beauteous

It is a beauteous evening, calm and free,
The holy time is quiet as a Nun
Breathless with adoration; the broad sun
Is sinking down in its tranquillity;
The gentleness of heaven broods o'er the Sea:
Listen! the mighty Being is awake,
And doth with his eternal motion make
A sound like thunder--everlastingly.
Dear Child! dear Girl! that walkest with me here,
If thou appear untouched by solemn thought,
Thy nature is not therefore less divine:
Thou liest in Abraham's bosom all the year;
And worship'st at the Temple's inner shrine,
God being with thee when we know it not.

- William Wordsworth, 1802

Celestial Realities

In my last post, I mentioned that I had been re-reading A Quiet Heart by Patricia Holland. It is one of my most favorite spiritually-themed books, and if you haven't read it, I couldn't recommend it more highly.

While I have studied Sister Holland's words, thoughts from the first chapter of her book have become a kind of mission statement of mine this year. There is so much to ponder and reflect on. As there is simply no way I can expound or improve upon her own thoughts, I share her words here:

Isn't it sometimes discouraging to see just how easily the adversary uses such earthly issues as vanity and worry, envy and pettiness to distract us from our divine mission and the unity we could enjoy in the Church? We all get discouraged and distracted-- caught up in the thick of thin things-- no matter how good we are. But do we have time, energy, or emotion to waste on what dress to wear or whose living room is the loveliest? 

We have real things to think about, things of the kingdom of God. We need to drink more deeply and be filled more fully for the work that lies ahead of us.

Let me suggest some ways that this fullness can come. Often when I face difficulties, I need to turn off the phone, lock the door, kneel in earnest prayer, and then curl up in a chair and meditate, contemplate, search the scriptures, and cry out again and again in my heart, completely focusing my mind on the mind and will and presence of God until I can see a clear picture of Him...

Now, I can just hear you say, "Pat, get real. I don't have five minutes to do that, let alone an hour or two. I am exhausted now just trying to keep up with things." I know all about your life, because it is my life, too. I am busy also, and I have been for as long as I can remember... But that has everything to do with the point I wish to make.

I realize that life has to go on and that you will not be able to pursue this heavenly communication in a completely uninterrupted way, but if it is a high priority and a fundamental goal in your life, you will find ways, early or late, to be with God. If the key to your car or your mortgage payment check or a child were lost, would you take time to find them? Wouldn't finding them provide the peace you needed to then go about your day? If God is lost in your life and you are not going to be strong or stable without him, can you be focused and fixed enough to find him?

...President Gordon B. Hinckley has spoken often of meditation. My husband [Elder Jeffrey R. Holland] has commented on how often, in speaking to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, he has asked that they make sure they take time for thoughtfulness, for pondering, for introspection, for meditation. He often refers to a statement of President David O. McKay: "Meditation is the language of the soul. It is defined as 'a form of private devotion, or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious theme" (in Conference Report, April 1946, 113).

Somewhere in our lives there must be time and room for such personal communion. Somewhere in our lives there must be time and room for the celestial realities we say we believe in-- or when will millennial peace be ours?

The kind of contemplation, reflection, and yearning for God I am speaking of can't be accomplished very handily with cellular phones, computers, or a blaring TV. God can enter our realm only at our invitation. He stands at the door and knocks always, but someone has to hear that knock and let him enter. In this effort we ought to do whatever we can to make our houses... the temples, quite literally, that God intends them to be. Places for the Spirit of the Lord to dwell. Places for meditation, contemplation, prayer, and study. Places where good conversation and charity out of a pure heart can be present. Places where we find the fulness of God.

We need to simplify and spiritualize and celestialize. If most of what we are doing doesn't fit these categories, if at least some part of our day is not turned to heaven, then we have a wrenching, rending emptiness awaiting us... We simply have to see what we can eliminate, what we can replace with something higher and holier, more reflective, compassionate, and eternal. Second only to dedicated temples, our homes are to be the sacred edifices of the Lord, places of peace and holiness and sanctity. 

