We checked several places and asked if we could stay for the night. We were declined multiple times. 

We felt exhausted, hungry, cold, and lost as we checked every place we could find. We were almost in tears but we believed that God would lead us to a place where we could find refuge.

He finally led us to a place where we would be safe from the typhoon we knew so little about. 

However, when we thought we were finally safe, we heard people talking about how we should not have been welcomed to that evacuation shelter since we were not locals. They wanted us out so other locals could stay. 

Tears started running down my face as I hid away from the crowd, asking God what we should do. No one wanted to accept us. No one wanted to let us in. I was in pain and was heartbroken.

And in that moment of pain and loneliness, I felt an overwhelming warmth as I remembered how Joseph and Mary also once experienced this similar dilemma. They too had to knock on multiple doors when Mary was about to give birth to the savior Jesus Christ. 

The Lord Understands Every Pain We Go Through Because He Has Gone Through Them

From birth to death, Jesus didn’t have an extravagant life. He was born in a lowly manger. He grew up in a humble and simple family with nothing much. He was bullied by non-believers. He was called names, chastised, and was not always welcome in the places he went. 

Elder David A. Bednar shared, “You and I in a moment of weakness, may cry out, no one understands, no one knows. No human being perhaps knows. But the son of God perfectly knows and understands for He felt and bore the burdens before we ever did.”

Your pain from being unappreciated, abandoned, losing a loved one, from being alone, being chastised, being ridiculed, insulted, falsely accused, physically hurt, betrayed, and every other pain you feel, He has felt it all. When you think no one understands, or that no one cares, He does. He understands, and He definitely cares. When you think that no one is on your side, remember that the Savior Himself is on your side. 

As I remembered these things while I was hiding away, crying, I was comforted knowing that someone knows exactly how I felt. It was bittersweet knowing that my savior bore these pains way before I ever did. My hunger, exhaustion, loneliness, and pain of rejection, He felt and had gone through it all even more times than I ever did or will in my entire life. 

The Lord will always be with us and can deliver us through our trials by sending us His angels and miracles

Elder Ulisses Soares said, “No matter the obstacles we face in this life we can trust that the Lord will provide a way for us.”

As my thoughts were drawn to the comforting truth that the Lord understands my pain and my situation and was wiping my tears away, my husband found me and listened as I shared how I felt. He assured me that He understood me and that everything would be alright.

I came back to the room where my family was, and I saw their smiles. I learned that a stranger came and offered to help us, out of nowhere. He spoke to the people who wanted us out, and we were given room to stay, and even supplies to help us be more comfortable during our stay. 

It was a teaching experience that the Lord will always provide a way for us, even if it’s not in the way we think or want, and many times sends us miracles along the way. He can turn painful events in our life into miracles. Experiencing that hardship reminded me that God uses painful events to strengthen us and to also help us understand other people better like He understands each of us.

Sometimes, the Lord will also send someone to you, maybe a neighbor, a colleague, a friend, or even a stranger, just to help you and show you that He has not abandoned you. He will send His angels to lift you up, guide you, and help you feel His love. 

Jesus Christ is the light of the world and can light even the darkest times in our lives

I may have experienced pain and felt alone that time, but it was just for a moment. What was left behind was the feeling of love and light.

All this pain comes with a purpose and that may be different for all of us, but ultimately, it is to strengthen us and foster a stronger sense of gratitude. If you feel like you are on a dark and narrow path right now, remember that Christ’s light will always be with you, lighting every step of the way, enough for you to return back to Him.

To learn more about healing through the Savior Jesus Christ, read To My Friends Who Feel Broken: You Can Feel Whole Again.

The post How Can The Lord Understand Or Heal My Pain? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

This still rings in my ears to this day as I recall how we almost lost our daughter after we ignored a simple warning.

It was a sunny day after a week of thunderstorms and gloomy skies. We received the usual warning notification on our phones about the strong winds and big waves, and to avoid going into deep waters. However, contrary to that warning, the seas seemed very calm and inviting.

“Let’s go to the beach today!”, my children excitedly shouted. 

Upon arriving at the beach, we immediately rushed to the peaceful clear blue waters after realizing that there were no other people except the cottage owners. The sun was shining bright but the wind was blowing cold, probably because of the rainy days prior. 

