He Is There For You!

Have you ever had to wait a LONG time for an answer to a prayer? Maybe you are still waiting. For those of you who have experienced this waiting, you know how exhausting and difficult it can be. 

Weeks before General Conference, I had been praying and hoping I would receive an answer and help with several different struggles I have been having. I watched and listened to all six sessions and loved every minute of all of them. But, I couldn't help feeling discouraged at the end of it all when I still struggled severely with one particular challenge. Did my Heavenly Father not care about how I was feeling? Did I not have enough faith? 


I sat down to read my scriptures that evening and some council from my Bishop came to mind: "If you don't receive an answer, keep going back to Him in prayer." I've always known that was council from God, so I did just that. I went to my room and prayed, even though I had prayed about this countless times before. I prayed for a long time. My husband must have thought I turned to stone as he kept coming in and out of the room and finding me in the same position on my knees. 

As I was praying, I realized that I didn't need to know all the answers, but I DID need to rid myself of the anger that kept creeping back into my heart and mind. I pled with Him to take this and other bad feelings away from me, so I could be happy and at peace. I told Him I wanted to trust Him completely, but I needed to know how to do it. 

And then a thought came to mind—a phrase from Sister Neill F. Marriot, who had spoken in Conference on Saturday. "...but, this doesn't mean that things are good," she had said. Yes, THAT is how I felt. Instantly, I knew that I needed to watch and listen to that talk again. 

Listening to her inspired words a second time, I knew this talk was written for me. Even though Sister Marriot didn't know me, the Lord knew me. It was His message to me, through this heavenly woman. I wrote down the impressions that came to me. And as I wept and allowed myself to mourn, a sweet, profound peace filled my entire soul. It was more poignant than any other joy I have ever felt, with the exception of the joy of my children. The Lord loved me! He WANTED to help me. 

I know this sweet, joyful feeling was the Holy Spirit touching, even grasping, my soul. I know this for a fact because there is no possible way that ANYTHING from this world of shallow sophistication could produce such a beautiful stirring and remarkable healing of my soul. Only God could do this!

I was reminded of President's Uchdorf's statement: "We don't believe in God because of what we don't know, we believe in God because of what we DO know!"

I believe in God because He has answered my prayers. I believe in God because the Holy Spirit has testified to me that He is there! I believe in God because I have received strength and wisdom and persistence and patience from Him greater than my own ability. 

I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has His true and complete gospel. I know He speaks to our current prophet, Thomas S. Monson. 

I also know that God is truly our Heavenly Parent. He and His Son, Jesus Christ, care about EVERY one of His children. He takes us how we are and molds us to become better and better if we let Him.  

Watch Sister Neill's F. Marriot's talk in Conference

He is the Gift – Christmas Video

I believe the Lord is pleased when we give gifts to others in lieu of His birthday. But, I am sure He also wants us to know of and remember the gift He has already given us. He wants you to feel His love this season and always!

All Things Shall Be for Thy Good

As parents we are always thinking of what is best for our children. I don’t know about all the rest of you parents, but sometimes I get these moments of pure admiration for my little ones. They don’t worry about things that I do. Life is simple to them. And they are completely forgiving and accepting. It’s no wonder the scriptures tell us to be as little children (Matthew 18:3). They see the world to be joyful and exciting. They don’t hold grudges. They appreciate and find happiness in small things. Their hearts are pure and free from viciousness, jealousy, hypocrisy, immorality and pride. They have no reservations with giving affection, being sincere or expressing enthusiasm. Yes, we adults have much to learn from children and much to gain from being around such perfect souls!

Today I wrote in my journal the two things I want most: First, I want my children to know, without a doubt, how deeply I love them. Second, I want them to know, without a doubt, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and following Him is the happiest way to live, and when we do follow Him we will be completely happy ever after.

After I wrote this I had the thought this is probably how God feels about each of His children—all of us. He wants us to know He loves us and He wants us to be happy. And the way to do this is to follow Him.

Sometimes I say to myself, "Well, life isn't that great. Doesn't God want me to be happy? I’m doing what He wants me to do." But, then I have to remember that, first of all, life would be a whole lot worse if I didn't follow Him; and secondly, I need to trust Him that all things will work out for my good (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7). 

And if I endure to the end, or I should I say follow Him to the end, I will have eternal life, or everlasting happiness (3 Nephi 15:9, Mark 13:13, Doctrine and Covenants 14:7).                    

What a great promise! 

