Buenas Tardes,
This week
I've been thinking a lot about gratitude. My thoughts originated with an
exchange I had with my mom, but I also LOVED President Uctdorf's talk
in general conference about gratitude. (https://www.lds.org/general-
I haven't yet discovered exactly how to just be grateful, but I have realized that it is very helpful to be grateful for
things in all situations. I have taken the time to sit and think about
all of the things that I could possibly be grateful for in any given
situation, and the list is always surprisingly long. However, it has
been important for me to remember that no matter how long or short my
list may be it is always crowned by the amazing promises that we have
from our Heavenly Father.
This Easter Monday
(which apparently is only celebrated in Canada) my mind is first drawn
back to the wonderful promise of the resurrection. We are all promised
that after we die our bodies and spirits will be reunited again in
perfect incorruption never to be parted again. Isn't that amazing! Then
there are the other promises from the Atonement. We are promised that
all who come unto Him and are baptized unto repentance will be forgiven.
(Mosiah 26:22) We are promised that He knows how to lift and comfort us
in any and all of our trials because he suffered it all. (Alma 7:11-13)
We are promised that through the Grace of Christ all of our
imperfections or mistakes or inadequacies will be covered and everything
will be okay. (Moroni 10:32-33)
These principles, and especially a concentrated
effort to be grateful in every circumstance have helped lift and carry
me this week as we've had some struggles in our area. A few weeks ago we
were having what felt like incredible success. We had found so many new
investigators who were willing and prepared to listen to the message of
the restored gospel and several of them were progressing towards
baptism. We were excited and happy and doing everything we could to help
these people on their path and find more who would be willing and ready
to listen to the good news we bring.
Then this week one by one each of the people who had
been preparing for baptism fell of their path and decided to go another
way. One man simply stopped answering the phone and his door, and we're
not sure what opposition blocked his way. Another was forced to cancel
his baptism and stop meeting with us in order to keep is family happy
and intact. A young woman that we've been teaching had a conversation
with her mother and decided that she needed to learn more about the
Catholic religion instead of continuing to prepare to be baptized.
As we've faced these trials of our faith it has
helped me to remind myself of all the things I do have to be grateful
for. I am grateful that the Lord is in charge of His work and that my
small actions can not stop it. I am grateful that everyone can always
have another chance to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm
grateful that no matter what choices they make in this life everyone
will have the opportunity to receive some degree of happiness in the
life to come. In a more limited time frame, I am grateful that we've had
the opportunity to start teaching a young man who is reading the Book
of Mormon and praying to know if it's true. I'm grateful that one of our
less active families came to church this Sunday.
I'm grateful that we have wonderful members who come to sacrament
meeting despite migraines or hyperactive children and still want us to
come over for dinner. There is SO much to be grateful for! I'm even
grateful for the opportunity to be grateful. :)
Unfortunately I'm out of time, but I will share a few pictures to end up.
1: The Best District EVER!!!!
All sisters, the district leader, and the assistants!!!
2:
A headstand tradition that goes strong to this day!
Love,
Hna Marin Lyn Hardy
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