Unusual Circumstances Make Amazing Memories

     Has their ever been sometime in your life when you did something that seemed normal to you but very unusual to someone else. It may be the way we breath, the way we pick up a utensil to eat, or maybe just the way we talk. It does not seem like a big deal until someone points out that it is very strange how we perform that certain task. We may start to question why we do it that certain way and not the way mostly everyone else does it. We can either allow ourselves to be sad because we are not normal or we can have pride in that we are unique and special.

     Ever since I started to walk, I walked on my toes. It was just the way I walked and it seemed like no big deal until I was in Elementary School. All my schoolyard chums started to notice the way I walked and I started to get all sorts of questions. They started to call me names like Twinkle Toes and it really bothered me. I was just walking the way I always walked and it wasn't like I was doing it on purpose. Well, after going to a few physical therapists and a lot of foot and leg exercises, I started to not walk on my toes as much but I still tend to put more pressure on my toes rather than my heals. I have come to the realization that that is who I am and it makes me me! If you see me walking and I'm on my toes, you better know I am grateful to be an awkward walker!

     Heavenly Father makes us all in different ways because we are all unique in his ways. It can be as big as having a physical disability or as small as walking a little funny. Heavenly Father thinks we are special and it does not matter to him what we look like, It only matters that we are trying to live our life the way God wants us too. He loves us and only if we could see into his eyes, then we would start to really realize how special we are! After we die, we will all one day have a perfect body because we will be Resurrected; which means the reuniting of our body and spirit in a perfect form. We will have a perfect body one day where we will not have to worry about our bodies imperfections, but until that day, we can be grateful for what we do have! I have said this a lot but I will say it one more time, we are all spirit sons and daughters of God!

Music: How Sweet It Is

     I have always had a strong love for music and not just one genre but many. I remember when I was about 12, whenever I was in the car with my mom in the evening time, we would listen to jazz music. I just loved the calming and soothing sound it had. All I needed sometimes was to just listen to some amazing Jazz musicians like Miles Davis. I don't know if you would consider Blood Sweat and Tears Jazz, but they also had some great music. When I got a little older I started to listen to more punk rock bands because that is just what punk 14 year old's listen too. It wasn't until high school when I really started getting into Alternative Rock. The sound of that the guitar makes from such bands as Weezer, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Modest Mouse, The Get Up Kids, and so many other bands that I can't remember right now; that is probably a good thing.


     The reason why I am so into music is because of the sound, but more importantly because of the way it makes me feel. I am not a fan of music that is depressing or degrading because It makes me feel dirty inside and just sad and droopy. Music relates to life, we can be influenced by the media by the things that we listen to, watch, feel, and even say. If we are surrounded by good uplifting things, we will be a little more optimistic on life. If we are surrounded by negative things, we can be a little more negative and feel lonely. I know that media can be an amazing thing to help give us motivation to be happy and media can also be Satan's trap to tell us we are nothing. We are all children of God and we are a threat to the Devil. I believe that if we use the media to inspire us to further God's Word, we can have confidence that we are truly special in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

     Well, God be with you till we blog again!

My Religion: In Pictures

     I hope that you enjoy this blog! It will go across what my religion is, in pictures!




































Come and check out our church. You can find the closest church to you on www.mormon.org. God loves us and he allowed his Son to create a church where we can belong in today!

The Path to Forgiveness

     "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seventy times seven."- Matthew 18:21-22. I love this scripture and not only the look that must have been on the Apostle Peter's face when he was told to constantly forgive the people that wrong him. Jesus Christ was the perfect example of forgiving others because of the Atonement, which is the process that Jesus Christ went through to cleanse all of our sins.. Down here in the South, everyone can quote John 3:16, which talks about the love that God had and that He sent His Only Begotten in the World to die for us. I can't imagine anyone so willing to suffer for everyone's pains and mistakes as the Savior was. His heart was so full of love and compassion and he shared it in the most unselfish and absolute loving way.

   

     I know that it is really hard to sometimes forgive someone and especially when someone does something completely wrong. I can sometimes get really mad when someone does something to wrong me. the Holy Ghost works in mysterious ways because it lets me soon realize all the dumb things that I have done to others and how they have forgiven me. The feeling that I had when someone had forgiven me was so refreshing and comforting. Just imagine when we truly repent and ask forgiveness for our sins, the Savior will let us feel that refreshing comfort. If the Savior is willing to forgive us for our wrong doings and mistakes, it will be a little easier for us to forgive others for their mistakes as well. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World and he did appear to Joseph Smith who was given the power to establish Christ's church once again on the Earth. Thanks so much for reading this blog and I hope you have a great day!

