When Mother's Day [Father's Day] is Hard

This was written for Mother's Day, but is very applicable for those who struggle with Father's Day as well.

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Mother’s Day is an interesting day. There are those who could stand and speak of their amazing angel mothers and the wonderful support that they’ve had from them throughout their lives. 

I am not one of those.

There are others who can speak of motherhood and the blessing it has been in their life and the tremendous love that they have felt for their children. Because of my upbringing I have struggled a lot with motherhood. It has opened my eyes to how inadequate, weak, and human I really am.

Today I felt that I should speak to those who need the hope and healing that can only come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, especially today for some.

When we are young we have hopes, ideas, and dreams for the future. Many of those include having a family. But not everyone is blessed with a spouse or children in this life. There are many who’s hearts weep with sorrow at shattered or unfulfilled dreams.

There are others who may lose a spouse to death or through divorce, or lose their children to poor choices or unforeseen tragedies.

Life is not easy and it can hurt a lot.

I grew up with a mother who was very angry and I was terrified of her. I never wanted to be that kind of a mother. But when my children were young I saw that anger show up in myself, and it scared me.

Many times in life it is our trials that draw us closer to the Lord — if we will allow them to. Other times we may allow our trials to push us away from the Lord as we try to find answers on our own. Throughout my life I have seen examples of both. 

I have had times where the heavens have felt silent, where I’ve cried because I had no idea what to do, and where I have asked others for help, and for some reason or another couldn’t be there for me. Even in those times where I could have felt completely abandoned I have never doubted that the Lord was there. I have seen too many examples of His hand in my life.

One of my favorite scriptures is Mosiah 4:9, “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth”

God our Father is real. He knows of our suffering and He hears our prayers.

I remember one day in particular, when my children were small. I had had a rough night. I think all 3 kids rotated getting up during the night; I would get one down and the other would be up — I guess I should have been grateful that they weren’t all up at the same time — but I didn’t get much sleep. In the morning I was getting breakfast ready and was really grouchy. I felt angry at everything and didn’t want my children to have to suffer from my lack of sleep. I remember standing by the kitchen sink and words from the previous general conference came to my mind. Sister Linda K. Burton had said, “all that is unfair about life can be made right through the atonement of Jesus Christ" (Linda K. Burton, "Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?", General Conference, October 2012).

Right then I felt that life was very unfair and that a horrendous weight was on my shoulders. I really wasn’t sure what to do, but I chose to test her words. I told the kids that I needed a minute and dropped to my knees right there on the kitchen floor. I prayed to my Father in Heaven for help. I told Him that I didn’t know how accessing the power of the atonement of Christ worked, but I asked that if it were possible, that through the atonement of Jesus Christ the negative feelings that I felt could be taken away so that my children wouldn’t have to suffer.

And, do you know what?

They vanished. 

Completely. 

I stood up, ready to take on the day.

That experience was a testimony to me of the healing and enabling power that can come through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is something that I have used many times, and that power has never failed to bring the comfort that I need when I have asked for it.

One of my favorite scripture stories is found in the New Testament. The disciples are on the Sea of Galilee and the Savior is asleep in the boat. A big storm comes. Okay, so these are fishermen who live on the water so they wouldn’t be afraid of just any storm. This was much bigger than they felt they could handle.

In life we will encounter storms. Really big storms. We may feel that Jesus has forgotten about us and is sleeping in the back of the boat. We may feel afraid and unsure of how to move forward.

The disciples chose to wake Jesus,

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39).

I remember lying in bed one night listening to a thunderstorm. It was loud. The lightning was flashing and the thunder was booming and I could hear the rain pouring down. I then imagined the Savior on the waters with His disciples and realized that He is someone who had the power to say “peace” and have that storm cease.

That is the power that Jesus Christ has. 

That is the power that is available to us through His atoning sacrifice. That power can heal our hearts. That power can calm our souls. And that power is real.

President Uchtdorf, testified, “There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Hope of God’s Light", General Conference, April 2013).

That is the healing power that is available to each of us through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

In the New Testament we find the story of Jairus. His daughter is sick and dying and he comes to Jesus asking Him to heal her. On the way to Jairus’ house a woman with an issue of blood reaches out, touches the hem of Jesus’ robe, and is healed. In the midst of this miraculous healing Jairus is informed that his daughter has passed away.

