People Can Change, Though Leopards Cannot

I believe that people can change. I need to believe it because I need to believe that I can change for the better. President Monson once shared the story of Clinton Duffy, who was a prison warden in the mid-twentieth century. Warden Duffy was known for his efforts to rehabilitate his prisoners. On one occasion an individual told him, "You should know that leopards don''t change their spots!" Warden Duffy's reply was, "You should know I don't work with leopards. I work with men, and men change every day."

Sometimes this effort to change takes work. Alma the Younger describes his process of changing as "wading through tribulation" and his repentance as "nigh unto death." (Mosiah 27:28) However this process is worth it. After his repentance Alma the Younger said that "there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" (Alma 36:21)

To those that are seeking to change know that you can. It may take work and you may stumble, and if you do, don't give up.  I know that with patience and faith you will be able to change.

To those whose loved ones have wandered I feel as if Alma the Elder helps to provide us with an example of what to do when he prayed for his son. (See: Mosiah 27:14) In my own . life I have seen people who provide examples of what we should do. Bishops and priesthood leaders who continue to support the members of their wards and congregations. Missionaries who continue to help their investigators. People who have loved ones who are working on changing and  continue to support them when they struggle. I have seen parents whose children have wandered and continue to. They have provided me an example of calling the wayward child to repentance but still trying to love them and not giving up on them even though it may be discouraging. As they have done so I have seen people change for the better. Sometimes very slowly, but there has been positive change.

In closing, Elder Bednar once taught:

"Acting in accordance with the teachings of the Savior invites spiritual power into our lives—power to hear and heed, power to discern, and power to persevere. Devoted discipleship is the best and only answer to every question and challenge." (Faithful Parents and Wayward Children: Sustaining Hope While Overcoming Misunderstanding) 

I know that as we continue to be loving disciples of Jesus Christ we will be able to best help ourselves and our loved ones.

I'm back! I have been trying to get people to help with this blog. Since I started it my goal was that it would also provide others and opportunity to testify and share what they are learning in their study of the scriptures. Yesterday, Sister Gessel provided the first of what will hopefully be several posts from people besides myself.

At the beginning of the Book of Mormon Nephi promises his reader "I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20) In different times the Lord's people have found themselves in captivity. This captivity may come as a result of their own poor choices or through the choices of others.

In the Book of Mormon Limhi's people were held captive in part as a result of their own poor choices. After supporting the wicked King Noah they found themselves conquered by the Lamanites. Mormon testified that "there was no way they could deliver themselves"(Mosiah 21:5) The people of Alma were also in captivity and again Mormon wrote, "For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God" (Mosiah 23:23) Both of these people were delivered from their challenges through the power of God.

When we sin it has been compared to being in captivity. (See: Acts 8:23; 2 Nephi 1:13) Someone once taught me that one reason that sin is considered captivity is that sin is addicting. Beyond that,

as we sin our choices become limited. However, if we are willing to repent and turn to Christ he will help deliver us. Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, "True repentance blesses our lives with the effects of the Atonement: we feel God’s forgiveness and His peace, and our guilt and sorrow are lifted away; we enjoy the influence of the Spirit in greater abundance; and we are better prepared to live with our Heavenly Father." (Point of Safe Return) I promise that we can be liberated from sin if we are willing to put forth our effort to come unto Christ.

Choices

As I was reading about Abinadi and Alma in these chapters the thing that kept coming back to me is that no matter what we encounter in life we always have choices.  Often we don't get to choose what happens to us, what family we're born into, what time period, whether or not we're born into a gospel-centered family, etc. But we always have the ability to choose how we will react to the situations that we are presented with.

In Mosiah, Abinadi is commanded to preach repentance to the people of King Noah and goes on to explain that unless they repent of their wrongdoings they will be brought into bondage. If the people hear him, they do not listen and when he comes back two years later it seems that nothing has changed. As Abinadi prophesies the Lord strengthens him and he is filled with the spirit. When we choose today to stand up for what we believe the Lord will strengthen and uphold us. It is up to us whether or not we will choose to follow Him. 

As Abinadi was stating all the consequences of those who choose to not repent you can't help but think of your own worthiness. It's easy in this world to be carried away into spiritual bondage if your heart and your goals aren't centered fully on the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Mosiah 12:27 it says, "ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore ye have not been wise." In this age where people are seeking wisdom from anywhere and anything it's important to focus on the source of all wisdom and truth, because in the end that is what truly will bring us happiness. 

