Come What May And Love It

Most times the saying"Come what may and love it"  is a lot easier said than done. At least for me anyways. Especially in today's world- we want instant results and control over anything and everything possible. I've found that the more power and control I try to have the more I realize there is a higher power. I know there is a God; and that everything good comes from Him. As we turn to him and try our best to follow the example he has given us true happiness can come.

I pass on Elder Worthlins challange, "...the next time you're tempted to graon, try to laugh instead..." and then come what may... and love it!

Finding the Right Tool

The other day Sister Tuckett and I were helping a member of the ward with some simple service. We were asked to take the old license plates off of a car and put new ones on. We were given the tools necessary to accomplish the job and sent outside to do it. After just a few seconds of trying to loosen the screws I realized we didn't have the right size of screw driver to accomplish the job. Being my stubborn self I tried to make it work. After several minutes of miserably failing I finally gave up and realized I couldn't do it. I needed the right tool. After swallowing my pride I finally went in and asked for a different screw driver. When I had the right tool, what should have taken no longer than five minutes ended up taking close to fifteen minutes, the job was done in no time. As we walked back into the house I couldn't help but think how much easier it would have been had I asked for a different tool right when I realized what we had wasn't going to work.  It made me think; how often have I made things harder on myself because I wasn't using the "right tool"

I know we have been given all the right tools in order to be successful in this life. Its up to us whether or not we choose to use them. When we came to earth we were given tools to help us such as; a family, prayer, the Holy Ghost, the Scriptures, and Prophets. Five major tools but not close to all of the ones that are out there. As we go through life it is up to us to choose to use them. To learn the function of each one and how each one can best help us. Some are better for certain tasks. As we get familiar with them the more we learn and realize how they can help us. I hope I can learn from my mistakes. Learn more about the tools I have available at my grasp and take advantage. I know that as I do, the Lord will bless me and will make anything possible.

Degrees

Often times we wonder how things came about.  You wake up one morning and wonder how you found yourself in this situation. Most incidences or changes don't just happen. They happen in a matter of degrees.

Amalickiah wanted to be a king over the Lamanite people. When given the chance to be a leader over a large army he took advantage of the opportunity. He convinced Lehonti that if he would take his army and surround them Lehonti would be their chief commander and he would be second in command. Lehonti agrees and over takes Amalickiah's army.

"And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer posion by degrees to Lehonti, that he died...." Alma 47:18

Just as Amalickiah poisoned Lehonti by degrees Satan too posions us by degrees. We don't just one day wake up and decide to commit a serious crime or sin. It happens a little at a time. Satan first entices us, making us believe if we follow him we will have more, and that things will be better. We become subject to his will one decision at a time until we have no other choice to but to follow him. Or so he wants us to believe.

"Yielding to his [Satan's] temptations leads down a narrower and narrower range of choices until none remains and to addictions that leave us powerless to resist." -Elder D. Todd Christofferson

I've seen this in my life and in others around me and know that it is true. I also know we don't have to let or allow Satan to poison us. By choosing to be aware of things around us and choosing weather to act or not act can make all the difference.

Hold On

My Senior year of High School I needed a quote to go in the yearbook next to my photo. After searching and thinking for a while I came across a quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt that stuck with me.

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on"

When thought about physically, it sounds impossible. I imagine holding on for dear life, not having enough rope to somehow magically tie a knot and "hold on." Just thinking about it makes me tired!

But when thought about spiritually it brings a whole new meaning. The rope once a burdensome thing I have to hold on to is now my faith and my testimony. When I think I am at the end and there is NO possible way I can go any further some how I am able to tie a knot and "hold on". I've come to realize that is doesn't "magically" or "somehow" just happen. It happens
because Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are REAL. They know me (and you) and love me (and you). They know how much rope I really have left. They will never let me fall unless I choose to do so. I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ is REAL. He came to earth, paid the price not only for my sins but for yours as well. And because of that, He KNOWS how I feel. He KNOWS what I'm going through. He has felt my worse and has felt my best, and because of Christ and His Atonement we can all return to live with Heavenly Father and our families for eternity if when what seems impossible, exercise faith, tie a knot and hold on.