Today’s Reading: 2 Nephi 33:10-15
12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.
As I was embarking on my 2 hour commute into work the other day I chose to tune into the 2013 CES Devotional that Elder Bednar gave, titled That we might not shrink [i]. The stories he recounts, of Elder Maxwell’s battle with cancer, as well as the newlywed’s John & Heather left me pulling into my work parking lot with tear stained cheeks and a question in my heart: What does it truly mean to be saved?
No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire. [i]
I like to look at trials as our daily opportunities to utilize the Lord’s saving grace. Did I have as much patience as I could have with a co-worker or my husband? Did I say a prayer for comfort instead of raising my voice when my little one broke another key off the computer keyboard? Did I choose to listen to my scriptures and ponder over their meaning, or did I mindlessly tune into the radio?
Our daily choices are what mold us and shape us into the people we are becoming; into the people the Lord needs us to become to dwell in His kingdom. Our choices are what save us and prepare us for the kingdom each and every day. The Lord knows this, and he very wisely urges us to refuse the evil and choose the good. [ii]
Each day I spend in my scriptures helps to open my heart a little more and allow the spirit to dwell more closely with me. Each day is a new blessing and a new opportunity to try again, try harder, do better, love longer, listen more intently, follow the word of wisdom a little better, let go of my burdens and focus on my eternal progression. Is my humble testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Wife to Eric. Mom to Quinn. And Twins Avery & Rhys. I believe that I am a child of God. Who loves me & I love him. I believe in date nights to the Temple. To the movies. Out to dinner and especially long hikes.
Wednesday’s are my fave day of the week because, ‘it’s Wednesday David’. Red is simply the best color. And black takes a close second.