Look at this awesome picture of the temple in Nashville, TN! The cool thing is it's actually in Franklin, about a 30 minute drive from downtown Nashville. I love the temple so much, and it's only a 5 minute drive from our apartment, and conveniently enough, located right next to the chapel. Several times each week I get to see the temple, and I love it each time. I can't wait til it warms up so that in a couple weeks we can sit on the benches that are on the temple grounds and have lessons with some of our investigators. I have never been to a more peaceful place on the earth than in the temple. It is such a sacred place, and I look forward to one day being married in it for time and all eternity. Because the priesthood authority was restored by Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith, family relationships can be extended beyond the grave and into the next life. How grateful I am for temples and for the restoration of the priesthood authority!

The Ultimate Book of Hope and Faith

A couple weeks ago my mission companions and I went to visit one of our investigators and he gave me the title for this blog post! We got to talking with him, seeing how he was doing and everything, and then we asked him, "Have you been able to read from the Book of Mormon recently?" He turned to us and said something like, "You know what, I have that book figured out."
When he said that, I really wasn't sure what to expect. So many people bash the Book of Mormon because they think it is adding to or taking away from the Bible or they think that it's just a book of mormon rules. They don't take the time to read it, to ponder it in their hearts, or to even pray abou it. But this is what he said:
"That book is the ultimate book of hope and faith."

And that's exactly what the Book of Mormon is! I love it so much and reading the Savior's words in it have brought me so much closer to Him. It is another testament of Jesus Christ that helps us strengthen our faith in Him and allows us to have greater hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The final prophet to write in the Book of Mormon, in some of his last words, said this: "And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise."

I am so grateful for my Savior who makes it possible for us to overcome death and sin and to live with Him in eternal joy. And I am so grateful that God has given us the Book of Mormon as evidence of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's what makes me smile!

A Book and a Smile!

So I'm sure y'all (yes, I'm in the South now) have seen us walking down the street: white shirt, tie blowing all over the place in the wind, a book in a hand, and a smile on our faces. Yes indeed, we're missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or more commonly known as Mormons. This book in my hand is the Book of Mormon. It will change your life, so give it a read. And most of all, it will make you smile!