"He Denieth None"

Another guest writer: I asked my Zone Leader Elder McBride To share something that he felt inspired to write about. He is one of my favorite missionaries out here, and I will be sure to forward any comments to him.

As of late I have been doing a lot of pondering upon the Savior and His sacrifice for each of us.  I have stared at picture after picture of Jesus Christ and remained speechless at the thought of that act which was performed out of an unconditional and perfect love.  I have thought about why the Atonement is so important in my life and the difference it can make in the lives of those that surround me.  I wondered how it is that I might come to better understand God's love. 

I was reading in the bible, and came across this scripture in John 10:17-18, that says, "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."  This scripture hit me with a greater force than it had previous.  I started to think about how the Savior came willingly to do this for the Father, to show His trust and His love.  It started a reflection of my life and how willing I was to do things for the Lord, and I came to this result; Our willingness to do what God asks of us, is a measure of our love for Him. 

That pulled my mind to even greater reflection and remembrance; God willingly gave His Son, and watched him suffer all pains, stand rejection, and be mocked.  God withheld all power to save His Only Begotten Son of these troubles to give me the opportunity to return to his presence.  How convenient was it for the Father to watch his Son suffer?  How convenient was it for the Savior to suffer, bleed, and die for my mistakes, sins, and rebellion?  These questions came to my mind quickly as I thought of times I had placed things aside that God has commanded me to do, because they weren't always convenient.  I wondered how much love the Savior had to have for not only me, but for my family and friends and even those I don't know, to lay down his life so that we may return to our Father in Heaven. 

All of these things brought my focus back to the Atonement, back to why the Savior is so important in my life.  I am inadequate.  I do make mistakes.  I have placed other things before God in my life, and loved things other than Him first.  I am grateful for the willingness that Christ shows in forgiving me of these mistakes and if it were not for His love, and His Atonement, I would not be as happy as I am today, or as thankful for the things I am given, by His hand.  So, I am brought to this scripture from the Book of Mormon, "for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him..." (2 Nephi 26:33).  I am not denied by him, none will be, if they come unto him.

Mother

It was my wonderful Mother's birthday yesterday and it got me thinking, ... How amazing are our mothers? How much do we take for granted the things that they do for us and give to us? My mother is incredible, 8 kids, she had to raise me, She has been through a lot. She is an incredible example to me of humility, and the way I need to live to draw closer to my heavenly parents. I know my Mother loves me, I have no doubt. And I know my mother loves My heavenly Father, and my Savior.
Thank you Mom, for ALL that you have done, do now, and will do! I love you so much!

Pray for Peace, Pray for Strength.

Life is full of all sorts of challenges. Sometimes we face things that are as smooth as the glassy surface of an untouched lake, while others, toss us like the broken crags of a lifeless desert.
Recently my life has looked more like the desert from the outside. I had a loved one, who recently went through some trauma. Being hundreds of miles away, I felt helpless.  Like I was unable to do a thing to calm the storms in those I love's lives.
Work out here in the "field", also has it's ups and downs as well. During that time I also had many trials with the ones I have grown to love here, where I was here and able to help, but rejected in the ways I tried.
My instant reaction, is "Why?" "Why could I not have been there to help her?" "Why could I not be there to comfort my family?" "Why won't these people accept my help?" "Why do I try so hard if I am just going to fail?" "What purpose could God have in making my family and my investigators go through this?" "Why could he not just protect them?"
As I was thinking, that I had done everything I could have on my mission to have my family blessed, and have the Lords blessings poured upon my family, and as I was struggling to have a positive attitude towards my struggling work.  I was having a rough time, and as I teach many people every day.
I turned to God in prayer. And as I prayed to my Father, he poured his peace/love down upon me. I knew that he held my family in his protective arms and that there was no reason that I should continue to worry about them.  As well as peace, that as I continued to work diligently with my people, he will bless them.

As I went from one mindset to another, I was able to recieve the peace promised in the words of prophets, and from our Lord Himself. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." I am so grateful for the peaceful knowlege, that I have, that the Lord has everything in his hands. And that as we "Cheerfully do all things that lie in our power...then we [can] stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."