Overwhelmed

Today was an emotional day. I just had the most incredible urge to cry. In sacrament meeting, every speaker, every song, seemed to shatter my thoughts and bring tears to my eyes. I can't get over how much the spirit touches me and whispers sweet things in my ears.

Brother Picket said that if there was no bitterness to touch the Earth, we would not know what sweetness is. A quote from a movie stated, without suffering, there would be no compassion. How true it is!

I have been listening to Audio Books on the way to work for the past week and one I listened to is "Charly". There was another line that touched me and it was, "Just remember this, the Church is perfect, but the people may not always be. If they were, they wouldn't be there."

My sister was having a hard time at the church she was going to in 2006. A lot of people whispered behind her back because of some bad choices she made (We have all made some at that age). They murmured and judged her, not always being discreet. When I asked if she was still attending church, she told me no and she explained why. That really hurt me, that in a place she should be embraced and her fellowship members (I believe) should have been helping her, they casted her out and made their candles brighter by blowing hers out.

While preparing to go home for Christmas, I planned to wrap up a Book of Mormon to give to her. I prayed for the help to find a scripture that would put her to ease. That is where one of my favorite scriptures came from. Before wrapping the book, I blindly flipped open the book and averted my eyes from it and pointed....this is what I found in 1 Nephi 8:27. "And it was filled with people, both young and old, both male and female: and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine: and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit."

To me, this meant that those who did not know the truth (Partaken of the fruit) judged others, those who knew the truth knew better than to judge. There is only one judge, no man is Him.

That moment helped to fortify my testimony.

Regardless of what "religion", I think that everyone feels that Communion/Sacrament is important.

Holy Communion

noun

the act of participating in the celebration of the Eucharist; "the governor took Communion with the rest of the congregation"

Holy Sacrament

noun

a Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper by consecrating bread and wine [syn: Holy Eucharist]

Every Sunday I attend Sacrament meeting. There, I can renew my Covenants that I made when I was Baptized on a beautiful Saturday morning (Before the Ohio/Michigan football game) in August 2006.

I was talking to one of my very best friends and she said that she was not allowed at her church to take communion. That made me very sad.

To me, church is where you go to feel good, to celebrate the love our Heavenly Father has for us. I have a church family that looks out for one another and they help each other in need and members don't have to feel alone. We have the Priesthood and Relief Society to take care of those in need.

I have not always been the most devout. I have my flaws like anyone else, but I love the way I feel when I am at church. The more I think about how emotional I was today, I think about how blessed my life really is.

From my MySpace blog after my Baptism

I guess this is sort of an update. Life is GREAT! I have started at Sprint and the training is trying but I love it! I got a free flu shot and its kicking my butt. The registration on my car STILL hasn't come in and I have 3 days until it expires (waiting for the title)...its ok. There is always room for improvement but all I know is that life feels new. I feel refreshed and ready to take it all on with my head held up high!

On November 18, 2006, I, Rosemarie Lynne Sengmany-Brauning, was Baptized as the newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! Can't explain how excited I am. It doesn't seem like a whole lot for most people but I know in my heart what I need to do for my life to be full....








I was reading 'Tuesdays with Morrie' last night and bookmarked a page that had a quote that I truly believe in. I bookmarked it because I wanted to share it with you THAT MUCH!


So many people walk around with such a meaningless life.They seem half asleep, even when they're busy doing things that seem inportant. This is because they are chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to the community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.


Wow...did that hit home for you? The quoted was dying of ALS and the author was describing the last few visits he had with his mentor and his friend. I was talking to Scott the other day and I was kinda wrapped up in the classroom gossip at Sprint and you know what he said when I was annoyed? He said, "You have to be the Zen Master, Rose. It has no relevence to your life. After the class is over you go home..." and he is right. I know he's right and yet I was falling into the mindless chatter and anger that can't control my thoughts and make me angry if i don't let it. Mind over Matter! I always seemed to have a specific outlook on life but I never could pinpoint it. I put a little icon/picture/poster thing on my profile that is white with pink writing and in black in the very center says 'Life just isn't'. I put it up because it has so much meaning to me. I feel the words and it moves me to tears if I'm taking all the words in my heart with no judgement and no interrupting thoughts about each sentence. Kristye wrote a comment about it and she put the bug in my ear to re-read it. How ridiculously true!!!