Can you imagine the agony of Jairus, watching someone else enjoy what he had been hoping for, and seeing others celebrating while his hopes are dashed to pieces?

I have a nephew who was struggling with a lot of things and ended up committing suicide in 2021. I know where he is now, and I am comforted by that thought, but sometimes I just miss him. 

When dreams are unfulfilled and hearts are broken we can turn to the Savior. It doesn’t make the bad things go away, but we can find peace in Him.

The Savior, true to form, had not forgotten Jairus. He turned to him and said, “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36). Sometimes the miracles we pray for won’t come right away. Sometimes they won’t come in this life. But, if we can trust in the Savior we can find the peace we seek.

The trend of the world today is that anything hard, unfair, or even uncomfortable can be seen as an unnatural tragedy. We know, however, that life is a test, and if we did not have the trials how could we grow?

Elder Richard G. Scott enlightened us with this knowledge: “so that the period of mortal testing and growth would yield its greatest benefit, you were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality” (Richard G. Scott, "Truth Restored", General Conference, October 2005).

There is a girl who now lives in Utah named Meg Johnson. When she was younger she was a dancer. In her late teens or early 20s she came out to Utah to visit Saint George with some friends. She was fascinated by all the red rock and leaped from one rock to another until, as she tells the story, “I accidentally jumped off a cliff.” She fell and landed on the ground below — paralyzed from the neck down.

She is one who is blessed with the gift of dreams. In her book, “When Life Gets Hard, Just Keep Rollin’” she relates one dream in particular that has really impressed me. In her dream she knew that she was in the pre-earth life with a man who was wearing all white. He had a white binder and sat down beside her. He explained that during her life she would be paralyzed. She exclaimed, “I am so excited!” She then explained that she didn’t have any idea what being paralyzed would mean, “but” she said, “if that is what it would take for me to become like my Father in Heaven, I would do anything.”

I have not personally dealt with such a tragedy as she has, but others have. However, I have my own personally curated trials and challenges that will help me in my efforts to become more like my Savior and my Heavenly Parents.

But what about those times when we have worked so hard and tried again and again and have been so diligent and kept being obedient despite the obstacles? What happens when we become so worn out and tired and don’t have the strength to keep going on? Sometimes after expending all of our efforts with nothing seeming to work out, we are ready to be done trying.

I’ve been there multiple times.

In the New Testament we read about Jesus teaching a multitude when a man came to him with his son who had been afflicted since he was young. The father explained of the challenges that the family had dealt with:

“[O]fttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but,” he said, “if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us” (Mark 9:22).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared, “With no other hope remaining, this father asserts what faith he has and pleads with the Savior of the world, ‘If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.' I can hardly read those words without weeping. The plural pronoun us is obviously used intentionally. This man is saying, in effect, ‘Our whole family is pleading. Our struggle never ceases. We are exhausted. Our son falls into the water. He falls into the fire. He is continually in danger, and we are continually afraid. We don’t know where else to turn. Can you help us? We will be grateful for anything—a partial blessing, a glimmer of hope, some small lifting of the burden carried by this boy’s mother every day of her life.’” (Jeffrey R. Holland, "Lord, I Believe", General Conference, April 2013).

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24).

Sometimes when the challenges have gone on for so long and we have lost hope, we have a hard time believing that there might be a light in some distant future where things will work out. In those times we may need to ask for the help to believe.

Joseph Smith taught that, our Father in Heaven is more “boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive” (Joseph Smith, History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]). 

Test out these words and promises and come to know for yourself.

In closing, I want to wish all of you a happy Mother’s Day. For those who have been fortunate enough to have wonderful amazing mothers, be grateful. For those who have the chance in this life to be mothers, be grateful. For those who don’t have either, remember that you have a Father and a Mother in Heaven who both love you dearly and long to have you back home with them again. 

I testify that it is through the prophet Joseph Smith that the plan of our Heavenly Father has been restored to the earth. This plan provided a way through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ to give us the comfort and help that we will need as we struggle throughout our lives. As we turn to our Savior we can find the strength and capacity to continue on through the difficulties we will face.

I know God lives. I know He loves all of us. He really is there.

Prayer Seen in a Different Light

I had a few thoughts about prayer that I have had on my mind that wanted to share. My sister compiled a book about the blessings our family has seen throughout the years. Many of them were how prayers were answered miraculously. Following is one of those stories.

When I was a teenager I went with my older siblings to my grandparent’s ranch for a few weeks during the summer. They live in an isolated area where the closest neighbor is a half-mile away, and the closest town was 30 minutes away. My uncle lived a mile away.

Somewhere up the canyon a person wrecked their car and started a fire. The firefighters came, put it out and left. No big deal.

Sometime later, perhaps during the night, a strong wind started. Blowing east, it caught some of the still-living coals and restarted the fire.

At noon the next day Grandpa came in for lunch. The range fire (which eventually burned 10,000 acres — a little over 15 square miles) was common knowledge by then. Since the wind was blowing east and causing the fire to spread Grandpa decided to help my uncle attempt to save his haystack. My uncle lived on the opposite side of the highway from where the fire was raging. Grandpa had gone on the tractor and asked Grandma to come in half an hour with a hose.

Around 12:30, my aunt called Grandma wondering if she shouldn’t bring her kids over to the ranch where they would be safer. Grandma wasn’t sure. Only minutes later, the sheriff came and told my aunt to get her kids out of the house. He asked if she had insurance. When she replied "yes", he said good; there was no way they could save her house. They grabbed their shoes and came over.

At Grandma’s house, my aunt tried to stop Grandma from taking the hose to Grandpa. She said there was no way she could make it. Grandma insisted, but we all decided to pray before she left. All of us: Grandma, my aunt, cousins, and siblings, knelt down on the living room floor and said a prayer.

Grandma then left with the hose. The sheriff stopped Grandma a short distance from her driveway. She insisted that she needed to help her husband, but the sheriff said Grandpa already had help. This pacified Grandma.

We found out later that about the same time we said our prayer, the wind turned and started blowing west. The fire had already crossed the road and started burning my Uncle’s property. Then blowing suddenly west, it pushed the fire back onto itself, depriving it of fuel. The fire stopped about 50 yards away from the 40 gallon gas tank which stands near the huge haystack and my cousin’s driveway. 

Another story about prayer comes from a podcast I was listening to. 

A man was speaking at an event in another state and his youngest daughter was having a baby. He asked wife to keep him updated by text. He told the other speakers that he was going to be a grandpa again and they said to keep them updated.

There came a point at which the texts from his wife stopped coming. He asked what was wrong and she didn’t respond. Finally she texted and said the baby was born, was gray, wasn’t breathing, and was posturing (jerking which usually is a sign of brain damage). The medical staff rushed the baby off to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit and his son-in-law ran with them because he wanted to give the baby a blessing. They didn’t even let his daughter see the baby and his wife and daughter had no idea what was happening,

He felt that he needed to pray with all the people at the event. When he ran up to the microphone someone else was speaking and said, ‘Oh! Let’s see what the announcement is.’ 

He grabbed the microphone and said the baby was born but not doing well. He asked the 4,000 women in attendance to pray for him, his daughter and his new grandbaby. 

On the podcast he then said, “It’s the prayers that allow me to know God so that I can trust Him whether or not His will is to bless the baby or to take the baby. That’s what we have to remember when we’re thinking about prayer. We need to shut the door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, don’t use vain repetition, but really, really pray. Vain repetitions aren’t prayers that are repeated because then the sacrament could be called the vain repetition. It’s a matter of do you sincerely mean the words you’re saying even when you pray for the same things over and over again”.

There are miraculous answers to prayers which can bolster our faith. However, we can also overlook that fact that sometimes the little prayers, such as “I feel overwhelmed and need help figuring out what to cook for dinner tonight” can be just as powerful in the moment.

I have heard many stories about prayer, and had my own experiences with the power of prayer, throughout my life. However, another story on this same podcast helped me to see the power of prayer in a different light. One of the host’s friends posted this on Twitter:

“Today is our stake conference. We walked in late because of broadcast problems so I didn’t catch the name of the speaker. She told the story of losing her daughter. She experienced immense grief and anger at God who would allow this. She said she was given a dream about five days after her daughter’s passing.

