Weak things become Strong

This morning I was reading in Alma 58,  making it through the war chapters and one verse really caught my eye, verse 37, "But, behold, it mattereth not- we trust God will deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies." In the chapters prior to this we learned that the Nephite army was significantly smaller than the Lamanite army but because they were smaller they were able to move much quicker and used this as lure to bring the Lamanites out of their strong holds. In a few different occasions they were able to recapture the cities that were rightfully theirs without any blood shed, liberating the inhabitants from bondage. I thought about how they used what would seem to be a weakness as a strength. Another scripture that comes to mind is Ether 12:27, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness, I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men who humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Just like the Nephites man has weaknesses, but it is what we do with those weaknesses that make the difference. Weaknesses when taken to the Lord through sincere pray can become strong. Often times I think that we look at a weakness as something that can never be overcome and something that will weigh us down, but as we learn from the scripture in Ether, we are given weaknesses so that we will turn to the Lord and let him make us strong. That is what the Lord intended them to be. I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and has provided every possible way for each of us to return home to him! He can make weak things become strong to us! Let us make this New Year a great year!

Barn light

On Saturday I had an interesting thought come to my mind about barn lights! We were driving down the country roads on our way home after a long day and I noticed the many barn lights that we could see from the road. Those are so familiar to me and for some reason my heart filled up with gratitude and love! I began to think about what it met to me. Ever since I can remember our barn had a barn light that would shine from before the sun would go down until it was up again. When my sister and I shared a room that had a north facing window the barn light would shine into our room each night. I remember so many times finishing hauling a load of hay late at night under the barn light or finishing loading a trailer for a show the next day. I remember the barn light burning when we would ride home late at night from checking cows or late night rides or after we finished moving pipe. The barn light would shine when we would come out late at night during calving season to check on the cows. It would always shine. I think of the Savior the same way. He is always there during the hard times and the easy times. He is with us when we have great learning experiences that mold us into the people that we are today. He guides us home with his light! As we go through the dark he is the light that will ways await us at home! This analogy may be a little far fetched but I am grateful for barn lights! It is a piece of my life that I will never forget, just like my Savior! I know that he lives and love us and that he is the light that guides us home! He is constant and never changing! He had given us experiences that will make us better if we let them! I am grateful for the family that I was raised in and for the experiences that I had! I am grateful for barn lights! Those memories hold  a special place in my heart!  I love my Savior! I know that each of us has something, like a barn light to me, that is constant to us that we can always rely on, that will remind us of the Savior and his infinite light for us! I pray that the next time we look at a light that we will think of the Savior and the light that he gives to each of our lives! I know he lives and loves us! May we always remember him!

True Comfort

Often times I think about the power that the Holy Ghost has in my life. Sometimes I think that he is directing me even when I don't consciously know it. He is a comforter. He guides and directs and as long as I live righteously he is always with me. I have never really realized how much he really means to me until I have been serving a mission. He bring to remembrance the things that I have been studying each day when I need them. I love the promise in Doctrine and Covenants section 84 verse 85, "Neither take ye thought before what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the works of life and it shall be given you in he very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man." That promise is for everyone every where that as we study, where ever we may be and what ever situation we will be in, the Spirit will bring to remembrance those things that we will need. When we are going through a tough time he can help us remember scriptures or bring someone to help us. One such scripture that was brought to me through my companion was 3 Nephi 22:10, "For the Mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." He brings to remembrance the covenants that we have made with the Lord and reminds us what we need to do in our lives to receive the blessings. I am so thankful for the spirit that sanctifies me and comforts me when needed. He works opposite to the advisory and brings the peace that only the Savior can give. I know that he is real and that as long as we live worthy of him he will always be with us. I am reminded of another promise that Lord makes to us "I the Lord and bound when ye do what I say but when ye do not what I say ye have no promise." Doctrine and Covenants 82:3 The Lord will always keep his promise to us! Let us each live worthy of his divine gift of the Holy Ghost in our lives daily!

Potters Clay

President Ezra Taft Benson said, "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature." Christ takes who we are and helps us to make something better! I love the scripture in Alma about being spiritually born of God and having his image in your countenance! Christ changes our countenance and our hearts! That change comes as we follow his example! It changes us from the inside out! That changes brings happiness that cannot be found anywhere else! We have to be willing to change for the Savior to change us! He is waiting to make something better of us! I love the analogy of clay in the hand of the potter. He can make a beautiful masterpiece of our lives if we let his hands change us! I know he lives and loves us! He wants to make something out of our lives! Let each of us be the clay in the potters hands as he shapes us from the inside out!

