Scripture stories on friend.lds.org

A few weeks a ago, I had Laynee watching scripture stories on friend.lds.org. After the 3rd story she watched, she turned to me with tears in her eyes and said, "Mom, I know that's true." I asked her how she knew and she said, "I can feel it in my heart." Sometimes I can't believe how blessed I am to have such a sweet little girl in my home. She is so sensitive to the spirit.

Testimony Page 2009

Every year my family exchanges our testimonies. I decided to include mine on this blog.

This past year has been the hardest of my life. However, as I reflect on the events and the way things have worked out, I can see the Lord’s hand in it. I have felt Heavenly Father’s love and gained a greater testimony of the atonement and how the atonement can provide peace and comfort. I attended a Relief Society lesson a few months ago that focused on how we can use the atonement to help us when we’ve been victims and wrongly been acted upon. It really touched my spirit and the spirit bore testimony to me that the things being taught were true. I especially liked one quote that said that Christ doesn’t expect us to forgive and heal immediately but is patient with us. Since he has gone through all things, we don’t need to feel alone. We can feel of his strength and love for us. He’s there to help us as we work on forgiving and healing. This is a continual process for me.

My patriarchal blessing says I would be blessed with a strong heart and strength of character and I didn’t understand what that meant until these past few years, but have been grateful for those blessings as I’ve moved forward. I find it amazing that those words have always been in my blessing but never had any meaning for me. However, I know that the blessing of having a strong heart helped me get through the divorce and also made it possible for me to remarry so quickly.

I have a testimony of priesthood blessings. They come from God. I have felt his love as I’ve received several blessings that have given me comfort and provided me direction. I have a testimony of the plan of salvation. I know that we agreed to come to this earth to gain experience. There were times in the middle of my divorce (and sometimes recently) that I thought, “There’s no way I would have agreed to this had I known how hard it would be.” But I know that I did. I also know that through this experience I have become a better person and a stronger, more committed person in the gospel. I know that I’m continuously being put in situations that are stretching me and forcing me to grow and change. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m grateful for the experiences that have brought me to where I am. The trials haven’t ended nor do I think they ever will, that’s part of the plan, but I do know that I feel closer to the Lord than I ever have and that has brought inner peace. I still struggle with issues, but have a testimony that as I turn to the Lord I will be inspired about how to respond and deal with the things that come in this life.

Thomas S Monson April 2009 Conference Talk "Be of Good Cheer"

"None of us makes it through this life without problems and challenges—and sometimes tragedies and misfortunes. After all, in large part we are here to learn and grow from such events in our lives. We know that there are times when we will suffer, when we will grieve, and when we will be saddened. However, we are told, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”

I'm personally grateful for life's problems and challenges so then I can feel the vast difference between that and the joy I feel when I come through those challenges.

Bishop Keith McMullin November 2009 Ensign

"Hardships and heartache are part of life's journey...Heavenly Father answers all sincere prayers."

President Monson May 2008 Ensign

“At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end—no dawn to break the night’s darkness. . . . We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face.”

"We are doing a great work and cannot come down" President Uchtdorf' April 2009 Conference talk

Since starting to date again, I've dealt with a lot of gossip both about me and the person I've been dating. Last night I was reading this talk by President Uchtdorf and this line stuck out to me:

"Our Heavenly Father seeks those who refuse to allow the trivial to hinder them in their pursuit of the eternal."

I feel like all the gossip is very trivial and I can either let the irritation I have about it continue to fester in me and make me upset or I can let it go and move on with my life keeping the eternal perspective in mind. I don't want to be hindered by stupid gossip.

Alma 32:23

"...little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned."