today is especially perfect.
not because i made red velvet cupcakes for family dinner, although that helps :)
it's perfect because i have so much love in my heart.
it's perfect because i have so many people to love and that love me. my wonderful husband, my parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, in laws, nieces and nephews and all the other children in my life, and my friends.
it's perfect because i have been given much.
and even though there are so many ugly and scary things in this world, today i realized there is so much good and greatness.
there are so many people, young and old, who are trying their hardest to make it.
today in stake conference, the stake president was inspired to have the young men sing as a choir, and the first song was"
praise to the man". all of these young men and their leaders filled the entire front of the chapel. their beautiful and strong voices with this powerful song, touched my heart. my eyes filled with tears as i listened to the words. and i could picture who they were really singing to. i saw the young men in my sunday school class singing boldly. i was proud. they will grow up to be strong and faithful. i couldn't help but think how many wonderful men there are in the world to help make us women stronger and to lift us up. helping us, whether it be by their heart, example, power or priesthood. i could see it on their faces. and they were perfect.
we listened to a story about a lady and her son and at 8 years old was already stronger than i feel i could ever be. this family had to move far away from home and did not know the reason why, but felt in their hearts it was true. and i can't remember in detail, but for some reason this boy was going to give a gift. he gave his teacher a gift of
the book of mormon wrapped in pretty paper, before discussing it with his mother. she was a little stunned when she found out and said to her son that she wished he would have discussed it with her first. and he said to her, "but mom, heavenly father told me i was supposed to give the book of mormon to her." and in the front cover wrote a note saying that when he reads this book he feels warm inside and he hopes that she does to, signing his name with love. later, the missionaries called this lady's house and told her that this little boy's teacher has been receiving the missionary discussions and requests that she receives the last discussion, before being baptized, in their home with her family and especially her sweet 8 year old son. i couldn't help but weep. what a strong and faithful young boy. the teacher told this boy that she knew the reason they moved so far away from home. so he could come and show her the gospel.
"...becometh as a child, submissive,
meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things
which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth
submit to his father."
-Mosiah 3:19
"And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.
And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." 3 Nephi 11:37-38
in my own words, commit yourself to the lord with all your heart, with humility and full of love, and listen to the teachings of our Father in Heaven, like a child would listen to the teachings of his father. Go to the Lord in prayer, and whatever your struggles, the Lord will guide you and strengthen you so you can one day return to him.
"yea, come unto Christ, and be perfect in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." - Moroni 10:32
i know no one can be perfect all the time. and that there are ugly
things that could possibly destroy a person, but we are not alone, but
we can be strong with the help of the Savior Jesus Christ and with the strength and guidance of the Lord.
i am so grateful for the power of prayer and that i know prayers are answered at sometime or another. i witnessed an answer today.
we are not alone. ever.