(Holland, Patricia T. A Quiet Heart. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2000. Kindle file.)

Food for thought.

MLK

Take the first step in faith. 

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. 

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Name & A Blessing

"When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn’t stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother’s heart, and she puts it into the baby’s mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies."

~ E. T. Sullivan

Brothers

Sometimes being a brother is better than being a superhero.

- Marc Brown

Birthday Insomnia

I woke up this morning about 3:30 am with a lot on my mind. Happy Birthday to me!

Personally, I absolutely love the timing of my birthday. It falls just between Christmas and New Year's, and keeps the excitement & anticipation of the holiday season rolling along merrily. I tend to get quite reflective this time of year. Another Christmas has come and gone, with its focus (hopefully) on the Savior, and a new year is soon to dawn. While new year's resolutions are just on the horizon for most of the populace, I start pondering similar themes a few days early.

How am I doing? Where am I headed? What might I improve?
All questions keeping me awake at this hour instead of giving myself the gift of sleep.

Looking back, I can see the long journey that has brought me to the present moment in which I find myself. The obstacles overcome. The battles fought that have rounded out who I have come to be. The wounds and scars that unfortunately hold me back.

This year, I have become painfully aware of just how self-loathing I can be. When it comes to those around me, I tend to be compassionate, understanding, and willing to give most people the benefit of the doubt. When it comes to dealing with my own weaknesses and insecurities... well, let's just say I'm not nearly as kind.

Why is that?
When did I give permission to berate myself in this manner?
It's an interesting question.

But what is of even more importance is the follow-up question: What am I going to do about it?

Just a couple of days ago I was doing some reading and came across a quote by Neal A. Maxwell that rocked me to my core. He explained, "Brothers and sisters, our individual worth is already divinely established as 'great'; it does not fluctuate like the stock market." (“Consecrate Thy Performance,” Ensign, Dec 2008, 26–30) Now, I know full well that Elder Maxwell's words are far from new doctrine. We all know that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. But something about his phraseology took me aback-- because while my self worth may not fluctuate in God's eyes, it most certainly does in my own. And that needs to change.

We will never walk perfectly in this lifetime. We are not even expected to. Mortality is a learning process, a growing experience. We stumble, we stammer, and sometimes we seriously crash and burn. But as long as we learn something from the ordeal, we have not yet failed. We have everything in the world to be joyful about. We know who we are and whose we are. Can we not show ourselves the same compassion and love we share with others?

I'm pretty certain it would be a step in the right direction.
For when we show ourselves forgiveness and mercy as we repent and strive to live uprightly, we also free ourselves to let our lights shine brighter to those around us. By releasing our self-imposed chains, we enable ourselves to move with clarity and love. We are unrestrained in giving service to those around us with peace and joy.

That's what I want this year for my birthday.

Life is so rich, and so very beautiful. Each moment given to us is a moment to treasure and grow from.
Men and women truly are that they might have joy.
And here we are!
♥

The Light of Christmas

There is another glimpse of heaven that becomes easier to see at Christmastime. It is of light. Heavenly Father used light to announce the birth of His Son, our Savior (see Matthew 2; 3 Nephi 1). A new star was visible in both the Eastern and the Western Hemispheres. It led the Wise Men to the child in Bethlehem. Even wicked King Herod recognized the sign; he feared it because he was wicked. The Wise Men rejoiced because of the birth of the Christ, who is the Light and the Life of the World.

We remember at Christmastime not only the light that announced the birth of Christ into the world but also the light that comes from Him.

We can with confidence set a goal to make this Christmas brighter than the last and each year that follows brighter still. The trials of mortality may increase in intensity, yet for us, darkness need not increase if we focus our eyes more singly on the light that streams down on us as we follow the Master. He will lead us and help us along the path that leads upward to the home for which we yearn.

- Henry B. Eyring, “Home for Christmas,” Liahona, Dec 2009, 2–7

The Redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead," said Scrooge. "But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!"

