"A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit"

Dear Sweet Sisters,

Is it just me, or does everything seem to speed up this time of year?  I would very much like to pause, and catch up with everything, but instead, I'll have to keep jogging along and try to take an occasional moment to be still and enjoy the journey. :)

It was so fun gathering with so many of you sisters in a circle for our lesson on Sunday.  It was especially neat to have the Primary and Young Women Leaders with us.  What a beautiful sight you all made!  It did my heart good to see each of you.  Thank you for your strength and support!

We talked about times we have felt the Lord's hand in our lives through service.  There where some very tender sweet experiences shared.  Thank you!  As I mentioned, there have been countless moments when you sisters have lifted and loved me through your thoughtful service.  I have certainly felt God's love through you.

I want to mention a little thought I came across in my scripture study this week.  I am almost finished with the Book of Mormon.  I recently read where there have been fires, floods, and earthquakes, and Christ is speaking to the people in the darkness just before he appears.  He tells them the sacrifices and burnt offerings should be done away because he has fulfilled the law, and he says, "And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost." (3 Ne. 9:20)

The word "contrite" stuck out to me, mostly because I didn't know exactly what it meant, so I looked it up. It means feeling or expressing remorse; basically to be sorry.  But what fascinated me more was the Latin root-word translation of "conterere" with means "grind down/wear away".  What an image that created in my mind of my heart and spirit starting out rough and imperfect, but over time, through trial and opposition, the roughness and the imperfections are worn off, creating a smooth, polished, humble and more perfect offering for the Lord.  In return, we are blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, who helps us endure that opposition.

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"We must also have the bitter in order to know the sweet. Sometimes some of us think we have the bitter and not enough of the sweet. This is normal. We all have our trials of life to strengthen us. Each thinks he has the hardest or most severe trials. It may be that they are the most difficult only because they are the hardest or most difficult for you. The diamond is enhanced and made more valuable with polishing. Steel is made harder and more valuable through tempering. So also opposition builds the character of man." (Eldred G. Smith)

We would do well to remember that opposition is an "heritage of the saints of God."

President Wilford Woodruff said: 

"If we had no trials we should hardly feel at home in the other world in the company of the Prophets and Apostles who were sawn asunder, crucified, etc., for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.

It is impossible … for the Saints of God to inherit a celestial kingdom without their being tried as to whether they will abide in the covenants of the Lord or not."

I'm going to try to remember that even the hard times are a blessing.  Hope you have a wonderful week and find some happy holiday joy!!!  See you at the Relief Society Breakfast this Saturday at 9am!!!

Sincerely,

Lydia