My conversion to Easter... all #BecauseOfHim

What a marvelous Easter week-end! I know that we are used to hear that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but Easter is becoming the best time of the year for me. No that I don't like Christmas, because I totally love it and it's a great opportunity to rejoice of the coming of the Lord Jesus-Christ, but, as stated president Gordon B. Hinckley, "there would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection".

Even if all my life I've believed in Christ, Easter never really had a meaning for me before. I never really had Easter traditions... I remembered just chilling with my family during those days off, watching the 10 commandments on TV, and once the Church movie "The Lamb of God" was on TV... It was exciting to see a religious movie on TV, since we don't really have that in Montreal, so we watched it. I also remember that I sang at an Easter concert in 2004, and I think it was the greatest way I ever celebrated Easter before, and I enjoyed to share through music my testimony of the Savior's atonement and resurrection. A couple of years I think we watched the movie "Finding faith in Christ" with my family on Easter Sunday, but I'm not really sure about it. I also remember that in 2012, I made a cake with my little brother to share with my family for Easter, and I decided to put a little reminder on it of the real meaning of Easter that my little brother and my nephews could understand what Easter was all about, as you can see on the picture below:

This was the original idea of the cake, a nest with the birds
coming out their eggs... look what I add to remember who else
came out for another place, the tomb... :)

But since I moved to Arizona and watched the Mesa Easter Pageant, Easter became my favorite holiday. I had the blessing to watch the Pageant six times that first year. I had some friends who were part of it:

Kelly Allen, one of the 10 virgins.

Andrew Payne, an angel and a torchbearer

 I got to volunteer as a "warrior", helping out with parking, seats, and stuff like that, and because of that I got to attend the devotional that the cast had before the pageant and I got to sit next to a light pole for the last presentation, to watch that anyone, specially kids, would walk under the rope and try to go to join the cast on the stage. I had the best seats I could ever dream of for that marvelous production!

That pageant really made me realized how important Easter is and of the privilege we have to know about this, about our Savior, and to share that message of faith, hope and love with others. Since then, I remember even more than ever the truth about my Savior Jesus Christ: that He lives!!! Even if I knew it before, never I have felt that testimony so strongly in my life as after watching that Pageant and pondering about it as last Easter. I decided then that I wanted to make of each Easter in my life more special and to create my own little Easter personal and family traditions. I already took the decision that I would be part of the cast of that pageant some day... I tried for this year but I didn't got to Arizona on time for the auditions, but I'll keep trying. And I will definitely be part of it with my family someday! I want my children to experience that and to feel that excitement about the Savior.

One of my favorite parts of the pageant, Christ with the kids. It melts my heart!

He is not there!

Why am I talking about all of these on a blog about Sundays, if the Easter Pageant is not on Sundays? Because that event had change my whole view of Easter, and I feel that my Easter Sunday is more meaningful than even before. So this year, I tried to prepare more than before.

How did I prepared? I went to a sacred musical production retelling of the final days of the life of Jesus Christ, "Lamb of God", where two of my friends were performing. It made me feel the sacred spirit of Easter and start my preparation for it.

We also had General Conference, where the speakers powerfully testified of the divine atonement of Christ. I've been listening to many program on Mormon channel that have uplifted my spirit and humble myself. I also read this book, "The Other Side Of Heaven", where the mission experience of Elder Groberg taught me about Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement, and prepare my heart to change. We also prepared a musical number with our ward choir for Easter, and I've been pondering about the words of that song, He is Risen, and tried to learn those words that I might be able to sing with joy and testifying to those in our ward that I know He is Risen, looking at them, and not to the music sheets.

I've been studying for many weeks chapter 6 of Preach my Gospel, about Christlike attributes, and this last two weeks I've been pondering about charity and learning a lot of things about it. Doing that helped me to really focus on the great love that Christ had for us and how to develop that kind of love in me. I even prayed to become more charitable, and the day after I was feeling so empty and alone, not understanding why. And after sharing my feelings about it with a friend and pondering about the why of those sad feeling inside me, I realized that it was to understand better at least a very little portion of all the Savior endured. It made me feel closer to him and to be even more grateful for the great love He had for me. It gave me the desire to take those days before Easter to learn more about him that on Easter Sunday I could be prepared to rededicate my life to Him. Those feelings turned out to be one of the greatest blessings I had as a preparation for Easter.

