Deep Subject Matter

Sometimes life is hard. I guess I didn't expect all of college to be peaches and cream, sunbursts and roses, but I never thought about it being truly hard. Don't get me wrong, last semester classes were difficult. Taking 17 credits the first semester may have been a tad overkill, but academic performance is something I can control. I didn't have to worry about roommate problems, depression, sickness, or anything that would make being emotional stable seem harder then avoiding every RM on campus. All in all, I got lulled into the "happy bubble" Provo, Utah offers to its college students.

I guess what this really comes down to is even when you are doing the right things, Heavenly Father gives you trials to help you grow, become more compassionate, learn things about yourself and draw closer to Him. The last couple of weeks I've had to spend a lot of time in prayer, at the temple, reading scriptures and fasting to try to get my will in accordance with His. What I've learned is one of the most basic spiritual lessons taught: patience is a virtue. You can ask, plead and beg for answers, but God gives them when you need to receive answers. If Heavenly Father had given me the answer I was asking for right away, I would have lost a great opportunity to draw closer to Him and better understand His personality. Instead, the Spirit has given me promptings and directions in the quiet moments of life over the last couple of weeks. I still don't know everything the Lord wants from me, but I'm definitely on the way to knowing.

So this is my inspiration of the week: I know the Lord knows each of us individually. I know he hears my prayers and I know that he knows my personality better than I do. He is watching over my life and waiting for me to let him in. He desperately wants each one of us to open our lives to him and receive the guidance, direction, protection, love, and help the Spirit gives. I know that Jesus atoned for each of our sins in Gethsemane so that we can repent of our sins, improve, and return someday to live with our Heavenly Father, Mother, and brother Jesus Christ. I know that the scriptures are the key to understanding the Lord's will. Every verse of scripture was written for us and can give us inspiration when we let the Spirit into our lives. I love the Lord, and I hope that when I meet him face to face, I will be able to look back on my life and see that I was able to be used as an instrument of the Lord. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored by Joseph Smith. I have a firm testimony that this church brings true peace and happiness to all who immerse themselves in it. I have received witness after witness that my Savior knows and loves me, as well as all of his spirit sons and daughters.

The last thing I know is that Heavenly Father has placed us into families very specifically and purposefully. He has given us parents that we need to learn specific lessons from. The family is the unit of society, and never before has Satan been so successful at attacking the family. Besides my relationship with Christ, my relationship with my family is what gives me strength. Families can be together forever when sealed in the temple, and that is one of the most beautiful components of the gospel.

Life is hard. But living life without the support of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and my family would make it much harder. I believe, and will live like I believe. That's the only way I can possibly express gratitude to one who has given me all that I have.