Today’s Reading: Alma 30: 42-60
46 And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.
I wrote a post for today. A thoughtful post that had me reflecting on how to see the beauty in God’s creation. As I sat down at my computer to add it to the website, I searched for my written word. It was gone. I searched. And, I searched. I huffed and googled. I sat at my computer for hours looking, praying and begging for it to show up. Those words were gone. I was crushed. How can that be?! In this age of auto save and file recovery. With the cloud and family share. I am computer savvy. I know tips and tricks. I once made a living applying these skills. Documents don’t just disappear!
I felt frustrated and defeated. I looked around at the papers on my desk, the computer, the smart phone, the backup hard drives, the SIM cards and flash drive. Surely, somehow, I have enough technology in this room to find a measly document lost on my computer. But I didn’t find it.
I couldn’t rewrite it. I thought it was perfect in that moment, but any version of recreation would fall short. It wasn’t right any longer and I knew it, I felt it. I sighed a heavy, sad sigh. Bid ado to lost time and read the assigned scripture passage again. Praying for new insight. It always amazes me how the Lord works to make sure we are on the same page as Him. A literal stop and re-evaluation made me see new perspective in the same scripture reading.
Listening to the Spirit brought me peace to know I could begin again.
Even though I didn’t want to.
After Korihor was struck dumb he admitted to always believing in God. He knew deep within that God existed, yet he taught and acted quite the opposite. He followed Satan and led others to Satan, as well. Every day, as we influence and interact with the people around us we make the same choice.
We decide to reside in the company of The Spirit or allow Satan to creep into our lives.
Earth life is a period of probation to provide an opportunity for choices. Two mighty forces are pulling in opposite directions. On the one hand is the power of Christ and his righteousness. On the other hand is Satan and the spirits who follow him. President Marion G. Romney said: “Mankind … must determine to travel in company with the one or the other. The reward for following the one is the fruit of the Spirit—peace. The reward for following the other is the works of the flesh—the antithesis of peace.” Further, he said: “The price of peace is victory over Satan.” Elder Jospeph B. Wirthlin
Many years ago I was in college. I was single, living with friends, working full-time and going to school. I was busy yet, carefree. When I think back on that time I remember it fondly. It was an up-too-late, laugh-too-hard kind of freedom and fun. I made good choices. I went to church, I steered away from poor influences, I made decisions to keep Satan out of my life. But, I remember on more than one occasion, though I was surrounded by people, feeling an emptiness.
I knew that the Spirit wasn’t always residing with me.
Even though I was trying to keep Satan away, I was failing to consistently invite the Spirit in. I didn’t realize at the time that having the Spirit with us, allowing the Holy Ghost to guide us, takes more than refusing alcohol, dating nice people and believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is asking for constant companionship. It is doing work. It is choosing daily to be better. It is studying, praying, and trusting that God lives, that Jesus died for me, that the Holy Ghost will guide and comfort me. Every day we choose to accept. Every day we choose to be better.
We do not have to be perfect, but we need to be good and getting better. We need to strive to live the plain and simple truths of the gospel. If we take upon us the name of Christ, act with faith in Him to repent of our sins, keep His commandments, and always remember Him, we will receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. – Elder Kim B. Clark
Now, many years later, I still have to choose multiply times a day to deny Satan. Multiple times a day I need to choose to soften my heart and to invite the company of the Spirit to reside with me. What I realize now, that I didn’t realize then is that the work doesn’t stop. The choice needs to be made, again and again. And the best part is when I don’t make the right choice I can repent, be forgiven and choose again. Our God is so loving and for that I am truly grateful. Documents go missing, our days don’t always go as planned. Sometimes the Spirit has something better for us to learn, maybe it will even remind us how much God loves us.
A sun-lover living in the rain and beauty of the Northwest. Being outdoors is my love language. I’m a Wife to a handsome curly-haired man and Mama to two curly-haired little boys. I’m a sucker for a good joke, a well-fitting skirt, beautiful fabric, a hard work-out, good book and chocolate. As a perfectionist by nature, I’m striving to recognize and appreciate my Father in Heaven’s hand in my life. Day by day I’m learning to allow him to show me the way.
I am SO sorry about your lost blog post but the beauty in the result is obvious. I absolutely loved this and you are so right that living the gospel becomes a deeper commitment than I once realized. It is so much more fulfilling to really work for it. Like you said, “The choice needs to be made, again and again.”