First Love

A good friend of mine shared with me her perspective of the story of Adam and Eve the other day. I found it very touching, and hearing it in this new light made their story more personal to me. She talked about how the Lord commanded Adam to always be one with his wife. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" Genesis 2:24 The Lord also commanded them to not partake of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As we all know the serpent convinced Eve to partake of the fruit, and once she had partaken, she wanted to share the fruit with Adam. Adam is now faced with a difficult decision. If he partakes of the fruit he will be breaking the commandment to never eat from this tree. On the other hand if he did not he knew that this would cause a separation between he and Eve for they were told "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" Genesis 2:17 I never really weighed the decision that Adam had to make. It's easy to read these stories and think of them as just that-stories. But Adam is a real man, and Eve a real woman. Adam was given two commandments that came to contradict each other, and so how did he make his decision? I personally would like to believe it was love. I know this isn't doctrine, but this new perspective has brought Adam and Eve's story to a new personal level. I am touched by Adam's sacrifice to follow Eve knowing that a big price would have to be paid. I can only hope as husbands and wives that we can be more like Adam. Cleave unto your spouses, not only in the good easy times, but also during the times they have done wrong. That is when they need you most. Love is a wonderful gift. Don't take it for granted.

New Chapter, New Blog

I keep waiting for the day that life is going to be easy. That day never comes. I have to remind myself that my trials make me stronger and cultivate me into a better person, but I still hope that I can escape certain ones. The one I face today is by far the greatest trial yet. I have made many poor decisions, and my life has become rather difficult as a result of my choices. So the lesson I draw from recent experiences is to always be prepared, and more importantly never sacrifice your relationship with the Lord. It is so easy to make excuses to not pray or read your scriptures, and I am the queen of that. I procrastinate with the best of intentions. Then the challenges come, and lo and behold I am caught wide eyed and unprepared.
I plead with all you married couples especially. Do not take for granted the importance of doing these simple things. If you have been married in the temple, make sure you go frequently. Don't let two years go by without ever re-entering that sacred place with the person you hold most dear. These seem like such small tasks, but in reality it will save you when the going gets tough. You will be prepared when challenges come, unlike myself.
I know this isn't the end. I am here with parents that love and support me no matter how I may fail. They believe in me and encourage me, and for that I am truly blessed. So as I reluctantly close a chapter in my life, I am optimistic (cautiously) about a brighter future and have taken some valuable lessons from the last 2 years of my life. I am grateful for them. Heavenly Father will take care of me. I wouldn't mind if He would let me into His plans for me, but I suppose that isn't how it works. That's why it's called Faith, huh?

Heavenly Father is a 4th watch God

I heard an amazing talk on BYU TV this evening and wanted to share it with you. It's titled "When My Prayers Seem Unanswered" by S. Michael Wilcox. It was exactly what I needed to hear, and I think most everyone can relate to it. It is a little lengthy, so make sure you have a free moment before you start to listen or watch, but I promise it will be well worth it. I won't quickly forget the things I learned tonight.

http://www.byub.org/talks/Talk.aspx?id=1553

Peace and Inspiration

A beautiful little blind girl was sitting on the lap of her father in a crowded compartment in a train. A friend seated nearby said to the father, “Let me give you a little rest,” and he reached over and took the little girl on his lap.

A few moments later the father said to her, “Do you know who is holding you?”

“No,” she replied, “but you do.”

Some might be inclined to say, “What a perfect trust this child had in her father.” Others may say, “What a wonderful example of love.” And still others might say, “What an example of faith.” To me it indicates a beautiful blending of all of these principles, which brought a priceless inner peace to the child. She knew she was safe because she knew her father knew who was holding her. Affection, respect, and care over the years had placed in this little girl’s heart a peace that surpasseth all understanding. She was at peace because she knew and trusted her father.

We plead for peace in our prayers and thoughts. Where is peace? Can we ever enjoy this great gift while wars, rumors of wars, discord, evil, and contention swirl all around us? The answer is yes. Just as the little blind girl sat on the stranger’s lap with perfect contentment because her father knew him, so we can learn to know our Father and find inner peace as we live his principles.

It is very significant that when Jesus came forth from the tomb and appeared to his disciples, his first greeting was, “Peace be unto you.” (Luke 24:36.) Peace—not passion, not personal possessions, not personal accomplishments nor happiness—is one of the greatest blessings a man can receive. Our trust and our relationship with our Heavenly Father should be one similar to that of the little blind girl and her earthly father. When sorrow, tragedy, and heartbreaks occur in our lives, wouldn’t it be comforting if when the whisperings of God say, “Do you know why this has happened to you?” we could have the peace of mind to answer “No, but you do.”

Marvin J. Ashton, “Peace—A Triumph of Principles,” Ensign, Nov 1985, 69