Finding a purpose in life.

I really have no idea how to do this whole blog thing. Letting missionaries loose with technology is like letting animals drive. But I think that I am figuring it all out.

This blog is going to have a lot of posts that are about us, and our relationship with our Father in Heaven. This first one in particular was inspired by a picture I took from the top of a building in downtown Arlington, VA. I will try to show you all the picture, but don't be surprised if it never shows up, it took me 10 minutes to figure out how to get it from my camera to the computer.

Oh wow, that was actually easy...ok let's do this.

This is a picture of Arlington, with some of the District of Columbia in it in the distance. As I stood on the 26th floor of this building looking out over the city I thought to myself, there are probably more people currently within the screen of my camera, than in the entire state of Montana (which is where I was born and raised). For a long time I have pondered on that, why are there so many people in this area?

Arlington county is one of the smallest counties in the country. It is also one of those wealthiest. I just guessed on those so don't quote me on them, but they are somewhat accurate. But these numbers are real; in Arlington county, there are more than 8,000 people/sq mile. That is way too many people! So why are they here? Most of them are here for work, or school, or just grew up here and never left. 95 percent of the people you will meet on the street here are Type A personality people, or so it seems. The life here is so fast, the people here so busy and driven, that everyone has become blind to what life is all about. They are here to make a name for themselves, to make the big bucks. But if we take a step back, what's the point? To make money?... Why?

Life has become all about material possessions, all about reputations and who you know. But what good is all of this? How fulfilling can it be? Of course money is important, we need a way to provide for ourselves and our families. And most of these jobs play a significant role in keeping our society moving. But if we step back a little further, what is the point of keeping our society moving?

 This world is in the process of moving farther and farther from a belief and worship in God, and closer and closer to a total worship of money and power. I personally believe whole-heartedly that there is a more important reason for our life on Earth.

This Earth life is not the only life, in fact the purpose of this life is to prepare for the next. We are here to learn how to make choices for ourselves, and to learn how to love and serve one another. A proper knowledge of our relationship with God can help clear a lot of this up. We are literally the children of God. We lived with Him as Spirits before this life. He loves us and wants us to be happy, but it's our job to make the correct choices in order to return to live in His presence once again.

God has given us exactly what we need to do to return to live with him. It's called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we all learned how to love and serve one another, this place would be awesome! Could you imagine? No contention, no hatred, no wars. This place would be paradise. Do your part, live the way God wants us all to live. It's not going to be easy, but why should it be? We can't grow without trials.

I know that this is a rather bold blog, but it is essential that everyone understands these basic truths. I know that God lives, and that He loves me. I know that He loves all His children and wants us to be happy. And He has provided a way for us to be happy, and to return to live with Him, through His Beloved Son Jesus Christ. I hope everyone that reads this can find some peace and comfort from this. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured.