Christmas and Snow

    Ahhh Winter time. My most favorite time of the year! Some of you would argue that Its cold or windy or snowy or cold and windy and snowy. But I beg to stand up and stand out. You might call me crazy and you might even find me complaining but I love the winter season more than anything in the world.
   Oh yes I have my reasons. Well the first one would be Hunting. I love hunting, a lot. And guess what time of year it comes around, late fall to early winter. Usually ill start off with some pheasant hunting in early fall, followed by the dove hunt, then the deer hunt followed by elk and ducks and geese and wrapping up in the spring with some Turkey hunting. Yup I hunt all of this and sometimes even more, so this would be my reasoning behind my love for the hunting season. Oh yea Ice Fishing too.
   Reason number two would be for the Christmas presents. Oh come on whats better than the over commercialization of Jesus Christ's birth by getting tonnes of free stuff. Hey the wise men did give gifts to Jesus himself. Yea gold frankincense and myrrh. Yes I'm kidding. Of course i don't believe in the sick disportrayal, mockery and idolship that is made during Christmas time by all those who loose the true spirit of Christmas. Yea I'm kidding again, I'm not that mad about it but really, what if Christ himself where here seeing this all going on what would he say? I love getting presents and I love giving presents too. Makes me happy, and I love free stuff ha ha. But we should never loose the true meaning of this season. To celebrate the Son of the Living God coming down to this earth to preform his mission. The start of his life in bringing every soul unto his Father. I love Christmas time and i love the songs, the decorations and the gifts but let us never loose the true meaning of this day.
    And to put the polish on this baby I would speak about the snow. I love Snow! Yea i said it, not only like it, I love it! I like coming in on a cold day and drinking come nice hot co-co. I love getting stuck in the mountains and cuddling to get warm. I love shoveling sidewalks to show others you care. I love when it blows in my face, when I fall down and am walking through the house in socks and step on some melted snow (water bomb).  I love it all. And the beauty that comes from the snow is unparalleled but anything. Nothing compares to a majestic mountain peak covered in snow or a herd of elk running in the high mountain powder. And to me it also stands as a witness. About how much weight and volume of snow we really get. In my valley in central Utah about 95% of the moisture and water used for growing crops and watering livestock come from the huge amount of snow high up in the mountains. How amazing is the power of God to make all of this happen! Millions and millions of pounds of snow is carried up by the wind and delivered in the mountains and valleys and stored well into the summer for a better use at later time. Wow God is Awesome!
    I love this time of year and all the many countless things that can come from it. It is my favorite part of year and I hope it is yours too, well I at least hope you see why I love it. Well remember Christ, dress warm and drive safe! Happy Holidays!

Love Yall
Elder Savage

Its My Philosophy

      

       Well as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I often find my words being cut short and my mind left un-spoken. Which most of you who know me probably think that's a good thing. ha ha. Well lets let the matter be clear to everyone that can read these words or hear my voice, I am going to tell you straight up, and straight down who I am and what I believe.

      First and foremost of all I know that there is a God. I know that He is our loving Heavenly Father, and stating such I also know that He created You and I. And He also created everyone and everything we know, and everything we cannot comprehend. He is the master painter of the universe, the ultimate engineer in all living things and the supreme Governor of this world, Galaxy and universe. I know that He is loving and caring beyond our wildest imaginations and because He is, He knows us, even down to the number of hairs on our heads. He wants our eternal salvation and our everlasting happiness and joy, and to bring this to pass, is His work and His glory.

    Secondly I bear my testimony on the truthfulness of the everlasting gospel. I know that the Prophet of the world today is Tohmas S. Monson. He is the only one on this earth today with the right privilege, and commission to exercise every priesthood key and every necessary ordinance pertaining to the salvation of man. I know that he, and others before him such as Gordon B. Hinkley and all those through Joseph Smith where directly called of God to be his servants. Speaking of said Joseph Smith, I know that our Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to him on a early spring morning in 1820. At that time he was commissioned to to be a prophet of God and to restore the True Church of Jesus Christ. In this vast and bewildering calling he was also told to retrieve and ancient record and to translate the words by the power of God and to compile a book. We know of this book as The Book of Mormon. It is real, physical evidence that we can read with our eyes and hold in our hands. But the real evidence or should I say the ultimate convincing power behind the is that the Book of Mormon testifies of its own truthfulness, and this comes directly from God. As we read these words the Spirit of God will testify to our hearts as well as to our minds to the truthfulness of the message it contains. I have receives this answer, and I know that it is true.