It's been my experience that as we turn to ". . .the light and the life of world; yea a light that is endless, that can never be darkened . . .(Mosiah16:9)" even Christ, that we will find peace in Him. I hope that I can be as brave as Alma and choose to follow Christ in every circumstance and to bring others onto Him through my light and example. I know that as we draw closer unto the light that is Christ that we will be blessed. Choose to always follow Him!

Random thoughts

So I forgot my computer at my sisters. So I am writing this from my phone. So this will be a shorter post with just a few random thoughts about certain verses or chapters. 

Mosiah 5:2- I remember being taught that this verse helped to illustrate a people after they repented. Elder Robert D Hales taught, “Once we receive a witness of the Spirit, our testimony is strengthened through study, prayer, and living the gospel. Our growing testimony brings us increased faith in Jesus Christ and His plan of happiness. We are motivated to repent and obey the commandments, which, with a mighty change of heart, leads to our conversion. And our conversion brings divine forgiveness, healing, joy, and the desire to bear our witness to others” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2003, 31–32; or Ensign, Nov. 2003, 30).

Mosiah 5:15- This verse was the mutual theme while I was a missionary and I have a certain fondness for the verse because of it. Elder David A. Bednar taught that in order to be steadfast and immovable we must build on the foundation of Christ. He then shared Helaman 15 in teaching us how to build on the foundation of Christ. “And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—

“Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free” (vv. 7–8; emphasis added).(see: https://www.lds.org/new-era/2008/01/steadfast-and-immovable-always-abounding-in-good-works?lang=eng)

Mosiah 8- God speaks to his children through prophets. In the past he called prophets like Moses, and Abraham. More recently he called Joseph Smith and Gordon B. Hinckley as prophets. I know that his living prophet on the earth today is Thomas S. Monson and that if we follow the Lord's teachings through his prophet we will be blessed in all things  

Calling home

My Mom asked that I spend some time here talking about Enos and prayer which were part of my reading yesterday. But since I love her and want her to be happy I am going to post some of my thoughts about that today. So mom, this post is for you.

The story of Enos is one day Enos went hunting. While out hunting he said that he the words that his father had spoken to him concerning eternal life began to sink into his heart. He then said that his soul began to hunger. So he knelt down to pray. He prayed all day and continued to pray through the night describing his prayer as a "wrestle before God". He continued to pray until his prayers reached the heavens. Finally, the voice of God came to him and promised him forgiveness for his sins because of his faith in Jesus Christ. He then began to pour out his "whole soul" on behalf of his brethren the Nephites. He then prayed that the records in the Book of Mormon would be brought to light to bless the lives of his enemies, the Lamanites. (See: Enos 1)

Prayer helped Enos to build a relationship with God. "The Bible Dictionary teaches that "[p]rayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other." (BD: Prayer) This means that through prayer our will may come into communication with the will of the Lord. This implies that we may make our will known to the Lord and he may do the same to us.

I have a friend who once shared an experience from his mission that stuck with me. One time his Mission President shared the story of Enos with the missionaries. When teaching them he emphasized that Enos prayed until his voice "reached the heavens."(Enos 1:4)  He then urged the missionaries to go home and to pray until they felt that their voices did the same. To me this is how we should feel about our prayers, that they do reach the heavens.

The Bible Dictionary teaches that "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part" (BD: Prayer) Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught: “I testify to you that God has known you individually … for a long, long time (see D&C 93:23). He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars (see Ps. 147:4; Isa. 40:26); He knows your names and all your heartaches and your joys!” (Remember how Merciful the Lord has Been) As we recognize our relationship to God and God's love for his children prayer becomes easy. (See: 2 Nephi 26:24)


To me the story of Enos has not always been about prayer as much as it has been about a man's desire to be better. David O. McKay taught, "Man is a spiritual being, a soul, and at some period of his life everyone is possessed with an irresistible desire to know his relationship to the Infinite." [David O. McKay, True to the Faith, comp. Llewelyn R. McKay (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), p. 244]
To me  Enos' prayer is his attempt to have know his relationship with the infinite. What is more, for me it is a story of a son connecting with his father.

I know that our prayers are communication with God. I know that he hears every prayer. I know that God does want to hear our prayers. He is our loving Father in Heaven and is eager to help us. He does answer all of our prayers in his own way and in his own time.

For more on answers to prayers here is a talk from Elder Richard G. Scott.