... For the first time the hand appeared to shake.

"Good spirit," he pursued, as down upon the ground he fell before it: "your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!"

The kind hand trembled.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"

Holding up his hands in a last prayer to have his fate reversed, he saw an altercation in the phantom's hood and dress. It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost.

YES! and the bedpost was his own. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own to make amends in!

"I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!" Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. "The spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob; on my knees!"

-- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Bittersweet Birthday

"I am so grateful for the assurance I have that if we are faithful, the same sociality which we enjoy here in this life will be forever with us in the world to come, in eternal glory."

President Henry B. Eyring, “The True and Living Church,” Ensign, May 2008, 20–24 (see also D&C 130:2)


Warm thoughts & birthday wishes are with Ryan this weekend-- today is his birthday, and tomorrow is Jen's.

We miss you, Jen!
Somehow, going to see the lights at Temple Square this time of year will never quite be the same. There are so many things I wish I could share with you-- so much to catch up on. I wish I could ask you how it was to be an auntie to triplets, now that we have our own set of multiples on the way. I miss the late-night laughter, the heart-to-heart conversations. I hope you know how much your friendship meant to me and the girls. Thanks be to God that there is so much more beyond this life.

"With ultimate hope, however, we can live cheerfully amid proximate insecurity. Life is a test in which man must overcome by faith, walking on the strait and narrow path—which is surely no escalator—but the path is there! And death is not the permanent annihilation of the human personality and individuality! [It] is a mere comma, not an exclamation point!"Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “‘Shine As Lights in the World’,” Ensign, May 1983, 9

This Christmastime, I am most grateful for our Lord & Savior who marked the path and showed us the way to an eternity filled with joy, love, and family. This life is not the end. What greater gift could be given?

Happy Birthday, Ryan & Jen.
xoxo

More Thoughts On Faith

Desire is a particle of faith that develops within us as we experience divine truth. It is like spiritual photosynthesis. The influence of the Holy Ghost, acting on the Light of Christ within every human being, produces the spiritual equivalent of a chemical reaction—a stirring, a change of heart, or a desire to know. Hope develops as particles of faith become molecules and as simple efforts to live true principles occur.

As patterns of obedience develop, the specific blessings associated with obedience are realized and belief emerges. Desire, hope, and belief are forms of faith, but faith as a principle of power comes from a consistent pattern of obedient behavior and attitudes. Personal righteousness is a choice. Faith is a gift from God, and one possessed of it can receive enormous spiritual power.

(Kevin W. Pearson, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 2009, 38–40)

Let Freedom Ring

True independence and freedom can only exist
in doing what's right.

- Brigham Young

Valor

Yesterday I took Taylor to the doctor for his four-year-old check up. He passed with flying colors, but had to endure a finger prick test to check iron levels in his blood, as well as four vaccinations. There were quite a few tears shed, and as we were getting ready to leave, Taylor looked over at me and said, "Mom? Let's get out of here!"

As we drove away from the doctor's office I exclaimed, "Taylor, you were such a brave boy! I am so proud of you!"

From the back seat came a most dejected reply.
"Mom, I wasn't brave. I was so scared!"

"Oh, honey!" I responded, "It's okay to be scared! Just because you are scared, it doesn't mean you aren't brave! Being brave means that you keep going even when you are afraid. You were very brave today!"

And then I stopped to ponder that idea myself.

Honestly, this past month has really beaten me up pretty good. I have been down, I have been overwhelmed... but mostly? I've just felt weak, shaken, and afraid. Brave would not be the adjective of the month, that's for certain.

But maybe I'm just as hard on myself as Taylor was.
I love this quote from Mark Twain, "Courage is resistance to fear... not the absence of fear."

Adversity comes to us all, and times of trial and heartache can leave us feeling frightened and discouraged.

But we persevere.
We continue on.
We reach within ourselves and lean on our friends, family, and Savior.

And we are still here.

Maybe we're braver than we think.

