The Blessing of Trials

So, this week has been quite the exciting week. At the beginning of the week we had a car. On Monday we got a call and as it turns out some one else needs our car. So, that meant that it was time to go on the bikes.

So It has been pretty exciting to be able to be biking. Most of the week we would have been biking anyways, so we don't have to much to complain about. Then on Friday, we got more news: one of the spokes on Elder Adams bike is broke and so his bike will not be fixed until Tuesday. You know what that means. It is time to find out if we walk the walk.

So, in all of this I was reading a scripture in the bible. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
"7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

Some times in life we are prone to ask, why me? What did I do to deserve this? I was talking to some one this week and they made the comment, "God gives us trials when He thinks we are ready to grow." I have found that the hardest times of my life are also the times when I was becoming my best self. I am slowly learning what Paul means though fortunately not having to go through nearly the amount of trials. It is amazing the great things that God can do with us when we learn to trust in Him. Honestly in the end I just feel blessed that I am able to be the Lord's servant. Sacrifice brings for the blessings of Heaven. What ever trials you go through in life just remember what Joseph Smith was told while in prison for false charges in Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8

" 7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

When you are are on the Lords side you will prevail.

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

So, we had district meeting this week and what the focus of it was on was the Book of Mormon. So first let me explain what the Book of Mormon is. The Bible is the story of Christ's dealings with the Israelites in Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon is the Christ's dealings with the people of ancient America (from 600B.C.-400A.D.) I found a really good image that kind of shows what I mean:

So to tell you a  little more about it, it all starts out with a family. They are in Jerusalem. The father Lehi is a prophet and has been warning the people that if they don't repent that they will be destroyed. So the people continue do bad things so Lehi is told by God to leave Jerusalem and go into the desert so that they wont be destroyed. They are promised that if they leave that they can go to a promised land that will be even better for them. So they take a long journey and end up sailing across the ocean to America.
Most of the Book of Mormon is about how prophets are called and they peach about having faith Jesus Christ, repentance, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Throughout the Book of Mormon fathers teach their sons the importance of following God, and they keep a record of the things that are taught on gold plates.

I would say that one of the most powerful parts of the Book of Mormon is when Jesus Christ comes to the Americas after his resurrection. In John 3:5 Christ says, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." And so  Jesus Christ appeared to the people in America so that they could know God's word as well.
Sadly even after the appearance of Jesus Christ the people eventually choose to reject Christ's teachings. And so eventually the last prophet of the Book of Mormon, whose name is Moroni, ends up burying the plates in the ground with the promise that it would some day be revealed to people in our day.

So, in closing, I love the Book of Mormon so much. It has changed my life. There is so much that you can learn from each page. The Book of Mormon has been able to help me whenever I am struggling to still be happy and be able to overcome trials. The message of the Book of Mormon is so powerful. If you haven't ever read it before I would definitely say that it is a must read. If you have already read it I would say read it again. I have learn something new every time I read it. All you have to do is try it out.

New Beginning

1 Nephi 2:15 "And my father dwelt in a tent." Have you ever wondered why Nephi took the time to mention that his father dwelt in a tent? This past week I have been thinking about what it is like to just start over. In the story of Lehi and his family it seems that they were pretty well off. They had their own struggles, but all in all things were looking good for them. Then one day God asked them to do something very big. He asked them to leave everything that they had and go into the wilderness with just their family and what they could carry. I can only imagine how big of a challenge this was for them. And so, here we have this family who once had a lot of riches and now all that they had to their names was their tents and their family.
So, last week I got the opportunity to leave Durham and everything that I was used to and come to Morrisville. Fortunately unlike Lehi and his family we have much more then just a tent. In fact we have a great ward and a lot of potential. The thing that I think that stays the same though is the hope for good things to come. I have said good bye to many friends that I have been able to make, but I know that I will be able to make new ones here.

Ether 12:4 "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." I know that no matter where you are and no matter what has happened that there is still hope. God still loves you and there are great things promised for the future if you just believe in him.