Small and Simple Things

In Alma 37 6-7 we read

6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

“By small and simple things are great things brought to pass”

Last conference L. Whitney Clayton spoke about The Savior when he performed His first recorded miracle at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. Mary, His mother, and His disciples were there as well. Mary apparently felt some responsibility for the success of the feast. During the celebration, a problem arose—the wedding hosts ran out of wine. Mary was concerned and went to Jesus. They spoke briefly; then Mary turned to the servants and said:

“Whatsoever He Saith, Do It”

“And there were set there six waterpots of stone. … [These waterpots weren’t used to store drinking water but were used for ceremonial washings under the law of Moses.]

“Jesus saith unto [the servants], Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
“And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
“[Then] the ruler of the feast … tasted the water that was made wine” and expressed surprise that the best wine was served so late in the feast.¹

Mary had unshakable confidence in Him and in His divine power. Her simple, straightforward instruction to the servants had no caveats, no qualifications, no limitations: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”

When we decide to do “whatsoever [God] saith unto” us, we earnestly commit to align our everyday behavior with God’s will. Such simple acts of faith as studying the scriptures daily, fasting regularly, and praying with real intent deepen our well of spiritual capacity to meet the demands of mortality. Over time, simple habits of belief lead to miraculous results. They transform our faith from a seedling into a dynamic power for good in our lives. Then, when challenges come our way, our rootedness in Christ provides steadfastness for our souls. God shores up our weaknesses, increases our joys, and causes “all things [to] work together for [our] good.”⁶

The trials we are facing may be beyond anything we think others can comprehend. Especially, when we decide to ask for help from our Bishops, Stake Presidents or other leaders.

When I was a teenager my Mother went to our Bishop with concerns about my younger brother.  The Bishop asked my mother whether we were having Family Home Evening and if she was reading her scriptures and praying.  She left the meeting felling like the answer didn’t address her deep concern about my brother.  The answer he gave seemed too simple.

Who knows if that Bishop really understood the dire situation my mother was facing, however, that is what he was prompted to tell her.  The Lord knows what is best for us.

I am much older now and I have a family of my own and because of my own experiences I know exactly what that bishop was trying to teach her.

He wanted her to find every way possible to bring the spirit into our home.  In hopes that it would touch my brother in some way that he might be brought to a remembrance of his love for our Savior.  He knew that if the spirit was found in our home it would guide our family through this trail.

The fruit of the spirit is worth more than any worldly endeavor.  In Galations 5: we read:

22. That the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness and temperance:

And we should do all in our power to receive the spirit in our homes.

Whether we struggle with a wayward child or how to establish a happy marriage; balancing work, family, and Church duties; challenges with the Word of Wisdom, with employment and finances, or with pornography and other addications; or trouble gaining peace about a Church policy or historical question we don’t understand.

We must humble ourselves and do the small and simple things we have been asked to do. 

L. Whitney Clayton told of the story of Naaman:

Consider Naaman, a “captain of the host of … Syria, … a mighty man in valour,” and a leper. A servant girl told of a prophet in Israel who could heal Naaman, and so he traveled with an escort of servants, soldiers, and gifts to Israel, eventually arriving at Elisha’s house. Elisha’s servant, not Elisha himself, informed Naaman that the Lord’s command was to “go and wash in [the river] Jordan seven times.” A simple thing. Perhaps this simple prescription struck the mighty warrior as so illogical, simplistic, or beneath his dignity that he found the mere suggestion offensive. At the very least, Elisha’s instruction didn’t make sense to Naaman, “so he turned and went away in a rage.”
But Naaman’s servants gently approached him and observed that he would have done “some great thing” if Elisha had asked it of him. They noted that since he was asked to do only a small task, shouldn’t he do it, even if he didn’t understand why? Naaman reconsidered his reaction and perhaps skeptically, but obediently, “went … down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan” and was miraculously healed.⁸

Often times we underestimate the power of small and simple acts of faith.
Those who are deliberate about doing the “small and simple things”⁷—obeying in seemingly little ways—are blessed with faith and strength that go far beyond the actual acts of obedience themselves and, in fact, may seem totally unrelated to them. It may seem hard to draw a connection between the basic daily acts of obedience and solutions to the big, complicated problems we face. But they are related.
In my experience, getting the little daily habits of faith right is the single best way to fortify ourselves against the troubles of life, whatever they may be. Small acts of faith, even when they seem insignificant or entirely disconnected from the specific problems that vex us, bless us in all we do.

