Hope in Christ

This post should take five minutes to read from start to finish. What does Hope in Christ means to you?

This post is based on an October 1986 General Women's Conference talk from General Conference called "Hope in Christ" by Sister Barbara W. Winder. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk.

Sister Winder mentioned, "As our Father and the Savior planned for us to come to earth, they said, “We will prove them herewith, to see if they [you and I] will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abr. 3:25). This was to become a testing ground; we would come to an understanding of good and evil, of happiness and suffering, of joy and pain. We knew the plan. We desired it; we endorsed it. We defended it. We even fought for it!

With eagerness and excitement, we came to earth to learn each of us having our own particular set of circumstances with trials and temptations to overcome.

We were not left without hope. Our Savior, through his atonement, has made it possible for us to obtain salvation. He will not leave us helpless as we struggle to overcome the adversities of this life.There are so many kinds of challenges: the frustrations and disappointments of disobedient children or a difficult marriage, the loneliness of an empty house when one is so eagerly seeking companionship, the long upward road to repentance, or the difficulty of keeping a positive attitude and counting our blessings even in times of hardship.

The example of the Savior’s life and the teachings that he left us are patterns for us to follow. He faced trials similar to those we experience; he handled each situation in a perfect manner. In the wilderness of Judea and the Garden of Gethsemane, we witness two of the most grievous temptations of Christ, but during no part of his days in the flesh was he free from temptation. Otherwise his life would have been no human life at all. We read in Mosiah, “And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer” (Mosiah 3:7).

Which of us has not known disappointment, discouragement, and despair? That is one of the tests for all of us. Consider the Prophet Joseph, as he languished in Liberty Jail in March of 1839, having been there for months, knowing that his people had been driven from their homes and were destitute. His cry is touching: “O God, where art thou? … How long shall thy hand be stayed?” (D&C 121:1–2).

"Once you choose HOPE anything is possible."

And then the soothing answer came from a kind and loving Father: “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; “And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes” (D&C 121:7–8).

An then, later, tenderly, “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7). Most of us have witnessed how living the gospel can change the lives of people in a positive way.

Sister Barnes writes: “As we read the scriptures, we found that Jesus gave the instruction to ‘be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee’ (Matt. 9:2), indicating that as we truly repent and forsake our sins, we may be optimistic about the future. He said, ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me’ (John 14:1). And we do believe in him, and this belief has changed our lives. We now feel that we can say, as Paul did, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’” (Philip. 4:13).

Another sister wrote: “On August 3, my twenty-one-year-old son broke his neck in a diving accident six hundred miles from home. He hovers near death, but we are at peace. We do not understand the reason this had to happen, but we do understand the gospel.”

Elder Richard L. Evans was sensitive to the need to prepare spiritually and emotionally for difficult times: “We have to prepare even for what we are unprepared for and do the best we can … to improve, to repent, to be grateful for all that is good and to have faith and hope even [in hard times]. …

“And whatever happens in the interim, there is solid assurance that life is everlasting, and that eternal progress is its purpose” (Richard L. Evans, Thoughts for One Hundred Days: Volume Four, Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1970, p. 169).

Let us recognize and be grateful for the blessings we have. From the Savior comes hope! Understanding the gospel, doing his works of righteousness, and following the counsel of our prophet are our assurance of the realization of that hope."

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time. Here's the link,
www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/hope-in-christ

Stay Tuned

We Are Children of God

Who are we? Did you know that you are child of God? 

This post is based on an October 1998 General Conference talk called "We Are Children of God" by Elder Russell M. Nelson. I would like to share with you some highlights what he mentions.

Elder Nelson mentions, “The Body:-

The marvel of our physical bodies is often overlooked. Who has not encountered feelings of low self-esteem because of physique or appearance?

Many people wish their bodies could be more to their liking. Some with naturally straight hair want it curly. Others with curly hair want it straight. Occasionally some ladies, believing that “gentlemen prefer blonds,” become “decided blonds.”

Your body, whatever its natural gifts, is a magnificent creation of God. It is a tabernacle of flesh a temple for your spirit. A study of your body attests to its divine design.

Physical Limitations:- 

For reasons usually unknown, some people are born with physical limitations. Specific parts of the body may be abnormal. Regulatory systems may be out of balance.
And all of our bodies are subject to disease and death. Nevertheless, the gift of a physical body is priceless. Without it, we cannot attain a fulness of joy. 