Well guys. That is about it. I would write more but I need to scoot and get a move on the road. It snowed last night and I heard sleet on the glass this morning. Ranee wrote a blog 'asians can't drive'...it was a dedication to my airy stepmom but its sort of true. Unless they're part of a racing crew, I know no one in my family can drive. Ha! BETTER LEAVE AN HOUR AND SOME EARLIER TODAY!

Have a wonderful day everyone. And know. I just adore you to peices!!!

Testimony

I’d like to bear my testimony because I know that the Church is true. There are many reasons why I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and it seems that I don’t get to tell the story enough.

My testimony is built around the discussions I took and the love I have felt during the journey I had in the destination of the truth.

My first encounter with the Book of Mormon came to me at work in the spring of 2006. When I worked for the Hotel, the girls thought it was funny to pass things through the office that they “did not want”. (I.e. dirty dishes, fast food cups, etc.” One day the Book of Mormon showed up on my desk.

I have always been very open to religion. My dad always allowed me to go to church with anyone I chose. I joined many congregations of worship starting from the early age of 4. My parents also went to the Buddhist Temple in Wichita, Ks. I have studied many churches and have asked several questions but failed to find the wholeness I was looking for.

At this time I had seen Carl 3 times in my life. It just so happened that he called me to see what was new since I spoke to him in January. (This was June at this point.) I told him about my day and about the Book of Mormon. He asked me what I was going to do with it and I said I was going to read it. (He hadn’t told me that he had been raised in the Church yet.)

Carl had been working for Dave with DR Systems and he was a real nice guy. He is also a member of the Church and invited us to join him and his family for Family Home Evening where the Missionaries would come over and go over the discussions. As I took these discussions, my heart felt like it was lit on fire; however I was still uncertain about getting on m hands and knees to pray if the Church was true. (I have been stubborn most of my life.)

Shortly after taking half of the discussions, Carl and I had decided to get married. Since I was still investigating the Church, and we were getting married in a friend’s backyard, we decided to ask the Bishop in Dave’s ward to marry us in the ring ceremony which he graciously accepted.

My father and stepmother had plans to come to the wedding. It was a very happy time! Little did I know, when they showed up, they also brought my stepbrother and stepsister that didn’t speak English! I was SO worried and upset but that was only the beginning. On the eve of my wedding, the Bishop we asked to marry us called and said that there was an emergency and he would not be able to make it. TEARS! SOBS! You couldn’t even imagine! So my mother in law called the Bishop in her ward that agreed to marry us. 2 hours later he called and said he would not be able to make it after all. My mind was a blur, I thought, this wasn’t meant to be. My family is here, thought 2/3’s of them didn’t speak English, I had a wedding planned and no one to marry us in less than 24 hours. I had the wedding shambles and didn’t know how I would ever pull out of it!

At this time, we had recently moved into the Bear Canyon Ward district and had attended meetings once at that meeting house. Not enough times to call the Bishop there. Dave’s mom was also in our ward so she gave us the number to Bishop Cutler. He said he would meet us at 10:00 p.m. that evening. “Hallelujah!” I thought. Things were going to be okay after all. But nothing could prepare me for what was in store for me.

As we drove to see Bishop Cutler, Carl and I spoke about my dad and my family that we had at home. Amazing, my dad had adopted Apple and Anna (Which my stepmother had adopted before she met my dad) and brought them to America. How they had been in the country for 3 months and didn’t speak any English, just Laos ( a lot like Thai).

When we went to meet Bishop Cutler he said,”It’s great to meet you both; I am excited about your up and coming marriage. I wanted to ask you here so that we may meet and get to know one another before the ring ceremony tomorrow. I am Robert Cutler and I spend my Mission in Thailand. My family and I just returned from there for a vacation. I speak fluent Thai……”

The Bishop held a BEAUTIFUL ceremony in both English and Thai so that everyone there could participate. It was the first blessing that Heavenly Father gave me to show His love for me. That He wanted me to be happy and that I deserved all that He could give to me.

SHEESH/ I am seriously tearing up as I write this.

I will share more as the time progresses but this moment in my life opened my eyes. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, as is Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, as all the Presidents of the Church are true prophets. I am so blessed that His Church has been restored on the Earth and I pray that you get a chance to have it touch your hearts.

The Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith