This Blog's Title & My Beliefs

Beauty captured yesterday in Logan, Utah on the Logan Temple grounds.

Why, might you ask that the title of this blog is not catchy or cutsie or very original?  I could have named it "Hope, Happiness, and Faith," which has a certain ring to it.  It could have read more poetically like, "Faith, Hope, and Happiness," since faith is the first principle of the gospel.  Without faith in something, is a person immobilized or doomed to depression?  Faith isn't necessarily only a religion thing, though building faith in God is the intent of my blog.  I cannot assume that only through faith in God can someone be happy or have hope, though I believe that eternal happiness--forever happiness--is only achieved in and through faith in Jesus Christ and living as he has asked.


Happiness:  The happiness piece of this blog is for anyone, Christian or not, seeking a tidbit to help the day along or to get an uplift in some way.  It may bring a higher degree of happiness to someones life if he or she is inspired, educated, or motivated by something that is shared herein.  My wish is that my writings will bring warmth to individual hearts, illumination to minds, and brightness to everyone's outlook.

I believe that without faith in the fact that I am a child of God, that Jesus Christ really did what is recorded in the scriptures, and without knowing in my heart He lives and I can trust him to do what he says he will do when we keep his commandments, I would have no happiness or hope in life.  There would be no purpose to live.  There would be no plan to bring eternal joy.  Faith is God is essential to my physical and spiritual survival.  Clinging to my faith provides the strength I need to cope with life's trials.

Plants and flower bring me happiness.
Faith: I acknowledge that there are many happy people without faith in a Christian God. Some choose to believe in a higher power or many different kinds of God and they report having peace and happiness in their lives. Some have never heard of a Heavenly Father or of His Son, Jesus Christ, who suffered, bled, and died (giving up his life voluntarily) and had the power within him to be resurrected, thereby conquering physical death. Because he loved us so much, he did this so every living thing that dies (humans, plants, animals--every thing) may live as immortal beings someday. There are those who say they are happy in choosing NOT to believe this or in anything else for that matter. They say this life is all there is, so make the best of it--eat, drink, and be merry and all that. 

A person has the right to believe whatever they like. I do respect the beliefs of others because I believe in free agency as the gift God gave us to choose for ourselves.

The 11th Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints states: "We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."

I have faith in truth that has been revealed and know there is a purpose for this life beyond this earth.  I know our spirits do not die and that our bodies will be resurrected and reunited with our spirits when we become immortal beings.  I know we will live forever and that we have a choice as to where we will live.  I have faith that by living the commandments, repenting of my sins each day, and keeping my faith that I can be with God, Jesus Christ, and all my faithful family members forever.

My photo art effects with the moon's light providing a path to our home across the water.

Hope:  We all need hope that life, for the most part, will be good.  We need to believe during hard times that things will get better--that they'll work out somehow.  Having hope means we expect a future where our everyday efforts are rewarded--that our work and struggles are worth it.  

I have a perfect brightness of hope that if I keep my faith in Jesus Christ, I will obtain the greatest happiness and peace in this life and the most marvelous, joyful life imaginable throughout eternity.

Looking out over Cache Valley, Utah, from Logan Temple grounds 

The scriptures below bring me happiness, faith, and hope because these scriptures tell me God is the same yesterday, tomorrow, and forever.  He does not forget any of us, his children.  He does not leave us without guidance and hope.


Know ye not that there are more nations than one?  Know ye not that I, the Lord your god, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?  Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?  Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another?  Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another.  And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.  
  --2 Nephi 29:7-8


For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men.  For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their own language, unto their understanding.  
  --2 Nephi 31:3


". . . for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
    --2 Nephi 30:15




  --2 Nephi 31:3-6

I love to see the temples . . .