We rented a unicorn floater for my daughter and played with her. There were four adults there with two kids, so we were confident that we could take care of them. We held on to the floaters as they glided through the small waves. We chased them in the shallow waters as they drifted to the side. It was so much fun. Everything was under control. 

Until it was not…

My daughter glided through the waters, just flowing with the waves, as we took turns holding on to her floater, when all of a sudden, the winds blew stronger in a different direction, drifting my little girl towards the deep. We were still calm and still confident that everything was under control. After all, it was my husband’s hometown, he knows the place. He knows the ocean. Swimming comes second nature to him. 

My husband swam towards her, but as he tried to grab her floater, the wind blew stronger and stronger, drifting her farther away. He swam faster and harder until he realized he could no longer breathe properly and was already in a panic. He had to stop chasing her, otherwise, both of them would drown. 

“Daddy! Please save me!” My poor little girl cried as she was looking back at my husband while holding tightly to the floater, drifting farther away. My husband knew he couldn’t save her anymore. He turned to me, now at least 15 meters away, and with his remaining strength, he shouted, “HELP!” 

After we shouted for help, a young man jumped into the water to try to swim towards the floater, but just like my husband, he ran out of air, had cramps, and had to stop. The floater drifted faster and farther away. We could barely hear my daughter’s cry anymore. The wind just took her away. We were almost losing hope. I was losing my precious little girl right before my eyes. I remember praying to God to please hold on to His dear daughter and to save her. 

She was finally saved by another young man who jumped into the water with a boat. He paddled like lightning! As my daughter drifted towards the big rocks, and while she was holding tightly for her life, even after being swayed back and forth by the strong wind, the little boat came to her rescue.

I know had we listened to the warnings and not relied on our own understanding, that accident could’ve been avoided.

The Lord has given us the wisdom to discern what is right and wrong, and also commandments to lead us to ultimate safety and happiness.

Have you also had any experiences when you confidently trusted your mind, wisdom, and experiences, and missed the warnings?

It could be a red flag in a relationship that you ignored, a symptom of a disease we downplayed, not prioritizing our health after several reminders from doctors, or breaking small rules and then bigger ones, until it was almost too late. 

In my case, it was a warning we ignored because of how seemingly beautiful the weather was. We depended on what we could see with our eyes, and because we simply wanted to have fun. 

Because we wanted to have fun, we ignored the warnings from people who could see the real situation of the weather, people who knew better about the waves and the seas. We relied on our own understanding, which led us to an almost tragic accident. 

Having fun is not wrong, but ignoring the warnings is. Not only will it bring harm to us, but it will also drift us away from the presence of the Holy Ghost, who is our constant companion to guide us to safety and eternal happiness.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.”

With so many voices around us, including ours, it is important to recognize the Lord’s voice. In our time, these warnings and guiding principles are everywhere we go. We have the scriptures to have constant communication with the Lord to direct our daily paths, spiritual leaders, our families, teachers, community leaders, laws set in our communities, and many more! 

There are promised blessings if we listen to these warnings, such as unity in our homes and community, safety, peace of mind, success in our daily endeavors, and a stronger connection with the Holy Ghost—these are all life-changing effects of listening and when we lean not on our own understanding.

The Atonement allows us to repent and redirect our paths back to Him.

In a General Conference talk, Elder Kim B. Clark said, “None of us are perfect. Sometimes we get stuck. We get distracted or discouraged. We stumble. But if we look to Jesus Christ with a repentant heart, He will lift us, cleanse us from sins, forgive us and heal our hearts.”

Although we are to constantly follow Him, the Lord understands that we make mistakes from time to time, that is why He has provided a way for us to redirect our paths back to safety when we have gone off course. 

Even when we sometimes are stubborn to heed the warnings, the Lord still sends us help at the right time, to save us. Just as my husband accepted the fact that the situation was no longer under his control, and cried for help, we too must learn to let God take control of our lives and situations. However, we need to be sensitive to the ways the Lord helps us, and then recognize them quickly because the water will rise quickly too. My dear daughter was saved just in time and was brought back to safety. God sent help just when we needed it most. 

As Dieter F. Uchtdorf lovingly reminded us, “God wants you to find your way back to Him, and the Savior is the way.” He atoned for our sins, bled in Gethsemane, and died on the cross, to make it possible for us to turn away from our sins and weaknesses, and be pure again to enter the kingdom of the Lord.

