Are You Walking in Circles?

I was so excited that I finally started a blog, but then I had no idea what to write. I mean I have never blogged as a missionary before. Everyday I try to think of something good to blog about. It was easy before  I was a missionary, I just talked about what was going on in my life and ranted about random things. As a missionary my purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receiving the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. I have been trying hard to think of something that I could share that could fulfil this purpose, and I think I found a good place to start while I was reading over the First Presidency Message in the June 2013 Ensign entitled, "Walking in Circles."

There are many people who are lost and don't know where to go, they find themselves walking in circles even though they do not even realize it. How can we avoid this? I believe it is by following and understand the principles and doctrines taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this article President Dieter F. Utchtdorf shares the following study:

Have you ever heard the old saying that people who get lost tend to walk in circles?

Jan L. Souman, a German psychologist, wanted to determine scientifically if this was true. He took participants of an experiment to a large forest area and to the Sahara desert and used a global positioning system to track where they went. They had no compass or any other device. Instructions to them were simple: walk in a straight line in the direction indicated.

Dr. Souman later described what happened. “[Some] of them walked on a cloudy day, with the sun hidden behind the clouds [and with no reference points in view]. … [They] all walked in circles, with [several] of them repeatedly crossing their own path without noticing it.” Other participants walked while the sun was shining, with faraway reference points in view. “These … followed an almost perfectly straight course.”

 

This study has been repeated by others with different methodologies. All returned similar results.

Without visible landmarks, human beings tend to walk in circles.

 

What are these visible landmarks that we can use to walk on a straight course, a course that leads us back to our Heavenly Father? Through the Plan of Salvation I know that we all lived with our Heavenly Father before this life, and that if we live righteously we can have the eternal reward of living with our Heavenly Father again after this life. President Utchtdorft says, "Without spiritual landmarks, mankind wanders as well. Without the word of God, we walk in circles."

 

Walking in circles leads us no where fast. We want to avoid this at all costs. It is all to easy to loose sight in the big picture and wonder. But we are promised that if we keep the  commandments and endure to the end we will have eternal life, which is to live with our Heavenly Father again. The holy scriptures are the most valuable aids we are given in this life. "The scriptures are the word of God. They are God’s landmarks that show the way we should travel in order to draw closer to our Savior and reach worthy goals."

 

If we can only but recognize all of the help our Father has given us in this life, to ensure that we can have happiness in the life to come. I have eternally grateful for the plain and precious truths that are found in the gospel. May we never take these truths for granted. This is why sharing the gospel is so important for the Lord's work and why I am a missionary.I want to help those who are currently lost in endless circles find their way to the straight and narrow.

 

President Utchtdorft adds:

 

It’s not enough to go solely by our instincts.

It’s not enough to have the best of intentions.

It won’t do to rely only on our natural senses.

 

We can try going by our own instincts, intentions, and relying on our natural senses. But I testify life is so much easier when we rely on the aid and comfort our a Savior, Lord, and Redeemer Jesus Christ to help lead us back to our Heavenly Father.

 

Hermana Peterson

 

President Utchtdorft's full article can be found at the following link: http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/06/walking-in-circles

Just found this, thought I'd add it. Perfect!

 

An Example of the Believers

"Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

 

 

My names is Ashley Peterson, I am a college graduate, I am a USU Aggie, I am a world traveller, I am Mormon, I am a missionary, but most importantly I am an example of the believers. I am not perfect by any means but I strive to be an example in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, and purity. Whether we like it or not people are watching, people are always watching. They see how we act and behave and make judgements based on this. Since being a missionary I have realized this even more. Everything I do and say is connected to the fact that I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

 

Mexico City Temple

I am serving a Spanish Speaking mission currently in the Illinois Chicago mission, which has recently become an online proselyting mission. As a missionary we are now able to use Facebook and other Internet services such as blogs to move the work forward, hence I have starting this blog in hopes to share my beliefs with others.

 

CHICAGO!!

 

I truly feel one of the best ways we can share the gospel with others is through our examples. Like I said people are always watching. They pay attention to what we do and say, and most of the time connect that to what religion we associate with. I encourage all of us to be examples of the believers, and help others see that the Church of Jesus Christ of Lattery Day Saints is not just a Sunday church, but a EVERYDAY church. I love being a missionary and helping others see all the blessings that are possible to living the principles in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Hermana Ashley Peterson