First of all, I am very apprehensive to share my experiences
with anyone and everyone who stumbles upon my blog, but I feel like it might
help someone so it's worth it to me.
Aug. 26th 2018 is one of the worst days of my life. (I know I've said that before, the first time
Millie had a seizure, and the day my dad died are the other 2 worst days. I
think I can have multiple worst days.)
The trauma of that day replays over and over and over and
over...you get the point.
Watching my daughter collapse as she realizes that her
husband's body is under a white tarp next to his bike, her worst nightmare come
true. Watching her whole body shake as
she tries to understand what has just happened.
But that is another post for another day...I still can't go
there.
Here's what finally helped me climb out of where I've been.
We had a special Stake Conference and Sis. Debbie
Christensen spoke to us. She referenced a talk given by Elder Lawrence
Corbridge, "The Way"
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-way?lang=eng
Here are 3 quotes I've pulled from his talk the 3rd one
being my favorite one:
1. “There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. He
is the Way. Every other way, any other way, whatever other way, is
foolishness.”
2. “Only God can
bless us. Only He can sustain us. Only He can cause our hearts to beat and give
us breath. Only He can preserve and protect us. Only He can give us strength to
bear up the burdens of life. Only He can give us power, knowledge, peace, and
joy. Only He can forgive our sins. Only He can heal us. Only He can change us
and forge a godly soul. Only He can bring us back into His presence. And He
will do all of that and much more if we but remember Him to keep His
commandments. What then shall we do? We will remember Him to keep His
commandments. It is the only intelligent thing to do.”
3. “The Lord’s way is
not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel. “There is an opposition in all things,”
everywhere, for everyone. Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple.
We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His
power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or
we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it
alone—without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness,
turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?”
I knew I wanted the Lord's way. I wanted to be endowed with
His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and
joy.
Then President Nelson spoke at the Christmas devotional:
https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2018/12/four-gifts-that-jesus-christ-offers-to-you?lang=eng
“Tonight let us consider together the blessings that come to
us as we focus on the life, mission, doctrine, and Atonement of the Lord Jesus
Christ. I invite you, as King Benjamin did for Saints in his day, to “consider
on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.”
That blessing is for us here and now, but added to it is the eventual promise
of “never-ending happiness.” Simply stated, true followers of Jesus Christ have
the privilege of experiencing unspeakable joy forever.”
“I invite you to consider your own desires. What are your
deepest desires? What do you really want to experience and accomplish in this
life? Do you really want to become more and more like Jesus Christ? Do you
really want to live with Heavenly Father and with your family forever and live
as He lives?”
The four gifts: READ
ALL OF THESE-SO POWERFUL!!
1. Love
2. Forgiveness
3. Repentance
4. Eternal life
The whole talk is good though.
The 3rd experience came to me in the temple.
I was reading in Helaman chapter 5:28
And it came to pass that they were overshadowed with a cloud
of darkness, and an awful solemn fear came upon them.
I felt like that scripture was describing me. I was
overshadowed with a cloud of darkness and I had so much fear. Constantly.
I decided to keep reading because there had to be an answer
to this darkness.
Verse 40: The question
And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto him: What
shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?
VERSE 41: The ANSWER
And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto
the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by
Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness
shall be removed from overshadowing you.
Repent and have faith in Christ.
Those answers seem so simple.
But it worked for me.
I know it can work for you.