May we not lose hope when we make mistakes. After all, Jesus Christ, our Savior, and Redeemer died for the ones who sinned, not for the ones who are perfect. He will always accept us with arms wide open when we turn our hearts to Him in repentance. We may sometimes fall down, but He will always be there to catch us and guide us back to safety.

The post Why We Should Lean Not On Our Own Understanding: I Almost Lost My Child appeared first on morefaith.ph.

This was how I felt for a long time after being bombarded with endless unsolicited comments from different people- mostly from my family and friends, regarding how I was doing as a new mom. 

I remember feeling furious at how they seemed insensitive in telling me that I wasn’t doing things right and that I lacked effort. 

I needed help, but when help was given, I took offense to most of it because I felt like their actions and words were all to belittle how I was as a new mom.

How Being Offended Stops Us From Progressing

For a long time, I was trapped in this cycle of wanting to improve, but I couldn’t because I didn’t want to take comments and suggestions from other people, other than books and articles I found online. 

Because I was always offended by almost every bit of help that came my way, I realized that I was torturing myself. Instead of being grateful to the people who went out of their way to help me, or give me suggestions on what might work for me and my child, I took them negatively and believed for so long that no one cared and no one understood me and my journey.

My Father in Heaven heard my cries for help and my prayers for comfort, but because I took things negatively, I wasn’t improving. I wasn’t sensitive enough to understand the Lord’s way of answering my prayers.

Over time, I slowly realized that the things I was praying for were already in front of me. People and their comments were not always the problem, most of the time, it was how I took them. 

The moment I started to realize that, was when my progress also started. 

How To Overcome The Feeling Of Being Easily Offended

Have you ever felt offended by someone’s remarks, comments, or questions? 

Some of us may have a hard time not getting offended or hurt after a bit of unsolicited advice or an unwanted comment from someone. It could be about our career, our family, our personal choices in life, our physical appearance, or even the random things that others say about us.

Although we should indeed all be mindful of what we say and how we say things, some of us sometimes tend to take things too personally, which can affect our relationships with others or even our faith in the Lord. 

However, part of building our spiritual strength and maturity is learning how to overcome this feeling of being easily offended, and learning to understand and be more conscious of how we react to “offensive remarks”.

Is that easy? Not at all! Is it possible? Absolutely, with the help of the Lord!

Here are three things I learned on how to overcome being easily offended.

1. Listen with the ears and heart to understand and not to attack or defend.

Most of the time, the comments and opinions we receive, especially when they come from people who love us, are offered with good intentions. Not everyone can say things the way we want to hear them, but let us believe in the good intentions of those who love us.

If we listen with our ears and heart with the intention of understanding, we will be more engaged in the conversation instead of being offended. It allows us to think about what they say and makes us want to ask questions and get clarifications. 

Let us try to see things the way they see them and understand how they have come to their opinion. It could be that there is something that needs addressing on our part, and who else would be honest enough to tell us if not our loved ones who truly care about our well-being?

2. Be honest with how you feel. They will not know unless you tell them.

These offensive remarks will probably continue, unless you let them know how you hear what they say and how you feel about it. 

Sometimes, people do not have bad intentions in what they say but their words can still hurt others. Letting them know in a nice way that their words are inappropriate will also help them become more sensitive to other people’s feelings.

Make sure to choose your timing, which means wait for a time when you are not angry, just to avoid contention. You can also do it right after the “offensive remark” has been said. Usually, if these people have good intentions, they will apologize and clarify what they mean. After they apologize and clarify what they have said, we can overcome our negative thoughts.

3. Remember that what they say about you or others, says more about themselves and less about you.

Some people might intentionally try to make us feel bad about ourselves, but when we deeply understand who we truly are, these words will not cut into our hearts. We will understand that these people may be going through something within themselves, and that’s why they unconsciously or consciously inflict this pain on the people around them.

This can be a chance to show more love and kindness to them. Instead of being furious and offended, we can focus more on how they must be feeling to have to deal with such negativity. We can take this chance to be a light to others and show our good example by forgiving them and being more loving. 

“What if a certain person intentionally or unintentionally offends me multiple times? How often should I even forgive?”

In Matthew 18: 21-22, Peter asked how many times shall he forgive someone who had sinned against him. The Lord answered, “…I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.”

We Are Not Perfect, But The Lord Wants Us To Always Remember Our Divine Nature and Heavenly Potential

As Elder Dieter Uchtdorf said, “The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life, it will always be that way. Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way.”

Painful comments, being judged unjustly, and being misunderstood- all of these, and even worse, were experienced by our dear Savior, Jesus Christ when He walked the earth. He knows every bit of the pain you feel, but He has also laid the foundation and way for you to overcome that pain. As He has forgiven all of His oppressors, as well as our shortcomings and sins, we, too, can forgive others. 

This is not an easy challenge at all, but with the Lord’s help, and the daily guidance of the Holy Ghost, may we be reminded that all of us have different weaknesses, and in one way or another, we are debtors that need forgiveness, too. 

You are a child of God, with a divine nature and heavenly potential. 

Comments and opinions will vary from one person to another. We just can’t please everyone no matter how hard we try. What’s important is we know who to please, and that is our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

What They say about you is the only absolute truth and nothing else. And as we strive to be Christlike, let’s remember that The Savior simply never took offense. 

Here’s a related article on forgiveness.

The post How to Overcome Feeling Offended appeared first on morefaith.ph.

David, drenched in sweat, ran towards the kitchen looking for his mom. He was starving after playing outside with his friends. It was a perfect sunny day to play. However, David felt the need to go home when his stomach grumbled.

He found his mom in the kitchen preparing his favorite meal. He had smelled it from the front door. Sinigang! — a Filipino pork dish with veggies in tamarind soup.

His stomach grumbled again, loud enough that his mom heard it from the kitchen.

“David, it’s already past lunchtime, that’s why your tummy is grumbling like a giant,” His mom said wiping away his sweat and setting the table for both of them.

There were only the two of them since David’s dad had passed away when he was a baby.

David was halfway done with lunch when he remembered something he wanted to ask his mother.

“Mom, what is spiritual hunger? My friend’s dad told us that our spirits get hungry too. He made us read some scriptures earlier and told us that it was food for our spirit. How does our spirit get hungry when it doesn’t have a stomach?”

David’s mom smiled at how fast he was eating his food, and at how innocent his question was.

“Yes, our spirits get hungry too even though they don’t have stomachs. They get hungry when we are not feeding them, because we also need to feed our spirits. Do you want to know what food they like?”

David beamed with joy and excitement. “Yes, mom! Can I feed my spirit? I want to feed my spirit! He must be hungry too! Does he also like sinigang?”

He and his mom cleaned up the table and got a bowl, a plate, and a basket ready on the table. His mom asked him to get his crayons, art paper, scissors, and markers. Then he saw his mom get the scriptures and hymn book.

“I have a plate, a bowl, and a basket here. We will fill this with food for our souls. Listen carefully as I explain, then you can draw on your art paper and cut your drawings out so we can put them in the plate, bowl, and basket.”

David stared at his mom waiting to draw on his art paper.

“Today, we’ll talk about three foods that we can feed our soul.

First, a plate of crispy and juicy scripture verses. I have some of your favorite scripture verses here. Now, go ahead and draw some fried chicken, then in the middle, let’s write the scripture verses. Every day, let’s eat one or two of these fried chicken scripture verses or as many as you’d like! Reading the scriptures will feed our souls because the scriptures contain the word of God, and our souls love them. These will make our spirits strong and healthy! The scriptures say, we should feast upon the words of Christ, for the words of Christ will tell us all the things that we should do.

Second, the bowl of love and service, full of warm hugs from our family and loved ones. You can draw and cut out some pork cuts and veggies from your art paper, and on every one of them, write the names of the people you love and care about. You can also write the names of the people you see often, like Mrs. Lopez from the school cafeteria, or Mr. Cruz, the street sweeper in our neighborhood. Every day, take as many names as you’d like and give them warm hugs. 

Giving love to other people helps our spirits feel God’s love too. These warm hugs can give you the warmth you feel when you eat your favorite sinigang. It doesn’t have to be hugs, you can also help and serve others to feel this warmth in your heart, which is one way to tell your spirit is feeling it too. You can also do this when you are feeling down or upset. As Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The best medicine for despair is SERVICE.”