A perfect body is not required to achieve a divine destiny. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail frames. Great spiritual strength is often developed by those with physical challenges precisely because they are challenged. Such individuals are entitled to all the blessings that God has in store for His faithful and obedient children. 

Eventually the time will come when each ‘spirit and body shall be reunited again in perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame’ (Alma 11:43).  Then, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become perfected in Him.

"You are a child of God. You are wonderfully made, 
dearly loved, and precious in his sight. Before God
made you, he knew you. There is no one else like
you." 

Personal Behavior:-

How should these truths influence our personal behavior? We should gratefully acknowledge God as our Creator. Otherwise, we would be as guilty as goldfish swimming in a bowl, oblivious to the goodness of their provider. “Ye must give thanks unto God,” said the Lord, “for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.” And we can practice virtue and holiness before Him continually.

We will regard our body as a temple of our very own. We will not let it be desecrated or defaced in any way. We will control our diet and exercise for physical fitness.

Should not equal attention be paid to spiritual fitness? Just as physical strength requires exercise, so spiritual strength requires effort. Among the most important of spiritual exercises is prayer. It engenders harmony with God and a desire to keep His commandments. Prayer is a key to wisdom, virtue, and humility.

 Scriptural warning is clear: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” In time, addictions enslave both the body and the spirit. Full repentance from addiction is best accomplished in this life, while we still have a mortal body to help us.

As children of God, we should not let anything enter the body that might defile it. To allow sensors of sight, touch, or hearing to supply the brain with unclean memories is a sacrilege. We will cherish our chastity and avoid “foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown [us] in destruction and perdition.”We will “flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, [and] meekness” traits that edify the whole soul.

Who are we? We are children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred. May we always honor that heritage in every thought and deed."

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time, here's the link to the talk.
www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/10/we-are-children-of-god

I love the Image that I have shared for this post. If you can not see the Image that I have shared with this post, it says "You are a child of God. You are wonderfully made, dearly loved, and precious in his sight. Before God made you, he knew you. There is no one else like you."

Stay Tuned. 

Some Ways to Prepare for a Mission

This post takes five minutes to seven minutes to read from start to finish. 

During my teenage years, I was thinking about serving a full-time mission one day. I even began my mission papers and I've submitted my mission papers for me to serve a full-time mission when I was nineteen years old. It wasn't until sometime right before or after I've turned twenty-one years old to find out that my mission papers wasn't submitted. I did have an opportunity to redo the mission papers but I've decided not to redo the mission papers. 

I was too focused on being employed in Domino's Industry, I was also focused on finishing Institute before I graduate in March 2017, I've began studying BYU (Brigham Young University) - Idaho Pathways program that was done mostly online and portion of the program requires in person attendance (which consist of gathering with other church members in the area with you that's studying the same program) and I also focused on other things as well. 

The mission isn't for everyone. If you have a desire to serve a mission, I strongly encourage you to pray with real intent and fast to know if the mission is for you or not. If you got a confirmation with an answer saying "Yes," I encourage you to go ahead and serve a mission.

If you received an answer saying "No," I encourage you to don't feel discouraged and look for other ways to serve the Lord. Giving up 18 months or 2 years or whatever how long of serving the Lord does take a lot of dedication and hard working. Missions are tough and missions aren't easy.

If you are preparing for your mission, I encourage you to go ahead and read a list that I have provided below. The list is a list of the mission preparations that I have done before I went on my mission. I know it will help me to become an effective missionary and I know it will help you too.

" - Fulfilling your Church calling/s; Fulfilling your church calling/s is a great way of service before your mission. 

- Build a habit of daily scripture study; it will help you heaps because you will be reading your scriptures daily during your mission and it will help you build a stronger testimony of the scriptures. 

- Become familiar with Preach My Gospel; it will help you heaps and it will help you to prepare and teach lessons. 

- Attending some sessions at the Temple; Attending the Temple will help you to receive personal revelations for yourself, you will gain a stronger testimony of Temples, you will come to love the Temple more if you attend the Temple often, you will gain a stronger understanding of the importance of Temples. 

I encourage you to take the opportunity to go to the Temple often before your mission because you won't be able to go to the Temple often during your mission. 

