More faith (or lack of) than you may think

You may have heard, "I think they have more faith in me than I do."

Yesterday that faith was tested.

Through miscommunication and not close directions, my daughter June and I got lost on a four wheeling ride yesterday. 

We were on a mountain that we have visited every year for the past 3 years. I haven't driven on those roads enough to know where I was going, I always simply followed the leader.  (Mistake on my part, I need to be better about knowing my surroundings)

We stayed a little ways back from the other two four wheelers so as to not eat dust the whole trip. As June and I were LOVING being together and asking funny questions back and forth, we realized we hadn't seen any dust in front of us for a while. We kept going and continued to have a lovely time. We came to a fork in the road. No one was waiting for us to tell us which direction to go. There was no dust in any direction due to the dense forest and hills around us. So, with a prayer in my heart I decided to go "UP" to the right. June said, "I was thinking that way too mom, the tracks looked fresh." (Ha ha, we know NOTHING about tracking!) We were headed to the lake and I remember that the lake was towards the top of the mountain, so the road that seemed to head "upwards" seemed the best option in my mind. 

We continued talking, and slowly our happiness faded. We became quieter and quieter because we didn't see anyone ahead. 

WHERE WERE THEY?!

Didn't they know we weren't behind them?

Didn't they ever look behind them and not notice us???

June started to cry and said, "Mom, I think we are lost."

We were on a main road and I felt good about the direction we were going, but I started to doubt. (Note to self, NEVER DOUBT)

We pulled over and said a prayer. I asked to give us guidance and fill our hearts and minds with the Spirit so we could know which way to go or what to do.

We ended the prayer and continued on the road. I started to recite some of my favorite scriptures to June;

Romans 8:31 "...If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Also in my mind, I instantly went to "survival mode." I said in a laughing manner to June, "Don't worry! We have water and food, toilet paper, baby wipes and some band aids, we could survive a few days our here!" 

Note to self: That reassurance wasn't very reassuring to a 9.5 year old. She said a shaky, "Ok mom." But from behind me, I heard her start to cry. 

I pulled over and hugged her.
(Stay strong for June, it won't help if we both cry! I felt like a kid left at a store, but I wasn't a kid, I was a mom! And a mom has to be strong!)
I reassured her that we would be okay. We prayed again and I asked how she felt. She said she felt ok, but she felt like we needed to turn around.

Well, I am the first to say that children are more than not, more receptive to the whisperings of the Spirit than I am. Their innocence and youth help the Holy Ghost communicate well with those little souls.

So, I took that and turned around. 

I remember the ONLY SOULS we passed on the road was a family with horses a few miles behind us. We turned around and drove back. We pulled up to the family and asked if they knew where the lake was. They said we were going the right way!

We were SO RELIEVED! 

June said to me as we continued, "Mom I feel so relieved! I'm glad we turned around to ask for directions. Now we KNOW that we are going the right way!"

I heartily agreed and we kept going with hearts a little lighter. 

In my mind, I was still a little frustrated that no one from our family who was ahead ever came looking for us. We had been separated for about an hour! But as soon as that thought entered my mind I thought, they don't know our four wheeling travel patterns of "look behind and wait," and they haven't been four wheeling for 15 years like I have. They must have simply thought I knew the way. Every day we learn and I am sure that ALL of us are learning today. I told June that we shouldn't be angry with our family, but happy when we find them. It would be easy to lash out once we find them, because there was no doubt in my mind that we would find them. But it wouldn't help the situation at ALL if anger prevailed instead of relief.

We continued up the road and saw a forest ranger pass us! We waved him down and asked him again if we were going the right way. He once again confirmed to us that we were on the right road. 

We continued on about 100 yards ahead of us my husband came around the bend looking for us!

We stopped and the first thing he said was, "Are you okay?"

Well the courage that I had felt and the strength I was holding onto left. I cried a bit and said, "We're good. We got separated. I thought you would have waited for us at the road to know which way to turn but you kept going. We had to turn around and ask for directions and then we would have come to meet you. We're sorry we didn't stay close enough. I think you had too much faith in my directions of this mountain!"

He kept apologizing but we knew that we were fine. We continued on TOGETHER up to the lakes. 

There were a few spiritual lessons I learned today.

Lesson #1:

Never assume someone's strength of faith.
How often do we assume people know the way they should be going? Do we put too much faith in people, assuming they are thriving when they are actually struggling? 

Do we think their testimony is strong, when they are actually wavering?

Everyone needs strengthening. .i ugygggygy
No matter their calling, your calling, their perceived strength, EVERYONE needs a spiritual visit from a friend. Everyone needs a minister.
James 2:26
"For as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Lesson #2:

Know the plan and don't doubt yourself. Have a meeting with those around you. Ask what the plan is, for the day, for the year and for eternity. What do we hope to accomplish together and individually? How can we keep from doubting our potential? How can we keep from doubting our worth, our testimony and our strength? Heaven is calling to you, today and everyday helping you along your road.
D&C 6:36
"Look unto me in ever thought; doubt not, fear not."

