Fearlessly

I recently got released from my calling as the Young Women Secretary in my ward.  They changed the whole program so now there are all new people.  In being released, I have the opportunity to attend Relief Society now. I felt a little strange today, cause I feel like I have always been in Young Women's, but all is well. We talked today about having courage today to live the gospel and to stand up for what you believe. And then to teach our children and create an environment in our home to help them find the courage to make tough choices. Phew.  People shared some experiences they had in standing up for what they believe in and having the courage to "stand tall" in our beliefs.  We also talked about how in doing so we find joy and hopefully help be a light in helping others find that same joy we have as we live the gospel and receive promised blessings from doing so from the Lord.
I had an interesting experience once when I was a teen.  I was on a plane flying home from a family trip. It was probably a 3 or 4 hour flight. My sister and I were sitting on a separate row away from the rest of our family.  A man sat down next to us on our row.  Not long after the plane took off we started making conversation with this man.  Come to find out he was a psychologist.  He was traveling home from a meeting he had with other psychologists. Why I bring this up? I will tell you.  He was telling us how most of his clients are teens just like my sister and I. (same age, etc..) Somehow the topic came up that our parents were divorced.  Naturally, he seemed intrigued.  We shared some hard times that have come because of our parents' choices.  Seeing we were flying to Utah, he asked if this was where we lived. (He had a layover in Utah) We told him yes, and the first thing that comes out of this mouth after that is are you one of those "Mormon" people?! Yep, yes we are! Shocked that we didn't have horns he told a story of how once his son ran into a Mormon.  That story is not important, so we will continue with mine. Things got kind of quiet for a bit.  And then as we were landing he spoke up again.  He said you guys seem very happy. Especially for having gone through what you have with your parents getting divorced.  He said that most of the his clients who deal with trials such as ours are usually sad, into drugs, drinking, or finding other ways to try and dull the pain of hardships. He asked why we seemed so happy. Not much time to talk left, we basically told him it was because of our faith.
I believe and have faith that although hard times come, we are never alone. The Lord will always be there with us, and can provide peace and comfort for us even in our darkest moments.  That my friends is why I remained happy through the struggles of my childhood, and didn't turn to other things that would lead down to a path of unhappiness and despair.
We got off the plane and he said maybe he would have to look into our church to see if he could find out how to help his clients find that happiness.
To this day I wish I would have handed him a card to help him find the missionaries, but I was too nervous. Too scared.  He was a really nice man, and yet I was still too terrified. I learned that day that it is important and vital to the Lord to "stand tall" now and help ALL of His children come to Him.  He needs us.  Every so often I pray that this man can find the church again and open his heart to it.  Hopefully our testimony of finding joy in hard times through the gospel will have planted a seed in him. Now is the time to stand.

Lesson Learned:
"Who's on the Lord's side? Who? Now is the time to show.We ask it fearlessly. Who's on the Lord's side who?..." (Hymn 260 "Who's on the Lords side?)
To read and hear the whole hymn click here.

Arise

Lesson Learned:
"By the way you live the gospel, you reflect [the Savior's] light. Your example will have a powerful effect for good on the earth. 'Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations' (D&C 115:5) is a call to each of you. It is a call to move to higher ground. It is a call to leadership—to lead out in decency, purity, modesty, and holiness. It is a call to share this light with others. It is time to 'arise and shine forth.' "
-Elaine S. Dalton

Faith

I knew I wanted to write today. But I didn't know what about. As I sit here and ponder on what things have been on my mind lately the word faith keeps coming through. Faith. I am overwhelmed by the spirit I have felt today at church.  So many great things learned.
I have someone that I care much about investigating the church right now.  As questions arise in this person, I find myself wanting so bad to put inside them the feelings I have of the knowledge I have of the truthfulness of the gospel. I realize that this is something that will only happen when they can search themselves (line upon line), pray, and feel the Holy Ghost bare witness to them of the truth. When they feel that,  it is up to them to choose to have faith, and ultimately grow in the gospel and feel of the joy and blessings it brings. "Faith is dead without works."


Lesson Learned:

"I am not surprised that comparatively few people join the Church from among the large number on whom the missionaries call. There’s no faith. On the other hand, I am amazed that so many do. It is a marvelous and wonderful thing that thousands are touched by the miracle of the Holy Spirit, that they believe and accept and become members. They are baptized. Their lives are forever touched for good. Miracles occur. A seed of faith comes into their hearts. It enlarges as they learn. And they accept principle upon principle, until they have every one of the marvelous blessings that come to those who walk with faith in this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It is faith that is the converter. It is faith that is the teacher. Thus it has been from the beginning."

(Gordon B. Hinckley)

I look back to when I first (remember) started to gain and nourish my testimony of this gospel. It was only when I had faith that these things were true, that's when I felt for myself it indeed was.  It is a scary thing to believe in something unseen.  And yes, I may have never seen (in this earth life) Jesus Christ or Heavenly Father, BUT boy have I felt, through the power of the Holy Ghost, that they are there and indeed did all that is taught. And as I hold on to those feelings, I keep pushing through life in hopes to strengthen my faith in them and one day become perfected as the Lord would have it. 