I also attend the Easter Pageant. I only  had the opportunity to go three times this year, but it was always an uplifting experience. I might had seen this 9 times, but it still touch my heart every single time! I had the blessing to attend with a friend who brought some no members and it was such a great blessing to share with them the joy I had while watching that pageant, and to make them feel the true meaning of Easter. I also brought one of my friends visiting from Peru. She loved the Savior so much and this experience, I believe, had the same effect on her as it did on me, and enhanced the importance of Easter in her life.

And of course, I went to the temple! I got to go twice on Easter week, and had the blessing to perform ordinances for my own ancestors and to share with a friend how the temple helps to understand better Easter and the atonement of Christ. The temple truly testifies of Christ and his mission on earth.

Also, this year the church launched this video and website about the true meaning of Easter, and through all week since Palms Sunday, people had been sharing it through social media. It has been so amazing to see so many people sharing their love for the Christ and all the reasons why they are grateful Because of Him. And I did it too. Everyday I was trying to find something uplifting about how wonderful life is #BecauseOfHim. That definitely prepared me better for it, since I pondered more about all the possibilities that can become realities in my life, BECAUSE OF HIM, eternal life being the greatest!

All those special experiences has brought me closer to my Savior. So this morning, I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and looked at the sunrise, pondering about THAT Easter morn, when the Savior conquered death. As I was watching the sky and the sun, many thoughts came to my mind and I understood better so many principles of the Gospel and so much about our true light, our sun, Jesus Christ, and of his love and mercy. I had a interesting scripture study and was uplifted with sacred music and with Music and the Spoken words. Doing this helped me to feel that love from the Lord.

And my Sabbath has been so uplifting because of that!

#BecauseOfHim, I got sweet messages from friends since early this morning that made me feel loved and important for others.

#BecauseOfHim, I sang with our choir He is Risen and felt the joy that the knowledge about the resurrection of Christ brings to our life, and sang it almost by heart, having a smile in my heart (and hopefully on my face too), testifying of that truth, that I know he lives. I don't have the version that we sang (made by our choir director), but I love this version from the Mormon tabernacle choir, that you can listen too:

#BecauseOfHim, I had the opportunity to think a little longer about our him, my Savior, at sacrament while we were waiting for the bread to be ready.
#BecauseOfHim, I heard talks that made me understand better how I have felt and can still feel his love, and lessons that remind me of all the things that all possible through him.
#BecauseOfHim, I saw wonderful friends that I dearly love and are examples to me and give me motivation to become more like the Lord.
#BecauseOfHim, I had a friend who remembered that I was without my family here and thought about inviting me for dinner with her family that I may not stay alone for Easter dinner... I couldn't go because I felt the need to stay alone tonight and write about my feelings and ponder about all that, but I really appreciated the fact that she thought about me in that way and are grateful for her love and friendship.
#BecauseOfHim, I got to share a cake with some friends and gave what I had left to another friend and I felt that sweet gratitude in my heart by seeing that a little thing I did could bring them so much excitement, not only to my friends with whom I shared it, but also to those my other friend was going to share it with even if I don't know them, reminding me that the good things we do can bring blessings to more people than what we think, even some that we don't even know... I love cooking for these wonderful friends by the way :)
#BecauseOfHim, I got the blessing to have the company of a friend who asked me to share my Easter tradition, and my thoughts about what had been taught at church and also of the things I had been pondering that morning, and he did the same, and I was grateful to have friends with whom sharing our joy about the Savior and his teachings comes just naturally and how we can uplift each other.
#BecauseOfHim, even if I'm not with my family this Easter (and I wonder if I ever will again), I don't feel alone, and I know that I will be with them forever, because of the temple covenants we have make together.
#BecauseOfHim, I've seen many friends testifying about their belief in Christ by posting a picture of the Savior as their profile picture on facebook and by sharing videos or thoughts about all that is possible in their lives with the greatest hashtag ever: #BecauseOfHim. I actually saw this image on facebook that one of my teachers from high school posted, kinda making fun of how that event could have been if it had happened in our smartphones era in 2014... I commented on that picture saying that if I had been there, I would totally take a picture of it and share with everyone the joy that event brings. She liked the comment, and I supposed she understood that this event is real and important to me, because of all the things I've been posting this week... But then I also thought: this is totally what mormons have been doing today with our profile pictures... it made me smile, because this is how excited we get about this event! :)

