'There are songs in everyone, and God can hear every one of them.'
:The Emma Smith Story
I've been reminded lately of the immense love that our Father in Heaven has for us.
While serving in the temple last night, I was overcome with the sacred love that God has for His sons and daughters.
Reflecting on the beautiful ordinances and covenants we make in the temple, as well as the promises given to us, I was reminded of the celestial importance which Heavenly Father has placed on our souls, and our bodies.
I get so frustrated with my body, as I'm sure many of us do. Everyone wants to be loved, and valued, and feel of worth. And that's okay, because God loves me anyways.
He loves my soul,
my heart,
my mind,
my perspectives,
my imperfections and strengths-He loves me, in all of my forms.
He loves me with a love that I am too weak to comprehend.
I tend to think of Telestial limits to place on my God, who is not of this world.
God has divine insight, as He is the divine craftsman of us all.
Since we are products of a Divine Being, we also have divine potential.
And luckily, God loves us-even when we hold ourselves back from this potential.
I think the greatest potential we have is our ability to rise up to bear the burdens placed upon us.
'Strength isn't something you have, it's something you find.' :The Emma Smith Story
And this strength is something we find through our Savior Jesus Christ.
Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yeah, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless--whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. : Mosiah 23:21-22
Alma and his people were under great afflictions, including king Laman forbid the people from praying. Yet "And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts." : Mosiah 24:12
The Lord knows that He asks much of us-He chastens us
to help us to grow and mold into who we came to this earth to become.
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. / And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter; and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. : Mosiah 24:13-14
If God allows for trials and hardships to come, then He certainly will also allow for strength and stamina to be placed within us.
Often times, we are given tasks and trails that are above our own-but they are not beyond the potential which we have to rise to the occasion.
I am certain that the adversity we face is one of the greatest tokens of love which God offers to us in our mortal experience.
He tries us because He knows of our potential to grow into the strength to bear the burdens placed upon us.
He tries us because He loves us, and He loves us despite the weakness and sin we fall into.
The greatest gift you will ever learn
is just to love, and to be loved in return.
: Moulin Rouge
This greatest gift is life altering when applied to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He loves us, and we must love Him in return.
Divine desires (Emma's Blessing in the Emma Smith Story:)
- I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself
- I hope to perform all of the work that I covenanted to do in the Spirit World
- That I may be able to comprehend the designs of God without doubting
- I hope to be able to acknowledge the hand of God in all things
- I desire with all my heart to honor and respect my husband
- I hope to be able to retain a place in which God has given me by His side.
Happy Mothers Day to my best friend <3