Choice is powerful. Remember how I mentioned agency last time? You can CHOOSE your circumstances. So what do you wish you could be? What do you wish you could do better? Have you prayed yet today?  Have you read your scriptures yet today? If you haven't, now is the perfect opportunity. Log off of Sister Franson's blog and have a spiritual moment. Change something. You'll see it change your life. 

Have an action-packed day!

Sister Franson

CHOICES!!

I found this quote today and I love it! I wish I knew who it was by. Our life is designed around choices, and we have our AGENCY, or ability to choose, whatever we would like! Many times though, we have the battle of choosing between two good things! It can be so hard! Do I want to have an apple or a banana? Do I want to help someone in need or spend time with my family? What do I do??? I find myself asking that all the time. Sometimes, I just want to lay all of my life and all of my choices in front of the table and have someone else tell me what to do!

And there is someone.

Granted, Heavenly Father isn't about to come down and tell you what you need to do, but we have help! And that help is the Holy Ghost, and ANYONE can have it! Isn't that great?!?!

"For behold, again I say unto you, that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:5).

The Holy Ghost is there to guide us, and it's important for us that when we call upon that gift that we take action. In order to make a choice, you have to.... choose, right? So, make the choice! The Holy Ghost will tell you if it's the path you should follow. He will testify of truth.

Have an action-packed day!

-Sister Franson

It's been a little chilly outside lately, and when we're walking as missionaries it's great when someone lets us inside and we can stay warm. However, nothing can compare to the warmth that sharing the gospel brings, and nothing can open more doors or blessings than Heavenly Father. 

Missionary Work

Linda Campbell Staheli

"Yesterday I was cold,

not tall enough to reach

the sun.

Taller ones than I

wrapped blankets around me,

Showed me how to plug

in the electric heater,

Gave me a candle

with a glowing flame,

And sold me solar heat

door to door.

Today I am surrounded,

warm enough to be content.

Tomorrow doors

will open,

Allowing warmth to scatter

to colder ones than I."

Share your testimony with a friend today. Lead them to a door that will forever flow out blessings. 

Have an action-packed day!

-Sister Franson

Beating Stick

Something that President Uchtdorf said in a talk a few months ago has been in my mind lately.

"I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.

Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.

And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us tocreate expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result,we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less thanwhat someone else does.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

It’s wonderful that you have strengths.

And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses."

Sometimes being a missionary is stressful. Sometimes being a human being is stressful. Sadly, often times it is easy to get caught up in the net that President Uchtdorf talked about- a mess when we compare our weaknesses to someone else's strengths. 

A dear friend of mine brought to my attention that I sometimes carry around a personal "beating stick," and when I do something wrong, I whack myself with this beating stick time and time again, until sometimes I don't even remember what I'm beating myself for. Then I get frustrated that I used the beating stick and beat myself up over that. This constant pattern has, in a very sad way, made this beating stick quite comfortable in my hands. 

But that is what the Savior is for. It's hard to let go, but we each have vices that we hold on to. Sometimes rationalizing that they are actually good for us, or maybe not that bad, or we say that we are so far into the habit that we joke about it and say it is too late to change or stop. This is not true. Do not let Satan convince you of this. There is always a way through Jesus Christ. There could be no better way to continue to celebrate His life than to honor what He did for us and let the atonement take place in your hearts. So, as the new year begins, let it be a fresh start to repent, in other words change your actions and your choices to be congruent with the Savior's teachings. Let go of whatever vice or beating stick you have, and hold to the Iron Rod that will lead you to him and will never cause you harm. 

"But if ye turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in Him, and serve Him with all diligence of mind, if ye will do this, He will, according to His own will and  pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." -Mosiah 7:33

Have an action-packed day!

-Sister Franson