“… when we follow the Savior of the world, the Son of God, we flourish and become glorious despite the many terrible circumstances that surround us. He truly is our life and light. Our ability to stand firm and true and follow the Savior despite the vicissitudes of life is greatly strengthened by righteous families and Christ-centered unity in our wards and branches (church community).” ~Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Ensign May 2015 p.63
When I have trouble in my relationship with God, I really need not look far to find the problem. Am I slipping, following the adversary’s way?; easiest at first, even carefree, but comes complete with habits of darkness, chains of bondage, and therefore is SO VERY HARD. He and his minions always, always pull against me.
I can live in such a way that I know I have Christ’s approval. My life then, becomes an outward example of that inward commitment to honor He who bought me with his blood. I focus upon keeping His commandments through change (often small, even incremental), and teach my family to do the same. (He knows, of my weaknesses and that I’ll make mistakes. It is His design that it should be so, that through prayer and repentance I learn discipline to overcome… and draw closer to Him— sweet reward!) He simply asks me to embrace His example and strive to live a clean, righteous life. (I’ll always be striving.) Then he blesses me for doing so! Truly, His yoke is easy and his burden is light because He always pulls with, not against me (see Matthew 11:28-30 ). kdm (revised and re-posted from 6.3.15)
