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."

Proverbs

I've been really into studying Proverbs lately. There are some really cool passages. Here are a few of my favorite exerpts so far:

Proverbs 1:7 "...fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:10 "...if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
Proverbs 3:12 "For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth..."
Proverbs 3:24 "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet."
Proverbs 3:27 "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it."
Proverbs 9:6 "Forsake the foolish and live..."
Proverbs 11:12 "..a man of understanding holdeth his peace."
Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Alma 41:15

"For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again..."

I like this idea. I think that when you are trying your best to serve others and live a good life, that good things will come back to you. Kind of a positive what goes around comes around.

Things Laynee learned in Primary

Tonight as I was cleaning the house, Laynee started telling me all about Jesus' plan and how he fought Satan. She told me that Satan's plan doesn't give us any choices, but Jesus lets us choose. Then she said that Satan tries to trick us to be naughty. I stopped cleaning and gave my full attention to her, since this isn't something that we have talked about before.

I teared up a little listening to her talk and realized, first of all, how grateful I am for a good primary teacher and for good primary leaders. Secondly, I was a little stunned at the simplicity of our Heavenly Father's plan explained by a three year old. I have been thinking all night how right she was about it all. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be able to make choices and for the knowledge I have that Satan is SO real and does try to trick us.

The Abundant Life by Elder Wirthlin May 2006

"No matter our age, circumstances, or abilities, each one of us can create something remarkable of his life...Every one of us has potential we can scarcely imagine..Enlist in great and noble causes. Create of your homes sanctuaries of holiness and strength...Create of your life a masterpiece."

Proverbs 3:5-6

"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."

Before my parents left on their mission, they had this scripture posted up in several locations in their house. When I visited them I would wonder why it was up everywhere. Since going through a difficult time in my own life, I have felt the peace and comfort that comes from this scripture. If we truly trust in the Lord, he will help us know what direction our lives should take. We don't have to try to figure things out alone. He loves and cares about each of us.

Exerpt from:"The Family" A Proclamation to the World

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities."

-The First Presidency and Council of the 12 Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ether 12:27

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I've thought a lot about this scripture. I think it's interesting that we need weaknesses in order to be humble. And why do we need to be humble? I think it's because people who are full of themselves don't need God and we all need grace to return to our Heavenly Father someday. I like it that if we humble ourselves and have faith then he can make weak things become strong unto us. That is such a tremendous promise. I have SO many weaknesses and am glad that someday maybe they won't be.

I Am a Child of God

"I am a Child of God and He has sent me here.
Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do to live with him someday."

Taken from the LDS hymnbook Hymn #301

Tonight for Family Home Evening, we talked about Heavenly Father's plan for us and used this song. It seems so clear through a 3 year old's level of understanding and perfect faith. I am so grateful for the knowledge of His plan in my own life. I'm grateful to know that I am a child of a loving and kind Heavenly Father and that he is aware of me and my concerns. Even though we all experience things in this life that don't make sense to us, we can turn to him in prayer and receive peace and guidance.

3 Nephi 18:20

"And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you."

Ether 12:6

"...Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Joseph Smith

"The power of the Gospel will enable us to stand and bear with patience the great affliction that is falling upon us on all sides."
"Let us not sorrow as those without hope."
"Let us be thankful that it is as well with us as it is..."
"Though the soul be tried , the heart faint, and the hands hang down, we must not retrace our steps; there must be a decision of character."
"I ought not to be discouraged but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage and I should come out on the top of the heap at last."
"...Let what will, come; don't deny the faith, and all will be well."

Taken from the Teachings of Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith manual lesson #19

Ether 12:4

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men which would make them sure and steadfast always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

1 John 5:14-15

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."