One of my favorite scriptures

I was sending an email to a friend and felt impressed to share this scripture.  It is one of my very favorite scriptures in the world and has helped to teach me in many instances in my life.

Mosiah 24: 10-16

• 10 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
• 11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he ^aput guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.
• 12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their ^ahearts to him; and he did know the ^bthoughts of their hearts.
  13 And it ^acame to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
• 14 And I will also ease the ^aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as ^bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their ^cafflictions.
• 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did ^astrengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with ^cpatience to all the will of the Lord.
• 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

 Specifically where they are told that the Lord will ease the burdens on their back - even so they cannot feel them. We often want the Lord to take away our burdens - make it all just go away and work out perfectly. Too often it doesn't work that way though, and the real lesson is submitting to His will and letting him carry us, as well as our burdens. I KNOW through times in my life that my burdens haven't gone away, but that I haven't carried them on my own. My own back has been strengthened and my ability to carry the burdens has been made possible by the help of my Heavenly Father.  I find such comfort in that message of peace and love.

PAIN

I took a barbell weight lifting class today at the gym.  As happens often when I exercise I learned a little bit along the way.  The teacher (who does a great job inspiring just by the great shape she is in!) was talking us through a tough set of lifts and she was talking about pain.  She said something to the effect that the pain or muscle fatigue wasn't telling us to stop - it was telling us that change was on the way. She said, "I know you want that change, and that's why I'm here - to help you find your way to the changes you're looking for."  As she said this I swear she was looking right in my eyes....it was powerful. Change comes after we do the work, change comes often after the pain.

Think of the times in your life when you've felt pain and you've wanted more than anything for the pain to stop.  You wish it would just go away and you could go on in your life like you had before.  But guess what?  There is generally something better on that other side of the pain - a new version of you, a change.  Sometimes the change is good, sometimes it leads us to more pain and even more change than we had bargained for - but in my experience the pain almost always leads us to something better in the end.

The pain from the blisters after a long run - brings changes and calluses that help you run even further next time.  Not only that, but I love the feeling of putting on a pair of flip-flops after a long run and letting my feet breathe - it's a refreshing feeling I wouldn't fully appreciate without that momentary pain.

The pain from the loss of a relationship, or pain from friendships that might be in a troubling spot - help us to learn how to be a better friend or companion.  Those moments of pain give us eternal insights into relationships and ways that we can change into the companion we are looking for.

Pain from a tough workout gives us new muscles, give us new limits and gives us a new confidence we didn't realize we had before picking up those dumbells. 

Without pushing ourselves we won't change, we won't move forward.  Rarely is the destination we really want to be at a downhill course.  I believe more often than not it's up a sheer cliff that requires more muscle, more determination and more will than we normally realize at the beginning of our climb.

So think of the area in your life that you're feeling pain and then look a little further - does it bring with it the opprotunity for change in your life?  If so, look at those opprotunties and get a move on - change is good.

BELIEVE

So at the beginning of the year there was buzz around about people choosing their "word" for 2010.  A word that they would focus on as they interacted with others, as the tried to live up to their 2010 resolutions, and a word that would signify the journey they were on for the next year of time.

I haven't done this in the past (this wasn't a new concept - it was just one of my first time to think about joining in), but I felt drawn to participating in this little activity this time around.  Now, at the time (the end of 2009) I was really struggling with dozens of "issues" - and I think this little decision was a turning point for me.  This was a moment that kind of forshadowed the possibility of upcoming changes in how I looked at the world, and more importantly how I looked at myself.

I thought of several words - adventure, excitement, organization, love, hope....but as I mulled these over in my mind I kept being drawn to a Christmas decoration I still had up (remember, it was just days after Christmas - I was still ok to have decorations up, I wasn't violating any decorating rules) with the simple word "BELIEVE".  That floated around in my mind as a possibility - but I was really struggling with some major depression, and the word "BELIEVE" just seemed a little too optomistic; a little too out of reach.

But as of January 1st I hadn't written down my intention, I hadn't created a large art piece devoted to "my 2010 word", and I hadn't even said anything to anyone about it.  I kind of filed it away in my mind under things I wish I had the time/energy to think about and let myself quit thinking about it.

