We are never alone!

In our darkest hours as we face our trials, heartache, and pain we almost always feel like we are in it alone. Even just everyday living, trying to get through the day is more than we can handle. Often times there are not enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done or enough money to get us through to the next pay check. Our burdens and responsibilities seem harder than we can bear.

I have been struggling for a few months, neglecting the spiritual things that I should be doing because I have felt heavy burdens of everyday living and have not used my time wisely. I have started reading my scriptures again and studying the conference talks. In my studies I came across this talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland from April 2009 conference. It made a huge impact on me. It is a review of the last days of our Saviors life and well worth the review.

None Were With Him

I now realize once again that I am never alone. That in Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary the Lord felt everything that I feel. He knows through experience every sin and weakness that I have, he knows it and has paid the price to ransom me. He felt abandoned and alone as The Father withdrew, crying in ultimate loneliness, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” After all was fulfilled and with complete faith in The Father and complete obedience He finally said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
Jesus was completely alone at that point, he felt the withdrawal of His Father, and he felt it and knows it. But, we will never have to be alone for we are blessed with the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us, lift us, teach us, and comfort us in all things and at all times. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ and all who are called as leaders in this great organization. We have sisters and brothers both, in our family and in our ward family, to stand literally by our side as we need them. No, we are never alone; we are loved more than we can comprehend. All we have to do is ask.

Stand a Little Taller

As we move along in our lives each day there are two directions we can go. We can stay on the path we are on, making no changes in our lives and becoming a little stagnant, or we can take the harder path that has an incline. That incline can be as slight or as steep as we want to make it. Always that path is made easier if we have encouragement or help from someone else. Life is easier if we have someone to share it with. We are never alone! There is one who is aware of all that we are and all that we feel. There is one who knows us by name. There is one who loves us unconditionally. There is one who wants us to grow, to become greater than we are today.

President Hinckley in a conference talk said :
"I want to invite us all to walk a higher road of excellence. There is need for a little more self-discipline, a little more consecrated effort in the direction of excellence in our lives.
Let us all try to stand a little taller, rise a little higher, be a little better. Make the extra effort. You will be happier. You will know a new satisfaction, a new gladness in your heart."

Decide today what changes you want to make in your life to become a little better. My choice today is to keep the TV off and use my time pondering upon the things of the Lord. Thinking of Him who made it possible for me to made changes in my life so that I can become more like Him. Knowing that because of Him and His great sacrifice through the atonement I can receive eternal life. My time is valuable I want to use it wisely.

Tender Mercies of the Lord

Neal A Maxwell
“The Lord teaches us much about Himself through His ‘tender mercies.’ He also teaches us much about that which we may become, as we confront, on our scale, the individual curricula of our lives. His most apt pupils, of course, are the men and women of God. In those instances of record, the Lord has displayed much gentleness and tenderness in His tutoring of such individuals. The pattern usually involves His disclosing more about Himself and about His work, thus expanding the horizons of the person being tutored. He is likewise reassuring and assigns that favored individual a portion of His work, including declaring the gospel, while making special promises. The pattern, though mercifully scaled, is there in the lives of all true disciples.” (Meek and Lowly, p.115.)

Confront, on our scale, the individual curricula of our lives. Where am I on this scale? What does it take to be an apt pupil?
• Man or woman of God
o Willing to take upon us His name and His work
o Willing to be like Him
 Giving of our time, talents and all that we have to the work of the Lord.
• Knowing that we cannot do it without the guidance of the Spirit.

What and how will I be taught?
• He will teach with much gentleness and tenderness
• Disclosing more about Himself
• Disclosing more about His work
• He will be reassuring and give a portion of His work to you
• There is always a special promise

The wonderful thing about the tender mercies of the Lord is that we do not have to be perfect; we must be willing, having a desire, and striving to do the things of the Lord. He has given us through His example here on earth what we must do. He has taught us and given us every needful thing for success. Through His tender mercy we can overcome all and become as He is.

Tender mercies continued

"The Weightier Matters of the Law: Judgment, Mercy, and Faith"
James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 53–59
Those who extend judgment, mercy, faith, and forgiveness exhibit a greatness of soul and mind consistent with the spirit of the Lord's teachings and example.

The Tender Mercies continued

"The Tender Mercies of the Lord"
David A. Bednar, Liahona, May 2005, 99–102; or Ensign, May 2005, 99–102

The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal confidence.

Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience.

The persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties.

Faithfulness and obedience enable us to receive these important gifts.

Fortify and protect us in the troubled times.

Made mighty even unto the power of deliverance