A note on my stance

I want you to know that this scares me, more than most things that I have ever done. My heart is pounding as I write these words. I fear that I could hurt others feelings, damage relationships, and even lose friendships because of my own opinion. But I have a very strong feeling that what I believe and know to be true, needs to be said. I pray that the spirit will direct me in the words I am going to share with you.

Please know that this is my testimony. If it wasn't my testimony it would be ok for you to argue. You can disagree, but I ask that you please be respectful of my own testimony. It is not my intent to argue or go into political issues. I love and respect everyone and this is just so I can make my stance clear, not to bash on others opinions. We are all very different, and are entitled to our own choices and opinions, so I ask you to respect mine and respect others as well.

You probably knew what was coming. Yes. I am going to talk about same-sex attraction and gay marriage.

My stance on the issue is exactly the same as what my church believes. This is because like I have said so many times before I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on this earth today. I sustain fully, without question, President Monson as prophet, seer, and revelator of our church, and his counselors, as well as the quorum of the twelve apostles as leaders of our church.

I know that our Heavenly Father speaks through our prophet President Thomas S. Monson. What our prophet says, is exactly what Heavenly Father wants us to know.

D&C 1:38 says- 
 38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my^aword shall not pass away, but shall all be ^bfulfilled, whether by mine own ^cvoice or by the ^dvoice of my ^eservants, it is the ^fsame.

Through that I take everything that our prophet says to heart. I believe every word that comes out of his mouth to counsel us is from our Father in Heaven. The counsel he gives us is the counsel that Heavenly Father is giving us. That should not be taken lightly. 

The LDS church has come out with a website called- mormonsandgays.org 
This website explains everything and more about how our church stands on the topic of same sex attraction. I believe and agree with everything that is put on this website.

In the header of the home page it says- 
"The experience of same-sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is. Even though individuals do not choose to have such attractions, they do choose how to respond to them. With love and understanding, the Church reaches out to all God’s children, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters."

That last sentence brings tears to my eyes, "including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters". OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 
It makes my heart ache when I see fellow members of our church say unkind things to our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. In the website our church leaders clearly state that we love them just as much as any other person. 

It also states that our church does believe that the feelings of same sex attraction are real. "The attraction itself is NOT a sin" but just like any other of the feelings we have, we should not act on it. Just like if someone had the desire to smoke, it is not a "sin" until it is acted upon. 

Now to get down to the real issue that has been making me squirm in my seat every time I log onto facebook. 

Here is another statement from the website- 
"The Church’s approach to this issue stands apart from society in many ways. And that’s alright. Reasonable people can and do differ. From a public relations perspective it would be easier for the Church to simply accept homosexual behavior. That we cannot
do, for God’s law is not ours to change. There is no change in the Church’s position of what is morally right. But what is changing — and what needs to change — is to help Church members respond sensitively and thoughtfully when they encounter same-sex attraction in their own families, among other Church members, or elsewhere."

From A Proclamation to the Family written by our brethren- 
"THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."

Anyone who has studied the plan of salvation or have been through the temple know that marriage IS ordained of god, and the ONLY way for it to work is between a man and a women. That's how the plan has always been, and that is how it will always stay. 

Our church is NOT trying to force our views on anyone else. People have asked us what our view is on the topic, and we have come out in a mature respectful manner and said that what we believe, is what we have always believed. 

This is my only issue-
I have seen countess friends and family post things that are either for, or against the topic of gay rights or marriage. We need to love one another and accept, like I've already said, that we are all different and that we can, and will, have different opinions. Please be sensitive to others and I ask if you are a member of the LDS church that you be especially careful about what you say to others who do not have the same views. You are the face, and sometimes can be the voice of our church to your non-member friends. I ask that you pray and ask your Father in Heaven if you are unsure about what you should believe. He will NEVER steer you wrong. 

I know that my friends and family who ARE members of the church may not have the same views as our prophets or myself. But I want you to know that I still love you and respect your opinion. If you need help finding what our prophets have said, I encourage you to look at the countless straightforward things the church has put out. I warn you, only things that the church has approved of (lds.org, church magazines like the Ensign, New Era, LDSLiving or mormonsandgays.org like I have said).

I love you all and I hope you know that this is truly out of love and respect to everyone and that I felt like I needed to take a clear stance on the subject. :) 

Church emails are inspired!

