My grandfather Charles Allan was a Scot through and through. He often quoted from Robert Burns, the great Scottish poet. One of his favorites helps us define mere pleasure:

But pleasures are like poppies spread:
You seize the flow’r, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white—then melts for ever;
Or like the borealis race,
That flit ere you can point their place;
Or like the rainbow’s lovely form
Evanishing amid the storm.
(“Tam o’ Shanter,” lines 59–66)

Only true happiness has the potential to last, to truly lift our spirits, our hearts and minds. No riches are needed; you don’t even need to have your name on all the A-list parties. Passing pleasure does not make lasting happiness. As Elder David O. McKay, then of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,  once said, “You may get that transitory pleasure, yes, but you cannot find joy, you cannot find happiness. Happiness is found only along that well beaten track, narrow as it is, though straight, which leads to life eternal” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1919, 180).

In the book of James in the New Testament, we read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5.) Here is the solution for your confusion: ask of God and He will show you the better part.

The Prophet Joseph Smith told us, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).

Virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping the commandments of God are the only true way to obtain true and lasting happiness. Pray, and God, your Heavenly Father, will tell you how to live these worthy values so that you may obtain your righteous desire and be happy.

This post was originally published on December 5, 2007. Minor changes have been made.

Ali C

There are a lot of reasons why we settle for less—from ourselves, from others, from life. We can’t do much about what others do, or about how life turns out, but we can—and we must—make the best use of our own life, of our own talents and abilities.

In the Book of Mormon, we learn about the ways we receive talents, or gifts of the Spirit, and how you should use them:

And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them.

 

And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

 

And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.

 

(Moroni 10:8,11,17)

I have long been a fan of Mother Teresa—a more giving and truly charitable person, I’ve never known. But did you know that she suffered from pangs of doubt and feelings of inadequacy? Who would ever have guessed that this remarkable woman every doubted herself or in what she was doing? Yet, she did.

Mother Teresa

She hung a poem on the wall of the orphanage she founded in Calcutta. One can only assumed that she posted it there as a reminder to herself—a reminder to keep on keeping on, even when doubt assailed her.

Our Heavenly Father loves us and He has blessed us with many gifts and talents, many opportunities, to fulfill the measure of our creation. When we are being all that we can be, we grow closer to God and our hearts are filled. It is then that we can find true joy and experience happiness in all that we do.

And so I would like to encourage you to search your heart for those things that bring you joy, because perhaps they are a priceless gift that you have yet to fully appreciate. And when life’s trials seem insurmountable and the obstacles before you loom above you, remember who you are—a child of God, an individual with unlimited potential.

Anyway Poem

 

People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

 

If you are kind,
People may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

 

If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and
some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

 

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

 

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

 

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

 

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

 

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

 

You see, in the final analysis.
it is between you and God;
It is never between you and them anyway.

This post was originally published in May 2008. Minor changes have been made.

Ali C

I hadn’t read this particular book, but I was familiar with Sister Dew and always loved her frank way of speaking and writing. As my friend explained, Sister Dew talked about the concept of submitting our wills to the Lord’s.

The perfect example of submitting is Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew that it was His Father’s plan for Him to be our Savior and atone for our sins. Yet it was not something that He particularly wanted to experience. We don’t know what was going through our Savior’s head at that time, but we do know that He asked the Father in humble prayer if this cup might pass from Him, if there was any way He could avoid what He was about to experience. Then He added, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Christ trusted in the will of the Father and submitted to it completely. There are times when we are called upon to do the same. We aren’t asked to atone for the sins of the world, but there are times when we are asked to sacrifice things we would like to have or do in order to do other things that the Lord asks of us. There are times when we have our own plans, but the Lord asks us to do something else that may not fit in with them or that even make sense to our mortal minds.

I am not familiar enough with the book by Sister Dew to know if I am quoting Sister Dew or my friend, but that’s where the concept of “…or something better” comes in. When we trust in the Lord, we realize that His plans for us are so much greater and grander than anything we could come up with on our own. And we can even reach the point where we can gladly submit to them.

So when we have a need we’re praying for, we might pray that we receive what we think we need, “…or something better.”

