We aren’t meant to all be the same! It’s our strengths and weaknesses that make us unique and provide variety. These differences help strengthen relationships and make our lives better. Remember that we can lean on others for support and yet, at other times, we can provide support for those same people, simply because our strengths, weaknesses and experiences are all different. Together, we are better!
“We aren’t always going to fit in with the world, but being different in positive ways can be a lifeline to others who are struggling.” – Sharon Eubank
We are living this mortal life to be tested, tried and to experience all that life is. With it comes difficulty. Having faith in and a relationship with Jesus Christ will not make those difficulties go away, but it will help us to manage those difficulties and we will grow and be made better from these experiences! That kind of strength comes in no other way!
“Remember that the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it.” – Thomas S. Monson
President Nelson has invited everyone throughout the world to participate in fasting and praying this Good Friday for relief from the COVID-19 pandemic: that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized. If your health permits, I invite you to join me in doing this. There is power in prayer and fasting collectively and now is the time to weary God with our prayers!
“Fasting is a principle of power. It changes lives.” – Shayne M. Bowen
If we spent half as much time fixing our own shortcomings as we do worrying about those of others, we’d all be better off. Let’s be better and give others the leeway we’d hope for if we were struggling. We can strive to be grateful for any effort instead of dwelling on what is lacking!
“The sin that will undo me is my own, not my neighbours.” – Rosaria Butterfield
When you’re a kid, you don’t realize how hard it is to be a parent and as a parent, you forget what it’s like to be a kid. Let’s strive to extend a reasonable amount of care and empathy to each other and those we love!
“It’s okay that your parents aren’t perfect; no one’s are. And it’s okay that they didn’t have perfect children either; No one’s are.” – Ardeth G. Kapp
This is the power of faith! The power of faith in Jesus Christ changes us. Faith demands we try to be more like Him and in doing so, we understand and appreciate Him and His sacrifice a little better. Happy Easter everyone! I hope you take time this weekend to think about the Saviour and His sacrifice!
“The choice to become a true follower of Jesus Christ brings with it holy patterns that will define us as a people of Christ.” – Emily Belle Freeman
One of the unique characteristics of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is, because He suffered for the sins, pains and trials of every man, woman and child; Jesus Christ is uniquely qualified to know exactly what you’ve gone through. He knows what you are going to go through and He knows the effects those trials will have on you. He’s experienced it before, while kneeling in prayer in Gethsemane. The most beautiful thing is He loves you and is cheering you on because He knows you so well.
“When He says to the poor in spirit. ‘come unto me,’ He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way because He is the way.” – Jeffrey R. Holland
Jesus Christ Atoned, was Scourged and Crucified. He was laid in a tomb. And He rose on the third day! Through His Atonement and Resurrection, it has been made possible for us to return to live with our Heavenly Parents. Jesus Christ made it all possible. He made it all possible by paying the price of sin for each of us. Because of that Atonement, He knows intimately the trials, challenges, and pains that each of us struggle with on a daily or weekly basis. Seek Him and He can help you through your deepest trials.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name: thou are mine. When thou passest through waters, I will be with thee: and through rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned: Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour, fear not: For I am with thee!” – Isaiah 43:1-5
Life is for the living. We are here to gain experience and learn the importance of living a holy life. Mistakes will be made. If there are no mistakes, we aren’t really living. That’s not to say we should go looking for trouble but, when those mistakes are made, we can repent and be made whole. That is made possible through Christ. Whether we take advantage of the Atonement or not, He still suffered for each and every one of us. Take advantage of the Atonement, repent and be made better. Repent and repent again!
“How good you and I get at repenting will determine how good life is.” – Neal A. Maxwell
We needn’t worry ourselves on whether others are charitable enough, or question to what degree their offerings qualify. All we can do and should is focus on our own efforts and what we are doing to improve the lives of others! Be faithful and be charitable!
“If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful.” – Ether 12:27
Like a flower needs the sunshine, we need to be open and available to God, willing to receive whatever He has in store to bless us with! Remember that trials are blessings in disguise, as they are designed to help us grow and learn!
