Facing Challenges

I was reading the other day and came across a great quote about facing challenges.  And since it's something we all have to do on a regular basis, I thought I'd include it here.  It's a quote from an article by Elder Bradley D. Foster.  He says:

"May we all face our challenges with faith, endurance, and trust in our Heavenly Father and in His plan for each of us.  Remember, it's not what happens to us that matters; it's how we handle what happens that makes all the difference.  "When the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces," the Savior's power and assurance can still make it possible for us to experience joy and peace." ( Trials, Tribulations, and Trust in the Lord, by Elder Bradley D. Foster, Ensign, March 2014, p 67)

I love this quote because it's so true.  It's how we face challenges that matter.  We can choose our responses to problems and we can choose our emotions about them.

-Jessica

My Feelings

This is my testimony of what I know.  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true.  I am so grateful for my family and friends and of the examples I've had in my life.  I know that Book of Mormon is the word of God and that President Monson is the prophet today.  Jesus Christ lived and died for us and knows each one of us - our joys, our pain, our sicknesses, our grief, our sadness, our longing...  I am so excited for the future.  I am excited to see the church become more of a Zion people - of one heart and of one mind.  I know that the whole point of the gospel is Love.  If we know the scriptures and have no love then we do not understand them nor are we living what they teach.

I am grateful for my trials and for everything I've learned in my life.  I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. I am grateful that the Lord gave us agency to live how we choose.  That we have the opportunity to choose how we live and ultimately where we end up when we die.  I choose to live in the Celestial Kingdom.  I know I am not perfect and that everyday is a struggle to live as I should, but I am grateful for each day.  I know that everything we say and do matters - it has an affect on others and I am trying to be better about always doing what's right.  I also know that following the promptings of the Holy Ghost is important.  I have always wanted to be wise, and although I will likely never reach that goal, I strive to learn all I can about the things that really matter so that maybe one day I can help those around me for good.  My main goal in life is to help build of the Kingdom of God on earth.  I try to keep my perspective on the eternal view and to not stress about those things that do not really matter in the eternal scheme of things.  I think the most important lesson I have learned so far is that love is the key - charity to be precise.  

These last few years my husband and I have noticed that we never really felt like we were part of the wards we have been in.  We do know it's partly our fault for not reaching out, and that we have never felt truly accepted by members of the wards we are in, however that does not change how we feel about the church.  I honestly feel like feeling like an outsider has taught me so much about how we are supposed to be as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - and I am certain that there are so many people out here that are exactly what they should be and doing exactly what the Lord wants them to do.  I know that there are many areas where I can improve.  I cannot wait until the day when we, as members of the church, are more of a Zion people - One.  Through feeling  a little like an outsider, there are many things I have learned  - that is important for everyone to have a friend, that a strong testimony is so much more important than what imperfect members (which is all of us) of the church say or do (for the doctrine is perfect, but people are not), and that service is essential.  I am so grateful for visiting teaching and home teaching.  I hope that some day that I will be so much better at making friends and serving others.  I can't wait until the day when everyone in the church feels like they are being looked after by their ward family - and I do mean family :) a day when we always listen to our promptings to stop by and help a new mother help clean her house or lift her spirits, to help care for the elderly, or help heal an aching heart.  I know that there are so many wonderful people out there doing just that, but I know that I can do better at reaching out to others and I pray that I will do better and better each day to be more perceptive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost so that I can do my part to help build the Kingdom of God on the earth.  

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.