Joseph Forgiving His Brothers, by Ted Henniger

Joseph, sold into slavery in Egypt, told the truth and kept his virtue and was cast into prison as a result. Perhaps he prayed for release. Yet the Lord had “something better” in mind for him. In prison he was able to interpret dreams and gain the trust of the Pharaoh, and eventually save Egypt and his own family from a terrible famine. As he told his family, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5) Perhaps it was difficult for Joseph to reach the point where he believed this, but as he looked back on his life, he could see the hand of the Lord in the things that had come to pass.

Sometimes we may pray to get a particular job, or a particular date, or any number of other opportunities, only to realize later that this would have been all wrong for us. Again, the Lord in His infinite wisdom knows the big picture and can guide us toward “something better” even when we’re sure we have things all figured out.

My friend is now facing what I hope we can see as “something better” for her. She has been in and out of the hospital and so far the prognosis has not been encouraging. Saying “it must be the Lord’s will” can seem cold and hollow to someone whose life has just been ripped apart, but at the same time I know that our loving Heavenly Father is and always has been mindful of her. And things that seem tragic here in this mortal life will make a lot more sense in the next life when we, too, can see the big picture and how the Lord’s plans for us have unfolded.

This post was originally published in November 2007. Minor changes and updates have been made.

Katie P

Many years ago, I found myself facing a major change in my life. For three years, life had been unusually peaceful and I was scared of sliding back into a world of changes. I fought the change hard and had to turn to prayer for help. I went weekly during that struggle to the temple, where I took time away from the world to pray in a quiet, Spirit-filled place. As I prayed, the thought came repeatedly to my mind, “If you’re prepared, you don’t need to be afraid.”

I recognized this piece of inspiration as coming from a Latter-day Saint book of scripture called the Doctrine and Covenants (albeit paraphrased), a collection of modern revelations given to Church leaders. This particular section was given to Joseph Smith and delivered at a conference in which the people were told to go to Ohio. I accepted the comfort and set out to prepare myself for the changes that were coming. Then, completely prepared, I sat back and waited for the fear to disappear.

It didn’t.

I kept right on being afraid and fighting against the coming changes. I didn’t understand why I continued to fear when I had done as instructed. Finally, I took it to prayer again, and this time the answer came quickly and clearly — as clearly as if someone were speaking to me. The answer was this: “I said you didn’t need to fear; I didn’t say you couldn’t choose to be afraid.”

God believes in agency. He gives us the right to choose, and we can choose whether to approach life fearfully or faithfully. Fear is a choice and it was what I had chosen. I went to work strengthening my faith and life felt so much better. In time, I understood the purpose of the changes and realized that even though I hadn’t wanted them, I had enjoyed the results of the changes. God knew much better than I did what I needed.

It’s sometimes said that faith is the opposite of fear. When we’re afraid, we aren’t completely putting the situation into God’s hands and trusting Him. What I attempt to keep in mind when I’m trying to overcome fear with faith is remembering that God sees the entire picture, whereas I only see a small bit of it. He is looking at life from an eternal perspective and I am not.

This doesn’t mean that if we have faith we will never have any problems. The story of the world isn’t just about us; it involves everyone who lives on earth at any time. Everything that happens impacts many different lives, all with different needs and plans, and God must juggle all those lives. In addition, people have agency. It is a critical part of God’s plan for us that we’re given the right to make decisions. Those decisions affect our lives and they also affect others who had no control over our decisions. We can choose our actions, but we can’t choose the consequences, nor can we choose who else will be impacted by our decisions. Sometimes our trials are caused by our own decisions and sometimes by the decisions of others; in addition, some things just happen and no one is to blame, as in the case of severe weather or illness. Sometimes God sends trials to help us learn something important. It can help to remember that even Jesus experienced extraordinary levels of suffering despite living a perfect life. Trials are simply a part of every life.

Having trials does not mean God has abandoned us. He is always in charge. While He may not always step in to protect us from our own choices (or even from the choices of others), He has a master plan for all of us, and for each of us individually. The events that occur might not be the ones He would choose if He were micromanaging us, but He will not allow them to derail His overall plan for us. This means God is still in charge, and even when tragedy or trial occurs, we’re still inside the master plan and we will be fine in the eternal scheme of things.

