Blessings Bestowed

Recently, in Relief Society, we talked about the hardships that Heavenly Father entrusts us with. Yes, I meant to say entrust. We may think our trials are simply tests or random accidents that were cruelly put upon us, but that is seriously not the case. Our trials, our hardships, our pain, is all there because Heavenly Father knows that we can handle it. He would not give us something we cannot deal with and He would definitely not give us something that He knew we wouldn't be able to come back from. Instead, He gives us what will make us stronger. He gives us what we can deal with.

When I was seven I went through a rough time. I thought that I was alone, I thought that I was never going to be able to look at my situation with a positive view. Instead, three years later, my best friend went through the exact same thing. And you know what? I was there for her. I could tell her exactly how I felt and I could be there for her. I could tell her exactly what she needed to hear--exactly what I needed to hear three years prior. I realized that Heavenly Father entrusted me with the trial because He knew that in the end it would be doing good. I helped my best friend and I never wish that things turned out differently. Why? Because then I would not have been able to be there for my best friend when she needed me most.

Another thing: When Heavenly Father knows that we need a little boost, a little nudge in the right direction when we are having so much trouble, He will bless us by putting someone in our lives who can help us. That one little thought brings a smile to my face. Heavenly Father knows that sometimes we just need a friend and He will provided us with that friend. When we cannot take another day of stress and pain, He will remind a friend that they haven't talked to us in a couple days. When we are stranded in the middle of nowhere and no one is answering the phone for a ride, He will prompt an old neighbor that we borrowed a CD about a month ago and should give us a call. That is how He works, and for that I am grateful.

About two Fridays ago I was near tears in my living room after a really tough week. I didn't want to call anyone because I didn't want to be a burden. I thought I was just going to have to suck up all my sadness and hope tomorrow was a better day. Instead, Heavenly Father helped me out. A close friend of mine called and asked if he could come over and chat because he needed a friend. That was my little blessing for the night and it helped me in so many ways. I ended up helping my friend get through a tough week and he ended up helping me get through a tough week. Heavenly Father blessed me right when I needed it most because He is always there in my darkest hours.

Looking for Signs

As an investigator, I remember looking for signs that there was a God. I remember thinking that if God really existed, He would show me somehow. I looked and looked, yet there wasn't really anything that stood out to me. And then I realized the truth. 

There are signs everywhere. The first breath of a newborn baby. The way the sun comes over the mountains  in the morning. The perfect shape of a flower. These are small things in the everyday world that astound me. I know they are proof that Heavenly Father exists and loves us enough to create such a beautiful world. 

When people asked Jesus for a sign of His greatness, for a sign of proof of His power, they did not even realize that proof was all around them. 

Seeking signs of proof is a sign of disbelief. By asking for proof, it shows that one does not believe in the first place. To ask for proof in the sign of a blue dove or a lightening strike, one is saying they cannot believe until the see something out of the ordinary or something unattainable. This is not showing our Heavenly Father that we want to believe in Him, it is showing Him that we are doubtful, that we need something ridiculous to prove to us something that already is proven. 

We might overlook the small details in life that show us the care and love that Heavenly Father has for us, but this is no reason to doubt. 

To Be Easily Offended

During the most recent time my New Testament class met, I wrote down these questions: Are we the type of people who are going to easily be offended? Are we going to be offended by God and stop walking with Jesus?

We spoke of the way some of Jesus' disciples returned home and could no longer walk with Him because they were offended by Jesus saying He was the bread of life. Yet, Peter says even if he is offended, where else is there for him to go? The other people/religions out there may not say they are the bread of life, but there are other beliefs they must agree to believe that are more ridiculous than what Jesus is saying. 

We were reminded  that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is just as it says--The Church of Jesus Christ. Not the church of Bishop So-and-so A Latter-day Saint or of Sister or Brother So-and-so. This is not the church of the members, this is The Church of Jesus Christ. If we leave the Church, we are leaving Jesus Christ. 

This made me think of my reasons for joining the Church. Yes, I came to Brigham Young University because of the environment and the people here. But the most important thing is that I joined the LDS Church because I believe in Jesus Christ and I want to be a member of His church. 

So, in reply to the question I asked myself in class that one day: No, I am not going to be easily offended. I will continue to walk with Jesus and I will continue to believe and keep the commandments and covenants in which I promised I would. 

Atoning Sacrifice

There has been a lot going on. Not only in my life, but in the lives of those around me. It's weird to think about how God's hand is in everything. In my Teaching of the Living Prophets class we talked about how the one way to offend God is to deny His hand in all things. I know better than to deny His hand in all that is going on in my life. In fact, I feel more comfortable with my life if I remember that He has His hand in all things. Back to what is going on in my life....

Recently, I had a friend go through a rough time. My friend didn't know how to handle the situation and after trying to deal with it themselves, they realized that not much can be dealt with alone and eventually came to my friends and I to talk about it. My friend knew they made a mistake and had to face the consequences. So as they face the consequences I always try to remember to pray on their behalf. I ask Heavenly Father to one day forgive this person and help them understand that while they disobeyed Him, they can one day be worthy to return to Him again. Because of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice, my friend can one day have this opportunity. For that I am so grateful. 

Not only do we all have this opportunity, but Jesus Christ knows each and every emotion we have. He knows each and every pain we feel and He has felt it before. To know this is to know of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's complete and utter love for us all. 

I went through a lot during the time when I was considering whether I should get baptized or not. It was a hard time for me because I didn't think many others knew what I was going through and I definitely knew that my friends who had been members of the Church their whole lives didn't know what I was going through. But then my best friend told me one night of all that Jesus Christ went through in the Garden of Gethsemane and how He knows those exact fears and confusions I had. That was the first night that I prayed to Heavenly Father and the first night I truly, without a doubt, knew He was there.