The World of "Me" and "I"

   We have all heard that pride is the root of all sin. It's true, is it not? When we sin, we are always, in some way, just thinking of ourselves. If someone is drinking, they don't care about other people's opinions, about hurting family and friends, they just want the "buzz" or the "thrill." If someone is committing adultery or fornication, they are only thinking about their own personal pleasure. It all comes back to pride. We live in a world that teaches us that it is OK to think about ourselves, that the world revolves around us. But we know that that is not the case. Alma 38:11 says
 "See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength."
   All of us do it. Including myself. I am probably the worst at this, which is why I am studying it this week. Most of the time we think only about ourselves. We have the "what's in it for me?" mentality. We talk about ourselves more than we talk about others. I am as guilty as anyone. But what if we were to stop? Jesus Christ is the perfect example for all of us. What if he just said "Wait a minute, this is way too hard. I am outta here"? We all would be lost, with no hope. And of course, he teaches us to try and be like him. If we are to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father, we must acquire attributes of His Son, Jesus Christ. He always was serving, so selflessly. And you know what they say about service, right? "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) Prideful people don't serve, prideful people don't put others before themselves. We don't have to lay our lives down for someone or save their life to be serving them. We can do daily things to serve others. There are millions of ways to serve each other. A smile. A greeting. A "how are you today?" Remembering someone's name. Remembering someone's birthday. Find a way to make someone ELSE happy. We make ourselves happy all the time. And it feels good to make someone else happy, doesn't it? Why don't people do it more often? Pride is the root of all sin...
   This is what I have been studying this week. Humility and pride. Humility is one of the Christlike attributes I have the most trouble with. This was for me. Service is the best medicine!

Let God Help

   I have been very blessed to see a lot of success in Ridgeland, SC. The miracles seem to pour in unceasingly. Every time I see someone get baptized, it strengthens my testimony of the reality of this gospel. This past Sunday, Melissa was baptized. She is a great example of faith. I have never seen anyone who wanted a remission of their sins as badly as she did. She left so much behind and left so much at the mercy of the Lord. She truly trusts in her Heavenly Father. I have never seen anything quite like it.
   Trusting in our Heavenly Father is something we can all do more. How much do we rely on ourselves? Nephi in the Book of Mormon teaches us that it's better to trust the Lord than the "arm of the flesh" (see 2 Nephi 4:34-35). We as humans are very prone to only trust ourselves and in our own  abilities. This is especially true in men. We tell ourselves "I don't need help. I'm fine. I can handle this on my own." Don't lie to yourself. Be humble enough to get on your knees and ask your Almighty Father for help. He will help us. He is so willing and ready to help us...but we need to ask Him.
    We need to trust in Him even when it seems all is working against us. Think of the story of Job. He lost his house, his family was killed, he was afflicted with all sorts of physical ailments, and he lost his property. Yet he said  "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." (Job 13:15). We can talk to Him about anything. Our prayers are supposed to be sincere and from the heart, not anything memorized or without feeling. Talk to Him as you would talk to your best friend about your problems. He will listen. He wants to help. All you have to do is let Him...
   Prayer is an amazing gift from our Heavenly Father. It is a direct communication with Him, there is no middle man, you don't have to wait to get signal. You always have signal with Heavenly Father. You are never roaming alone. All you have to do is ask the Father in the name of Christ in faith, and "whatsoever ye shall ask...it shall be given unto you." (3 Nephi 18:20). Let God help, ask Him in prayer for anything. He always answers, He never rejects or ignores your call. He listens. He knows you, He loves you, and He wants to help. Let Him.