If you haven’t been reading your scriptures, praying and having FHE with your family.  It is never too late to change.

One of my favorite scripture stories about change was the Story of Josiah, who was made King of Judah when he was only eight years old.
And even though his father and many of those before him were wicked, Josiah chose to do right in the sight of the Lord, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
18 years into his reign Josiah directed that the Temple should be repaired.  His High Priest Hilkiah found the book of the law (The Scriptures)and delivered it to Josiah.
When the book of the law was read to Josiah, he “rent his clothes” and wept before the Lord.
“Great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us,” he said, “because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:13.

The king then read the book before all the people, and at that time they all made a covenant to obey all the Lord’s commandments “with all their heart and all their soul.” 2 Kings 23:3. Then Josiah proceeded to clean up the kingdom of Judah, removing all the idols, the groves, the high places, and all the abominations that had accumulated during the reign of his fathers, defiling the land and its people. …

“And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.” 2 Kings 23:25.

Josiah was touched by the Law of Moses.  The scriptures brought about a mighty change in the kingdom of Judah because their Leader Josiah took the time to study and practice the Law.

"We have the power to change!!!  We must Bridal our passions and live within the laws that God has set.  We can do anything with God.  He loves you and will always answer your prayers."

I am so grateful for Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for me and the plan of salvation.  I know that as we practice small and simple acts of faith daily miracles will happen in our lives. 

 

Prophets

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be with you today and feel of your loving spirits.  I would like to invite the Holy Ghost to be with us.

This month I have thought a lot about what the prophets mean to me.  I’ve reminisced about the different counsel and guidance that has touched my heart and changed my life.

We have lost several of my favorite Apostles in the last few years.  I am so grateful for them and their words of encouragement and care for us.

I deeply love and admire our living Prophet Thomas S. Monson.  He has brought light, truth and joy into our lives.  He has taught us to love our families and to study our scriptures.  He has shown us the way to live our lives so that we can draw closer to God.  He has taught us the importance of being kind to one another and in keeping the commandments.  He has pleaded with us to emulate the savior in all that we do, to qualify ourselves to be worthy of the saving and exalting blessings we can only find in the Temple.  I love him for his obedience and for his concern for us.

In D&C 1:38 we learn:

38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

Our loving Heavenly Father has brought forth prophets from the time of Adam.  These prophets have been foreordained before the foundation of the world.

In 2 Chronicles 20 we read a story about King Jehosaphate and his desire to obey the Prophet Jahazriel’s words.

King Jehoshaphat had several great armies coming to battle against him in an attempt to possess his land. Understandably, he was seized with dreadful fear, so he proclaimed a fast throughout all his kingdom and gathered the people of Judah together to plead for guidance from the Lord. Jehoshaphat humbly and earnestly prayed: “O our God, … we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (2 Chr. 20:12).

Then came the answer of the Lord through the prophet Jahaziel : “Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. …

“Fear not, nor be dismayed; … for the Lord will be with you” (2 Chr. 20:15, 17; emphasis added).

Jehoshaphat and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell in thankful prayer before the Lord.

Jehoshaphat then gave very important counsel that we today would do well to obey. “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chr. 20:20; emphasis added).

As promised, the Lord protected the good people of Judah. As Jehoshaphat’s forces looked on, those armies which came to battle against them, they fought so fiercely among themselves that they completely destroyed one another before they ever reached the people of Judah. Listen to a prophet’s voice and obey. There is safety in following the living prophet.

King Jehosaphate had to exercise Faith and Trust in the lord and in His chosen Prophet.

Another account of Jehoshaphat illustrates how prophets speak directly and plainly the word of God and let the consequence follow. Ahab, the king of Israel, invited Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to join with him in battle against Syria. Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to inquire of the Lord to see if it would be wise to go against the Syrians.

After four hundred of Ahab’s so-called prophets told Ahab only what he wanted to hear—that he would be victorious over Syria—Jehoshaphat asked if he didn’t have any other prophets. Ahab replied, “There is yet one man, Micaiah … : but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kgs. 22:8; emphasis added).

Jehoshaphat convinced Ahab to seek the word of the prophet Micaiah. The messenger who was sent to bring Micaiah before the kings cautioned Micaiah to tell Ahab only what he wanted to hear. “And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak” (1 Kgs. 22:14; emphasis added). Micaiah told Ahab that Israel would not return victorious and that Ahab would be killed.

Against the counsel of the prophet, Ahab went to battle, and lost his life, and Israel was defeated.

Micaiah, as all prophets before him and all who have followed, spoke the word of God with plainness and truth and let the consequence follow.

The desire of the prophets is to assist our Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ in bringing about the great objectives of the plan of salvation, or, as one ancient prophet called it, “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8).

Each of these prophets has humbly and prayerfully sought to know and follow God’s will in his personal ministry. Each has been determined to declare to Heavenly Father, as did an obedient Jesus Christ before him, “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Because of the nature of this life, challenges will arise in each of our homes.  We may be filled with sorrow and grieve and will undoubtedly have questions.  As we try to find our way through the pit falls of mortality we will need our Living Prophet’s counsel.

Many years ago I had to make some tough decisions and I felt fear and confusion.  Like Jehoshaphat I was compelled to fast and pray for guidance.  I woke one evening in the middle of the night with a prompting in my mind.  The spirit encouraged me to write it down.  I wasn’t sure what it meant but I wrote it down. 

The following week was General Conference and President Monson gave a talk called “The Race of Life”.  He shared many eternal truths with us.  He spoke of the everyday decisions we make and how we often rush from thing to thing.

He spoke of death and times of crises and how these times can make us think more clearly and more deeply.

Our Prophet explained:

Such moments of clarity come to all of us at one time or another although not always through so dramatic a circumstance as death or sickness.  We see clearly what it is that really matters in our lives and how we should be living.

In our times of deepest reflection or greatest need, the soul of man reaches heavenward, seeking a divine response to life’s greatest questions:  Where did we come from?  Why are we here? Where do we go after we leave this life?

Answers to these questions are not discovered within the covers of academia’s textbooks or by checking the internet.  These questions transcend mortality.  They embrace eternity.

Where did we come from? This query is inevitably thought, if not spoken, by every human being.

The Apostle Paul told the Athenians on Mars’ Hill that “we are the offspring of God.”² Since we know that our physical bodies are the offspring of our mortal parents, we must probe for the meaning of Paul’s statement. The Lord has declared that “the spirit and the body are the soul of man.”³ Thus it is the spirit which is the offspring of God. The writer of Hebrews refers to Him as “the Father of spirits.”⁴ The spirits of all men are literally His “begotten sons and daughters.”⁵

How grateful we should be that a wise Creator fashioned an earth and placed us here, with a veil of forgetfulness of our previous existence so that we might experience a time of testing, an opportunity to prove ourselves in order to qualify for all that God has prepared for us to receive.

Clearly, one primary purpose of our existence upon the earth is to obtain a body of flesh and bones. We have also been given the gift of agency. In a thousand ways we are privileged to choose for ourselves. Here we learn from the hard taskmaster of experience. We discern between good and evil. We differentiate as to the bitter and the sweet. We discover that there are consequences attached to our actions.

