Mary's Faith

At a wedding feast at Cana, they ran out of wine. Mary was troubled by this and Jesus offered to help.  Mary turned to others at the feast and said, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Such a great pattern  of faith for us to follow. "Whatsoever he saith unto [us], do it." Follow the commandments and follow Jesus in faith.

John 2:5

Love is not a special way of feeling

"Love is not a special way of feeling, though lovely feelings come now and then. But real love is a commitment to live and care for another person. When that love is God’s love, it reaches out to all the people around you automatically. You just can’t help caring and sharing from the heart."

Catherine Galasso-Vigorito, A New You: Words to Soothe the Mind, Body, and Spirit (Avon, Massachusetts: Adams Media, 2003), 39.

I heard this quote while listening to a BYU devotional given June 21, 2016 by Michelle Stott James entitled "Empty Centers and the Fire of the Lord". 

This quote has changed my life. Love is an action. I've heard this before, but this quote has shattered all of my childish notions about love. It literally has blown my mind and has changed my whole outlook on life and especially my marriage. What a beautiful definition of love. I don't need to be an entitled girl, deserving of those "special feelings" all the time. I get to selflessly serve and "love" my husband because of how I treat and value him. My "commitment to love and care for [him]."

He will guide your way

One Special Star

While singing this song with cathy's ward choir, this line resonated so strongly in my heart. It was an answer from heaven. We have been looking for housing and trying to find what is best for our family and I have been in a lot of stress. Those words "He will guide your way" struck me with a wall of peace. It was s direct message to my heart from my loving Heavenly Father. 

Something for God to help us with

"We do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity of goodness before God will help. Divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. But beyond desiring his help, we must exert ourselves… and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Free Forever, to Act for Themselves, October 2014

Hard Taskmaster of Experience

President Monson, An Invitation to Exaltation, 1988

We learn from the hard taskmaster of experience. We discern between good and evil. We differentiate as to the bitter and the sweet. We discover that decisions determine destiny.

Pray Always

Pray and then get up and act, so that the Lord has something to help you with. 

President Uchtdorf, The Road to Damascus

"Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us."

Richard G. Scott, The Transforming Power of Faith and Character, 2010:

"“Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6). Thus, every time you try your faith—that is, act in worthiness on an impression—you will receive the confirming evidence of the Spirit. As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise. With even your strongest faith, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you, when it will yield the greatest advantage. Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow."

Even if we don't get immediate answers to our prayers, we can pray to know that the Lord is mindful of you and is guiding life. 

L. Tom Perry, Obedience through our Faithfulness 2014:

"An obedient horse which is part of a well-trained team of horses needs little more than a gentle tug from the driver to do exactly what he wants it to do. This gentle tug is equivalent to the still, small voice with which the Lord speaks to us. Out of respect for our agency, it is never a strong, forceful tug."

Temple promises

"I promise you that all who faithfully attend to temple work will be blessed beyond measure.  Your families will draw closer to the Lord, unseen angels will watch over your loved ones when Satanic forces tempt them, the veil will be thin and great spiritual experiences will distill upon this people."

Vaughn J. Featherstone

Mount Vernon Washington Stake Conference - June 1985