Throughout my life I have run into various difficulties from time to time. During these times I have been reading my scriptures or have had a verse of scriptures come to mind that would comfort me. Elder D. Todd Christopherson identified 3 ways that the scriptures bless our lives, 1) they enlarge our memory; 2) the scriptures help us to distinguish truth from error; and 3) the scriptures bring us to Christ. (The Blessing of Scripture)

The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us to remember the promises of God for his children. One of the purposes of the Book of Mormon is to remind them of his covenant's with them. The scriptures also help us to remember what was done to previous generations and to help us to learn what good things that God did for them. Elder Christopherson pointed out that "The other group that “came out from Jerusalem” shortly after Lehi had no scriptures, and when Lehi’s descendants encountered them some 300 or 400 years later, it is recorded that “their language had become corrupted; … and they denied the being of their Creator” (Omni 1:15, 17)."

The scriptures also help us discern truth  from error. When he encountered false statements Christ countered with scripture. (See: Matthew 4) Another example given by Elder Christopherson is

 "The scriptures, for example, discredit an ancient philosophy that has come back into vogue in our day—the philosophy of Korihor that there are no absolute moral standards, that “every man prosper[s] according to his genius, and that every man conquer[s] according to his strength; and whatsoever a man [does is] no crime” and “that when a man [is] dead, that [is] the end thereof” (Alma 30:17–18)... Others would argue that it’s all relative or that God’s love is permissive. If there is a God, they say, He excuses all sins and misdeeds because of His love for us—there is no need for repentance. Or at most, a simple confession will do. They have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior. But a God of love does not leave us to learn by sad experience that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10; see also Helaman 13:38)."

Finally, the scriptures bring us to Christ. Jacob testified "Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ." (Jacob 7:11) Elder Christopherson stated "Because they expound the doctrine of Christ, the scriptures are accompanied by the Holy Spirit, whose role it is to bear witness of the Father and the Son" The scriptures help us to feel closer to Christ. Spencer W. Kimball said, "I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns." (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball)

I know that if we read the scriptures daily we can feel closer to God and our lives will be blessed.

Sticking to the Task

Earlier I was thumbing through an old mission planner when I came across a poem that I wrote down when I was using it and wanted to share.

Stick to your task ’til it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders are few.

Honor, power, place and praise

Will always come to the one who stays. Stick to your task ’til it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it, too;

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile

Will come life’s victories after a while.

—Author Unknown

I feel as if Nephi and Jacob are both examples of what this poem is about. In one of his final messages Nephi teaches his reader "the doctrine of Christ", faith, repentance,  baptism, reception of the Holy Ghost. After the reader does all this Nephi urges him or her "... ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:20) Dieter F. Ucthdorf taught that enduring to the end involved more than just passively enduring the struggles of life. Rather it involved actively remaining faithful to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel, and actively seeking out to do what our Savior would do. (See: Have We Not Reason to Rejoice)

In addition to our larger life goal of enduring to the end of our life we are given callings that the Lord asks us to follow through on. Nephi was an example of this when even in his final message he served as a witness of Christ. Jacob was also an example of someone who followed through on his priesthood assignment when he spoke to the people. (See: Jacob 2) 

God has provided us with tools to help us in our tasks of enduring to the end of our smaller assignments as well as to the end of mortality. He has given us the gift of prayer. (See: 2 Nephi 32:9)Thomas S. Monson taught, "When the burdens of life become heavy, when trials test one’s faith, when pain, sorrow, and despair cause the light of hope to flicker and burn low, communication with our Heavenly Father provides peace." (Finishers Wanted)

God has also given us the words of Christ which can tell us all that we need to do. (See: 2 Nephi 32:5) These words may be found in the scriptures. We may also receive guidance through the gift of the Holy Ghost. Furthermore, we have be promised the help of the Lord, that "if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability!" (Neal A. Maxwell, It's Service, Not Status that Counts)

If we endure to the end we have been promised "a beautiful refinement will come into our lives. We will learn to “do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us]” (Matthew 5:44). The blessings that come to us from enduring to the end in this life are real and very significant, and for the life to come they are beyond our comprehension." (Have We Not Reason to Rejoice)

I know that if we follow through and continue in righteousness we will feel greater satisfaction in our lives. We will have a sense of peace and security as we go about our work as we finish the tasks that the Lord has put before us.

Let There be Memes

 It is almost midnight and I was going to just out these pictures with text on them up here and let them speak for themselves. But I feel that it would be wrong not to spend some time speaking on them.

God did appear to the Prophet Joseph Smith. He does speak to us today through personal revelation to guide us in our lives and in revelation to his prophet to direct his church.











I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Even with his imperfections God was able to use him to bring about many great things. One of the best pieces on him was the announcement of his martyrdom.

"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people" (D&C 135:3)

We can know that the restored gospel is true if we ask God with a sincere heart if it is true.

