Thinkin' about Enduring Trials

We all go through them. Trials are the way of life. Maybe someone died. Maybe you lost your job. Maybe you suffered a breakup with a significant other. Maybe that person doesn't want to be your significant other. Maybe it's a health issue. Maybe its poverty. It might possibly be the trial of abundance!

Whatever it is, we all go through trials. We don't really know what each person goes through - people are very good at hiding on the surface what is haunting them inside. We tend to fault other people because of their trials. We generally refuse to believe that we are in our own trials.

A lot of the time, we also don't see the end of a trial. We think that whatever it is that is bothering us, we are in it for life. I remember the first time I was in my mission field in Tennessee. I had been a missionary for about 3 weeks. I was driving with my missionary trainer, and I was just staring out the window wondering how in the world I was going to make it for 2 years as a missionary. 2 years seemed like my entire life.

I like to look at it this way. A lot of music player apps such as itunes or Windows Media Player have a little toolbar that goes from one end to the other when playing music. Look at the diagram below.

We can see the little music thing is going from the beginning to the end, without any trouble. This is like our trials. Now look at how it compares.

As we can see - there is a beginning and an end to all trials. We're in a moving time when we will see the blessings if we endure and do what we know to be right. How do we endure? By keeping the commandments, even when it seems most difficult to. Accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Reading the scriptures. Praying. Going to church. Doing the little things that we know will invite the Spirit. Most of all - believing on the name of Jesus Christ to help us through our trials.

At the end of trials, we know that there are blessings. Those blessings can be all types of things. Knowledge, comfort, temporal benefits, etc. Who knows - it is different for each type of situation. But the prophet Moroni promised us:

"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that 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."

The trial of your faith is what you are currently in - and the Lord will give you many blessings if you endure well. We go through trials so we can learn and grow, and those are also blessings we receive. If you are having doubts or troubles, just remember that you can always pray to our Heavenly Father, and He will send you the aid and help you need to endure well.

So endure to the end. It is so worth it.

Thinkin' about Patience

I have been thinking a lot lately about how patient I am being. Am I really being as patient as I need to? I have some things that I would like done, that I would like changed, and I want them right now! So why do I have to wait then?

Simply, I think when we have to wait, we appreciate it more and give it more time and thought. We learn the lessons that we have to, and learn that it is not about us, but about others. I have been trying to increase my patience and to look forward to the day when I achieve what I hope to achieve. It will be more worth it to me then than it is now.

Thinkin' about Change... Is It Possible?

One of the biggest things that has been weighing on my mind lately is some of the dumbest things I have done in my life. Its obviously not good to dwell on these - that's not what I have been doing. Instead, I have been dwelling on how the changes from those things to the things I am doing now have taken place. What on earth was it that happened to me that challenged me to decide to make a change? What was it? These are the things I've been wondering, as well as the question ---> Is change possible? Is it worth it?

It is worth it. I want to tell a little bit of my story without going into details. Before I came out to Tennessee, I wasn't very good about applying the Gospel in my life - I even had a few challenges with it while being out here on my mission! There were certain aspects of the Gospel that, to me, didn't have much room or importance in my life. It affected a couple of people that were close to me, although it distorted my view of how things really were.

That's where repentance comes into play. I was sitting in my room and I was just sick of feeling like the things that were affecting me weren't really affecting me. I was lying to others, and worse - lying to myself. I decided I couldn't do that any longer, and I talked to someone very close to me about change. I talked to him for a few hours, and then he helped me talk to someone else about the changes that needed to take place. That was a representative of Jesus Christ.

In making this confession, I feel like I need to say (like Joseph Smith did in his history) that there isn't anyone who needs to think I participated in any big sin. However, my mistakes did affect a couple of my friends, who I tried to reconcile with, and who I will have to face in the future - but I can stand before them and tell them that I am sorry. I also can tell them, more importantly, that I have changed. What joy that will be - their choice may still be not to associate with me, but I can stand there with the satisfaction that I have changed for the better. I believe that change is so possible.

Why is it that when we need change, we turn to the Savior? What does he have that is capable of  causing this change within us that others do not?

In the Book of Mormon, Alma (a prophet of God) talks about the things the Savior did while he was on the Earth. This was a prophecy given a hundred years before Christ was even born. It means a lot to know that what the Savior did would go so far as to count for every single person involved, every situation, and every mistake and sin.

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 "And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities."

This scripture means so much to me. It should mean the same to you. Because he suffered those things - for us - we can change. He knows where we are, where we've been - and he knows how to put us where we need to be going. I have a FIRM testimony that we can change. We CAN change. No matter where we are in life! I urge you to turn to the Savior for help. He suffered so that we could know where to turn to.

I have a friend who is currently not sure where she is in life. I have been trying so hard to help her recently - but I know that the only way she will receive help is through the Savior Jesus Christ. We are truly on the path where only he can help us get to the end destination. Converse with Him - let Him help you. I promise that change is possible.