Real quick- another story about prayer! 
Lately I have been feeling like my prayers aren't sincere enough. I feel like it's the same thing over and over again. But I just didn't know what else to pray for or about. So one night, I prayer to my Heavenly Father to help me make my prayers more sincere.
The answer came the next day. 
I get emails from the church every day with some kind of quote of scripture. 
The day after I had said that prayer I got the email that said this- 

"In reality, there aren’t many things in a day that are totally without significance. Even the mundane and repetitious can be tiny but significant building blocks that in time establish the discipline and character and order needed to realize our plans and dreams. Therefore, as you ask in prayer for your daily bread, consider thoughtfully your needs—both what you may lack and what you must protect against. As you retire to bed, think about the successes and failures of the day and what will make the next day a little better. And thank your Heavenly Father for the manna He has placed along your path that sustained you through the day."

Enough said I think ;) 

My favorite quotes :)

Here are some of my very favorite quotes! Sorry, when I write them down I don't really write who says them so I will try and remember. But if some of them kind of don't make sense that's because I'm a weirdo and all these quotes are for an idea I have for my future house. Some of them need pictures to make sense. ;D But, when I get old and this happens I'll take some pictures so you can see my amazing vision :)

PS I will be adding more to this :)

The past does hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.

Having someone help you doesn't  mean that you failed, it just means that you're not alone.

It is not our abilities that show who we really are, it's our choices. 

If you have a reason to live, you dont have a reason to quit 

Sheep go away not because they are wicked, but because they are hungry. 

You see what you look for. 

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. 

If happiness is the most attractive accessory a young women can have, then a smile would have to be the most charming make-up.

You are never lost when you can see the temple. 

Have faith in what you know. But have humility in what you don't.  

Don't lose faith in what you know because of what you don't know. 

You try, you sit. This is about doing. 

When life gets tough the tough find the humor :) 

If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.

-Joseph Smith 

You can't live your life worrying that the world is staring at you. When you let peoples opinions make you self-conscious you give away your power... The key to feeling confident is to always listen to your inner self- the real you.

 D&C 60:13

D&C 122:6

"Bring them to me" 

"I loved the challenge to follow in his every footstep" 

-Elaine S. Dalton 

Be loyal to the royal within you.

It's ok to be different, different just has a different mission. 

Alma 29:1-10 

The joy you receive later will far exceed the pain you feel now. 

Be yourself... Everyone else is taken. 

On your knees is where you stand the tallest. 

He answers our prayers in ways that don't fit into our plan, but that fit into his. 

We may not know when, but the Lord keeps his promises. 

Life's too short to not do what you love.

If you are striving to do right, the Lord will let you know if you are starting to do something wrong. 

Sometimes we have to travel over rough waters in order to appreciate some of the fundamental blessings we have.  

A ship on a harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are made for. 

No matter what the Lord requires of you, if you keep trying you will be able to fulfill the mission he has in store for you. 

Be happy, and tell your face about it. 

What manner of men ought ye to be? 

Even as I am. 

"Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere." 

-G.K. Chesterton 

It's easier to keep the commandments 100% of the time than 98% of the time. 

-President Monson 

You exercise faith by causing, or by making your mind, accept or believe as truth that which you cannot, by reason alone, prove for certainty. 

Boyd K. Packer 

There's no room for sorrow in the great plan of happiness. :) 

When necessary, the Lord will carry you over obstacles. 

Peach the gospel. And if necessary, use words. 

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become. 

After the sunset of mortality we rise to see the Son again. 

                                RK Oscarson

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 

                                 3 John 1:4

"love gives you strength to do what's right. Even when it's hard. 

There is no hurt so great that love cannot heal it 

Righteousness comes from planned consistency. 

Life is not measured by the number or breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. 

"Even when we fail, we can find peace in remembering that we tried our best"

"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity"

If you think you can or think you can't, You're probably right. 

Most people would rather see a sernum then hear one. 

Our eternal happiness will be in proportion to the way that we devote ourselves to helping others. 

-George Albert Smith 

It's not about who you've been with. It's about who you end up with. 

Sometimes the heart doesn't know what it wants until it finds what it wants. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is is not an obligation, it is a pathway marked by our loving heavenly father. 