By obedience to God’s commandments, we can qualify for that “house” spoken of by Jesus when He declared: “In my Father’s house are many mansions. … I go to prepare a place for you … that where I am, there ye may be also.”⁷

His counsel touched the deepest part of my soul and I wanted to repent and change.

I began to take inventory of my life and the things I felt were truly important, and the heavens poor out blessings on my family and me.  One of the greatest gifts I received was the gift of “Time”.

Time to meditate, time to study, time for the temple, time for my family, time for my friends, and I have felt an abundance of the Saviors love in my home.

As I have strived to make time for these things many other blessings have followed and some of which I am unaware of and they present themselves as the years pass.

Had I not followed the Prophets counsel who knows how many special memories and blessings I would have missed out on.

One of the blessings that has enriched my life greatly is the Quality of Time I have been able to spend with my family.  My husband is very quiet and I on the other hand love to talk….Over the years we have gone on several long walks together.  When we first started our walks we were studying the Old Testament, and I found it hard to understand many of the things being taught. I noticed that if I stopped talking and just listened, he would bear his testimony of what he learned. He would tell the stories of the scriptures in such a way that he likened them to our lives.  This has become something that I look forward to with great anticipation….Oh how I have cherished those times we have spent together.  He has been an incredible Companion to me.

President Monson said:

It is the celestial glory which we seek. It is in the presence of God we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we want membership. Such blessings are earned through a lifetime of striving, seeking, repenting, and finally succeeding.

It has been several years since that General Conference and I wouldn’t ever take back the choice I made to follow the prophet’s counsel no matter the sacrifice.

I am so grateful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for all that they have done for me.  I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he loves us.  He truly wants us to be happy.  I am grateful for a living prophet that leads and guides us to safety.

Strengthening our Faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through Sabbath Day Observance and learning the doctrines of the Gospel in our home.

I have been asked to speak on Strengthening our Faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through Sabbath Day Observance and learning the doctrines of the Gospel in our home.

I am grateful to have this opportunity to return to the Lighthouse Ward and see all of your beautiful smiling faces.

I really want to welcome the Spirit to be here in hopes that we can be uplifted and edified.

In the scriptures we read that “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

When we read the scriptures our hearts can be changed.  Scripture study will help us turn to God and our Faith will increase.

One of my favorite scripture stories was the Story of Josiah, who was made King of Judah when he was only eight years old.

And even though his father and many of those before him were wicked, Josiah chose to do right in the sight of the Lord, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

18 years into his reign Josiah directed that the Temple should be repaired.  His High Priest Hilkiah found the book of the law and delivered it to Josiah.

When the book of the law was read to Josiah, he “rent his clothes” and wept before the Lord.

“Great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us,” he said, “because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:13.

The king then read the book before all the people, and at that time they all made a covenant to obey all the Lord’s commandments “with all their heart and all their soul.” 2 Kings 23:3. Then Josiah proceeded to clean up the kingdom of Judah, removing all the idols, the groves, the high places, and all the abominations that had accumulated during the reign of his fathers, defiling the land and its people. …

“And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.” 2 Kings 23:25.

Josiah was touched by the Law of Moses.  The scriptures brought about a mighty change in the kingdom of Judah because their Leader Josiah took the time to study and practice the Law.  

I am grateful to live in the fullness of times, when we have the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, The Bible, and many resources to teach our Families.  All of these things are highly accessible and are not hidden within the Temple.

“We are living in the Fullness of Times that is spoken of in the scriptures”.

God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations.

Because of this tremendous enlightenment that has been poured out upon the world…….The hearts of men have turned to their fathers and Missionary work is moving forward full force. 

I am so grateful to be able to access this light so easily.

