Bellville Stake Youth

Bellville Stake Youth page for Bellville South Africa Stake Youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This week has been a particularly bad one. I felt this distance between me and Heavenly Father. One night while trying t...
12/07/2022

This week has been a particularly bad one. I felt this distance between me and Heavenly Father. One night while trying to put my baby boy to sleep I started humming one of my favourite primary songs called 'A Child's Prayer':
Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer ev’ry child’s prayer?
Some say that is far away,
But I feel it close around me as I pray.
Heavenly Father, I remember now
Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:
“Suffer the children to come to me.”
Father, in prayer I’m coming now to thee.

Pray, he is there;
Speak, he is listening.
You are his child;
His love now surrounds you.
He hears your prayer;
He loves the children.
Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.

While humming the song, I started to cry. The spirit told me that I was the one creating the distance between Heavenly Father and myself. The past week I had neglected to say meaningful prayers and have meaningful scripture study. I needed to take a hard look at how I was spending my time or what I was prioritizing before doing the Lord's work.

I am nowhere perfect at this but I am working on it each day. When we try to better our spiritual lives the Lord will bless each of us - we will feel His love for us.

I pray that each of us will try to be better today than we were yesterday. One small step forward is still in the right direction. Our small steps will get us back to our Heavenly parents' presence. Start small, start today!

When is the last time you felt completely at peace with your circumstances and the world around you?There has been such ...
12/07/2022

When is the last time you felt completely at peace with your circumstances and the world around you?

There has been such an increase in security scares and the influence of adversity in our neighborhoods and the ongoing power situation has been causing much distress. Yet, I noticed that if I let myself focus on the negatives the world could seem very gloomy very quickly. I reminded myself to rather focus on the silver linings. And just as in the examples of the Prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath who were continually challenged despite their faithfulness: We may not be free from the effects of God's will, but if we put our faith in Him there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome.

There is both light and darkness around and it is the darkness that make the light seem that much more beautiful and appealing. May you choose to cast your focus on the light, for he who walks in the light will find true joy and peace.

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” John Bunyan author of Pilg...
21/06/2022

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” John Bunyan author of Pilgrim’s Progress. This is a wonderful quote especially as we understand ALL that our Savior has done for us. We are invited to follow Him and become like Him. We don't have to wait until we can do something big, but we can do it daily in small acts of service and kindness.
In our latest general conference in April 2022, Elder Jorg Klebingat of the Seventy said the following: "Moral agency is God's precious gift to each of His children. . . . God won't force us to do good, and the devil can't force us to do evil. Though some may think that mortality is a contest between God and the adversary, a word from the Savior 'and Satan is silenced and banished. . . . It is [our] strength that is being tested - not God's.'" Elder Klebingat closes his talk with these few words; " . . . IT'S A GOOD DAY TO BE GOOD!"
May we make this our motto, to daily improve upon being good, and may we especially remember to include the Savior with His enabling power to help us do this.

I believe in God, I believe that He is my Father. Why? Because God is love. That seems like it's over-simplistic, but le...
21/06/2022

I believe in God, I believe that He is my Father. Why? Because God is love. That seems like it's over-simplistic, but let me explain. When I look around me I see only evidence of a supreme creator, of one that loves us beyond measure. This earth and all its creations are not here by accident. Why else would God have created them, than because He loved us enough to give us a chance to learn from our experiences here. We have His Word so that we can use our agency to choose to return to Him. We have families that help look after us and guide us through this life. We have opportunities every day to become better and closer to Him. We have abundant food and resources on this planet. These are all blessings from God. Why would He have provided us with all this? Because He loves us. Everything He does for us is motivated by His love for us. He wants you to return to Him, to be happy with Him in His kingdom.
If you don't know these things for yourself, I invite you to come and join us to learn more. God is merciful and kind, and if you are wanting more happiness and peace in your life, give His Word a try. Let him into your life to see how it is. I promise you won't regret it, I know I haven't.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many t...
21/06/2022

Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.�—Matthew 25:21

We are given talents and gifts to help us fulfill our missions on this earth and to help us bless the lives of others. We have a responsibility to Heavenly Father, to ourselves, and to others to develop our talents and gifts as completely as we can. The development of talents and gifts requires persistence, courage, and patience, but brings great joy.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said "You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before�—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you�—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.

If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it."

Start now! What small thing can you do to bring a smile to someone's day?

This past weekend I took on a 24-hour marathon challenge. Running 50km on no sleep while completing tasks in between lap...
21/06/2022

This past weekend I took on a 24-hour marathon challenge. Running 50km on no sleep while completing tasks in between laps was physically hard, but the support of the people around me gave me the strength and motivation to endure and enjoy to the end. Like you, I try to continue setting goals that will help me learn about myself and improve in all the ways our Saviour showed us. By setting Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, and Social challenges - sometimes addressing all in one! Why? Because "no pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven" said Orson F. Whitney.