“To be humble is to be constantly cognizant that spiritually, morally, personally, socially, you are in need of God.” – David Legge
Our soul recognizes when we are doing something wrong! When we are absent the Holy Spirit and the light of Christ and are ok with that, we have placed our eternal futures at risk. Part of our growth on Earth is to recognize the absence of the Spirit in our lives and then do better and avoid those activities. Remember, how can you ask God for inspiration, revelation, guidance and support if you’ve just chased away the Holy Spirit! Be better!
“If at any time we become accustomed to sin, something is wrong.” – Robert L. Deffinbaugh
Our challenges can make us into who we can become. The whole plan of salvation is predicated on facing difficulty, learning from it and growing, rinse and repeat until we are our best selves. Without those difficulties and opportunities for growth, we’d be no better than when we started!
“Becoming our best self often happens because of – rather than in spite of – unfavourable circumstances.” – Blessed: The Beatitudes and the Christlike Life.
It’s easy to be hardened by our experiences and history with people, but we can be better by allowing that person time and space to grow and forgive them of their wrongs. That doesn’t mean we forget, or put ourselves into compromising situations with them, but we can try to rebuild our most important relationships bit by bit and piece by piece. We are asked to be as Jesus Christ and He gives us that opportunity so should try to do the same for others.
“Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve.” – Jeffrey R. Holland
We are living this mortal life for the experiences and learning. We will have some great experiences and some not so great experiences! Both will teach us if we look for the lesson! Don’t think for a second that because you are struggling, God isn’t aware of you, concerned for you or Love you! Keep looking to Him in all that you do and those difficult times? They just might become our greatest teachers!
“Our greatest trials can become our greatest teachers.” – Blessed: The Beatitudes and the Christlike Life
The Lord qualifies who He calls and on top of that, as we strive to magnify our callings and assignments, the Lord will bless our efforts and thru the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of those you are serving. We need to ensure we are doing the right things, and we will help others!
“Ordinary people who faithfully, diligently, and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results.” – David A. Bednar
The best example of meekness I can think of is one who drives a vehicle within the rules of the road! That vehicle can go well over a speed limit, drive anywhere it wants without regard for the safety of the driver, passengers, pedestrians or other drivers, but we choose to drive within the rules of the road! Just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should.
“When we are meek, we accept responsibility for the things in our lives we can control and trust the rest to the Lord.” – Blessed: the Beatitudes and the Christlike Life
If you’ve decided that you will believe, that base level choice should factor into all other choices you make. It’ll become a foundation for your life. Everything else will hinge on it! So decide today to believe!
“The decision to believe is the most important decision you will ever make.” – L. Whitney Clayton
The light of Christ is all-encompassing and available to all and to everyone. It helps us to be better and testifies of Christ! It testifies to our soul of good thing and encourages us to choose the better part!
“The light of Christ is as universal as sunlight itself.” – Boyd K. Packer
As we learn and grow in the Gospel, our understanding widens and deepens. Our experiences and knowledge help us to better understand God’s dealing with His people. Keep reading and studying, regardless of your age. There is always something to learn and benefit from when we try to understand Him.
“Nobody ever outgrows scripture: the book widens and deepens with our years.” – Charles Spurgeon
Our Heavenly Father knows and is keenly aware of each of us. He loves us beyond any and all comprehension. When we see Him again, it will shock us how familiar He is to us and how much He loves us. One of our biggest challenges in life is to focus our attention on Him and one of the best ways is to pray for and strive to feel of His love. When we feel of His love, we realize that focusing on Him isn’t really a challenge at all!
“No one is a stranger to our Heavenly Father.” – Gerald Causse
If you are too busy, too proud, too distracted, too tired or too anything to pray, then you are spending your time on things of lesser value! If prayer isn’t a part of your daily routine, make it! There are few things as important as connecting with our God and aligning our will with His.
“If you only pray when you’re in trouble, then you ARE in trouble!”
I recently bumped into a poem by Boyd K Packer entitled ‘Washed Clean!’ It stuck with me how important it is to come unto the Saviour with any and all of ourselves! There is none who doesn’t need Him. We are all beggars. It is by Him, and through Him and of Him that we can be made clean again!
“If we could only understand all we have heard and seen, we’d know there is no greater gift than those two words — ‘Washed clean!’” – Boyd K Packer
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