061724, Monday, Journal Entry

Vitals:  Weight 227.9

Book of Mormon Review Reading: Mosiah 7

Journal Entry 

Yesterday was Father's Day. I had very nice telephonic conversations with Kevin and Adam. Jake came over for a visit and brought Erica with him. If it weren't for my pain, the day couldn't have been better.

I don't have anything planned for today other than helping Cathy, as much as I can, get ready for Kevin's visit tomorrow.

Come Follow Me 

Alma 7: 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

"To open the windows of heaven, we must conform our will to God’s will. Diligent, enduring obedience to God’s laws is the key that opens the windows of heaven. Obedience enables us to be receptive to the mind and will of the Lord…"and the willing and obedient” are those who receive the blessings of revelation through the open windows of heaven."

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, October 1995

God’s work will not fail. But our efforts to help with His work sometimes seem to fail—at least, we may not immediately see the outcomes we hope for. We might feel a little like Alma when he preached the gospel in Ammonihah—rejected, spit on, and cast out. Yet when an angel instructed him to go back and try again, Alma courageously “returned speedily” (Alma 8:18), and God prepared the way before him. Not only did He provide Alma with food to eat and a place to stay, but He also prepared Amulek, who became a fellow laborer, a fierce defender of the gospel, and a faithful friend. When we face setbacks and disappointments as we serve in the Lord’s kingdom, we can remember how God supported and led Alma, and we can trust that God will support and lead us too, even in difficult circumstances.

I can't imagine being visited by an angel of God (or somehow receiving other Heavenly guidance) and not doing everything I'm instructed to do. 

"You might ask, “How can I be a missionary without a name badge?” Or we tell ourselves, “The full-time missionaries are set apart to do this work. I would like to help but perhaps later when life has calmed down a bit.”

Brothers and sisters, it is much simpler than that! Gratefully, the Savior’s great commission can be accomplished through simple, easily understandable principles taught to each of us from childhood: love, share, and invite."

Elder Gary E. Stevenson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 2022