Today’s Reading: 2 Nephi 1:20-32
21 And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity.
As a mother, my greatest hope is that my children will listen to the things I try to teach them and that they will always stay faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray daily that they will be strong and that they will come to know for themselves the peace and joy that following the Savior brings. I hope that they will come to know for themselves, how the atonement can work in their lives and that they will develop a personal relationship with the Savior. I want them to know that keeping the commandments of God brings lasting peace and happiness.
I think all parents feel this way. Even Lehi, a prophet of God, worried and prayed over his children and admonished them to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. He pleaded with his sons to “be men” and to “awake and arise from the dust,” and to “put on the armor of righteousness.” He told them that this would bring them joy and that if they would keep the commandments, the Lord would continually bless them.
When my father served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, he and my mother were assigned overseas in Asia and lived in Hong Kong for four years. They would travel back home to Salt Lake City every six months in April and October for a week of meetings with the other Church leaders and to attend General Conference. During these visits home, my parents would take the opportunity to gather our family together to share their experiences, testimonies, and often, words of advice. I remember one particular family gathering where my dad said to us, “no matter what happens in your life, or whatever challenges you might face, always, always, always follow the prophet of God and heed his counsel. You will not be led astray.” That piece of wise counsel has stayed with me and has been a reminder and a guide to me as I navigate my way through life. I have come to know for myself the joy and peace that living the gospel and keeping the commandments brings. I also know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and desires the same eternal joy and happiness for each of us as His children.
Our living prophet has said,
“God’s commandments are not given to frustrate us or to become obstacles to our happiness. Just the opposite is true. He who created us and who loves us perfectly knows just how we need to live our lives in order to obtain the greatest happiness possible. He has provided us with guidelines which, if we follow them, will see us safely through this often treacherous mortal journey. We remember the words of the familiar hymn: “Keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace.” – Thomas S. Monson, Keep the Commandments
I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I served a Spanish-speaking mission in Toronto, Canada. I attended BYU and taught at the MTC. I am a wife and a mother and I love being a stay at home dance/basketball/football/soccer mom. I love the beach, anything chocolate, Santa Fe sunsets, and all things Jane Austen. I’m a thyroid cancer survivor, a big fan of BYU Soccer, and I love teaching the gospel. Over the last twenty years, I’ve lived in San Francisco, California; New Haven, Connecticut; Miami, Florida; Kalispell, Montana; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Utah. I have loved each place I’ve lived and I’ve been blessed with amazing friends and all kinds of experiences along the way! My motto has become: “Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.” 💜