"Change Is Inevitable"

Each one of us has been given the power to change his or her life. As part of the Lord’s great plan of happiness, we have individual agency to make decisions. We can decide to do better and to be better. In some ways all of us need to change; that is, some of us need to be more kind at home, less selfish, better listeners, and more considerate in the way we treat others. Some of us have habits that need to be changed, habits that harm us and others around us. Sometimes we may need a jolt to propel us into changing.

Our journey through life involves a series of changes - some major and many minor. Even though change has always been a part of life it seems that change is happening faster than ever before. This is especially evident in missionary work. As missionaries, change is hard and could be challenging at times. How we respond to change is a funny thing. There are times when we go out of our way to initiate change in our missionary work. For example, we may have to learn how to adjust to meet the need of our new companion. Although we may be apprehensive about such changes, we are stimulated by the possibilities and opportunities that will emerge. When we initiate the change, we are likely to define the experience as exciting. On the other hand, these same changes might be imposed on us by circumstance, or the design of another person or our work. When change is imposed on us, our experience of the change is likely to be quite different. In these situations, we may feel threatened and fearful about the change, and focus heavily on negative outcomes. We may want little to do with the change and find ourselves resisting it fiercely.

There are three types of changes that I have seen in my missionary work: moving from resistance to acceptance, embarking in a new direction, and the loss of a companion.
Someone once said, “Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.” No matter what change we are faced with in life or missionary work, it will be much easier to cope with and adapt to if we hold a positive attitude about change in general. This doesn't mean that we necessarily have to agree with the circumstances or details of the change. In fact we may disagree with it, but can still adapt to it in a constructive manner. The Lord is the cure to all things. As we put our trust in Him, relying on Him wholly we can overcome the fear of change. Joseph Walker wrote an article in the church magazine and said, “The possibility of change is always there, with its hidden promise of peace, happiness, and a better way of life.”

I know that the Lord gives us change for us to grow. I see change as challenges too, because change is hard and could be rough at times. But as I put my trust in the Lord, He will lift me up from my burdens. I believe in this promise declared by President Thomas S. Monson, “Our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.” Just as when we choose Christ we choose change. The gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect and as we live it we can make the changes in our lives to become better!

~Blessings of Keeping the Commandments~

This week I have been studying a lot about the commandments. Why do we have commandments? Why do we need to obey commandments? And a response to these two great questions is simply, "Because we are loved." God is our father in heaven. He loves us and He cares about us. He wants us to be happy in this life and even in the life to come. But in order to have that eternal life, we need to make right choices here in this life. And the only way for us to find that true joy in this life is to follow His commandments and do the things He has asked us to do. Simple, huh?

It may sound easy but these small and simple principles to follow can be hard at times. There has always been an opposition even before the world began. We are all familiar with the war that went on in Heaven before the world was created. Because of this, Satan was cast out and many followed him. When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they disobeyed God's commandment. But it was necessary for this great plan to be fulfilled. In the Book of Mormon, Lehi counsels his son Jacob in the need of opposition in all things. He says, "...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness or misery, neither good or bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life nor death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense or insensibility." (2 Nephi 2: 11) We can't measure happiness with out sadness or success with out failure! And that's why we have commandments as guidelines to help us in this mortal life. To reach our grand goal, which is to be with our Father in Heaven again for all eternity.

I read in the Bible this week about a certain commandment that was given to Jesus Christ from the Father. Even Jesus Christ obeyed the commandments. A great commandment that only Jesus Christ was able to accomplish for the whole world. It reads, "Therefore, doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:17-18) A magnificent commandment given to Jesus Christ compared to these small and simple commandments that the Lord has given us. His Atonement, which consists of these three immeasurable conditions: His Suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, His Crucifixion and Death on the Cross, and His Resurrection are huge beyond our own comprehension. But Christ fulfilled this great commandment so we can overcome all things and return back to that home that awaits us.

