Know Ye Not That Your Body is a Temple?

Hello world,
Did you know that we are God's greatest creation? It is true!!!Of the Creation, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: "We are the reason he created the universe!..
"This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to god. Knowing that Jesus Christ created the earth for us because we mean everything to Heavenly Father can help us increase our love for them."

We've been blessed with bodies 1 Cor. 6:19 What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost that which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
We've been given the greatest gift, it's called a body! As previously discussed in my blog on Modest is Hottest, we would never want to deface our temple bodies!!

This brings me to a different aspect of bodies being a temple, keeping the Word of Wisdom. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we follow an inspired health standard from God to keep our bodies at their best! So what does it consist of?


Here are a few do's and don'ts:
We DO want to exercise regularly to keep our body fit to make a good place for the Spirit to dwell and to stay physically able and healthy!

We DO want to eat healthy so that we can feel good, have energy, and be in good health!

We DO want to do all things in moderation, why? Because even if something is good, it should be in moderation, we couldn't live off of carrots only! We find peace and happiness when our lives are in balance.

We DON'T want to put harmful or addictive substances into our bodies, legal or not. Why? Because we lose our power and give the control to a substance! For example, we do Not drink alcohol, coffee, or tea, We do Not do drugs or anything like unto it. A lot of people think to themselves, "Coffee?!" Well I'll ask you a question, how many people do you know that feel like they can't start the day without it? Or get headaches when they don't have it? ... That is a sign of addiction and loss of control over the body.

This sounds like a checklist, but it's more than that. Our Heavenly Father has given us health laws to teach us how to care for our bodies. The scriptures tell us about god's laws: "No temporal commandment gave I..., for my commandments are spiritual" (D&C 29:35). This means that his commandments concerning our physical state are for spiritual good. When we keep the Lord's law of health and obey his other commandments, the Lord promises to bless us physically and spiritually. Gospel Principles, (2011), 167–72

We are happy and healthy when we keep God's law and take care of the gift that He has given us. Our bodies are sacred and deserve to be treated as such! I KNOW that this commandment brings happiness! I've seen the effects that substance abuse and addiction can have on a family. These things do not bring lasting joy, they try to imitate happiness, but only the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring lasting happiness, when we act upon God's laws.
If you or anyone you know are struggling with addiction, there is help! I know that all can be healed if they so desire and put their faith in Christ. If you need help or have questions please contact me or visit and talk to a specialist at  http://addictionrecovery.lds.org/?lang=eng!

Faith

                     

People talk about faith all the time, but what is faith? Is faith simply believing or is it an action? 

"Desire is a particle of faith that develops within us as we experience divine truth. It is like spiritual photosynthesis. The influence of the Holy Ghost, acting on the Light of Christ within every human being, produces the spiritual equivalent of a chemical reaction—a stirring, a change of heart, or a desire to know. Hope develops as particles of faith become molecules and as simple efforts to live true principles occur."

In the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma chapter 32, Alma the prophet compares faith to a seed. There is a lot to learn from this chapter, here are few things I learned from this chapter:

1. That we only need a particle of faith to come to gain faith and come to know something, that particle of faith is desire.
2. Faith is in things not seen.
3. If it is a good seed, your bosom will burn and your mind will be enlightened.
4. Faith means action, you must experiment upon the things that you desire to know.
5. Desire becomes faith, faith becomes knowledge.
6. Having a knowledge in one thing, doesn't mean our nourishing and growing stops.
7. When we neglect the plant, it will dwindle aka when we neglect our faith, it dwindles.
8. Just because undernourished faith dwindles, doesn't make those things any less true.
9. It takes diligence and patience to nourish the word.
10. After our patience and long-suffering we receive the reward.

"As patterns of obedience develop, the specific blessings associated with obedience are realized and belief emerges. Desire, hope, and belief are forms of faith, but faith as a principle of power comes from a consistent pattern of obedient behavior and attitudes. Personal righteousness is a choice. Faith is a gift from God, and one possessed of it can receive enormous spiritual power."

Sometimes we let our guard down and our faith wavers, but never forget the things you do know! In times of trial, think of the times you felt the Spirit testify and hold your ground! Our faith is tested, but when we are diligent and patient and continue abounding in good works we will receive the fruits of our labors. Stay true to the faith you already have and continue to build upon what has already been built! When in doubt, just look at all blessings and knowledge that you've already received through your faithfulness and continue to nourish your faith! Faith is both belief and action, it can't be one or the other!

Remember that we are spiritual beings on a human experience. It is but a small moment in the eternities.. sometimes that grain of sand looks like a mountain. Lucky for us our faith can move mountains!

"In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith."

Check out mormon.org or lds.org or message me at tash.carrell@facebook.com

¿Qué es un mormón?

                    

Hola todos! Aqui en la misión, mucha gente nos conoce como “Mormones”. Es un apodo que tenemos pero que signifíca? A ver! Soy miembro de La Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias. Mucha gente dice “La Iglesia Mormona”. 

-Creen los mormones en Jesucristo? Claro que si! La Iglesia se llama “La Iglesia de JESUCRISTO de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias. 

-Creen en la Biblia los mormones? Si! Usamos la traducción Reina Valera. 

Pero mucho gente piensa que tenemos algo que reemplaza La Biblia. No es cierto. Lo que tenemos es algo que se llama El Libro de Mormon. Es otro testament de Jesucristo, no esta aqui para reemplazar. Este libro contiene la plenitude del Evangelio, junto con La Biblia. Es un registro de las profecias de Jesucristo y una historia de las personas de la Americas Antiguas.

-Creen en la gracia de Jesucristo? Si, claro! Sabemos que por la gracia de Jesus resucitaremos y viviremos para siempre. Conquistaremos la muerte fisisca tal como El la conquistó.
 -Tienen fe los de la Iglesia Mormona? Si hermanos, tenemos fe! Fe es una palabra con muchas definiciones. Pero para nosotros, la fe es creer en algo que se espera y no se ve. Es actuar y mostrarle a Dios que crees que El existe.
-Y los Mormones adoran a este Jose Smith, verdad? NO!!! Lo estimamos como profeta de Dios. Igual que a Moises, Noe, o cualquier de los Santos Profetas del Señor. Lo respetamos como a la Virgin Maria, quien es la madre de Jesus. Pero no lo adoramos. Ni oramos a el. Solo adoramos a Dios el Padre y a Jesucristo.
-Entonces..que es lo que les hace diferente? A eso voy.. mira.
       •Sabemos que Jesus ha restaurado su Iglesia a la tierra otra fez. Es la misma Iglesia que El habia establecido durante su ministerio terrenal. Lee el Libro de Efesios!
       •El poder del Sacerdocio, que el poder de Dios dado al hombre, también se ha restaurado cuando Jesucristo llamo y el Profeta Jose Smith y dio su autoridad para actuar en su nombre.
       •Dios nos ha dado otro libro de Escritura Sagrada (El Libro de Mormon) para trabajar mano a mano con La Biblia.
                                                                              
      •La Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias es La Iglesia del Señor en la tierra hoy en dia.
      •Entendemos que Dios El Padre, Su hijo Jesucristo, y el Espíritu Santos son seres diferentes. Dios el Padre tiene un cuerpo perfecto y glorificado. Jesucristo también tiene un cuerpo así. Sin embargo, El Espíritu Santo no tiene cuerpo porque mora en nosotros. Todos los miembros de La Trinidad comparten el mismo propósito.
-Son Cristianos? Si. Un Cristiano es alguien que cree en Jesuscristo.
-Que hacen los misioneros mormones? Dejamos nuestras familias por un period de tiempo (18 meses-2 años) para compartir el Evangelio Restaurado con todo el mundo. Sabemos la veracidad del mensaje y sabemos que bendecirá las vidas de todos los que lo acepten.
 -Y que pasa despues de la misión? Regresamos a la vida normal. Seguimos como miembros de la iglesia. Pero ya no salimos todos los dias a tocar puertas. Siempre compartimos el Evangelio. Despues de la mission, nos casamos, estudiamos, trabajamos. Les prometo que somos normales
-Tienen muchas esposas? Nope. Hay apóstatas que si las tienen. Pero nosotros no.
-Tuvo su poligamia práctica de la iglesia? Sí, que se remonta al padre de Abraham. Pero más recientemente, sí los primeros santos del Evangelio restaurado practicaban la poligamia, pero ya no es una parte de nuestra iglesia. Como se ha visto a través de la Biblia y el Libro de Mormón, Dios tiene a su pueblo practican la poligamia y los comandos que se detuvo. Creo que él puede hacer eso ya que él es Dios.
-Son racistas los mormones? No. Aceptamos a todos. Dios obra en su debido tiempo. Es posible para todos ser parte de La Iglesia verdadera del Señor.