Right now, as I wait with the unknown future at hand, people ask me if it bothers me that I don't know even when I am moving, or even where for that matter.  A year ago I would say yes. Now, I have to admit there is not a drop of fear in my heart for my future. (Maybe a bit of anxiousness, but not fear)  I have faith. Faith in the Lord that He has a plan for us and that we will be happy. No matter where, when, or what we are doing. No matter the hardships that come, the mountains to climb, or the rivers to cross. He knows all, He is there, and I have faith that I have a purpose in this life. And that purpose will come to pass, with much joy, in the guidance of my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Now

Lesson Learned:

"Now is the time to stand fast in our faith and on our principles. . . Now is the time to show our appreciation for the atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . .Now is the time to warn our neighbors by sharing the gospel message with them. Now is the time to provide the world with an example of decency and modesty, an example of virtue and cleanliness. . . . Now is indeed the time to show we are on the Lord's side."
Elder Robert C. Oaks

I'd rather not be one of the ten virgins that didn't have enough oil. I'd rather be the one that had plenty of oil and clearly showed the bridegroom what my intentions were. Ready. It seems I always think there will be time later to get this done, or get that done. When in reality if I don't do it then it doesn't get done. I always think, one day when I serve a mission with my husband I'll be brave enough to share the gospel. Give a random person a Book of Mormon. To be honest I don't know if I will even get that opportunity. Now, not later, is the time to live the Gospel. Right now. So here I go, trying to be more brave and as each day comes to try and fully live it better according to what I know to be true. Be more willing. Be more charitable. Have more faith. Today is the day I try to live up to my potential as a daughter of Heavenly Father. 

french horn or a piccolo?

Lessons Learned:
"Truly, we may each be an instrument in the hands of God. Happily, we need not all be the same kind of instrument. Just as the instruments in an orchestra differ in size, shape, and sound, we too are different from one another. We have different talents and inclinations, but just as the French horn cannot duplicate the sound of the piccolo, neither is it necessary for us to all serve the Lord in the same way." 

(Mary Ellen Smoot)

"...No one else can do what you can do. Please do not compare yourself to others; rather bloom where you’re planted! "

 ( Janet Bradford)

"...Sometimes we question our promptings because of what I call the ‘smallness factor’.  We think that because the Lord wants us to do just a tiny thing that it is not important.  This is wrong..."

 (Janet Bradford) 

We each have our own specific purposes in this life. The Lord's work, ALL the Lord's work is important and of great worth to Him. It needs to be done. We are those that need to do it. No matter how big or small a task may feel it is still the Lord's work. I am grateful to know that as an individual, I am required to serve in my own way. 'No one else can do what I can do'  The Lord needs me over here while He needs you over there. It is all the same. It is His work. I hope to be better at 'blooming where I'm planted' so to speak. And use my talents and strengths to serve in my way. 

Instrument in the Lords hands

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to give the "Fast Sunday" lesson in Young Womens. It was one of those times in my life where I knew that the Lord had put His trust in me and I became and instrument in His hands. My lesson was on Personal Revelation. (Which is our theme for the month) We talked a lot about the different ways the Holy Ghost can communicate to us. Whether its a "still small voice", "He enlightens our minds", "causes a burning in our bosom", "He gives peace", or "line upon line, precept upon precept".  As we discussed these I felt as though I should share a personal experience: 

"My mom had gone out of town. I was about 16. It was the day she was supposed to come home and I hadn't heard from her yet. So I tried calling her. The phone didn't even ring, it made this fuzzy beeping noise and then hung up. I tried several times to call her. The thing that scared me was that it didn't even go to her voice machine.  All these scenarios ran through my head that maybe she got in an accident and her phone was smashed. It started getting late and I was getting more and more scared. I felt sick inside. So I said a little prayer and I had this overwhelming feeling of peace run through my body. I had the feeling that everything would be alright. So I continued on with my night and quit worrying. Hours later, I still hadn't heard anything from my mom. I began to worry again. Only this time more then the first time I was worrying. I had forgotten the feelings of peace that the Lord so graciously gave me. I said another prayer asking the Lord to give me comfort and to keep my mom safe. After I finished I had this feeling to read my scriptures. So I opened them and I came upon this verse:

 (D&C 6:23)

"Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have then from God?"

Lessons Learned:

I then bore my testimony on the power of prayer and personal revelation. I know that it is real. I know that the Lord does speak to us individually through the Holy Ghost. When we are worthy of it.  I also know that just because you haven't received a lightening bolt answer about something doesn't mean the Lord didn't answer you and it also doesn't mean you don't have a testimony. 

Elder Dallin H. Oaks cautioned: “Some [people] have looked exclusively for the great manifestations that are recorded in the scriptures and have failed to recognize the still, small voice that is given to them. … We need to know that the Lord rarely speaks loudly. His messages almost always come in a whisper. …Not understanding these principles of revelation, some people postpone acknowledging their testimony until they have experienced a miraculous event. They fail to realize that with most people … gaining a testimony is not an event but a process.” 

There was a specific girl in my class that I know this lesson was for. She isn't a member but she comes faithfully every Sunday by herself. I could see the light in her eyes as she took in the spirit and tried so hard to understand what was being said. I know that seeds were planted at that moment. I am grateful that the spirit was there that day to teach for me because He is a far better teacher then I could ever be.