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Dear Sisters,
We hope that you have had a thoughtful, inspiring week of reading, reflecting, writing, and drawing on the strength of the Lord to do seemingly impossible things.
For the coming week's journey:
Read: 2 Nephi 1-2
Our Heritage pages 21-27 (same as last week's assignment--time to catch up! PDF attached)
Write: At the end of his amazing life, the prophet Lehi writes “It must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). Write about a situation with opposition in your life right now or in the past.
This week we are blessed to have two sisters sharing their writing from their personal histories in response to last week's prompt to write about a time whey they were sustained by God and/or a need for God's sustaining power now.
From Theresa Roth, Ravenna Park ward:
It’s interesting that this week’s suggested prompt asks how one may ask God for additional strength.
I need the Spirit’s help to identify, articulate, visualize a path, and persevere with patience(!) one particular, ongoing challenge in my life. I know the struggle is designed to help me grow closer to my Father in Heaven. It’s just that my progress sometimes is so episodic, two steps forward, one step back; this particular week felt like two steps back.
In my sadness and disappointment with myself, I went to the temple, my refuge, an amazing place where I, in my imperfect, human condition, can actually participate in eternal, saving ordinances. It staggers me to think that the Creator of the Universe invites the likes of me to partner with Him in His great, exalting work. How beautiful is that?! And I’m blessed, too—how condescending it would be to think otherwise. One cannot serve others without serving God and serving oneself. One cannot love others without loving God and loving oneself—it’s all one eternal round, a magnificent journey to becoming one with Him.
My challenge remains, but after my service in the temple, I was able to refocus on how much my Savior loves me and includes me in one small way to contribute to our Father’s glorious Plan of Salvation. I feel lifted up, dusted off, loved, and encouraged to keep making my way through my challenge.
From Emily Garcia, Woodland Park ward:
As I was reading the experience of the Saints in Zion's Camp, I kept wondering why? Why was it necessary to go through that? But all week, as I've been thinking about the writing prompt, I've been reminded of my own personal Zion's Camp experience. Putting those two experiences together helps me make more sense of why the Lord allows us to do hard things and how those things can help us in our lives.
There has been one time in my life when I have had the whole "Footprints" moment, where I felt that God carried me through what I was incapable of going through myself. There were three days and they were the first three days I was in my mission field in Bradford, England of the England Leeds Mission. I remember arriving at our flat in the evening after transfer meeting where I met my trainer and left my fellow MTC companions. Much like the first signs of a child's life, I cried. My trainer asked me why I was crying. I couldn't answer her. I didn't know. I just knew that I had no idea how to be a missionary for the next 18 months, and at that moment 18 months seemed like an eternity. She told me that we needed to get groceries, so I think we went grocery shopping and then came home and went to bed.
The next morning I turned everything over to the Lord. I think I was in the shower when I started to pray. I told Heavenly Father that I couldn't do this. I didn't have the ability. I would go through the motions and move my body, but he needed to do the rest because I just couldn't do it. And he did.
I don't remember much of those first three days on the mission. I got up, exercised, showered, studied and followed my trainer. At night we came home and got ready for bed. In the morning, I got up again, prayed again for Heavenly Father to get everything done, and then moved my feet.
On the third night in the field I had a dream. I dreamt that I went home and it was remarkably not fun. I woke up and realized that I wanted to be on a mission and was able to get to work after that, a little less zombie-like. I still needed Heavenly Father's help, but I was able to do more and be more helpful.
I'm grateful for that experience that allowed me to learn that I can rely on the Lord and when I really need it, he can help me when I just don't have anything to give but have to get it done anyway. For me, it was my Zion's Camp learning experience. Not everyone has to go on a mission or go through a Zion's Camp to learn these lessons, but for me, it was exactly how I needed to learn that lesson.
Thank you dear sisters for sharing your stories!
With love and prayers,
Marni Campbell, Michelle Quinn, Theresa Roth, Jenni Currit
Seattle North Stake RS Presidency