Come unto Me

Last night I was reading in Doctrine and Covenant section 34 specifically in verse 4, "And blessed are you because you believed." I love this scripture because it is simply telling us to believe! That word goes a long way! In Alma 32:27 he tell us "even if you have no more that a desire to believe, let this desire work in you." Simply believing will lead to faith in the Savior and all that he has for us! I know that as we simply believe that it will be enough! I love this gospel! It was great to celebrate Christmas yesterday and remember what the Savior has done for each and every one of us. We went to a members home in the morning and she asked us what the Savior was for us. He is my Savior and Redeemer. The only way to return to live with our Father in Heaven. He provided the perfect example! I know that he lives and that he loves us! We may not be perfect in this life but he understands that and doesn't require us to be. He simply tells us to believe in him and the atonement and do our best! When we begin to work hand in hand with the Savior  and "simply believe" than our burdens will be made light! He has promised that! "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and earn of me; for I am meek and  lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto the Savior and find rest from cares! I know he lives!

Follow

I was reading this morning in Alma 20 where the Lord commands Ammon to go to Madoni to deliver his brothers out of prison. When the king asks him to come with him to meet his father his automatic response was to do what the Lord had asked him to do. I often think what would have happened if he hadn't done what the Lord had asked. I think about how often the little promptings received are pushed to the back of my mind, whether it be because I feel I have somewhere more important to be or out of fear towards what other will think of me. I have learned that one day when we stand before the Lord to account for our acts, we won't want to feel ashamed for not following him. It may not be the difference between life and death like it was for Ammon but that shouldn't matter. I love King Lamoni's response in verse 4 of chapter 20, "I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things." We are talking about the Creator of the Universe! Why wouldn't we want to put our strength in him and follow each and every prompting we receive from him? "The Lord knows both what He will need you to do and what you will need to know...You can with confidence expect that He has prepared opportunities for you to learn in preparation for the service you will give... Part of the tragedy that you much avoid is to discover too late that you missed an opportunity to prepare for a future only God can see you." President Henry B. Eyring- We can be sure to know that Gods plan is going to be the happiest and the most successful path for us to take in this life. His plan is tailor made for us, with specific trials and moments of happiness that will help us the most while we are here on Earth! Just like Ammon we have be sensitive to the spirit and follow the promptings exactly and promptly! I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and cares for us! He has our best interest in mind and wants us to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost through out our whole life to receive true happiness! I know that he lives! I know that we have a Savior who lives and died for each of  us so that as we use our agency and repent of our wrong doings and be forgiven and enjoy the blessings that our Heavenly Father holds for each of us!

Christ Changes our Hearts

I was reading this morning in Alma about the sons of Mosiah and Alma the younger. They were some of the most powerful missionaries and some of the best example to both full time missionaries and member missionaries. Their change was literally a 360! From being the vilest of sinners to powerful missionaries and "men of sound understanding" (Alma 17:2) They had done what it takes to understand the will of the Lord and all that he would have them do. In Chapter 17 we go with Ammon to the people of Lamoni. Of course we know the story of him cutting off the arms of the men who scattered the flocks, giving him the opportunity to preach to the king. I love the aftermath of what happens to the King, the Queen and the servants of the King, in Chapter 19 Verse33," They did all declare unto the people the self-same thing- that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil." Their hearts had been changed and they had become converted!  I love this quote by President Ezra Taft Benson, "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature." To be converted our environment doesn't need to change. Often we may think, that our environment should change before we can change. I am here to say that is not the case! We muct change ourselves! That change comes through the Savior Jesus Christ. He will  change our hearts and when he does those things that may have seemed so important before will cease to be as keep us from keeping his commandments. I love the example of President Joseph F. Smiths mother who said, " I cannot afford to not pay my tithing and withhold the blessings of heaven." Her heart had been changed and she understood that once keeping the Lord commandments cease to be problem, the windows of heaven will be opened. A change of heart takes time and patience, but I believe through it all we learn more than we can imagine. Christ can change our hearts! I know that is true! He wants us to turn to him! I know that through him we will have strength! He will help us rise above any physical, emotional, or spiritual slums as we turn our hearts to him!