President Kimbel said, “The Lord is not trifling with us when he gives us these things, for “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke 12:48.) Access to these things means responsibility for them. We must study the scriptures according to the Lord’s commandment (see 3 Ne. 23:1–5); and we must let them govern our lives and the lives of our children.⁵

One of my deepest desires is that my children will know how to feel the Holy Spirit so that they can combat the pitfalls of youth.

President Eyring tells us that Doctrine gains its power as the Holy Ghost confirms that it is true. We prepare those we teach, as best we can, to receive the quiet promptings of the still, small voice. That takes at least some faith in Jesus Christ. It takes at least some humility, some willingness to surrender to the Savior’s will for us.

Truth can prepare its own way. Simply hearing the words of doctrine can plant the seed of faith in the heart. And even a tiny seed of faith in Jesus Christ invites the Spirit.

We can teach even a child to understand the doctrine of Jesus Christ. It is therefore possible, with God’s help, to teach the saving doctrine simply.

I grew up in a home were Scripture Study was not a priority and when I met my husband he opened my eyes to the beauty of Scripture Study.

We have been married for about 20 years and my favorite thing to do with him is to go on a long walk and talk about the things we are reading.  I cherish those moments when we are able to liken the stories in the scriptures to our own life and we are able to make changes because of the examples in the scriptures.

As my family studied the life of Saul and David we talked about the different strengths and weaknesses each one of these great men had.  Saul was grand in stature and was given every opportunity to be a great leader, however, Saul never really was able to increase his Faith enough to truly become a disciple of Christ, and ultimately this was his downfall.  

David on the other hand had practiced and utilized his faith often and brought about incredible miracles.  However, we know that David fell to temptation.  This made me wonder….was David reading his scriptures and striving to do the will of the Lord during this period of time.  I would guess that he wasn’t.  He may have forgotten all that God had done for him. 

As Disciples of Christ are we remembering what God has done for us?

In the scriptures we read “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

The Sabbath Day is the perfect day to study the doctrines with our families.

I wish I could say that the Sabbath Day has always been my favorite day, but I can’t…..Early in our marriage we walked our own paths on the Sabbath Day.

In the scriptures it says, “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.

Years ago I went to my Heavenly Father in prayer asking him to help me.  I was looking for revelation or to be inspired.

The answer I received was different than what I thought I might need.  It was strong motivation from a loving Heavenly Father encouraging me to change.

I was confused by the prompting, however, I made a list of things that I felt that I could change.  Some of the things were small changes and others would be a constant lifetime change, a change of heart.  Among the list was to improve my Sabbath Day Observance.

The three things I chose to change were; to fast more sincerely, prepare for the sacrament more sincerely, and to study the scriptures more sincerely on the Sabbath Day.

In 2012 President Gibbons then Bishop Gibbons introduced the Come Follow Me Curriculum.  He spoke of how we would teach our Youth to Learn, Act, and Become.  He said that Action would be required….I could feel the spirit so strong.  I decided to study the Come Follow Me Curriculum on Sundays with my three kids.

We have had some of the most precious moments talking about and learning about truth and light.

And I can truly say that I love Sunday!!

As I have tried to change my behavior on Sunday I have seen amazing things happen.  I didn’t know how many blessing we were missing out on until I read Isaiah.

8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

 9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

 11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

 12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

I know that every single person in this room has the power to change.  With Heavenly Fathers help we can do anything.  Each one of us can be “Like” the watered garden, like a spring of water that will not fail.  We can touch the lives of our children and all that we come in contact with.

All we need to do is change….change to meet the will of the Lord.

I have thought about this talk deeply, and sometimes I think we take for granted the great miracles that God has given us.  We are so blessed to have the power of God in our lives.  He has delivered us from sin and death, and brought peace to our hearts.

When we in turn, love God with all of thine Heart, all of thy Soul, and all of thy Might we become examples to our children, so that when they fall into the bondage of sin they will know where to turn for deliverance.  Instead of turning back to Egypt (in our case the world)they will turn to God.