#BecauseOfHim, I rejoice in the guidance of the Spirit in the decisions that I've been taking and that I have to take. Some might not be easy and are hard to accept, but I know that, because it comes from him, it is the best for me and it will be great blessings to my life.
#BecauseOfHim, I have feel so many of his tender mercies in my life and miracles that I never thought could be possible, and I know that, if He had the power to conquer spiritual and physical death, he can make anything good happen in my life.
#BecauseOfHim I had the blessing to enjoy the quietness and peace of my room to ponder more about Him and how I want Easter to become a great event in my life and in the life of my future family, and to prepare for it since now.

I felt so much love for my Savior this past days and specially today, and that has brought a great desire to make the changes I need to do in my life to try to be more like Jesus. I really think about keeping that tradition, preparing a couple of weeks before Easter with the Easter pageant, musical events, temple, choir, general conference, uplifting music and discussions, to prepare my mind and soul for all the next Easter mornings in my life, where I would try to wake up early in the morning and have my spirit ready to understand better the magnificent and powerful things that Christ did for me.

I am so grateful for the Easter Pageant, which was the beginning of my "true conversion" to the Easter Spirit, and for all the blessings it had brought to my life, and how it had made of this Easter Sabbath the best day of the year! This image shows how I felt this morning, I how I feel about my Savior: I look at him, knowing that he is there, that he is not in a tomb, and as I look with faith at him, hope will never disappear, and charity will fill my heart and will allow me to be a better instrument in his hands to share the news that he lives with others, and make them feel His love.

So on this Easter day, I invite you to ponder about how this Easter have drawn you closer to the Savior. May we not only remember and share on facebook all that is possible because of Him and our testimonies of him, that he lives, but may we live with that knowledge every day of our life, sharing it with others. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, and because of those event that we remember on Easter time, everything is possible!

I have in my life the best cherry I could ever ask for my Sundays, and it's HIM! #BecauseOfHim, I can enjoy my Sundays!

Owning a smartphone does not make you smart... listening to the voice of the Lord does!

We learn in the scriptures that many have listen the voice of the Lord (President Eyring talks about it on this First Presidency message on the January 2013 Ensign). I believe this is true and that it is possible for us to listen to His voice too, perhaps not face to face, or with the visit of an angel or through a clear and powerful voice, but often it is through feelings and impressions that the Spirit prompts to us. And this being a blog about Sundays, I want to talk about something that helps me to listen to the voice of the Lord on Sundays, and how that has being a huge blessing in my life.

I got my first cell phone 4 years ago! Yeah... I did survived until 2010 without a cell phone! Believe me, it's possible!!! :) A few months later I realized that I would get sometimes distracted by the vibration of my phone during inspiring messages at sacrament meeting, just when the Spirit was trying to teach me something. Think about it: how would you feel if you are talking about something really important with a friend, and at that moment someone texts your friend and he just turns his attention to his phone and don't listen to you anymore? I don't know about you, but I don't really appreciate when that happens. I understand that sometimes we need to text back or to call someone, but I think that most of times, it can wait. Now, imagine how the Spirit feels when he is preparing our spirit to teach us something important that could change our lives and make us gain knowledge and understanding, and then we ignore him because our girl friend is texting us about the new cute guy who just sat next to her... Don't you think the Spirit could feel offended or rejected?