-president Uchtdorf 

Living with differences is what the gospel if Jesus Christ teaches us we must do. 

-Dallin H. Oaks 

Take honor from me and my life is done. (shakespeare)

If your not willing to sacrifice everything, you've already lost. 

Sometimes, all you need is 20 seconds of  insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it. 

We're human. Making mistakes is part of what we do. It's how we go about fixing them is what really matters. 

We pray in our time, and God answers in his. 

Sometimes the Lord may not deliver us from our trials, but make it possible for us to endure them. 

You can't miss out on something great just because it might also be hard. 

Discipleship isn't a spectator sport. 

We grow in two ways- removing negative weeds and cultivating positive flowers. 

The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache. 

-Marjorie Pay Hinckley 

Give me a young man... 

- President Benson 

We combat our fears by increasing our faith. 

-Russel M. Neilson 

Honor. There is no finish line. 

Anything worth having is hard work. 

The less you reveal, the more people can wonder. ;) 

We are not obedient because we are blind. We are obedient because we can see. 

-President packer. 

Sometimes the biggest shadows in life are caused by us standing in our own sunshine. 

Sometimes tests aren't about passing or failing.

If you haven't failed, you haven't lived. 

We must not only say our prayers, we must live them. 

Priesthood Clears the path and protects the path. 

Destiny is matter of chance, its a matter of choose 

Dont forget to Share your testimony. You never know when someone might need to borrow it. ;) love Jackie ;) 

God will do anything to bring us back

to him. Even if it might be painful. 

I dont know everything, but He does, And that's enough for me. 

No one knows how much confidence you have so take all you want! 

It's not what you do, it's what you learn from what you've done. 

You can do anything. But you can't do everything. 

If you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot, and hang on! 

You don't really need someone to complete you... You only need someone to accept you completely :) 

"Our decisions do determine our destiny"

Thomas S Monson

Endure= To withstand with courage. 

Life by the yard is hard, by the inch it's a cinch. 

-Thomas S. Monson

Charity covereth a multitude of sins.

Peter 4:8

Zachs fave

Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others. 

-Gordon B. Hinckley 

Having faith in God means having faith in His timing. 

-Neal A. Maxwell 

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start and make a new ending. 

Faith- when prayers go up, blessings come down. 

Cherish your life 

Follow your heart 

Embrace your dreams 

Prayer changes things. 

We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails. 

Life is a journey, not a destination. 

Love and laughter make happily ever after. 

"We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future."

Elder holland

 

Strength isn't something you have- it's something God helps you find. 

Sometimes God bring us low, only to lift us higher. 

Sometimes you know things with your heart that you don't know with your head. 

"The Lord’s way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross. It is to come together, roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges."

"Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities. You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith."

"We may not avoid every storm of life, but following the counsel of living prophets will help us ride out the storm."

Live on such a way that if someone were to talk bad about you, no one would believe it. 

Sometimes the answers to our prayers don't come while we are on our knees, but while we are on our feet. 

Zion isnt where, it's how. 

True strength often rises at our weakest point. 

Courage Awakens

If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. 

The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up. And He always keeps His word. 

"The search for the best things inevitably leads to the foundational principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ—the simple and beautiful truths revealed to us by a caring, eternal, and all-knowing Father in Heaven. These core doctrines and principles, though simple enough for a child to understand, provide the answers to the most complex questions of life."

"Things that are fair in this life, will be made fair in the next through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

"We need to prepare ourselves spiritually so we can be ready to help others along the way."

Christ hugging-my family 

"We can feel of their love and compassion through our sorrow."

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; (New Testament, Revelation, Chapter 1)

"God is preparing people to receive your testimony of restored truth. He requires your faith and then your action to share fearlessly what has become so precious to you and those you love."

-President Eyring 

Giving thanks helps us realize our blessings. 

It's not a race. It's a journey. Enjoy the moment. 

"The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come. A desire to serve is a natural outcome of one’s conversion, worthiness, and preparation."

We are not mortal beings having spiritual experiences. We are spiritual being having mortal experiences. 

D&C 84:87-88

We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become when they receive testimonies of the gospel of Christ."

"If we have not made the kingdom of God first in our lives, in the end it will not matter what we did make first." 

-Bruce R. McConkie