I have learned a lot this week. It seems an everyday occurrence
that I plead before my Father for comfort and guidance. Sometimes I think I
have an idea of what I want my life to be like, but I know that God knows much
better than I do. This world can be so confusing. Without the guidance from the
Lord, with Christ as my anchor, I could never feel the peace I feel amidst so
much darkness.
Josette’s become my best girl friend here and she has such
good advice. Her and Glenn are so wonderful and I can’t get over how much
Heavenly Father must love me to continue to take care of me by placing the
perfect people in my life at the perfect time. Last night we were talking about
how we have no idea about what the future would hold and how nice it would be
if the Lord just told us what would happen. As hard as I may think it is to
never truly know what will happen, I’m so grateful I don’t. It shows Heavenly
Father’s true love for us that He doesn’t try to make everything easy for us.
I’m so grateful for my mother because ever since I was
little she taught me what I would need to know so that one day I could do it on
my own. She knew that there would come a day when she could no longer always be
there for me. She wanted me to not only survive without her guidance, she
wanted me to excel and become all she is. She has developed in such a way that
it’s evident that she walks with the Lord. Today is one of the greatest days in
the year because it is the anniversary of the day that such a wondrous spirit
entered this world. I don’t know why I was so fortunate to be born to this
amazing woman, but not a day goes by I don’t thank the Lord for allowing me to
be cultivated by her. Her example has helped me to see and understand the
Lord’s love for me.
When I got off the plane after my mission and walked around
the corner, I saw down the hall past security, my mother and family and friends
waiting for me. The instant my mom saw me she started to run. I’ll never forget
her almost getting tackled by security, but the tears in her eyes when we
embraced were the greatest homecoming I could have received. To know I am so
loved by such a beloved woman is humbling and inspiring. I am anxious to
experience the homecoming I will receive at the end of this life when I see my
beloved Father again—both of them.
While I know only 3 others are so fortunate to have such an
amazing mother as mine, I know we all have a Heavenly Father who loves us so
much, even more than my wonderful mother loves me. I can hardly comprehend my
mother’s love. I have no comprehension for the love God has for me, but I know
it’s what keeps the universe alive. His love is in everything. “God is love” (1
John 4:8)
I still have no idea what the future holds, but I do know
that as I do the little things, feasting on my scriptures, praying constantly,
immersing myself in church, I will find that I am always on the right path and
I will end up in a glorious circumstance, which I cannot now imagine, but which
I know is worth any sacrifice to obtain.
I saw this Mormon Message yesterday, "A Secure Anchor," and once again I felt
the spirit calm and bring peace to my soul. We all climb mountains, many of the
same level of difficulty, but with the gospel and with the Savior, the
difficulty is lessened. (Matt 11:28-29.) Why try to do it alone when you have a
divine being pleading to help you? We are creatures born with free agency. The
greatest challenge you and I will have is to submit that one greatest gift to
the Lord. That act is the beginning of the transformation from man to God—to
love. Think about what that means. Do you believe that God is love? Do you
believe the sacrifice of His son was His greatest manifestation of that love?
(1 John 4:9-10.)
I testify that our purpose is to become like Him. Our
purpose is to become beings capacitated with eternal love. Give yourself to
Him. You will never know the supernal joys you are designed to experience until
you do. I promise that once you do so, you will never regret it, but will pray
in humility and gratitude everyday of your life for His grand love for you.
I love teaching. It’s exhausting, more exhausting than
anything I’ve done. But I love the students. I’ve been grading all of their
pre-assessment papers and I just love how much of them comes out in their
writing that you don’t get in class. It’s like their spirits come out more. These
kids have some hard lives: from divorce, to worrying about food in the house,
relatives and friends dying, worrying about being too big or too small. They
all just need the gospel and God’s love. I know that I can’t preach that, but I
can be a light of hope and happiness in their lives and make it so at least
their Jr year of English will be a bright spot in their lives and hopefully
inspire them to see their potential and reach it.
I’m loving my YSA ward, I’ve made a lot of friends and am so
grateful that with God’s kingdom on earth, you always have a family wherever
you go. I got a pretty scary calling today, but I can’t tell you till next week!
I did go to the
temple this week. I really needed some peace, so Tuesday, Glenn and Josette
took me. The Mesa temple is exquisite. All of them are. I will never get over
the amazing feeling in the temple. I will never understand everything in this
life, but I will do everything in my power to understand what I can and to live
worthily so I can always feel that feeling in the temple. There is nothing of
greater value than my temple recommend. That unlocks the door to heaven. I
plead with everyone to do whatever it takes that you may experience for
yourselves the joy I am speaking of. That is your destiny, to be in the
presence of God forever.
I love life, God is great, and every day is a lifetime
opportunity.
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