there will be alot of time when we are not going to be busy. The Colonel said: "And when your not busy, your minds starts to wander. And that's when you get in trouble." The church leaders have counseled us to not be idle. But to be involved in righteous works with good motives. I like the scripture which states, "In patience possess ye your souls." I love to learn. I love reading the scriptures and studying for my degree. There are alot of great people in the Air Force. But a lot seem unbridled.

I'm often asked questions; why we wear undergarments; why we can't watch R rated movies; why we have a seperate book from the Bible, etc. It is fun to explain why I believe these things and why I follow the prophet. I guess the main thing that I have learned while living the gospel in the military is to not be afraid to stand up for what is true, because it is true. And that I need to be where I'm supposed to be; church, temple, magnifying calling, etc. and I will be a light to others who, when the time comes, are ready to change their life. Tragedies come in life at unexpected times. Sometimes tragedies come to our friends family. They seek answers about life. And they know who to turn to for help. In the Book of Mormon it says that "no miracle can be performed except the person be clean every whit." The gospel first requires you to keep the commandments and then to help our brothers and sisters do the same.

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THE BOOK OF NEPHI CHAPTER 6

1 Nephi Chapter 6  

1 And now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers in this part of my record; neither at any time shall I give it after upon these plates which I am writing; for it is given in the record which has been kept by my father; wherefore, I do not write it in this work. 

In the first verse of Chapter 6, Nephi tells us that he does not give the genealogy of his fathers in THIS part of the record, in 2 Nephi Chapter 4 verse 15, Nephi tells us these are written of his soul, in which he writes for his future children.  This is more of his personal message not so much his fathers.

Nephi is wanting us, the readers, as well as the men of Jerusalem to be persuaded to do what is right, and to make wise choices, in chapter 5, he begins by saying:

  Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.

I think this is Nephi reminding us that we can't serve two masters, while we are here on earth we are given the opportunity to make choices, and one of those choices is to obey our Heavenly Father, and do as he asks of us, the other choice we can make is to serve the other master, that of materialistic things, earthly things, in the Book of Galatians Chapter 1 verse 10, the Apostle Paul reveals  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Once again we see that we are to choose serving our Father in Heaven.

Remember, Nephi's writings were in the Old Testament times, whereas the Apostle Paul tells us this in the New Testament.  Nephi's wise words were before his time, and they still ring true today, even more so in fact.

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Things To Think About

This is a short Chapter, but a very important one at that, This chapter reminds us that we cannot serve two masters, that we must utililize our freedom of choice, and make the better decision.  

1)  How often are we put in the position where we must make this choice?

2)  How often do we make the right choice? the one the Lord wants?

3)  As we continue to grow and spiritually blossom, do those decisions get easier? or are we still tempted? 

This is SO important for us to always keep in mind, the choices we make and the decision and effects that come from it.

Jacob taught us:  "O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves. …

“But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God” (2 Nephi 9:28–29).

We must go to the Lord in all things, and have faith that our prayers will be answered.

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Personal Thoughts

This is a very good chapter for me, I think too many times in my life, I am making decisions not thinking that there is another option, and certainly not allowing myself to exercise that right.  I need to work harder at looking at my options in my choices, as small or as big as they are, there is always one that the Lord wishes of us to take, and I need to do better.

   I feel that in order for me to be able to be a better person, I need to work even harder and do better at making wise decisions.  I also need to go to the Lord more often even for the little things.

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