Thanksgiving Daily

I am thankful every day and strive to always keep a prayer in my heart. I love November for a number of reasons. Currently, I live in the beautiful state of Utah and love it. The mountains here are amazing.

First of all, I love November because there are beautiful Fall colors all about and the final red, golden, and brown leaves are about to fall to the ground. The warm evenings switch to crisp, cold evenings and your breath can be seen in the mornings. I love the feeling of fresh, cool air, especially watching the sunrise over the mountains to the East.

Second of all, there is always a lot of political buzz and elections take place the first week, followed by my birthday. I enjoy being engaged with our country and taking an active part to do my role as a US citizen. I love our country. I love my birthday too because I get to enjoy the full day with my family. I get to reflect on another year past and set goals for a new upcoming year. It is always super refreshing; one of my favorite things to do is attend the temple on my birthday. I have done it for the past 5 years. This year my wife and I attended the Logan Temple and participated in marriage sealings.

I also love the Pioneer spirit that comes hand-in-hand with the Thanksgiving holiday. The food is great, especially the yams and pumpkin pie, but the spirit of gratitude is even better. I love giving thanks and praise to my Heavenly Father for all of my blessings. I feel that He showers blessings out upon me, especially when I choose the right and act in faith.

Having a prayer and fast of Thanksgiving is also one of my favorite things to do in the month of November. I hope to always have this but it seems easier this month.
Most importantly my heart is full of gratitude when I think about the Savior, Jesus Christ and what he has done for each one of us. He has shown us the way by teaching truth and setting the perfect example for each to follow. He has given me the privilege of being married to my sweetheart in the temple and beginning an eternal family. I love Him for this. I am so thankful for my family and love them dearly.


Moving forward, I am committed to follow Jesus Christ and strive to live by His teachings. I have a strong testimony and belief in Him and His gospel. I know that He lives and speaks to living prophets whom are called to help guide us through these turbulent times.

Thanks for stopping by and reading this post. Please bookmark and come back often.

~C.P.

Sharing the Light of Christ~

I am grateful for so many things. With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner it helps us to reflect upon all of our many blessings. I have been blessed in so many ways and thank my Heavenly Father for what I have been given. I know that I must give back and share my testimony of the gospel with others. I created this blog as a means to do just that, to share my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. I know that Christ lives.

I am full of gratitude at the beginning of this new month. My heart is full and I love the Autumn leaves that color the Cache Valley where I live. I am grateful to be a Latter-day Saint and to have an understanding of the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

I invite you to watch this short video, become a follower of my blog and look for new posts often.

Thanks for stopping by.

C. P.

Jesus Christ - Redeemer of all mankind ~

Learn more about Jesus Christ and what Mormons believe

In the beginning of time, prophets of old testified of Jesus Christ throughout the Old Testament in the Holy Bible. They testified that a Savior would come to redeem all mankind from sin. Prophets are called of God as special witnesses of truth and of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the New Testament we learn that Jesus did come to earth, established His church and kingdom, and taught true life principles for all. He taught us to love one another. He taught us to forgive and serve others. He taught us how to pray unto the Father. He taught us by living a life free from sin in pure obedience to our Heavenly Father above. He is our perfect example in all things! He is surely our light in a darkened world ~
John 14: 6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the away, the btruth, and the life: no man ccometh unto the Father, but by me.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind. He is my Redeemer, my advocate with the Father. I know that He died for me and I know He lives today. I know that He came to earth to give himself as a sacrifice for all mankind. He does heal the broken-hearted.

In this short video you can see reflections of Christ. It touches the heart and soothes the soul for any who may be suffering or struggling in your personal lives.

~C. J. Poulsen

Lessons I Learned as a Boy

Continue in Patience

Patience is a key character trait in life. It is very easy to get impatient when seeking for answers or wanting to get a task accomplished right away. This past week has been hectic as I have moved my little family to a new state and we have boxes strung about, no refrigerator, or washer and dryer for the time being. This has surely tested my wife and I's patience. As a graduate student with a teething six month old, patience is of the essence. Patience in many things is required for me at this phase in my life. I hope this short video clip will give some inspiration to those who watch it.

God bless you!

C.J.P.

Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

Max n me'

The past six months have been a tremendous blessing for my wife and I. With the birth of our newborn son, Maxwell, my perspective about life has definitely changed. As a new father, I feel a close bond and love towards my son unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have a deep sense of gratitude and love for the miracle of birth and life.

I am so grateful for the privilege and opportunity our Heavenly Father provides us to be parents as He entrusts us with one of his sweet spirit children. I love my little guy more than words can describe. He is so innocent and perfect!

In an ever darkening world, we must hold up the torch of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. We must, by example, follow the Savior and have His image in our countenance so our children may know where to look for refuge. The light and truth of the gospel will offer a shield of protection from the fiery darts of the adversary.

As parents we have a duty and responsibility to train, teach, and raise children in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It is our imperative calling as parents to love and nurture our children and lead them in light and truth.

In the past few weeks, my son has begun crawling and making funny noises with his mouth. I love watching him change and grow. It brings so much joy to my heart. I have now gained a small glimpse of what our Heavenly Father must feel towards each of us and especially to His only Begotten Son in the flesh, Jesus Christ...the Savior of the world. I know that Christ lives and died for you and me. I know that He is our perfect example of righteousness to follow.

The Missing Piece

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Good Things to Come

Mormon Myths and Reality

I meet people everyday knocking doors for my sales commission job. It amazes me how many misconceptions are floating around about my faith and religion. This video helps summarize some of the myths and reality of who "Mormons" are. Take a look for yourself...