I have come to appreciate the commandments more as I have read this account about the Savior and this huge commandment, the Atonement that was given to Him. Every commandment that our Father in Heaven has given us is for our own good and will help us. These commandments can be guides to us in our lives, and if we obey them we will be happy. And it is all because of the love He has for us. I know that as we obey these simple commandments, the Lord will bless us in all aspects of our lives. Our Father in Heaven is a 'God of Promise' and when He asks us to do certain things, He promises us blessings. As we earnestly try to obey our Father in Heaven’s commandments, it is important to remember that we can do it only with the help of Jesus. We should also remember that when we disobey, our Father in Heaven will forgive us when we place our faith in Jesus Christ and repent. Since we all have sinned, we should be very grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of His Atonement, our Father in Heaven can forgive and bless us and help us become obedient. We would never be worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings by ourselves. Sister Barbara McConochie was so impressed by the commandments she wrote the song "Keep the Commandments" for the Primary children. She then said, “Keeping the commandments is the anchor for our safety amidst the storm. True peace will come to each individual, family, and nation only as we learn obedience to the laws of our Heavenly Father.” I know that our Father in Heaven loves each and everyone of us. And as we obey His commandments relying on our Savior's great Atonement, we will find true joy and happiness in this life! I am grateful for the commandments and it has truly blessed me in my life.

The Lord's Mercy

I am so blessed to be here and for the many tender mercies of the Lord that He continues to pour upon me. I have lived a great life full of countless blessings, numerous miracles, and never ending opportunities. And my heart is full of gratitude because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and for the love that my Heavenly Father has for me. Elder Bednar shares a scripture in the Book of Mormon and it reads, "But behold, I Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20) I have reflected back to this verse several times and thought, 'there's none other way we can receive these tender mercies without having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.' Elder Bednar would agree with me on that. He continues to say, "...the Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits 'his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.'" (D&C 46:15)
I have had so many experiences where I've recognized these tender mercies of the Lord and one of them happened yesterday. Hearing the voice of a wonderful mother brought tears to my eyes as we rejoiced together with gratitude and praises to the Lord. Because of her faithful prayers, she was able to hear the voice of her daughter, whom she has never heard from in a couple of months. And the concerns and heart-ache of the daughter brought peace and assurance to her heart as they both cried in joy. They expressed their love for one another and the spirit of the Lord was upon them. They shared their testimonies of Christ, a few scriptures, and the hand of the Lord that they have seen in their lives. The reassuring promise from the Lord when He said, "Daughter, be of good comfort" (Matthew 9:22) filled their hearts and their hope for the future was pure and unwavering.
The Lord is mindful of His children and His tender mercies are available to each and everyone of us! He lives and He cares about you and me. Each of us can see and hear of these tender mercies of the Lord in these latter days. It is my prayer that our hearts be filled with gratitude and appreciation for His abundant and tender mercies.

Creation

Wouldn’t it be great if life came with a map, showing us where we’ve been and where to go? Thankfully, life does have a map. Our Father in Heaven has a plan for us and wants us to know where we came from and where He wants us to go.

Before we were born, we lived with God in heaven as spirits. All of our spirit brothers and sisters were there, too—everyone who has lived or will live on earth including Jesus Christ. In this “pre-earth life,” each of us was an individual with a divine nature and destiny. God gave all of us the gift of agency, or the right to choose for ourselves. Because He is the Father of our spirits, we call Him our Heavenly Father.

We can look up at the sky at night and see a never-ending universe. There are millions of stars and planets, all in perfect order. They did not get there by chance. We can see the work of God in the heavens and on the earth. The beautiful plants, the variety of animals, the mountains, the rivers, the clouds that bring us rain and snow—all these testify to us that there is a God. In the Book of Mormon, an ancient prophet named Alma wrote, “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.”(Alma 30:44) President Thomas S. Monson, a modern prophet said: “If there is a design in this world in which we live, there must be a Designer. Who can behold the many wonders of the universe without believing that there is a design for all mankind? Who can doubt that there is a Designer?”

There is a God and He is the Almighty Ruler of the universe. He made the moon, the stars, and the sun. He organized this world and gave it form, motion, and life. He filled the air and the water with living things. He covered the hills and plains with all kinds of animal life. He gave us day and night, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest. God is the Supreme Being in whom we believe and whom we worship. He is all-powerful and all-knowing, and He is full of love, mercy, charity, and compassion. He is the Author of the plan for our happiness.