“She was hanging, white-knuckled over the edge of a cliff with a black void below. She was terrified of falling but her hands were cut and fatigued and she was afraid of losing her grip. In her dream she got the impression to let go. This seemed impossible to her because the void below was so dark. She was terrified but again and again she was impressed to let go and finally she trusted that feeling and released. 

As she was falling she saw of net of light below her. She could tell it was going to give her a soft, safe landing. When she hit the net she felt wrapped in love and warmth. Then she examined the net and what she saw surprised her. She noticed that there were people at the ends of the net and that the weave of it was made from light that streamed from them. This is the part that caught my attention. She was told in the dream the strands of the net were made up of the prayers they had offered on her behalf. She saw people close to her who loved her and they had the brightest and the biggest strands but she also noticed that there were hundreds of people that she didn’t recognize. She was told that the people she didn’t recognize were all the people who had heard what had happened and offered prayers from afar. She closed with the message that no prayer is ever wasted.”

There is power in prayer. What if when we speak we don’t think of it as “just another prayer” but actually helping those who need it. What if our prayers are doing more than we think?

9 Verses and Receiving Greater Revelation

President Russell M. Nelson made the following statement in the April 2018 General Conference. In the April 2019 General Conference this same statement was quoted three times.

“[I]n coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost” (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”, General Conference, April 2018; see also the following from General Conference April 2019: Mathias Held, “Seeking Knowledge by the Spirit”; Takashi Wada, “Feasting upon the Words of Christ”; and Ronald A. Rasband, “Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection”).

If it is so crucial to our spiritual survival to know how to listen to, and recognize, the Holy Ghost how would one go about doing it? Answers can be found in the holy scriptures, in the words of our modern prophets and apostles, and through personal revelation.

Henry B. Eyring said the following, “The Prophet Joseph set an example for us of how to receive continual spiritual direction and comfort through the Holy Ghost" (Henry B. Eyring, "His Spirit to Be with You", General Conference, April 2018). President Eyring then explained the pattern. First, be humble before God. Second, pray with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Third, obey exactly. And fourth, "ask for inspiration, receive direction, and act on it" (ibid.).

Elder Richard G. Scott recounted a time when he was seeking for answers. He asked for help, received inspiration, expressed gratitude, and asked if there was any more. He received more. He repeated the cycle several times, and more was received each time. He then made this statement, "I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you" (Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance", General Conference, April 2009).

A few examples from the scriptures show how applying the pattern to receive revelation can work. One example is recounted in the book of First Nephi. Nephi's father, Lehi, had just shared an amazing dream that he had, and Nephi wanted to know more about it. The pattern that Nephi followed may be familiar to some: desire, believe that the Lord can make it known unto you, and ponder (see 1 Nephi 11:1). This same pattern was followed by President Joseph F. Smith when he received the vision on the Savior's visit to the deceased spirits in the spirit world while his body was lying in the tomb. President Smith pondered, reflected, and desired to know. His vision is recorded as Doctrine & Covenants section 138 (see Doctrine & Covenants 138). Another example from this dispensation is the story of a young boy who desired to know which church to join. He read the scriptures, pondered on them, prayed in faith, believed the Lord would answer him, and was given a glorious vision of the Father and the Son appearing to him in a quiet grove in upstate New York (see Joseph Smith—History 1:10-17).

If we explore the first of those scriptural examples, Nephi desiring to know for himself, Nephi followed the pattern of desiring, believing, and pondering. He was caught away in the Spirit and was asked what he wanted. He replied, "to behold the things which my father saw" (1 Nephi 11:3). The Spirit then showed him the tree, and within 9 verses Nephi had applied the pattern of revelation and received what he had asked for. 

Nephi, after receiving what he had asked for didn't say "amen" and stand up ready to move forward with his day. Nephi was listening.

I feel that the next verse is a key that can take us into a higher state of spiritual learning. A state where we can, "increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation....[and] do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly" (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”, General Conference, April 2018)

The Spirit asked Nephi, "What desirest though?" (1 Nephi 11:10). Because Nephi was listening, he was able to respond to these gentle whisperings. By taking the time to listen when the Spirit spoke to him, he was able to receive much, much more than he had asked for. In fact, the information he had received in the first 9 verses where expanded to 122 additional verses including many things that Nephi "saw [which] are not written" (1 Nephi 14:30). 