We can’t always control what happens to us but we can choose our reactions to them. This power to choose is why two people can face the same trials and come out with different results. One person who experiences prejudice or poverty will spend his life angry and using this as an excuse. Another will use it to become stronger and overcome the challenges life has given him or go through them with a cheerful attitude. One person with an illness will become demanding and discouraged and another, perhaps after a natural time of grieving, will go on to uplift and strengthen others through her example and courage. One person loses his job and wastes priceless hours blaming his boss, the economy, the government or anyone else who comes to mind; another uses the time to start his own business or upgrade skills.

Having faith in Jesus Christ can help us turn away fear. The more we trust God and Jesus Christ to watch over us and to help us get through our trials, the less frightened we will be by those experiences. We need to prepare ourselves for possible trials physically, mentally, and spiritually. The best time to build a loving relationship with God and to learn to trust Him is before the trial, not during it. In this way, we come into the trials knowing how God interacts in our lives. We have a tradition of obedience that allows us to receive His greatest gifts and we know how to recognize His hand in our lives. We’ve learned how to get answers to our questions and to feel the comfort He sends.

How do we do this? First, we need to set a goal to seek out complete truth and accept it, even if we find it where we don’t expect to. We can do this by believing the promise given in James 1:5, where we are promised that if we need wisdom, we can receive it from God. Then we need to act on that wisdom. We should put aside time each day to read scripture—not just racing through them to meet a goal, but reading them slowly and thoughtfully. If you’ve never read the Bible all the way through, this is a good time to do so. The Book of Mormon testifies of the truthfulness of the Bible and helps strengthen our testimony that Jesus really did live and that He came to earth for everyone, not just those who lived in His small geographical location. Reading this book will bring additional understanding of the Savior’s mission, since it actually discusses this more often than does the Bible.

We need to put time into prayer — not just the ritual repetition of words, but meaningful discussion with God followed by quiet and patience as we wait for answers. If we leap up and go back to everyday life, we may miss the gentle inspiration that follows. In a conversation with another person, when you ask a question, you wait for the answer before leaving the conversation. Prayer requires the same courtesy. Act as though you expect God to answer your question — this is faith.

When we ask God for help, we need to do our share of the effort and we also need to act like we trust Him to come through with the help. For instance, I’m a writer. I’m trying to learn to write fiction and sometimes I get lost. I reach a section of my novel I know I don’t have the skill to carry out. I often turn to God for help with those sections, but then I follow up by going to my bookshelf to read how to do what I need to do. I trust God to help me find the right book, and maybe even to have encouraged me to buy the right book before I knew I needed it. And then I sit at my computer and start typing, even if I don’t yet know what I’m supposed to type. If I’m not at my computer, I can’t write the book and God can’t guide my mind and hands to type the right words. Sitting at my computer is an act of faith that God will come through with the help.

I find it very helpful to try to figure out what God is trying to teach me when I’m facing a frightening trial. When I know what He wants me to learn, I can do my part to learn it, and I also find it easier to have faith. I watch for proof that God is nearby and participating in my trial with me. Knowing He’s nearby and that I can talk the trial over with Him gives me courage to get through the trial. No matter how few people might be in my life at any given moment, I never have to go through a trial alone.

Nervousness or concern is natural, but paralyzing fear can frequently be overcome through faith. The more often we recognize God’s hand in our lives, the easier it will be to trust Him during the next trial. Every trial we handle with faith strengthens our ability to do it even better the next time.

This article was originally published in August 2011. Minor changes have been made.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

I read a wonderful talk this morning on the subject of knowing God. Entitled “Knowing God,” It was given in April 1972 by Bernard P. Broadbank at general conference. He shared several Bible scriptures that explain how to know God:

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:3–6.)

The apostle James said:

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).

And what Elder Brockbank said just before sharing these scriptures really caught my attention:

“We can receive eternal life and salvation from knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent. Many believe that there is a God, many say that they know there is a God, but many do not act like they know God. There is a great difference in believing or knowing that there is a God and in knowing God. When we claim that we know God, it bears great responsibility, and an apostle has given us information to check our knowledge of God.”

I found that to be a very powerful statement to note that many people who say they believe in God don’t act on that belief and that this is because they don’t really know God personally. Knowing God requires work and sacrifice on our part. We can’t just say a few words and move on with our ordinary life. Knowing God is life-changing—eternity-changing, even. We cannot have a loving and personal relationship with God and continue to live the way we did before we knew Him.