The Holy Temple ~

DENVER COLORADO TEMPLE

I must tell the world that my favorite place on earth is to visit one of our Heavenly Father's Holy Temples. I recently moved my family to Denver, Colorado and we are enjoying all the new and exciting things of a new city. We moved here for my employment and are reaping the blessings of this part of the Lord's vineyard.

After a couple weeks of attending our new ward, (congregation where Latter-day Saints meet on Sunday to worship God and Jesus Christ), our Bishop and his counselors called my wife and I to teach the Temple Preparation class. Courtney and I were happy to accept our new 7 week assignment and had our first class last Sunday. It went very well.

The first lesson touched upon the principles found in The Plan of Salvation... Where did we come from? What is the purpose of this Earth life? And where do we go after we die?

It is one of my favorite gospel topics to discuss and always makes me feel closer to my Heavenly Father. My wife and I set a goal for 2010 to attend the temple once a week. We were on task until our beautiful newborn son arrived to our family. He is our firstborn child and is such a blessing. Since having him join the family it has brought a new perspective in my life. . . The miracle of birth and life! What a glorious experience that brings many tears and joy!

I love my new son Maxwell. I am so grateful for the understanding I have gained through study of the holy scriptures and modern day prophets. I know that Families Can be Together Forever through God's blessing and His sealing marriage in the temple.

At the core of our faith and beliefs is family. Family is the fundamental unit of society and God ordained husband and wife to marry and have children.

The Temple stands as a beacon of light to a world that lies in darkness. I love to see the temple and go there often to partake of the goodness of blessings our Father in Heaven has in store for each one of us as His children. I love learning and all that this life has to offer. I am now striving to attend the Denver Temple weekly while living out here for the summer.

~C.J. Poulsen

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Seek the Higher Ground

Seek the Higher Ground

He-Lives ~ Happy Easter Everyone

Becoming Provident Providers

The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is a great blessing for all who accept it and strive to live accordingly. This is a great story on being provident providers and living within one's means.

I Love to See the Temple~

I Love to see the Temple is one of my favorite primary songs in the children's songbook.

Here are the words to it:

1. I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday To feel the Holy Spirit, To listen and to pray. For the temple is a house of God, A place of love and beauty. I’ll prepare myself while I am young; This is my sacred duty.

2. I love to see the temple. I’ll go inside someday. I’ll cov’nant with my Father; I’ll promise to obey. For the temple is a holy place Where we are sealed together. As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth: A fam’ly is forever.

My beautiful wife and I have the privilege of seeing this beautiful temple everyday. It is such a unique blessing and we love to go here often. One of our goals for 2010 is to go at least once per week! So far we are 100%! It has been a tremendous blessing in our lives and we feel much closer to our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ.

The temple to me is a symbol of Christ's love and light to the rest of the world which lies in darkness. Christ taught, "Come Unto Me..."

D&C 45: 7, 9

7 For verily I say unto you that I am ^aAlpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world—a ^blight that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

• • •

9 And even so I have sent mine ^aeverlasting ^bcovenant into the world, to be a ^clight to the world, and to be a ^dstandard for my people, and for the ^eGentiles to seek to it, and to be a ^fmessenger before my face to prepare the way before me.

Christ will come again to redeem His people on the Earth. It is exciting to see His work roll forward across the globe. Temples such as this are being built around the world to fulfill part of His covenant to mankind.

In celebration of my wife and I's five year anniversary yesterday, we went to the temple last night and learned about the sealing powers, which were restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple in 1836. Husbands and wives may be sealed and bound together in the Lord for time and all eternity when married in one of God's Holy Temples.

Matthew 16:19

19 And I will ^agive unto thee the ^bkeys of the ^ckingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt ^dbind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

Charity Never Faileth ~ "Christ" Never Faileth

44 If so, his ^afaith and hope is vain, for none is ^bacceptable before God, save the ^cmeek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and ^dconfesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

45 And ^acharity suffereth long, and is ^bkind, and ^cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily ^dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth ^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

~ Moroni 7:44-48 In the end of The Book of Mormon

Temples- A key part in the Restoration of Christ's gospel

Temples were built in Old Testament times and have been part of God's plan from the beginning. So, what is the purpose of Temples?

Today, in modern times, the gospel of Jesus

Christ has been restored to the earth and temples are a key part of the work of the Lord taking place around the world.

Temples are a place of worship where Latter-day Saints are allowed to enter and perform saving ordinances for the living and the dead. These Holy edifices stand as a beacon of light to the world and symbolically represent Jesus Christ. On each temple is etched the words, "Holiness to the Lord," because it is His sacred house.

I enjoy going to the temple. It is a sanctuary of peace, a place of refuge from the storm of commotion all around us in the world today. My wife and I went to the Idaho Falls Temple

this evening and I wanted to capture a few shots of it...

Enjoy. . . I want to learn more about temples.

Love One Another

The prophet Nephi ~ A great example for each of us~

In The Book of Mormon, we learn from the prophet Nephi many different times. He is a great example for us to look unto when seeking the Lord's will rather than our own. Nephi sought the will of the Lord and was blessed. We too, can do this in our daily prayers.

I know that when I put my trust in the Lord and seek his will rather than my own selfish desires I am blessed.

Nephi was blessed in particular for 5 things he did:

4 ^aBlessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how 1. thou hast with ^bunwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And 2. thou hast not feared them, and 3. hast not sought thine ^cown life, but 4. hast sought my ^dwill, and 5. to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that ^aall things shall be ^bdone unto thee according to thy ^cword, for thou shalt ^dnot ask that which is contrary to my will.

~http://scriptures.lds.org/en/hel/10

Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?

Prayer

Prayer

Infinite Power of Hope

What Shall We Give?