Never Lost

Lots of thoughts today, but the energy to write is not matching the desire. My thoughts today are with the temple and how very blessed we are. (Thanks for your wonderful lesson today, Shauni. You are amazing!) Until tomorrow, I hope you enjoy the poignant words of Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Seventy. Happy Sunday, everyone.

I remember a warm, sunny afternoon when spring was trying to nudge its way through a long winter in Cache Valley, Utah. My father, whose Saturdays were always filled with chores for his grandsons, stopped by our home with an offer to “go for a ride.” Always happy to ride in Grandpa’s truck, our four- and six-year-old sons scurried into the back jump seat, and I joined my father in the front. Our drive took us through the streets of downtown Logan, which wrap around the Logan Temple, prominently situated on a hill, centered beautifully in the city. As we moved further away from the city, we turned from paved, busy streets to seldom-used dirt roads, where we crossed old bridges and weaved through trees far into the country. We were far from any other traffic and all alone.

Realizing his grandsons were in a place they had not been before, my father stopped the truck. “Do you think we are lost?” he asked the wide-eyed boys as they gazed out the windshield across the valley. Followed by a moment of silent assessment came the profound reply of a young child. “Look,” he said, pointing his finger, “Grandpa, you are never lost when you can see the temple.” Our eyes turned, focusing with his, seeing the sun glistening off the spires of the Logan Temple, far across the valley.

You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the “mist of darkness.”¹ It is the house of the Lord.² It is a place where covenants are made and eternal ordinances are performed.

There exists a righteous unity between the temple and the home. Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family; understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple. President Howard W. Hunter stated, “In the ordinances of the temple, the foundations of the eternal family are sealed in place.”¹¹

President Boyd K. Packer stated, “The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are happy at home, sealed in an eternal marriage, linked to their generations, and assured of exaltation in the presence of our Heavenly Father.”¹⁴

I testify to you that the application of these principles will help turn the doors of your home to the temple, or house of the Lord, and more fully allow you to make your sacred home a house of the Lord.

-- Elder Gary E. Stevenson, "Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples" Apr. 2009 Conference Address

A Mother Heart

I love you, Mom!

Thanks for sharing your mother heart with all who have the pleasure of knowing you.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone.

What is a mother heart and how is one acquired? We learn about some of those qualities in the scriptures. To paraphrase Proverbs: “Who can find a … woman [with a mother heart]? for her price is far above rubies. … She … worketh willingly with her hands. … With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. … She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. … Strength and honour are her clothing. … She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (Prov. 31:10, 13, 16, 20, 25–27). A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples. Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her.

If she has children, she is a “goodly parent” (1 Ne. 1:1) who lives and teaches standards of behavior exactly in line with the teachings of living prophets. She teaches her “children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord” (D&C 68:28). Rather than listening to the voices and partial truths of the world, she knows that gospel standards are based on eternal, unchangeable truths. She believes that to be “primarily responsible for the nurture of [her] children” is a vital, dignified, and “sacred responsibilit[y]” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Oct. 1998, 24; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102). To nurture and feed them physically is as much an honor as to nurture and feed them spiritually. She is “not weary in well-doing” and delights to serve her family, because she knows that “out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).

Covenant-keeping women with mother hearts know that whether motherhood comes early or late; whether they are blessed with a “quiver full” of children here in mortality or not; whether they are single, married, or left to carry the responsibility of parenthood alone—in holy temples they are “endowed with power from on high” (D&C 38:32), and with that endowment they received the promised blessings and are “persuaded of them, and embraced them” (Heb. 11:13).

Every girl and woman who makes and keeps sacred covenants can have a mother heart. There is no limit to what a woman with a mother heart can accomplish. Righteous women have changed the course of history and will continue to do so, and their influence will spread and grow exponentially throughout the eternities. How grateful I am to the Lord for trusting women with the divine mission of motherhood. Like Mother Eve I am “glad” (see Moses 5:11) to know these things.
- Julie B. Beck
A Mother Heart, Apr. 2004 Conference Address

There is another angel in heaven...

