He will remember you even when you're having a hard time

Some of my favorite scriptures are in the Doctrine and Covenants. The first one I am going to focus on is Section 121. A little background. Joseph Smith is in Liberty Jail. This is one of the hardest time Joseph went through. When we think or hear his name many things come to mind. For me it is he was a great man and he did a lot. This puts into perspective that he was normal man and he did have trials and struggles like everyone does. These next verses are Joseph's

 1 O God, ^awhere art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy ^bhiding place?

 2 ^aHow long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?

 3 Yea, O Lord, ^ahow long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful ^boppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with ^ccompassion toward them?

 4 O Lord God ^aAlmighty, maker of ^bheaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy ^cpavilion be taken up; let thy ^dhiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine ^eheart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.

 5 Let thine ^aanger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy ^bsword ^cavenge us of our wrongs.

 6 Remember thy ^asuffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.

And these next ones are what the Lord answers back to him.

7 My son, ^apeace be unto thy soul; thine ^badversity and thine afflictions shall be but a ^csmall moment;

 8 And then, if thou ^aendure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy ^bfoes.

 9 Thy ^afriends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

16 ^aCursed are all those that shall lift up the ^bheel against mine ^canointed, saith the Lord, and cry they have ^dsinned when they have not sinned before me, saith the Lord, but have done that which was meet in mine eyes, and which I commanded them.

So as you read these they can relate back to you. Just because they were given to Joseph Smith doesn't mean they don't have meaning to you. These verses have helped me in more ways than I can count. I know they can help you. You will probably so no they won't but give no don't give them a chance read them they will help.  That is one of the amazing things about the Lord. Most no not most all of His counsel He gives can relate to anyone who listens and reads it.  The Lord loves all His children. I know that. I have seen and witnessed that love He has for all His children and these verses will help.

When it rains it pours

So serving in New York this last 7 months I have come to realize that something happens here a lot. It rains. Being from where I am from I don't usually experience rain. The earth always looks so clean and new after it rains. This got me thinking about repentance. Sure you do things bad all the time, but through the love of our Savior He forgives us. We just have to repent. It is like this, the sins we commit make us really dirty and muddy and nasty. Then as we repent it rains and sometimes pours. We then become clean. Repentance is amazing and can help anyone. So if you ever feel like you can't be forgiven remember that you can and it might be hard but it is worth it.

It doesn't take eloquence to be a powerful missionary or speaker

I was going to write on this topic but then I remembered a video that I saw and this video has impacted me greatly. It is the Prophet Brigham Young telling how he was converted. Here it is

So for those of you who have a hard time speaking in front of others. Remember someone who had a hard time speaking in front of people because of his sweet testimony he helped a powerful man like Brigham Young come into the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that no matter how eloquent you are your testimony will help someone. So never let the chance go to bear your testimony. It will help someone.

Not as hard as it seems

Many people say and even I have said it. Why is this so hard? Well because we make it harder than it has to. I know with me that most of the things I have asked that I have made them harder than they have been. I remember when I would get on the roof and help my dad with our air conditioner and I didn't understand it he would tell me you are making this harder than it seems. As I learned to listen to him and figure it out I realized that it really wasn't that hard it was easy. Well that is how it is with the Savior. We go through hard times in our life and ask why is it so hard. The is a scripture in Matthew Chapter 11 the last 3 verses 28-30. This scripture has really stuck out to me lately and I know that if you take the time to read it it will help you when you are going through hard times. It says...

27 All ^athings are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither ^bknoweth any man the Father, save the Son, ^cand he to whomsoever the Son will ^dreveal him.

 28 ¶^aCome unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest.

 29 Take my ^ayoke upon you, and ^blearn of me; for I am ^cmeek and ^dlowly in ^eheart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light.

The last verse says it all I know that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. I have seen it in my life just recently. His love for all of us in amazing and I know that He loves all of us. So next time you what to ask yourself why is my life so hard remember this scripture.

Keep it balanced

There is another story in this months Ensign. It is by Elder L. Tom Perry. He tells us how important it is for our lives to be balanced. So instead of me writing on and on here is the link to his article called The Tradition of a Balanced, Righteous Life. I hope you enjoy the article.