A Pearl...of Great Price

This week I had a difficult time preparing the Gospel Doctrine lesson (How Beautiful Upon the Mountain - Old Testament Lesson 39 -Isaiah) which focused on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  And that is because the scope of the Atonement is so wide and so encompassing, and there were a lot of scripture references in the lesson manual, and it was overwhelming.  And I was physically tired from over 2 weeks of painting my kitchen, so my brain was exceptionally tired, too.

I had a huge rough draft with more than enough scripture references, and I was very late in the week even getting that much done.  I spent as much of Friday as I could working on it, but kept getting interruptions--then when Saturday came I just was not satisfied at all with what I had.  But the Spirit always kicks in and helps me go the right direction, even if it's the last minute, so I knew I needed help from General Conference talks and that is exactly where I went and was rescued by talks from Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Bruce C. Hafen that I was able to weave throughout all the beautiful scriptures of Isaiah to help bring the Atonement up more close and personal to each of us. 

In my struggles to prepare I really related to, and was empowered by, this thought by Elder Hafen: The people in 3 Nephi 17 had survived destruction, doubt, and darkness just to get to the temple with Jesus. After listening to Him for hours in wonder, they grew too weary to comprehend Him. As He prepared to leave, they tearfully looked at Him with such total desire that He stayed and blessed their afflicted ones and their children. They didn’t even understand Him, but they wanted to be with Him more than they wanted any other thing. So He stayed. 

My thoughts:
As we study His gospel, and especially aspects of His Atonement, we too may grow too weary to comprehend, but the desires of our hearts may be that we want to be with Him more than we want anything else, and I testify that He will stay to help us.  He knows and understands the righteous desires of our hearts. 

Elder Hafen said: 
We can have eternal life if we want it, but only if there is nothing else we want more.  So we must willingly give everything, because God Himself can’t make us grow against our will and without our full participation. Yet even when we utterly spend ourselves, we lack the power to create the perfection only God can complete. Our all by itself is still only almost enough—until it is finished by the all of Him who is the “finisher of our faith.” 

My thoughts: 
And so it is through Him, and with His grace, which is an aspect of His Atonement, that we press forward and comprehend even the words of Isaiah, line upon line, and precept upon precept. And I want to be with Him more than I want anything else, even if I don't always fully understand everything about what He has done for us in the Plan of Heavenly Father. 

Elder David A. Bednar said: 
The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah. I testify and promise the Savior will help us to bear up our burdens with ease. As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will. We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances according to our will. 

 Elder Hafen: 
Grace is not cheap. It is very expensive, even very dear. How much does this grace cost? Is it enough simply to believe in Christ? The man who found the pearl of great price gave “all that he had” for it. If we desire “all that [the] Father hath,”  God asks all that we have. To qualify for such exquisite treasure, in whatever way is ours, we must give the way Christ gave—every drop He had: “How exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.”  Paul said, “If so be that we suffer with him,” we are “joint-heirs with Christ.”  All of His heart, all of our hearts.

Elder Hafen continues:

What possible pearl could be worth such a price—for Him and for us? This earth is not our home. We are away at school, trying to master the lessons of “the great plan of happiness”  so we can return home and know what it means to be there. Over and over the Lord tells us why the plan is worth our sacrifice—and His. Eve called it “the joy of our redemption.”  Jacob called it “that happiness which is prepared for the saints.”  Of necessity, the plan is full of thorns and tears—His and ours. But because He and we are so totally in this together, our being “at one” with Him in overcoming all opposition will itself bring us “incomprehensible joy.” 

"So if you have problems in your life, don’t assume there is something wrong with you. Struggling with those problems is at the very core of life’s purpose. As we draw close to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser, stronger.  If you’re seeing more of your weaknesses, that just might mean you’re moving nearer to God, not farther away. 

Mosiah 15:18

For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people; 

 One reason his feet are beautiful is that they bear the prints of the nails, the tokens of his atoning love. 

"We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

"We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. 

"God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son!"
(The Living Christ)

What Think Ye of Christ?

How do I answer the question,  
What think ye of Christ?
With my testimony.

He is Wonderful because of all the things He has done for me.  He is my Creator.  He provides me with Living Water that I shall never thirst and Bread that I will never hunger.  He is the Master Healer that can heal any ailment, the Carpenter that can fix any broken thing, the Comforter who can comfort me when nothing else can, the Shepherd who would leave the ninety and nine to find me when I am lost. 

