FAITH

Love it. 

I Love Converts!

My friend and I were sitting next to this guy at institute tonight and found out he just got baptized on Saturday! I can't tell you how excited I was (and still am)!

I love converts! I love their faith and hearing their stories. This guy was contacted by missionaries on the street.

There are actually a few converts in our institute class. It makes me really happy. I hope I can bring someone (or many people) into the Church as a member (I had the opportunity to when I was a full-time missionary). I want everyone to know what I know and feel the joy I feel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives. It changes lives! It is amazing and I am so blessed and so thankful to have it in my life! 

Hope

I've  been thinking about hope lately and I want to study the topic more. Tonight I read the talk, "The Infinite Power of Hope," by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2008 General Conference.

I love the above quote. That really sums up what hope is. I should read that often. Hope can be a hard thing to have, but can bless our lives so much.

The Lord Will Provide

I was reading in 1 Nephi 17 tonight and came across some cool things. This chapter tells us that Nephi is commanded to build a boat. His brothers complain and don't believe that he can construct a boat. Nephi tries to teach Laman and Lemuel about faith and that the Lord will provide. He uses a couple of examples from the scriptures. One in particular stood out to me. He recounted how Moses smote a rock and water gushed out of it. For some reason, I wasn't familiar with this story. So, I went to the Bible where the story is told. There are a couple accounts of the story. The people of Israel were complaining of thirst and that they didn't have water. So, Moses went to the Lord and asked him what he should do. The Lord took care of it by providing a great miracle.

It's really cool. The takeaway - God will always provide. He loves us and will take care of us. He will open up doors that seem closed and provide a way when it seems there is no way. He is just as much a God of miracles today as he was back then.

I love the following verse from earlier in Chapter 17: "And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness."

"God is in the Midst of her"

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof...

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her...

10 Be still and know that I am God....

I came across these passages tonight and absolutely loved them! I was familiar with verse 10, but had not read the other verses in this psalm (Psalms 46). I especially love verse 5. With God, we are strong! He will help is with whatever we are going through. Just thought I'd share. 

The Power to Change

Recently, I've heard of some changes that two people I know have made in their lives (two separate instances). To be honest, I was somewhat shocked, but mostly happy. These individuals had committed some serious, serious sins. Neither if them were active in the Church just a year ago. But, both have now been able to partake of the blessings of the temple.

The Atonement is an AMAZING thing. It is only possible to change your life for the better through Christ. There is hope because of Him.

Hearing of these changes reminds me that I need to have more faith in others and see others for who they can become . I need to do the same for myself. It is also very important to not judge. 

What an amazing thing the Gospel is! 

"Content with the Things Allotted Unto Us"

I listened to this talk this morning and absolutely loved it. I love Elder Maxwell. His talks really seem to speak to me. He was a man who knew hard times. He knew what it meant to come unto Christ. (He dealt with cancer.)

I've decided I really need to listen to this/watch this several times to process everything in this talk.

But, one part of the talk I really like says, "Being content means acceptance without self-pity. Meekly borne, however, deprivations such as these can end up being like excavations that make room for greatly enlarged souls. Some undergo searing developments that cut suddenly into mortality’s status quo. Some have trials to pass through, while still others have allotments they are to live with."

I don't think he is saying we need to resign ourselves and think, "Well, my life stinks. That's just the way it is. It'll never get better." 

No, I think he's saying we need to think more along the lines of, "Ok. This is a trial I have been given. Heavenly Father wants me to go through this. I can do this. I can make it. I can be stronger because of this."

So many things to think about. Hope this uplifts and comforts you as well.