29 Dec 10 - 3 Jan 11

2:01 PM

I guess it's that time again where I say things and stuff.

Lately I've been on this sort of spiritual high. I've been told all my life that the Spirit is a "still small voice" that you have to really listen to in order to hear it. For the past I don't know how long, I've found out that that's different for me. To me, in order to hear the Spirit it's like tuning into the right radio station. Some people never tune to it because they'd rather listen to something else. Maybe their own selfishness. Maybe their pride. Maybe they'd rather listen to the lies others keep telling them. Sometimes someone would rather listen to the lies they tell themselves. We've all tuned into those stations. Lyrics that spit out words that sound like "I'm doing what's right even when I know I'm wrong." Sometimes we'll find a good talk station on a debate about how we'd rather do what's easy than do what's right. Every now and then, we'll eventually get bored and tune into the Spirit but the volume will still be low enough that other things will block out the sound. Some words might catch our ears and help us feel good about ourselves for a moment, but eventually it'll fade. Me though, I've cranked up the volume.

It's a funny thing following the Spirit. Sometimes (most times) I'm the only one who can feel it. Or maybe someone else will say that they're feeling the Spirit but I'm getting the chills. Occasionally the Spirit will move me to do or say something that others don't agree with. It hurts to hear what I have to say. In that I quote 1 Nephi 16: 2 "And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center." Still it seems like I stand virtually alone in knowing that I do what's right. It's because repentance is a hard thing to understand, especially that it's hard to do and it hurts.

How would you like to be told that you're wrong all the time? That you've screwed up and messed up? That you need to change your ways and align yourself with God or else be consumed in the world? I've practically been told that my entire life. I never seemed to do anything right and when I did do what's right others told me that it was wrong. Well, let's turn to Moroni 7 on this matter.

"12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him."

There are a lot of you out there who know me, who have been with me for years and have stayed by my side all that time. I ask you, why? Why would anyone stay by someone who did the wrong things. Sure I have my faults, but I'm as good natured as they come. I don't like lying. I don't like hurting people. I do the right thing even if it's hard because I know that that's what God would want me to do. I'm bold with others because they need to hear the truth in order to change and come unto God. If I don't then I would be ashamed. But I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If I am good, I cannot do the devil's work in destroying others. If I am evil, I cannot build up the kingdom of God.

So which side am I?

I decided a long time ago what my number one priority is: To live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever. Everything else falls into place. One thing I've noticed though is that the closer you get to God, the bigger the target is on your back. Satan hates you and others are jealous because you're doing what they refuse to do which is what's right. Cause sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. It's a lot easier to do what's easy. It's easier to tear down instead of uplift. It's easier to take offense instead of humble yourself. It's easier to not listen than to hear and do.

So where do you fall? Where do we all fall? What piece are we playing in our lives? Are we pawns? Or are we Kings and Queens? The Spirit knows us. The Spirit is always there for us, trying to help us achieve our potential. Are we going to crank up the volume and listen, or are we going to change the station?

This gospel is true. God loves us. I know both these things and I'm trying to help others know them as well. If we know these things, then we will do everything that God asks of us. If we don't know or only just believe, then what's the point? I will not fall away. I will fight. I will be the hero I was meant to be. I tried being someone else but that style didn't suit me very much. I heard the call and I answered.

I am a servant of Jesus Christ.

I love you all.
Elder Garcia