The Future Is As Bright As Your Faith

I think of this phrase often when I see or hear about tragedies and trials:  "The future is as bright as your faith." President Thomas S. Monson said it in 2009.  (Link to his speech:

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/05/be-of-good-cheer?lang=eng )

In it, he says: "It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future... if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives...  [F]ocus instead on our blessings...   Paul declared, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”¹

... How might we have joy in our lives, despite all that we may face? ... “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”³     The history of the Church in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, is replete with the experiences of those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer as they have made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives. This attitude is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. It will not remove our troubles from us but rather will enable us to face our challenges, to meet them head on, and to emerge victorious."-  President Monson

I'm thinking about this today while one of my closest friends, at age 48, lies in the hospital after a C-section with a struggling preemie that was born yesterday.  I'm scared for both of them.  I'm praying for both of them. But I know that even the most loving and fervent prayers for the most deserving and beautiful people are sometimes met with a "no" by our loving Heavenly Father whose wisdom and love exceeds our own understanding.  Yet I pray, and I hope that they will be okay.  My friend is too weak and depressed to have visitors, she texted me.  So all I can do is pray, and I am.

Another quote is coming to my mind today and yesterday. "If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong."   Link to quote/article:  http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/05/faith-in-adversity?lang=eng&query=nothing+can+ever+go+permanently+wrong

"President Howard W. Hunter said: “If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right.”

There is a peace and consolation that only God can give for certain unbearable pains. Sometimes, that peace of God is the only thing that makes sense. We keep the willingness to feel the pain that accompanies love, while keeping our faith so strong that there is a living God who is aware and involved and who will balance the scales and wipe away all our tears in the end.  We will be happy together, in the end, if not right now.

http://bcove.me/k6qq109j   This video that I recommended on my last post is the answer that the suffering or scared believers need. The Savior told his apostles, at the Last Supper before he was to be killed (and later resurrected) that they would have trials but that they should not fear. They should love one another and have peace. Watch it if you are scared or sad. It is a real, quiet source of strength.  It is a reminder that we are in this together, with Jesus leading us, and we will be okay.

For Primary Workers: Sharing Time Game

This is for the primary workers (my friends from Sugardoodle).  (I couldn't post this whole game on sugardoodle.net)

CLUES FOR THE GAME:  THREE (PROPHET) CLUES AND A QUOTE

JOSEPH F. SMITH
-WHEN I WAS FIVE, MY FATHER WAS KILLED WITH MY UNCLE, JOSEPH SMITH.
-WHEN I WAS 14, MY MOTHER DIED.
-WHEN I WAS 15, I WENT ON A MISSION TO HAWAII.
-QUOTE:  "To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman."

LORENZO SNOW
-I JOINED THE CHURCH AT AGE 22.
-I SERVED AS A MISSIONARY MANY TIMES.  MY MISSIONS WERE IN OHIO, ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, MISSOURI, GREAT BRITAIN, ITALY, ENGLAND, SWITZERLAND, MALTA, HAWAII, AND THE NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES.
-I WAS THE 5TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
-QUOTE:  "I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS THE TESTIMONY OF YOUR GRANDFATHER, THAT HE TOLD YOU WITH HIS OWN LIPS THAT HE ACTUALLY SAW THE SAVIOR, HERE IN THE TEMPLE, AND TALKED WITH HIM FACE TO FACE" -FROM HIS GRANDDAUGHTER

SPENCER W. KIMBALL
-I WAS BAPTIZED IN A HOG-SCALDING TUB ON MY 8TH BIRTHDAY.
-MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS 11.
-I HAD SURGERY ON MY VOCAL CORDS, SO MY VOICE WAS VERY QUIET.
-I WAS THE 12TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH
-QUOTE:  "DO IT"

HOWARD W. HUNTER
- I WAS BORN IN IDAHO.
-I WAS BAPTIZED IN A SWIMMING POOL.
-I WAS THE 14TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.
-I WAS ONLY THE PROPHET FOR ONE YEAR.
-QUOTE:  "IT IS THE DEEPEST DESIRE OF MY HEART TO HAVE EVERY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH WORTHY TO ENTER THE TEMPLE."

BRIGHAM YOUNG
-I  WAS BAPTIZED IN A POND AT AGE THIRTY.
-I SERVED ONE MISSION TO CANADA AND ANOTHER ONE TO GREAT BRITAIN.
-I LED THE SAINTS WEST TO THE SALT LAKE VALLEY.
-QUOTE:  "I FEEL LIKE SHOUTING HALLELUJAH, ALL THE TIME, WHEN I THINK THAT I EVER KNEW JOSEPH SMITH."
GORDON B. HINCKLEY
-MY DEAR MOTHER READ TO ME OFTEN AND I ALWAYS LOVED BOOKS
-I WAS SCARED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND MY PARENTS HAD TO MAKE ME GO.
-MY WIFE'S NAME WAS MARJORIE.
-I WAS THE FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH
-QUOTE:  "WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.  GOD IS AT THE HELM."

GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
-I WAS BAPTIZED IN A CREEK IN SALT LAKE CITY.
-MY WIFE WAS NAMED LUCY AND SHE HELPED ME WITH MY MISSIONARYWORK
-I WAS THE 8TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.
-QUOTE:  "IF YOU WILL STAY ON THE LORD'S SIDE OF THE LINE YOU WILL… HAVE NO DESIRE TO DO WRONG; BUT IF YOU CROSS TO THE DEVIL'S SIDE OF THE LINE ONE INCH, YOU ARE IN THE TEMPTER'S POWER, AND IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL, YOU WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO THINK OR EVEN REASON PROPERLY.."

DAVID  O. MCKAY
-I WAS BAPTIZED IN A CREEK WHILE MY FATHER WAS SERVING A MISSION IN GREAT BRITAIN.
-I SERVED A MISSION IN SCOTLAND.
-I BECAME AN APOSTLE WHEN I WAS 32.
-I BECAME THE PROPHET WHEN I WAS 77 AND LIVED TO BE 96 YEARS OLD.
-QUOTE:  "EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY."

JOHN TAYLOR
-BULLETS  WOUNDED ME WHEN I WAS WITH JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH AT CARTHAGE JAIL, BUT I SURVIVED.
-MY WIFE WAS NAMED LEONORA.
- DURING MY MISSION TO FRANCE AND GERMANY, I HAD THE BOOK OF MORMON PUBLISHED IN FRENCH AND GERMAN.
-I BECAME THE THIRD PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH AT AGE 71.
-QUOTE:  "I FELT THAT THE LORD HAD PRESERVED ME BY A SPECIAL ACT OF MERCY."

THOMAS S. MONSON
-I ENJOY SCOUTING.
-I GRADUATED FROM BOTH THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH AND FROM BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY.
-MY WIFE IS NAMED FRANCES.
-QUOTE: "FAITH PRECEDES THE MIRACLE."

JOSEPH SMITH
-WHEN I WAS 17, THE ANGEL MORONI VISITED ME 4 TIMES TO GIVE ME DIRECTIONS FROM HEAVENLY FATHER
-I TRANSLATED THE BOOK OF MORMON INTO ENGLISH
-I WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
-QUOTE: "WHAT CAN MAN DO IF GOD IS MY FRIEND?"