This, I believe, is because if we really know God, we know how much He loves us and how intensely He wants us to have a successful “mission” on Earth. We know He knows everything and so we know that if we do what God instructs us to do, everything will go as well as possible. You can’t eliminate all trials, of course—trials help us to grow and to appreciate the good—but we can eliminate the unnecessary ones and we can become a person worthy to stand in God’s presence someday. Elder Brockbank explained:

“Knowing God does not solve life’s problems, but gives purpose and strength to master them. Jesus, with his knowledge of his Heavenly Father, still had his problems to meet and to work out.

 

The answers to knowing God the Eternal Father are found in and through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’ (John 14:6).”

The Bible lists many commandments and makes it completely clear they must be obeyed. They are, Jesus said, a demonstration of our love for Him. As our relationship with God grows, obedience becomes easier and easier. What once seemed challenging is now seen as a blessing because we have seen the good it did in our lives and we have a stronger desire to honor God’s requests. The more we love someone, the easier it is to serve them — and this is especially true in terms of our love for God.

For an enlightening discussion of how we can learn to know God—really know Him—read the entire talk or watch the video, which is shown at the top of the linked page.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928 – 2015) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Richard G. Scott is a late member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He often taught on the principles of happiness. Mormon beliefs include the belief that God has created a plan of salvation for us and has provided us with the tools with need to reap happiness where we have sowed faith.

In 2004, Elder Scott gave a devotional at BYU where he said:

“God has given you the capacity to exercise faith so that you may find peace, joy, and purpose in life. However, to employ its power, faith must be rooted in something secure. There is no more solid foundation than faith in the love Heavenly Father has for you, faith in His plan of happiness, and faith in the willingness and power of Jesus Christ to fulfill all of His promises” (Richard G. Scott, “Living Right,” Brigham Young University,  April 2004)

Elder Scott suggests some principles upon which our faith should be based. He says that we should trust in God and in His desire to provide help when we need it, no matter how difficult our circumstances may be. This means that though the way may seem dark, your situation hopeless, nothing is impossible for Him and He can and will bless you. “For with God nothing shall be impossible,” say the scriptures in Luke 1:37. The trick is, though that we must first trust. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Conversely, show your Heavenly Father that He can trust you, by being obedient to His commands and living a life worthy of His trust. Mormons have a another testament of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon. We believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he restored the gospel of Jesus Christ by recovering the Book of Mormon from the dust and translating it with the help of the spirit of prophecy. We also believe that the Lord spoke through him, as He does today through our prophet and apostles. The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of modern-day revelation, primarily those received by the Prophet Joseph. One such revelation reveals that “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10).

Elder Scott also tells us that we must be sensitive to the quiet promptings of the Spirit and then follow through with courage. My husband and I desperately wanted children, but after several miscarriages and years of disappointment, we had pretty much given up hope. One day I received a call from a friend, telling me that a family member wanted to give her baby up for adoption and was willing to take her recommendation and give the baby to us if we wanted her.

For a brief moment, I felt elated at the thought of becoming a mother to a sweet baby girl. Yet shortly after, I heard a voice, as clear as day, tell me “This is not your blessing. It is for another.” I prayed and received confirmation that while I so desired to adopt this baby, she wasn’t meant for my family. I told a friend about the baby and she responded with tears and joy because this was an answer to her prayers too. She went on to adopt the little girl and they have been happy together ever since. However, for some time I felt so sad and sorry that I had made the choice I did. While my friend’s arms were full, mine were still empty. I knew I had done the right thing, yet I wondered where or when was my blessing. It seemed that such a blessing would never come.

Several years later, I was blessed in a way I could never have foreseen. I gave birth to twin boys, born whole and healthy. Now, had I not listened to the promptings of the Spirit when faced with the opportunity to adopt that little girl, and we had adopted her instead of my friend, not only would my friend have been denied the blessing of motherhood, but I would never have known the joy that is mine as mother to these two incredible little boys.

The Spirit whispered, and while it was hard, I listened and obeyed. With courage, I followed through with the course of action I felt inspired to follow and my family and others have been blessed because of those actions. It took time to get to the “happy,” but oh it was worth it!

Elder Scott reminds us that we must be patient and understanding when God lets us struggle to grow and answers come little by little over an extended period of time. I was not always so patient and understanding when I was struggling to become a mother, but I can testify that the answers did come over time and in the end I could see why it was that things had to be as they were.

