We have a FOUR month old and a FOUR year old to celebrate this week! Actually we did it on the same day.
Kyle was finally able to bless Kohen Sunday at Church. Our Bishop asked us not to have more than 30 people there so luckily we only had 28!
Every time my babies have been blessed I like to share my testimony and since Tai was born I feel like my testimony has been stretched and evolved a lot. And it makes me hesitate to say the phrase, "I know the Church is true." Because it gets misinterpreted to mean that I believe the Church as an organization is perfect. When that’s not what I mean. But it has caused me to look more specifically at my testimony about what exactly it is that I do believe and to focus on that. And what I do know is that Jesus Christ is my Savior and He lives. The fullness of His gospel has been restored to the earth and the gospel of Jesus Christ, His doctrine is true. I know that families are central to his plan and to our happiness. I am so thankful for my family and the happiness they bring me. The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ. It brings me closer to Him and leads me to do good. There is a living prophet of God on the earth today. I know that my Savior lives, that my life has a purpose and that we can feel peace even during our trials because of Him. I am so thankful for the peace and hope I feel in my life living the gospel. Hope is not a blind wish. It is the assurance that Christ is always there and that because of Him nothing will ever be permanently wrong. I love the quote by Al Carraway. “Hard things will always be there, but so will Christ.”
Kasen had been asking to go share his testimony for a couple weeks so I let him come up with me, but he got nervous at the microphone and decided not to. On his way back down to our bench he ran to Kyle yelling, "I didn't do it! I got scared!" :)
My Dear Kohen,
Today your dad gave you a name and a blessing. Grandpa Jeff, uncles Hayden, Jordan, Mark, and Ben, Bishop Hale and Corby Eason also stood in the circle. Dad blessed you to know how much your family loves you and how grateful we are for you. Your family will always be there to celebrate your triumphs and successes with you and will also be there during your doubts and the hard things in life. They will love you and will be there to support you through it all.
He blessed you to feel Heavenly Father with you. His arms will always be outstretched to help pull you up as you reach out for him. He blessed you that as you go to school that you would be able to learn and grow into the man Heavenly Father sees you as. He blessed you with the discernment to make correct friends and that as they gravitate to your goodness you will be able to help those who are struggling, but avoid temptations that will bring you down. He blessed you to know that you are loved along with any other blessings your Father in Heaven knows that you need.
More than anything I want you to know how loved you are. Loved no matter what. Not just by your dad, and me but also by your Heavenly Father and your Savior, Jesus Christ. You are a child of God with infinite value and worth. There is nothing you could ever do; no choice you could ever make that would stop any of us from loving you. As you grow up I hope you truly come to believe that.
I am so grateful that you are a part of our family. Families are central to God’s plan of happiness. My family makes me happy and God has a plan for your life too. His plan is perfect and His promises are real. Involve Him in your life and trust Him.
I love my Savior and I love His gospel. I love it because it brings me peace, perspective and power. I have a testimony that Jesus Christ lives and whether I find out after this life that the Church is true or not, I will never regret living the gospel because living it and following Christ makes me a better person. It helps me be the best version of myself. We all have endless potential to change and become. The gospel reminds me that my life has purpose, that I can do hard things, that I can find peace even during my trials and that I am loved. I live the gospel because I believe it is the fullness of Jesus Christ’s gospel restored to the earth and I love Jesus Christ. I love him because He sacrificed His life for me. I want to show Him that I love Him.
The gospel teaches me about hope. The hope in believing that all things will work together for our good, hope that everything will work out in the end, and the hope that "everything that is unfair about this life will be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." Even when things get rough I have the hope of knowing that the bad times won't last forever, this too shall pass, and I can experience happiness in spite of my trials. Not just happiness, but eternal joy. Things will be okay even when we hurt and we struggle and we face hard things I know that facing those things is what ultimately helps us learn and grow and become better than we were. “Hard times will always be there, but so will Jesus Christ.” Hope isn’t just a blind wish. It’s the assurance that Christ will always be there and that because of Him nothing will ever be permanently wrong.
The way we all live says everything about what we believe and about who or what it is that we love. You get to make those choices for yourself about what it is that you believe and love. Whatever those things are that you choose just make sure you live it. “There can be no happiness if the things we believe are different from the things we do.” Your potential for happiness and to do good is limitless. I’m cheering for you.
I love you so much Kohen James. Forever and ever. No matter what.
Love, Mom
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