Show Me Some Proof Elder Yeske

"Why Should I join the Church?"

Alright, for this one i'm going to enlist some help from a someone who inspires me and has explained the topic a lot better than I feel I ever could. 

George Patrick O'Neill, a Falconer from Great Britain shares his Story about how the Gospel, and more specifically Jesus Christ, has helped to improve his life.

Lives are changed, understanding is created, and blessings are received. Notice, Brother O'Neill had to suffer through 6 months of jail because He decided to follow Christ. Like George, we will not always get immediate positive results from making the Decision to follow Christ, but then again, would you rather be happy for a day, or happy for a year?

Like George's Analogy of the birds who don't trust him right away, so too it can be difficult to trust in the Reality of a Living Christ who Watches over us, especially when we cannot see Him. However, Christ Promises that when you enter into His fold, He will become your good Shepherd, and He will guide you in the most joyful of paths, calling you by name, for he knows all of his Sheep.

"What if I'm already Happy? What Should I Expect?"

Again, I'm going to ask the assistance of someone with more experience in this Field. 

Al Fox (Carraway) Shares her experience as a convert to the Church. Al is a huge inspiration overcoming trial after trial of her Faith, but always receiving of the blessings in the End. She also has a Blog that goes through her story and her life. http://alfoxshead.blogspot.com/ is a great destination for those of you who want to learn a little more about a person who made the decision to join the Church of Jesus Christ for herself.

Unfortunately, you'll have to open the video in another tab, but here you go:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865580409/Tatooed-Mormon-Al-Fox-shares-her-conversion-story-in-new-video.html

"I actually had to go through hard times and Trials that I would not have gone though if I didn't get baptized. ... Things were hard. Things were really difficult since joining the church. ... But what it comes down to is prayer really. Honest Prayer, where you can ask him anything. And our end of the decision; it relies wholly on us, because he doesn't ever leave us. ... And what's really helped me is making that decision, and being firm in it."

Wow. What a Powerful testimony. No, Al Fox didn't feel like she needed more happiness, or more joy, but She sure found it and more sorrow! But why all the pain? Did God not see that she was making the right decision?

Of course He did. And because of that, He strengthened her be allowing her to pass through trials. Now, Al can share the strength she has gained with millions. you see, God could trust her to reach out once she was comforted, and to help her fellow man. He knew her individually, and He knows us all individually. What more could we ask for?

I know that blessings are to be found in living in accordance with God's Laws and Gospel. I know this because I swam through a river or two of pain to get to the Joy on the other side, and How great has been my appreciation of that Joy because of those rivers! I Testify that God Lives! I Testify that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior! I have "My God" and I will follow him everywhere I go, because there is no more joyful way.

What is the Purpose of This Life?

What is the Purpose of Life?

That is a great Question! Something that I am learning is that for every great question, if we will search diligently, there is an answer somewhere within the Scriptures. This time, I believe that the first part of the answer comes from Jeremiah, (in the Old Testiment) Chapter 1 Verse 5 which reads:
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew Thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations"

Can't you see yourself here?

What an interesting prospect, don't you agree? Before we came to this earth, God "knew" us. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we take that to mean that before this life, we actually lived with God! In fact, Paul tells us something even more miraculous about our "Pre- mortal" life with God. Paul, in a letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians Chapter 1 verse 2) says,
"Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ"

That's Right! The reason God knew us before we were formed in the bellies of our mothers is because He is Our Father, the Father of our Spirits! (As a Side note, that's why members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints call God "Heavenly Father") 

But then, Why, if we already lived with God, are we here today on this earth?

Again, let us go to the Scriptures. In Genesis, Chapter 1 verse 27, Moses records, 
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of god created hi him; male and female created he them."

You see, among the many differences between us and God before this life, one main difference is that he didn't have a body yet. God did, and he knew the joys that a body would bring; things like the ability to walk, run, jump, fall, play, eat, swim, feel, and taste. That's one of the big reason's we are here: to Get a body just like our Father. 

Still not so sure about all this?

Think of it this way. When you were a little kid, did you ever look at your dad, probably about 2 feet taller than you, stronger, and more able to do lots of things and wish you were big like him? I did. Being only 3 feet tall sucks when you go to Disney Land and you have to be at least 4 feet tall to ride the fun rides! That is what happened when we lived with God before. We could see all the cool things he could do, and we wanted to be able to do them too, just like Dad.

Ok, Elder Yeske, so here I am on Earth, with a Body like God. Now What? I still don't get why I ever left God.

Back to the Scriptures :)
This Time in Alma (Yes, that's in the Book of Mormon, but we already established that the Book of Mormon work hand in Hand) In Chapter 34 Verse 32, Alma Says, 
"For Behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."

To put it simply, we're here to be tested. Are you going to "Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother"? Are you going to "Have no other God before [Heavenly Father]"? Are you going to "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength"? Will you "Love thy neighbor as thyself"?

Is that all?

Are there only four verses in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Not a chance.
2 Nephi (Also in the Book of Mormon) Chapter 2 Verse 11 reads, 
"For it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things." 

Consider:
What does Good feel like? What is fun like? What is Joy like? How does nice feel? 

Well ... good feels better than bad. Fun is better than boring. Joy is like the opposite of sadness. Nice feels a lot better than mean.

I knew I Liked this symbol ;)

You see? We're here to feel what it's like living without God right by our side all the time. Have you ever met someone who was spoiled as a kid? They had the latest game systems, the best phones, and the easiest chores (If they had any at all); Yet they were still always upset! That's because they didn't know what real sadness was, or real hard times. In the same sense, living with God, we didn't know how to appreciate all the good things we had. Have you ever heard the statement, "You never know how much you love someone until their gone". Well it's True.

And some day, when I look into the eyes of My Heavenly Father, remembering the last 100 or so years where I had to walk without Him visibly beside me, I know that at that moment, I will truly understand that great gift that it is to live in His Presence. Then will my Joy be full. Then will my love be great.

How Can you be so sure? How can I know if this is all true?

Alright, last delve into the scriptures for this post. Alma Chapter 32 verse 27,
"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner  that ye give place for a portion of my word."

Yay, Fruit!

Try it. Read the Scriptures, and follow the commandments of the Lord as given within the Scriptures. 
...
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit" -St Matthew Chapter 7 verse 16 (I know, I said no more scriptures, but this one is important!)
I add my testimony to The Lord Jesus Christ of old as recounted by St Matthew. If you will try to live the commandments of the Lord, by the feelings and blessings that come as a result (The "Fruit"), you will know that God lives, that He is your Heavenly Father, that He has a plan for you, and that being here on this Earth is part of that plan. That Promise I leave with you in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.