What if each of our prayers were answered to such an extent? They can be, if we take the time to listen.

Elder David  A. Bednar taught, 

"The overarching purpose of Heavenly Father’s plan is for His children to become more like Him. Accordingly, He provides us with essential opportunities to grow and progress. Our commitment to learn and live according to truth is increasingly important in a world that is 'in commotion' and is ever more confused and wicked. We cannot expect simply to attend Church meetings and participate in programs and thereby receive all of the spiritual edification and protection that will enable us 'to withstand in the evil day'...

"If all you or I know about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel is what other people teach or tell us, then the foundation of our testimony of Him and His glorious latter-day work is built upon sand. We cannot rely exclusively upon or borrow gospel light and knowledge from other people—even those whom we love and trust" (David A. Bednar, "Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing, General Conference, April 2019).

We must come to know for ourselves.

Simply Deciding to Follow Jesus Christ

Making decisions is a part of life. Throughout life, and in the scriptures, we find many different people who face challenges and temptations—some that seem easy to overcome and others that are not so easy. It seems that determining in advance what your decision will be in any outcome makes the decision-making process, in the moment, simple—but, simple doesn’t always mean easy.

The word “simple” has a few definitions including: easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty; straightforward; uncomplicated; effortless and painless. The other definition, that I want to refer to, is: composed of a single element, pure, single, not elaborate or artificial (see definition).

In the Bible we read about Joseph—a man who had a lot of trials, and hence, a lot of decisions to make. His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery, he was bought by a man named Potiphar who eventually made Joseph a ruler in his house. At one point Joseph is approached by Potiphar’s wife.

“And it came to pass…that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

“But he refused, and said…how…can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:7-9).

In his mind he had decided that he would put the Lord first, above all else. The decision to refuse his employer’s wife was already made, despite the fact that he was putting his own position at stake.

“And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her” (Genesis 39:10). Then, one day, when all the men of the house were gone, “she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out” (Genesis 39:12).

It reminds me of an old adage, “when the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.” Joseph did not have to decide in the moment how he would respond but acted on the decision he had previously made.

Where do we each stand on decisions of chastity, or any other commandment for that matter? What covenants have we made? If we have never thought about how we would handle different situations, now is the time to stop and decide. Elaine S. Dalton shared the following example from her life,

“When I was a young woman, I learned that some decisions need to be made only once. I wrote my list of things I would always do and things I would never do in a small tablet. It included things like obeying the Word of Wisdom, praying daily, paying my tithing, and committing to never miss church. I made those decisions once, and then in the moment of decision, I knew exactly what to do because I had decided beforehand. When my high school friends said, ‘Just one drink won’t hurt,’ I laughed and said, ‘I decided when I was 12 not to do that’” (link to talk).

Have we decided whether or not we will fully, and completely, follow the Savior throughout our lives? Are we acting in accordance with those decisions?

In the New Testament Jesus calls His apostles, and I find it rather telling about them by how quickly they followed when He called.

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

“And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

“And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

“And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him” (Matthew 4:18-22).

These men had probably been learning of the coming of a Messiah throughout their lives. They had probably studied the scriptures to know how to recognize Him when He came. If they had taken the time to spiritually prepare themselves for His coming, and were waiting patiently for that day, then their decision to leave their nets isn’t quite as abrupt as it might originally seem.

When we have our lives focused on the Savior the decisions can be so simple. It is when our eyes stray, or we lose focus, or our lives become cumbered, that making decisions becomes more difficult. When in a situation that we are not prepared for we have many influences that may affect what we do in the moment: the expectations of others, our own inadequacies, our desire to fit in, or numerous other factors. But, if we have our “eye single to the glory of God” (Doctrine & Covenants 4:5) then the decision is clear.

I love Elder M. Russell Ballard’s counsel about keeping our eyes focused on the Lord, and on His chosen leaders. He was specifically speaking to mission presidents, but I have adjusted it a little because I feel that these same principles can be applied in our own lives and homes.

“'Keep [your] eyes…on the leaders of the Church.…We will not and…cannot lead [you] astray.

