Temple visit

I love this picture of the temple I took this last Saturday. You really can't see much of the temple but I just love the picture so much! I really enjoyed the temple trip. It was an extremely hot day in San Antonio. It was a whopping 106 degrees outside. Thankfully the temple is surrounded by beautiful oak trees that give a beautiful shade. I had some time after I did some initiatory ordinances to go outside for a bit and walk around the temple. I had never had the opportunity before to do that so I was gratefully I had an hour before the endowment session began to walk around the temple grounds.

It was so peaceful to walk around the temple. There was a couple that had just gotten married so I witnessed them taking pictures with their wedding party outside the temple doors. They looked so radiant and happy! Yes,I have come to realize that is my next step. I just need to find out who I am going to marry. :P My good friends Kye and Kate are getting married later this week in Salt Lake City. I am so happy for them and of course a little sad that I won't be there for their very special day.

The session I went through was amazing. I felt the Spirit so strongly like never before. This was my third time at the temple going through a session. I felt like I was in a really familiar place though. I loved every moment of it. Of course I love the celestial room in the temple. That is where I feel the Spirit of God the strongest.

The night before I couldn't fall asleep so on the way back I was having a hard time staying awake so I am sure I fell asleep for a bit. I was so tired. I didn't get home until later at night around 8pm. I went straight to bed.

Well I have officially changed my membership records to the Young Single Adult branch in my stake. Sunday was my second time there. It will take some time getting used to it. It felt good to be there. For the first time in a long time I felt like I was at Church for myself and also enjoyed it. The branch president was happy to hear that I was transferring my records to his branch.

Overall an amazing weekend!

From the ER

I am currently sitting in the waiting room of the local hospital. I am not feeling too well at the moment. I will not go into detail about what happened here just because there are some things I would rather not put online. You are all free to ask though but I will be fine.

This week at work has been rather stressful. I am trying to do my best because I really want to get promoted to another department and the only way I am going to do that is if I work hard and get noticed. It is well worth it though.

Some of the other things that I have been working on as of late is maintaining my level of spirituality. Coming out of the mission I felt like a spiritual giant. Granted I knew changes were ahead when I would go home but I wasn't prepared for what awaited me at home. I was quickly bombarded with many things that wanted my attention and sadly I gave way to them. But as of late my desire to go back to daily scripture reading and praying has increased. I am grateful for the missionaries in my area for they have truly revived me spiritually. I feel the presence of the Holy Ghost so strongly in my life once again. They are hosting weekly Book of Mormon studies at our chapel and I have been there every Thursday for the last few weeks. It is such a blessing to fellowship with other Saints from Raymondville.

Well I am now lying on a hospital bed. ;) Anyway I have also decided that it is high time to get married. (What an abrupt change of subject!) Of course I need to find someone to marry first. That's why I have decided to proactively date. In other words take things into my own hands and ask girls from Church on dates. I am excited for that. I am sure it will take away from the monotony of home, work and Church. Anyway I am going on my first date soon. I will keep you posted on what happens! Of course for my non-Mormon readers, dating is much more than a way to have fun (which it is) but it's also something very serious. Mormons look for eternal companions and those who are willing to live the faith the rest of their lives. That is my desire!

Well I need to put the phone down. Thanks for reading.

-Aurelio

Mormon CPR--Church, pray and read!

Thanks for visiting my blog!  I checked the traffic for my blog and it is pretty constant which is a good thing because it keeps me motivated to keep writing.

The beginning of my week was a bit stressful but Heavenly Father pulled through for me and I saw his hand in all of the things I went through this week.

A few days ago the elders came to my house to check up on how I was doing with what as missionaries we called CPR which stands for Church, pray and read. I was pretty suprised they asked me how I was doing with those basics of the gospel. After all, I am an active member of the Church with a calling and I wondered as to why they asked me. As I sat there thinking I realized that I may have outwardly been performing the aforementioned CPR but it was not having an inner effect on me. I realized I had to do it more earnestly. The visit by the elders was much needed and genuine. I love them for their service and Spirit led inspiration to visit me. What I learned that day would later serve me later in the week.

A few days later the elders called me to visit an investigator. We showed up and the investigator wasn't home. I told the elders that if they didn't need my help I was  going to go visit a less active member on my own. I left and went to visit the member.

The member and I are pretty good friends, in fact he was one of my original fellowshippers when I was investigating the Church. We had a very honest and open conversation about why he had become less active. Thanks to having served a mission ( in the best place in the world-Texas McAllen Mission) I realized that his doubts are really smokescreens  to cover what he hasn't been doing. He hasn't read his scriptures in months and not even pronounced a single prayer in in that time. No wonder his desire to be active in the Church is gone! As I left I realized that the  desire to be active can leave any member of the Church as they neglect  the commandments mainly covered by CPR.

I am not stating that I am a better person nor member of the Church merely because I keep the commandments but I know where I stand and hold to be
true because I choose to do so. As well, by doing so my faith and resolve are strengthened.

What a blessing to have Spirit led revelation and full time missionaries who follow its guidance. May we all strive never to lose our first love that is  Christ and His Church!

Thanks for reading!

Aurelio

YSA branch visit

I have been pretty busy this week but I know I have to put down in writing my first time experience at the YSA branch here in my stake last week. Well to start off I wasn't quite sure at what time sacrament meeting started. For some reason I thought it was 3pm but it turned out to be 1pm. I arrived at the stake center at 1230pm and was probably there for 5 minutes when I realized I had to leave if I wanted to get to the YSA sacrament meeting on time. I made it on time which was my first mistake because no one was there yet! So I sat in my car for a few minutes waiting to see if anyone I knew showed up. After a while people started showing up and I tried to mix in with the small crowd. Of course everyone notices a newcomer and before I knew it I was surrounded by the branch presidency and I am sure by some of the branch leaders. They all gave me a warm welcome and jokingly asked if I had given up on my home ward. I shrugged my shoulders and simply stated I was visiting.
It was definitely different. It was a good type of different though. Sacrament meeting, especially the administration of the sacrament, was especially reverent. I felt the Spirit so strongly the entire time. Of course one of the things that made it a little uncomfortable is that the branch is a very tight knit group and it can be pretty hard to fit in right away because well let's face it no one really knows what to do when a new guy shows up. But I knew a couple of people there so it wasn't too bad
I had a good experience overall. I would consider transferring my membership records if I didn't currently have a calling that I enjoy as ward mission leader in my home ward. As well distance is also an issue. I would need to drive an additional 20 minutes just to get to Church every Sunday. At this time I really can't afford to do that. I will though still be attending the social activities. I enjoyed every bit of it. I am glad the Church offers YSA wards/branches so our faith can be strengthened with fellow believers.