Good News

      Little bit late, but it's still before the new year right?  At the end of this Christmas season we celebrate and remember the birth of Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.  What a wonderful gift we and all mankind were given.  I love the scripture in Luke when Gabriel comes and proclaims to the shepherds, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11 (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/2?lang=eng)
      Christ truly is the great tiding and great joy.  And to take it a step further, his birth was 'great tidings' and his gospel is good news.  This good news has been a guide in my life, as long as I have sought it.  Through faith in Christ I have gained hope and seen a better life.  My faith has helped to humble and remind me of all  Christ has done for me.  I know He lives, and because of Him I will live again after death on earth.  I know He has suffered all so that if I use his atoning powers I need, I need not suffer.  I'm grateful for the Atonement and the blessed opportunity we have to repent, to remember Christ and to try again to be better.  I know this is possible through baptism and after baptism through the Sacrament.  As we continue acting on our faith and repenting, we have the promised guidance of the Holy Ghost.  Through this influence I am able to hold on a little longer, day by day, through challenges.  Because of this knowledge I'm excited to endure to the end.  I know the good news and can see the goal in sight.

Onward and Upward

      The title of this blog has been inspired from one of my sisters.  At the end of every letter she signs me off "onward and upward, sister, in the service of the Lord." I've always been one for mottos and this one seems very fitting as a missionary but further more as a child of God.  I've better come to understand what it means to be a child of God through the Plan of Salvation.  (To learn more visit http://mormon.org/beliefs/plan-of-salvation)
      In short, we lived with God, our Heavenly Father before we were born.  He, as a loving father, wanted the best for us.  In order to become like Him, we needed to come to this earth, gain a body, and have experiences.  According to our actions here on earth, we would qualify, with the wonderful help of Christ, to live with our Father once more.  What a blessing this chunk of knowledge has been in my life.  Without this plan, without this guide during this very difficult life, it would be meaningless and quire frankly dark.
    The Gospel of Jesus Christ along with the Plan of Salvation is the greatest light anyone could ever have in their life.  With this understanding that I've gained over the years, I've chosen to set my sights high, onward and upward, toward heaven.  Onward is where I look and step everyday and upward is where my destination lies.