2 years time
Alma 26:1-3
"My brothers and by brethren, behold i say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings? And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?
Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." - Ammon
As I read this, my thoughts turned to asking, "Do I have great reason to rejoice since the time I have started from the commencement of college, and could I have supposed God would have granted unto me such great blessings? Can I recognize those blessings for what they are?"
These questions immediately turned to a pivotal conversation I had with a dear friend at the beginning of my Freshman year at college. It went something like this:
Amelia: I'm becoming dull and will keep getting duller and duller.
Friend: What do you mean?
Amelia: I will have no light left soon. I can't keep up with the gospel and school.
other things said which eventually led to....
Friend: Do you believe Heavenly Father loves you?
I couldn't answer in the affirmative and that really bothered me. This conversation was over texts so I didn't answer immediately but rather went into the bathroom and prayed. I prayed and plead that Heavenly Father could let me know that He loves me.
I went back into my bedroom and texted this friend back a bit later without a response. Eventually it led to this.
Friend: Maybe you just need to get some rest, Amelia.
Amelia: Yeah, I do.
Friend: I'll say a prayer for you. Goodnight.
Amelia: Goodnight.
As I went to bed that night, I decided to listen to some Mormon Tabernacle Choir to calm down a bit. I distinctly remember turning on my ipod and searching for "My Heavenly Father Loves Me." I found it, but then somehow accidentally chose "A Child's Prayer." I decided to leave it on that song. I felt calmer by the time it ended, then went to turn it off, but I ended up leaving it on for one more song because "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" came on next. My ipod was on shuffle, just FYI. I took that song playing as Heavenly Father saying that he loved me.
My prayer was answered then and there, almost immediately. I felt strongly that Heavenly Father was watching out for me.
So, it's now 2 years later and I look back on that time. As I've paraphrased Alma's words, "Do I have great reason to rejoice since the time I have started from the commencement of college, and could I have supposed God would have granted unto me such great blessings? Can I recognize those blessings for what they are?"
I DO have great reason to rejoice! I could not even imagine the blessings Heavenly Father would bestow upon me, and no, I can't recognize them all, but I do recognize so many of them. I TRUST HIM. That is so different from 2 years ago. I have changed a lot, and feel like I have grown slightly more in favor with the Lord. I am glad to say I didn't become dull. There were certainly dull points where I felt like giving up forever and ever, but I cannot say I am the same. I am different and I am full of gratitude because of that. I've done things I haven't wanted to do. I've done things that have broken my heart, but they are done simply because the Lord asked it of me. I had a hard time grasping and accepting that concept, but I think I'm finally beginning to understand how Heavenly Father can shape our lives if we let him.
Where were you two years ago? Ask yourself, "Do I have great reason to rejoice since the time I have started some given point in time, and could I have supposed God would have granted unto me such great blessings? Can I recognize those blessings for what they are?"
I recognize those blessings: Lydia. Mom. Dad. Laurel. Georgia. Ruby. Soren. Morgan. Julia. Lindsey. Ryan. Spencer. Rachel. Lauren. Jeremy. Sara. Chris. John. Joe. Whitney. Kap. My professors. The sacrament. A good mind.
The Holy Ghost.
Without the Holy Ghost, I wouldn't have been very receptive to any of the above mentioned blessings.
With that I shall leave you with my testimony. I know Heavenly Father loves me. I know His plan is the best plan. I know He will prepare a way for the righteous. He will ask hard things of me, things I don't want to do, but if I do them and endure them he'll bless me and I'll grow stronger. I know Thomas S. Monson is His prophet and seer on this earth and that he speaks for Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon was written and translated only through the power of God and witnesses of Christ. I shall glory in my Christ, for he is my rock and my salvation.
"My brothers and by brethren, behold i say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings? And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?
Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." - Ammon
As I read this, my thoughts turned to asking, "Do I have great reason to rejoice since the time I have started from the commencement of college, and could I have supposed God would have granted unto me such great blessings? Can I recognize those blessings for what they are?"
These questions immediately turned to a pivotal conversation I had with a dear friend at the beginning of my Freshman year at college. It went something like this:
Amelia: I'm becoming dull and will keep getting duller and duller.
Friend: What do you mean?
Amelia: I will have no light left soon. I can't keep up with the gospel and school.
other things said which eventually led to....
Friend: Do you believe Heavenly Father loves you?
I couldn't answer in the affirmative and that really bothered me. This conversation was over texts so I didn't answer immediately but rather went into the bathroom and prayed. I prayed and plead that Heavenly Father could let me know that He loves me.
I went back into my bedroom and texted this friend back a bit later without a response. Eventually it led to this.
Friend: Maybe you just need to get some rest, Amelia.
Amelia: Yeah, I do.
Friend: I'll say a prayer for you. Goodnight.
Amelia: Goodnight.
As I went to bed that night, I decided to listen to some Mormon Tabernacle Choir to calm down a bit. I distinctly remember turning on my ipod and searching for "My Heavenly Father Loves Me." I found it, but then somehow accidentally chose "A Child's Prayer." I decided to leave it on that song. I felt calmer by the time it ended, then went to turn it off, but I ended up leaving it on for one more song because "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" came on next. My ipod was on shuffle, just FYI. I took that song playing as Heavenly Father saying that he loved me.
My prayer was answered then and there, almost immediately. I felt strongly that Heavenly Father was watching out for me.
So, it's now 2 years later and I look back on that time. As I've paraphrased Alma's words, "Do I have great reason to rejoice since the time I have started from the commencement of college, and could I have supposed God would have granted unto me such great blessings? Can I recognize those blessings for what they are?"
I DO have great reason to rejoice! I could not even imagine the blessings Heavenly Father would bestow upon me, and no, I can't recognize them all, but I do recognize so many of them. I TRUST HIM. That is so different from 2 years ago. I have changed a lot, and feel like I have grown slightly more in favor with the Lord. I am glad to say I didn't become dull. There were certainly dull points where I felt like giving up forever and ever, but I cannot say I am the same. I am different and I am full of gratitude because of that. I've done things I haven't wanted to do. I've done things that have broken my heart, but they are done simply because the Lord asked it of me. I had a hard time grasping and accepting that concept, but I think I'm finally beginning to understand how Heavenly Father can shape our lives if we let him.
Where were you two years ago? Ask yourself, "Do I have great reason to rejoice since the time I have started some given point in time, and could I have supposed God would have granted unto me such great blessings? Can I recognize those blessings for what they are?"
I recognize those blessings: Lydia. Mom. Dad. Laurel. Georgia. Ruby. Soren. Morgan. Julia. Lindsey. Ryan. Spencer. Rachel. Lauren. Jeremy. Sara. Chris. John. Joe. Whitney. Kap. My professors. The sacrament. A good mind.
The Holy Ghost.
Without the Holy Ghost, I wouldn't have been very receptive to any of the above mentioned blessings.
With that I shall leave you with my testimony. I know Heavenly Father loves me. I know His plan is the best plan. I know He will prepare a way for the righteous. He will ask hard things of me, things I don't want to do, but if I do them and endure them he'll bless me and I'll grow stronger. I know Thomas S. Monson is His prophet and seer on this earth and that he speaks for Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon was written and translated only through the power of God and witnesses of Christ. I shall glory in my Christ, for he is my rock and my salvation.
Love this. Love you!
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