The Privilege of Prayer

Wow, it's been awhile since I blogged.... nothing new there!
A couple months ago I was asked to give a talk in church and the theme was from a conference talk given by Elder J. Devn Cornish entitlted the Privilege of Prayer.

This talk was given in the Sunday afternoon session of the 2011 October Conference. His message is simple "Prayer is one of the most precious gifts of God to man." Here is a link to this talk so that you can read the whole thing! I just loved this talk- it really touched my heart (maybe it's because I had to study it in depth so that I could talk about it... or maybe it's because it's true. Either way I recommend it!)
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-privilege-of-prayer?lang=eng

Here is my testimony of both this talk and the power of prayer:

God, our Heavenly Father is real. He loves us and knows us! He is a fan of us!! Elder Cornish told a story about finding money on the ground so that he could buy some chicken, thus reminding him of God's tender mercies. I have a story of my own to tell. Every year on my birthday I try to really look at my life. I look at the past and see where I've come from, I see what I've been through and how far I've come. Then I imagine my future. I decide what goals I want to work on, set a plan, and dream of all the many good things I can do in this life. This year as I was considering my life I knelt down in prayer to thank my Heavenly Father for all that he has given me. As I sat there after my prayer had ended I heard a distinct voice tell me "Happy Birthday Nicole. I love you." Now- as per my blog title my name is Tiffani, this is very true. However,  my middle name is Nicole and those who are close to me (Family really) call me Nikki. Being called Nikki, for me is a sign of endearment and love- so for my Father in Heaven to call me Nicole is a great reminder that he is aware of me. We are important to him!

Here's an outline of how we pray, and you can use it every time you decide to talk to your Heavenly Father- he is, after all, waiting for your call!
We address our Heavenly Father, acknowledge and thank him for the many blessings we have been given (you can name them one by one- or if you're new at it it's fine to lump them into groups too!). We let him know that we are accepting of his will, and that we are trying our best to do what he would have us do. We can ask for blessings, we can never have too many blessings! An essential part of prayer is repentence (this is something for personal prayers-not public prayers). We simply acknowledge that we have done wrong and ask for forgiveness and the strength to do better. We close in the name of Jesus Christ.

Elder Hales gives an amazing talk about answers to prayers this link will take you to that talk! http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/waiting-upon-the-lord-thy-will-be-done?lang=eng

Elder Hales says that "sometimes I do not receive an answer to a prayer because the Lord knows I am not ready. When He does answer, it is often “here a little and there a little” because that is all that I can bear or all I am willing to do." and he goes on to say "We may not know when or how the Lord’s answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come. For some answers we may have to wait until the hereafter. This may be true for some promises in our patriarchal blessings and for some blessings for family members. Let us not give up on the Lord. His blessings are eternal, not temporary."

I know that waiting for the answer to our prayers is tough- one of the hardest things that we have to do in this life, but it is worth the wait. The Lord has promised us riches beyond our imaginations and asked very little of us. The least we can do it wait!

Elder Hales talk was what I needed to hear at the time that I read it. These two talks remind me of my Father in Heaven's love for me and all of you! What a blessing it is to know without doubt who I am and what I here for.

To finish I just want to close with a quote by President Thomas S. Monson. "To those within the sound of my voice who are struggling with the challenges and difficulties large and small, prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace. Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us. Speak to Him in prayer and then listen for the answer. Miracles are wrought through prayer."

I encourage you to read the two talks listed in this post and maybe even to look around the lds.org website for more information about prayer and answers.

<3

My Father in Heaven Loves Me (& YOU!)

As I've gone through life, like many others, I have had my struggles and hard times. Recently some things have happened that seemed to have my very confused, but as I worked through these experiences I've come to realize my Heavenly Fathers love for me.

At the beginning of October I was at Deseret Book with a friend (Deseret Book is a distributor of the LDS church publications). I had asked her to go with me because I wanted to pick up a copy of the latest Ensign Magazine that was all about the Book of Mormon. As we walked around the store we also found some cute journals on sale and ended up in the section of pictures. I could spend hours in the picture section of that store and Seagull Book, they just have a way of making me feel at peace.

This friend of mine wanted a picture and poem that she could place in her new journal. She found a copy of her favorite picture of Christ and we both looked frantically for her favorite poem, Footprints. As we were looking we both suddenly stopped-looked at each other and said "turn the picture over." On the back side of the picture there was printed the poem we had been looking for and wanted to find so badly. This was a tender mercy of the Lord. In that single moment I realized that I have always known my Heavenly Father loved me- my life has been so blessed- but I came to realize that I had just seen his hand in the life of someone else and realized that it's true that he loves you too! It was a testimony that I needed- the realization that his love encompasses all or it encompasses none.

Since that day I have thought about that single experience at least once a day and tried to live with the realization that everyone is deserving of God's love and deserving of my respect and acceptance.

Another experience that recently happened was on my birthday. My father had just had surgery and had been drugged and asleep most of the week, however I didn't expect that he would not call on my birthday. Well my birthday came and my birthday went without a phone call from him. He had never missed my birthday before and it really upset me. As I kneeled down to say my prayers that night I had thanked my Heavenly Father for the love and support of those in my life and asked him to bless my dad to feel better soon. As I was ending my prayer I just sat there for a minute taking in the peace I felt when I heard a voice say "Happy Birthday Nicole" I knew in that instant that it was my Heavenly Father and that he had not forgotten me.

