Why are Unbearable Trials Important?

This week has made me question, why would God let bad things happen to good people? Recently, I thought I was going to through some terrible trials until yesterday. Carson’s friend and his fiancee were on the road going home. Two hours out on their trip, they rolled. Carson’s friend passed away. His fiancee is in critical condition. I can’t imagine how much her life and their families life has been turned upside down. As I type this, I can’t help but, to cry and pray for these people. It also scares me, because that could have happened to anyone. Why did Heavenly Father let this happen? Why couldn't he have stopped this? I think Elder Quentin L. Cook, an Apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, put it in a clear and simple way, “There are many kinds of challenges. Some give us necessary experiences. Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan. The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God (Cook, Q.).”  Another Apostle named Elder Jeffery R. Holland said this “You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. [Trials are] not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy…The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary (Holland, J. 2000).” I am so grateful for the Savior, Jesus Christ. He knows exactly what every person is going through; he knows it’s hard and has nothing but empathy towards us. What Jesus Christ went through in the Garden in Gethsemane, in Jerusalem, and finally, on the cross on Calvary was hard. He suffered as any normal human being would have suffered. He was beaten, bruised, and bled from every pore on his body. In a way, when Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, he went through the refiner’s fire to know what we would go through. Matthew 26:38-39 explains how Christ felt when he did suffer, saying, “Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me… And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” He cried out, like we would, to our Heavenly Father to help him. He wanted the pain to end, never the less, He knew He had to drink that bitter cup. It was the only way to save us and to help us in our time of need. Elder Holland continued to say in that talk “The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” I know this to be true. During our unbearable trials, where we feel we cannot make another step, I know we can because; we can rely on the Lord and Jesus Christ. When you start to think and ask the Lord, “Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me (Stevenson, M)?” Remember this “The Lord replied, ‘The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you (Stevenson, M).”

References:

Cook, Q. (n.d.). The Songs They Could Not Sing - Quentin L. Cook. Retrieved December 18, 2014, from https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2011/10/the-songs-they-could-not-sing?lang=eng

Holland, J. (2000, June 20). Missionary Work and the Atonement - Ensign Mar. 2001 - ensign. Retrieved December 18, 2014, from https://www.lds.org/ensign/2001/03/missionary-work-and-the-atonement?lang=eng

Stevenson, M. (n.d.). Footprints in the Sand – Poem. Retrieved December 18, 2014, from http://www.poetseers.org/the-great-poets/misc-2/footprints-in-the-sand/

Scripture Challenge!

I was challenged by Angela Wise, to share one of my favorite scriptures. I honestly cannot just pick one so, I picked two. Due to recent events, I picked marriage (surprise, surprise). Now I've been studying what exactly marriage is. In Genesis 2:24 (The Holy Bible, The King James Version), it says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." I love this. It shows how the man and woman who are married are considered one. One in purpose and in heart. I am grateful for the Priesthood, which is "the authority to act in God’s name (mormon.org)". One of the many blessings we can experience through the priesthood here on earth is being married and sealed to our family for time and all eternity. In Doctrine and Covenants 132:19 (Doctrine and Covenants), it says "And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fullness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever." I know this to be true because I have experienced this with my own family. My father and mother were married and sealed in Dallas Texas Temple. Their marriage isn't perfect, but through God, it has been strengthened. I was blessed to experience a love that was strong in supporting each other. I loved that. I know I will be with my family forever because my parents chose to live worthy to enter into the temple, be sealed, and still continue today to live their covenants.

This has influenced me to do the same since I was little. Now that the opportunity is here, I wouldn't have it any other way. I know that when Carson and I are sealed it will be the happiest day of my life because, I will be with my best friend and our future children forever. Death cannot stop this. Even after this life, I will still be with them. What a blessing God has given us! I challenge anyone who wants to experience this joy to prepare themselves to enter the temple

to be sealed to their family. I promise you that if you do, you will experience true happiness not just today or years down the road, but in the eternity to come. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I challenge anyone who has read this to share your favorite scripture(s). Whatever faith you are, share it. There are hearts that only you can touch.

Thanks Mr. Gardner for Cutting Me Down

This past week has been challenging. Schools been great but, hard. My body has felt worn down and tired. Some girls I know haven't been saying the nicest things about me. This has been a major toll on my anxiety. I wanted to curl up in a ball and stay there all day. I started to wonder this, "Heavenly Father, how come this is happening to me? I'm already in pain down here. Why does it feel like my burden keeps piling up?" Then I saw this video. If you haven't watched it yet, watch it. I love how Elder Christofferson tells the story of the current bush. I realized in the mist of the bushes agony and complaining to the gardener; that our Gardner, Heavenly Father, knows what trials we can take and what trials we need to bear so we can return back to Him. The gardener reply's: “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down."

I know that in our trials today, it can seem that there is no one there to help us. We feel that we are inadequate and we can loose hope easily. I encourage you that if you are experiencing a trial you feel is too hard, too overbearing, or your just too tired to fight, get on your knees. Pray to God. Pour out your heart to Him. Tell Him your feelings and thoughts. He is there to comfort you and guide you. He has a plan for you. If you can't see it yet, keep praying and hold on. He will show you in due time. I love my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that He has felt our pain and is there to comfort us.

Why I love BYUI...

My friends

 My Co-Workers

 My little furry friend

 The Crazy Friday Nights

 My Amazing Roommates

 My classes

Who wouldn't love it here?!