KayKay

Katie Jane's Testimony

2008-12-18T13:23:00.000-06:00

I am going to serve a full-time (18 months) mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!!!! :D

Go to www.mormon.org to learn more!

Thanks for all the support I have already received from everyone! I love you all! :) I am so excited!!!

"I am a part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, love with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

My banner is clear: I am a part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."

Tender Mercies

2008-11-11T10:23:00.004-06:00

I volunteer at the MTC every week at the Teaching Resource Center. It is a way for me to feel like I am helping with God's work here on Earth. On Monday nights the Visitors Center missionaries are the teachers. I thought Katie Jane had already gone out to the field, so I didn't think anything about possibly seeing her. Then the shift leader (who knew that Katie Jane is my best friend) told me that Sister Goodwin was still in the MTC...and could be my teacher! I walked in and saw her and we both burst into tears and hugged each other for so long. It was such a glorious blessing to see and hold my best friend as she is a missionary. She and her companion taught us a beautiful lesson about our Savior, and her spirit radiated throughout the room. Katie Jane has become so strong and so powerful in her convictions of the Gospel. I felt honored to be in her presence. She gave me a more firm desire to serve the Lord and increased my faith in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Sister Goodwin is truly an inspiration and will be leaving for the Salt Lake City Visitor's Center on Wednesday!!

Katie Jane in the MTC

2008-10-16T10:08:00.004-05:00

Katie Jane entered the Missionary Training Center on October 15. It had been a few months since I had seen her, and she was just absolutely radiant. She glowed with the Spirit and with excitement for her new calling as a missionary. I felt so privileged to spend the morning with her and her father as she started her journey as a missionary. We ate breakfast and talked about the work that she would doing, and she was completely optimistic. When we got to the MTC, we dropped off her bags and then headed inside. She received her address and name tag and was unbelievably giddy about wearing that name tag for the first time. Her testimony is incredibly strong, and it is evident in everything she says and does.

We went into the orientation meeting and sang "Called to Serve" and then her father unfortunately had to leave in order to catch his flight. Katie Jane and I remained in the orientation meeting, and she was so anxious to just begin her mission. I, of course, was weeping like a child, because the Spirit was so strong and I was so proud of her. She kept leaning over to me saying, "Nikki, this is the right thing. Don't be sad. You should be so happy!" What an inspiration. One last hug and she was off, smiling at all the other crying missionaries.

I know that Sister G will be an instrument in the Lord's hands to bring others to the knowledge of the gospel. She'll be an amazing missionary and a great companion. As I receive emails and letters from her, I will update her blog for all of you readers. Please let me know if you have any questions for her that you would like answered.

Put a Smile on Your Face, Make the World a Better Place :)

2008-09-30T16:15:00.016-05:00

There once was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.

She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages
Came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The
Girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her Boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

'Life Is a Gift'

Today, before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today, before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before whining about the distance you drive- Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
When you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

And,

When depressing thoughts seem to get you down

Just put a smile on your face and think:

You're still alive and still around.

Shoutin' From the Rooftops...

2008-09-29T16:56:00.008-05:00

This weekend I just happened to be on the roof putting on some gutter guards when I realized that I have always wanted to shout from the rooftop how much I love being Mormon.

So I did.
And it felt good.

I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I really do!

Here are 20 reasons why (just to name a few)...

1. I love that I can know the truth of all things for myself. It's more than just believing. I know that this is Jesus Christ's one and only true Church through confirmation of the Holy Ghost.

2. The Book of Mormon. These scriptures are so sacred and close to my heart. They testify of Jesus Christ and of Heavenly Father. They also testify that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God.

3. I love the Holy Temple and its sacred ordinances within.

4. The principles within the Gospel. They have shaped my life and helped me to be a better daughter, friend, co-worker, and all around person in general.

5. I love that there is a Prophet of God. On this earth. At this very time.

6. General Conferences.

7. Relief Society.

8. Our amazing Humanitarian Aid.

9. The Plan of Salvation

10. The missionaries who so willingly give years of their lives and thousands of their own dollars to preach the RESTORED Gospel.

11. Tithing.

12. No one is esteemed higher than another.

13. The Power of the Priesthood.

14. Church callings.

15. Being blessed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

16. The love that is given so freely by all.

17. Christ is the center of all we do and believe.

18. The encouragement and resources to do Genealogy.

19. My family can be together forever!

20. I have never felt any thing as good nor been happier since I became a Latter-day Saint.

I am so proud to be a Mormon.

www.mormon.org

The Enemy Within...

2008-09-26T11:59:00.005-05:00

I remember growing up and watching cartoons and always seeing the characters transform from their Dr. Jekyll into an evil Mr. Hyde persona. We too are Dr. Jekylls with tendecies to let our "Hyde-like" desires reign over us. But it is up to us to attain self-mastery and to put off the natural man. I just read a wonderful talk give by President James E. Faust back in 2000 and I would like to just bring up a few of his points...

"Each of us needs to train ourselves to be bold, disciplined, and loyal [men of the priesthood] who are prepared with the proper weapons to fight against evil and to win."

President Joseph F. Smith taught us: "Our first enemy we will find is within ourselves. It is a good thing to overcome that enemy first and bring ourselves into subjection to the will of the Father, and into strict obedience to the principles of life and salvation which he has given to the world for the salvation of men."

Some times it is so easy to get caught up in the ways of the world, to forget who we are, and what our purpose is in this short bittersweet life. I love my Heavenly Father more and more each day as I come to realize that He is always there for me. Even when I make the same mistake over and over again. He is patient and long-suffering. To Him I am ever grateful.

I'm trying out this "blog" and I am new. I'll just throw it out there and say I am not a great writer, nor do I have the slightest clue about blogging. :)

Now that I've warned you...
it's up to you to continue reading.