Third, a basket of tender prayers glazed with sweet music. Remember the turon you love so much? Draw as many turon as you like on your art paper, then write down the blessings that you enjoy each day, and titles of songs or hymns that make you feel happy and closer to God. Each day when you wake up, take as many turons as you’d like from the basket, pray and thank our Heavenly Father for the blessings you receive each day, then sing or hum the songs that you picked. You can do this any time you want. Our spirits love prayers and uplifting music, too! Uplifting music is like a prayer to God, and listening to uplifting songs and praying gives our spirit more energy for the day.”

David used up all his art paper to fill the plate of crispy and juicy scripture verses, the bowl of love and service, and the basket of tender prayers and music. He was so excited to feed his spirit that he took one of each food.

“Mom, I’m feeding my spirit now!”

His mom smiled with great happiness as she looked at how he was enjoying feeding his spirit in these simple ways.

These three foods are not only for David but for all of us and our spirits. We feast upon these foods for the soul because they open the door to revelation and show us what we need to do and become.

Our spiritual health is equally important as our physical health, if not more. If we keep our souls healthy, we can be stronger, and more ready to face our everyday challenges in life. Keeping our souls healthy can also help us keep our physical bodies healthy. Then we can be more receptive to the inspiration and promptings of the Holy Ghost that will lead to safety and everlasting happiness.

These may seem simple and small steps to nurture and strengthen our spiritual health, and we may have forgotten the importance of it, but as Russell M. Nelson said, “What we choose to do here will determine the kind of life we have throughout all eternity. We are never living just for today.”

For other tips on how you can achieve spiritual nourishment, you can read 3 Ways To Improve Your Spiritual Health.

The post 3 Foods For The Soul That You Can Teach Your Kids appeared first on morefaith.ph.

“He probably wouldn’t want anything to do with someone like me,” she thought. “God loved me, but I’m sure I’ve disappointed him… So what’s the use?” Jane’s not the only person to think they’re no longer worthy of heaven’s love because they made a mistake or even a series of mistakes. 

We all have weaknesses. We all make mistakes. And sometimes it’s hard not to wonder if our weaknesses and mistakes make us worth less as a person or less deserving of love. Often, the persistent thought tugging at the back of our minds is that our mistakes define us. But the truth is, they actually refine us.

Understanding Who We Really Are

One of the many reasons we may drift away from our divine identity is that we simply don’t know it. Knowing our divine nature and our absolute worth can help us understand and overcome even the heaviest challenges we face.

What is divine identity? Divine means of, from, or like God. Since we are children of heavenly parents, this makes us the sons and daughters of The King of all kings. You and I are children of God.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared,

Of course, there will be times when we hear voices telling us that we are foolish to believe that we are divine or special, trying to convince us that we are worthless, ugly, good for nothing, talentless, or that we are our mistakes. But may we all remember that our mistakes and weaknesses do not define who we are.

Knowing Who You are Can Help You Overcome Sin and Guilt

The Lord rejoices when we repent and strive to avoid repeating our sins intentionally. Repentance brings us closer to Him since and helps us know Him better and deeper. Sins cause us deep and heavy feelings of burden, so God has given us a way to remove this burden, and that is why repentance is a joyous process. He gave us a way to be cleansed from our sins because He loves us. And we must be cleansed from our sins so we can go back to His presence.

If you have committed mistakes, big or small, Satan tries to make you feel worthless. You may feel that because you have not met your goals or other people’s expectations, that you’re not as good as others around you. You may have compared yourself to others who look like they are doing “better” in life. You may have even felt that God doesn’t love you anymore or has forgotten about you because of the sin you’ve committed. Don’t let these mistakes and weaknesses keep you from coming to Christ, think that you are not good enough for Him, or think that His love is only for those who have not sinned.

Jesus Christ did not die for perfect people; He did not sacrifice His life for those who have it all figured out. He did not come to earth and preach for the ones who knew it all. Because none of us are perfect, have it all figured out, or know it all, no matter what it looks like on the outside. He came here for all of us who’ve sinned, regardless of the gravity of the sin, for all of us who have weaknesses, for all of us who don’t have it figured out or who are struggling. He did all of that because you are of great worth to Him! 

There is the definite truth that your worth does not rely on whether you’ve done great things in life or not. It does not rely on the mistakes or good things you’ve done. In the eyes of our Almighty God, your worth is the same.