Fact: Isaiah Can Sometimes be Hard

President Boyd K. Packer once shared the story of his first attempt at reading the Book of Mormon when he was 10. He said that he started reading the book and began to feel fairly comfortable with the book. Then he hit the section of 2 Nephi where Isaiah is quoted extensively. Because of the difficulty in understanding this section of the text he chose to give up and stop reading. Eventually he did return and managed to make it passed what he called the Isaiah barrier and read through the Book of Mormon. (See: Boyd K. Packer, "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ")

For readers of the Book of Mormon President Packer offers advises, "You, too, may be tempted to stop there (the chapters where Isaiah is quoted), but do not do it! Do not stop reading! Move forward through those difficult-to-understand chapters of Old Testament prophecy, even if you understand very little of it. Move on, if all you do is skim and merely glean an impression here and there. Move on, if all you do is look at the words." ("The Things of my Soul")

Jesus Christ taught us that "Great are the words of Isaiah". (3 Nephi 23:1) In the Book of Mormon we are given a commandment to search the words of Isaiah. (3 Nephi 23:1) Isaiah's words teach us about the Lord's covenants with his children as well as bear powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately Isaiah also wrote things that are harder to understand. Even Nephi knew this when he testified that "Isaiah spake many things which were hard to be understood". (2 Nephi 25:1)

 In order to help us to follow the Savior's command to study the words of Isaiah Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave the following tips to understanding Isaiah: 

"- Gain an Over-All Knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and of God’s Dealings with His Earthly Children...
- Learn the Position and Destiny of the House of Israel in the Lord’s Eternal Scheme of Things...
- Know the Chief Doctrines about Which Isaiah Chose to Write...
- Use the Book of Mormon...
- Use Latter-Day revelation...
- Learn how the New Testament interprets Isaiah...
- Study Isaiah in its Old Testament context...
- Learn the Manner of Prophesying Used among the Jews in Isaiah’s Day...
- Have the Spirit of prophesy...
- Devote yourself to hard, conscientious study..."  (Bruce R. McConkie, "Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah")

As we carefully study the words of Isaiah we will gain greater insight into what God has done for us and our eternal destiny.

The Resurrection

In light of recent events in a friend's life I would like to testify to the reality of the resurrection. The Resurrection is when "... the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal". (2 Nephi 9:13) This is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (See: Luke 24; Alma 7:12) Because of this we will all be resurrected. (1 Cor 15:22; 2 Nephi 9:22) When we are resurrected our bodies will be restored to their perfect condition. (Alma 40:23) Dallin H. Oaks taught concerning this, "What a comfort to know that all who have been disadvantaged in life from birth defects, from mortal injuries, from disease, or from the natural deterioration of old age will be resurrected in “proper and perfect frame.”" ("Resurrection")

Knowing that we will live again gives us hope for a better tomorrow. This knowledge serves as a comfort in times of loss of loved ones. Joseph Smith taught of the comfort the knowledge that the resurrection brings when he said,

"So plain was [my] vision [of the resurrection], that I actually saw men, before they had ascended from the tomb, as though they were getting up slowly. They took each other by the hand and said to each other, “My father, my son, my mother, my daughter, my brother, my sister.” And when the voice calls for the dead to arise, suppose I am laid by the side of my father, what would be the first joy of my heart? To meet my father, my mother, my brother, my sister; and when they are by my side, I embrace them and they me.

All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have seen it...

The expectation of seeing my friends in the morning of the resurrection cheers my soul and makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is like their taking a long journey, and on their return we meet them with increased joy." (The Prophets Speaks: Joseph Smith on the Resurrection)

This doctrine has served to bless and comfort me. Around this time last year I was back home for the holidays. We had just finished celebrating Christmas and I had gone up to stay with my brother for a few days. On our way back to Utah my dad called me to tell me that my grandfather had passed away the night before. The knowledge that I would see my Grandpa again helped me to get through the days that followed. I look forward to the day when I can see him again. That when I do see him he will have a perfect body. That his body will be restored to a perfect state. I know that this loss and any other loss will be made up in the resurrection if we are faithful.

The Gospel Blesses Our Lives

Reading through Lehi's last message to his children at the beginning of 2 Nephi made me think of a story that Thomas S. Monson shared:

"In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”" ("Finding Joy in the Journey")

When a man is saying what he thinks may be the last thing that he may share we believe that he tends to avoid wasting words and sharing what will be most valuable to those he is speaking to. In the cases of Lehi and Jay Hess the most valuable thing that they felt that they could share with their families was the importance of the Gospel. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses the lives who follow it. Nephi describes the life of his people while they were following the Gospel as living "after the manner of happiness." (2 Nephi 5: 27) King Benjamin, in his final words to his people said:"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." (Mosiah 2:41)

In case anyone was worried, here is Jay Hess returning home.

