Peace Be Unto Thy Soul

I have been trying to think of the words for this post for a few weeks now...

I know we may think in these times that we have been abandoned, but we haven't been! I think of Joseph Smith when he asks, "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?"

But the Lord answers telling us to have peace! He says, "...thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high..."

I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that there is a true prophet on this earth and that he receives true revelation from the Lord for us, and for ME. I wouldn't be who I am today without this gospel.

This past Sunday, like many other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my family had the amazing opportunity to hold our Sunday Service in our home. It was amazing to see the hand of the Lord in all of these changes as we met together in my parent's living room.

There have been so many changes in the church these past few years, and while the blessings of a lot of them have been clear from the beginning, there are plenty other blessings we are just now seeing.

As we sat together this Sunday it was such a beautiful experience watching my brothers bless and pass the sacrament to the rest of us. How amazing is the priesthood?! The fact that we can be away from our ward families and yet still partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants is such a blessing. As my brothers knelt down and said the sacrament prayers the spirit in the room was overwhelming.

My brother had mentioned how cool it was that the Lord had revealed to our prophet that young men can move forward in the priesthood in January the year they turn 12 or 16. We no longer have to wait for their birthdays for this. If that had been the case my brother would not have been able to partake in the blessings received from blessing and passing the sacrament the past few Sundays.

I just wonder how many families also got to see this in their homes and feel how the Lord speaks through our prophet to help us. I wonder how many of the youth were able to feel of the blessings of the temple before all these shutdowns. I wonder how many families felt the spirit in their homes as their sons and brothers were able to give blessings, and help bless and pass the sacrament after this revelation was given.

I look back at the past 6 months of my life and I am in awe at how the Lord has blessed me. My husband and I had originally planned on waiting until later this year to be sealed but we were able to be sealed earlier this year and I am so blessed to know that I have that blessing in my home and with my family. I have a loving husband and a family that I know would do anything for me. I have a job and while it is a little tough right now, I still have a job as does my husband.

I know there are others who are not as lucky, but I also know that things will get better. Things are stressful now, and I don't know how long they'll be this way. I do know that God knows what He is doing and He loves all of us. We have to look at all the changes He has made which have blessed us all, and all the other blessings we have in our lives.

Times are tough, but I know we have a God and a gospel that are stronger and tougher.