He gives me Mercy when I need forgiveness, Hope when I feel hopelessness, and Peace to calm my troubled waters.

He is my Light to lead the way through darkness. 

He is Love beyond the power of any I can comprehend in this world. 
He is my Savior, and beside Him there is no other.  

This video, made by the Piano Guys, filmed in Brazil at one of the Seven Wonders of the World:

Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is a called “The Mission: How Great Thou Art”
The beauties of the world that Christ created with such inspiring music is a testimony to me that HE LIVES!

Miracles and Tender Mercies, Always

I have had a lot of miracles in my life.  Maybe I am getting better at recognizing them, but it seems since I was called to be Gospel Doctrine teacher in September 2012, and did not want to relinquish my calling as a stake assistant indexing director, that so many more blessings and miracles have flowed into my life than I can ever remember.  I haven't been able to do much with the indexing calling except continue to index.  I spend an exceptional amount of time preparing lessons and making powerpoints to go with my lesson for those who can't hear or open scriptures well, and because it's the most excellence visual--and now with all the amazing technology, and the many wonderful videos that the church is making, there could not have been a better time for me to start using PP.  (which was in Feb 2013)

Here is one most recent profound miracle.  Our ISP has been experiencing issues for a long time, 2 years really.  (It's almost as though Satan and his host knew I would be teaching GD and using PP and wanted to put a stop to the work!)  At the beginning of the year we had the ISP come out and check for a better place to put the dish for a signal and the only place they found was out in the field.  Tom proceeded to dig a long trench and we spent $130 for wire and PVC pipe and got it hooked up.  It worked OK for a while but about 3 months ago the interferences were so bad it didn't work good at all....super slow and you'd get a time-out or disconnected before you could get there.  Anything with a super secure website was the worst.  My parents completely lost their connection.  However, every time I sat to work on my Gospel Doctrine lesson I had enough connection to get what I needed...sometimes slow, but almost always there when I needed it.  That was a tender mercy since time is so sparse and I use so much of my time preparing.  I have also been in the middle of 'painting my way' through my house, so time was even more sparse.

To add another miracle on top of that we had heard that another DSL company had finally reached CV.  It said online service was available to my address but every time I called they said no service anywhere in our area!  It took several weeks of patient persistence and pursuit to finally achieve the miracle of being hooked up to that service before it was in the system as available.  I know it was because of my calling, and the added prayers of my Angel Joyce.

I'm so thankful to finally index again after several months of not being able to because of internet.  I am also a witness of the miracles of the work of the Lord with the hastening of the work and the advancement of technology.  I'm so grateful to be a part of it.

Trust Him!

Believing in yourself is all about TRUSTING HIM.  I believe there would be simply nothing to believe in, without believing in HIM.  Without believing in His grace.  Without believing in His mercy.  Without believing in His power to save.  Without believing He is The Way.

I was reminded of that again this morning, while studying for my next lesson, I found this talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland and wanted to remember this tender story--which I had heard before, but how easily we forget.  We need to be reminded every day of our dependance on Him.

Just like the lesson I taught yesterday, about how the Lord rained bread from heaven, which the children of Israel called Manna...and they had to work to gather it everyday, except the Sabbath, cause it wouldn't keep for longer than what they could eat at the moment.  We need the temporal sustenance of 'bread and water' each day in order to live, and we need the bread and water that the Savior represents to live eternally.  He is the only source of that which if we eat and drink--day by day--we will never hunger or thirst.

Elder Holland

My witness this morning is that he will deliver all the rest of us, too, that he will deliver the entire human family, if we will but “take care of sacred things,” if we will “look to God and live.”

The greatest affirmation of that promise ever given in this world was the gift of God’s perfect and precious Firstborn Son, a gift given not in condemnation of the world, but to soothe and save and make the world secure: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; emphasis added).

Katie Lewis is my neighbor. Her father, Randy, is my bishop; her mother, Melanie, is a saint. And her older brother, Jimmie, is battling leukemia.

Sister Lewis recently recounted for me the unspeakable fear and grief that came to their family when Jimmie’s illness was diagnosed. She spoke of the tears and the waves of sorrow that any mother would experience with a prognosis as grim as Jimmie’s was. But like the faithful Latter-day Saints they are, the Lewises turned to God with urgency and with faith and with hope. They fasted and prayed, prayed and fasted. And they went again and again to the temple.

One day Sister Lewis came home from a temple session weary and worried, feeling the impact of so many days—and nights—of fear being held at bay only by monumental faith.

As she entered her home, four-year-old Katie ran up to her with love in her eyes and a crumpled sheaf of papers in her hand. Holding the papers out to her mother, she said enthusiastically, “Mommy, do you know what these are?”

Sister Lewis said frankly her first impulse was to deflect Katie’s zeal and say she didn’t feel like playing just then. But she thought of her children—all her children—and the possible regret of missed opportunities and little lives that pass too swiftly. So she smiled through her sorrow and said, “No, Katie. I don’t know what they are. Please tell me.”

“They are the scriptures,” Katie beamed back, “and do you know what they say?”

Sister Lewis stopped smiling, gazed deeply at this little child, knelt down to her level, and said, “Tell me, Katie. What do the scriptures say?”

“They say, ‘Trust Jesus.’” And then she was gone.

Sister Lewis said that as she stood back up, holding a fistful of her four-year-old’s scribbling, she felt near-tangible arms of peace encircle her weary soul and a divine stillness calm her troubled heart.

Katie Lewis, “angel and minister of grace,” I’m with you. In a world of some discouragement, sorrow, and overmuch sin, in times when fear and despair seem to prevail, when humanity is feverish with no worldly physicians in sight, I too say, “Trust Jesus.” Let him still the tempest and ride upon the storm. Believe that he can lift mankind from its bed of affliction, in time and in eternity.

Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved!

And we must love him too,

And trust in his redeeming blood,

And try his works to do.

Believing

I still struggle to believe in myself.  I believe that is a challenge the Lord gave me to keep me humble, to build my character, to stretch my spiritual growth, and most of all to believe in Him.  To believe that His Son, Jesus Christ, has the power to reach me where I am, and to enable me with His Grace to do whatever He requires of me.  I believe in Him.  And that belief enables me to accept who I am with my weaknesses and limitations, and move forward, even if it is only 'pressing' forward (2 Nephi 31:20), to the mark of the high calling that is in Jesus Christ.  (Phillipians 3:14)

I am currently serving in my most challenging calling I've ever had:  Gospel Doctrine teacher for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my home ward.  I know the Lord gave me this calling to build my confidence and my belief in myself, and being in my 18th month of teaching I am beginning to feel that confidence build.  It also continues to teach me humility, which is absolutely necessary.  You cannot be an effective teacher without humility, because without humility you do not have the Holy Ghost and without the Holy Ghost you cannot teach.  (D&C 42:14)

I spend above average time reading and preparing for my lessons and gathering in supplemental material as the inspiration comes...plus, on top of that I prepare a PowerPoint to aid in the lesson, which has been a blessing to those in our ward who cannot hear, or who have physical disabilities not allowing them to use scriptures, and also how much more effective the lessons are with lots of pictures and videos from lds.org and other visual aids.  This sacrifice of time is the challenge I face because many other things have gone to the wayside like my blogs.  I have been having little promptings here and there to begin my blogs again, but recently the promptings have been overwhelming.  Today I was in the middle of working on my lesson and a lot of inspiration was flowing into my mind and next thing I knew I was sitting here making a blog post.

I read while I ride the exercise bike.  I have been reading a Time Out For Women Classics (Vol 2) and finished Hilary Week's section of the book which inspired me in every chapter, and some chapters made me weep because I felt the love of my Heavenly Father.  In one chapter she talked about the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 by Jesus when he lived on the earth and was teaching a multitude.  He fed them with only 2 loafs of bread and 5 fishes.  He first gave thanks for what He had, and then blessed it, and everyone was filled, and then the left-overs filled baskets.  I knew where Hilary was going with this thought even before I read what she wrote, and I knew the Lord was trying to tell me the same thing.  That He can do the same with us, even if we only have 2 small loaves and 5 small fishes...He can multiple them...He can multiply us, He can multiply the gifts and talents He has given us...to be able to fulfill the works He has given us, to feed His children.  My lessons from the Old Testament this year have been on the importance of the work of the ministry & salvation and how we are all needed to do this work to help bring salvation to as many of God's children as will.  Meaning it's their choice, if they choose it.  I have felt the Lord multiply my meager offering, which was to be willing to accept the call--scared to death as I was to teach the gospel to a room full of adults---but I accepted it and somehow managed to stand up there that first Sunday that I taught without fainting--my spirit inside leaped for joy afterwards, knowing what a great gift and blessing this calling was from my Heavenly Father. 