       Thirdly I bear my testimony about my beliefs pertaining to the family.  I know that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. It is through our families that we can obtain happiness in this life. In our families we can learn and grow strong in the teachings of Jesus Christ. In our families we can always have peace and comfort in times of trial and tribulation. In our families we can grow strong and defend the firery darts of the adversary. A husband and wife have a very sacred calling as having the opportunity to be a mother and a father. To have children is the greatest blessing that anyone could ever have and it is all that I look forward to in my life is someday to be a worthy husband and father. I know that there is no greater calling and there is no greater joy.  My greatest hope and ambition in all my life is someday to have an eternal family. To be married and sealed in the temple of God and to have my children sealed up unto me so that through out all time and all eternities I will have my wife, and I will have my children. I guarantee it and I Know that it is true.

       In closing I would also bear my testimony of the divine calling of Jesus Christ. I know that he is the Son of God and that He, by exercising His agency and his power, had the love and compassion for the welfare of our souls to suffer all sin and all sorrows and hardships and ultimately to give his life in place for ours. I know that Jesus Christ did really did do this, and thus making Him the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. I testify that it is through, and only through Jesus Christ the we can be with our Father in Heaven forever. I love my savior, I love my family and I love this church. This is what I believe in. This is what makes me, me. If you ever want to know what else I believe in or if you have any questions about the church or about life, ill be your Huckleberry. I am Jacob Savage, and I know all these things are true. In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love Yall

Elder Savage

9/11 Heros Remembered

         Its been 10 years since the tragedy of 9/11. On that day over 2,819 people lost their lives.

      Since that day we have been fighting terrorism in the middle east. As you know, or should know we have been fighting and putting and end to Al-Qaeda and other major terrorist groups. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the president or ruler of Iraq during the time of the terrorist attacks at new york. He has killed hundreds of thousands of people and has supported many terrorist groups. He was hung in the streets of north west Baghdad. Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the one that first formed Al-Qaeda and planned and executed the 9/11 attacks, we hunted him down for 10 years and finally found him and killed him.

      If it wasn't for our soldiers volunteering to go and defend our freedoms how many freedoms would we have today?

    Some one one said "Only two people have ever offered to die for you . . . Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your Soul, the other for your Freedom!"

     I take my hat off and salute all of our American soldiers and the New York Fire Department. I'm thankful to all those who have ever given service to this great country. I will proudly stand up for every American that has ever given service to this great country. Dont disregard the sacrifice these men have made, it goes a lot deeper than polotics and a state of mind. Those men defending my freedoms means that  I can go to bed every night not worrying about someone knocking down my door and taking all my food and possession's. I don't have to lay awake wondering if i am going to be able to walk to the store without being stabbed and mugged. I can honestly lay my head at night and not have a worry in the world.

  

     I thank my American Soldiers and my American veterans for that. And because I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I know what my purpose in life is. I know where I came from and where I'm gong. And I know why I am here.  How could i ever receive such a blessing as this if The United States of America wasn't founded on the institute of the freedom of religion!

   I am a patriot, and I love my country. I'm thankful for all of my blessings being a Member of the LDS church and being a citizen of the greatest country that has ever been on the earth.

LoveYall

Elder Savage

He Gave His Life In Service

 

       And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. - John The Revalator

      Well i was recently informed that one of my closest friends back home recently died. His name was Riley. Yes he was a white horse, a gelding that stood about fifteen hands and had the strength to move mountains. He had a way about him that you really don't find among other horses. When he was around children he would never make a quick step or kick at flies. Kids would be walking under him or playing with his head and his feet would be as solid to the ground as posts. When a child was riding he would never throw his head or brush against trees. Yet when you needed to make time on the elk hunt you could count on him to cross the rockiest, steepest terrain as smooth and as fast as any horse could. Shoot i can remember him going up the rocky jagged bucket trail with my cousin on him when he was 26 years old and he never missed a beat.