I have seen amazing miracles occur in my own home because of the scriptures and our signs to God on the Sabbath day.  I have seen members of my family be delivered from the bondage of sin and, in turn, be blessed with freedom, light, joy, peace, gentleness, love, and faith. 

If it wasn’t for the scriptures I don’t think this would have happened.

Think of how amazing it is that the thing that can change our lives the most is so easily accessible.

I am a witness of the power of God’s Grace; it has worked in my life and in the lives of those around me.  When we turn to God with all of our Heart, I know great miracles will follow.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Prepare Ye The Way

I am very grateful to be speaking today during the Month of December when everything around us is focused on the Birth of our Savior. 

I would like to welcome the Spirit to be here and I hope that your hearts will be touched by the messages shared today.

First I would like to share a personal story…..In 2005, we lived in Pearland Texas.  Pearland is located right on the outskirts of Houston and is about an hour away from the Gulf of Mexico. 

Three days before Hurricane Rita hit Texas; our local leaders warned the communities in the storm zone to evacuate.  This was insane because the population size was extremely large.  Houston alone has a population of about 2 million people.  If you add in the surrounding suburbs it was about 3 million. 

Three weeks earlier we had watched the devastating results of Hurricane Katrina.  Houston’s Reliant Stadium housed a small group of 100,000.  Our Stakes had received service assignments to help in many ways.  The individuals staying in the Stadium had lost so much, their family members, their homes, and their way of life.

As we saw the Category 5 Hurricane approaching Houston we packed up our children and headed to Dallas where my Sister lived. 

It normally would have been a 4 hour drive; however, we sat at a standstill on the freeway all day and all through the night with our frightened neighbors.

It was total kayos’ stores and consumers were running out of gas on the roads and there were altercations erupting throughout what seemed like a never ending journey to Dallas.  We were on the road for 16 long hours.

How grateful we were for the small blessings we noticed.  We somehow had enough gas to make the long journey to Dallas. We had two small children and one on the way, and we had food and water for them.  We were kept safe from the turmoil we saw all around us….and lastly as Hurricane Rita made its way into the Gulf it turned away from Houston and hit the eastern part of Texas.

There were 113 deaths reported from Hurricane Rita and out of those 113, 107 happened during the evacuation, because of weather and traffic issues.   

That experience caused me to ponder on two important questions.

1. In whom can we trust?
2. How can we be better prepared?

In Isaiah 41: 10 we are promised, Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

In 2 Nephi 4, it talks about how Nephi feels discouraged because of his weaknesses and iniquities.  His father Lehi has passed away and his brothers have turned against him. The words he spoke touched my heart.

16 Behold my soul delighted in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondered continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

17. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimed: O wretched man that I am!

Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaned because of my sin; nevertheless, I know in who I have trusted.

20.  My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

Nephi continues

34. O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.  I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh.  Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

These scriptures allow us to see Nephi in a way that makes him very much like you and me.  We are not perfect and we all have struggles it is what we put our trust in, that makes us who we are.

Nephi gives us great words of advice when he says….“I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh”.  “Oh Lord I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.

Because of Nephi’s desire to know the Lord he was able to overcome great hardships through the companionship of our Savior, and he was lead to safety time and time again.

There seems to be no end to our Savior’s desire to lead us to safety. And there is consistency in the way He shows us the path. He calls by more than one means so that it will reach those willing to accept it.

And those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets, whenever people have qualified to have the prophets of God among them. Those authorized servants are always charged with warning the people, telling them the way to safety.

Apostle Paul wrote that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1)

Prophets have been sent to us to prepare the way for our return to our Heavenly Father.  We will hear the message that God wants us to hear from one prophet to the next.  As we seek for God’s guidance we will hear the warning more than once.  We will have way more than 3 days to prepare.

President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote….Would it not be an extraordinarily strange thing if the Lord should come and begin his reign of peace, take vengeance on the wicked, cleansing the earth from sin, and not send messengers to prepare the way before him? Should we expect the Lord to come to judge the world without first giving it warning and preparing the means of escape for all who will repent?