“And as you teach your [families] to focus their eyes on us, teach them to never follow those who think they know more about how to administer the affairs of the Church than…Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ do’ through the priesthood leaders who have the keys to preside.

“I have discovered in my ministry that those who have become lost [and] confused are typically those who have most often…forgotten that when the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve speak with a united voice, it is the voice of the Lord for that time. The Lord reminds us, ‘Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same’” (link totalk).

In looking for ways to keep our eyes focused on the Lord, another thing we can do is to take time to evaluate our lives. Where is it that we want to end up? We can then determine the path necessary to get there, and then make the decisions that will lead us where we want to be. If our end goal is to live with our Heavenly Father, then we can use the resources that He has given us to help us along the path such as, prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, and obedience to His commandments. 

Prayer

When we pray, we can come to know our Father in Heaven and His plan for us. We can approach Him with our hopes, and dreams, our fears and sorrows, our achievements and weaknesses. We can receive guidance in knowing how to get to where He knows we can be. 

We must first, however, decide that we will pray sincerely, and humbly, every morning and night no matter the hour or our circumstances. By doing so we can gain the spiritual strength needed to face the challenges of this life.

Scripture Study

If we want to get nearer to God, we need to decide now that we will read His holy writ, and apply it in our lives. As we study the scriptures we can try to emulate the values, virtues, and principles we read about. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught,

“Nephi said, ‘I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.’ He was advising us to weave the fiber of scriptural wisdom into the fabric of our own being” (Russell M. Nelson, The Power Within Us, p29).

Temple Attendance

When we attend the temple we make covenants with the Lord—covenants that can empower and protect us. Nephi saw our day, and the blessings that come to those who keep their covenants:

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).

Obedience

By deciding that we will always be obedient we can have the guidance of the Holy Ghost to strengthen, and remind, us during those times when it may be hard to do so. I have an example that might seem a little silly, but I feel that it illustrates the point.

A while back I determined that getting up early to exercise would work best with my circumstances and schedule. I set my alarm, and in the beginning it was challenging to get out of bed. As I lay there, thinking of how nice it would be to have just a few more minutes of sleep, I would get a gentle reminder—I had decided to exercise and to do so would need to get out of bed. Some days it was really hard and I would ignore the feeling and hit the snooze button. However, being determined to stick to my goal I got to the point where getting up became more of a habit, than a daily decision that I had to make.

So it is with the commandments. If we are just starting to be obedient we may get a lot of opposition—from within and without. As President Henry B. Eyring stated, “In the short run, there will be troubles and Satan will roar” (link to talk). But, as we listen to the promptings of the Spirit we can be helped to make our goals become habits. We just need to decide that we will act when we receive those spiritual reminders.

One thing that I need to remember now is to get to bed earlier, so that I can keep my goal of getting up early to exercise—otherwise I am technically only keeping half of my goal. So it is with the commandments. We need to decide that we will keep ALL the commandments, not just a selective few. Elder Russel M. Nelson taught,

“Teach of faith to keep all the commandments of God, knowing that they are given to bless His children and bring them joy. Warn them that they will encounter people who pick which commandments they will keep and ignore others that they choose to break. I call this the cafeteria approach to obedience. This practice of picking and choosing will not work. It will lead to misery. To prepare to meet God, one keeps all of His commandments. It takes faith to obey them, and keeping His commandments will strengthen that faith” (link to talk).

As we are obedient to the commandments the Lord has given to us we will be greatly blessed in all aspects of our lives. Elder Koichi Aoyagi reminded us, “when we rely on the Lord and keep His commandments, He helps us accomplish things we could not otherwise accomplish” (link to article).

We must have the faith to decide, and then continue in faith and patience as we endure to the end. However, despite whatever challenges we face we will not be left alone. President Ezra Taft Benson taught,

“We will all have disappointments and discouragements—that is part of life. But if we will have faith, our setbacks will be but a moment and success will come out of our seeming failures. Our Heavenly Father can accomplish miracles through each of us if we will but place our confidence and trust in Him” (link to manual).

While thinking of those who decide to follow the Lord, I was reminded of the scripture where Alma says,

“Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people… if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him” (Mosiah 18: 8, 10).