 In my own life the Gospel has given me greater direction and purpose. It has helped me to enjoy the peace that comes from knowing that I what the Lord would have me do.

On Trials

As I was reading today one of the things that stood out to me was the trials that Nephi had to deal with in these chapters and how he faced them. Elder Scott taught about trials:

"No one wants adversity. Trials, disappointments, sadness, and heartache come to us from two basically different sources. (1) Those who transgress the laws of God will always have those challenges. (2) The other reason for adversity is to accomplish the Lord’s own purposes in our life that we may receive the refinement that comes from testing." (Richard G. Scott, "Trust in the Lord")


In life we all encounter adversity and challenges. When we encounter these challenges it is important to remember that God's purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)This helps us to recognize that for whatever reason these trials come our way that they are there to help to accomplish this purpose.

These trials that stem from our own personal wickedness exist for three reasons:"(1) to persuade us to repent, (2) to refine and sanctify us, and (3) at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path." (D. Todd Christopherson, "As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten") At other times our trials come solely for us to receive the refinement that can only come from experience. (See: 1 Nephi 20:10, D&C 122:7)

In the midst of these trials the Lord has promised his children that he will not forget them. (1 Nephi 21:15) He will preserve the righteous by his power. (1 Nephi 22:17) Elder Quentin L. Cook shared the following insight on trials an the atonement in a general conference address:


"We are aware that many who are listening to this conference are experiencing trials and hardships of such intensity that the underlying feeling in their hearts as they approach our Father in Heaven in prayer is “Hope ya know, I’m having a hard time.”

Let me share with you the true account of one sister, Ellen Yates from Grantsville, Utah. Early in October, 10 years ago, she kissed her husband, Leon, good-bye as he left to go to work in Salt Lake City. This would be the last time she would see Leon alive. He had a collision with a young man 20 years of age who was late for his first job and had tried to pass a slower vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision that killed them both instantly. Sister Yates said that after two compassionate highway patrolmen told her the news, she plunged into shock and grief.

She records, “As I tried to look ahead in life, all I could see was darkness and pain.” It turned out that her husband’s best friend was the bishop of the young man’s ward. The bishop called Sister Yates and told her that the young man’s mother, Jolayne Willmore, wanted to talk with her. She remembers “being shocked because I was so centered on my grief and pain that I had not even thought about the young man and his family. I suddenly realized that here was a mother who was in as much or more pain than I was. I quickly gave my permission … for a visit.”

When Brother and Sister Willmore arrived, they expressed their great sorrow that their son was responsible for Leon’s death and presented her with a picture of the Savior holding a little girl in His arms. Sister Yates says, “When times become too hard to bear, I look at this picture and remember that Christ knows me personally. He knows my loneliness and my trials.” One scripture that comforts Sister Yates is “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”

Each October Sister Yates and Sister Willmore (both of whom are here together in the Conference Center today) go to the temple together and offer thanks for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, for the plan of salvation, for eternal families, and for the covenants that bind together husbands and wives and families on both sides of the veil. Sister Yates concludes, “Through this trial, I have felt the love of my Father in Heaven and my Savior in greater abundance than I had ever felt before.” She testifies that “there is no grief, no pain, no sickness so great that the Atonement of Christ and the love of Christ cannot heal.”  What a wonderful example of love and forgiveness these two sisters have demonstrated. It has allowed the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be efficacious in their lives.

Think of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane during the Atonement process, suffering agony so great that He bled from every pore.  His cry to His Father included the word Abba.  This might be interpreted as the cry of a son who is in distress to his father: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ covers all of the trials and hardships that any of us will encounter in this life. At times when we may feel to say, “Hope you know, I had a hard time,” we can be assured that He is there and we are safe in His loving arms." ("Hope Ya Know, We had a Hard Time")

I hope and pray that we rely on the Atonement as we go about our trials. That we choose to make correct choices. Then when we wander we accept the Lord's invitation to return to doing what we should. As we do we will experience strength to overcome our hardships and a greater measure of peace in our lives as we continue on our steady upward progression.

P.S. It just occurred to me that my last two posts have both kind of been about trials. I'm not sure if it has to do with my approaching finals, the rather large paper than I am working on, or the upcoming trial of reading through the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi. But I apologize for this, I have just always loved Nephi's approach to the problems he encountered in his life and there are a ton of different topics that I want to talk about in the upcoming chapters.