We Got This

As I have been reading about Mormon, I've come to gain a lot of respect for him. The Nephites were so wicked, and they wouldn't repent. He couldn't really handle the wickedness anymore, so he told them that he wouldn't lead them anymore... But because he loved his people, he changed his mind.

"And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites, and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies."
 -Mormon 5:1

The reason that I think Mormon is so great is because he never gave up. All around him there was death and destruction. No one agreed with him and I imagine it was a very miserable time. Yet, he didn't complain. He just worked harder. He prayed, he preached, and he continued forward the best he could to lead the Nephites in battle.

I want to be like Mormon. I want to go forward without complaint and self pity. I want to continue on even when it's hard. Even if my circumstances aren't ideal, I'm going to keep trying the best that I know how and I'm going to keep relying on Christ. I CAN DO IT AND YOU CAN DO IT! (Am I Oprah now?)

"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."
-John Lennon

Happy

This week has been a really busy and hard week for me. I had 3 tests and a bunch of assignments and it was crazy. I wasn't doing well on my tests and I was feeling really bad about myself. I also realized that I wasn't reading my scriptures as well as I should have been because of my busyness. I think there is a correlation here if you catch my drift. I wasn't as close to Heavenly Father as I should have been and it made my week way harder. It was easier to feel to what Satan wanted me to feel than to have faith that everything would be ok and that I wasn't a "bad" person for not being great at school sometimes.

I read these scriptures in 4th Nephi:

"12 And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.

13 And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus." -4 Nephi 1: 12-13

Remembering Christ and being obedient to Him help us feel more connected to Him and in sync with the Spirit. When I choose to read my scriptures and pray sincerely, I'm happier, I have a greater ability to help others, and I love myself more because I can feel the Savior's love for me.

I encourage everyone (the 2 people who read this aka my mom and dad) to ask the Savior how He feels about you, and always remember your infinite worth. We are children of God and it is our responsibility to take that seriously and be obedient to what God has asked us to do. I know that this brings true happiness, and I know that we can do anything through Christ.

Your Mom

"47 Now they never had fought yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of the mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." Alma 56: 47-48

I was reading about the Stripling Warriors today and I learned 10039 things, one of them being that I most likely want to marry a Stripling Warrior.

I read an article that said that their ages ranged from about 13-20 years old... I can't even walk in the snow and they're just chillin over here beating up huge armies of strong men that are way older than them. It's fine.

The thing that I think is so cool is that one of the main reasons they were able to conquer these armies is because of the things they learned from their mothers. Their mothers taught them to be selfless, to serve, to have courage, faith, and trust. They taught their sons to be brave and never to fear because the Lord would deliver them. I imagine their mothers were so strong and kind. I imaging they taught their children by example and experiences. I know I'm not a mother yet, but when I am, I want to be like these women.

A really good example of someone who is like this is my GISELE! Aka my mom, therapist, best friend, and dance party/fake opera singing/eating all of the sugar in the house/everything partner. She teaches me by example. She is always trying to become better and learn from every experience she comes in contact with. She is service oriented and SO selfless. She knows who she is and doesn't compare herself to others. To top it all off she is the best baker I've ever met and she's slowly making me obese but I'm fine with it.

I'm so thankful for the good examples surrounding me and I'm thankful for the things I learn from the scriptures. I would suggest reading Alma 57 because it has officially changed my outlook on life. If the 15 year old Stripling Warriors can trust in the Lord, fight, and conquer their battles, we can do the same with the battles we face every day. I love the Lord and I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Consider the Lilies

This week I was reading in 3 Nephi and almost died because I realized that my favorite scripture from the New Testament IS ALSO IN THE BOOK OF MORMON. Literally what is going on?

3 Nephi 13:28

"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin."

This scripture shows how much God loves his children. Whenever I feel anxiety, I pray. I pray for strength to go to class and strength to make it through the day. I pray for a greater capacity to learn when I feel unable to think. I pray when I'm stressed and when I feel inadequate and incapable to do the things that I want to. I know that He has heard every word, and this whole chapter was an answer to these prayers that I've been praying. I was reminded to be mindful and to just stop for a minute. I don't think the Lord wants us to be so stressed that we're unable to focus on what really matters. This simple idea brings me so much comfort. I feel like it's Jesus telling me to just stop for a minute. Look at the flowers and be still. Those lilies are very small creations, but God still takes care of them. And I don't need to worry because I will be taken care of as well. I was reminded to have faith in God's plan. He loves me no matter what and He knows I'm trying my best.

I think we would all be better off if we could just stop and consider the lilies every once and a while and remember God's love for us.