Jen passed from this life peacefully around 6 am on Monday, May 4th.


I have no words, so I'll borrow these from a far wiser source:

Life is eternal. We are eternal beings. We lived as intelligent spirits before this mortal life. We are now living part of eternity. Our mortal birth was not the beginning. Death, which faces all of us, is not the end.

As eternal beings, we each have in us a spark of divinity...

As we travel through this topsy-turvy, sinful world filled with temptations and problems, we are humbled by the expectancy of death, the uncertainty of life, and the power and love of God. Sadness comes to all of us in the loss of loved ones. But there is gratitude also—gratitude for the assurance we have that life is eternal; gratitude for the great gospel plan given freely to all of us; gratitude for the life, teachings, and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank God for the life and ministry of the Master, Jesus the Christ, who broke the bonds of death, who is the light and life of the world, who set the pattern, who established the guidelines for all of us, and who proclaimed: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25–26.)

Yes, life is eternal. We live on and on after earth life, even though we ofttimes lose sight of that great basic truth.

This is but a place of temporary duration. We are here to learn the first lesson toward exaltation—obedience to the Lord’s gospel plan.

There is the ever-present expectancy of death, but in reality there is no death—no permanent parting. The resurrection is a reality. The scriptures are replete with evidence. Almost immediately after the glorious resurrection of the Lord, Matthew records: “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matt. 27:52–53.)

The spirit world is not far away. Sometimes the veil between this life and the life beyond becomes very thin. Our loved ones who have passed on are not far from us.

May God hasten the day when people everywhere will accept His teaching, His example, and His divinity—yes, when they will accept as a reality His glorious resurrection, which broke the bonds of death for all of us.

- President Ezra Taft Benson
"Life is Eternal", Aug. '91 Ensign

Sunshine On My Shoulders

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air..."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson


Is there anything better than this?
I'm right there with you, Domino.

Of Puzzle Pieces and Palaces

There are moments when you know, without a doubt, that God has put someone right in your path-- at the time you absolutely needed it most. Today that experience came from a discussion in Relief Society.

The lesson topic was on adversity, and the shelter we can find with the Lord in the midst of our trials. What a fantastic and oh-so timely message. The Spirit was so tangible throughout the hour, as we discussed strategies for developing an eternal perspective, surrendering ourselves to the Lord's will, and trusting in His eternal plan. I couldn't even say anything, I was so overcome.

Then Debbie, standing in the back of the room, began to speak.

"I really just think that we need to be less afraid to ask for help, and to rely on one another. Sometimes we experience trials that are so overwhelming that the typical Sunday School answers just aren't enough. There are times when reading the scriptures just brings heartache, and when it seems our prayers don't get past the ceiling... In these times, we need one another. It is as if we are given a tiny piece of a much larger puzzle, and are trying to make sense of how in the world it could possibly fit in the greater scheme of things. We are left holding this little blue puzzle piece and continue over and over to try and make it fit in with the other pieces that make up a picture of a lake. We just can't understand why it doesn't fit. But when the puzzle nears completion, we pull back and suddenly realize that it isn't part of the lake at all-- it is part of the sky."

I don't think there was a dry eye in the entire class. I thought that what she said was so eloquent, so profound. I even came home and tried to look up her analogy-- it just sounded so Neal A. Maxwell-esque. But I wasn't able to find any such quotation. It did remind me, however, of some thoughts penned by one of my favorite thinkers, C. S. Lewis.

He illustrated:

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.

But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that he is building quite a different house from the one you thought of— throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards.

You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but he is building up a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself.(C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
Both thoughts gave me a moment's pause for reflection today. There is such truth in them. Life can be messy. Each of us has been given a path to walk, and the way is not always easy. Sometimes it looks downright impossible! But God's plan is sure. He knows each of us better than we know ourselves, and he knows the lessons we need to experience in this life. We may not understand it. We may keep trying to pound & cram that blue puzzle piece in the wrong spot, cursing at it because it just doesn't make any sense! But God does know what He is doing. We don't have to worry on that one... of that I am certain.

