Catching up with life! :)

Here are some fun events in the past three weeks! It's been quite an adventurous couple of weeks to say the least...

We got some random tickets for comic con, so we did that!!! And that was fun!!!

Chewbacca is behind us!!!

We got some dipping dots!!!

We got to see the Weasley Twins!! :) The real ones!!

Look we found Hagrid!

And Christopher saw a friend from his mission!!! :) Matt Asanuma! 

This is Christopher's friend James!!!

Behind me is one of my favorite actors! He is in Other Side of Heaven and he was one of the stars in one of my favorite TV shows called Covert Affairs. Doesn't seem like a big deal, but I got to shake his had and I super think he is amazing!!

And we decided to get a Macbook pro. We have two really crappy and old laptops and Christopher needed a computer for work and school!!! Here it is!!! :)

And after a really long week at school with Parent Teacher Conferences, we decided to TAKE A DAY and complete do whatever we wanted...which was be lazy and do nothing! We even ordered in sandwiches from Jimmy Johns!

Then we had a whole lot of fun with the family for conference!!! 

And while the men were at priesthood session, we had to go get some sushi of course!!!!

And a friend randomly message me some awesome picture from girls camp this summer that I had to post! :) This was from the zip line!

And we went to Chinese with my bro! And this was my fortune!

And!!! Then I went to his race on Friday! He is going to state!!!!!! He did his 5Kin 16:05! Go ninja Justin!

And then Kevin and Kacee took us to see Aida at Centerpoint Theater in Centerville! It was really good!!!

Then...it was on to see Marianne and Mckay get engaged in Vegas!! ROAD TRIP!! :)

#templeselfie

WE'RE SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's where it's going to happen!!

and it happened!!! :)

And we went to Serendipity 3 on the strip to celebrate!! We got the famous frozen hot chocolate, gilled cheese and mac n' cheese.

And then we went to see my aunt Angela's kids in their primary program! We love hanging out with them!!! :)

What a crazy couple weeks!!!!!

And we also did end up giving talks in church and so we decided to upload our draft for your perusing :) Thanks!!! :)

Nicole's Talk: Becoming more like Christ

We are the Neff’s and moved in this summer to this area. To introduce ourselves I testify boldly of God’s undeniable blessing of timing. Christopher and I crossed paths so many times growing up. We went to the same EFY where I heard him and his brother sing a duet meant for a guy and a girl, (his twin singing the high soprano part.), Christopher seeing me in musicals with both his twin brother and his younger sister, Me seeing Christopher in musicals at the high school, us going to the same high school, just at different times, his sister writing to him about our close friendship as he was on his mission, and finding out later that we had even gone to the same young single adult events and not once did we officially meet until after I was done with school and stopped avoiding the singles ward where we became friends and after a fairly short courtship were married and are living happily ever after. We’ve been married for 3 years and have a kitty named “Moose.” God’s timing really was intricate in our relationship and marriage and I love it!

Throughout my life, I have found great value in the art of Journal Writing. This is something that has strengthened me and I have come to love. In my journal writing, I have found a great practice for focusing my thoughts on Christ. As I begin a journal I study and pray in the days leading up to me needing a new journal to write in and I decide a theme for my personal study and prayer and really my goal for the duration of the time I have the journal. The topic I was given  for this talk was “Becoming like our Heavenly Father.” It just so happens that one of my journals was titled, “It’s all about Becoming.”

I read through a lot of this journal as I was preparing for this and reflected back on things that I had learned. I pondered some of the things I had written and also the talks that were recommended and I hope that these words will touch your hearts through the spirit.

In my journal, I wrote down a quote which I have referred to so many times since this journal that it has become a packet of light and a best friend in which I keep sacred, especially this week as we remember our beloved apostle Richard G. Scott who said:

“We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.” I’m going to repeat that in case it was a little overwhelming the first time. “We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.”

I feel like I can now go and sit down as that pretty much sums up everything. This wise man has helped us understand in such simple words how to fulfill the power of God’s request when he asked us in 3 Nephi, “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” If we desire to become like him, we must be doing this consistently. So, what is it that we are doing exactly

President Bednar said, “In our customary Church vocabulary, we often speak of going to church, going to the temple, and going on a mission. Let me be so bold as to suggest that our rather routine emphasis on going misses the mark.

The issue is not going to church; rather, the issue is worshipping and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to or through the temple; rather, the issue is having in our hearts the spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord’s house. The issue is not going on a mission; rather, the issue is becoming a missionary and serving throughout our entire life with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. It is possible for a young man to go on a mission and not become a missionary, and this is not what the Lord requires or what the Church needs.