This is how I felt about using my phone during church. When I understood that I was going to church to learn how to become a better version of myself and to repent, I realized that I needed to be ready to listen to the promptings of the Spirit at any time, because he often prompts us deep teachings when less expect them, and if we are not paying attention, we may lose the opportunity to learn something that could change our lives. Since then, I decided to turn off my phone as soon as I get to church, that I might not be distracted by it. I upgraded to my first smartphone in November, and I'm not turning it off anymore because I use it for lessons to read the manuals or scriptures on it, but I leave it on silence and I don't care how many calls, text, snapchat or facebook notifications I have, I just don't pay attention to it and use it only to read the lessons.

Since I started that, my Sundays have being better, despite that technology that could become a distraction! All my attention goes to those who are around me, to real people giving a talk in front of me, or sitting next to me. I feel that my relationships with these people is stronger... and my relationship with those from whom I get notifications is not weaker. Everyone understands that we can't always respond to a text message in the next seconds after receiving it. I don't think I will lose a friend because I didn't text back for three hours (there are some circumstances when we need it though, like once that I was the chorister and noticed a no-member coming in, but I couldn't go sit with him because I was already sitting at the front, so I turned on my phone and text a friend to tell him to sit with him, and I make signs to him from my seat to tell him to look at his phone). People are important! But not only the people who contact us on our phones, but also those who are next to us.  If I leave my phone alone, I can focus more on those who are sitting alone and sit with them; I can talk to those who are new or visiting and make new friendships instead of focusing in a single friend behind the screen. My relationships with the members from my ward has being strengthen because I make an effort to notice them and to pay attention to them, and not to my friend on facebook who just tagged me on a picture. The "like" on that picture can wait until later. Our brothers and sisters in our wards and around you are more important that liking a picture or than sending a selfie through snapchat.

But the most important thing, my relationship with God is stronger. I pay attention to the things that are taught at church, I note the impressions I have from the Spirit. I feel closer to my Savior. I have the time to ponder without being disturbed. I learn so many things and my soul is filled! I have a great feast every Sunday! It's a delicious 3-hour-service-meal! I don't take any picture of that meal to post it on instagram, I don't do the check-in at church every Sunday, tagging all those who attend... ok, I probably share on facebook a quote or two from something I learned or shared something I liked from my day or just saying how much I love my ward... but I will do that only later, after my church meetings are over. Remember what Elder Randall L. Ridd taught at the Priesthood session of the April 2014 general conference: "Many of us immediately stop whatever we are doing to read a text message - should we not place even more importance on messages from the Lord?" I believe this is true! As much as we love our family and friends who contact us through our phones, remember that we must first love God. He wants us to listen to His voice! We must stop whatever we are doing... like texting, facebooking, snapchating, twitering, or any other distraction on our phones... and read or listen to his messages! Those messages will have a greater impact in our lives!

I'm not saying that cell phones are not good for Sundays! Actually, it serves me a lot on Sundays! I walk a lot and I don't want to bring my whole gospel library on my purse, and because I have my smartphone I can have all the books I need right there. When I need to go for a choir practice Sunday mornings or any other place where I haven't been yet, I use my phone for directions and to know how long it would take me to be there. I can contact my friends with my phone to ask them for rides to church, and when I need to contact a member from my ward I can look from their information on LDS tools. When I'm walking, I open the Mormon Channel app and listen to the inspired music or programs. And the list goes on. Cell phones and smartphones can be a great cherry on our Sundays, but we need to eat that cherry wisely! As said elder Ridd, "owning a smartphone does not make you smart, but using it wisely can". Since the light of Christ and the Spirit and the words of God can make us smarter, choose today to become smarter in your church meetings by using our smartphones wisely, to be able to listen to His voice, "for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:3). And don't we all want to know the things that we should do? 

 I suggest you to watch or read this awesome talk by Elder Randall L. Ridd, that I'm quoting twice here, at the Priesthood General Conference Session on April 2014.

General Conference: A double-Sunday, a Sabbath week-end!

What a marvelous general conference! The event that members of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints look forward twice a year just concluded, until next October. What a blessing it is for us to have the words of God revealed to us through the prophet!

