My Name is Mitch...and I'm A Mormon.

Hi my name is Mitch, I'm originally from the Salt Lake City area of Utah but have had the chance to live in Chicago,IL , Idaho Falls,ID , and for the last six years in Queen Creek,AZ where I spent most of my growing up years. I Love Sports, especially BYU football and basketball. Go Cougars! My family and friends would call me addicted and I'd probably have to agree. You can find me most nights sitting on the couch watching sports with my Dad and friends.
     I also love to play sports. I played baseball and basketball when I was younger but in High School I found a love for swimming and tennis and competed on both teams.
Some of my other hobbies would include camping, fishing, making movies, and eating. There's nothing better then watching a big game and chowing down on many of my favorite foods.
    I've put that all aside for two years though as I am currently serving a mission in Montana and loving it. Its been a great experience to be able to share my beliefs with others and I am truly cherishing this time I am dedicating to the Lord.
     I was born into the church and have a very strong background of faithful family members. I always felt like the church was true because of the strength I saw it brought to me and my family. As I continued to read the Book of Mormon I felt time and time again the feeling of peace brought about by the Spirit. After finishing the Book of Mormon I took Moroni's challenge and prayed to know it was true and I felt the same feelings that I had felt my whole life and while reading The Book of Mormon; that the church was true and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was something that could continue to help my family and I in our lives. I am so grateful for all that Jesus Christ and his Gospel has done for me. I know I wouldn't be the person I am today without it.

     Before my mission I lived my faith every day by setting a good example and showing others through that example what I believed. Now as a missionary for the church I am able to teach and invite others to learn more and share my testimony with them every day of how Christ's Gospel and his restored church has blessed my life and I love it!

    My Name is Mitch, I'm currently serving a mission in Montana. I love sports, food, and my family.....and I'm a Mormon.

Look Forward With Faith

All of us are traveling down a road called life. It can be a joy ride, a thrill ride, or a car wreck depending on how we handle the up hills, down hills, sharp turns, bumps, and pot holes of life.
     Sometimes we feel like we can drive anywhere we want and have freedom and success. Other times we think we're driving solo with no co-pilot by our side and we feel nervous or frightened about what lies ahead. But as we continue to make it through those sharps turns and speed bumps we then look back through the rear view mirror and realize God and Christ have been there all along guiding us through a route that we may have never taken without their quite encouragement and guidance through the Spirit. So how do we make it so that instead of looking back through the rear view mirror and finding them we look forward through the windshield with faith and follow the road less traveled?

     We all would like to think we have enough faith in our driving until we hit a snow storm and that windshield starts to become blurred. I think back to this last winter and being an Arizona boy it was my first time driving in the snow. When you drive in a snow storm your personal vision is reduced drastically. Because of this you have to be very tentative, slow down, and use your windshield wipers to keep the snow from building up on your windshield. These three steps and a prayer will help you keep the faith to press forward and make it home safely.
      In life we hit storms of temptation, sin, laziness, or whatever Satan can throw in our path to reduce our vision and cloud up our windshields. If we will become aware of the distractions, slow down before we act, pray, and wipe away those temptations we will have a clear path to follow the guidance God and Christ give us. The more we can follow their guidance during the drive and have faith instead of looking back to the past and realizing they were there the whole time easier our road to travel will be. So have faith, travel smart, and enjoy the ride.       

Priesthood Lockout

NBA opening week! Ahhh! Professional hoops back again Time for the holiday season! The excitement has been building for big marquee match-ups like Kobe vs. Lebron, Celtics vs. Heat, and to top it all off the debut of the college basketball player of the year, Jimmer Fredette! So quick turn on your TV, grab a soda, and maybe even your thundersticks because it's time for some NBA Basketball!.....

      (chirp).....(chirp)......(chirp)....oh wait.....the nba is in a lockout. 

Due to recent labor desputes between players, owners, and league officials the NBA season has been halted, stopped, and put on hold until the parties can come to an agreement over  revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap. The owners and league have their agenda and will let the players resume play once the players can agree to the terms of a contract.

   Sometimes a similar lockout occurs. God has allowed men to be players in helping him in his eternal work. Using his authority and priesthood power through them, here on the earth, these players are able to baptize, confir the Holy Ghost, administer the sacrement, give blessings of healing to the sick, and perform other ordinances in the temple. 

     In the Doctrine and Covenants section 121 we read these words from God about this Priesthood. He states"That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

   That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man."

   So we see that if a holder of the Priesthood of God tries to use it in any other way then God would have him use it or if he tries to use it without being worthy just like the NBA that players priesthood is put into a lockout. Well then how does one receive that Priesthood authority again in his life? Through repentance hopefully he will bring his life back into harmony with the terms of his contract with God to hold and use that Priesthood again. Just like hopefully the NBA players can come to an agreement and take the court sooner then later.   

    

         To read more about the Priesthood of God visit Elder Wahl's blog The Ice Cream Truck and The Squad Car: Authority