You will not suddenly or magically be transformed into a prepared and obedient missionary on the day you walk through the front door of the Missionary Training Center What you have become in the days and months and years prior to your missionary service is what you will be in the MTC. “

I reworded this quote to apply more directly to us as church members. “You will not suddenly or magically be transformed into a prepared and obedient church member on the day that you are baptized, go through the temple or get married. What you have become in the days months and years throughout your life is what you will be throughout your life.

When I was a youth, one way that I found myself trying to become like my father in heaven was to see his children as he saw them.  I made a goal for myself to give 10 compliments daily to people around me. I wanted them to feel valued and so I strived to see their value. What joy it gave me to see these people be lifted up each day as I tried to help them find things that were great about them. I was so touched by this that I increased my goal to 20 compliments a day. I started to find that I would give more sincere compliments about someone’s worth or their personality rather than just their hair or their clothes. I wanted them to know things that I saw that I know Heavenly Father saw about them too! And as the weeks progressed I kept increasing my goal for compliments until one day I realized that it is now just part of who I am. I am now looking for the good in people often and now I don’t need to think about it.

Elder Oaks talks about the Final judgement and how it will not be a final tally of all the good things we have done lined up with all the bad things we have done and crossing them off one by one as if they cancel each other out.

So, being a math teacher, I am all about data and checklists and measuring progress. So if not a final tally, then how do we measure that progress? Elder Oaks suggests two ways that are found in the scriptures for us to track ourselves.

After King Benjamin’s great sermon, many of his hearers cried out that the Spirit of the Lord “has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). If we are losing our desire to do evil, we are progressing toward our heavenly goal.

The Apostle Paul said that persons who have received the Spirit of God “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). I understand this to mean that persons who are proceeding toward the needed conversion are beginning to see things as our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, see them. They are hearing His voice instead of the voice of the world, and they are doing things in His way instead of by the ways of the world.

As I think about people in my life who have “received the Spirit of God and ‘have the mind of Christ,” I think of so many examples, but I have a few in particular that I feel prompted to share about.

My Grandma is a person of dedication, perseverance and charity. I have seen my grandma be a part of some incredible things throughout my life including orphanage help all over the world and standing up for the right of families in all that she does, but it wasn’t until my dad was talking to me about my grandma and grandpa’s boat that I truly understood what charity meant. My grandma and grandpa bought a boat this last year, which may seem like a silly thing considering their age and their inability to actually go out on the boat and have fun on a regular basis. They have not owned a boat as long as I can remember, so why now? What value can this have for them?

Grandma and Grandpa don’t use the boat as far as I know. It is housed at their home and they help pay for the expenses, but their reason for owning this boat is so that their children and grandchildren can be provided with an opportunity to build experiences that will be remembered much longer than a mere weekend at the house. They are providing a means for their posterity to build relationships with each other and have fun.

These people are some of the most selfless people that I know. They would give anything to show the people around them that they are valued and I truly see them as people who are striving to become like god.

I think we often think to ourselves, “I’ll be happier when….” This context will be different for each individual! “I’ll be happy when….

-I’m out of primary and into YW

-I’m in college

-I get married

-I have kids

-I have a house

-I become a grandma

-The kids are out of the house

And if we continue living like this it becomes hard to find the happiness in what is happening now. Just last night in the Women’s session of conference, Pres. Uchtdorf said, “Forever is composed of nows.” We don’t want to wait to be happy or wait to become like Christ. This is an ongoing process. It is a constant battle.

Elder Christofferson said, “God has designed this mortal existence to require nearly constant exertion.”

How does someone become a runner? They consistently learn about running and they consistently dedicate time to run.

How does someone become a good teacher? They consistently learn about teaching and they consistently dedicate time to teaching.

How does someone become a musician? The consistently learn about music and they consistently dedicate time to their instrument.

There has to be “spiritual, mental and physical exertion and not just passive reception.”

Elder Oaks said, “In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.”

I fervently declare my testimony in the words of Elder Holland, “Don’t give up. Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead—a lot of it. You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.”

If you want to become like Christ, we must be willing to submit and understand that “[We] can do all things in Christ which strengtheneth [us].”

Just as the late Elder Scot said, “We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.” And I just want to add that we can do that only in and through Christ.”

Christopher's Talk: Becoming Spiritually and Temporally Prepared

Being Prepared Spiritually and Temporally

Introduction

Good morning brothers and sisters! I want to thank my wife for telling you our story. When you get married you have to plan a lot of things in order to be prepared for the big day. Granted, Nicole did most of the planning but preparation was still required of my part. There were the temporal things—where are we going to live? Are we going to move all of our stuff with us or store it somewhere? What paperwork needs to be filled out? Who do we want to invite to our wedding? What theme and decoration will we want at our reception? How do we want to do engagement pictures? What about wedding rings? And the list goes on and on.

Yet, on top of all of that we had to spiritually prepare ourselves for a major life change. The dating scene and the marriage scene are completely different worlds. We had to prepare to become our own family unit—to become independent. We had to change our thoughts from me and I to we and us. We had to keep developing our relationship and prepare ourselves spiritually to be worthy to be sealed across the altar of the temple.