- Go out with your ward missionaries if you have missionaries serving in your ward; going out with them are the best way of experiencing what it is like to be a Missionary. Sometimes they will take you with them to go tracking or help them to teach lessons for the Investigators or doing rescue visits for the less actives/in-actives. 

- Listening to some past General Conference talks; you will receive some inspiration answers to your new questions, you will be able to learn new things and you will gain a stronger testimony in General Conference.

- Attending Institute; you will be able to learn new things while attending Institute often, it will help you to build a stronger testimony of Institute and if you accomplish the requirements for Institute, you will be able to receive a certificate of Achievement or Diploma for Institute.

- Attending Mission Preparation Class; it will help you heaps. Most classes provide a lesson and do role plays (the teacher gives you a situation and what the lesson's topic is on)."

There are other mission preparations that I could think of but I thought it would be best for you to figure out what those other mission preparations are."

I hope the list will you and I hope you can use it as a guide. If you aren't preparing for your mission, I encourage you to continue fulfilling your church calling/s, go to the Temple often if you are Temple worthy, build a habit of scripture study daily and listen to some past General Conference talks.

Stay Tuned.

What can we do when we can't sleep?

This post should take about three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish. Sometimes we often feel that we can’t go to sleep either because we aren’t feeling tired or we’ve so many things in our minds that we just overthink about. What has been your strategies that has worked and helped you go to sleep whenever you can't go to sleep? 

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying
there worrying, it's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep."
- Dale Carnegie. 

Let me share with you some suggestions of what can help you go to sleep without taking any sleeping pills/medications. 

- We can write in a journal (we can write about our feelings, we can write about what’s in our minds, we can write about our short-term goals, we can write about our long-term goals, we can write about some things that we’re grateful for, we write about our accomplishments throughout lives, etc). - We can read a book. 

- We can watch a movie that we’ve seen multiple times in the past and we know that it would be okay for us to fall asleep during that movie because we already know the ending. - We can watch a show that we’ve seen multiple times in the past and we know that it would be okay for us to fall asleep during that show because we already know the ending. 

- We can write down a to do list of things that we would like to accomplish the next day. - We can write down the groceries list of what we can get. - We can write down meal plans for next week. - We can letters to relatives and friends. 

- We can pray about our feelings, what’s in our minds, and express our gratitude of what we’re thankful for. - We can write down what we would like to accomplish throughout next week. 

Stay Tuned.

Some Things to Consider when Buying a Vehicle

This post should take three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish. This post is similar to Some Things to Consider When Buying a House post. This post focuses on our experiences (my experience and Jacob''s experience) when we were considering about purchasing our current family vehicle and prior to making the full commitment of buying our family vehicle. Also the process it took for us to legally claim for us to legally own the vehicles from our parents. After sharing our experience with you, let me share with you some questions for you to ask yourself either as you read this post or in your own time.

Jacob's parents has purchased a truck during Jacob's full-time mission. Prior to meeting Jacob and into the first year of our marriage; he was paying off his truck to his parents. Once he finished paying off the truck to his parents, he was able to get his name transferred to the truck as new ownership. By then he can legally claimed that the truck once his parents to him. 

To my surprise; Jacob still owns the truck to this day. Jacob does a great job for taking care of his vehicle by doing oil change all by himself, changing the batteries all by himself, and other important things. However he seems to only go to the mechanics for getting new tyres (tires), balancing and rotating tyres (tires) for his truck. 

Prior to meeting Jacob online; I've gone through almost three different vehicles but I did go through three vehicles prior to meeting each other in person. First vehicle was originally what my parents (I think it was mostly claimed by my Dad) owned, and I gone ahead of going to mechanics to pay for the repairs to get the vehicle roadworthy. After that, I went ahead and paid for either six months registration or yearly registration to the vehicle. I also had to fill out the paperwork for transferring ownerships of the vehicle. By then, I was able to legally claim the vehicle is mine. 

The second vehicle, I honestly didn't think about any considerations. I was nineteen years old at the time when I've purchased a second vehicle. I just saw a cheap car that was on for sale on Facebook Marketplace. I kept wishing that I've thought about some considerations prior to purchasing that vehicle. That vehicle has lasted me most of my temporarily stay in Perth. 

