"A Deal with Heaven"

I wrote a Story for my readers. Obviously, it is fiction, but I think it brings up a good point about the way God interacts with His Children. Hopefully, you will enjoy!

A Man was looking to purchase a good sized lot of Land to raise his family on. He found that one of his Good friends, a pastor in the local small town church, had 200 acres up for sale.
Calling The Pastor, the Man asked for a Price. The Pastor responded that he hadn't really set decided on a price, and instead invited him to meet him at the property to discuss the price.
When they arrived, they drove the property for a short while until they came to the end of a dirt driveway where a  beautiful, properly sized house was built.
The Man quickly indicated that he really wanted the house and the property, and was willing to pay whatever the cost may be.
The Pastor pondered for a moment, and then took him inside the house and showed him to a very small, but again, well furnished room, near the center of the house. He then said, "The house and all the land is yours if you will make me a promise that, no matter who I send here to this house, you will let them stay in this room, feed them, clothe them and take care of them."
After pondering the offer for a short time, the man readily agreed. A contract was made and signed, and the man with his wife and two small children moved in. The pastor thanked them, and in a matter of weeks, he moved away from the town completely.
Over the course of several years, one person at a time would arrive at the door of the Man's home, asking if there was a place to stay, always saying, "The Pastor said you might have a room"
Just as he had agreed, The Man took them in, allowed them to stay in the small room, clothed them, feed them at his table, and helped them get on their own two feet.
However, the more this happened, the more these strangers arrived filthy, disfigured, and sometimes even quite rude. Sometimes, they even arrived in two's or three's. It became harder and harder for the Man to put up with them coming to His house. Eventually, 30 years after the purchase of the house, as the man's children were now mostly grown, he set out to find the pastor to put an end to the madness of the arriving strangers.
He located him a few states over, retired from preaching the Word of God, His last occupation at a local prison. When they were able to meet, the man asked the Pastor, "I don't understand, Why do you keep sending me all of these people? Don't you realize that I've been struggling this long time just to take care of them, but none of them are even grateful any more? Not a one has come back to thank me for helping them on their way, and so many of them have become rich, famous, and well off! Why have you done this to me when we have been friends for so long?!"
The Pastor, now old and much slower of speech finally responded, "Son, I did not ask you to make a deal with them, I asked you to make a deal with me. How are your Children doing?"
"Fine." He responded, disgruntled by the change in subject.
"How about the House? Still standing?"
"Perfectly. I've put a lot of work into making sure it is never in disrepair." Responded the man feeling untrusted.
"And what about the land I gave you?"
"It's all fine."
"And the fences?"
The man paused, suddenly very suspicious, "...Someone stole them so long ago... I had to replace them out of pocket! Was that you?!"
"Yes. But I didn't steal them. I had them moved to surround your whole property. You must re-read your contract. In it I have promised that for every person you take care of according to the deal, I would add a portion to the property that you own. My boy, you now own half of the State, and it is forever for you to do with as you please. Give it to your Children. Build cities, towns, skyscrapers. Do with it what you will. I have given you all that I have. There will be no more work. There will be no more strangers. Your work is done. Now you may rest and have joy."

God does not give us trials to inflict us with difficulties. He gives us opportunities to receive blessings by serving those around us and by overcoming difficulties. In the end, He promises to give us all that he has if only we will Do as he Asks.
What has He done for you recently? Did you thank Him for your last trial?

Elder Yeske, Why Are You On A Missions?

This post is in response to the only person who voted on my next topic during the past month. Whoever you are, Thank you for Voting. :) As always, I want to know what you want to know, but only by you the reader voting or commenting will I be able to answer your questions.

I myself have pondered this question on and off for the past 6 months (Good heavens ... it doesn't really seem like it's been that long, but it's true, that's how long I've been away from home here in Montana) I've come up with two simple, yet very appealing answers for myself. In this post, I will mention and discuss the first of which; "I'm serving a Mission because Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ asked me to, and I want to do Their will."

