Keep Moving Forward

Are you feeling stuck in your life? Confined by your weaknesses? Like you will never be able to escape?

Many are in the same boat, we all feel like we are stuck at one time or another. It's easy to and it is one of the most effective tools of the adversary, making us feel like we are never going to be good enough. He wants us to feel stick, like we can't grow anymore or progress because our weaknesses are just too great. He wants us to feel like if we are one way, we can never evolve as a person and improve.


Can I just tell you how big of a lie this is?

This is something I know I have felt in my life, like I will never improve or be better because of certain weaknesses. These are our walls. These are things we have to bring down, climb over, or destroy to be able to overcome. Sometiems these walls are tall, thick, and strong, others don't take too much effort. Each wall represents a weakness or roadblock we have. The stronger the wall is, the longer you have let that weakness define who you are. You have confined yourself and don't feel as if you can ever destroy the walls around who you really are.

Well, you can. I promise this because it has happened to me.

Weaknesses are looked down upon by the world. No, they aren't fun, good, or anything of the sort, but they help us grow and become stronger. If we never had to overcome weaknesses, would we ever grow. NO! We would be stuck.

How do we do this? Well, we come unto Christ with our weakness and humbly seek His guidance and seek fro imporvement. We don't beat ourselves to a pulp, or beat others, because of weaknesses they have. We work together and "Keep Moving Forward" to improve. We celebrate success, no matter how small and look at our weaknesses as a chance to gain a new strength. We don't look back at mistakes, other than to learn from them. We stop living in the past and look ahead.

We need to define ourself by our triumphs, not trials. When we do this, we are way happier and just feel so much better about ourselves. Keep writing your story. I know that as you do this, you will find joy, happiness, and optimism even if the world is falling apart around you, because you will know the personal growth you are making.



Rely on your Savior, He is your #1 Fan. He will cheer you on as you turn your life towards Him and strive to improve and live His gospel more fully. There will be great joy when you see Him again, because you will do you did your best, and He made up the rest. I know this to be true.

I love you all!
Love,
Sister Mackenzie Esmond

Granite vs. Sandstone

There has been something on my mind lately that has been driving me crazy. What is it? It is a plague that was not very common and quite mocked before I came out, but now it is acceptable. 17 months later, and a social, worldy plague is sweeping us. What is it?

Selfies.

I see people posting selfies constantly that are obvious grabs for attention. There are 2 different kinds of attention though, and we often forget this.

Selfies are often posted in hopes that someone will compliment you for an outfit, how attractive you are, and how jealous they are that you look like that. This isn't good attention. This is building your self-esteem at such a superficial level that it will crumble inevitably one day. Building your self-esteem off your looks and not who you are is probably the worst idea ever. This is a foundation set to crumble.

So how do you build self-esteem that will withstand the world's put downs, insults, and disgusting jabs? The answer is in the Book of Mormon in Helaman 5:12:


"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."


Taking this council as well as what we are told in Romans 8:16 where it states, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:", we know that this is the solid foundation and where we need to start. We need to know we are Children of a loving Heavenly Father who let's us have trials but never leaves us alone, but wants us to grow. We build on this knowledge and out self-esteem will be built on a foundation that will take upkeep, but will not crumble.

It's like building on Granite instead of Sandstone. The sandstone will disinigrate easily and the granite will not.

I know that as we stop seeking the world's attention in such a negative way and seek the approal of God, we will be happier and more secure with who we are because we will know who we are. Stop with the Selfies for attention and look through the eyes of Him that matters most.

I love you all!
Love,
Sister Mackenzie Esmond

The Least Creative Post Ever

I am just going to say it... This Sister has run out of ideas. Poof. My creativity is dying. Soooo... This is going to be the least creative post I ever write.

I simply want to tell you I know that I am part of a work so great that has made me so much more than I could have become on my own. I love doing this.

This? What is this I speak of? I love sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, the fulness of the Gospel, with those around me. I love inviting others to take part of this peace I have found. I love having this in my life. I love being able to declare this to people around me, especially here in Mesa, AZ.


I simply want to tell you Christ Lives. That it is through Him we can find comfort, relief from guilt and shame, and know what way we should go.

I simply want to say I know that the authority from God to act in His name, the Priesthood, has been restored to the Earth.

I simply want to say that, just as in times of old, there is a prophet on the earth who communicates directly with God and his name is Thomas S. Monson.

I simply want to say that I know God has a plan for us that provides a way for us to find eternal happiness and live in our families forever.


I simply want to say I know that this is truth. I have felt it and you can to. Take these things, ponder thme in your heart, and have faith and know you will get your answer. You can know too.

I simply want to challenge you to do so. No flashiness, no crazy metaphors, no references, I just want you to think about my simple, uncreative, but sincere testimony and find out for yourself that this is true.

I love you all!
Love,
Sister Mackenzie Esmond

Visit Mormon.org to learn more and chat with missionaries. You can also click just right of this post and find me on Facebook. Comment below, anyway you are comfortable, and your questions will be answered to the best of our abilities.