At the conclusion of his article, Elder Scott affirms that doing what is right will open far greater and more meaningful opportunities for you. He says,

“I testify that you will never go wrong when you trust in the Lord and in His promises, no matter how severe the challenge.

May the Lord strengthen your resolve, your exercise of faith, and your use of growing character so that you may be every bit the instrument for good that He desires. I testify that He lives. As you worthily seek His help, He will guide you in your life.”

I would like add my testimony to Elder Scott’s. Our Heavenly Father has an active interest in our lives and desires to bless us. Happiness goes hand in hand with faithfulness.

This article was originally published in January 2008. Minor changes have been made.

Ali C

The current prophet, President Russell M. Nelson

For many members of the Church, general conference is an incredible spiritual experience. For me, general conference leaves me in a state that I describe as being on a “spiritual high.”

I’ve been very fortunate to be in attendance in the Conference Center a few times during general conference. I’ve sat in the presence of the prophet of God and have truly felt his Spirit. I’ve also participated in general conference via satellite from a remote location. I’ve felt the Spirit then, too. Regardless of whether I listen to the prophet in person or through the marvels of modern technology, I’ve always felt the love that he has for all of us and an assurance that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me.

Our family had another opportunity to attend general conference at the Conference Center a while back. I remember standing and singing “We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet” along with the Tabernacle Choir towards the end of the session. I’m sure everyone was focused on President Hinckley, who was the prophet at that time, as he stood there in his usual place on the stand. The Spirit testified strongly to me that President Hinckley was a prophet of God. I could see how moved my family was, especially our boys. I remember thinking that if only we can hold on to that Spirit for the rest of our lives, our family would be just fine. I sat and offered a silent prayer that our boys will remember that feeling when they are faced with trials and tribulations.

We all know that it is practically impossible to hang on to such feelings when we are faced with the realities of life. It is hard to be on a spiritual high when the world we live in is anything but spiritual. But does this mean that we shouldn’t strive for it in our lives? No! If anything, this should make us try even harder to maintain or to get back that feeling of being on a spiritual high.

One of the things that really helps me to maintain or rediscover my spiritual high is by reading and rereading the powerful talks and articles that are available on the Church’s website. We also have the monthly Church magazines and I do urge you to get those if you don’t have them in your homes yet. (You can also get them via the Gospel Library, the Church’s main mobile app.) As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are taught to “seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom…” The scriptures, Church magazines, and other Church-sponsored publications are prime examples of the “best books.” This extends to Church-approved online publications and databases as well.

The online database of articles and talks gives us access to the most recent talks by the prophet and other Church leaders. It also gives us access to the many talks and inspirational messages by previous Church leaders. At the very top of the homepage of the Church’s official web site, you’ll see a menu bar with tabs including “Scriptures and Study,” “Families and Individuals,” etc. Click on “Scriptures and Study” and then, under prophetic teachings, click on “General Conference.” From there, you can find talks from the past several decades. By using the Church’s search bar, you can also find a variety of articles from Church magazines, online publications, etc. You can search for an article by title, by subject, or by author/speaker. You can filter your search in a number of different ways, too.

I’ve found the practice of reading one article a day on a chosen subject to be spiritually uplifting. It helps me to deal with whatever I’m faced with that day. You may not have time to read an article every day and that’s okay; don’t feel as if you have to. I just happen to have the time to do that at this point in my life. I read when I’m waiting in the car to pick up our boys after school. I read when I’m sitting in front of my computer waiting for the right words to come before I write a post. I read when I can’t sleep.

You may only have time to read an article every other day or once a week. Whether it is once a day or once a week, I hope that you do take advantage of this wonderful resource. There have been many times when I’ve found the exact thing I needed at the time by reading these articles. There have been many times when my resolve is strengthened after reading these inspired messages for our times.

I know that each of us will experience times of trials and tribulations. Some will be minor nuisances while others will be almost unbearable. It is my hope that when we do experience those times, we will reach for those moments in our lives when we’ve had the Spirit testify to us about our Heavenly Father’s love for each of us. I hope that we will try to remember those times when we’ve known in our hearts that there is a purpose to life, that our trials and tribulations are only for a moment. When those times come — and they will — remember to reach for your spiritual high.

This article was originally published in November 2007. Several minor changes were made for timeliness and consistency.