And while there is always adversity to anything good we do, and I have had adversity in this calling (thankfully and mercifully in small part), I have had in large part the support and love of Angels in my ward who are constantly encouraging me, hugging me, thanking me, telling me they love me, and who I know without doubt appreciate the efforts I make to be there and teach them.  And this is what the Gospel is all about.  This is what the work of salvation is all about.  I am so thankful to be a part of this work, in whatever way the Lord would use me.  I truly love the scriptures and the words of our living prophet and apostles and all who love the gospel and are as deeply rooted in their faith and testimony as I am.  I often read things and wish I could hug the person who wrote it and thank them...I am so thankful for hearts in this world with which I can connect, even if I may not know them in person.  Their belief strengthens my belief, and slowly by slowly I am beginning to believe more in myself.

PS Hilary's book is entitled "Believe in What You Are Doing, Believe in Who You Are"...which is also words of a song she wrote.  I did not connect her title to my blog til after I wrote the post.  Sweet!

No Water Can Swallow the Ship Where Lies the Master

I have always loved the song,  “Master the Tempest is Raging” 

Master! the tempest is raging!

The billows are tossing high! 

The sky is o'er-shadowed with blackness,  

No shelter or help is nigh. 

Carest thou not that [I] perish? 

How canst thou lie asleep? 

When each moment so madly is threatening  

A grave in the angry deep?

 As long as we are in mortality we can not avoid the storms of life. At those most perilous moments we do wonder why we are left to it's rage. Tho it may appear the Master is sleeping it is proof that He fears not – in His own due time He will calm the storm.

 

The winds and the waves shall obey thy will: 

Peace, be still. 

Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea, 

Or demons, or man, or whatever it be! 

No water shall swallow the ship where lies, 

the Master of ocean and earth and skies!

They all shall sweetly obey thy will, 

Peace be still, peace be still. 

They all shall sweetly obey thy will, 

Peace, peace be still.

Master in anguish of spirit, 

I bow in my grief today. 

The depths of my sad heart are troubled, 

Oh waken and save I pray! 

Torrents of sin and of anguish, 

Sweep o'er my sinking soul, 

And I perish, I perish, dear Master! 

O hasten and take control!

 

Master the terror is over, 

The elements sweetly rest. 

Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored, 

And heaven's within my breast. 

Linger, O blessed redeemer! 

Leave me alone no more. 

And with JOY I shall make the blest harbor, 

And rest on the blissful shore.

No water can swallow the ship where lies, the Master of ocean and earth and skies!  

I love that line.

 I am on His ship. 

And as long as I remain on His ship, come what may, I am safe. 

The storms will rage – they must.  

Still waters takes a ship no where. I can get no where and learn nothing without the trials of life – without the other side of Joy. 

I feel very grateful for that today.

 “Remember, remember...it is upon the rock of our Redeemer...that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds...when all his hail and mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which you are built...” Helaman 5:12

“Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire.” -Joseph Smith

No water can swallow the ship where lies, the Master of ocean and earth and skies!

Isaiah 51:12

“I, even I, am he that comforteth you.”

2 Nephi 4:26,34

“Why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow...and my strength slacken because of mine afflictions? Why should I give way...that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul...O Lord, I have trusted thee and will trust in thee forever.”

The Safety of the Boat

In Matthew 14:24-33 is the account of the disciples of Jesus, who were told by Jesus to get into their ship and go before him to the other side of the sea...while He went up to a mountain to pray...the disciples found themselves in the midst of a storm in the middle of the night, having rowed many hours and still not getting to the other side...when out on the water they see someone walking towards them, and they are frightened, thinking it's a spirit.  But it was Jesus.  Peter must have been so relieved it was Jesus that he asked if he could walk out to Him on the water.  

I often think of how this account of walking on water applies to my life. As soon as I step out of that boat to do an 'impossible' mortal action – walk on water in the midst of a dark night in a tumultuous storm – in other words, "Come unto Christ"...I have committed my life, my faith and my trust to Him. 

Jesus came to the disciples on the ship after they had toiled in the storm til the fourth watch...a very long time. They were afraid but He comforted them. 

Even without actually being able to see Jesus clearly, Peter extends faith to come to Jesus – on the water. Jesus offered the invitation that He always does, “Come.” 

Our walk through mortality is like walking on the water. 

Jesus tells us to “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” and “Come.” Jesus gives us everything we need to walk that walk of mortality towards Him and Eternal Life. But mortal as we are, and this fallen world being as it is, we turn our heads at times and loose sight of the Master, however temporary, then we sink. 

But He who has promised to deliver us to the Father by showing us the Way, stands ever present to reach down and lift us up.

  
Peter cried, “Lord, save me.” And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

The key appears to be that even a little faith will save me, so long as I get out of the safety of the boat and come to the Master. 

It requires courageous effort on my part, it requires doing sometimes hard things, it requires great faith, it requires complete trust in Him.   

It requires me to know that He will be there...even when I falter and sink.

Why ever do we doubt? 

Be not afraid. Only believe.

This Unknown Treasure

I came across this quote from a Women's Conference book in one of my notebooks and it comforted me once again.  If only I could always remember.....

“God works through the positive power of His love. When we truly learn to love God, we learn to love all things – others, ourselves, all creation, because God is in all, with all, and through all. We need not be afraid, and we need not hide behind a facade of performance. When we come to understand this unknown treasure – the knowledge of who we really are – we will know that we are entitled to the power that comes from God. It will come when we ask for it and when we trust his leadership in our lives. Our efforts should not be to perform or to conform, but to be transformed by the Spirit...the more overwhelming our tasks are, the more we understand that there is only One who can help, our Heavenly Father. Only when we draw unto Him can we learn how real He is, how much He understands, and how much He is willing to help. He knows that we are not perfect and that we are struggling; and when we accept ourselves with our weaknesses in humility, sincerity, and complete honesty, then He is with us.” 

-Jutta Baum Busche "The Best of Women's Conference" p.72

A Mountain to Climb

I find spiritual imagery so comforting and so inspiring.  I've been thinking a lot lately about my mountain.  The one I climb in mortality.  Because, let's face it, the earth is not flat.  Neither is our journey here.

On Hilary Week's album "Every Step" is a song called "Beautiful Heartbreak" that speaks legions to my heart and soul---I feel this song about my life's challenges.  I first heard her sing it at Women's Conference in April with my friend Cindy, who is climbing an even harder mountain than mine.  I really felt the power of this song when she sang it.  Hilary wrote on her blog about writing this song:

"You know – when you go through something that changes your life forever.  Something you would never choose.  Something heartbreaking.  But you go through it.  You face it – even though you’d run the other direction if you could.  You climb the mountain.   And then, somehow, some way…

You reach the top.

And the view changes completely.  And you realize the climb made you stronger, wiser - even though you would never have chosen to make the climb in the first place. 

But you’re closer.

To the Savior.

And that is something you would never trade.  Even though at times the journey broke your heart, you would never trade. 

That’s what this song is about." 

But that is only part of what she wrote about it.  You can read the whole blog post at this link. 

Going along with thoughts of this mountain climb we are on, I have received another beautiful and powerful spiritual imagery to go with it from Elder Matthew O. Richardson's talk in General Conference Oct. 2011.  

While his talk was on teaching through the spirit, he uses a story from his own life of hiking the South Sisters Mountain in Oregon, from which I gained some pretty strong insight (and a very tender mercy from the Lord).  Elder Richardson relates:

"Many years ago my children and I hiked to the top of South Sister, a 10,358-foot (3,157 m) mountain in Oregon. After several hours we encountered a long 45-degree slope of tiny volcanic pebbles. With the summit in sight, we pressed on only to find that with every step, our feet would sink in the pebbles, causing us to slide backward several inches. My 12-year-old son forged ahead as I stayed with my 8-year-old daughter. Fatigue and discouragement soon set in, and she was heartbroken, thinking that she might not join her brother at the top. My first impulse was to carry her. My spirit was willing, but sadly my flesh was weak. We sat down on the rocks, assessed our situation, and devised a new plan. I told her to put her hands in my back pants pockets, hold on tight, and—most important—as soon as I lifted my foot to take a step, she should quickly put her foot in its place. She mirrored my every move and relied on the lift that came from hanging on to my pockets. After what seemed like an eternity, we made it to the top of the mountain. Her expression of triumph and satisfaction was priceless. And yes, she and her brother were, in my estimation, real hikers.

My daughter’s success was a result of her diligent effort and how well she hiked after the manner that I hiked. As she synchronized her movement with mine, we achieved a rhythm together, allowing me to utilize my full energy."
And then later in his talk he adds:
"With the current conditions of the world...I know that your quest to improve may seem overwhelming at times. Please do not become discouraged with your progress. I think back on my experience hiking with my children. We agreed that every time we stopped to catch our breath, rather than focusing exclusively on how much farther we needed to go, we would immediately turn around and look down the mountain. We would take in the scenery and say to each other, “Look how far we’ve come.” Then we would take a deep breath, quickly turn, face uphill, and start climbing again one step at a time."

I feel, in my own life, like I am only part way up my mountain, and while the summit may be in sight, I am stuck at the pebbles.  While I am a mortal adult, I am a spiritual child.  I have not made it up my mountain without a guide--my Father in Heaven, and while much of my progress has been on my own efforts and abilities (choosing to act in obedience to my Father's will), there will always come a point on the mountain where, no matter how hard I try, I cannot progress without a higher source of power than my own.
Many of us have heard the story, or seen the photo, of the footprints in the sand, the point where the second set of footsteps disappear and the question asked, why, Lord, did you leave me at this hardest time of my life?...and the Savior says, I never left you, I was carrying you.  Well, here is an even more powerful imagery of our Savior helping us--on that mountain--as that father helped his little daughter.  He wanted to carry her, but it was out of his hands to do so.  So instead, he had her grab his back pants pockets and as he lifted his foot she was to quickly put her foot in his step, and utilizing her father's energy, and mirroring his every move, relying on that lift that came from holding onto his back pockets, and even with diligent effort (endurance to the end) and what seemed like an eternity, they did reach the top, and glorious was their triumph.  This little girl surely acquired more than just reaching the top, she acquired strength and confidence, faith and trust, satisfaction and triumph, by having been aided to reach the top through her own diligence and effort, than if she had been carried the last remaining distance.  This is how our Savior helps us.  He wants us to do it.  He stretches us beyond out limits, but He is there to give us the lift we need and with his very footprints marking the path upward.  All we have to do is hold onto Him and mirror His every move, relying on the lift that comes from hanging onto Him.  And at the top of the mountain rings the promise sure and true that "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

The Millennial Reign will come with our Savior and Redeemer, and, if we endure faithfully, never giving up, we will soar above the summit, above the clouds and the stars, with Him, to Eternal Life and Celestial Glory...worlds without end.

Never Forget That You Are Truly Precious

We are so blessed as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to have such wonderful leaders to guide and counsel us...to deliver the tender messages of the Lord to us.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf addressed the women at the General Relief Society broadcast on September 24, 2011 ("Forget-Me-Not").  I not going to color-coat my life - in spite of the wonderful blessings I have, I am challenged by mortality and I struggle and yearn for the righteous desires of my heart that have not been granted me.  I make mistakes, and I feel very alone at times and my path gets dark.  I was so very grateful for President Uchtdorf's message.  It is something that I needed to hear, truly a tender mercy from the Lord.  This is what the Lord spoke to my heart:

Be patient with yourself.  It is part of your mortal experience to have weaknesses, but don't forget to look and see your strengths, and how far you have progressed in your mortal journey.  I will help you to eventually turn your weaknesses into strengths - it's a long-term process - it's OK that you're not there yet.  Keep working on it and stop punishing yourself.  Be thankful for the small success - like the tiny forget-me-not flowers - they may seem tiny to you and go unnoticed by others, but I notice them and they are not small to me.  Noticing these tiny successes can be some of life's sweetest experiences.  Find the wonder and delight in every tiny step on your long journey.  I am pleased when you sacrifice good things for something far greater with an eternal perspective.  And don't forget to be happy now.  Your deepest desires and righteous yearnings have not been fulfilled, but don't give up hope in them.  Instead, be happy now with your garden of forget-me-not blessings--discover the treasure and the beauty and the sweetness of everyday moments, and weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder from them.  But never give up on your righteous desires.  Don't forget why you live the gospel - it is your pathway home - it is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before you.  Truly living the gospel is a joy and a delight, sweet and precious.  The what and how of obedience marks the way and keeps you on the path.  The why sanctifies your actions and magnifies your small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration.  You are not forgotten - no matter your circumstances, no matter how dark your days, not matter how insignificant you feel - I have not forgotten you.  I love you with an infinite love.  I, who created the stars in the universe, knows your name - you are a daughter in my Kingdom, you are precious.  I am here loving you even when you feel lonely and make mistakes.  You are closer to heaven than you suppose.  You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine.  Continue on in faith and righteousness. 
Rejoice! For all that was promised...will be given...and Jesus will say to all Israel, Come Home!

 "Now Let Us Rejoice" was the closing song and touched my heart, too.  President Uchtdorf also spoke in General Conference and gave another touching, similar address:  "You Matter To Him."