Each of us has challenges that we face, and we often have to repent because of how we handle our earthly experiences. En...
21/05/2022

Each of us has challenges that we face, and we often have to repent because of how we handle our earthly experiences. Enos felt ashamed because of his own weaknesses and asked God to forgive him. After a long period of seeking this forgiveness, expressing unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, his sins were forgiven. He asked the following question:

(Enos 1:5-7)
5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?

What beautiful faith! Once the Lord forgave, he immediately believed it was done, and he innocently inquired how the Lord had been able to forgive him. This comes from a sense of trust in the Lord, and faith that He has all power and wisdom. You might ask, how can I be that trusting? This wasn't the first time Enos prayed, and I'm sure he didn't have such trust at first. Just as you have with any relationship, you must spend time with someone in order to get to know them enough to trust them so wholeheartedly. Enos would have done the same, and so can you. Spend time with God.

But how do you spend time with God? You come closer to him when you keep His commandments, read your scriptures and pray fervently. These are the basics of the gospel, and are so essential, no matter how "seasoned" you might feel, if you stop doing these things, your relationship with God will decline, you'll move further away from him, and your sense of trust for him will decrease. That's why you must constantly work at it and make your relationship with God a priority. You won't regret it when you feel his love, and know He is always there for you. I know I don't.

Jesus Christ was once a young boy who learned one small step at a time how to draw closer to Heavenly Father. He learned...
21/05/2022

Jesus Christ was once a young boy who learned one small step at a time how to draw closer to Heavenly Father. He learned line upon line, and precept upon precept. It did not happen all at once for Him, but as He stayed on the covenant path, He became our Redeemer and trusted friend. We should do our best, but also remember that it takes time to achieve anything that is worthwhile. When you feel discouraged, without confidence in your abilities, and want to give up. Remember the little boy Jesus Christ and gain strength from His humble beginnings of trusting in His Father's care by taking life one step at a time.

Ever heard of "The Song of the Sea"? Exodus 15 records a song that Moses and the Israelites sang after their victory at ...
09/05/2022

Ever heard of "The Song of the Sea"? Exodus 15 records a song that Moses and the Israelites sang after their victory at the Red Sea. This ancient song spends a lot of time focusing on God’s power and dominance, saying things like God is “my strength,” He is “a warrior,” and He drowned the Egyptians in the Red Sea.

Despite the omnipotent miracle(s), they've just experienced, some of the Israelites walked in ignorance, completely missing what everything was about. They chose to focus on the muddy ground beneath their feet instead of the mountains of water right next to them. It's no wonder they continually murmured and complained.

Miracles are always surrounding us, but it matters where we look. Which parts of your story are you paying the most attention to? Choose to direct your focus on the miracles around you and align yourself with people who do the same. Let us be an uplifting part of one another's lives.

To see or observe (someone or something, especially of remarkable or impressive nature).Jesus Christ sees us for our pot...
09/05/2022

To see or observe (someone or something, especially of remarkable or impressive nature).

Jesus Christ sees us for our potential - remarkable and impressive. He loves us. He sees the whole picture before he makes a judgment. He follows the voice of the spirit.

Elder Uchtdorf said: "When we truly behold the Man [Jesus], we learn of Him and seek to align our lives with Him. We repent and strive to refine our natures and daily grow a little closer to Him. We trust Him. We show our love for Him by keeping His commandments and by living up to our sacred covenants.
In other words, we become His disciples."

As we behold the Man [Jesus], may we too behold one another. May we follow the prompting of the spirit and reach out with love in our hearts. May we be the ministering angels to those in need and expect nothing in return just as the Saviour doesn't accept anything in return from us. His love is freely given.

I love the message that this quote by Anne Shirley, who is the main character in the Anne of Green Gables series written...
09/05/2022

I love the message that this quote by Anne Shirley, who is the main character in the Anne of Green Gables series written by L.M. Montgomery, expresses who we are and all that we can become. Sister Rebecca L. Craven, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency taught us the following from the April 2022 General Conference: "Here are some thoughts to consider. What mattereth most?
1. How many "likes" we get on our social media posts? Or how much we are loved and valued by our Heavenly Father?
2. Wearing the latest trend in clothing? Or showing respect for our bodies by dressing modestly?
3. Finding answers through the internet search? Or receiving answers from God through the Holy Ghost?
4. Wanting more? Or being content with what we have been given?
Our oldest son's third-grade teacher taught her class to "boss your brain." It was a reminder to her young students that they were in control of their thoughts and could therefore control what they do. I remind myself to "boss my brain" when I find myself drifting toward things that matter less."
Our dear Bellville Stake Youth and Leaders, how we love you and pray for you. May we always keep striving to keep moving toward the Light and not be overcome by Satan's darkness and whispering lies. May we find strength, peace and joy as WE CHOOSE to walk on the path holding fast to the iron rod.

General Conference is a special time to hear the Lord's voice through His chosen servants here on earth. It is such a gr...
03/04/2022

General Conference is a special time to hear the Lord's voice through His chosen servants here on earth. It is such a great blessing to know that we are guided and led in this way. I pray that as we make time to listen to these inspired talks, we will find peace, comfort for these challenging times, answers to our questions, guidance for our lives, and a greater connection with our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. 🙏🏽

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