Driving in the car one day, I was excited to see a slug bug. In my excitement, I automatically called out “slug bug yellow” and tapped my daughter’s leg. She looked at me confused and shocked that I hit her leg. I excitedly pointed out the car and explained the childhood game my siblings and I used to play.
My kids were excited about the game, but discouraged that they had never seen a car like that before, and thought they would never see another again. I took this opportunity to teach them that the more you focus on something, the more you will see it in your life. If we fill our lives (and thoughts) with good things, we will see more and more of those good things. They may have never seen a slug bug before and yet that very day we ended up seeing four more. Every day since then we have had many slugs going around the car.
Similarly, young kids can go to any school and still find what they are looking for. If you are looking for drugs, you will find them everywhere. If you are looking for ways to serve you will find them everywhere. If you are looking to draw closer to Christ, you will find opportunities to do so fill your life.
Lehi also experienced this being filled.
In 1 Nephi 8:7-8 he appears to only see the darkness.
7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
Until he put forth the effort to change it. He began to seek out forgiveness and seek for the light.
8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
Only after truly seeking was he able to see the tree and the fruit.
10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
As he partook of the fruit, it filled his soul with exceeding joy. He loved it so much that he wanted his family to experience that same joy.
11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
Lehi was aware of all the world and enticing of the adversary, and the dangers of not holding fast to the rod. He pleaded with his family to keep the commandments and stay on the path.
Even though Lehi knew the things of the world and that the filthy water existed, his mind was so filled with the things of God, that the filthiness had no place on the stage of his mind.
1 Nephi 15:27 And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water.
It was holding on continually to the word of God (rod of iron) that kept Lehi and Nephi from being deceived or overpowered by the adversary. They sought after and filled their lives with the things of God.
1 Nephi 15:24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
As the story of Lehi and his family continue, we see that life went on. Life was not as easy as walking holding onto a rod may seem. The difficulties continued. The holding onto the rod was real, difficult, and rewarding. The Lord was their guide, as they remained faithful. Just as He is our guide through life as we remain faithful.
I believe it is a hope we all possess to know Christ, as this verse describes.
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;
2 And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;
D&C 10:58 I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
D&C 88:67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
I, personally, want to recognize Christ! Fortunately, for me, the scriptures tell me how to get to this point. We must be willing to forsake our sins and repent. We must be willing to keep the commandments. Doing so will fill us with the love of Christ.
Moroni 8: 26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
Alma 38:12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.
Mosiah 2:4 And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men.
Moroni 7:47-48 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
Just as we can focus on a specific car and start to see it everywhere, we can choose to focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ, and be filled with love and peace. Does it mean life will be easy all the time? No. Life isn’t meant to be easy all the time. We grow through our trials and testing moments. Yet, we can make it through those tough times with a brightness of hope, being FILLED with a love of God and of all men.
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