If your sins ever feel like heavy burdens, or if you’ve drifted away from God because of the mistakes you’ve made, this does not mean that God loves you less. There will always be hope for you to come to Him and be forgiven. He will always welcome you back with arms wide open, ready to embrace you with warmth and love, because you are His beloved precious child.

The post Do My Mistakes and Weaknesses Determine My Worth? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

You ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way? What am I doing this for?” Sometimes you might feel like you’re stuck in a loop of exhaustion, restlessness, and not having enough time for all the things you need to do, or for yourself.

That is normal and almost all mothers feel the same way. It can be exhausting.

However, He chose YOU to nurture the world and His children here on earth. He gave you this divine role and duty to build His Kingdom.

As an expecting mom or a mom of younger babies, you can get tired of all the sleepless nights and exhausting days doing childcare and household chores, among other things. But that exhaustion just bursts into thin air when you see your baby taking his first step, or hearing him say his first word, or just seeing him smile at you. Oh, that overwhelming joy in a new mom’s heart!

As a mom of older kids, you can get exhausted from chores and making sure that they are growing into responsible people and doing good things in their life. You worry if you’ve disciplined them enough or loved them enough, or just simply if you’ve done enough. But when they hand you that ‘I love you’ note out of nowhere, or kiss and hug you, or you see them do well at school, at work, or in life, no amount of hard work or tears can tarnish the happiness that you feel. Every tear will make sense, and even your worries can turn into joy.

You are the one with the power to make the home! You probably make the delicious meals your family enjoys every day. You bear the children that add happiness to the family. You might organize the family’s schedule so everyone and everything is in order. You are the reason why that child jumps up and down with joy upon seeing you. You are the reason why they try their best to make you proud and happy. You are the reason why that child is brave enough to face their fears and be brave because you taught them to do so. You are the reason why your kids leave the house presentable, tidy, and healthy. And believe it or not, you are the reason they always want to come home!

That’s how motherhood is! This divine role from God surely involves a lot of work, pain, and countless sacrifices, but the joy and numerous lessons it brings make everything worth it.

The role of a mother can’t be defined by how many chores she can finish in a day, or how well she can cook, or whether she works or stays at home, but by how willingly she cares for her family, and how she loves them so dearly. No mother is perfect, but you don’t have to be. Christ will lead and guide you in this most important calling, and He can make up the difference for the imperfections and mistakes that we all have.

The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have taught about the importance Heavenly Father places on mothers, and the trust that He has in you, “Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”

When you understand the divinity of this role, the difficult responsibilities become lighter as you ask God for guidance and help for each child. You will understand that more than the tasks you need to finish, you are shaping God’s child into what He wants him to be. You are building God’s Kingdom and preparing His children for their divine roles in this life.

The post The Joy And Divinity of Motherhood appeared first on morefaith.ph.

“Where did I go wrong?”

“Am I not worth loving?”

“Will I ever find someone who will love me?”

“What’s wrong with me?”

Hours drag like days, and days can feel like years. You might lose interest in many other things in your life, And every time you wake up, you face another day without the person you love. It can feel like you’re trapped in that sadness.

So, how do you overcome that intense feeling of loneliness and worthlessness? How do you move forward? How do you forgive and let go?

Here are some truths that helped me overcome heartbreak.

I am not defined by a single relationship. More people truly love me. I may have lost that person I loved, but I must remember that I am more than that relationship. I am also a significant part of other people’s lives.

My family has been there through it all, loves me and also grieves at my heart break. My friends and the people who truly love me will be right beside me through thick or thin.

It may not feel like it when I’m in such pain, but they have my back because to them I am an amazing person worthy of all the happiness in the world.

My smile can brighten their day, and they look forward to seeing that again. To these people, I am more than enough, and there’s nothing in this world that will make them love me less.

There is someone who loves me without end, and I can forever count on that love. Aside from my family and friends, it brings peace to my heart knowing that God loves me more than I could ever comprehend.

I am His child, and He knows my potential. He knows my absolute worth. I may have gone through my own pain, but He also felt my pain and emptiness. It is comforting to remember that He’s preparing me for the right person and relationship that’s meant for me.

The world may leave me or turn its back on me, but He never will. He is the One that I know loves me no matter what. His love for me is incomparable, unparalleled, and that is the kind of love I rightfully deserve.

He knows me better than anyone in this world. I am one of His greatest treasures, and He has a glorious plan for my eternal happiness.

Despite the pain, I can feel at peace and hopeful knowing my great worth in the eyes of my Father in Heaven. Knowing that no matter what happens, I have Him to love me eternally and unconditionally.

I am worth the kind of love and happiness that will never end. I know this may sound crazy, but a heartbreak, no matter how painful it is, can be exciting, too. If you can be so happy with someone you are not meant for, just imagine how amazing it will be when you find the right one?

At one point, I lost faith in relationships and commitments, especially after going through heartbreak after heartbreak.

But the time will come when all of those heartbreaks will make sense, and you will meet the right person for you, the one with whom you can have the kind of love you truly deserve – an eternal love that only grows stronger over time. I hung on tight to that promise.

I am a strong person with superb talents and potential. I am exquisite. When I lost all confidence after my heartbreak, I reminded myself of the real me. I am a person with wonderful talents that Heavenly Father has given me. I reminded myself that I can be more than what I was, and that I am of great worth.

If someone doesn’t see my worth, it doesn’t mean that my worth is gone. It’s simply that – they just don’t see it. It is their issue, not mine. The kind of people that I want to be like and be around will recognize my worth as a child of God.

I know my worth, and I can get back up again after trials knock me down, because my Savior is there to help me. I’ve endured heartaches and misery before, and this one will not keep me from being happy.

Knowing our worth helps us forgive and move forward. With this truth, I also found it easier to forgive the person who broke my heart. I was reminded that he also has great worth in the eyes of the Lord, and that what happened to us is for the best. That made it less difficult for me to move forward, knowing that if I follow God’s plan for me, I will be in a better direction.

You should also remember these things, because they apply to you, too, no matter where you live or if you’re a man or a woman. You are also loved beyond imagination. You are an intricate and beautiful person. Your worth will never depend on someone else’s opinion. Your worth will always be there no matter what happens, and no matter how many people try to break you. You, as well as those you’ve parted from, deserve eternal love and happiness in Heavenly Father’s plan, forever and always.

The post How Knowing My Worth Helped Me Overcome A Heartbreak appeared first on morefaith.ph.

To ministering brothers and sisters, this active member still needs you.

Like you, I always thought that I no longer needed to visit those members who were always there on Sundays, and who were involved in their Church callings and responsibilities. It is safe to say that I often assumed that with their strong testimony of the gospel, they no longer needed what I had to say.

But ministering friends, this active member still needs you.

We all have daily struggles not often seen during Sunday services. It is always refreshing when someone visits to remind us what matters most in life — the gospel. Don’t hesitate to share your testimony, no matter how simple you think it is. It is a blessing when we see your great love and commitment to the Lord. We may not say it, but your example of service and love for the gospel strengthens us too — especially during times of unspoken struggles.

Yes, in times of struggles, this active member still needs you.

Our smiling faces and positive outlook in life may make you skip our names on the list, but please remember that visiting us can be a balm in Gilead. Some of you may be worried that the help you’re offering — financially and spiritually — may not be enough, but please know that even faithful members of the Church can still find comfort in a big tight hug, a simple home-cooked meal, or a sweet, sincere question like “How are you doing?”

Your simple acts of kindness can go a long way. Your efforts to reach out to us help us feel loved and cared for. Sometimes, what a weary soul really needs is just someone who reaches out in love.

This active member looks up to you.

You may think that because some members are so strong in the faith, no simple visit, no ordinary lesson will be enough. But sometimes, more than the lesson, there’s another thing that counts: your effort to serve. As we see you serving with all your might despite financial limitations or physical challenges, you show us Christlike love. When you come to us, even without knowing what we truly, deeply feel, you help us realize the truth that indeed, the Lord sends angels to rally for us when we feel downtrodden.

So to the ministering members, if ever you feel too inadequate to visit an active member of the Church, please be strengthened by this beautiful quote by Sister Virginia Jensen: “[Members] in all life circumstances have opportunities to nurture and build others within their sphere of influence.”

We too need your care, your testimony, and your example. We believe in you. We believe in the blessings that will come as you extend your ministering efforts to us. Come knock on an active member’s door soon.

The post To Those Who Minister, This Active Member Needs You Too appeared first on morefaith.ph.

