Be Happy Cause I Said So!

        So why is Hank so happy? ........ Any ideas? Hmmm I really don't know either.
        Well is there a reason for him to be happy? Yea im sure.
        Is there a reason for any of us to be happy?    Think about this one.
        Is there a reason for any of us to be happy?

      Yea I really don't ever think that hard. Ha ha
      Well I really want to convey this in the best possible way that I can. I start with a profound doctrinal truth. God is our Father. He being Gos is a supreme, endless and eternal being. He is all powerful, all knowing, and almighty! Truly he governs the Heavens and the Earth. The universe's, however many of them may be, and all of its elements are subject to his matchless power and will. Every principle, law, and governing force in this life is all to the will of God. He loves us and wants our eternal happiness. He wants us to learn and grow so that we can become like him. But he doesn't send us here to feel alone and forsaken. He has given us blessings throughout our lives. And if we are faithful to him and keep his commandments he will indeed bless our lives more than we could ever imagine!

     I always can appreciate a good flowchart ha ha. So this states of yer not happy then change something. Well what we need to change is our perspective and our look on things. Lets realize that God loves us  and he will bless us. Lets do the things that he will bless us for. Obeying his commandments, praying, loving all of his children and serving him, and there are so many more thing we can do. God is great! He wants our happiness:)

    Its my prayer that we can all learn to recognize the wonderful blessings that God gives us daily. Even if ts as simple as the breath we breathe, the food we eat, or the happiness we have in our families. So I admonish all of you to look always on the brighter side of things and be happy:)

Love Yall
Elder Savage

Press Forward Like a Cat

     If ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
     What does it mean to "Press Forward"? How do we do this, and how can we gain this "Eternal Life"?
     Well have I gotten an analogy for you. When I think of pressing forward and enduring to The End I think of it as pushing our way through. The best pusher I can think of is a Cat. Ha ha not a cat, cat. I mean a Caterpillar, and no not the worm things that magically turn into butterflies. I mean a Caterpillar Bulldozer.

    Oh yea! Yup well this is a pretty good example of a Cat Dozer. Well lookin at a machine like this you can only imagine how much pushing power it really has. Anything that gets in its way is gone! Don't park your car in this things way or you probably wont have a car anymore, same goes for a school bus or any large buildings, bridges or ... well pretty much anything. This machine can knock over any tree, rock, or anything that gets in its way.

   Brothers and Sisters we need to be like a Bulldozer! We have the Lords promise that if we stayed anchored in our faith, that nothing can come before us that we cannot handle. We need to keep our hearts steadied and solid with the teachings of the Lord, meaning the words of the Prophets and the scriptures. We need to have that huge solid shield in front of us to protect us from any "rocks" or trials and tribulations and temptations. This shield is the Holy Ghost. We need to always remain worthy to have its companionship and protection. And most of all we need to be in control of our lives. That huge dozer is all in control and check by a few levers and pedals and we also much make sure we have complete and total control in our lives.

   And most important of all we mush press forward at all times with Faith in Jesus Christ! We must never give up hope or let trial in our lives shake us. We need to stand up and arise at any situation that we Believe in Christ! We know that God lives and that He loves Us!

      Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:20)

   We have the Lords promise! We must always endure to the end! We must press on and push through!

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

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