      All 29 years of his life he Never missed an opportunity to work his hardest or pull his own weight and that of someone Else's. Jesus Christ is also one i think of when i think of selflessness and service to others. It was his mission to come to this Earth and make it possible for us to live with our Heavenly Father. He gave every second of his life in service to the Children of God.

      Christ only once in his whole 33 years of life used his Godly Powers for himself, and that was to keep himself alive long enough to suffer all the pain and agony of our sins. He knew why he come to this world but he has enough love and compassion for our souls that he hung on the cross and bled from every pore, for us. 

      I use the example of my horse not to compare to the life of Christ, but to help others understand the  example set before us by the Lord. Be selfless, be kind, uplifting, helpful, encouraging. Have charity in our hearts, to love all men as Christ has loved us. A man once asked Jesus what the first and greatest commandment was and he replied "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

     I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that he lived his life for us, and He ended it for us. I know Jesus Christ made it possible for us to live in God's kingdom. I know that i will see my Savior in the next life and be able to shake his hand and bow down in his grace. And i know my horse will be there too!

Love Yall

Elder Savage

I Saw The Light

   
     Hank Williams is probably my very very favorite artist of all time. I remember my friends would always groan when I wanted to listen to some good ol honky tonkin music. Well I got to thinking about what maybe my favorite song  of his was and it didn't take me long to decide that it was "I Saw The Light".    
   The lyrics of it are...
I wandered so aimless life filled with sin, I wouldn't let my dear saviour in.
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night, Praise the Lord I saw the light. 
Just like a blind man I wandered along, Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight, Praise the Lord I saw the light.
I was a fool to wander and a-stray, Straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right, Praise the Lord I saw the light.
No more darkness no more night, Praise the Lord I saw the light.
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight,Praise the Lord I saw the light.
   This song has the most wonderful lyrics and uplifting message as any Ive ever heard before. He is constantly comparing the glory of Jesus to a Bright light just as prophets have through out time. In Alma Chapter 38 Verse 9 ot The Book of Mormon the Prophet Alma is teaching his son Shiblon. And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.  
     Hank and Alma are spot on with their testimonies of the savior. Hank portrays the happiness that Jesus has brought into his life really well as does Alma testifying that through Christ we can be saved in the kingdom of our father. Ill add my testimony right in there and say that I do know that Jesus Christ is the Light! He is my savior and redeemer and I love him with all of my heart. I invite everyone else to grow closer to Christ and our Heavenly Father by Praying, going to church and reading the Scriptures. I know that these will bless my life as it will yours.

Love Yall
Elder Savage

The Original Cowboy

 
  When i hear someone mention the term cowboy i don't just imagine some dude on a horse chasing cows somewhere. When i hear of a cowboy i think of a small town man that loves his family and would do anything for anyone at a moments notice. I think of a man who works hard and earns his pennies at the end of the day. I think of someone who is a good example to others and raises his children by precept and example.

    I take my hat off to those who we would call the good ol boys. The old timers who are still farming long after retirement. The ones who have raised their children to be respectful to others and God loving. Who never miss an opportunity to go to a grandkids sports game and would never turn down a hug or bedtime story. The ones that gave service to this great country by defending our freedoms over seas. But the ones who maybe i respect the most are the ones who have built their lives upon their savior Jesus Christ. I have met and shook hands with who i think are some of the greatest men who ever walked the earth. No i have not met anyone who has been in any movies on the news or important to any politics, but the ones I have met I will never forget. They are some who have given their entire lives in service to others. They have great grandchildren who love their Heavenly Father with all their hearts. These men look back on their lives and believe that they lived the best life they ever could have. They thank God everyday for the blessings that they have received from above.

   It is my goal in life to have the same attitude as these old timers have. I want to be ninety years old and look back on my life and do nothing but smile. I want that same satisfaction to know that I had faith in God my entire life. I want to feel like I'm closer to Jesus Christ than ever before. I want to be familiar with happiness like the old cowboys are.

   From the example of these old men i am trying all i can to be a better person now. I will try all I can to love everyone I come in contact with, never miss an opportunity to help someone in need. I will love my family and have them as my number one priority over everything else. I will have faith in God and pray to him everyday. I will defend Jesus Christ and hold him dear as my savior, and as my advocate with the Father. I encourage all of you to do the same.

