Keep Going

A theme that I have noticed more and more in General Conference and devotionals as the years have gone on, is the need to be steadfast and endure. As the world gets crazier, it is harder to stay strong. We are easily swayed and doubt is easily placed when we are not doing everything we could and should be doing in the Gospel. I'm no different. I struggle. I have a hard time making the right choice sometimes. However, I know that is a whole lot easier to make the right choice when I have been doing the right things.

In the readings for class this week, we read the book of Galatians. While I was reading, one verse jumped out at me. It is along the lines of what I was just talking about. Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

I love this verse! It is such a great reminder that Christ suffered everything for us to let us be able to choose. He fought for our agency. We should remember that, be grateful for that, and be inspired to be better by that. I love how at the end it calls to us to not get twisted up in the things that hold us back from progressing in the gospel. We must keep moving forward, towards Christ and our Heavenly Home, and we will be blessed.

We Are All Wanderers

In my personal reading this week, I got to read one of the classic missionary chapters that everyone knows and loves, Alma 26. If ever there were a chapter in the Book of Mormon that was made to just be a pep-talk to missionaries, it would be this chapter. However, after all the talk of serving those who are hard to serve, boasting in the glory of God, and talk of sheaves, the last two verses have always been my personal favorites. In these verses, Alma is still speaking on those main themes of the chapter, but he uses two phrases that always jump out at me and make me feel so loved. He says....

"...blessed be the name of my God,

who has been mindful of us,wanderers in a strange land.

Now my bretheren, we see that God is mindful of every people,

whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth

his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth..."

I just find so much comfort in these verses. God isn't mindful of one person or group of people more than anyone else. He is mindful of you, wherever you are, even if you feel lost. He keeps an eye on the wanderers and he numbereth his people, he knows each one of them. The best part, his mercy is extended to ALL. 

No matter who you are, or what you have done, his mercy is great enough to make you better. He wants nothing more than to have his children home with him again. Remember that. 

God is good, my friends. He knows what he is doing. He knows you.