Matrimonio en el templo

-Que es el templo? Por que no pueden entrar todos? El templo es un lugar sagrado. Es la casa del Señor, literalmente. Adentro de los muros del temple, se efectuan ordenanzas sagradas. Los bautizmos por los muertos se hacen en el templo. Lee 1 Corintios 15. Miembros dignos de La Iglesia también se casan el el templo. Es algo que se llama “el Sellamiento. Esta sagrada ordenanza, efectuado por la autoridad del Sacerdocio por alguien que ha sido llamado y apartado, dura por toda la eternidad.

Matrimonio Eterno

Ni la muerte puede separar la pareja si viven dignamente. 1Corinitos 3:17 
-Se salvan por las obras? Las obras no nos salvan. Cristo nos salva. Pero sabemos que la fe sin obras es muerta es si misma. Santiago 2. 
-Son Salvos? Si pero hay más que decir al respect. Uno no se salva al decir una oración especial, ni al bautizarse. Los que viven los mandamientos y reciben la palabra de Dios con sinceridad se salvarán. Si aceptamos a Cristo en nuestro Corazon, vamos a seguir Su ejemplo. Estoy bien agradecida por la oportunidad de compartir el Evangelio Restaurado de Jesucristo y de contester muchas preguntas. Sé que los que buscan la verdad la hallarán gracias a la Restauración del Evangelio. Amo mucho a mi Salvador, Jesucristo!

The Power of One

                     

Hello beautiful people!
Today I want to address the influence just 1 person can have on another, whether it be good or bad. We are all God's children, there is a lot of power in that statement! We are God's children.. each of us is a child of God! "That fact is transcends all other characteristics, including race, occupation, physical characteristics, honors, or even religious affiliation," LDS.org. Obviously each of us has been blessed with specific gifts that have influential power behind them.

My gram, because of her I know Christ.

Sometimes it's easy to think that 1 person cannot do anything. One person can't really make a difference. Well those thoughts are totally untrue. YOU can have a life changing impact on one person or many people in your life and there is a good chance you already are. So what kind of influence and example are you putting out there? We can all think of a person who has had a life changing impact on us and maybe even set the course for our lives.

Families are the center of God's plan!

We live in a world that is constantly trying to degrade the worth of souls into nothing more than objects to be used. We can rise above the standard of the world, because we know who we are! We are children of God! Our worth is great!!
Think of the influence of a mother,daughther, grandpa, grandma, son, father, aunt, uncle, teacher, cousin, best friend, etc. Everyone has a part to play in the world and we as Christians are here to hold the standard high. We are examples of the believers! Paul’s counsel, “Be thou an example of the believers,” applies to all Christians, and particularly Latter-Day Saints!

Friends are the family you choose! So choose wisely.

Sometimes while we drive or walk or bike down the streets, my heart sinks seeing young women dressed in practicually nothing, young men lighting up a cigarrette with pants down to the ground. My heart aches because they have so much worth that they aren't even aware of, many of them have probably never even been told that they are of more worth than that skimpy halter top and that cigarrette in hand. Why are we letting the world take hold of our youth, in and out of our families? How much different would this world be if each person clearly understood that they are literally children of God, that they have eternal worth and potential?

Brighton Girls Camp, where I learned Christlike love.

I know if every person lived just by this knowledge, the world would be full of love and respect for on another. So I invite you to evaluate your influence on the people around you. Is it for good or bad? Are you lifting people higher or bringing them down? In reality, are you making choices that raise you up or bring you down? What kind of friend are you being? What kind of friends are you choosing? Each of us have these choices to make. Do you understand that you have divine potential as a son or daughter of God? Will you live up to that divine nature and potential? Will you help others live up to their divine potential? You matter and you influence others!!!
I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have so that I can try my hardest to live up to this title as a daughter of God and help others recognize that they too are loved children of God!