   I testify that Jesus Christ is the only way that we can be saved in the kingdom of God. I know that i am a child of God and that He loves and cares about me and all of his children. I know that there is a life after this and this is why I will live my life here as good as i can.

Love yall

Elder Savage

Elk Hunting and Building Faith

    Hunting has always been a very favored activity of mine. From the time i was old enough to pack around a slingshot and kill tweeter birds I was addicted to hunting. Throughout the years I upgraded from a slingshot to a bb gun to a .22 and on and on. Well my prey also changed quite a bit till i was finally old enough to go on the spike elk hunt.

    Well it seems for my family and I the spike elk hunt has always been a important tradition to us. Every year we can buy the tags for the elk (no draw necessary) and go on the Booby Hole mountain behind our cabin. Which is great cause all us men can ride up on the mountain on horses packing all our gear and the little ones and moms are all back at the cabin.

     After enjoying good dutch oven cooking and premium advice from my dad, uncles and grandpa for a few years finally came the time for me to have my chance at shooting a huge world class big bull spike elk. Well I have become a seasoned deer killer and thought an elk would be no problem for my shooting skills. Yea i didn't kill a thing my first year. I didn't even see a elk! I was very discouraged, maybe next year. And next year finally comes around with much success!

    I woke up in my tent very early in the morning excited and eager to finally make my kill. My grandpa and I snuck out to a rock on the ridge that we could sit on and glass the opposite hillside. Well as the sun slowly came up we saw nothing. I mean absolutely nothing, not a deer bird or even crow was gonna show their face. Still discouraged my grandpa said we cant give up, we gotta show faith.

   We decided to go look over a ridge that looks down into Dainials canyon. Well after a short hike we peek our heads over the high up rim rocks looking far down into the creek bottom. Well what do you know there was six elk looking right back at us! Five cows and my precious spike. It took me three shots at five hundred yards and nearly a 45 degree slope to kill him, and i did! Oh boy i was so happy to get my first elk! Ill never forget the example that my grandpa showed to me by exercising faith and not quitting early.

   Well as we go about in this life we must show that we have faith in our Heavenly Father. As we are council in the scriptures , (particularly Alma 32:21) faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye ^bhope for things which are ^cnot seen, which are true. We could not see the elk in the canyon bottom, neither can we see our father in heaven. We mush show that we do believe in him even though we cant see him. How many of us have a strong testimony that Jesus Christ is our savior? It is by faith that we have this testimony. We believe in Christ. We have a hope, a driving belief that there is a life after this one. It is because of our hope in a better life, a hope that things will work out in the temporal and eternal scheme of things that we have faith. I challenge you all to show faith to God by obeying his commandments. I testify that if we pray daily, go to church, and exercise faith in Jesus Christ that the quality of our lives will be improved and our families will be blessed in ways that we never though possible. I hope that someone will read this and that they will in some way grow closer to Heavenly Father and His Son. It is by my faith that i publish this blog for everyone to see.

Love yall
Elder Savage

Hello, I'm Elder Savage.

    Whats up everyone. I'm Elder Savage. I'm from a very small town in Central Utah called Sigurd. I might be called a country boy, podunker, redneck, or maybe even a cowboy. I spent most my time back home riding horses, working, and hanging out with good friends. I drove a '98 chevy 350 half ton during high school, and now i got a '88 gmc crewcab 454, so ya im kind of a gear head too.
    I get the question a lot, "Why do you serve a mission?". Well shoot i probably ask myself that question more than anyone. Then i get humbled and remember all that God has done for me. All that I and my family have been blessed, i thought why not go on a mission, i might even be a little fun. Ha Ha. Well now being a seasoned old greenie, i can surely know why i am on my mission. The joy that comes from serving others is indescribable, words cannot form the image that would even come close to what missionaries feel everyday teaching and helping people. These last short six months have gone by in the blink of an eye, reminds me of the old proverb, "time flies when your having fun" well it truly does.
   Well im usually not a long winded talker, or as it turns out a long typing typer so ill wrap this up. My soul purpose in being here is to iinvite others to come unto Jesus Christ. I have accepted Jesus as my savior, and I do testify that Christ is the only way that we can be saved and inherit the kingdom of out Heavenly Father. I have seen our Fathers great love for us and that is what i am trying to share with the world.

Love Yall
Elder Savage