THE HAND OF THE LORD

(excerpt from Tender Mercies journal)

As I have reflected today on some of my experiences over the past year I realize that the Lord has always been with me.  To remind myself of His great love for me I need to ask myself the question:

"Did I see the hand of the Lord today?"

Today, I saw the hand of the Lord when the High Counsel speaker extended the following invitation from the Stake President:

1. Attend the Temple regularly; participate in all Stake and Ward Temple nights.
2. Commit to the study of a particular book of scripture; study as a family.
3. Bring Souls unto Christ.

At the beginning of the year; while sitting at dinner we discussed as a family the things that we need to do better; what we needed to do to help Alex and Evan prepare for missions; and how to be a more righteous family.  As a result we have begun reading the Book of Mormon together as a family.  I am helping Evan and Alex on Sunday afternoons to gain a better understanding of the Gospel by studying together out of Preach My Gospel.  Victor and I attended the Temple last Friday as it was our stake's temple night.

My personal and family goals are the same as the invitations from the Stake Presidency.

This affirms to me that what we have decided to do as a family is right and that we are doing the will of our Eternal Heavenly Father.

I have shared many times my thoughts and feelings about counsel from our leaders.

It is, when we hear the counsel of President Monson, the apostles, our stake leaders and bishoprics we experience one of two events.  We either validated and have received affirmation that we are headed in the right direction; or we are chastened.

When we are in the position of being chastened we react one of two ways:

1.  We recognize that we are being chastised and we decided to make corrections in our lives, or

2.  We react as Laman and Lemuel would and we murmur - stating that it is too difficult and why are we required to do so much.

I would much rather be humble and obedient.  The best position to be in is to know the will of the Father and to be humble to act as he would have us act.

Have you seen the Hand of the Lord today?

HOPEFUL PARENT

"O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!"

"O that though mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!"

1 Nephi 2:9-10

Each morning before I leave for work I have my personal prayer and my heart is drawn toward my children at this time.  I express my desires that my children will continue to pursue those things that are righteous and that they always find themselves in the right place at the right time.

I believe it is every good parents desire to have good children.  Lehi expressed these desires when he shared his hope with Laman and Lemuel that they would be strong and dependable in keeping the commandments of the Lord.

I remember countless times when I have gone to the Lord pleading with him to help my children when they have drifted from the path of righteousness.  I remember the tear filled eyes as I have added their names to the prayer rolls of the temple.  Like Lehi, I continue to instruct and counsel my children when I have been prompted by the spirit to do so.

Like Laman and Lemuel, my older children do not always take my counsel.  The hope I have that they will return to the ways of righteousness is fueled by the promises made to me that if I keep my covenants my family will be preserved.  Someday, all my children will be steadfast and immovable in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A similar promise was made to Nephi:

"And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper."

1 Nephi 2:20

EARLY MORNING FAMILY DEVOTION

I love the new year and the opportunity we have to begin again.

 

Last week during family dinner we were discussing our plans for the new year and how we were going to become a better family and how we were going to help Evan and Alex prepare to serve missions.

 

Before family prayer last night we decided that we would all arise this morning at 5 a.m. and begin reading the Book of Mormon together as a family.

 

We began with 1 Nephi chapter 1.  It took every ounce of energy to contain my tears of joy as my children each took turns reading verses from the first chapter. 

 

I read the last several verses of Chapter 1 and as I read verse 20 I was reminded how much our Heavenly Father loves us when Nephi states:

 

"I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

 

Having faith is the first principle of the gospel and I believe it is the most significant and important principle in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Without faith, we would not be moved to act.  We would not be moved to follow the great example of the Savior.  We would not have the desire to be better than we are.

 

May you find the faith to know the many tender mercies of our Savior.