-Noah was sent to the world to warn it of the flood. If the people had hearkened they would have escaped. 

-Moses was sent to lead Israel into the Promised Land, to fulfill the promises made to Abraham.

-John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the coming of Christ.

In each instance the call came through the opening of the heavens.

The Lord promised to have the same interest in humanity preceding his second coming.

-Joseph Smith was sent to prepare the way for this second coming, by the proclamation of the fullness of the Gospel and the granting to all men the means of escape from iniquity and transgression.

-In our day we have a loving Prophet, President Monson and many great Apostles who are placed here on earth to teach and guide us so we will be prepared for the day when our Savior returns.

President Joseph Fielding Smith once told a group of Latter-day Saints that he was “praying for the end of the world.” He said, “If it came tomorrow I would be glad.” In response to that declaration, a woman spoke out, loudly enough for others to hear. “Oh, I hope not,” she said.

How can we be better prepared?

If you find yourself feeling discouraged about your preparation for the second coming and you are searching for some help, here are a few suggestions from our Prophet and his Apostles.

The first suggestion is to Pray Always-

When Oliver Cowdery failed in an attempt to translate, the Lord told him:

“Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

“But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings” (D&C 9:7–9).

President Packer shared a story illustrating that principle.

There was a little girl who was upset with her brother; he had built a trap to catch sparrows.

Unable to get help, she said to herself, “Well, I’ll pray about it.”

After her prayer, the little girl told her mother, “I know he is not going to catch any sparrows in his trap because I prayed about it. I’m positive he won’t catch any sparrows!”

Her mother said, “How can you be so sure?”

She said, “After I prayed about it, I went out and kicked that old trap all to pieces!”

How often do we pray without the Faith to accept Gods Will???

We should learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil.

President Packer reminds us that we should conclude all our prayers with “Thy will be done”.

The second suggestion is to Study the Words of God

 President Monson shared….When we came to the earth, we brought with us that great gift from God—even our agency. In thousands of ways we are privileged to choose for ourselves. Here we learn from the hard taskmaster of experience.

We discern between good and evil. We differentiate as to the bitter and the sweet. We learn that decisions determine destiny.

I am certain we left our Father with an overwhelming desire to return to Him, that we might gain the exaltation He planned for us and which we ourselves so much wanted.

 Although we are left to find and follow that path which will lead us back to our Father in Heaven, He did not send us here without direction and guidance. Rather, He has given us the tools we need, and He will assist us as we seek His help and strive to do all in our power to endure to the end and gain eternal life.

To help guide us we have the words of God and of His Son found in our holy scriptures. We have the counsel and teachings of God’s prophets. Of paramount importance, we have been provided with a perfect example to follow—even the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—and we have been instructed to follow that example.

Said the Savior Himself: “Come, follow me.”² “The works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do.”³ He posed the question, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” And then He answered, “Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”⁴ “He marked the path and led the way.”⁵

As we look to Jesus as our Exemplar and as we follow in His footsteps, we can return safely to our Heavenly Father to live with Him forever.

Said the prophet Nephi, “Unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.”⁶

As we strive to place Christ at the center of our lives by learning His words, by following His teachings, and by walking in His path, He has promised to share with us the eternal life that He died to gain. There is no higher end than this, that we should choose to accept His discipline and become His disciples and do His work throughout our lives. Nothing else, no other choice we make, can make of us what He can.

We really have two choices during our time here on earth.  One we can turn away from our Savior in fear and frustration, or we can turn to him with full trust as we pray diligently and study the words of the gospel, allowing him to strengthen us and guide us back to him. 

I bear witness that Jesus Christ loves us, and he lives, he was a born into this world to make the atoning sacrifice for us.   He did overcome death and he is the almighty Master Teacher and if we will go to him with anything he will bring us Peace and Happiness no matter what we are dealing with.