Los deseos de nuestro corazón

                     

En 6 días me cumplí un año y tres meses en la mission! No lo puedo creer! Me asombra que tanto tiempo ha pasado ya. 3 meses atrás , tuvimos una junta. Todos los misioneros en la zona nos juntamos y hablamos de la obra. Me tocó dar un capacitación. No me asignaron un tema por decir, mas quería que yo hablara de lo que el Espíritu del Señor me decía. Me gusto mucho dar la capacitacion porque el Espíritu me guiaba. Sin embargo la parte que me gusto más de la junta fue que yo recibí revelación de cómo mejor enseñar acerca de la Expiación de Jesucristo. Y si ustedes han leido mis otras historias..ya saben que ha sido un desafio para mi. Esta es la inspiración que yo he recibido.

Por tanto tiempo, yo he sentido que es responsabilidad mía hacer que la gente entienda la belleza de la Expiación. Pero la mera verdad es que uno mismo tiene que sentir este gran cambio adentro se si, o nunca recibirá un testimonio.
La mayoria de nosotros sabemos que Cristo murió en la cruz por nosotros. También sabemos que el resucitó tres días despues. Pero no todos lo entienden en sus corazones. Solamente queda como una historia o una cuenta.

Me di cuenta que todo depende en el deseo de la persona. Necesitamos nosotros sentir el poder sanador de la Expiación? Estamos dispuestos a sentirlo? Que haremos para obtener este testimonio? El Salvador ya hizo Su parte y ahora nos invita con brazos abiertos.

Alguna vez ha hecho algo de medio esfuerzo? Ha comenzado un proyecto o un hecho con todo su Corazón? Cual es la diferencia? Que cambios vendría de la sinceridad?

Este gran cambio de Corazon es una resposabilidad que nosotros tenemos. Tenemos que también hacer nuestra parte. Nuestros esfuerzos, deseos, sinceridad, y energia impactan los resultados que vendrán. El solo espera que beba de la fuente de justicia. Acuerdense que El es el agua viva que se menciona en las Escrituras. Dejen que El entre en su Corazón. No hay nadie que no pueda sentir el poder de la Expiación.. solo require esfuerzo adicional. La Expiación es infinita y no tiene limites. La expiación les sanará. Se necesita mucha fe, y un poquito de trabajo, pero les prometo que cuando sean sinceros y busquen verdaderamente, Cristo les mostrará el camino. Yo sé que la Expiación no solo es una historia. Porque la he vivido. Cristo me ha cambiado. Una vez estaba yo perdida, pero Cristo me encontró
***Para saber más del poder de la Expiación de Jesucristo, a favor de contactarme o alguno de los otros misioneros en su área.

mormon.org/spa u Yo

What the heck is a Mormon?

                     

Hey ya'll! The longer I'm out here on my mission, the more confusion I see associated with the title "Mormon."
Well let's clear something's up!
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints aka., I'm a Mormon.
-Do Mormon's believe in Jesus Christ?
YES!!! Hence the name The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints.
-Do you believe in the Bible?
YES! The King James version!

-What's the Mormon Bible?
Well the "Mormon Bible," is the King James Version, although I'm sure the question is referring to the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ- not to add too, take away, or replace the Holy Bible. The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel, as does the Bible. It is a record of the prophecies of Christ and history of the people of the ancient Americas.
-Do Mormons believe in grace?
YES we do! Because of the grace of Jesus Christ, we will all overcome physical death by being resurrected and live forever.
-Do you have faith?
YES! Faith is another word that can be confused by how each person defines it. Faith to a Latter Day Saint (aka mormon) is believing in something you can't see and acting on the things that you believe.
-Do you worship Joseph Smith?
Heavens NO! We have a lot of respect for Joseph Smith as an instrument in the Lords hands, as we do for all the prophets of old or the Virgin Mary, but we do not worship him or anyone else except God the Father and Jesus Christ.

-What's so different about your church?

• The difference is this, our message is that Christ has literally restored His gospel back on the earth, exactly how He originally established it when he was on the earth- same authority, organization, principles, etc. So the differences is that:
• God called another prophet to the earth and gave him the same authority the prophets and apostles of old had to do ordinances such as baptism and giving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• God has blessed us with another set of scripture, The Book of Mormon, to stand with the Holy Bible.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today.
• We know the true identity of the Godhead- God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate beings unified in one purpose.