Which preparation was more important? The temporal or the spiritual? We can turn to 2 Nephi 9:39 to find the answer. “Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.” For the sake of this topic this means that temporal things are just that. Temporary. They have an end. Spiritual things, however, are eternal. The wedding reception? That lasted a day. Our marriage, on the other hand, will last for eternity. We don’t have to prepare for the reception anymore—we haven’t had to for three years. It’s over and done. Our marriage? Well, we’re seeing our preparation pay off as we continue to grow in love and unity as we make it through day to day life as we prepare for our future family.

 Today I have been asked on how we should prepare spiritually and temporally. To continue along with what I mentioned earlier I have another scripture I’d like to point out is in Moses 3:5 where the Lord states that he created all things spiritually before he created them physically. The earth has an eternal destiny so it had to be created spiritually before it was created physically. The earth that we live on as we know is temporary. One day it will become the Celestial Kingdom—God had that planned out before the first day of the creation. Likewise God prepared for our failures and shortcomings by providing us a Savior long before we even had a chance to obtain a physical body and be subject to temptation here in mortality on the earth.

Our Need to Prepare in General

                  So why prepare? Why don’t we just go? Let me tell ya a story. There once was a man who was on his way back to work after his lunch break and decided to call it a day and go to Italy. He drove to the airport and walked up to the terminal and found a flight heading to Italy. He sat down in the lobby next to another Italy-bound traveler. He started a conversation with the traveler and within 5 minutes the traveler got confused.

“So where’s your luggage?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you planning on staying in Italy for very long?”
“I didn’t think of that… maybe I’ll stay a week or two.”
“With no luggage? Are you just going to wear that suit the whole time?”
“Oh… I didn’t think it was all that important to bring anything with me…”
“So are you going to shop for clothes there? Do you know where to shop? Do you speak Italian?”
“No… I wasn’t planning on any of that—and I don’t have the money to shop for clothes anyway.”
“You spend it all on your ticket?”
“No, I don’t have a ticket.”
“Wait… what?”

                  As silly as this story is it’s completely false. No one in their right mind plans a major trip to another country without some level of preparation. In fact, whether it’s a trip to Grandma’s house, Disneyland or Italy some planning is required. We all have a destination that we should be planning for. We’re bound for the Celestial Kingdom so what are we doing to prepare for it? What do we need to do spiritually and what do we need to do temporally?

Preparing Spiritually

                  Heavenly Father has a plan for His children and He has several systems in place to help us prepare to return to His presence. We have the scriptures for one, but more so the Lord made it possible for us to know His will and what we should do—whether that be through personal prayer and revelation or through His prophets. “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Before Christ came, the Lord sent prophets to prepare the people spiritually. Even though there would be a severe tempest and an earthquake so severe it would change the face of the earth the Lord didn’t reveal this until Samuel the Lamanite who was around 6 years before the birth of Christ. And even then Samuel didn’t talk about food storage and saving money for a rainy day—he was desperately trying to get through to the Nephites who had become so wicked that Samuel said that they were surrounded by demons and that if they did not repent it would be everlastingly too late for their souls. This model of prophets preparing people to return to His presence is seen over and over again. Why? Well, we find this answer clearly pointed out in Alma 39: 15-18.

“And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.

And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.

And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?

Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?”

                  In our day we are preparing for the Lord to come again. Aren’t our souls at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of His Second Coming? Yes, very much so. This has always been the case as all souls are precious to God so it’s no wonder he promises us immense joy in bringing a single soul back to His presence—let alone many souls. Many early church members often asked Joseph Smith to ask the Lord what would be the most important thing that they could do with their time here on earth. Time and again the response was that the thing that would be of most worth to them, and is of most worth to us still, is declaring repentance and the gospel to everyone. That’s why we’ve been asked to hasten to work—missionaries and members doing what they can to prepare anyone who will hear to be ready for the Lord’s return to the earth—or is some cases being ready to face Him when they return to His presence after this life. Whether we die or get twinkled it doesn’t matter since we will all be resurrected and we will all be brought back to God’s presence once again. What does matter is whether or not we are prepared for it.

Being Prepared VS Not Being Prepared

                  In Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 we’re told to “Let [our] bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and [to] let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly; [because] then shall [our] confidence wax strong in the presence of God.” I don’t know about you but I don’t think I’m there yet. Confident in the presence of God? That perfect, all knowing, powerful God who said that no unclean thing can enter His presence? Maybe hopeful that I’m doing my best… but confident?

