Seeking Strength

Fam,

Sometimes when I face challenges, it helps to put the obstacles into perspective. Now let's focus for a second and realign our perspective. Ask yourself "Why did the prophets put 1st Nephi at the front of the Book of Mormon?" Did you ever stop and think about that? I think it's because there is so much helpful information and application to our own lives right at the forefront of the book, they wanted us to be sure and benefit from it. Where would you put the most important message if you were arranging things?

On a particular occasion, President Kimball spoke to the women of the Church. He was encouraging them to complete their visiting teaching, and he recognized out loud that they faced many challenges and obstacles. Then he reminded them that God prepares the way:
1 Ne. 3:17

It is easy to get discouraged. It is easy to quit, but you must not fail. You remember how Nephi went into an impossible situation and couldn’t get the plates. His brothers couldn’t. They couldn’t buy them. They couldn’t bribe them out of the hands of Laban. They couldn’t force their way in, and their lives were hanging on a thread. In spite of all that, here comes one boy, unarmed, who walks into a city through a wall that was closed to him, through gates that couldn’t be opened, into a garden that was impenetrable, into a vault that was locked, among soldiers that couldn’t be bypassed, and comes out with his arms full of records to keep his posterity and others from perishing in unbelief. 1 Ne. 3–4

And if you think about it, that was only the beginning. Nephi faced more challenges in the wilderness and later was commanded to build a ship and sail across an uncharted ocean to start a new nation. And he successfully did it! That's just a thumbnail sketch of Nephi's experiences, and it makes my job search sound like a bed of roses. With God, all things are possible. Matt. 19:26

President Kimball continued: It can be done! We must eliminate entirely from our vocabulary the word can’t.

Then I think about Moses and the tremendous burden given him: free the children of Israel from the greatest nation on earth at the time and lead them to the promised land. God told him three things:

1. I am God
2. You Moses are my son
3. And I have work for you to do

What couldn't he accomplish knowing those three things. Moses could do anything knowing that, right? Heavenly Father tells each of us the same thing. And for the same reason, we cannot fail if we align ourselves with His will and like Moses endure to the end.

When I think of Nephi or Moses, my woes sound miniscule. Of course, the Lord will see us through. He always has. He always will. So whatever you are facing today, God will help you overcome it. Trust in Him and endure to the end.

I am so excited to see all of you today. You, family, bring me tremendous happiness, of course. And that means today is going to be a great day.

Whether in this life or the next, reunions are sweet events to which we can hope and delight.

I love you, dad