Small and Simple Things....

Typical Hallway in an Apartment Building

An overnight boarder

Results of an unwanted boarder.....

Hey Fam!

 I guess last weeks letter didn't go through, but this week is so much better!  Its sounds like home is a party! as it should be....thanks for the updates!  This week I learned so much.  Especially about being grateful and using grace (the Enabling Power of the Atonement).  I know that If I am trying my best, God will handle everything else.   One way I use grace in my life has to do with waking up...every stinkin morning when I am SO BEAT!  And this is how its goes, I honestly try to everything in my power to be obedient...why? B/c when you are obedient, you are showing God that you are doing everything in your power to do the things He asks. Why is this important?  B/c when you do what God says, he is BOUND.  So when I give an accounting of my day at night before I fall asleep, I make sure to mention that I have done my best to do the things that I know I am supposed to do, then I freely tell Him that I hate getting up early in the morning :) b/c its soooooo hard for me (especially when I have a comp who has a sleeping disorder and can't get up unless I try and try and try to get him up)!  So what do I ask next?  I ask for strength and energy in the morning when I wake up so that I can be efficient and happy.  Then when the glorious alarm goes off, I make sure to remind my Father in Heaven of the need for grace in my life...then I act.  I move and get up, wake my comp up and reset the alarm for when he doesn't get up, clean the kitchen, then I get in my shirt and tie (b/c we have to be out on the streets at 7am everyday), wake my comp up again, reset the alarm, get my comp in the shower, make his bed, get his clothes ready for him..etc.  I do this to show God that I am worthy for the energy and strength that I pleaded for the night before.  And what happens?  God fulfills his side of the bargain.  I end up in the Best mood, ready to take on yet another day.  The Enabling power of the Atonement can be used in everything, even small things like getting up on time.  I know this b/c I have applied this lesson in my life and God has NEVER once let me down.  He loves me.  The thrill of God is mercy.  God is just waiting for any excuse to throw miracles at us and to bless us with tender mercies ( and I think he jumps the gun sometimes experiences that I'm sure I didn't deserve...but then again God has perfect temperance, or self control, that that probably is super unlikely to happen...God doesn't make mistakes).  I know that God knows me perfectly b/c I've seen time and time again tender mercies that have been so perfectly tailored to me that only I can recognize them as such.  I challenge to take this concept and use it in your lives.  When you do what God says he is "Bound", that's not a joke but the thing is, He is so willing to give that 

you will see the Heavens open up blessings that you have never imagined.  I know that God loves all of us and I know that we can bound him as we follow the counsel of His prophets today.  One of the things we have been counseled to do is to READ from the scriptures.  "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass", that doesn't mean just good things.  I want you all to realize that Satan is very real.  He If compared to a color would be the lightest shade of gray ( I think I've said this before, but its important to know!), Christ is pure white, and no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God.  Don't let Satan "pacify you and lull you down to hell" b/c it is "by very small means that God brings about the salvation of many souls" and there is opposition in all things, therefore you could say that by very small means Satan destroys families..."its not that bad"..."one SMALL time won't hurt".  I know that if we do the small and simple things everyday, great things will happen. We all need spiritual nourishment everyday.  "Spirituality is our true aim" (David O McKay) and spirituality is the ability to recognize and ACT on truth.  Soooo lets help each other stop living below our privileges and do the small and simple things so that we can use the enabling power of the Atonement to bless and guide our lives.  I love you all!!

 Keep working hard!

Sean

PS I met an Elder Stoker who said he's used my surf board and Hugged my mother more recently than I have...small world