Here’s the extremes that will help determine where you are at. Alma the younger put it perfectly. When he was out for three days he described to his son that his sins tormented him so much that after seeing an angel and learning that God was real and that he had offended that God he wanted to be extinct—in body and soul so that he wouldn’t be forced to face the God he had offended. He didn’t want to be where God was knowing that he had sinned against Him and His holy commandments. On the other extreme, as he cried out for Jesus to have mercy on his soul and was redeemed he saw God on His throne surrounded by concourses of singing angels and guess what? He longed to be there. Suddenly he wanted to be there. That’s the difference. I would hope that all of us long to be in God’s presence—because the alternative will be downright horrifying.

Alma taught a wicked lawyer named Zeezrom that if we harden our hearts the day will come when we’re brought to face God and then “our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.” That’s what’s called having zero confidence in the presence of the Lord. This is not the goal brothers and sisters. Not even a little. Zeezrom was so overcome by this that he almost died until Alma and Amulek found him and he was able to be healed because he had a change of heart and chose to have faith in Christ.

So what’s it going to take to make us prepare if we’re not confident? I told you, I’m hopeful so I know I’m not there yet. Maybe some of you have seen the Mormon Message with Elder Nelson about a time an airplane caught fire and started to fall to the earth. He said “I was in a small airplane and all of the sudden the engine on the wing caught fire. It exploded and burning oil was poured all over the right side of the airplane and we started to dive toward the earth. We were spinning down to our death.

Oh, this woman across the aisle, I was so sorry for her. She was just absolutely uncontrollably hysterical. And I was calm. I was totally calm, even though I knew I was going down to my death. I was ready to meet my Maker.

We didn't crash. We didn't die. The spiral dive extinguished the flame. The pilot got control and started the other engine up. We made an emergency landing out in a field. But I thought, through that experience, if you've got faith, you can handle difficulties knowing that with any true perspective that all will be well.”

                  I’ve had a moment like that woman in this story. I was little and I was up late at doing something that I shouldn’t have been doing and as I walked back to my room I remember looking outside and seeing a bloodred moon and I was hit with this question: “What if the world ended tomorrow?” and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. I made changes in my life after that night and every once in a while I have to take spiritual inventory and ask “what if the world ended tomorrow? Would I be ready to stand in the presence of God?” Thankfully these days I want to be where God is and I’m hopeful I’m doing the right things—but…

Going back to Elder Nelson in that story… He had confidence. No fear. No doubts. A scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants declares that “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”  So, with all this being said… how do we prepare? (pause) Pro tip: listen to and obey the prophets. They’re speaking to us next week Saturday and Sunday. Align with the brethren because they know what’s true and what’s false—what will prepare us and make us happy and what will waste our time and make us miserable. If you know that they speak as God’s mouthpiece than you won’t be confused by the world around you. Here are some other tips: when you pray make sure you’re not just phoning it in—you are talking to someone real who loves you and wants to bless you and wants you to be grateful for the blessings you have in your life so He can bless you even more so that one day you’ll come home. Read the scriptures to learn of Christ who is the light, the truth and the way for us to return to God clean and pure. Repent and apply the atonement in your life everyday and rely wholly on the merits of Him who is mighty to save. Forgive others that you may be forgiven your trespasses. Cling to every good thing and touch not the unclean thing. Serve others and be charitable with whatever you can offer whether that be your time, talents, or your resources. Preach the gospel and bear your testimony so that it can be recorded by angels in Heaven. And finally go to the temple and become saviors on mount Zion by redeeming the dead. And above all don’t quit. Endure to the end and aspire higher—“Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God.” We can switch out assurance with confidence here and it means the same thing. That’s our goal.

Temporal Preparation

                  Now we finally get to temporal preparation. I didn’t want to spend too much time of this because the prophets and other church leaders have pleaded over and over again for us to prepare for the worst. Build up your food storage. Get out of debt. Save money for a rainy day. Be prepared for natural disasters so that you can be someone who helps other rather than needing help yourself. Do your best to take care of your body and be healthy and active. It doesn’t say anywhere in the scriptures that we need to be fit and rip but we do need to eat right, sleep right, and avoid harmful substances and seek balance in the good things we do eat. Seek knowledge and read from the best books. Now I know I may have mentioned earlier that the food you have stored somewhere will not help you when you are judged but your obedience to the prophets in getting that food certainly will. Even the most fit of bodies are still subject to cancer, broken bones, age, and sicknesses but by striving to live the word of wisdom you’ll be blessed spiritually. God never asks us to do something temporal so that we can just be blessed temporally. God is eternal and His promises and blessings are eternal so they’re spiritual. We hear stories of people living a temporal law like tithing that ends in them being blessed in a specific way where they have more money than before. But God didn’t promise that each time we pay our tithing we’ll end up with more money than before. He promised to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Sometimes we’re blessed temporally for temporal commandments but we are always blessed spiritually. It even goes the other way around. Sometimes we’re blessed temporally for spiritual commandments but we are always blessed spiritually.