I love to watch general conference. As I was preparing for this week-end, I've been pondering about my "general conference traditions" and I realized that at least twice a year, I have a long Sabbath day... a long Sabbath day that lasts two days... sometimes even three, depending what I'am doing on Friday night before conference. I haven't done that all my life, but since I discovered, little by little, the magnificent impact of the teachings from general conference in my life, I do my best to prepare for it and to keep my week-end as holy as I can.

I don't know exactly when I started to listen to conference on Saturdays. Before I used to attend only on Sundays, and then, at one moment of my life, I probably decided to go to the Saturday session too, and since, then, I wonder if I've ever missed one. I seriously don't know when it was, but I know it did happen, and I feel so blessed that it did! Saturday sessions are always so uplifting and deep topics are taught there!

How do I live that week-end? Usually these are things I try to do the week before and during the conference, depending on my situation at the moment...

• I ponder about how present is the Spirit in my life, how close to him I feel, and I do my best to have the his company with me during that week to be able to recognize his promptings during the conference and to be taught by him as I listen to our prophet and leaders talks.
• I ponder about my life and decisions, or things I want to change in my life. Sometimes, when I don't have anything in particular to ask for, I just pray to be enlighten by the Spirit to find, during conference, the goals I  need to set in my life.
• I take every opportunity I have to uplift my spirit, in my daily activities. I will listen to more LDS music or messages when I am walking, getting ready or doing other chores; I'll attend the temple, institute or other church meetings; I'll teach with the missionaries or find an opportunity to share my testimony with others and to serve around me. I've found that, when I do these things, my spirit feels more receptive to revelation and more humble and meek to accept whatever I feel prompted to do during conference.
• I fast before or during the conference. Depending of the activities I have the Friday or Saturday, I try to fast. Since in Montreal I used to go eat between the two sessions on Saturday with my friend and her family, I would start my fast then, until lunch time between the two sessions on Sunday. I would sometimes start my fast on Friday though, depending of the other things I have to do, as "girl" nights or things like that during priesthood session...
• My scripture study the mornings of the conference are usually things about modern revelation and prophets, to strengthen my testimony about the importance of general conference BEFORE I listen to it, and not only after listening to the great quotes.
• I will sometimes try to read and learn a little more about the apostles too. I must confess that I didn't did that this time because I didn't had too much time and I was absorbed by another book (The Other Side of Heaven... a book about a general authority too, so it's also a good thing...). I read two weeks ago something about the wives of the First Presidency and Twelve apostles though and that was useful too...
• I usually attend both conferences at a meetinghouse. I've tried to do it at home, since it is really accessible, but I just feel better to go to a meetinghouse, specially on Sundays. In Montreal, we have the tradition to bring food to eat between the two sessions at church, and to get together with the other members who come. Maybe it is because of that tradition, but for me it works better at a meetinghouse... it's easier for me to resist to the temptation of getting to comfortable on a couch and to fall asleep... 
• I turn off my phone or put it on silence (unless I'm waiting for someone I've invited to come and need to be reachable by the person). The messages that are shared are too important to keep something that can distract on my hands. It helps me to focus on the teachings of the conference and on the notes I take.
• I wear "Sunday clothes", even if I listen to it at home. It just feels different! The couple of times that I've listen to conference in pajamas or casual clothes, I felt as if something was missing. Maybe is just a little thing, but for me it has made a difference in the way I receive the message. You know how little kids feel like a real hero when they are wearing a hero costume? Well, it's almost the same that happen to me when I wear Sunday clothes at General Conference... I feel as if I was there, among all those who are participating of the conference in the Conference Center... I feel more united to all of them... Try it!
• I pay attention to the lyrics and music of the hymns, and stand up and sing with the congregation when it's our turn to sing. I know sometimes many take that time to go to the bathroom, drink some water or just stretch and take a little walk, but I believe that music is powerful, and the hymns are carefully choose for conferences. Each hymn is another talk and has something to teach us. I ponder about why the specific hymn is at the beginning, middle or end of the conference and how they are related to the talks. I've had many experiences where the hymns have prepared me to receive personal revelation during a following talk. Music is an universal language, and even more when the Spirit is singing with them, don't forget that!
• I take notes. Sometimes I'll write quotes, but more often I write thoughts that come to my mind as I listen to it. If names of people, ideas or specific things come to my mind, I write them down next to the specific talk. If I had questions before and a talk responds to it, I will write it. 
• After every session and after conference, I try to keep a calm spirit in my other activities. I try to ponder on the things I heard, to take notes and plan my days according on the things I heard. I like to keep that Spirit as much as possible, not only liking some nice memes and quotes on facebook, but by going back to my notes and see what else I can learn from it. Since I wasn't staying at the meetinghouse as I am used to, this time between the sessions I came back home and ponder about the things I heard... it amazes me how many things I learned from doing that! I really needed it! Also, if I have the chance to talk with some friends about it, I try to do it, to share the things I learned and what changes I want to do in my life. I really appreciate those opportunities where I can share and learn with others how the conference have uplifted us.
• I pray a lot! Before, during and after the conference. That communication with Heavenly Father has to be there. If he is going to talk to me through his servants during the conference, I need to to the same and to talk to him. It really makes a great difference.
• I take a time, after conference, to re-study the talks and to set new goals or to improve the way I'm already working on current goals.

These things have helped me to be better prepared for general conference. Sundays are supposed to be "the best day of the week". Isn't that cool that twice a year, that day can last for two days? I feel it is. Of course sometimes Saturdays won't be exactly as a Sabbath day... I mean, many go eat after conference, or we have to work, or to do school, and other things. But I can testify to you that my best general conferences have been those when I've been able to save my complete week-end to it. Even if I have to work or to do other things, like Saturday night, where I had to help at my friend's restaurant, I keep listening to uplifting music, I ponder about the things I heard, I try to share with others the things I heard during the first sessions and to encourage people to listen to it on Sundays. 

When I keep those two days holy, something inside me is different. Sometimes is not the best thing, in a natural man point of view. I mean, sometimes when our spirits are in that spiritual mood, Heavenly Father makes us feel things or changes that we have to make in our life but that we don't want to do or we don't feel prepared to do. But I've discovered that when we feel this and we take the challenge with humility and faith, before the next general conference we can see how it has blessed our lives. As said Elder L. Tom Perry, "Obedience is a Choice - between our own limited knowledge and power, and God's unlimited wisdom and omnipotence." I feel that when we prepare for general conference and that we keep that spirit at least through all the week-end, our capacity to obey to the promptings and to improve our lives with the counsel and advice received during conference increases. Our faith become stronger, our hope shines, and we are willing to do the will of the Lord. 

I am so grateful for our living prophet. I am so grateful for all the formidable brethren and sisters who serve as general authorities and care for us. I am so grateful for the Mormon tabernacle choir and the other choirs who participate with their talents to uplift our spirits through music. I am so grateful for the technology and for the meetinghouse that allow us to listen and watch the conference. I am so grateful for the unity and strength we can feel all together, reunited through all the world, for this wonderful event. I am grateful for being member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I would like to finish with some words from the hymn "We thank thee O God for a Prophet", that we sang yesterday at the conference and that caught my attention. At the end it says: 

"... they who reject this glad message

Shall never such happiness know."

As we were singing that, I thought about how blessed we are for having a Prophet! An extraordinary happiness come to our  lives when we follow the words of our Prophet. Sadly, many don't even have idea of it, and many reject the message, or maybe don't reject it but neglect it after the conference is over. I invite us all to review the conference and to accept the messages in our lives, and to fill our life with the Spirit to know the things Heavenly Father wants us to do. I promise you that you will see unimaginable blessings in your lives, and an eternal happiness (remember what elder Bednar said: "bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness"... so don't think that because you have trials, challenges, loads, you can't find happiness). And that eternal happiness is there, available to us, if we follow the glad message from our prophets!

I love Sundays!

To watch general conference, click here.