Move Forward in Faith

Moving Forward in Faith
Shortly after President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was called as a General Authority, he went to Elder Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) for counsel. President Packer recalled:

“He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay [1873–1970]. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.

“I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.’”2

As children of our Heavenly Father, we sometimes want to understand in detail the things that we must accept or accomplish in faith. However, we don’t need to understand all things. We just need to step forward as the Lord has asked us to do and as the priests of the Israelites did in entering the overflowing River Jordan. Although we cannot see or understand all things, the Lord will help us walk on dry ground if we are “strong and of a good courage.”

We will have the power to stand strong as we live by His words—seeking and following His guidance in the scriptures and from His servants. Yes, we live “in enemy territory,”3 but the enemy cannot conquer the Lord, our Savior, who was sent to help us and to save us.

Faith

Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease

While reading Elder Bednar's recent address, "Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease" this part caught my attention.

Recall the Savior’s statement “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30) as we consider the next verse in the account of Alma and his people.

“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs” (Mosiah 24:14).

Many of us may assume this scripture is suggesting that a burden suddenly and permanently will be taken away. The next verse, however, describes how the burden was eased.

“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:15; emphasis added).

The challenges and difficulties were not immediately removed from the people. But Alma and his followers were strengthened, and their increased capacity made the burdens lighter. These good people were empowered through the Atonement to act as agents (see D&C 58:26–29) and impact their circumstances. And “in the strength of the Lord” (Words of Mormon 1:14; Mosiah 9:17; 10:10; Alma 20:4), Alma and his people were directed to safety in the land of Zarahemla.

I read these verses differently this time as I had been dealing with a particularly difficult episode of anxiety. The verse that says, “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs.”  I recognized that this is what life would feel like for me with out anxiety.  I would still have my trials but I wouldn't have the pressure and weight of the anxiety about them pressing down on me. The burden (or life experience) isn't lifted or taken away, but instead it is still present without the crushing weight.

Some of anxiety is a genetic thing, pretty evident in my extended family for generations.  However, some of it is learned and through learning different healthy coping mechanisms there can be some healing.  In addition to eating healthy, getting regular cardio exercise, staying well rested, and for some adding medication to help.  There is one key element of treating anxiety that is overlooked-- the Power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

We will all experience burdens in our lives. The test is how well will we endure them? With Hope and Faith in Jesus Christ or will we allow them to hinder and halt our progression?  Dealing with anxiety seems to magnify the problem to be much larger than it really is.  With strong anxiety the stress and worrying can paralyze our decision making ability, tempt us to decide rashly out of sometimes unrealistic fears, and almost always make the situation worse than it was to begin with.  This is the part of the burden that I would like eased in my life.  I understand that the original problem is just part of life sometimes--bad things can, do, and will happen to good people.   But I desire to be strengthened so the crushing weight of the anxiety and it's companion, depression, is made lighter, so that I can bear up my burdens with ease, mentally, and submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord in my life.

The Power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is truly is amazing.   As Elder Bednar says, "We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help."  The hope of this life is Jesus Christ.  His Atonement can heal all things.

Repentance and Covenants

Teachings of the Presidents: Joseph Fielding Smith, Chapter 5: Faith and Repentance

"Early in his service as an Apostle, he said: “I have considered that it has been my mission, having been so impressed, I think, by the Spirit of the Lord in my travels in the stakes of Zion, to say unto the people that now is the day of repentance and to call upon the Latter-day Saints to remember their covenants, the promises they have made with the Lord, to keep his commandments, and follow the teachings and the instructions of the elders of Israel—the prophets of God—as they have been recorded in these holy scriptures."

Tonight while studying, two things impressed me from this quote.

First--Repentance

I find myself regularly pleading with the Lord for guidance and direction and help and miracles and everything else my family and I need.  However, I'm not nearly as quick to remember to repent. Which, in reality, I need repentance more than the rest of the things on my list.

Second--Remember their Covenants

Call upon the Saints to remember their covenants, the promises they have made with the Lord.   

Sacrament: Now that I am attending church in English again.  Hearing the sacrament prayers has been special.  I know what the sacrament prayers words are and what they mean since I've been listening to them my whole life.  But I developed an appreciation and amazement for the simple power in words.  Hearing the sacrament prayer in Spanish for 5 years, I am definitely familiar with the key words and am able to connect the meanings.  But hearing the words in your fluent language again has had a comforting, familiar feeling of coming home. And as I listen and understand each and every one of those words, I am thankful for the layers of meaning that continue to open up to me.   One key element of the ordinance of the Sacrament in renewing our covenants that we made at baptism through Repentance and recommitting ourselves to follow the Savior.  Preparation to partake of the Sacrament is best done through repentance. 

Temple:  There have been so many very big changes in my life over the last 6 months that I haven't been to the temple in a couple months.  I know I need to go and I really want to go, but finding time and a sitter, and just getting there has been my excuse for not going.  I recognize the areas within myself that need the peace and patience that comes through the temple.  By attending the temple, we are able to remember all the promises we have made to the Lord.  A covenant is a two way promise and we are not only reminded of our responsibilities in the promises we have made, but we are also reminded of the blessings that are Promised to us through our obedience to the covenant. 

Unseen Blessings

Last week I got in the car to take my kids to school to find I had a dead battery.  After a few failed jumps, it was clear it was either the battery or the alternator.  Both of which were going to cost money and neither of which were good timing financially.  After some serious stewing about the situation, which wasn't productive.  I had my mechanic check the battery to see what the problem was.  It was definitely a dead battery and the new was was going to definitely be cheaper than an alternator, though still an unexpected expense.  However, he informed me that my dead battery was the factory installed battery meaning it was 13 years old.

It was very inconvenient for my battery to die, however, I realized at that moment how the Lord had blessed me all these years to keep that battery going well beyond when it should have died.  The Lord is sometimes blessing us in ways that we won't see until years down the road.  It humbles me to think of all the other ways that my Heavenly Father may be blessing me and my family in ways that I can not see.

By Small and Simple Means

I have been trying to seek answers to my prayers through getting up early in the morning and studying the scriptures and General Conference talks.  I was having a hard time though because my 3 year old usually ends up next to me in bed sometime in the early morning (between 2 am and 6 am).  So I went to my Heavenly Father explaining my situation and that I really did want to be diligent about getting up and studying.  So as I was sitting in my car at a stop light I causally asked him, "Ok, but how early do you want me to get up?"  After asking the question I focused my eyes on the road in front of me to turn my attention back to driving and I saw the first few letters of the license plate in front of me.

5AM......

There was my answer.  

3 Ways to Find Truth

Tonight I am studying the talk "If Ye Lack Wisdom" by BY ELDER MARCOS A. AIDUKAITIS from LDS General Conference.  I noticed a list that he shared in his talk.

We Can Find Truth in Three ways:

1. Observing it's fruits, "By their Fruits ye shall know them."
2. "We can find truth by experimenting on the word ourselves."
3. Revelation.  "Doctrine and Covenants section 8 teaches that revelation is knowledge--"knowledge of whatsoever things [we] ask in faith, with and honest heart, believing that [we] shall receive."