Entering into a covenant with the Lord is like coming into the fold of God. Along those lines I was impressed by an article that I read in the Ensign about sheepfolds.

“[A sheepfold is] a simple pen [or] walled enclosure…[made of] stones, usually with thorny brush often placed into the top of the walls….

“In Israel, wolves, hyenas, panthers, and jackals are among predators that would target sheep…

“A shepherd led his sheep to food and water during the day and back to the fold at night. The shepherd would count the sheep as they returned, searching for strays if any were missing. He would then lie in the doorway of the fold to protect them” (link to article).

A shepherd is one who would fight wild animals in an attempt to protect his flock, and if necessary he would die in the process. In a like manner, the Good Shepherd will lead us to living water, and will protect us as we stay in His fold. He gave His life for us that we may return to Him, if we will repent and be obedient. Whether or not we decide to stay in His fold is our decision.

Elder Dale G. Renlund taught,

“Obedience is our choice. The Savior made this clear. As stated in the Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 14:28, Jesus directed, ‘Wherefore, settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you.’

"It is that simple. Settle it. Decide now to be exactly obedient. As we do so, our spiritual stability will be greatly enhanced. We will avoid squandering God-given resources and making unproductive and destructive detours in our lives” (link to talk).

It is only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that all mankind may be saved, and only by our obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:3). May we decide to use the resources—including prayer, scriptures, temples, and obedience—that have been provided for us by the Lord to gain “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (Doctrine & Covenants 59:23). Now is the time to decide.

The Simple Things

Just the other day I was making a box out of wood and wanted the lid to have a slot in it. We don’t have a jigsaw, so I tried the next best thing - a drill. I drilled holes all along the center, and then tried to use a chisel and hammer to connect the holes. In the process I split the wood (making it so I would have to go back to the hardware store to purchase another piece and try again). I had no idea what I was going to do the next time. I decided to say a prayer. I asked that if it were at all possible that I could find a jigsaw to make the slot. 

It took a few days before I made it back to the hardware store. While there I showed the gentleman the split wood, told him I didn’t have a jigsaw and asked if he knew of any other way to make a slot in the wood. He thought for a minute and then said he would ask the guys in the back if they had a jigsaw and if they could do it. They did! To them it might have seemed like a small—even silly—thing, but to me it was an answer to my prayer.

Many years ago I had a very clear impression that I needed to join my roommate and spend a summer with her as a sales representative in a different state, selling door-to-door. It was something that I felt very strongly that I should do, and when everything fell into place in a very short amount of time I felt confident that I was where the Lord wanted me to be.

I realized very quickly that I am not a sales-person. I absolutely hate trying to convince people to buy something they may or may not care about. There was a team of about 9 of us, including our manager, who worked together. On average, each person on my team (and in the company, for that matter) made about 14 sales each week—except me. By the 5th week of the summer I had finally achieved 14 sales. My manager pulled me aside one day and said  that this job didn’t seem to be the right fit for me. Because of the way everything had fallen into place at the beginning of the summer I knew that I was where I was supposed to be and I told him I wasn’t leaving. He gave me one more week.

I had been praying to be successful in selling and to find people to sell to—but to no avail. My prayers seemed unanswered. After talking with my manager that day I decided that I needed to try something different. For the next week I determined not to ask the Lord for a single thing, but to only express gratitude. What an amazing experience! When I turned everything over to the Lord, and simply expressed gratitude, He was able to work miracles. In that week alone I had 31 sales.

Thinking of simple things I am reminded of the story of Naaman. Naaman was the captain of the host of Syria. He was a good man, honorable, and a man of valor. He was also a leper. (see 2 Kings 5:1). He went to the prophet Elisha to be healed of his leprosy, and when Elisha sent his servant out—telling Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed—Naaman left in anger.

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

“Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage” (2 Kings 5:11-12).

Naaman’s servant had great faith in the prophet of God. He recognized that Elisha was a prophet and that Naaman could in fact be healed if he would just listen and obey. He said: “My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13). Naaman, humbled by his servant’s remarks, went to the River Jordan and washed seven times, “and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:14).

How often do we look for big thing to do to show our great faith, or our love of the Lord. The Lord doesn’t ask us to move mountains, but He does ask us to do simple things that require patience, sacrifice and faith on our part. That is how we grow.

In the parable of the ten virgins we read of five virgins who are wise and “took oil in their vessels with their lamps” while the foolish virgins “took their lamps, and took no oil with them” (see Matthew 25:3-4). The oil in their lamps represent simple things—simple acts of obedience that cannot be shared. President Spencer W. Kimball explains why,

“Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions … —these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps” (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, p256).

The Lord won't ask us to “run faster than [we have] strength” (Mosiah 4:27), nor will He ask us to do more than we are able to—with His help. He doesn't ask us to build a huge roaring bonfire, but asks that we do what we can and “Let [our] light so shine before men, that they may…glorify [our] Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Through our faith, and actions, ourselves and others can be blessed.

Nephi was instructed to build a ship to carry his family across the great ocean to the promised land. Nephi was not a shipbuilder, but he knew that the Lord would help him. When Nephi asked the Lord he did so with the intent to act. He didn’t ask the Lord to tell him what to do, but instead asked for help with something specific—a good lesson for each of us. 

“And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?” (1 Nephi 17:9). 

With the instruction he received he then went to work. He did what he could do, and turned to the Lord frequently for more guidance. Guidance which he abundantly received.

“And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

“Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.

“And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

“And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they [his brothers] did humble themselves again before the Lord” (1 Nephi 18:1-4, emphasis added).

Nephi approached the Lord frequently to learn step-by-step how to accomplish the task at hand. Nephi moved forward—consistently—a little bit at a time. He showed the Lord his faith through the simple act of asking, and acting on the answers he received. His example of enduring, despite hardship, was key to his brothers humbling themselves before the Lord.

In the New Testament we read of some people who came to Jesus.

“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2, emphasis added).

I find it interesting that their act of service, of compassion, of helping the man with palsy, was seen by the Savior as an expression of their faith. There may have been many people who professed to have faith, and really believed that the man could be healed, but failed to act. So it is with us—we show our faith, through our actions. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).

I have found that there are times when I am trying to be faithful, but feel discouraged, overwhelmed, or that my prayers are not being answered. If have discovered that if I instead pray to know how the Lord would have me help someone else it seems to open the channels to heaven. My burdens are then lifted as I act on the impressions I receive. 

Recently I had an impression to send a simple email to a friend that I haven’t talked to for a while. She responded back with “the Lord works in mysterious ways” and said my email was exactly what she needed to hear at that time in her life. Something so simple, yet profound, gives me a greater glimpse into the workings of the Lord. President Spencer W. Kimball taught,

“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, p82).

Often times it is our hands that are needed in doing the work of the Lord. He could do everything by Himself, but that would remove the purpose of our existence—we will never learn how to be like Him by just watching.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf told the following,

“A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

“Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: ‘You are my hands’….

“As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart” (link to talk).

When the Savior called His disciple His words were simple, “follow me” (Matthew 4:19). As they followed Him they were brought to greater light and understanding. The same is true with us.

“We must the onward path pursue

"As wider fields expand to view,

"And follow him unceasingly,

"Whate'er our lot or sphere may be” 

(Link to Hymn: Come Follow Me)

No matter what this life offers us, we are here to live it day by day until the Lord calls us home. The Lord has outlined the path for us to follow. A simple path. Step by step we move slowly forward with His help. He will lead us, guide us, and bless us. We just need to be willing to act. As we do so we will find that He is right there waiting with open arms to bless us. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught,

“Our Father in Heaven is an eternal being whose experience, wisdom, and intelligence are infinitely greater than ours. Not only that, but He is also eternally loving, compassionate, and focused on one blessed goal: to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life.

”In other words, He not only knows what is best for you; He also anxiously wants you to choose what is best for you….

“Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.

“His commandments are the loving instructions and the divine help for us to close the umbrella so we can receive the shower of heavenly blessings.

“We need to accept that the commandments of God aren’t just a long list of good ideas.… They are divine counsel, based on eternal truths, given to bring ‘peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come’” (link to talk).

As we focus on the simple things in life—prayer, faith, gratitude, service—we will find joy. As we take a moment to look for the hand of the Lord in our life we will find that we are completely surrounded by showers of blessings. As we use these blessings to serve, and bless the lives of others we can find greater joy and happiness than we could have achieved on our own.