not my will

Round 15... unload the bikes and what do you know... my front tire is flat! Its been 6 long weeks of try after try to get my companion and I seated on bikes. First no bikes, then no bike rack for the car, then no hitch, then no bikes again etc etc. After this last attempt I finally gave in.. "Maybe we aren't supposed to ride bikes!" I had forgotten the phrase "Not my will but thine."

We forget in our desperate wants and desires to give in to the Lord and what He wants for us. We think it's all about us and what we want. It's not all give me, give me and then BAM it's at your door or in your mail box. Sometimes in these moments of self centered wishes we forget to ask the Lord. To talk to Him about what He thinks is the best option.

We should seek each day for the will of our Lord. Not always for the things that we want. Time, effort, emotions and sometimes money are saved when we, as my mom would say, "Do it right the first time, then you won't have to do it again." Neal A. Maxwell said  "As you submit your wills to God, you are giving Him the only thing you can actually give Him that is really yours to give. Don't wait too long to find the altar or to begin to place the gift of your wills upon it! No need to wait for a receipt; the Lord has His own special ways of acknowledging." 


  "... the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." (Mosiah 24:15) Lets pray a little harder and follow a little stronger the will of the Lord. In doing I know that our lives will be in harmony with our Heavenly Father. Like Alma I have seen happiness when I have submitted cheerfully. 

a test of faith

This morning we woke up to rain. On any normal day this would have been fine. But on this particular day we had decided to ride our bikes. You can call it stubbornness but I wouldn't settle for the warm dry car. When we first started riding the rain had stopped, we thought we would be fine. The further and further we got away from our car the rain slowly became worse. Head down and hands tightly gripped to my handle bars we pressed forward to our appointment. We could have turned back. We could have gotten back in the car and driven, but we had decided to ride.

We all face what seems like unachievable trials. James E Faust said “Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope.” Peace comes through hope! I love that. What a beautiful thought.

There is always light at the end of the tunnel. As we press through these difficult tasks we need to stay positive and remember that our Savior is always there to support and help us! "Turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load." ( Donald D. Hallstrom) I know that if we turn to the Lord He will lighten our load and make the things we are doing easy to bear. The rain beating on our faces wasn't as noticeable as we sang hymns peddling as fast as we could toward the warm home ahead. With faith we can do all things! But having faith doesn't mean that everything will be perfect. Alma a great Book of Mormon prophet explains faith in one of my favorite ways."And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (Alma 32:21) Remember peace comes through hope? It truly does. 

I love my Savior and am so grateful that He is willing to help and support me in my trials. I could not make it another day if He wasn't there to lift and support me. He pulls me up off  feeble knees daily and helps me to know that I am not alone! I am never alone.

blinded from the truth



Moments after our wreck.



A few months ago I was serving in an area where my companion and I had to ride bikes everyday. It was fun... At first I was so excited. Screaming my screams of joy and riding as fast as I could. I thought that nothing could drag me down. But soon after I got set into a routine. I took no thought for extra dangers around me and I would just go where I needed to go.On one particular night I learned an important lesson. I was so focused on where we were going and what I wanted to accomplish that it was almost like I had blinders on... I turned into my companions bike, almost got away but was drug back in by our tangled handle bars. She bailed off and I was left with both bikes. I soon flew over my handle bars and landed under the bikes.  I was lucky to have

come away with only a baby bruise.

What does this have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? A lot actually. Sometimes it seems like we are just walking around in our own little worlds with blinders on. In some cases it can be a good thing. It may save us from the evils of the world and the destruction that can drag us down. But only some are lucky to come away with little bruises. I would like to talk about the blinders that shield us from knowing the truth. These blinders can also drag us down. Tangled in lies and deceit can only harm us. If we just take those blinders off and open our hearts then we can learn the truth of all things.  "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." Moroni 10:5

President Gordon B. Hinckley shared an experience of a family who took off their blinders:

"Thirty years ago David Castañeda; his wife, Tomasa; and their children lived on a dry, little, run-down ranch near Torreón. They owned 30 chickens, two pigs, and one thin horse. They walked in poverty. Then the missionaries called on them. Sister Castañeda said, 'The elders took the blinders from our eyes and brought light into our lives. We knew nothing of Jesus Christ. We knew nothing of God until they came.'"

Not only those who do not know of Jesus Christ have blinders on. Those of us that have a strong faith in Christ can also have blinders on that can harm us. This is also referred to as a "soft heart" if we have a soft heart then we are open to the promptings of the spirit. If we focus more on Jesus Christ and living with Him again, than our next appointment, or our next fishing trip, then we won't fall. We can not fail! If he is part of our lives every step of every day. As we remove those things that distract us from what matters most, as we become humble then we will be more open to listening and obeying the promptings of the Spirit. As we listen to the still small voice of the Spirit we will find all truth, and be lead to a greater understanding of Jesus Christ our Heavely Father and their plan for each of us.

Riding around blind is not fun. There will come a time when you will crash and fall. You might not fly over a set of handle bars, but it may be just as scary. Allow the Spirit to come into your heart. Allow the Spirit to teach you and to help you know more about the True Church of Jesus Christ. I know that when I have been the most humble is when I have learned the most. That is when the Spirit is able to come in and teach me. I am not on my own agenda but on the Lord's.