This kind of one-sided argument, intended only to embarrass someone in public, happens a lot to the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are familiar with it. Clearly the pastor wasn’t really interested in talking with them, or listening to their answers, but in talking TO them and showing off what a great debater he is on social media.

We’d like to briefly cover some of the pastor’s arguments here, then talk about a much more important lesson that has meaning for all of us.

The Trinity

When it comes to the trinity, first, the doctrine of the Trinity as most Christian faiths believe it today was not laid out or decided upon until over 300-400 years after the death of Christ. Our beliefs about the Godhead center upon Jesus Christ as the glorified Son of God, who prayed to His Father, a separate and distinct being. It is this separate being (God the Father) who spoke from Heaven at Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan, and who we see as a loving Father that we can draw closer to and seek to know as Christ prayed we could, rather than an unknowable and mysterious being. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland described our beliefs beautifully in his conference talk, titled “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent“.

Baptisms for the dead

Baptism for the dead? It’s recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:29 in the Bible by the apostle Paul. Although it isn’t a common practice in most faiths these days, it was something also practiced by the early Christian saints.   

Misconceptions about Joseph Smith

And Joseph Smith wasn’t hanged, he was martyred. Yes, he was charged with a variety of crimes dozens of times, though any actual evidence of a real conviction is seriously lacking. But yes, he was charged. Does this make his testimony or teachings false? Jeremiah, Peter, Paul and many other biblical prophets were also imprisoned and suffered for the sake of Christ. By their fruits ye shall know them. Also Joseph Smith did not have 140 children as the pastor claims, and the current research reveals that there are no verifiable children of Joseph except by his wife Emma. This video explains why some Mormons practiced polygamy during the nineteenth century, which was discontinued by the Church more than 100 years ago.

Final Thoughts

True worship, true religion, in our opinion, is what brings people closer to God and to each other in harmony, peace and love. It’s not for someone to make money out of, it’s not meant to divide people, but to bring them together “for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12).

We do believe, however, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored by God himself with the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the priesthood, God’s authority delegated to men through the proper channels to do His will. It is the true and living church, which we believe is lead and guided by God, through revelation to His living prophets and apostles.

We join together with other faiths to declare that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Our church bears his name, and we strive to follow His commandments even though we are all imperfect, because that’s how we can learn to rely on Jesus Christ and His atonement, let Him change our hearts, and find joy.

Because of the joy we’ve gained through the restored gospel, we do want to share it with people of every faith and religion. But you’d never hear a faithful Mormon tell someone of a different Christian denomination or a even a different religion that their beliefs were false, that they didn’t know or really believe in God as the source of their salvation, because it’s simply the wrong way to have a faith-filled conversation. In the Book of Mormon, when the resurrected Lord visited the ancient American continent around A.D. 34, He taught, “For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me” (3 Nephi 11:29).

These young missionaries throughout the world, who willingly donate 18 months to 2 years of their lives, along with tens of thousands of senior missionaries who serve despite their advanced age, do so because they want to serve the Lord and the people of the communities where they have been called.

We can guarantee that they would much rather spend their time serving people, and fulfilling both their spiritual and physical needs than arguing with people whose main purpose is to gain attention and put down others’ beliefs. That was why one of the elders kept inviting the man to find a quieter place, to really sit down with them to converse, pray, and study, a place where the Holy Spirit could be felt more clearly.

So, if you run into one of these young Mormon missionaries, give them a chance to serve. Arguments don’t strengthen or build people’s spirituality, the spirit of the Lord does that, and can confirm the truth of these precious doctrines directly from the Lord to you, better than anything else.

The post In Response to the Pastor Who Confronted the Mormon Missionaries appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Here are the main steps President Nelson counseled each of us to take to better receive personal revelation from God for ourselves.

• Find a quiet place where you can regularly go
• Humble yourself before God.
• Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father.
• Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
• Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses–yes, the very longings of your heart.
  And then listen.
• Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take.
• As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”

Are you already doing some of these steps? Have you had an experience when you felt God was speaking to your mind and heart? Share it with us in the comment section below.

Have more questions on how to communicate with Heavenly Father and receive your own personal revelation from Him? Feel free to contact us.

The post Mormon Prophet Explains How We All Can Speak With God appeared first on morefaith.ph.