Moira T

Last night, I happened across a headline that caught my eye. Maybe you saw it, too. It advertised a 5-year-old piano prodigy. Some of us might completely ignore the hype that often surrounds a child’s prodigy status, but this one held an extra set of unique circumstances. Yes, she’s five and yes, she plays better than I ever could, but she’s also blind and was adopted after being abandoned as an infant.

I do not pretend to understand what might have caused this child’s mother to leave her, but my heart breaks for both the child and the mother. I also wonder if this particular mother knows what her child has shown herself capable of. I wonder if it’s a case of hindsight: If she had known the beauty and power her child possessed, would the mother’s choices have been altered? Again, I can’t know.

I can only try to apply what I’ve learned to my own life. This small video clip on the internet stirred something in my heart. Have there been times in my own life where something has seemed too hard, too different, or too insignificant that I have tossed it aside without ever seeing the gift that God had in mind for me? Have I only seen a rock, when I should have refined and polished it to find the gem underneath? If I had only stuck with a particular challenge longer, would I be better off now? Has God given me a special talent or blessing that I have ignored because I was too intent on seeing and magnifying my own inadequacies instead of my unique qualities?

I thought of times in the scriptures where Christ, or one of His servants, issued advice or a task to be performed. I wondered if I had ever been like some who, in response to the Lord’s command, went away discouraged thinking that it couldn’t possibly be the answer to the problem. Or, have I received a gift from Him and not recognized it as such or not given Him thanks and credit for filling my life with His love.

I say and feel that I am loved personally and individually by my Father in Heaven, but I still think there are plenty of times in my own life when I forget, or simply cannot comprehend how vast and significant that love is. Nurturing and loving us is at the very center of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s nature and character. The Savior’s perfect love is just that—perfect. But I am far from it. I sometimes overlook the little (and the big) things that trickle down from heaven because of this love and the miracle of the Atonement every day.

In the Book of Mormon, there is a passage that I think I need to remember a little more often.

But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love. (2 Nephi 1:15)

His arms are constantly around us, with His heart close to ours. But the world and our own human frailties can overwhelm and block out its soft, comforting beat.

It might be that we’ve let ourselves become caught up in more than we can handle, or even the wrong things. Consider Mary and Martha. Martha was a good person. She loved the Savior. She was His disciple. She was excited to have Him in her home. But, she was so engrossed in her chores (and the stress associated with them) that she missed out on a portion of the love and peace Christ was trying to share with her that day. In this world I think it’s very easy for each of us to become so caught up in “have-to,” “need-to,” and “should” that the stress becomes overwhelming. It pushes out the presence of the Spirit in our lives and causes us to forget to bring Him back. Though we can see the Savior in the distance, we just can’t seem to “catch up” so that we can catch up with Him. We forget that Jesus Christ has offered us the chance to walk beside Him— not run after Him, short of breath and unsure of the way.

Another possibility is that we’ve noticed how far behind we seem to be. We know we’ve fallen by the wayside or feel that we can never match up to what the Savior requires of His disciples. Do we refuse His blessings because they couldn’t possibly be meant for us? Somewhere in the back of our minds, do we feel that only those that seem to be so much better than us deserve or receive His love? As false as that thought might be, it is common. We mistakenly think salvation can be handled in the same way that everything else on our to-do list is: figure out what needs to be done, do it, and mark it off the list. Life isn’t “done” once—it happens every day in every way. The walk with Christ is still a walk, not a sit-down-on-a park-bench-and-watch-everybody-else-go-by experience. He bids us “come” not “arrive.”

It might be that we simply don’t recognize the blessing hidden among the trials and chaos. I think of another scripture found in the Book of Mormon:

And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. (1 Nephi 11:22)

I envision a mighty tree that is reaching out, trying to cover me with shade and protection. Then, I think of the humble beginnings of any tree. Every plant, including a tree, begins as a seed. It really doesn’t look like much, but it has miracles hidden inside. If it’s given nourishment, it grows—but even then it can be mistaken for something of no consequence. Then there’s my favorite analogy: have you ever re-potted a plant? What would have happened if you pulled out the tender plant, took one look at the jumbled and tangled roots, said “nothing good can possibly come from this mess!” and thrown the whole thing away?! It’s difficult to understand that our seemingly chaotic roots hold up some of the most beautiful parts of our lives.

