faith experience one, day eight

I took a break over the weekend from blogging, but not from working on my personal progress.  Today I read a talk by Elder Russel M. Nelson entitled, "Face the Future with Faith".  This was a great talk for me, especially as a mother of two young children. 

Start with your children. You parents bear the primary responsibility to strengthen their faith. Let them feel your faith, even when sore trials come upon you. Let your faith be focused on our loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach that faith with deep conviction. Teach each precious boy or girl that he or she is a child of God, created in His image, with a sacred purpose and potential. Each is born with challenges to overcome and faith to be developed.

 As a parent I need to remember that my children's faith and beliefs start with my husband and me and the things we teach them.  Because it its important to us, as parents, that our children grow up with a strong foundation in the gospel, we need to portray that in everything we do.  The book of Alma teaches us that actions teach better than the sword.

Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution.”  That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His people.

 Reading excerpts like this remind me that I can be faithful.  It gives me strength.  It is so important, for me, to remember to ready scriptures and pray daily because that is what keeps me strong.  Seeing that God keeps his promises and helps his children when they ask, let's me know that God watches over me too.

Our beloved President Thomas S. Monson has given us his prophetic witness. He said: “I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments.”

President Monson continued: “My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is easy for me to forget that God is in control of all and that he hears me.  But this experience, thus far, has helped me remember more to ready and pray daily.  This gives me strength.  I need strength everyday, and whenever I ask, God is always there to lift me up and support me when I feel shorted.

-ARi