Given

I have shared recently my feelings about recent Sunday lessons that centered on the family, Eternal Families, Temple Marriage etc.  Those are challenging lessons for me to participate in.  I struggle to participate in sharing thoughts or insights not because I do not have a testimony of eternal families and marriage but because I do and I am divorced.  It is probably just me or maybe it isn't but I feel like I have a big sign over my head that says FAILURE!  And so I listen and observe and do not speak.  Today we had moved beyond these lessons in the Gospel Principles class and were on a much more pleasant subject, Chastity.  That is a great lesson with some terrific information and in sight.  This is straying a bit from my other thoughts tonight but I just have to say, if you are looking for clarity on the stand that the LDS Church takes on homosexuality, read that chapter.  It is in Gospel Principles, Chapter 39: The Law of Chastity.  It does not matter to me what society says is right or what political leaders decide is right.  What matters to me is what the Lord declares to be true and right and He does that through his Prophets.  I am grateful to have a testimony of living prophets on the earth today. I know as I follow them I am following the Savior. 

Okay, back to the topic.  In Priesthood today we had a great lesson.  It was preceded by a message from President Whetman about blessing our families through Priesthood blessings.  Hmmm, seems like I said one or two things about that in last nights post.  Pretty cool to have those thoughts reinforced in church today.  Kody Holt was our instructor today and the talk he was assigned from the last conference was by Elder Shayne M. Bowen titled "Because I Live, Ye Shall Live Also".  This is a fantastic talk.  I have listened to it a few times and wow, it is a powerful message and testimony of the Savior and his love for each of us.  At one point in the lesson Bro. Holt had us compile a list of physical pains and then remedies for them.  He then had us compile a list of emotional pains and a list of remedies there.  There were some powerful things on that list of emotional pains and there were some great suggestions for remedies.  As I looked over the list of emotional pains I realized that I had experienced everything on that list when I went through divorce.  As I looked at the remedies for emotional pain there was the most important remedy missing from that list, that remedy being the Savior.  I shared some thoughts on the matter and as powerfully as I could shared my testimony that all those remedies were good but the most important remedy is our Savior Jesus Christ.  I shared my knowledge that he knows us individually, is aware or our every need and that he sends help.  That help can be a friend, a Priesthood leader, a Relief Society President, a Young Women's leader, our families.  Ultimately it is the Savior who does not abandon us.  In our darkest hour he is there.  I am so very grateful for that.  Sorry, I didn't share all of that in the meeting and shared a few thoughts that are not written here.  Anyhow, I was in tears.  That happens to me sometimes.  I hope that what I said was well received.  Don't know. 

Brother Holt went on with the lesson and shared the following scriptures in Alma 26 when Ammon glories in the Lord for their success in teaching the Lamanites.  He talks about things that the Lord has given us.  In verse 22 of Alma 26 Ammon teaches us this:

Yea, he that repented and exercise faith, and bringers forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing - unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God;  yea unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.  

Brother Holt drew our attention to the word given in that verse.  It is used 4 times.  He taught that we are given experiences from the Lord for our benefit.  It made a lot of sense to me as I recalled in my mind the experience I had while fasting for help relative to what I was feeling and very clearly hearing "I gave you these experiences for a reason...".  Gave, Given.  My heart was pretty full listening to this lesson.  Brother Holt then continued on and shared verse 27 of Alma 26. 

Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst they brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

So grateful for the Savior who knows us and loves us and who will give us success as we patiently go through our afflictions.