Heavenly Father is giving us the best and most desirable gifts every day, yet, at every stage, we can overlook or reject God’s blessings. Have you rejected a blessing lately? Have you lost sight of Christ and feel that it isn’t possible to walk beside Him as He invites? Look again. You never know what amazing gift can be hiding in the corners of life.

This article was previously published in July 2008. Minor changes have been made.

Alison P

In an interaction with Mary and Martha, the Savior taught us a valuable lesson:

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

 

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

 

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

 

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

 

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:38-42)

The Lord is not encouraging Mary and Martha to eschew all their responsibilities and duties, but is reminding Martha that there is a time to stop and listen; a time to fill the well within. Mary chose to sit at the feet of her Savior and listen rather than clean and cook.

How should we apply this in our day? Several years ago, I was stretched to the limit. I worked full-time, had just suffered another miscarriage, was the Young Women president, a new wife, and essentially a mother to a teenage boy (my husband’s youngest brother.) Stressed beyond all belief, I no longer had time for the things I enjoyed: no gardening, no cross-stitching, no reading, no movies, no dates with my husband, no football games, no trips to the temple. It was all about work, home, and church—that was it.

At one point, I came home from work and kissed my husband goodbye as he left for his own job. I walked upstairs to the kitchen table and sat down… And stayed there. Five minutes later, my husband walked back through the door. Surprised, I looked down at him.

“The Spirit whispered to me to return home and give you the blessing you need,” he told me. He promptly walked up the stairs, laid his hands on my head, and, through the power of the Holy Melchizedek priesthood he held, offered me the blessing the Lord had in mind.

Specifically, I was told that I had to take time for myself. I had to make time for gardening, for cross-stitching, for football games, for temple attendance — all the things that gave me joy. The Lord said that I was of little use to Him if I was so strung out that I couldn’t accomplish anything with any of my responsibilities. He reminded me that balance in all things is required and that above all, my happiness was critical to Him.

This taught me a powerful lesson: We must take the time to pause and fill the well within. Should you abandon your family on a daily basis to fill the well? No, of course not. But take time to drive up the canyon and visit your favorite spot in the mountains. Take time to go to lunch with family or friends. Take time to go on a weekly date with your spouse. Take time to do that which fills your spirit — for when your spirit is filled, the Savior can do so much more with you.

So be as Mary of old: kneel at the feet of the Savior and let yourself be fed. And also be as Martha of old, keeping to your responsibilities — but not so much so that all that brightens your life is strangled out of it.

This article was originally published in October 2007. Minor changes have been made.

Candace

President George Albert Smith

George Albert Smith, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said:

“It ought not to be difficult for us to keep the commandments of the Lord, because keeping them leads to happiness. It ought not to be difficult for husbands and wives to love one another and be true to one another, because doing so is a source of happiness. It ought not to be difficult for boys and girls to love their parents and honor them, because that is another source of happiness. Being honest with our neighbors is a source of happiness. Paying Him our tithes and our offerings is a source of blessing and happiness. I might go on and enumerate many other things, but I may sum it all by saying: All the happiness that is worthy of the name, all the real happiness there is in this world, comes from living in accordance with the commandments of God—whether men know it or not.”

I would love to have a perfectly fit and healthy body. Once, I was a bodybuilder and competed in amateur bodybuilding competitions. Today, I’m about thirty pounds overweight and can’t strike a pose except to make my children laugh. I know what I need to do to get into shape. I even know how to work out properly. There is a great gym very nearby my house that has all the equipment I need to get into shape.

But do I go? Umm, nope.

However, when I have gone to work out, I feel tremendously good. Not only does my body enjoy being pushed to its limits, coming alive the way only physical exercise allows it to, but my spirit is also invigorated. You often hear people say things like, “It’s so hard to get to the gym, but I’m always happy when I do because I feel so much better!”

That’s precisely how it is with keeping the commandments. We don’t always want to follow them, but they are good for us and abiding by them will always make us happy.

I testify that following the commandments brings peace to our hearts and happiness to lives. Study the commandments as found in Exodus 20, and in the New Testament. Pray about them and discern how they can be applied to your own life. As you do this and strive to live by them daily, you will be blessed with happiness and peace.

So flex a little mental muscle and decide today that though it isn’t always easy, you will obey the commandments of God and be spiritually fit and eternally happy.

This article was originally published in June 2008. Minor changes have been made.

Ali C