My dad has recovered from his surgery and apologized greatly for "forgetting". I know that both my earthly father and my Heavenly Father love me so much and that neither wants to see me hurting. I am grateful for the family and friends that I have and know that I wouldn't be able to have these types of experiences without them.

Personal Progress

My friend Jess was recently called to be Secretary in the Young Women's in her new ward and has asked that I join her in doing personal progress. I am excited for the opportunity!
I remember doing it as a youth and the amazing feelings I had as I prayed and learned new things about myself and the church.
I registered last night and I started my first project in Faith. It asks that I read a few scriptures regarding faith and a couple conference talks. Then to pray morning and night for three weeks to increase my faith and to come to understand the importance of it in my life.
We have started a blog as an online journal about our journey. Check it out!
http://journeyofpersonalprogress.blogspot.com/

Or if you want to learn more about Personal Progress and what it is and the background of it and such check out http://www.lds.org/ for more information! You can always go to http://www.lds.org/ for more information on anything I write about here on my blog!

Book of Mormon

Today was Fast and Testimony meeting. For those of you reading not of the LDS faith every month we set aside the first Sunday of the month to help each other and learn from one another by getting up and bearing our testimonies of Christ and of this goepel to each other. Today I bore my testimony for the first time in 5 years! I feel very accomplished.

I wanted to bear my testimony here about the Book of Mormon.
Three years ago one of my best friends was on his mission in Washington, D.C. He sent me a letter that at the time I didn't put much thought into. I found this letter a few weeks back as I was trying to make a big decision in my life. It reads:

"READ THE BOOK OF MORMON. I promise you that as you read with a sincere heart it will become harder to put the book down than it ever was to pick it up. It can answer anything. Your hearts greatest desires. As you do this life will begin to be a little easier. Nothing has changed except your view and your understanding. "

I have since read the Book of Mormon. It has answered all my questions, even the ones I didn't know I had been asking. I have come to know my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is my best friend.
I have heard someone say once before it is a book written by God or it is a book written by the Devil there is no middle ground with the Book of Mormon.
To know of the truthfullness of this book is to know that I am a daughter of God. It is knowing that there is a plan for me that is bigger than my understanding. It is knowing that I always have a friend and a compainion who understands. It is knowing that God loves me.

"It is a tangible thing that can be handled, that can be rad, that can be tested. It carries within its covers a promise of its devine origin. Millions now have put it ot the test and found it to be a true and sacred record." President Gordon B Hinckley 

I accepted the challenge to read the Book of Mormon and to find out for myself if it was true. I know that it is.

Looking for the Good

This was the First Presidency message from the March 2011 issue of the Ensign. I felt it was a good article to start out this blog with for several reasons. If we are looking for the bad we will find it. Anyone can read this blog, and some will read it looking for any reason to critize. Or you can read it not expecting anything and accept it for what it is. It doesn't have to be good but it doesn't have to be bad either.

Looking for the Good


 President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
While looking for a new home, a young Latter-day Saint couple talked to potential neighbors about the neighborhood and the schools in the area.

One woman they spoke to said of the school her children were attending: “This is the most incredible place! The principal is a wonderful and good man; the teachers are well qualified, kind, and friendly. I am so pleased that our children can attend this wonderful school. You’ll love it here!”

A different woman said of her children’s school: “It’s a terrible place. The principal is self-absorbed; the teachers are unqualified, rude, and unfriendly. If I could afford to move out of this area, I’d do it in a heartbeat!”

The interesting thing was that both women were speaking about the same principal, the same teachers, and the same school.

Have you ever noticed that people can usually find whatever they are looking for? Look hard enough, and you can discover both good and bad in almost anyone and anything. People have done the same with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its beginning. Those who look for the good will find a kind and compassionate people—a people who love the Lord and desire to serve Him and bless the lives of their fellowman. But it is also true that those who look for the bad will certainly find things that are not so ideal.

Unfortunately, at times this happens even within the Church. There is no end to the creativity, ingenuity, and tenacity of those who look for reasons to criticize. They cannot seem to release their grip on grudges. They gossip and find fault with others. They nurse wounds for decades, taking every opportunity to tear down and demean others. This is not pleasing to the Lord, “for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16).

President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901) knew President Brigham Young (1801–77) well, working closely with him for many years, both as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as his counselor in the First Presidency. After the death of President Young, President Cannon wrote in his journal: “I never criticized or found fault with [Brigham Young’s] conduct, his counsel or his teachings at any time in my heart, much less in my words or actions. This is a pleasure to me now. The thought that ever was with me was: If I criticize or find fault with, or judge Brother Brigham, how far shall I go; if I commence, where shall I stop? I dared not to trust myself in such a course. I knew that apostasy frequently resulted from the indulgence of the spirit of criticizing and faultfinding. Others, of greater strength, wisdom and experience than myself, might do many things and escape evil consequences which I dare not do.”1

President Cannon’s powerful counsel is something we members of the Church should consider with great care. The word of God admonishes the followers of Christ to be “pure, … peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” For those who make peace, “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace” (James 3:17, 18).

We have a choice. We can seek for the bad in others. Or we can make peace and work to extend to others the understanding, fairness, and forgiveness we so desperately desire for ourselves. It is our choice; for whatever we seek, that we will certainly find.