Trees and Men.

The tree that didn’t have to fight for sun and sky and air and light but lived out on the open plain and always got its share of rain never became a “forest king”, but lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man that never had to toil the man who never tasted spoil, who never had to win his share of sun, and sky, and light, and air, never became a manly man, but lived a and died where he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease, the stronger the winds, the tougher the trees, the further the sky, the greater the length, the more the storms, the more the strength, by sun and cold and rain and snow.

 In “trees or men” good timbers grow, where thickest stands the forest growth, we find the patriarchs of both; who hold a converse with the stars, whose broken branches show many scares, of many winds and much of strive, this is the common law of life.

Let us not get distraught when toile comes, let use put our trust in the lord   and become a big strong “tree on or man”.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ¶Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

               “let the Gardner do his work”

 On the night before He was crucified, Jesus Christ gave His Apostles the sacrament. He broke bread into pieces, said a prayer, and passed it to the Apostles. Then He took a cup, said another prayer, and passed the cup around so that each Apostle could take a sip. He said the sacrament was to help them remember Him. (See 1 Corinthians 1:24–25.

 

 

 

 

Wow it has been a long time seance I have written a blog but that't OK its time to do better the last few months has been crazy for me lots of transfers and lots of patience and lots of faith in the lord I was able to reed the book of Mormon in 4 weeks and I learned a lot in that few weeks the thing that stuck out to me the most is that the lord loves us so much and that he wants us to come and be with him again but it is our choice to listen to his commandments. All our heavenly father wants (is to bring to pas the immortality and eternal life of man.)  No mater what we do we can come to our heavenly father with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and ask him for help, and he will help us with though's steps of repentance  that is what he sent his sun her to earth for right? He came here to help us return to him! There are a few steps to returning to live with our father in heaven the first one would be baptism for the remission of sins and if you have already been baptized it is renewing your covenant with the lord etch Sunday! I have a testimony that the lord is there to help us make, and keep those covenants every day its not easy but it is worth it! Just so you know all the hard things you go through Christ has gone through them as well so don't get discharged! what is that old saying? "if at first you don't succeed try try again". It is my faith and my testimony that we will succeed with the help of our lord Jesus Christ so keep trying every day OK, have faith and pray often the lord loves you, and wants to here from you so go out and remember that it is our father in heaven that wants you to be with him again!  
                         
                                             until next time your friend Elder Hokanson
                                                AKA. Elder Hokipoki ;)

#3 these pictures are of Christ when he was a boy teaching the people in the temple. And him being taught as a boy by Joseph the carpenter

 Luke2:40-48 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing...

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter,

the son of Mary, the brother of James...

                              

#2

In this set of pictures it shows

us a little bit what the birth of Jesus was like in the stable in Bethlehem.

 Helamam 14:1-2 And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written. And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

 3Nephi 1:13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Luke2:6-7 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the next few blogs I wanted to show all of my favorite pictures of Christ with people and, also to bring to light my beliefs in Christ. while I was going through all of the pictures I was trying to think of a good way that I could present the pictures to all of you who read my blog so I decided to share the life story of Jesus Christ through all of my favorite pictures of the savior, I hope that you will enjoy these pictures and the story of Christ as much as I do.

#1 the first set of pictures is in the very beginning when the earth was created! 

genesis1:In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters

Moses1   And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I ^areveal unto you concerning this heaven, and this earth; write the words which I speak. I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest.                                   

The worth of one sole is so grate and I want to be a part in helping them return to live with my father in heaven! You also can be a part in this grate plan by going to one of these sites mormon.org mormonchannel. Org and share it with some one else this day

There are many times in my life when some one says something to me or, they tell me a story that just changes my life and, my way of thinking forever.

 When I was in High school one of my Sunday school teachers shared this story with me (It is one of the stories that changed me forever.)  Now I want to share it with you! And after you read it, I will share a few of the ways that it changed me.

                                              

                                      The Starfish Story
                                                       - by Loren Eiseley

There was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

    

 From the moment that I herd this story; (back in high school) until now I have loved it! This story reminds me of missionary work. I often think of this story now since I am out here on a mission for my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day saints) I have a chance to throw star fish back in to the ocean (just like the young man in the story) or in other words; I have the chance to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people every day.

This gospel has brought my family happiness and joy; just like I’m sure the water brought those star fish happiness.

I know that I will never be able to share the gospel with every one that I meet but, I sure will do my best to help all that I can!(just as the boy will never be able to throw all the star fish back,) but, I know that I can make a difference with just those few people that I came in contact with and give them the spiritual water that they need! 

  I want to go to the scriptures, in D&C 18:10& 16 it says "Remember the worth of souls  is great in the sight of God;"    16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your  joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
lets do the lords work! today and help the lords star fish get back to him.