Taking out the Rumination

                 

Taking out the Rumination.

                If you look for it...it's everywhere.  You'll find it littered in almost every conversation, in all different scenarios. Whether it be a walk through the mall or in your own home...most times... out of our own tongues. It's like clouds in the air, it's their all the time but most of the time we don't even notice them. What am I alluding to?

                 Rumination. (I get my vocabulary point for the day!) Rumination in simple terms is either conversating about or mentally dwelling on our problems. Ahh But it doesn't stop their...not only is rumination dwelling on your problems either socially or mentally but it's dwelling WITHOUT moving into problem solving. Rumination is a cancer of a happy soul and life. It's such a counter productive way of thinking but we do it pretty much all of the time.

                How many times a day do we think about our problems? For each time you think about your problems do you also tie a solution with that thought? (If you're sometimes like me, you dont) Step back and think about that...how crazy is that?! Imagine your cable going out on your T.V. and just sitting for days..weeks...months... and just thinking about how much you hate not having cable, how horrible the situation is, how sad you are because you don't have cable....yet...you never call the cable company? That seems like pure insanity to most of us...however we do it often in our personal lives. We immediately stew and visually reproduce our problems over and over again in our mind until we feel like dirt, but we take our time in moving into the realm of thought such as "Well, what should I do to fix this?"

                Their's an excellent example of this in the Book of Mormon: 

18 And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay food, behold, I did break my bow, which was made of fine ^asteel; and after I did break my bow, behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did obtain no food.

 19 And it came to pass that we did return without food to our families, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food.

 20 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did ^amurmur against the Lord.

I love how Nephi responds to all of this:

23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did ^amake out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my ^bfather: Whither shall I go to obtain food?

              So..the whole family is breaking down due to the bow and arrow being broken, even Lehi, the prophet, begins to murmur against God. Here in the woods...across the ocean...thousands of years ago...what do we find lurking in this Book of Mormon story...Rumination. Everyone is sitting around thinking about how bad their circumstances are, without moving into problem solving. And what does Nephi do?...He goes and just makes another bow out of wood. problem solved. Nephi was a problem solver, he never delved into the land of self pity or made a small journey to despair, he simply solved problems.

             The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about solving problems. About looking our problems square in the eye, humbling ourselves, and with the help of the Lord overcoming our problems. As we go about moving into problem solving in Christ's way, he will make us into the happiest person we ever conjure up in our imagination. Joseph Smiths said the whole object of our existence is to be happy...so let's decide to fix those things that are stopping us from being so! If you don't like something about yourself, your environment, your life, you can fix it!...We are children of God and powerful beyond measure. I hope we can all stop complaining, fixating, dwelling, and ruminating on our problems. Let's fix them. I love the Gospel because it is the blue print of how to solve problems correctly and be happy in life! Let's determine to be more like Nephi in 2013 and Change those things that are keeping us from living the life we want to live!

              

My First Post! Boom.

Element Number 1: The Holy Ghost

           I have officially entered the blogging world. "One small step for Todd, one giant leap for blogger.com"...I'm pretty sure that's what Armstrong would say if he were here in Provo with me right now. haha Well, I've decided that it would be a good idea to have a platform where I can share the things, testimony, and principles that I have learned in my short sojourn here on Earth so far. So buckle up kids, and I hope this benefits anybody who reads this, I know it will benefit me. My mission president said the best way to invite the spirit was to bear testimony, that piece of advice has really stuck with me.

         A main reason I've chosen the Holy Ghost as the first topic I wanted to share about is because of the PROFOUND impact it has on my life. When I first experienced feeling the spirit in my life, it totally changed my personal views, and how I went about my life. From the first day I experienced God answering my prayers to this very day it has effected almost essentially all of my decisions. That really is the power of the Holy Ghost, the power to change the human heart.

         The first time I recognized and experienced the Holy Spirit in my life was in the MTC in South Africa. Previous to my mission I had lived a fairly good life but definitely not one in line with somebody who truly has been converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I entered my mission, without a testimony, however I was willing to work. I remember that I was for once in my life dedicating myself to God and service, and I prayed to Him that I might know if what I was doing was true. I promised I would work hard if God told me it was true. He did, I remember one of the following days being in class and experiencing the feeling of the Holy Ghost for the first time. What a GREAT feeling, I never wanted to be without the feeling of the Spirit from then on. My conscience was awakened and I felt bad for everything I had ever done that I hadn't even though about before...haha because in my life I knew now God was there, and the things I had done in my life were wrong. For me that was so huge for me in my life, just to know that God was there. I KNEW GOD LIVED. I knew he existed. It changed me forever.

          Since then I have felt the Holy Ghost many times after in different situations and for different reasons. I hope one day I can become an expert at having Him with me and knowing what he would have me do. I just wanted to share one more thing about the Holy Ghost I have learned. I believe righteous actions invite the Holy Ghost. Someone might be thinking "That's not very profound"...thats because it isn't. haha The reason I share that, is because I love feeling the Holy Ghost but often feel like it can only come in special occasions or when I'm completely pure. However, I believe the Holy Ghost is just waiting for to confirm our righteous actions, if only we would DO them. Too often our priorities are messed up, whether it being wasting away in front of the T.V. or other time wasters. If we make righteousness a priority in our life, the Holy Ghost will make a priority of being with us. I fail so many times at thinking about doing good things, but not doing them. Often I let my current feelings control me, but I've learned if we put away our feelings, and just exercise our agency the blessings of the spirit will reward us for going against what our natural man would have us do. 

         Well, Hopefully I'll be on here regularly to share the things that I know and learn. I hope we can all share our testimonies with everyone. In fact I challenge anybody who reads this to bear their testimony of the Gospel in some form throughout the coming week. Jesus Christ Lives.

Love...Todd

P.S. Are their anythings that have helped you invite the Holy Ghost in your life? I would love to hear!