Fellowship One with Another

Dear Sisters,

Sometimes I'm amazed at the opposition we experience in the world.  In one moment, I can feel so happy as I walk out my front door and see and smell beautiful spring blossoms.  Then in the next moment, I can turn on the news and feel despair for all the sadness and corruption in the world.

This week, during our family scripture reading, I came across a couple scriptures that gave me comfort:

Helaman 6:2-3

2 For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.

3 Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.

I noticed in these verses, that many of the people had become very wicked, however, those who were in the church "fellowshipped" and strengthened each other and even amid the wickedness of the world, they were able to experience joy and rejoice.

The scriptures reminded me that we can also experience joy as we keep the commandments, and I loved the reminder to fellowship.  I think that is much of why we visit teach.  We share our friendship with sisters because we want to strengthen each other, lift one another's burdens, and spread joy.

I know there are terrible things going on in the world today, but don't be overcome with fear and despair.  Remember that we can be a joyful people because we have the fullness of the gospel.

Sincerely,

Lydia

A Tremendous Force for Good

Dear Sisters,

Happy Spring!  What a lovely week full of sunshine and springtime smells!  I hope you found a minute to get outside and soak it in!

I read a quote by President Hinckley that keeps running through my head from Marlene’s lesson today.  I felt some of you sisters need to hear it, in case you missed it.

“No one can calculate the tremendous force for good that you can become. … I charge you to stand tall and be strong in defense of those great virtues which have been the backbone of our social progress. When you are united, your power is limitless. You can accomplish anything you wish to accomplish. And oh, how very, very great is the need for you in a world of crumbling values where the adversary seems so very much to be in control.

I feel to invite women everywhere to rise to the great potential within you. I do not ask that you reach beyond your capacity. I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts of failure. I hope you will not try to set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass.

You really are remarkable.  Remember that yours is “the errand of angels.”

“If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.” (Joseph Smith)

The Lord loves you, you are of great worth to him. You make a difference!

I hope you have a wonderful week and remember your divine worth.

-Lydia

From Trials to Joy

Hello Sisters!

It’s been a while!  I was blessed to be able to go on a little family vacation, and sometimes it seems to take time to get back into the swing of things.  (Just the laundry alone sets me back a week. )  I hope you are doing well and feeling joy at the “Promise of Spring.”

I noticed something small, but worth noting, in our scripture reading this morning.  We were reading in 2 Nephi 1, when Lehi is reminding his family how blessed they have been because they were spared from destruction and led to a promise land.  

​He tells them that he knows through a vision that Jerusalem has been destroyed, and he reminds them that that would have had the same fate.  He points out that things have been hard, and refers to, “our afflictions.”  Certainly, they had their fair share of trials, wandering in the wilderness for several years, hungry much of the time, and their women giving birth in the wilderness, not to mention Nephi’s struggles with his older brothers binding him and even wanting to kill him. 

You could safely say that it had been a tough journey for their family. But, Lehi quickly followed his ‘even though we have had to go through a lot of hard things,’ with a reminder of the blessings that followed.  “We have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed.”

Lehi and his family were able to reach their land of promise, by enduring their “wilderness” and "wading through much affliction."  I belief it is the same for each of us.  The Lord has great things in store for us.  In a sense, we have a “Land of Promise” waiting for us, if we can strive to cheerfully endure those bumps in the road.

“The trials of this life will ultimately lead to joy if we patiently trust in God’s plan and discover how to use adversity to grow stronger.

If we turn to Christ with faith and patience, we can have the strength we need to face adversity. The doctrines of the restored gospel give us an eternal perspective that provides hope and courage to bear all of life’s trials. Each of us has the strength to bear our challenges in life because of who we are, who God is, and who we are together.”

(Larry Richman, Learning Through Life’s Trials)

I testify that as you turn to Christ and try to faithfully and cheerfully “hang in there,” the Lord has great things in store for you!  Try to keep an eternal perspective this week.

Sincerely,

Lydia