'Life is to be enjoyed, not endured' ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

Marathon Moments - This past weekend I reached a goal I set for myself and ran my first full marathon.  26.2 miles is a daunting thought but I made it in the time I set for myself. 
It was the Ogden Zions Bank Marathon with over 2,000 runners and ended up raining the entire race.

I wanted to share a few thoughts regarding my experience.  As we traversed the mountain in the dark at 5am on a school bus, the rain was pouring down.  The bus was full of excited, anxious runners for the race to begin.  I had been invited and trained for the race with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law who had both previously ran a marathon.  My brother-in-law ran the race with us also.  It was my first full marathon and I too was anxious for the race and finish line... :)

Each of us had set different finish goal times and as expected we got lost in a myriad of racers at the starting line once the shot to begin went off. 
I stretched and took off my garbage bag (temporary rain coat) and began the race.  I was drenched and soaking wet within the first minute.  I found a pace and space that felt comfortable and was on my way towards completing my first big race.  My mind was fixed on upbeat tunes on my ipod, of people passing me and myself passing a few.  I knew ahead of time I was only racing myself against the clock and my own mind, not the other runners along the trail.

Throughout the duration of the race several impressions came to my mind, both positive and negative...some saying just stop and walk for awhile, you're not gonna make it in this rain- your hands are cold and numb (and yes they sure were), its way too far; around mile 11, I began cramping up in my right calf muscle and had to stop and stretch it a few times.
But on the positive side, my mind was telling me you'll make this in your time no matter what,  its not a sprint, its a marathon - just enjoy the entire journey, look up at the beauty all around, the lush green forested mountainsides, the lakes and rivers amongst you.  I practiced focusing on positive things when negative would creep in or muscles would hurt or tense up and it really helped me endure.

Before the race I heard other runners saying how around mile 17 is when it gets super tough because their is first a climb and then a downhill grade through the canyon.  I had this moment hit me around mile 22 when I approached several runners who were stopping to walk.  I too wanted to follow suit but came across a runner whose shirt read SURVIVOR "I beat cancer!" Running for a cure for cancer.  I took note and this inspired me to keep going and to push along the final stretch.  I had slowed down in pace, yes, but continued a steady jog thanks to my brother's shirt.  I was reminded of the power of the mind over matter in this instance...

When I came into the final mile, I realized how many had come to cheer on their loved ones...and it hit me emotionally...then all of a sudden I saw my wife running straight towards me on the course.  This made me get really emotional as she came up and said, "Come on, keep going, you're doing great, you're almost done!" "Do you want me to hold your hand into the finish?"...
  After a long 26 miles, I was so happy and relieved to see her!  I felt loved and supported by those I love most, my wife and kids!  They are my world!  As she jogged with me she told me the kids were straight ahead...and sure enough there they were sitting alongside in their stroller with aunt Candace waving and cheering me on.  I waved and sprinted with what was left across the finish line at 4:30:26.  My original goal was 4:30 from the start!  I had MADE it!  First full marathon completed!  Bucket list goal crossed off...

This video is a great reminder to each of us that we're NEVER alone through the journey of life, to keep our heads up high and to keep moving forward...NO MATTER WHAT!  To ENDURE through the finish line! To have FAITH before the miracles we experience...

You're NEVER ALONE:

With this weekend upon us, we reflect on those who've served our great country here in America, I wanted to share this great video clip titled: Mountains to Climb

Each of us have will face trials and challenges throughout life but we can endure by relying on our FAITH in Jesus Christ to see us through.

As we start into a new week and a new month let us remember WHAT MATTERS MOST:

As always, Sunday is still my favorite day of the week and I have a stronger witness and testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ and His redeeming power to carry us through life.  I know He Lives and loves each of us.  I know that as we turn to Him, He will turn to us and guide us by the hand.  It is my prayer and testimony that one or each of these videos will touch you in a way its touched me...for the better!

Have a great week!

~ C. J. Poulsen

“He Is Risen”—a Prophet’s Testimony

“He Is Risen”

“The clarion call of Christendom,” President Thomas S. Monson has declared, is that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. “The reality of the Resurrection provides to one and all the peace that surpasses understanding” (see Philippians 4:7).1

In the following excerpts, President Monson shares his testimony of and gratitude for the Savior’s Resurrection and declares that because the Son conquered death, all of the Father’s children who come to earth will live again.
Life beyond Mortality

“I believe that none of us can conceive the full import of what Christ did for us in Gethsemane, but I am grateful every day of my life for His atoning sacrifice in our behalf.

“At the last moment, He could have turned back. But He did not. He passed beneath all things that He might save all things. In doing so, He gave us life beyond this mortal existence. He reclaimed us from the Fall of Adam.

“To the depths of my very soul, I am grateful to Him. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. He secured our salvation.”2

READ the REST of President Monson's testimony of the SAVIOR here: "He is Risen"

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.

A Tribute to Nephi!

Nephi was a man of honor, faith, integrity, obedience, love, and determination to follow God and keep his commandments. We can learn a great deal from the lessons he's taught us through his example of an extraordinary life.
As a man of great faith and obedience we learn of his gratitude towards his parents, his desire to do as the Lord commands, his example of righteousness and faith, his determination to share his testimony with others, his understanding of his nothingness before God, and many more things that he wrote and testified of in the first two books of The Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi and 2 Nephi.
1 Nephi 1:1
1 I, Nephi, having been ^aborn of ^bgoodly ^cparents, therefore I was ^dtaught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many ^eafflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a ^frecord of my proceedings in my days.

1 Nephi 3:7
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

15 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the ^acommandments of the Lord, and I did ^bexhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence.

1 Nephi 17:49
49 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto them that they should murmur no more against their father; neither should they withhold their labor from me, for God had commanded me that I should ^abuild a ship.

These are just a few of the many great scriptures that Nephi has given us! His words are a blessing to all who will read, accept, and apply! ~Blessings C.J.P.

Remember WHO you are!

Here is an early Valentine's dedication to my wife! We went to the Broadway play "Lion King" this past summer in New York City. We both really loved all the music and costumes.
"He" Lives in You...is a song that we have talked about ever since and we discovered its symbolism and deeper meaning during the show.

As children of a loving Heavenly Father we all have access to "Him;" He is standing with open arms to lift us and give us hope in a world of confusion and turmoil!

He lives within each of us! We each are sent here by divine design and have a mission to accomplish. What's your mission in life? Have you discovered it?

You may need to pause my music player to watch the short film from the Lion King. Hopefully this gives your day a new twist and enlightens you to smile more and to go out of your way and lift another! Remember WHO you are!

Jesus Christ Lives!!!

The Holy Ghost has testified and witnessed to me personally time and time again that Jesus Christ lives. The men speaking in this video are His duly ordained apostles and prophet who live on the earth today. They are called of Him. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by Jesus Christ and He has appointed His servants to be especial witnesses of Him to all the world. Through prayer I have learned for myself that these men are His chosen servants in our day. You too, may come to know for yourself! Blessings