Help in Tough Times

Here is the quote from the Ensign today. In the talk by Elder Rafael E. Pino:
"...when adversity arrives in our lives, the only true source of comfort is God. 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27)."

"Living the gospel does not mean that we will everlastingly escape adversity. Rather it means that we will be prepared to face and endure adversity more confidently."

I think that there is a lot of adversity out there today. The economy is failing and prices are rising. It seems that the blight on society is overtaking those parts that are good. I am glad that there is the gospel. If I didn't have a basic understanding of the plan of happiness it might be really easy to lose hope when times are tough.

I read in the conference issue of the Ensign (May 2009). I have a quote from Elder Holland:

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly along, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path--the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone or unaided, even if sometimes we may feel we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: 'I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you]' (John 14:18; see also v. 23)."

I know that this is true I have felt comfort through many trials and loneliness. I am so grateful that we have leaders who remind us of sacred truths. Sometimes things here are hard, without these reminders we might lose our way.

I love the General Conference talks!

I was reading the scriptures today and I came across a couple of things in 2 Nephi 9:3, 20
"Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children"

This is a very hopeful scripture to me. The scriptures are there for us to read and learn from and the things that we learn (if we live them) will cause us to rejoice and lift up our heads forever because they will bless our children. If we live what we believe and try to teach our children, the Lord will bless our children.

"O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it."

The Lord knows everything. Especially me. He knows how I think and feel. He knows how I respond to certain things and he knows exactly how I learn and how to teach me. What a blessing to be known!

One other thing from the conference issue of the Ensign. This time I was reading Elder Neil L. Andersen's talk:
"I know that I am not what I must become. I pray that I might be willing and moldable to the Lord's tutoring and correction. I take comfort from the words of President Monson last night in the priesthood session that the Lord will shape the back to fit the burden placed upon it."

"Above all, we proclaim our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. All that we are--all that we ever will be--we owe to Him. While we gaze in awe at His majesty, He does not ask us to stay our distance but bids us to come unto Him. 'I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him' (Revelation 3:20)."

The Lord will shape my back to fit the burden, what a relief that is! He won't keep me away from Him. He wants me to come to Him. He is there to help me always!

Thoughts for Today!

Today I read the scriptures and in the D&C 50:41-42
"Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;
And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost."

I really like this reminder. I think that because of the Saviors sacrifice none shall be lost except the son of perdition. This is a big comfort to my heart.


I was also reading in the Ensign and I have a couple great quotes from Elder Ballard:
"The voice of the Lord is clear and unmistakable. He knows you. He loves you. He wants you to be eternally happy. But according to your God-given agency, the choice is yours. Each one of you has to decide for yourself if you are going to ignore the past and suffer the painful mistakes and tragic pitfalls that have befallen previous generations, experiencing for yourself the devastating consequences of bad choices. How much better you life will be if you will follow the noble example of the faithful followers of Christ such as the sons of Helaman, Moroni, Joseph Smith and stalwart pioneers--and choose, as they did, to remain faithful to your Heavenly Father's commandments."

"And how do you get such a testimony? Well there's no new technology for that, nor will there ever be. You cannot do a Google search to gain a testimony. You can't text message faith. You gain a vibrant, life-changing testimony today the same way it has always been done. The process hasn't been changed. It comes through desire, study, prayer, obedience and service. That is why the teachings of the prophets and apostles, past and present, are as relevant to your life today as they have ever been."

These are just the ones that stuck ou tot me today. I am so grateful for living prophets and apostles that remind us of the way that we should go. That guide us toward the path of true happiness.

Heavenly Father Hears Me

Last week when I was at my sisters house in Oregon City I got locked out of their house while bare foot and in my jammies. Here is the story of what happened.

When I woke up Tuesday morning they had all left for work. It was about 7:30 am. I could see their dogs outside in the back, the whole back of their house is windows so I knew that they could see me so I thought I would just step outside to say Hi. I had on a sweatshirt, pink and green plaid pajama bottoms and no shoes. I put my hood up because my hair wasn't brushed and went out the back door to say hello to Colby and Tucker. We tossed and stick a bit and when I was ready to go back in I gave it a hard toss and turned to quickly go in. The handle clicked but didn't move I was locked out. "O no I thought! They are not going to be home until 3:30." I had planned to spend the whole day with my mom, I knew the rest of the week would be busy with wedding plans and preparations. I checked all of the doors in the back just in case one happened to be open. No luck. I made my way barefoot through the drizzle to the gate, figured out how to open it and went around to the front. I sat down on the porch and cried about my bad luck. I thought of all of my ruined plans.

Then I thought to pray. I said Please Heavenly Father tell Jared to come by the house and check on things. I waited and I could hear cars on the side street. I thought that any second he would pull up. Then I thought I will go find the hide a key on the van. I would drive to my moms and just hang out in jammies until I could come back to Mardi's and change. I was creeping all around the van but I couldn't find it at all. I went back to the porch crying. I sat down and I prayed again Please Heavenly Father tell Jared that he needs to stop by the house. Jared is a police officer and is patrolling and could easily do that. In my mind I clearly heard "The Lord helps those who help themselves." "No I thought. I don't want to go to a neighbor." My feet were getting cold I knew I had to go to a neighbor. I looked to the left, empty houses, then I remembered that Conner had a friend next door. I went to the right and knocked on the door. The woman opened the door a crack so her dogs wouldn't get out. I could tell by the look on her face how I looked. I burst into tears and said "I'm Mardi's sister and I got locked out of her house! I went out to say hello to their dogs, and I got locked out, can I use your phone?" She said "you poor thing come in."

She looked around for the key, she thought that she might have one and then she loaned me her husbands crocs so that we could go look for the spare outside. When we couldn't find it she called her husband and got Jared's cell number. She asked "do you want me to talk to him." I said that I could and she handed me the phone. Jared answered "Hi Bobby!" I said "It's Dani, I got locked out of the house in my pajamas with no shoes on. I went out to say HI to the dogs." He said "I'll be right there. Mardi's friend Michelle said do you want to wait here and I thanked her but said that I would wait on the porch for Jared. Do you think that he could be alone in his patrol car? No, he had a ride along. He unlocks the door then showed me where to find the key. It was right over my head the whole time. Then he showed me how to make sure the back door doesn't lock on me again.

Later that night when I told him the whole story, he said that at about 7:30 he did feel like he should go back by the house but because he had the ride along with him he didn't want to. Heavenly Father answered my prayer exactly as I asked. This experience was just a strong testimony builder for me. After Mardi and Jared went to bed and I was alone, I thanked Heavenly Father for answering me exactly. I know that He hears me, He may not always answer exactly but He always hears me.

Change of Focus

I read a talk from President Monson in the last conference issue of the Ensign.

"Said one well-known author: 'Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscience choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present---love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]---the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.' (Sarah Ban Breathnach)"

I really liked this message sometimes I focus too much on what I lack in life, I don't think that I have been ungrateful for what I do have, I just haven't given it the proper focus. I think the time has come for me to change my focus, I'll probably be a lot happier if I do.

I want to be Like Nephi!

1 Nephi 17:7-9
"And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.
And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.
And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?"


This is a scripture from my scripture study today. The Lord asks Nephi to go into the mountain, which is a metaphor for the temple, and commands him to build a ship. Nephi responds by asking where he should go to find ore to make tools.

I want to be like Nephi. When the Lord commands me to do something, I don't want to be bogged down by the impossibility of it, I want to go to the temple with a prayer in my heart and say "Okay, tell me where to go to find the tools I need to do it."