Lesson #3:
Those who wander, may not know they are lost.
June and I didn't think we were lost at first. We continued down our merry little way, happy with life and enjoying our time.
Those around us, may not understand that they are lost. They are enjoying the scenery, they are happily on their path even if they may be going the wrong way. Until you teach them and show them by your example will they learn the true path that leads to eternity.
Help those that may not know they are lost. Give direction and guidance to help them make their own way to the path of discipleship.

Matthew 7:3
"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye ?"

Take a minute to self evaluate your spirit. Have you been wandering? Are you a little lost without realizing it? Are you on the path the Lord wants you on?

Bury your wickedness and live in LOVE

This last week, we discussed as a family the account of the Lamanites who then changed their name to the "Anti-Nephi-Lehies." And they made a covenant to the Lord to not take up their weapons of war against their brethren again. They didn't want to risk breaking their covenant, and took extreme measures to make sure they would never physically hurt others or eternally hurt themselves gain. They buried their weapons and sealed them in the earth. 

In "The Friend" July 2020 edition there is a "find it" that shows a beautiful depiction of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies burying their weapons of war. It was very simple. It said, find 23 weapons in the ground and 30 hearts above ground. This simple rendition struck we very strongly, and thought to myself that they were burying their wickedness and choosing to live in love.  

We all make mistakes everyday. Repentance is real, it is hard and it is beautiful. A sister missionary in our ward bore her testimony and said, "Repentance was born of LOVE, not from punishment."
 I LOVED THAT! It struck my soul to quit thinking that repentance is a punishment, 

it is PURE - TRUE - ETERNAL LOVE.

We have the choice whether to live with our wickedness or we can choose to live in love. We can repent and forsake the evils we have done and live a beautiful life of love. Love for ourselves, our fellowmen and most importantly, love for our Savior.

I love the scriptures in this account Alma 24:7-10

7.... I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers.

8 And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts, that we have opened a correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites.

9 And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed.

10 And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.

I love knowing that I personally have a "portion of His Spirit" with me. I have been baptized and made a covenant with my Savior to follow Him and be a disciple of Him. He then blessed me with "a portion of His Spirit." He has given me a way to repent of the things I have done, that through the atonement He might forgive me and help me to live my life in love as He did.

Four Wheeling with the Holy Ghost

We recently went four-wheeling with our children. I had a wonderful experience that made me reflect on how the Holy Ghost works in our lives. 

I was driving the four wheeler with our 7 year old son. 

He then asked behind me, "Mom can I drive?" 

I said, "Sure! I'll be right here as you drive."

We switched spots and he was so excited that he pushed the gas HARD and we jolted into action, I immediately grabbed onto him and said, "WOOW, slow it down buddy, ease into it. Start slow and then get up to speed. Take your time buddy, no rush." 

He then slowly began down the road and we got up to speed. I looked ahead and saw some bumps coming. I thought he would slow down but remembered a little late that he was very much starting out his education on driving four wheelers. The bumps came VERY quickly and we jolted around a bit. I grabbed the break and again said, "WOOW... we need to slow down when we see a bump and go over it slowly. We don't immediately see what is on the other side, there could be water, or an animal."
He understood and we continued down the road. I kept encouraging him and would say,
"Great job buddy!"
 "Wow, you're getting  GOOD!"
"Keep going! You're awesome!"
He tried to stay on the right side of the road, as we drive on the road in our car (I was excited for his understanding of road and highway rules). I explained to him, "Hey buddy, we try to choose the smoothest course. We look ahead and see what could be coming that could make our journey rougher. We try to avoid any big bumps that could hurt us or the four-wheeler. We can go on the other side of the road as long as no one is coming our way. We concentrate on what is in front of the four wheeler and what is down the road."
He understood and quickly found that looking ahead helped him miss some big boulders and mud holes.
We continued on and enjoyed our lessons and our ride in the mountains. I loved to give him affirmations and small suggestions to his driving.

I couldn't help but think this is exactly how the Holy Ghost works. He tells us sometimes to "slow down" or to "look ahead." "Be cautious of those around you." "Good job! Keep going." "There is a bump ahead, proceed with caution." "A rocky path is up ahead, together we can make it." "No rush, take it at your own pace."

We simply have to LISTEN and OBEY.
We always have a choice in this life, we can listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, or we don't. We can listen to someone who is infinitely wiser and understands the road ahead, or we can ride through life hitting all the rough patches; learning through many may trials and errors. Life is much smoother with the Holy Ghost, our constant companion and friend. He simply wants to help. He is there to help teach us WHY we take the bumps slowly, WHY we avoid the rocks and deep mud and he is there to remind us to KEEP GOING, our journey is long, but it is worth it. Together we can make it!