-Are you Christian?
YES! Christian- someone that believes in Jesus Christ.
-What do you do as a Mormon missionary?
A mormon missionary is someone who leaves their family for a period of time to go preach and teach the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We leave our families for awhile so others can be with their families forever!!
-What do you do after a Mormon mission?
We go home and resume life as a normal every day member of the church. Generally because of our age we go home and finish school or start work and have families.. not always in that order ;)
-Are you polygamist?
Nope. Wrong "Mormons."
-Did your church practice polygamy?
Yes, dating back to father Abraham. But more recently, yes the early saints of the restored gospel did practice polygamy, but it is no longer a part of our church. As seen through out The Bible and Book of Mormon, God has his people practice polygamy and then commands that it be stopped. I guess He can do that since he is God.
-Are mormons racist?
Absolutely NOT! We love, invite, and accept all people! We are all children of God!

-What is a temple? And why can't all people go in?

Temple Marriage

Temples are a place where sacred ordinances are performed. Many people confuse the world sacred and secret in regards to temples. All people are invited to come to a temple when they choose to be baptized and live worthy. We must keep our bodies pure and clean before entering into a temple.
1Cor. 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
"The sacredness of the temple anciently can be seen in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Moses had the children of Israel carry with them the Tabernacle (a large, portable temple) as they wandered in the wilderness. King Solomon built and dedicated the great temple that was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. It was rebuilt and later substantially expanded, but again destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. The great Western Wall can still be seen in Jerusalem today, and even after millennia, remains a sacred site for Jews. The New Testament gives an account of Jesus Christ clearing the

Eternal Marriage

temples when its sacredness was violated by people using its courts as a common market.
Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, a place of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world. They provide a place where Church members make formal promises and commitments to God. They are also the place where the highest sacraments of the faith occur — the marriage of couples and the “sealing” of families for eternity". -(http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/topic/temples)

-Do you believe your works can save you?
Works alone is not enough save anyone, Christ does that. We believe that Christ's atonement is our saving grace.
-Are you saved?
Yes, but there is more to this question, the definition of saved is key to this question. We believe that when you truly love Christ you give your life over to him and with that, you want to do what he has asked us to do. We want to follow His example.
In the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the terms “saved” and “salvation” have various meanings.
To answer this question of being "saved" and whether we believe we are or not, keep watching for my .saved. post. I will do my best to explain what we believe being saved means!
I'm grateful for the opportunity to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and to answer questions from those searching to know truth! I love my Savior!
If you have any questions about Mormon beliefs ask a Mormon, Me, or visit lds.org!!

Becoming the Best You!

                     

Have you ever felt like you were progressing beautifully and then SMACK! You fall on your face!? Well I have. Since I've started my mission I've been shaped, molded, refinded and defined.
Submitting our will to the Lords will is one of the hardest things we'll ever learn to do. Why? Because it's the only thing we can give him that He hasn't already given us. One of my favorite stories of all time to explain my feelings of growing and being cut down and pruned is this:

"President Hugh B. Brown, formerly a member of the Twelve and a counselor in the First Presidency, provided a personal experience. He told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”
 

Years later, President Brown was a field officer in the Canadian Army serving in England. When a superior officer became a battle casualty, President Brown was in line to be promoted to general, and he was summoned to London. But even though he was fully qualified for the promotion, it was denied him because he was a Mormon. The commanding general said in essence, “You deserve the appointment, but I cannot give it to you.” What President Brown had spent 10 years hoping, praying, and preparing for slipped through his fingers in that moment because of blatant discrimination. Continuing his story, President Brown remembered:
 

“I got on the train and started back … with a broken heart, with bitterness in my soul. … When I got to my tent, … I threw my cap on the cot. I clenched my fists, and I shook them at heaven. I said, ‘How could you do this to me, God? I have done everything I could do to measure up. There is nothing that I could have done—that I should have done—that I haven’t done. How could you do this to me?’ I was as bitter as gall.
“And then I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, ‘I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do.’ The bitterness went out of my soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my ungratefulness. …

“… And now, almost 50 years later, I look up to [God] and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’"


I know that life is full of challenges. Everyday I find myslef struggling between "my will to Thy will." But I also know that God has a plan for each of us. He knows each of us and wants the best for us. His plan is Always better than our plan. Why? Well because A. He's perfect and B. He can see the eternal picture when we only see this minute or this week or this year. C. He is our Father and He loves us!!! He loves You. If you put your trust and faith in him, you will never fail or be failed. He knows your true potential and he will help you reach it if you let him!! Become what he wants you to become!
I am grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father that knows me and is always with me. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. -Prov. 3:5
 

To learn more about the will of God, ask a missionary, or go to mormon.org or lds.org