~Your friend, Hope, a Christian blogger

The Power of a Mother

One of the most inspiring stories of WOMEN in the scriptures (and my personal favorite) is that of the MOTHERS of the 2 thousand "stripling warriors" in the The Book of Mormon. 

These valiant young men knew their MOTHERS had

absolute faith and trust in God. It was their MOTHERS who gave them courage to go to battle against those who were threatening to destroy their freedom. Their MOTHERS knew that if they trusted in God and "did not doubt, God would deliver them" (Alma 56:47). And He did deliver them! Not a single one of these boys were killed in the battle while a thousand other men were! (Alma 57:25,26).

I want this absolute trust in God! I want my faith to be that strong so I can enlighten , encourage, and strengthen my children just as powerfully as these MOTHERS did for their children!




~Your friend, Hope, a Christian blogger

Because of Him

Because of Him

I am loved

I am forgiven

I am comforted

I find peace in a troubled world

I will be able to be with those whom I have loved and lost

I can start over and over and continue to try to be like Him

I'm a better mother, wife, daughter, and friend

Death is not the end

My greatest joy will be realized

Unrequited Love?

Unrequited love—it's talked about often. It's sad, it's heart-breaking and we can all relate with it one way or another.

Sometimes it's not a romantic love we lose,

but a friend. A friend we loved dearly. And we lose them in some of the very same ways we lose a romantic love. Friends are lost to death or illness. Some friends are even lost because of jealousy or misunderstandings or just a wrong word said. And often this kind of friendship-love is just as soul-crushing to us. 

How do we keep friends? How do we keep friendships alive and free from contamination? How do we keep romantic love blooming and fresh?

It's a difficult question because, although we all do our best, we sometimes fall short; and sometimes our loved ones fall short too.

But, there is One who never falls short in His love and His understanding and His compassion towards us. That is Jesus Christ, our Savior. When we feel as if no one knows our pain, no one understands—He knows. He understands.

And He loves us so perfectly that He can help us through any heartache no matter how large, no matter how complicated. And He is the One who can bring back love into our friendships and our relationships. He is the one and only source of true, abiding love.

I am not ashamed to admit that I truly love and adore my Savior!

This is the ultimate love note. And I know He has already read it!

~Your friend, Hope, a Christian blogger

Because of Him

I am so grateful for the knowledge of Christ's resurrection. How incredible it is that because Jesus was resurrected I will be too! And so will my family and friends! What a beautiful gift our Savior has given every one of us! I love Him. He is my best, Eternal Friend.  Happy Easter!
~Your friend, Hope, a Christian blogger

No Matter What, He Loves You

Do your children ever whine? The other day I sent my daughter to her room for this very reason. When I came to talk to her about it afterwards I found her crying. I gave her a big hug and snuggled up with her. Through her tears she sniffed, "I'm sorry, Mom." I told her I forgave her and that she was still a good girl. She countered by saying she wasn't. Her little heart was breaking over the tiniest of mistakes, thinking she wasn't good. The ridiculousness of that thought struck me hard. How could a near-perfect child think she isn't good?

I then offered a silent prayer for help in not being too hard on my sweet, sensitive girl. I would hate for her to think she wasn't good because I something I said or did. And then a thought came to me as I evaluated my child's personality. She is one who sincerely wants to do everything right—always. A perfectionist to the core. She reminded me of myself when I was a child. One of the hardest things I have had to learn, and am still learning, throughout my life is to accept imperfections over and over and over.

My daughter hugged me tight as I stroked her hair and expressed to her all the many reasons she is good and all the many reasons I am proud of her and the many, many ways she brings incredible joy to our family. Her Father in Heaven knows all of these things too. But the most important thing, I explained, is that I will love her no matter what. There is nothing in the world she could do to keep me from loving her with all my heart. It didn't matter how many mistakes she made I would still love her, nor would her choices affect my love. This is how her Heavenly Father and her Savior, Jesus Christ feel about her too, I told her. They will always love her.

It was one of the most tender of tender moments with my child—when I remembered that not much else in the world matters besides this very precious girl.

Upon further reflection, I realized that God must feel this way about me too, but even more so. He loves me regardless of how many times I mess up. He loves me no matter my struggles. And perhaps, He might even feel that some of my mistakes are not as grievous as I feel them to be. It is through Him and His Atonement that can help me continually improve and progress towards eternal life. How grateful I am to my God and his infinite and unconditional love for me and my children alike. 

~Your Friend, Hope, a Christian blogger

*Public domain photo from here

The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos

Learn about Jesus Christ through free videos based on the King James Version of the Bible