I have the best friends in the world. I am so grateful during these times of heartache to be surrounded by such goodness. I am always so in awe of your strength, compassion, and testimonies. As long as we have each other, I'm sure we can get through anything that comes our way. We just need to open up those blinds to the light, take a deep breath, and keep on breathing.

So thanks, Debbie. I think we all needed to hear that today.

Just a Reminder...

Your future is as bright as your faith.

- Thomas S. Monson

Conference Past

In the spirit of Conference Weekend, I thought I'd share some of my favorite thoughts from last Conference. Don't you just love President Uchtdorf? To read his address in its entirety, please click here.


...I’m sure it comes as no surprise, but the differences between men and women can often be quite striking—physically and mentally, as well as emotionally. One of the best ways I can think of to illustrate this is in the way my wife and I cook a meal.

When Harriet prepares a meal, it’s a masterpiece. Her cuisine is as wide-ranging as the world, and she frequently prepares dishes from countries we have visited. The presentation of the food is awe inspiring. In fact, it often looks so beautiful that it seems a crime to eat it. It’s as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the sense of taste.

But sure enough, no matter how perfect everything is, looks, and tastes, Harriet will apologize for something she thinks is imperfect. “I’m afraid I used a touch too much ginger,” she will say, or, “Next time, I think it would be better if I used a little more curry and one additional bay leaf.”

Let me contrast that with the way I cook. For the purpose of this talk, I asked Harriet to tell me what I cook best.

Her answer: fried eggs.

Sunny-side up.

But that isn’t all. I have a specialty dish called Knusperchen. The name may sound like a delicacy you might find at an exclusive restaurant. Let me share with you how to make it. You cut French bread into small slices and toast them twice.

That is the recipe!

So, between fried eggs, even when they are greasy, and Knusperchen, even when they are burned, when I cook, I feel pretty heroic.

Perhaps this contrast between my wife and me is a slight exaggeration, but it illustrates something that may extend beyond preparing meals.

To me it appears that our splendid sisters sometimes undervalue their abilities—they focus on what is lacking or imperfect rather than what has been accomplished and who they really are.

Perhaps you recognize this trait in someone you know really well.

The good news is that this also points to an admirable quality: the innate desire to please the Lord to the best of your ability. Unfortunately, it can also lead to frustration, exhaustion, and unhappiness...

We know that sometimes it can be difficult to keep our heads above water. In fact, in our world of change, challenges, and checklists, sometimes it can seem nearly impossible to avoid feeling overwhelmed by emotions of suffering and sorrow.

I am not suggesting that we can simply flip a switch and stop the negative feelings that distress us. This isn’t a pep talk or an attempt to encourage those sinking in quicksand to imagine instead they are relaxing on a beach. I recognize that in all of our lives there are real concerns. I know there are hearts here today that harbor deep sorrows. Others wrestle with fears that trouble the soul. For some, loneliness is their secret trial.

These things are not insignificant.

However... you [can] find a path to peace, hope, and joy—even during times of trial and distress...

My dear sisters, I have a simple faith. I believe that as you are faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, as you draw closer to Him in faith, hope, and charity, things will work together for your good. I believe that as you immerse yourselves in the work of our Father—as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others—God will encircle you in the arms of His love. Discouragement, inadequacy, and weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace, and fulfillment.

As spirit daughters of our Heavenly Father, happiness is your heritage.

You are choice daughters of our Heavenly Father, and through the things you create and by your compassionate service, you are a great power for good. You will make the world a better place. Lift up your chin; walk tall. God loves you. We love and admire you.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage." Oct. 08 General Relief Society Meeting

Tolstoy

"We think that when we are driven out
of the usual path,
everything is over for us;
but it is just here that the new and the good begins.
As long as there is life there is happiness.
There is much, much before us!"

- Pierre Bezukhof
Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace