Flashback #14: From My Personal Study...

October 5, 2011

I have been trying more diligently to read something from the Book of Mormon every day as a missionary. In the  recent weeks I have been falling short because I have been studying from the Old Testament, but especially after the council received in General Conference, I will repent and continue to study from its pages each day.

 This picture was taken about 3 weeks ago downtown

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This morning I was reading in the book of Alma when he is giving council to his sons in the chapter where he tells the story of his miraculous conversion, when he was "in the gall of bitterness" and then his "soul was filled with joy" (36:18,20). If you go just a little bit farther, I read more of his words and powerful testimony to his son Helaman.

    "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, and God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.
    "And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever" (36:27-28)

   I just thought that was beautifully said. Putting ALL your trust in the Lord is hard, but dear friends, where is our faith? Have not the prophets and apostles testified to us time and time again that those who do put their trust in God and follow his commandments with all the energy and capacity that we have, that we will be blessed? 

Yikes. I think that one lesson I have learned is how truly difficult that could be. Well, at least for me it has been. I suppose it's possible that everyone else in the world has perfect trust in the Lord except me. But not likely.

I think it's important to remember that the promise is that we will be blessed. I do know that is true! I also think it's important to remember that we may not be blessed the way we want to be. Think of Abraham- do you think he was a blessed man? The Lord promised to bless him with posterity beyond the sands of the sea. Did Abraham have trials? Um, yes. His is one of the most famous trials of all- being asked of God to sacrifice his son Isaac. What about the Book of Mormon? Amulek. I love that man. He is my Book of Mormon hero, by the way. He was SURELY blessed. I mean, he had a prophet for a mission companion! He was also a successful man, and leaving behind the things of the world, he went to preach the gospel. And oh man, there were trials.

Dear friends, rarely will our lives be filled with black and white trials and blessing times. They will be mixed together. The Lord's promises still stand true, that through our trials he will bless us, and in many times the trials will become strengths. So trust Him. It will happen.

Have you counted your blessings today? I hope so.

Have an action-packed day!
Sister Franson