No, this isn't me admitting to some grand vision of the Father and the Son like Joseph Smith experienced, (visit http://mormon.org/faq/the-first-vision for more information about Joseph Smith's Vision) but I am admitting two very bold statements:

Thomas S. Monson, Prophet.

1. I believe that there is a prophet on the earth today, Like unto Moses, Noah, or Abraham of old, who can and has informed us of the Will of Heavenly Father. One of the things that that prophet has told us (as well as many prophets through out all of time for that matter) is that God wants us to try to give every person a Chance to receive this restored Gospel. Bold? I think so. But then again, if God really directs this Church as I and millions of others believe, do you really think he would be meek about his own existence? I don't. I believe that He speaks, not spake, and I believe that He is Bold in doing so. And why shouldn't He be? He is God! He is the Father of our Souls! He is the creator of countless worlds! He has all Power. He has all authority. He loves us infinitely, and He intends to show us that Love in one way or another.

2. I feel that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have spoken to me through the Holy Ghost to tell me that what the prophet has spoken about the necessity of Missionary Work is true.

A very successful missionary, Dan Jones

As a young Boy, I always had a fondness for the missionaries and the work they did. Sure, it was a fairly tail fondness, because I never thought about the two years where you only get to "See" your parents through a video screen, the long nights worrying about friends, family, and acquaintances, and the brutally hot or cold (Montana...) hours of knocking on doors that are less likely to answer positively and enthusiastically than the Sky is likely to be lit on fire tomorrow, but a fondness I had, none the less.
As I grew older I began to think about my opportunity to serve. Would I take it? Should I go? Should I stay? Did I really even believe what missionaries teach? How could I find out?

Joseph Smith, See 3rd ¶.

 Well, as any member of the Church can tell you, the age old story of the question of "Where do I find truth" is answered by James in the New Testament. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." -James 1:5 Knowing this, and knowing that Joseph Smith took that challenge and supposedly got an answer, I decided to try it out myself. Unfortunately, It didn't come right away like I'd hoped... no, I didn't feel like I got any answer at all when I tried praying in my "Sacred Grove"...
A couple years later, when I was 15-ish and still pretty lost, We were challenged by out Bishopric (Appointed "Leaders" of a small group of members of the Church known as a ward) to read the Book of Mormon entirely in just one summer. Realizing that I'd yet to do that in my life, I took the Challenge. Throughout the summer, I would regularly grab my Book or Mormon and spend 5-30 minutes, depending on how much time I had, Reading; not praying like I should have been, but at least reading. As was always part of the plan, the last 5 days of Summer we went on a camping trip into the High Sierra Mountains. There, as a group of Young Men ages 14-19 or so, we enjoyed lots of activities such as hiking, fishing, rock climbing and, as you may have guessed it, reading the last few chapters of the Book of Mormon. However, there we did exactly what I should have been doing all along. Every time we read, we would pray to ask Heavenly Father is the Book of Mormon was True. Every time we would finish, I would walk away with more of a good feeling in my heart, until the last day when we finished the Book each on our own. From that day on, I have not had to wonder if the Book is true. I know it. I feel it with every fiber of my being. I cherish that experience, and now that I have put in much effort, when I pray for further Guidance, I can literally feel the Holy Ghost directing my thoughts to testimonies I have read in the Book of Mormon, or Testimonies and talks I have heard in Church. Indeed, When I asked heavenly Father if I should serve a Mission, He told me in a profound way that it was my Responsibility, as well as my Opportunity.

After all, He is "The Good Shepherd"

And so, when I get discouraged, home sick, tired, sore, drained, or oppressed, I can always refer back to the Lord's Council; both that which he has revealed through his Authorized servants, the Prophets, and that which he has given directly to my heart.

So, stay at home, play video games, watch movies, get fat, and waste time? Not a Chance. God has shown me a better way, and a better goal, and that is why I am here. May the Lord Bless each of us with our own guidance as to how we may serve him and rejoice in his love and council. This is my humble prayer, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.