Fast forward a few weeks, maybe months....  I was working out at my friend Leslie's house in the new program I was working on.  I was feeling stronger, finding new confidence and light in my life.  I was cleaning out the cob-webs and the darkness and feeling so much lighter in many ways.  I looked up into a door-way that led to the bathroom just off of her weight room.  Sitting on the counter in the bathroom was a decoration, a simple one word piece of wood, "BELIEVE".  As I looked at that word I felt a reminder of my thoughts leading up to the beginning of 2010.  Suddenly I felt renewed determination to have a word, to create intentions for the rest of the year revolving around these simple 7 letters.  All of the thoughts I'd had weeks before of things I wished I could want seemed somewhat possible.  I decided from then on that the theme for the rest of 2010 for me would be to "BELIEVE".  Here are some of the areas I felt it applied:

• I would BELIEVE in the people around me that I love and help them to BELIEVE in themselves.
• I would BELIEVE in myself and the abilities God had blessed me with. This would mean that I would stop listening to the limiting ideas I'd let keep me from accomplishing things I wanted in the past.
• I would BELIEVE that there were better chances out there and that things would look up financially.
• I would BELIEVE that the trials that I was experiencing were for my good, that I would truly come out victorious over them and that they would strengthen me and the people I love in just the way we needed it.
• I would BELIEVE in the gospel even more than I ever had, my testimony would grow and I would know with a surety the things I have always felt in my heart.

I found this word popping up all around me in the coming weeks.  I don't know if it was actually appearing more often, or if I was just more aware of it now, but it seemed to me that it was a neon sign just about everywhere I turned. I was becoming more aware of it in home decor items I would see at the store, the word would find its way into songs I would listen to, I would notice it mentioned in church talks, inspirational posters, blogs I would read.  I felt like crying out, "Ok - I get it!!! BELIEVE is my word for the year."

It has brought me peace as I've thought about it and as tender mercies have lead me to more experiences with my word.  Last night as I was wasting time on the internet I came across this cute blog and a poignant graphic she had posted:

I not only wanted to frame it and hang it on my wall, or maybe on my bathroom mirror to greet me each morning - but I wanted to make a copy of it and share it with others I loved.  I wanted to give a copy of it to friends as they struggled with believing in themselves, as they let the sad words of self-doubt creep in and create limiting ideas into their lives.  I wanted to share a piece of the belief that I had in them so they could see themselves in the light that I see them; but more importantly than how our Heavenly Father sees us.  I know that He sees what we are becoming and knows the beauty we can one day be.  It's my wish that we could all get a glimpse of that from time to time.  It is my wish that anyone reading this would find the power to BELIEVE in themselves and follow their dreams.

Trials & the Storms of Life

I'm sure that many of us (if not all of us reading this) have had trials and storms in our lives where we've responded with the question, "WHY ME?????"  Now I don't think that necessarily asking this is a bad thing.  I think that if we wallow, and we dwell on it, and we suffer unneccessarily it can be a bad thing - but I think that if we take that question and turn it around a little bit we can learn a lot in each and every trial - even in the middle of the trial and not just looking back. 

Instead of asking "Why me?" ask "What can I learn?".

I've thought about this a lot recently and I've found a few key reasons I experience trials and I thought I'd pass them along and share them with anyone else they might help.  I feel that going through difficulty and trials can be for the following reasons:

Developing Empathy and Compassion - Many of my trials haven't necessarily been directly for me in a typical way.  Many of my trials I'm finding have been so that I can understand other people better.  Once I've gone through something, or done something maybe I shouldn't have done - I understand others so much better.  The idea of "walking around in someone else's shoes" has a lot of merit and truth.  If we think of our Savior and how he truly understands our weaknesses and struggles - it's because through the Atonement he has actually experienced them.  As we go through hard times much of it is so we can develop an understanding and empathy for others.  We all have such vastly different lives and by experiencing a little bit about others we grow closer I believe.

Trials Help Us to Not Judge Others - Going along with the last one of developing empathy and compassion as we do that we begin to judge others less.  As I struggle with something and hope that others will not judge me as I struggle I hope to remember that later on so I don't do likewise and judge others unfairly.  For instance - after we struggled with infertility for years and years I have learned not to judge other people on the spacing and timing of their children.  For all I know they have tried getting pregnant for years.  We had many, many people make comments about how it must be nice to be waiting to have kids until we owned a house, finished school, had a career - all things that were nice, but we longed for a baby much more than we ever longed for a 3 bedroom home of our own....I've tried not to judge others on how they spend their money, how they discipline their children, or how they get along with their spouse.  I hope that we will all work on not judging people all around - but especially in situations where we know nothing about their experiences.

We Need to Learn to Forgive Others - I look back and see several times in my life where I have been hurt or wronged by someone else.  I have been hurt, angry, said I would NEVER do that to someone else and I would never be able to forgive that person.  Well I think we should "never say never" because I have also had experiences where I swore I'd never be - and needed other people's forgiveness.  How can I expect someone else to forgive me for something I haven't been able to forgive another for?    Going through trials gives us extra opprotunties to forgive others.

We Go Through Trials So We May Strengthen Others - I have had a couple of exerpiences and confirmations recently that trials I have gone through weren't just for my benefit - but for others as well.  There are many ways this can happen - when we struggle and others serve us - they are blessed.  When we struggle and are good examples of learning as we pass through those trials - we bless others.  When we struggle and learn we can be there for others so they do not feel alone as they struggle.  When we pave the way by "learning the hard way" sometimes others won't have to struggle the same way we have.  I think of the pioneers and early leaders of the church and how I have learned invaluable lessons because of experiences they had and lessons they learned.  I hope that I am able to handle my trials and lessons in a way that can bless others both now and in the future.

We Have Trials So We Can Draw Closer To Our Heavenly Father - I remember a conversation I had with a dear friend several years ago.  We were just getting to know each other and were sharing our experiences with infertilty before having our families.  We were both sharing things we had learn as we struggled through and how looking back we were so grateful for those experiences.  She said, "At times I actually kind of miss being in the middle of that trial.  Does that sound crazy?  I just felt so close to my Heavenly Father as I leaned on Him for understanding and strength."  So true!  When we are in the depths of heartache and struggles - if we will rely on our Heavenly Father and the infinite strength and peace He gives us - the middle of our trials can really be a peaceful and beautiful place.  I will question myself when I begin a new trial and kind of take stock of where I am at with my relationship with my Heavenly Father - often when I'm not as close to Him I find myself in a trial - so I have opprotunities to strengthen my relationship with Him.  Just like a parent who misses their children - our Heavenly Father wants us to be close to Him.  I love the scripture in Ether 12:27 where we're told that if we go to the Lord with our weaknesses He will make weak things strong for us.  It's SO true!

Trials Often Prepare Us For Future, Harder Trials We May Face - I see some of the trials from my past and think - WOW - that was a stepping stone to these other things we'd be learning later on.  In fact in the midst of some recent trials I had a strong feeling that that particular trial wasn't the actual trial - but was to prepare me for something bigger later on.  (That was a scary thought...). But since we're here on earth to continaully learn and grow it's important that we build upon what we know - right?

Trials Help Us Feel Grateful For Blessings and Re-evaluate What Is Really Important -  I bet you've heard, "You don't know what you've got until it's gone." How often to we express gratitude for our health, or do we wait until we're sick to complain about the lack of health?  As I've been going through a few things recently I have developed a great sense of gratitude for material items that I had always taken for granted.  I've also realized what things are important (family, relationships, the gospel) and what things are just not vitally important.  Trials have a definite way of giving us a different perspective.

Trials Teach Us How Strong We Are - When Cory and I were in the midst of a VERY hard summer job years ago one of our leaders in the company was talking to us. He said, "I know you don't believe me right now, but you are going to look back on this summer and say 'WOW!  Look how strong we were - look at all we accomplished together!'".  At the time I felt overwhelmed and stressed to a breaking point - but know what?  Looking back on those experiences in Detroit it did just that.  Repeatedly when we're faced with something I have the thought "Remember what you accomplished before?  You can do it again - you're tough!".  I think we don't realize our strength and trials give us a chnce to prove our toughness - even if it's to prove to ourselves that we can do hard things. We can often amaze even ourselves with how tough we really are!

Trials Are Given To Us To Bless Us - I believe this more right now than I have ever believed it.  There are economic challenges we are going through right now that I know would break me if I didn't have this perspective.  There are things I've gone through in the past that have shaken me to my core - but I ultimately have learned that trials are the greatest blessing our Heavenly Father can give us.  They cause us to stretch, strengthen and lift ourselves and others in a way we would not otherwise be able to.  They bring us to our knees and help us be reminded of a Father who loves us more than we can even comprehend.  Trials are a gift and I hope that as each of you go through these trials you can find the same kind of perspective as I feel I'm being blessed with. 

I am indeed grateful for the trials my Heavenly Father knows I can handle. I am beyond grateful for a knowledge that I have that after the storms, and even in the midst of the storms we can find beauty and peace.  Through the particular challenges I've been dealing with in the last several months I can honestly say that I am happier and more at peace than I have ever been while struggling.  Often after a trial is over and resloved I've been able to find the beauty of it - after I'm done suffering; but this is the first time I have been in the middle of a trial and felt extreme gratitude for the experiences and lessons I'm learning.  Sure - it's hard and there are days that really stink - but I have felt the love and beauty that my Heavenly Father has given me.  I feel gratitude in greater ways than I remember feeling it in a very long time.  I have a new sense of what my blessings are and feel greater love for life.  I know that we can all find beauty during the storm and I hope anyone reading this can feel that peace.