The Power of a Calling

I just got home from a meeting with the other youth girl's camp leaders and was amazed at what being called for this actually means. When I learned about the meeting I started trying to come up with ideas for the theme of camp and my most memorable experiences. I honestly could think of nothing besides testimony meeting, but that's a given. We began our meeting with a song and prayer then talked about why we have girl's camp and what it is all about. Then we began pitching ideas. Ideas started forming in my head that I hadn't ever thought about before. It was amazing. The other girls were spurting out ideas just as fast. Soon we had a good list on the board of possible themes. It really astounded me, what being set-apart for this calling gives me.

I know with a surety that each of the youth leaders and all of the girl's camp leaders, in fact anyone with a calling was put in that position for a reason. I believe that if we try as hard as we can to accomplish what we are supposed to while in this calling, God will help us do our best.

I am grateful for this calling and the opportunity I have to work with these amazing girls! I love this gospel and am thankful for all the love and support you all give me as I have been working on this blog, I hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Kenzie

The Grace of God

Today in Laurels I gave the lesson on Grace. What is grace to you? Grace to me is the power through the Atonement that allows Christ to help us in our trials. In the Bible Dictionary it reads under Grace; 
 " It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by His atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.

Divine grace is needed by every soul in consequence of the Fall of Adam and also because of man’s weaknesses and shortcomings. However, grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient. Hence the explanation, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23). It is truly the grace of Jesus Christ that makes salvation possible. This principle is expressed in Jesus’ parable of the vine and the branches (John 15:1–11)"

I believe that if we work hard and do our best and all we can do, that the Lord will do the rest. It's like the saying that if we put God first in our lives, everything else will fall into its proper place. I know with a surety that Christ is ALWAYS there for us, no matter what, His hand is reached out still to each and everyone of us. We just need to reach back. Pray and He willl be there, read the scriptures, and He will be there, all it takes is a moment to kneel down and ask for help. I am grateful for the many things God has graced me with, I am so blessed to be a part of this gospel. I'm thankful for my family, friends, the prophet, music, and everything, I could go on and on. I love this gospel and for the influence it has on my life.
I also invite you to watch this video on how we learn.
 https://www.lds.org/youth/learn/yw/atonement/grace?lang=eng#video=we-learn

Love,

Kenzie

Children of God

"I am a child of God, and He has sent me here. Has given me and earthly home, with parents kind and dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with Him someday." (Primary Children's Songbook pg.3)

This goes for every single person, that has, is, or will ever live on this earth. Everyone is a child of a loving and kind Heavenly Father. He wants us to do the best we can on this earth, so that we may return to live with Him someday. Our elder brother, Jesus Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected so that we may do this exact thing. Everyone has a chance to repent and be saved. But, the Atonement isn't just for repenting, it's also so that we have someone to turn to when times are hard. Christ has gone through it all, for each and every one of us. ALL of us know someone who knows what we are going through, our Savior.

If everyone is a child of God, and God wants us all to return to Him through the Atonement of Christ, we need to treat everyone like they are a child of God. Be kind, helpful, a friend, provide service, anything and everything to make them feel loved, not only by you but by God and Christ also. It only takes a simple wave, a hello, a kind note, a little act of service. You could make someone's day by doing a simple service. It may seem small, but to them it just might be huge.

Here's a talk by Russel M. Nelson that talks about being a child of God.  https://www.lds.org/liahona/1978/11/i-am-a-child-of-god?lang=eng

I know that God loves all His children, He wants them to return to Him someday and live in the celestial kingdom. I personally want and am going to try a lot harder to be nicer to all of God's children and treat them how God treats me, and how He would want me to treat them. I love this gospel so much and am grateful for it in my life. I'm thankful for my leaders, freinds, and family who love and support me each and everyday. Thanks everyone for being so awesome!

Love,
Kenzie

Happiness

Happiness is an interesting and difficult subject to write about. I think I will start with why I am writing at 8:30 on a Friday night. An awesome person posted something new from her blog on Facebook, I became overwhelmed with the Spirit and happiness for her and I realized my life is full of happy moments. I've never really thought about how hard other people's lives are, I read their stories and I am brought to reality. I am not the only one in the universe with problems. Everyone is faced with their own struggles. I could be dealing with anxiety, while another is grieving over a loved one. Try to help others with what they are going through, by God's grace they might just be the answer to your prayers and you to their's. (D&C 58:27, 90:24)

I want to be a change in the world. I want to be that "superhero" for someone that keeps them from giving up. I want to make a difference in someone's life. I feel like I can do anything, and I know I can with Christ's help. I know He can help us with our struggles and that everything will work out for our good in the end if we do all we can do for ourselves and others! I believe in the the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know He suffered for each and every one of us so that we can not only repent, but so we have someone to turn to in difficult times. Our Savior is the only one who truly knows what we are going through. He can help you! I testify of this with a surety in my heart. I am a firm believer in Christ and His love for ALL of us. I pray you may all come to know of this for yourselves, I know I have and continue to be blessed because of my testimony of this gospel and everything in it.

If anyone ever needs anyone to talk to, I am here, but more importantly. Christ will always be there for you, just reach out to Him. 

Love,
Kenzie

Music

Last night I had the opportunity to go to a Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert with my mom, grandma, sisters, aunts, and cousin. At one point during the concert, at the beginning of the song, I was kind of like; wow! Music can change lives. I mean honestly I break out in song all the time, if I didn't do that who would I be? I don't really want to know. I love music so much whether it's singing, playing the piano, or just listening to music. Music has blessed my life in many ways.

Every night after I pray and study my scriptures I will turn on my CD player and listen to church songs. This helps me get to sleep, especially on those nights when I just can't. On those night I will lay there in bed and really listen to the words and sing along silently sometimes. I feel such peace as I close my day with a word of prayer, a scripture, and a song in my head.

It's amazing how much life and hope one single line of a song could do to your day. I know in Seminary, I always look forward to the song, and I try to connect it to the devotional in anyway. After Seminary I feel rejuvenated and full of the Spirit. I feel like I can conquer anything.

I am so grateful for the influence of music I have had throughout my life and continue to have in my life. I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, for His life and example. I'm thankful for my home and family for the strength I receive from each one of them every day. I love this gospel and all of you. Hope you have a great week!

Love,
Kenzie