The third vehicle, I didn't think about too many considerations. I've always looked around for a vehicle that I can afford and buy it upfront. I was hoping that I didn't experience any issues after purchasing the vehicle. I've considered about how many seats does the car have, for the car to be cheap to run on fuel (gas) - less than $75 a week preferably depending on how much driving that I do, does the air con/heater works in the car, and would I be able to have friends or relatives in the car with me to feel comfortable in sitting in the car. 

Let me share with you some things for you to consider when buying a car. Follow by, let me share with you some questions to ask yourself either now or in your own time. 

Think about the current condition of the car (inside the car and outside the car). Think about the car smell. he current condition of the car. The age of the car. The number of times of the car to be regular serviced. Any owners of the vehicle prior to you buying the car and owning it. The number of seats and rows does the car have. The car have any mechanical issues. 

Do I see myself driving in that car for short-term?

Do I see myself driving in that car for long-term?

What’s the purpose of having that car?

What specifications do I like that car have?

Do I know how many seats does the car have?

Do I know how many rows does the car have?

Does the car include a spare tire? 

Does the car include a spare key? 

When Jacob and I was car hunting for a family vehicle, we've considered a lot of things. Let me share with some things that we've considered prior to making a commitment and do a down payment of the car.

We've considered about the condition of the car. We've considered the age of the car (how old is it?)  We've considered about how many seats does the car have including how many rows does the car have. We've considered about how many mileage has the car been driven prior to us. We've considered and we both done a test drive. We've checked if the car has been regular serviced and maintained when the car was under the previous owner/s before us. We've considered about what are several top specifications do we like about the car have. 

Stay Tuned. 

Some Things to Consider When Buying a House

This post should take three minutes to five minutes from start to finish. This post focuses on sharing our experience (my experience and Jacob's experience) when we've considered some things prior to making the commitment of buying our current house. After sharing our experience with you, let me share with you some questions for you to ask yourself either as you read this post or in your own time.

If I remember correctly, it has taken several months when Jacob and I went house hunting while we were still living in our apartment (less than 1,000 square footage, two bedrooms, and one bathroom) back in 2021. We mostly did house hunting online. We knew that we wanted to move into a house that's bigger than 1.000 square footage and hoping the cost of paying house mortgage monthly is cheaper than paying month to month rental property. 

We've considered the hidden costs that can be involved with when to buy a house. We've thought about the travel time to commit of driving to get to places where we go to (such as Jacob's work, church, groceries stores, medical appointments, church, and more places). We've considered about it's a good idea of having neighbours. Although we definitely know that our next house, we prefer to be living not so close to neighbours in the future. 

We've checked out two houses. One house that Jacob and I've looked at, we really liked it and knew straight away that we would've make several major changes to it but the cost of the house is outside of our price range for how much we were willing to spend on. Then we've looked at a different house, we really like it and that house was in our price range of how much we were willing to spend on. 

Jacob and I do care about the current condition of the house (indoors and outdoors) prior to buying. Jacob and I do care about the current condition of the roofing for the house and the shed prior to buying. Jacob and I do care about the age of the house. We seemed to get a great deal because the previous house owners with their house insurance was able to get brand new condition the main house roof prior to closing the house to us.  

Jacob and I do care about the number of bedrooms that the house have. Jacob and I do care about we would be pre approved for the house mortgage loan. Jacob and I do care the location of the house and surroundings. Jacob and I do care about the number of bathrooms does that the house have. We ended up spending approximately of $15,000 US dollars/less than $22,000 Australian dollars towards the appliances to have installed in the house and also including the cost of renovations.  

"Buying a house won't bring you

happiness, but turning it into a home

certainly will." 

Ask the following questions;

Is the house in my price range of what I would be willing to spend? Do I see yourself or/and other people who I currently live with to move into that house? Am I aware of the current condition of the roofing of the house? 

Am I aware of the current condition of the house? Am I aware of knowing the age of the house? Am I aware of the location where the house is located and its surroundings? Has the mortgage that I’ve applied for has been pre approved for the house/s that I've looked at? 

Can I afford of paying month to month house mortgage along with other bills of living? Will I be doing any renovations or some projects here and there to the house? Do I know how many bedrooms does the house have? 

Do I know how many bathrooms does the house have? Does the house come with a spare key? Does the house comes with somewhere where to park the vehicle/vehicles? Does the house comes with a swimming pool? Does the house comes with a pond? 

Am I aware the cost of maintaining the swimming pool if the house have a swimming pool? Am I aware how many acres does the house comes with? Do I know my credit score?

I thought about some other questions but I would like you to do your best to think about and ask yourself the different questions. 

Stay Tuned. 

Saving Tips

This post should take no more than three minutes to read from start to finish. Do you have any saving tips top share with me that works in your household? 

Jacob and I often do our best to always be on top of paying tithing whenever we make earnings. As I’ve mentioned on a different day (about sharing some things to consider budgeting one person and raising family) that I would make another post about savings tips. Well here it is. I like to spend some items in bulk because those items last longer and is cheaper than buying certain items frequently. 

Here’s a list that I like to get things in bulk. 

Essentials: 

* Laundry detergent 

* Dishwasher detergent including dish soap

* Paper towels 

* Toilet papers

* Hand soaps 

* Pads

* Garage bags for my bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom

* Toothpastes 

* Toothbrushes 

* Mouthwashes 

* Body washes 

* Soaps 

Pantry: 

* Gatorades 

* Peanut butter 

* Jam spreads/jellies (doesn't need to be in the fridge until once opened)

* Honey

* Mayonnaise (doesn’t need to be in the fridge until once opened)

* Chicken broths

* Beef broths

* Rice 

* Gluten-free Pastas 

* Gluten Pastas

* Prego (spaghetti) sauces 

* Other American sauces 

* Australian sauces including recipe mixes 

* Condensed Milk 

* Evaporated milk 

* Boxes of Gluten-free bake goods (cookies, and sweets)

* Juices (certain juices don’t need to be in fridge until once opened) 

* Gluten pancake mixes 

* Gluten-free pancake mixes 

* Maple syrup (Gluten-free one doesn’t need to be in the fridge until once opened)

* Gluten-free Cereals including Oatmeals

* Gluten Cereals including Oatmeals 

* Gluten-free snacks (including children’s approved and aged snacks) 

* Gluten snacks (including children’s approved and aged snacks) 

Freezer: 

* Burritos (gluten)

* Meats 

* Pizzas (gluten) 

Items for two children who aren’t yet currently toilet trained. 

* Diapers (Nappies)

* Baby Wipes

* Diaper (Nappy) Rash Cream

Depending on the item; in my household if we’re down to the last ten days to fourteen days left of supply, we will then get more of that supply. Depending on the item; in my household if we’re down to the last four weeks of supply, we will then get more of that supply. Depending on the item; in household if we’re down to the last five days left of supply, we will then get more supply. 

A addition to having some items in bulk; the in my household, we also has food storage (more than one month of supply for non-cool items) and have enough food for emergencies (Jacob and I need to redo our emergency seventy-two hour packs sometime). 

Thankfully we do have own a generator now instead of us having the experience of borrowing one. 

"All of us can afford to pay
TITHING. In reality, none of us can
afford NOT to pay TITHING."
- Thomas S. Monson.

In our household; we’ve been blessed by having WIC (Women’s, Infants, and Children) benefits month to month which gives our household to save money and the benefits is funded by US government. I still budget weekly (to include and not include the WIC benefits). 

Whatever we use up after using WIC benefits covers for the month; we have to pay out of pocket and WIC benefits doesn’t cover every item that we need and want for groceries. Not sharing exactly the amount of what WIC benefits covers for my household but we’ve been able to save not having to pay for the following; 

* Milk

* Eggs 

* Loaves of Gluten Bread 

* Frozen and fresh Fruits 

* Frozen and fresh Veggies (vegetables)

* Cereals (both gluten and gluten free)

* Juices 

* Yogurt 

* Whole grains 

Some examples on how long estimably items last. 

Bulk of Diapers (Nappies), Pull ups, Condensed Milk, and Evaporated milk are purchased once every 6 weeks. Bulk of Baby wipes are purchased once every 12 weeks. Bulk of Gluten-free Pastas, Gluten Pastas, Prego (spaghetti) sauces, and Other American sauces are purchased once every three months. 

Laundry detergent, Dishwasher detergent including dish soap, Paper towels, Toilet papers, Hand soaps, Pads, Garage bags for my bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom lasts for six months for one round of supply. 

Stay Tuned.