My Missionary Tag!!

So this picture describes me to the fullest and really shows to the world what I am!! I love this picture.

SO this is my missionary tag!!  You might notice my name, “Elder Lund”. You might recall that Elder isn’t my first name (but it means someone who’s set apart to teach and spread the gospel)... That’s not the point. It only says, “LUND”, this represents years and years of what my family has worked for, and what they have made that name become. I hope that makes sense. I don’t just wear, “Garrett” on my chest, I truly represent generations of wonderful people. I love my family more than anything else (CHECK OUT MY FAMILY POST).  I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I, in anyway, was to dishonor THEIR name. Your name should mean everything to you. It represents your values and who you are as a person.  I’m humbled greatly by my call to represent such a wonderful group of people!

Next, you’ll not just notice the name of the Church I represent, but most importantly, the name of the Savior, Jesus Christ. My family, this past week, sent me a few things and one of them was a cool card. On the front it has a picture of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and it says, “My Missionary Commission”. On the backside it reads, “I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master and he has chosen me to represent him. To stand in his place, to say and do what he himself would say and do if he personally were ministering to the very people to whom he has sent me. My voice is his voice, and my acts are his acts; my words are his words and my doctrine his doctrine. My commission is to do what he wants done. To say what he wants said. To be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous latter-day work.”

Every time I read this it really makes me think of what a blessing it is to be serving a mission! My call to serve the people here in Tennessee is such a great opportunity. It gives me the chance to grow closer to my Father in Heaven by becoming more like my Savior, as well as it gives other people the experience of receiving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. There is nothing better and more fulfilling in my opinion!  

So how does this bring me joy??? Well, thinking back over the last 8 months, I have come to understand who I am. I have grown to love the people here, much as would my Savior. The joy he must have felt in proclaiming The Gospel and helping them find the purpose of life must have been incredible. (I too feel this “Joy” through teaching and loving the people like he did when he was upon this earth.)  Nothing else in my life has brought me as much satisfaction and self worth and Joy as it does when I wear, “THE TAG” and what it represents!

THE TAG!!!

So this picture describes me to the fullest and really shows to the world what I am!! I love this picture.

SO this is my missionary nametag!!  You might notice my name, “Elder Lund”. You might recall that Elder isn’t my first name (but it means someone who’s set apart to spread the gospel)... That’s not the point. It only says, “LUND”, this represents years and years of what my family has worked for, and what they have made that name become. I hope that makes sense. I don’t just wear, “Garrett” on my chest, I truly represent generations of wonderful people. I love my family more than anything else (CHECK OUT MY FAMILY POST).  I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I, in anyway, was to dishonor THEIR name. Your name should mean everything to you. It represents your values and who you are as a person.  I’m humbled greatly by my call to represent such a wonderful group of people!

Next, you’ll not just notice the name of the Church I represent, but most importantly, the name of the Savior, Jesus Christ. My family, this past week, sent me a few things and one of them was a cool card. On the front it has a picture of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and it says, “My Missionary Commission”. On the backside it reads, “I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master and he has chosen me to represent him. To stand in his place, to say and do what he himself would say and do if he personally were ministering to the very people to whom he has sent me. My voice is his voice, and my acts are his acts; my words are his words and my doctrine his doctrine. My commission is to do what he wants done. To say what he wants said. To be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous latter-day work.”

Good-bye!!!

It is always tough to say good-bye to friends,

and for that matter family!! :)

 I love the Hymn, "Each Life that Touches ours for Good".

The words read,

"Each life that touches ours for good
Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

 For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior’s name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.

I'm SO SO Thankful that I was able to serve with these amazing young men. This Hymn's words really represent the way I feel right now. I will forever remember them as being true disciples and representatives of Christ. Good-byes are always tough, but we must always remember...

"Moments last a minute, Memories last a lifetime!!"

Together...Is a Wonderful Place to be!!

Well I have to start out the beginning of this post by saying; I love my family so much. They mean everything to me, and "YES", this too is where I find the most joy!! I have had a poll going for about a week now, and it seems that I'm not the only one that thinks Family is one of the greatest sources of finding joy. The post before this one is a video that talks about Families being Forever. This is one of the greatest blessings we find in the gospel! :) YAY!! haha SO a little bit about my family.. This picture was taken over a year and a half ago! My parents, David & Laurie, are on the back row. My father is an electrical engineer and my mother is self employed, running Letters from Home Vinyl Lettering & Decor. I am so blessed to have been raised by goodly parents, and in a home where The Gospel Principals are taught. My Sister (Amber), her husband (Mike), and their daughter are such a beautiful family within our own. My sister is an Elementary Teacher, and my Brother-in-law is currently finishing up his schooling! He will graduate soon!! My little brother (Dillon) is such a cool kid! He enjoys playing sports and being with his friends! I love my family more than anything else. These are the greatest people ever and I’m so blessed to have them in my life FOREVER!!

Have you done any good in the World today??

In the October 1963 General Conference, President David O. McKay made this statement: “Man’s greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others."

 If the Savior said it in times of old, and now the Prophets of our day are saying it... Maybe it does bring joy... Some might ask, "I can barely make it through each day, doing all that I need to do. How can I provide service for others? What can I possibly do?" 

     President Monson Said, "Find someone who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely, and do something for him or her." It doesn't have to be something big,  it's the little A.R.K.'s (Acts of Random Kindness) that matter to others.  I promise you Brothers and Sisters that our time spent rendering service will never be wasted! It will bring you joy!! I'll share a poem I found,

 I have wept in the night 

For the shortness of sight
That to somebody’s need made me blind;

But I never have yet

Felt a tinge of regret

For being a little too kind.

 

Pres. Monson's Talk on Service

One of my favorite scriptures says, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

Let me make the challenge to you as well, let yourself have that joy in your heart, lose yourself in the service of the Lord, do something for someone, somewhere this day! I know you won't regret it! God bless you in your effort!!

What is Mormonism and How can it bring me JOY??

So to start of I will answer the first question, "What is Mormonism"? I'll do this by using the FAQ from the Mormon.org Website. It tells us this, "When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, He organized His Church so that all people could receive His gospel and return one day to live with God, our Heavenly Father. After Jesus Christ died, was resurrected and ascended to heaven, His Apostles continued to receive revelation from Him through the Holy Ghost on how to direct the work of His Church. However, after they were killed, members changed the teachings of the Church that He had established. While many good people and some truth remained, this Apostasy, or general falling away from the truth, brought about the withdrawal of the Church from the earth (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Acts 20:29-30). The Apostle Peter prophesied that Jesus would restore His Church before His Second Coming (Acts 3:19-21).

Jesus Christ began to restore His Church in its fullness to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1820. It has grown to become a worldwide Church with over 13 million members. It has the same teachings and basic organization as the Church established by Jesus in New Testament times."

So that answers the first question I posed, and now for the next one, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only and true way to find happiness. If you’re doing what is right you’re going to feel good about yourself. If you are a true disciple of Christ you will want to do what's right. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the fullness of the gospel (EVERYTHING we need to find that joy!!) There is one way to happiness and it's by living gospel principals!