How Do You Eat An Elephant? One Bite At A Time

     This has to be one of the funniest and corniest quotes that I have ever heard but it is so true! I remember when I was in the 9th grade, I was struggling in school. I remember getting so many homework assignments and getting so stressed out! I never knew how I was going to be able to get good grades and not suffer in my classes. One day my dad just simply told me Elder Stout; he probably said Sam, "How do you Eat an Elephant?" Now I remember my pie eating contest days and remembering that you have to keep taking good consistent bites. You will never be able to eat a whole pie in one bite. It is the same thing in life, we will usually never be able to accomplish the things we want to get accomplished all at once.

     It is hard for me to be patient and wait for something that I most desperately desire. But I think President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can explain this better than I ever can.

     This video gives me comfort we just need to keep trying to do what is right. We will all slip off and stumble at times but we just need to keep on moving forward and trying to do what is right! Remember, how do you eat an elephant?!

Inside The Missionaries Studio: Elder Sam Stout

     I have written plenty of blogs and the funny thing is that I really have never written one that has described who I am. Well, my name is Elder Sam Stout and I hail from the good old land of Ogden, Utah. My fathers name is Mike and my mothers name is Jane and they have been some of the biggest motivating factors in my life. I have an older sister named Bailee who is married to an awesome guy named Brett and they have 2 little kiddos, Johnathon and Gage. My brother Tanner is a really funny guy who served an LDS mission to Brazil. He just got married to an awesome gal named April of which I have never met before. My other brother Derek is the braniac of the family and always has a witticism ready to be heard. He served an LDS mission in Hawaii and had a great time getting chubby. I come in last and you probably have figured out from my blog that I am the goofy looking one! I love my family so much and they really do mean the world to me!

     I have always tried to walk to my own beat and one thing that you will realize about me that will be extremely noticeable is that the clothes I wear will probably never match. I didn't plan on trying to make a statement, I just think that a brown shirt feels good with bright green and yellow plaid shorts. I really enjoy comedy and am a big fan of improv comedy. It really helps me express who I am and I get to have a lot of fun in the process. I am a mega sports fan and I love to play them as well; especially baseball and softball. One of the greatest moments in my life was seeing Matt Holliday and the Colorado Rockies smoke the LA Dodgers 10-1! When it comes to music, I'm all about alternative and if you mention anything about the Red Hot Chili Peppers; I will be on a long tangent about how they are so amazing!

     To those who do not know, I am serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I serve in the Tennessee and Western Kentucky area and really enjoy associating with the people down here. They are some of the most friendly and loving people that you will ever meet. There are plenty of reasons of why I am out serving a mission. I am following the example of a great dad and brothers who showed me by example how awesome and rewarding a mission is. I have always grown up in the church and from a young age I made up my mind that I was going to serve a mission because it was what I was told to do. One of the main reasons I am out here is because I have been given much and I wanted to help with others relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I have been able to meet some amazing people out here and it truly has been a treat to meet them and see how the Gospel of Jesus Christ has changed their lives. I am no where near perfect and I can be a spaz at times, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary.

     I hope you were able to get to know me better and God be with you till we meet again.


     

Family : It Better Be About Time

     I have been thinking a lot lately upon the importance of family. All families have their ups and their downs. I remember all the boys in my family gaining up on my sister and in turn she would lock us out of the house. I also remember trying to read a book in my room when all of a sudden my brother would come charging in and shoot a soft air bullet into my shin. The times that I remember the most with my family however are the good times. If it was either going ice fishing with my dad or going on a drive just with my mom, I cherished the special times with my family.

     The worlds view of the family is decaying by portraying the family as just a group of people who do all sorts of crazy things. God's view is that the family is one of the most important social-units of time and all eternity. With our family, we can learn about and strengthen our testimony in Christ in the home. The home can be one of the most sacred places on the whole Earth. It can also be one of the worst environments. Satan is doing all that he can to destroy families and the home. We need to protect our families and our home!

     As the Lord said about Abraham, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." -Genesis 18:19. We need to be able to allow the Lord to have confidence in our families and that our family will keep the way of the Lord. Our lives will have more meaning, we will be happier, and our relationship with God will be strengthened.

     I know that family is ordained of God and I'm so grateful for my family. My family is no way near perfect but we are striving to do what is right. God is our loving Heavenly Father and he sent his son Jesus Christ into this world to die for us! Joseph Smith was a young boy who did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and in fact translated the Book of Mormon. God Speed Till We Blog Again!


Let me know what you like and what you think I could improve on.